TERM LOAN AGREEMENT Dated as of March 27, 2007 among LEVI STRAUSS & CO., as the Borrower, the Lenders From Time to Time Party Hereto and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC and GOLDMAN SACHS CREDIT PARTNERS...
Exhibit 99.1
[Published CUSIP Number: ____]
$325,000,000
Dated as of Xxxxx 00, 0000
xxxxx
XXXX XXXXXXX & CO.,
as the Borrower,
the Lenders From Time to Time Party Hereto
and
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC and
XXXXXXX SACHS CREDIT PARTNERS L.P.,
as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunning Managers,
and
XXXXXXX XXXXX CREDIT PARTNERS L.P.,
as Syndication Agent
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section | Page | |||
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS |
||||
1.01 Defined Terms |
1 | |||
1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions |
37 | |||
1.03 Accounting Terms |
38 | |||
ARTICLE II THE COMMITMENTS AND THE BORROWING |
||||
2.01 The Loans |
38 | |||
2.02 The Borrowing, Conversions and Continuations of Loans |
39 | |||
2.03 Prepayments |
40 | |||
2.04 Termination of Commitments |
42 | |||
2.05 Repayment of Loans |
42 | |||
2.06 Interest |
42 | |||
2.07 Fees |
42 | |||
2.08 Computation of Interest and Fees |
42 | |||
2.09 Evidence of Debt |
43 | |||
2.10 Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback |
43 | |||
2.11 Sharing of Payments by Lenders |
45 | |||
ARTICLE III TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY |
||||
3.01 Taxes |
46 | |||
3.02 Illegality |
47 | |||
3.03 Inability to Determine Rates |
48 | |||
3.04 Increased Costs; Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans |
48 | |||
3.05 Compensation for Losses |
50 | |||
3.06 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders |
50 | |||
3.07 Survival |
51 | |||
ARTICLE IV CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE BORROWING |
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4.01 Conditions to the Borrowing |
51 | |||
ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
||||
5.01 Authorization, Validity, and Enforceability of this Agreement and the Loan Documents |
52 |
i
Section | Page | |||
5.02 Organization and Qualification |
53 | |||
5.03 Subsidiaries |
53 | |||
5.04 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect |
53 | |||
5.05 Tax Shelter Regulations |
53 | |||
5.06 Litigation |
54 | |||
5.07 No Violation of Law |
54 | |||
5.08 No Default |
54 | |||
5.09 ERISA Compliance |
54 | |||
5.10 Taxes |
55 | |||
5.11 Regulated Entities |
55 | |||
5.12 Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations |
55 | |||
5.13 Full Disclosure |
55 | |||
5.14 Governmental Authorization |
55 | |||
ARTICLE VI AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS |
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6.01 Books and Records |
56 | |||
6.02 SEC Reports; Other Information |
56 | |||
6.03 Notice of Defaults |
57 | |||
6.04 Taxes and Other Obligations |
57 | |||
6.05 Legal Existence and Good Standing |
57 | |||
6.06 Compliance with Law and Agreements; Maintenance of Licenses |
57 | |||
6.07 Maintenance of Property |
57 | |||
6.08 Insurance |
58 | |||
6.09 Environmental Laws |
58 | |||
6.10 Compliance with ERISA |
58 | |||
ARTICLE VII NEGATIVE COVENANTS |
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7.01 Limitation on Indebtedness |
58 | |||
7.02 Limitation on Restricted Payments |
61 | |||
7.03 Limitation on Liens |
64 | |||
7.04 Limitation on Asset Sales |
64 | |||
7.05 Limitation on Restrictions on Distributions from Restricted Subsidiaries |
66 | |||
7.06 Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates |
68 | |||
7.07 Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries |
69 | |||
7.08 Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions |
70 | |||
7.09 Mergers, Consolidation and Sale of Property |
70 | |||
7.10 Covenant Suspension |
72 | |||
ARTICLE VIII EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES |
||||
8.01 Events of Default |
73 |
Section | Page | |||
8.02 Remedies upon Event of Default |
74 | |||
8.03 Application of Funds |
75 | |||
ARTICLE IX ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT |
||||
9.01 Appointment and Authority |
75 | |||
9.02 Rights as a Lender |
75 | |||
9.03 Exculpatory Provisions |
76 | |||
9.04 Reliance by Administrative Agent |
77 | |||
9.05 Delegation of Duties |
77 | |||
9.06 Resignation of Administrative Agent |
77 | |||
9.07 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders |
78 | |||
9.08 No Other Duties, Etc. |
78 | |||
9.09 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim |
78 | |||
ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS |
||||
10.01 Amendments, Etc. |
79 | |||
10.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communications |
80 | |||
10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies |
82 | |||
10.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver |
82 | |||
10.05 Payments Set Aside |
84 | |||
10.06 Successors and Assigns |
84 | |||
10.07 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality |
88 | |||
10.08 Right of Setoff |
89 | |||
10.09 Interest Rate Limitation |
89 | |||
10.10 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness |
89 | |||
10.11 Survival of Representations and Warranties |
90 | |||
10.12 Severability |
90 | |||
10.13 Replacement of Lenders |
90 | |||
10.14 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc. |
91 | |||
10.15 Waiver of Jury Trial |
91 | |||
10.16 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility |
92 | |||
10.17 USA PATRIOT Act Notice |
92 | |||
SIGNATURES |
S-1 |
SCHEDULES |
||
2.01 |
Commitments and Applicable Percentages | |
5.03 |
Subsidiaries | |
5.06 |
Litigation | |
5.09 |
ERISA Compliance | |
10.02 |
Administrative Agent’s Office, Certain Addresses for Notices | |
10.06 |
Processing and Recordation Fees | |
EXHIBITS |
||
Form of |
||
A |
Committed Loan Notice | |
B |
Note | |
C |
Assignment and Assumption | |
D-1 |
Opinion of General Counsel of the Borrower | |
D-2 |
Opinion of Shearman & Sterling LLP, Counsel to the Borrower |
This TERM LOAN AGREEMENT is entered into as of March 27, 2007, among LEVI XXXXXXX & CO., a
Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), each lender from time to time party hereto
(collectively, the “Lenders” and individually, a “Lender”), and BANK OF AMERICA,
N.A., as Administrative Agent.
PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS:
The Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide a term loan facility, the proceeds of
which the Borrower will use, together with cash on hand, to redeem or otherwise repurchase the
Borrower’s Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2012 (the “2012 Notes”) and to pay fees and
expenses incurred in connection therewith (the “2012 Notes Refinancing”), and the Lenders
have indicated their willingness to lend on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
herein.
In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto
covenant and agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
1.01 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
meanings set forth below:
“Additional Assets” means:
(a) any Property (other than cash, cash equivalents, securities and inventory) to be
owned by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and used in a Related Business; or
(b) Capital Stock of a Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of the
acquisition of that Capital Stock by the Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary from any
Person other than the Borrower or an Affiliate of the Borrower; provided that, in
the case of this clause (b), the Restricted Subsidiary is primarily engaged in a Related
Business.
“Administrative Agent” means Bank of America in its capacity as administrative agent
under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent.
“Administrative Agent’s Office” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as
appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02, or such other address or account as
the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify to the Borrower and the Lenders.
“Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form
supplied by the Administrative Agent.
“Affiliate” of any specified Person means:
(a) any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or
indirect common control with that specified Person, or
(b) any other Person who is a director or officer of that specified Person.
For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any Person
means the power to direct the management and policies of that Person, directly or indirectly,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms
“controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing. For
purposes of Sections 7.04 and 7.06 and the definition of “Additional Assets” only,
“Affiliate” shall also mean any Beneficial Owner of shares representing 10% or more of the total
voting power of the Voting Stock (on a fully diluted basis) of the Borrower or of rights or
warrants to purchase that Voting Stock (whether or not currently exercisable) and any Person who
would be an Affiliate of any Beneficial Owner pursuant to the first sentence hereof.
“Affiliate Transactions” has the meaning specified in Section 7.06.
“Agent Parties” has the meaning specified in Section 10.02(c).
“Aggregate Commitments” means the Commitments of all the Lenders.
“Agreement” means this Term Loan Agreement.
“Allocable Excess Proceeds” has the meaning specified in Section 7.04(c).
“Applicable Percentage” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage
(carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Facility represented by (i) on or prior to the
Closing Date, such Lender’s Commitment at such time and (ii) thereafter, the principal amount of
such Lender’s Loans at such time. The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender in respect of
the Facility is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the
Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.
“Applicable Rate” means 1.25% per annum for Base Rate Loans and 2.25% per annum for
Eurodollar Rate Loans.
“Approved Fund” means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an
Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a
Lender.
“Asset Sale” means any sale, lease, transfer, issuance or other disposition (or series
of related sales, leases, transfers, issuances or dispositions) by the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary, including any disposition by means of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction
(each referred to for the purposes of this definition as a “disposition”), of
(a) any shares of Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary (other than directors’
qualifying shares),
2
(b) all or substantially all the assets of any division or line of business of the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, or
(c) any other assets of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary outside of the
ordinary course of business of the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary,
other than, in the case of clause (a), (b) or (c) above,
(1) any disposition by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Borrower or by the Borrower or a
Restricted Subsidiary to a Restricted Subsidiary,
(2) any disposition that constitutes a Permitted Investment or Restricted Payment
permitted by Section 7.02,
(3) any disposition effected in compliance with the first paragraph in Section
7.09,
(4) a sale of accounts receivables and related assets of the type specified in the
definition of “Qualified Receivables Transaction” to a Receivables Entity,
(5) a transfer of accounts receivables and related assets of the type specified in the
definition of “Qualified Receivables Transaction” (or a fractional undivided interest
therein) by a Receivables Entity in connection with a Qualified Receivables Transaction,
(6) a transfer of accounts receivable of the type specified in the definition of
“Credit Facilities” that is permitted under clause (b) of the second paragraph of
Section 7.01, and
(7) any disposition that does not (together with all related dispositions) involve
assets having a Fair Market Value or consideration in excess of $1.0 million.
“Assignee Group” means two or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one
another or two or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.
“Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a
Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by
Section 10.06(b)), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of
Exhibit C or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
“Attorney Costs” means all reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of any law firm
or other counsel engaged by the Administrative Agent and the allocated costs and expenses of
internal legal services of the Administrative Agent.
“Attributable Indebtedness” in respect of a Sale and Leaseback Transaction means, at
any date of determination,
3
(a) if the Sale and Leaseback Transaction is a Capital Lease Obligation, the amount of
Indebtedness represented thereby according to the definition of “Capital Lease Obligation”,
and
(b) in all other instances, the greater of:
(1) the Fair Market Value of the Property subject to the Sale and Leaseback
Transaction, and
(2) the present value (discounted at the interest rate borne by the Loans,
compounded annually) of the total obligations of the lessee for rental payments
during the remaining term of the lease included in the Sale and Leaseback
Transaction (including any period for which the lease has been extended).
“Average Life” means, as of any date of determination, with respect to any
Indebtedness or Preferred Stock, the quotient obtained by dividing:
(a) the sum of the product of the numbers of years (rounded to the nearest one-twelfth
of one year) from the date of determination to the dates of each successive scheduled
principal payment of that Indebtedness or redemption or similar payment with respect to that
Preferred Stock multiplied by the amount of the payment by
(b) the sum of all payments of this kind.
“Bank of America” means Bank of America, N.A. and its successors.
“Bankruptcy Law” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.
“Base Rate” means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the higher of (a)
the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1% and (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day
as publicly announced from time to time by Bank of America as its “prime rate.” The “prime rate”
is a rate set by Bank of America based upon various factors including Bank of America’s costs and
desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for
pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in
such rate announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day
specified in the public announcement of such change.
“Base Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.
“Beneficial Owner” means a beneficial owner as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the
Exchange Act, except that:
(a) a Person will be deemed to be the Beneficial Owner of all shares that the Person
has the right to acquire, whether that right is exercisable immediately or only after the
passage of time,
4
(b) for purposes of clause (a) of the definition of “Change of Control”, Permitted
Holders will be deemed to be the Beneficial Owners of any Voting Stock of a corporation or
other legal entity held by any other corporation or other legal entity so long as the
Permitted Holders Beneficially Own, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate a majority of
the total voting power of the Voting Stock of that corporation or other legal entity, and
(c) for purposes of clause (b) of the definition of “Change of Control”, any “person”
or “group” (as those terms are defined in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act or
any successor provisions to either of the foregoing), including any group acting for the
purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of securities within the meaning of Rule
13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act, other than any one or more of the Permitted Holders,
shall be deemed to be the Beneficial Owners of any Voting Stock of a corporation or other
legal entity held by any other corporation or legal entity (“the parent corporation”), so
long as that person or group Beneficially Owns, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate a
majority of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of that parent corporation.
The term “Beneficially Own” shall have a corresponding meaning.
“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Borrower (or, in the case of
clause (b) of the first paragraph of Section 7.06, the applicable Restricted Subsidiary) or
any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such Board.
“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary of the Borrower to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be
in full force and effect on the date of such certification.
“Borrower” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.
“Borrower Materials” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.
“Borrowing” means the borrowing consisting of simultaneous Loans of the same Type and,
in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Lenders
pursuant to Section 2.01.
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which
commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state
where the Administrative Agent’s Office is located and, if such day relates to any Eurodollar Rate
Loan, means any such day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in
the London interbank eurodollar market.
“Capital Lease Obligation” means any obligation under a lease that is required to be
capitalized for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP; and the amount of
Indebtedness represented by that obligation shall be the capitalized amount of the obligations
determined in accordance with GAAP; and the Stated Maturity thereof shall be the date of the last
payment of rent or any other amount due under that lease prior to the first date upon which that
lease may be terminated by the lessee without payment of a penalty. For purposes of
5
Section 7.03, a Capital Lease Obligation shall be deemed secured by a Lien on the
Property being leased.
“Capital Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any shares or other equivalents
(however designated) of any class of corporate stock or partnership interests or any other
participations, rights, warrants, options or other interests in the nature of an equity interest in
that Person, including Preferred Stock, but excluding any debt security convertible or exchangeable
into that equity interest.
“Capital Stock Sale Proceeds” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the
Borrower from the issuance or sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Borrower or an employee stock
ownership plan or trust established by the Borrower or the Subsidiary for the benefit of their
employees) by the Borrower of its Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) after the Closing
Date, net of attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, initial purchasers’ or placement agents’ fees,
discounts or commissions and brokerage, consultant and other fees actually incurred in connection
with the issuance or sale and net of taxes paid or payable as a result thereof.
“Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the
following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change
in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation or application
thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, guideline or
directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority.
“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:
(a) prior to the first Public Equity Offering that results in a Public Market, the
Permitted Holders cease to be the Beneficial Owners, directly or indirectly, of a majority
of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Borrower, whether as a result of the
issuance of securities of the Borrower, any merger, consolidation, liquidation or
dissolution of the Borrower, any direct or indirect transfer of securities by the Permitted
Holders or otherwise; or
(b) on or after the first Public Equity Offering that results in a Public Market, if
any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)
of the Exchange Act or any successor provisions to either of the foregoing), including any
group acting for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of securities within
the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act, other than any one or more of the
Permitted Holders, becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of 35% or more of
the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Borrower; provided that the
Permitted Holders are the Beneficial Owners, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate of a
lesser percentage of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Borrower than that
other person or group; and provided further that the provisions of this clause (b)
will not apply to Voting Trustees serving in that capacity under the Voting Trust Agreement;
or
(c) the sale, transfer, assignment, lease, conveyance or other disposition, directly or
indirectly, of all or substantially all the assets of the Borrower and the
6
Restricted Subsidiaries, considered as a whole (other than a disposition of assets as
an entirety or virtually as an entirety to a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary or one or
more Permitted Holders) shall have occurred, or the Borrower merges, consolidates or
amalgamates with or into any other Person (other than one or more Permitted Holders) or any
other Person (other than one or more Permitted Holders) merges, consolidates or amalgamates
with or into the Borrower, in any event pursuant to a transaction in which the outstanding
Voting Stock of the Borrower is reclassified into or exchanged for cash, securities or other
Property, other than a transaction where:
(1) the outstanding Voting Stock of the Borrower is reclassified into or
exchanged for other Voting Stock of the Borrower or for Voting Stock of the
surviving corporation or transferee, and
(2) the holders of the Voting Stock of the Borrower immediately prior to the
transaction own, directly or indirectly, not less than a majority of the Voting
Stock of the Borrower or the surviving corporation or transferee immediately after
the transaction and in substantially the same proportion as before the transaction;
or
(d) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of
that period constituted the Board of Directors (together with any new directors whose
election or appointment by such Board or whose nomination for election by the shareholders
of the Borrower was approved by a vote of not less than three-fourths of the directors then
still in office who were either directors at the beginning of that period or whose election
or nomination for election was previously so approved or by a vote of the Voting Trustees
pursuant to the terms of the Voting Trust Agreement) cease for any reason to constitute a
majority of the Board of Directors then in office; or
(e) the shareholders of the Borrower shall have approved any plan of liquidation or
dissolution of the Borrower.
“Change of Control Offer” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b)(i).
“Change of Control Prepayment Amount” has the meaning specified in Section
2.03(b)(i).
“Change of Control Prepayment Date” has the meaning specified in Section
2.03(b)(ii).
“Closing Date” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section
4.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 10.01.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Commitment” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to make Loans to the Borrower
pursuant to Section 2.01 in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not
to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 under the
caption “Commitment” or opposite such caption in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to
7
which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from
time to time in accordance with this Agreement.
“Committed Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) the Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Loans
from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, pursuant to Section
2.02(a), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A.
“Commodity Price Protection Agreement” means, in respect of a Person, any forward
contract, commodity swap agreement, commodity option agreement or other similar agreement or
arrangement designed to protect that Person against fluctuations in commodity prices.
“Consolidated Current Liabilities” means, as of any date of determination, the
aggregate amount of liabilities of the Borrower and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries which
may properly be classified as current liabilities (including taxes accrued as estimated), after
eliminating:
(a) all intercompany items between the Borrower and any Restricted Subsidiary or
between Restricted Subsidiaries, and
(b) all current maturities of long-term Indebtedness.
“Consolidated Fixed Charges” means, for any period, the total interest expense (net of
interest income) of the Borrower and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries, plus, to the
extent not included in such total interest expense, and to the extent Incurred by the Borrower or
its Restricted Subsidiaries,
(a) interest expense attributable to leases constituting part of a Sale and Leaseback
Transaction and to Capital Lease Obligations,
(b) amortization of debt discount and debt issuance cost, including commitment fees,
(c) capitalized interest,
(d) non-cash interest expense,
(e) commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of
credit and bankers’ acceptance financing,
(f) net costs associated with Interest Rate Agreements (including amortization of
fees),
(g) Disqualified Stock Dividends,
(h) Preferred Stock Dividends,
8
(i) interest Incurred in connection with Investments in discontinued operations,
(j) interest accruing on any Indebtedness of any other Person to the extent that
Indebtedness is Guaranteed by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, and
(k) the cash contributions to any employee stock ownership plan or similar trust to the
extent those contributions are used by the plan or trust to pay interest or fees to any
Person (other than the Borrower) in connection with Indebtedness Incurred by the plan or
trust.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, commissions, discounts, yield and
other fees and charges Incurred in connection with any transaction (including, without limitation,
any Qualified Receivables Transaction) pursuant to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the
Borrower may sell, convey or otherwise transfer or grant a security interest in any accounts
receivable or related assets of the type specified in the definition of “Qualified Receivables
Transaction” shall be included in Consolidated Fixed Charges.
“Consolidated Fixed Charges Coverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination,
the ratio of:
(a) the aggregate amount of EBITDA for the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters
ending at least 45 days prior to such determination date to
(b) Consolidated Fixed Charges for those four fiscal quarters;
provided that:
(1) if
(A) since the beginning of that period the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary has Incurred any Indebtedness that remains outstanding or Repaid any
Indebtedness, or
(B) the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Fixed
Charges Coverage Ratio involves an Incurrence or Repayment of Indebtedness,
Consolidated Fixed Charges for that period shall be calculated after giving effect on a pro
forma basis to that Incurrence or Repayment as if the Indebtedness was Incurred or Repaid on
the first day of that period, provided that in the event of any Repayment of
Indebtedness, EBITDA for that period shall be calculated as if the Borrower or such
Restricted Subsidiary had not earned any interest income actually earned during such period
in respect of the funds used to Repay such Indebtedness, and
9
(2) if
(A) since the beginning of that period the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary shall have made any Asset Sale or an Investment (by merger or otherwise)
in any Restricted Subsidiary (or any Person which becomes a Restricted Subsidiary)
or an acquisition of Property which constitutes all or substantially all of an
operating unit of a business,
(B) the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Fixed
Charges Coverage Ratio involves an Asset Sale, Investment or acquisition, or
(C) since the beginning of that period any Person (that subsequently became a
Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary since the beginning of that period) shall have made such an Asset Sale,
Investment or acquisition,
EBITDA for that period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect to the Asset Sale,
Investment or acquisition as if the Asset Sale, Investment or acquisition occurred on the
first day of that period.
If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the
interest expense on that Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the base interest rate in effect
for the floating rate of interest on the date of determination had been the applicable base
interest rate for the entire period (taking into account any Interest Rate Agreement applicable to
that Indebtedness if the applicable Interest Rate Agreement has a remaining term in excess of 12
months). In the event the Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary is sold during the period, the
Borrower shall be deemed, for purposes of clause (1) above, to have Repaid during that period the
Indebtedness of that Restricted Subsidiary to the extent the Borrower and its continuing Restricted
Subsidiaries are no longer liable for that Indebtedness after the sale.
“Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, the net income (loss) of the Borrower
and its consolidated Subsidiaries; provided that there shall not be included in such
Consolidated Net Income:
(a) any net income (loss) of any Person (other than the Borrower) if that Person is not
a Restricted Subsidiary, except that:
(1) subject to the exclusion contained in clause (d) below, the Borrower’s
equity in the net income of any such Person for that period shall be included in
such Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash distributed by that
Person during that period to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary as a dividend
or other distribution (subject, in the case of a dividend or other distribution to a
Restricted Subsidiary, to the limitations contained in clause (c) below), and
10
(2) the Borrower’s equity in a net loss of that Person other than an
Unrestricted Subsidiary for the specified period shall be included in determining
such Consolidated Net Income,
(b) for purposes of Section 7.02 only, any net income (loss) of any Person
acquired by the Borrower or any of its consolidated Subsidiaries in a pooling of interests
transaction for any period prior to the date of the acquisition,
(c) any net income (loss) of any Restricted Subsidiary if the Restricted Subsidiary is
subject to restrictions, directly or indirectly, on the payment of dividends or the making
of distributions, directly or indirectly, to the Borrower, except that:
(1) subject to the exclusion contained in clause (d) below, the Borrower’s
equity in the net income of the Restricted Subsidiary for the period shall be
included in Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount that would have been
permitted at the date of determination to be dividended to the Borrower or another
Restricted Subsidiary by that Restricted Subsidiary without prior approval by a
third party (that has not been obtained), pursuant to the terms of its charter and
all agreements, instruments, judgments, decrees and orders applicable to that
Restricted Subsidiary or its shareholders, during that period as a dividend or other
distribution (subject, in the case of a dividend or other distribution to another
Restricted Subsidiary, to the limitation contained in this clause), and
(2) the Borrower’s equity in a net loss of the Restricted Subsidiary for such
period shall be included in determining such Consolidated Net Income,
(d) any gain (but not loss) realized upon the sale or other disposition of any Property
of the Borrower or any of its consolidated Subsidiaries (including pursuant to any Sale and
Leaseback Transaction) that is not sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of
business,
(e) any extraordinary gain or loss,
(f) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles,
(g) any unrealized gains or losses of the Borrower or its consolidated Subsidiaries on
any Hedging Obligations, and
(h) any non-cash compensation expense realized for grants of performance shares, stock
options or other rights to officers, directors and employees of the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary, provided that if any such shares, options or other rights are
subsequently redeemed for Property other than Capital Stock of the Borrower that is not
Disqualified Stock then the Fair Market Value of such Property shall be treated as a
reduction in Consolidated Net Income during the period of such redemption.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of Section 7.02 only, there shall be excluded
from Consolidated Net Income any dividends, repayments of loans or advances or other transfers of
11
assets from Unrestricted Subsidiaries to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent the
dividends, repayments or transfers increase the amount of Restricted Payments permitted under that
Section pursuant to clause (c)(4) of the first paragraph thereof.
“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means, as of any date of determination, the sum of
the amounts that would appear on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its consolidated
Restricted Subsidiaries as the total assets (less accumulated depreciation, amortization,
allowances for doubtful receivables, other applicable reserves and other properly deductible items)
of the Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries, after giving effect to purchase accounting and
after deducting therefrom Consolidated Current Liabilities and, to the extent otherwise included,
the amounts of (without duplication):
(a) the excess of cost over fair market value of assets or businesses acquired;
(b) any revaluation or other write-up in book value of assets subsequent to the last
day of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower immediately preceding the Closing Date as a result
of a change in the method of valuation in accordance with GAAP;
(c) unamortized debt discount and expenses and other unamortized deferred charges,
goodwill, patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, licenses,
organization or developmental expenses and other intangible items;
(d) minority interests in consolidated Subsidiaries held by Persons other than the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(e) treasury stock;
(f) cash or securities set aside and held in a sinking or other analogous fund
established for the purpose of redemption or other retirement of Capital Stock to the extent
such obligation is not reflected in Consolidated Current Liabilities; and
(g) Investments in and assets of Unrestricted Subsidiaries.
“Credit Facilities” means, with respect to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary,
one or more debt or commercial paper facilities (including related Guarantees) with banks,
investment banks, insurance companies, mutual funds or other institutional lenders (including the
Existing Bank Credit Facility), providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables or
inventory financing (including through the sale of receivables or inventory to institutional
lenders or to special purpose, bankruptcy remote entities formed to borrow from institutional
lenders against those receivables or inventory) or trade or standby letters of credit, in each case
together with any Refinancing thereof on any basis so long as such Refinancing constitutes
Indebtedness; provided that in the case of a transaction in which any accounts receivable
are sold, conveyed or otherwise transferred by the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries to another
Person other than a Receivables Entity, then that transaction must satisfy the following three
conditions:
(a) if the transaction involves a transfer of accounts receivable with Fair Market
Value equal to or greater than $25.0 million, the Board of Directors shall have
12
determined in good faith that the transaction is economically fair and reasonable to
the Borrower or the Subsidiary that sold, conveyed or transferred the accounts receivable,
(b) the sale, conveyance or transfer of accounts receivable by the Borrower or the
Subsidiary is made at Fair Market Value, and
the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions of the transaction shall be
market terms (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors).
“Currency Exchange Protection Agreement” means, in respect of a Person, any foreign
exchange contract, currency swap agreement, currency option or other similar agreement or
arrangement designed to protect that Person against fluctuations in currency exchange rates.
“Custodian” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.
“Debt Issuances” means, with respect to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, one
or more issuances after the Closing Date of Indebtedness evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or
other similar securities or instruments.
“Default” means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that,
with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.
“Default Rate” means an interest rate equal to (a) the Base Rate plus (b) the
Applicable Rate applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (c) 2% per annum; provided that
with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the
interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2% per
annum.
“Defaulting Lender” means any Lender that (a) has failed to fund any portion of the
Loans required to be funded by it hereunder within one Business Day of the date required to be
funded by it hereunder, (b) has otherwise failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent or any
other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within one Business Day of the
date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute, or (c) has been deemed insolvent or
become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding.
“Disqualified Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock that by its
terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is
exchangeable, in either case at the option of the holder thereof) or otherwise:
(a) matures or is mandatorily redeemable pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or
otherwise,
(b) is or may become redeemable or repurchaseable at the option of the holder thereof,
in whole or in part, or
(c) is convertible or exchangeable at the option of the holder thereof for Indebtedness
or Disqualified Stock, on or prior to, in the case of clause (a), (b) or (c), the first
anniversary of the Maturity Date.
13
“Disqualified Stock Dividends” means all dividends with respect to Disqualified Stock
of the Borrower held by Persons other than a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary. The amount of any
dividend of this kind shall be equal to the quotient of the dividend divided by the difference
between one and the maximum statutory Federal income tax rate (expressed as a decimal number
between 1 and 0) then applicable to the Borrower.
“Dollar” and “$” mean lawful money of the United States.
“EBITDA” means, for any period, an amount equal to, for the Borrower and its
consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries:
(a) the sum of Consolidated Net Income for that period, plus the following to the
extent reducing Consolidated Net Income for that period:
(1) the provision for taxes based on income or profits or utilized in computing
net loss,
(2) Consolidated Fixed Charges,
(3) depreciation,
(4) amortization of intangibles,
(5) any other non-cash items (other than any non-cash item to the extent that
it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenditures in any future period),
and
(6) any one-time, non-recurring expenses relating to, or arising from, any
closures of manufacturing facilities on or after the Closing Date, in each case
incurred within 12 months after such closure, minus
(b) all non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income for that period (other than
any such non-cash item to the extent that it will result in the receipt of cash payments in
any future period).
Notwithstanding the foregoing clause (a), the provision for taxes and the depreciation,
amortization and non-cash items of a Restricted Subsidiary shall be added to Consolidated Net
Income to compute EBITDA only to the extent (and in the same proportion) that the net income of
that Restricted Subsidiary was included in calculating Consolidated Net Income and only if a
corresponding amount would be permitted at the date of determination to be dividended to the
Borrower, directly or indirectly, by that Restricted Subsidiary without prior approval (that has
not been obtained), pursuant to the terms of its charter and all agreements, instruments,
judgments, decrees and orders applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its shareholders.
“Eligible Assignee” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee
under Section 10.06(b)(iii), (v) and (vi) (subject to such consents, if
any, as may be required under Section 10.06(b)(iii)) and is a commercial bank or other
financial institution or a Fund.
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“Environmental Laws” means any and all Federal, state, local, and foreign statutes,
laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants,
franchises, licenses, agreements or governmental restrictions relating to pollution and the
protection of the environment or the release of any materials into the environment, including those
related to hazardous substances or wastes, air emissions and discharges to waste or public systems.
“Equipment Financing Transaction” means any arrangement (together with any
Refinancings thereof) with any Person pursuant to which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary
Incurs Indebtedness secured by a Lien on equipment or equipment related property of the Borrower or
any Restricted Subsidiary.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
“ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under
common control with the Borrower within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and
Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the
Code).
“ERISA Event” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a
withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of
ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2)
of ERISA) or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e)
of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a
Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (d) the filing
of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under
Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a
Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (e) an event or condition which constitutes grounds under
Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any
Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (f) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA,
other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon the Borrower
or any ERISA Affiliate.
“Eurodollar Rate” means, for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurodollar Rate
Loan, the rate per annum equal to the British Bankers Association LIBOR Rate (“BBA LIBOR”),
as published by Reuters (or other commercially available source providing quotations of BBA LIBOR
as designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London
time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, for Dollar deposits (for
delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period.
If such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the “Eurodollar Rate” for such
Interest Period shall be the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate
at which deposits in Dollars for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period in same day
funds in the approximate amount of the Eurodollar Rate Loan being made, continued or converted by
Bank of America and with a term equivalent to such Interest Period would be offered by Bank of
America’s London Branch to major banks in the London interbank eurodollar market at their request
at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the commencement of such
Interest Period.
15
“Eurodollar Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the
Eurodollar Rate.
“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.
“Excess Proceeds” has the meaning specified in Section 7.04(c).
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange act of 1934.
“Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any
other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower
hereunder, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by its overall net income (however denominated), and
franchise Taxes imposed on it (in lieu of net income Taxes), by the jurisdiction (or any political
subdivision thereof) under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal
office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable Lending Office is located,
(b) any branch profits Taxes imposed by the United States or any similar Tax imposed by any other
jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located and (c) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than
an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 10.13), any withholding Tax
that is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a
party hereto (or designates a new Lending Office) or is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s
failure or inability (other than as a result of a Change in Law) to comply with Section
3.01(e), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled,
at the time of designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts
from the Borrower with respect to such withholding Tax pursuant to Section 3.01(a).
“Existing Bank Credit Facility” means the First Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
dated as of May 18, 2006, among the Borrower and Levi Xxxxxxx Financial Center Corporation, as
borrowers, the financial institutions named therein as lenders and Bank of America, as
administrative agent.
“Existing Policies” means (1) the Borrower’s estate tax repurchase policy under which
the Borrower repurchases a portion of a deceased stockholder’s shares to generate funds for payment
of estate taxes and (2) the Borrower’s valuation policy under which the Borrower obtains an annual
valuation of the Borrower’s Voting Trust Certificates, as both policies exist at the Closing Date
or as they may exist from time to time, provided that if either of these policies is
materially amended after the Closing Date in a manner less favorable to the Borrower than the
policy as existing on the Closing Date, then that amended policy shall be deemed not to be an
Existing Policy.
“Facility” means, at any time, (a) on or prior to the Closing Date, the aggregate
amount of the Commitments at such time and (b) thereafter, the aggregate principal amount of the
Loans of all Lenders outstanding at such time.
“Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any Property, the price that could be
negotiated in an arm’s-length free market transaction, for cash, between a willing seller and a
willing buyer, neither of whom is under undue pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction.
For purposes of Sections 7.02 and 7.04 and the definitions of “Qualified
Receivables
16
Transaction” and “Credit Facilities”, Fair Market Value shall be determined, except as
otherwise provided,
(a) if the Property has a Fair Market Value equal to or less than $25.0 million, by any
Officer of the Borrower, or
(b) if the Property has a Fair Market Value in excess of $25.0 million, by a majority
of the Board of Directors and evidenced by a Board Resolution, dated within 12 months of the
relevant transaction, delivered to the Administrative Agent.
“Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted
average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve
System arranged by Federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of
New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided that (a) if such day is not
a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the
next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such
rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day
shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%)
charged to Bank of America on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative
Agent.
“Fee Letter” means the letter agreement, dated February 28, 2007, among the Borrower,
the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers.
“Foreign Government Scheme or Arrangement” has the meaning specified in Section
5.09(e).
“Foreign Lender” means any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction
other than that in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes. For purposes of this
definition, the United States, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to
constitute a single jurisdiction.
“Foreign Plan” has the meaning specified in Section 5.09(e).
“Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in
making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of
credit in the ordinary course of its activities.
“Funded Current Liability Percentage” means “funded current liability percentage”
within the meaning of Section 412(1)(8)(B) of the Code.
“GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles as in effect on
the Measurement Date, including those set forth:
(a) in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants,
17
(b) in the statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board,
(c) in other statements by another entity as approved by a significant segment of the
accounting profession, and
(d) the rules and regulations of the SEC governing the inclusion of financial
statements (including pro forma financial statements) in periodic reports required to be
filed pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act, including opinions and pronouncements in
staff accounting bulletins and similar written statements from the accounting staff of the
SEC.
“Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States or any other
nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority,
instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive,
legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to
government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central
Bank).
“Guarantee” means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person directly or
indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person and any obligation, direct or
indirect, contingent or otherwise, of that Person:
(a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) the
Indebtedness of such other Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or
by agreements to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to
take-or-pay or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise), or
(b) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee against
loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part);
provided that the term “Guarantee” shall not include:
(1) endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business,
or
(2) a contractual commitment by one Person to invest in another Person for so
long as the Investment is reasonably expected to constitute a Permitted Investment
under clause (a), (b) or (i) of the definition of “Permitted Investment”.
The term “Guarantee” used as a verb has a corresponding meaning. The term
“Guarantor” shall mean any Person Guaranteeing any obligation.
“Hazardous Substances” has the meaning specified in Section 10.04(b).
18
“Hedging Obligation” of any Person means any obligation of that Person pursuant to any
Interest Rate Agreement, Currency Exchange Protection Agreement, Commodity Price Protection
Agreement or any other similar agreement or arrangement.
“Incur” means, with respect to any Indebtedness or other obligation of any Person, to
create, issue, incur (by merger, conversion, exchange or otherwise), extend, assume, Guarantee or
become liable in respect of that Indebtedness or other obligation or the recording, as required
pursuant to GAAP or otherwise, of any Indebtedness or obligation on the balance sheet of that
Person (and “Incurrence” and “Incurred” shall have meanings correlative to the
foregoing); provided that a change in GAAP that results in an obligation of that Person
that exists at such time, and is not theretofore classified as Indebtedness, becoming Indebtedness
shall not be deemed an Incurrence of that Indebtedness; provided further that any
Indebtedness or other obligations of a Person existing at the time the Person becomes a Subsidiary
(whether by merger, consolidation, acquisition or otherwise) shall be deemed to be Incurred by that
Subsidiary at the time it becomes a Subsidiary; and provided further that solely for
purposes of determining compliance with Section 7.01, amortization of debt discount or
premium shall not be deemed to be the Incurrence of Indebtedness, provided that in the case
of Indebtedness sold at a discount or at a premium, the amount of the Indebtedness Incurred shall
at all times be the aggregate principal amount at Stated Maturity.
“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person on any date of determination (without
duplication):
(a) the principal of and premium (if any) in respect of:
(1) debt of the Person for money borrowed, and
(2) debt evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other similar instruments for
the payment of which the Person is responsible or liable;
(b) all Capital Lease Obligations of the Person and all Attributable Indebtedness in
respect of Sale and Leaseback Transactions entered into by the Person;
(c) all obligations of the Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of
Property, all conditional sale obligations of the Person and all obligations of the Person
under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable arising in the
ordinary course of business);
(d) all obligations of the Person for the reimbursement of any obligor on any letter of
credit, banker’s acceptance or similar credit transaction (other than obligations with
respect to letters of credit securing obligations (other than obligations described in
clauses (a) through (c) above) entered into in the ordinary course of business of the Person
to the extent those letters of credit are not drawn upon or, if and to the extent drawn
upon, the drawing is reimbursed no later than the third Business Day following receipt by
the Person of a demand for reimbursement following payment on the letter of credit);
19
(e) the amount of all obligations of the Person with respect to the Repayment of any
Disqualified Stock or, with respect to any Subsidiary of the Person, any Preferred Stock
(but excluding, in each case, any accrued dividends);
(f) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (a) through (e) of other Persons
and all dividends of other Persons for the payment of which, in either case, the Person is
responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, including
by means of any Guarantee;
(g) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (a) through (f) of other Persons
secured by any Lien on any Property of the Person (whether or not such obligation is assumed
by the Person), the amount of such obligation being deemed to be the lesser of the value of
that Property or the amount of the obligation so secured; and
(h) to the extent not otherwise included in this definition, Hedging Obligations of
such Person.
The amount of Indebtedness of any Person at any date shall be the outstanding balance at that
date of all unconditional obligations as described above and the maximum liability, upon the
occurrence of the contingency giving rise to the obligation, of any contingent obligations at that
date. The amount of Indebtedness represented by a Hedging Obligation shall be equal to:
(1) zero if the Hedging Obligation has been Incurred pursuant to clause (e), (f) or (g)
of the second paragraph of Section 7.01, or
(2) if the Hedging Obligation is not Incurred pursuant to clause (e), (f) or (g) of the
second paragraph of Section 7.01, then 105% of the aggregate net amount, if any,
that would then be payable by the Borrower and any Restricted Subsidiary on a per
counter-party basis pursuant to Section 6(e) of the ISDA Master Agreement
(Multicurrency-Cross Border) in the form published by the International Swaps and
Derivatives Association in 1992 (the “ISDA Form”), as if the date of determination
were a date that constitutes or is substantially equivalent to an Early Termination Date, as
defined in the ISDA Form, with respect to all transactions governed by the ISDA Form, plus
the equivalent amount under the terms of any other Hedging Obligations that are not Incurred
pursuant to clause (e), (f) or (g) of the second paragraph of Section 7.01, each
such amount to be estimated in good faith by the Borrower.
“Indemnified Liabilities” has the meaning specified in Section 10.04(b).
“Indemnified Taxes” means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.
“Indemnitees” has the meaning specified in Section 10.04(b).
“Information” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07.
“Interest Payment Date” means, (a) as to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, the last day of
each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date; provided that if any
Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall
20
every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment
Dates; and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan the last Business Day of each February, May, August and
November and the Maturity Date.
“Interest Period” means, as to each Eurodollar Rate Loan, the period commencing on the
date such Eurodollar Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Rate Loan
and ending on the date one, two, three or six months (or, if consented to by all Lenders, nine or
twelve months) thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Committed Loan Notice ;
provided that:
(a) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day
shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in
another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding
Business Day;
(b) any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on
a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end
of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end
of such Interest Period; and
(c) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date.
“Interest Rate Agreement” means, for any Person, any interest rate swap agreement,
interest rate option agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect
against fluctuations in interest rates.
“Investment” by any Person means any direct or indirect loan (other than advances to
customers and suppliers in the ordinary course of business that are recorded as accounts receivable
on the balance sheet of that Person), advance or other extension of credit or capital contribution
(by means of transfers of cash or other Property to others or payments for Property or services for
the account or use of others, or otherwise) to, or Incurrence of a Guarantee of any obligation of,
or purchase or acquisition of Capital Stock, bonds, notes, debentures or other securities or
evidence of Indebtedness issued by, any other Person. For purposes of Section 7.02,
Section 7.07 and the definition of “Restricted Payment”, Investment shall include the
portion (proportionate to the Borrower’s equity interest in the Subsidiary) of the Fair Market
Value of the net assets of any Subsidiary of the Borrower at the time that the Subsidiary is
designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided that upon a redesignation of that
Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Borrower shall be deemed to continue to have a permanent
Investment in an Unrestricted Subsidiary of an amount (if positive) equal to:
(a) the Borrower’s Investment in that Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation,
less
(b) the portion (proportionate to the Borrower’s equity interest in such Subsidiary)
of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of that Subsidiary at the time of such
redesignation.
21
(c) In determining the amount of any Investment made by transfer of any Property other
than cash, the Property shall be valued at its Fair Market Value at the time of the
Investment.
“Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the
equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P.
“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.
“Laws” means, collectively, all international, foreign, Federal, state and local
statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or
judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any
Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and
all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and
permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case whether or not having the
force of law.
“Lead Arrangers” means Banc of America Securities LLC and Xxxxxxx Sachs Credit
Partners L.P., in their capacity as joint lead arranger and bookrunning managers.
“Lender” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.
“Lending Office” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender
described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as
a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
“Lien” means, with respect to any Property of any Person, any mortgage or deed of
trust, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, security interest, lien, charge,
easement (other than any easement not materially impairing usefulness or marketability),
encumbrance, preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any
kind or nature whatsoever on or with respect to that Property (including any Capital Lease
Obligation, conditional sale or other title retention agreement having substantially the same
economic effect as any of the foregoing or any Sale and Leaseback Transaction).
“Loan” means a term loan made by a Lender to the Borrower pursuant to Section
2.01.
“Loan Documents” means, collectively, (a) this Agreement, (b) the Notes and (c) the
Fee Letter.
“Margin Stock” means “margin stock” as such term is defined in Regulation T, U or X of
the Federal Reserve Board.
“Material Adverse Effect” means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material
adverse effect on, the operations, business, properties or condition (financial or otherwise) of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of the
Borrower to perform its obligations under any Loan Document; or (c) a material adverse effect
22
upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against the Borrower of any Loan
Document.
“Maturity Date” means the date that is seven years following the Closing Date;
provided that if such date is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the next
preceding Business Day.
“Measurement Date” means March 11, 2005.
“Moody’s” means Xxxxx’x Investors Service, Inc. or any successor to the rating agency
business thereof.
“Multiemployer Plan” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section
4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make
contributions, or during the preceding five plan years, has made or been obligated to make
contributions.
“Net Available Cash” from any Asset Sale means cash payments received therefrom
(including any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or
installment receivable or otherwise, but only as and when received, but excluding any other
consideration received in the form of assumption by the acquiring Person of Indebtedness or other
obligations relating to the Property that is the subject of that Asset Sale or received in any
other non-cash form), in each case net of:
(a) all legal, title and recording tax expenses, commissions and other fees (including,
without limitation, brokers’ or investment bankers’ commissions or fees) and expenses
incurred, and all Federal, state, provincial, foreign and local taxes required to be accrued
as a liability under GAAP, as a consequence of the Asset Sale,
(b) all payments made on any Indebtedness that is secured by any Property subject to
the Asset Sale, in accordance with the terms of any Lien upon or other security agreement of
any kind with respect to that Property, or which must by its terms, or in order to obtain a
necessary consent to the Asset Sale, or by applicable law, be repaid out of the proceeds
from the Asset Sale,
(c) all distributions and other payments required to be made to minority interest
holders in Subsidiaries or joint ventures as a result of the Asset Sale, and
(d) the deduction of appropriate amounts provided by the seller as a reserve, in
accordance with GAAP, against any liabilities associated with the Property disposed in the
Asset Sale and retained by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary after the Asset Sale.
“Note” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of a Lender evidencing
Loans made by such Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit B.
“Obligations” means all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants
and duties of, the Borrower arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any
23
Loan, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or
contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees
that accrue after the commencement by or against the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof of any
proceeding under any Bankruptcy Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding,
regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding.
“Officer” means the chief executive officer, the president, the chief financial
officer, the principal accounting officer, the treasurer or the assistant treasurer of the
Borrower.
“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by two Officers of the Borrower, at
least one of whom shall be the chief executive officer, chief financial officer or the principal
accounting officer of the Borrower, and delivered to the Administrative Agent.
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is acceptable to
the Administrative Agent. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Borrower or the
Administrative Agent.
“Organization Documents” means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate
or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents
with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the
certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect
to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint
venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument,
filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with
the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if
applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.
“Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp or documentary Taxes or any other
excise or property Taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or
under any other Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with
respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
“Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d).
“Patriot Act” has the meaning specified in Section 10.17.
“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
“Pension Plan” means any “employee pension benefit plan” (as such term is defined in
Section 3(2) of ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA and
is sponsored or maintained by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or to which the Borrower or any
ERISA Affiliate contributes or has an obligation to contribute, or in the case of a multiple
employer or other plan described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA, has made contributions at any time
during the immediately preceding five plan years.
“Permitted Holders” means the holders of Voting Stock as of the Closing Date, together
with any Voting Trustee and any Person who is a “Permitted Transferee” of the holders,
24
as that term is defined in the Stockholders Agreement dated as of April 15, 1996, between the
Borrower and the stockholders of the Borrower party thereto as that Stockholders Agreement was in
effect on the Closing Date, except that transferees pursuant to Section 2.2(a)(x) of that
Stockholders Agreement shall not be deemed to be Permitted Transferees for purposes of this
Agreement.
“Permitted Indebtedness” has the meaning specified in Section 7.01.
“Permitted Investment” means any Investment by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary
in:
(a) any Restricted Subsidiary or any Person that will, upon the making of such
Investment, become a Restricted Subsidiary, provided that the primary business of
the Restricted Subsidiary is a Related Business;
(b) any Person if as a result of the Investment that Person is merged or consolidated
with or into, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all its Property to, the Borrower
or a Restricted Subsidiary, provided that the Person’s primary business is a Related
Business;
(c) Temporary Cash Investments;
(d) receivables owing to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, if created or
acquired in the ordinary course of business and payable or dischargeable in accordance with
customary trade terms; provided that those trade terms may include such
concessionary trade terms as the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiary deems reasonable
under the circumstances;
(e) payroll, travel and similar advances to cover matters that are expected at the time
of those advances ultimately to be treated as expenses for accounting purposes and that are
made in the ordinary course of business;
(f) loans and advances to employees made in the ordinary course of business in
compliance with applicable laws and consistent with past practices of the Borrower or the
applicable Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, provided that those loans and
advances do not exceed $5.0 million at any one time outstanding;
(g) stock, obligations or other securities received in settlement of debts created in
the ordinary course of business and owing to the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary or in
satisfaction of judgments;
(h) any Person to the extent the Investment represents the non-cash portion of the
consideration received in connection with an Asset Sale consummated in compliance with
Section 7.04;
(i) a Receivables Entity or any Investment by a Receivables Entity in any other Person
in connection with a Qualified Receivables Transaction, including Investments of funds held
in accounts permitted or required by the arrangements
25
governing that Qualified Receivables Transaction or any related Indebtedness;
provided that any Investment in a Receivables Entity is in the form of a purchase
money note, contribution of additional receivables or an equity interest;
(j) customers or suppliers of the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries in the form of
extensions of credit or transfers of property, to the extent otherwise constituting an
Investment, and in the ordinary course of business and any Investments received in the
ordinary course of business in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof;
(k) any Person if the Investments are outstanding on the Closing Date and not otherwise
described in clauses (a) through (j) above;
(l) any securities, derivative instruments or other Investments of any kind that are
acquired and held for the benefit of the Borrower’s employees in the ordinary course of
business pursuant to deferred compensation plans or arrangements approved by the Board of
Directors; provided that (i) the amount of such Investment represents funds paid or
payable in respect of deferred compensation previously included as an expense in the
calculation of Consolidated Net Income (and not excluded pursuant to clause (h) of the
definition of Consolidated Net Income), and (ii) the terms of such Investment shall not
require any additional Investment by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; and
(m) any Person made for Fair Market Value that does not exceed $100.0 million
outstanding at any one time in the aggregate.
“Permitted Liens” means:
(a) Liens (including, without limitation and to the extent constituting a Lien,
negative pledges) to secure Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred under clause (b) of the
second paragraph of Section 7.01, regardless of whether the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries are actually subject to the covenant contained in Section
7.01 at the time the Lien is Incurred;
(b) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies on the Property of
the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary if the same shall not at the time be delinquent or
thereafter can be paid without penalty, or are being contested in good faith and by
appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently concluded, provided that
any reserve or other appropriate provision that shall be required in conformity with GAAP
shall have been made therefor;
(c) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s and mechanics’ Liens and
other similar Liens, on the Property of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary arising in
the ordinary course of business and securing payment of obligations that are not more than
60 days past due or are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings;
(d) Liens on the Property of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary Incurred in the
ordinary course of business to secure performance of obligations with respect to statutory
or regulatory requirements, performance or return-of-money bonds,
26
surety bonds or other obligations of a like nature and Incurred in a manner consistent
with industry practice, including banker’s liens and rights of set-off, in each case which
are not Incurred in connection with the borrowing of money, the obtaining of advances or
credit or the payment of the deferred purchase price of Property and which do not in the
aggregate impair in any material respect the use of Property in the operation of the
business of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole;
(e) Liens on Property at the time the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary acquired
the Property, including any acquisition by means of a merger or consolidation with or into
the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that any Lien of this kind may
not extend to any other Property of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided
further that the Liens shall not have been Incurred in anticipation of or in connection
with the transaction or series of transactions pursuant to which the Property was acquired
by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary;
(f) Liens on the Property of a Person at the time that Person becomes a Restricted
Subsidiary; provided that any Lien of this kind may not extend to any other Property
of the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary that is not a direct Subsidiary of that
Person; provided that the Lien was not Incurred in anticipation of or in connection
with the transaction or series of transactions pursuant to which the Person became a
Restricted Subsidiary;
(g) pledges or deposits by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary under worker’s
compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation, or good faith
deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of
Indebtedness) or leases to which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary is party, or
deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary, or deposits for the payment of rent, in each case Incurred in the ordinary
course of business;
(h) Liens (including, without limitation and to the extent constituting Liens, negative
pledges), assignments and pledges of rights to receive premiums, interest or loss payments
or otherwise arising in connection with worker’s compensation loss portfolio transfer
insurance transactions or any insurance or reinsurance agreements pertaining to losses
covered by insurance, and Liens (including, without limitation and to the extent
constituting Liens, negative pledges) in favor of insurers or reinsurers on pledges or
deposits by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary under workmen’s compensation laws,
unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation;
(i) utility easements, building restrictions and such other encumbrances or charges
against real Property as are of a nature generally existing with respect to properties of a
similar character;
(j) Liens arising out of judgments or awards against the Borrower or a Restricted
Subsidiary with respect to which the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiary shall then be
proceeding with an appeal or other proceeding for review;
27
(k) Liens in favor of surety bonds or letters of credit issued pursuant to the request
of and for the account of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of
its business, provided that these letters of credit do not constitute Indebtedness;
(l) leases or subleases of real property granted by the Borrower or a Restricted
Subsidiary to any other Person in the ordinary course of business and not materially
impairing the use of the real property in the operation of the business of the Borrower or
the Restricted Subsidiary;
(m) Liens (including, without limitation and to the extent constituting Liens, negative
pledges) on intellectual property arising from intellectual property licenses entered into
in the ordinary course of business;
(n) Liens or negative pledges attaching to or related to joint ventures engaged in a
Related Business, restricting Liens on interests in those joint ventures;
(o) Liens existing on the Closing Date not otherwise described in clauses (a) through
(n) above;
(p) Liens not otherwise described in clauses (a) through (o) above on the Property of
any Restricted Subsidiary to secure any Indebtedness permitted to be Incurred by the
Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to Section 7.01;
(q) Liens on the Property of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary to secure any
Refinancing, in whole or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by Liens referred to in clause
(d), (e), (f), (j) or (k) above; provided that any Lien of this kind shall be
limited to all or part of the same Property that secured the original Lien (together with
improvements and accessions to such Property) and the aggregate principal amount of
Indebtedness that is secured by the Lien shall not be increased to an amount greater than
the sum of:
(1) the outstanding principal amount, or, if greater, the committed amount, of
the Indebtedness secured by Liens described under clause (d), (e), (f), (j) or (k)
above, as the case may be, at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien
under this Agreement, and
(2) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums and
defeasance costs, incurred by the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiary in
connection with the Refinancing;
(r) Liens not otherwise permitted by clauses (a) through (q) above that are Liens
permitted by the Existing Bank Credit Facility as it exists on the Closing Date;
(s) Liens on cash or Temporary Cash Investments held as proceeds of Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness pending the payment, purchase, defeasance or other retirement of
the Indebtedness being Refinanced; and
28
(t) Liens not otherwise permitted by clauses (a) through (s) above encumbering assets
having an aggregate Fair Market Value not in excess of 5.0% of Consolidated Net Tangible
Assets, as determined based on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower as of the end
of the most recent fiscal quarter ending at least 45 days prior to the date the Lien shall
be Incurred.
“Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness that Refinances any other
Indebtedness, including any successive Refinancings, so long as:
(a) the new Indebtedness is in an aggregate principal amount (or if Incurred with
original issue discount, an aggregate issue price) not in excess of the sum of:
(1) the aggregate principal amount (or if Incurred with original issue
discount, the aggregate accreted value) then outstanding of the Indebtedness being
Refinanced, and
(2) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums and
defeasance costs, related to the Refinancing,
(b) the Average Life of the new Indebtedness is equal to or greater than the Average
Life of the Indebtedness being Refinanced,
(c) the Stated Maturity of the new Indebtedness is no earlier than the Stated Maturity
of the Indebtedness being Refinanced, and
(d) the new Indebtedness shall not be senior in right of payment to the Indebtedness
that is being Refinanced;
provided that Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall not include:
(x) Indebtedness of a Subsidiary that Refinances Indebtedness of the Borrower or
(y) Indebtedness of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary that Refinances
Indebtedness of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
“Person” means any natural person, corporation, company (including any limited
liability company), trust, joint venture, association, partnership, Governmental Authority or other
entity.
“Plan” means any “employee benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of
ERISA) established by the Borrower or, with respect to any such plan that is subject to Section 412
of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, any ERISA Affiliate.
“Platform” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.
“Preferred Stock” means any Capital Stock of a Person, however designated, which
entitles the holder thereof to a preference with respect to the payment of dividends, or as
29
to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of
that Person, over shares of any other class of Capital Stock issued by that Person.
“Preferred Stock Dividends” means all dividends with respect to Preferred Stock of
Restricted Subsidiaries held by Persons other than the Borrower or a Wholly Owned Restricted
Subsidiary. The amount of any dividend of this kind shall be equal to the quotient of the dividend
divided by the difference between one and the maximum statutory Federal income rate (expressed as a
decimal number between 1 and 0) then applicable to the issuer of the Preferred Stock.
“Prepayment Date” has the meaning specified in Section 7.04(d).
“Prepayment Offer” has the meaning specified in Section 7.04(c).
“principal” of any Indebtedness (including the Loans) means the principal amount of
such Indebtedness plus the premium, if any, on such Indebtedness.
“pro forma” means, with respect to any calculation made or required to be made
pursuant to the terms hereof, a calculation performed in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation
S-X promulgated under the Securities Act, as interpreted in good faith by the Board of Directors
after consultation with the independent registered public accounting firm of the Borrower, or
otherwise a calculation made in good faith by the Board of Directors after consultation with the
independent registered public accounting firm of the Borrower, as the case may be.
“Property” means, with respect to any Person, any interest of that Person in any kind
of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible, including Capital
Stock in, and other securities of, any other Person. For purposes of any calculation required
pursuant to this Agreement, the value of any Property shall be its Fair Market Value.
“Public Equity Offering” means an underwritten public offering of common stock of the
Borrower pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act.
“Public Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02(b).
“Public Market” means any time after:
(a) a Public Equity Offering has been consummated, and
(b) at least 15% of the total issued and outstanding common stock of the Borrower has
been distributed by means of an effective registration statement under the Securities Act.
“Purchase Money Indebtedness” means Indebtedness:
(a) consisting of the deferred purchase price of property, conditional sale
obligations, obligations under any title retention agreement, other purchase money
obligations and obligations in respect of industrial revenue bonds, in each case where the
30
maturity of the Indebtedness does not exceed the anticipated useful life of the
Property being financed, and
(b) Incurred to finance the acquisition, construction or lease by the Borrower or a
Restricted Subsidiary of the Property, including additions and improvements thereto;
provided that the Indebtedness is Incurred within 180 days after the acquisition,
construction or lease of the Property by the Borrower or Restricted Subsidiary.
“Qualified Receivables Transaction” means any transaction or series of transactions
that may be entered into by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to which the Borrower
or any of its Subsidiaries may sell, convey or otherwise transfer to:
(a) a Receivables Entity (in the case of a transfer by the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries) and
(b) any other Person (in the case of a transfer by a Receivables Entity),
or may grant a security interest in, any accounts receivable (whether now existing or arising in
the future) of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and any assets related thereto including,
without limitation, all collateral securing those accounts receivable, all contracts and all
Guarantees or other obligations in respect of those accounts receivable, proceeds of those accounts
receivable and other assets which are customarily transferred or in respect of which security
interests are customarily granted in connection with asset securitization transactions involving
accounts receivable; provided that:
(1) if the transaction involves a transfer of accounts receivable with Fair
Market Value equal to or greater than $25.0 million, the Board of Directors shall
have determined in good faith that the Qualified Receivables Transaction is
economically fair and reasonable to the Borrower and the Receivables Entity,
(2) all sales of accounts receivable and related assets to or by the
Receivables Entity are made at Fair Market Value, and
(3) the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions
thereof shall be market terms (as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors).
The grant of a security interest in any accounts receivable of the Borrower or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries to secure the Credit Facilities shall not be deemed a Qualified Receivables
Transaction.
“Rating Agencies” mean Moody’s and S&P.
“Real Estate Financing Transaction” means any arrangement with any Person pursuant to
which the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary Incurs Indebtedness secured by a Lien on real
property of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and related personal property together with
any Refinancings thereof.
31
“Receivables Entity” means a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower (or another
Person formed for the purposes of engaging in a Qualified Receivables Transaction with the Borrower
in which the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower makes an Investment and to which the
Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower transfers accounts receivable and related assets) which
engages in no activities other than in connection with the financing of accounts receivable of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries, all proceeds thereof and all rights (contractual or other),
collateral and other assets relating thereto, and any business or activities incidental or related
to that business, and (with respect to any Receivables Entity formed after the Closing Date) which
is designated by the Board of Directors (as provided below) as a Receivables Entity and
(a) no portion of the Indebtedness or any other obligations (contingent or otherwise)
of which
(1) is Guaranteed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower (excluding
Guarantees of obligations (other than the principal of, and interest on,
Indebtedness) pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings),
(2) is recourse to or obligates the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower
in any way other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings, or
(3) subjects any property or asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the
Borrower, directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction
thereof, other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings;
(b) with which neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary of the Borrower has any material
contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding other than on terms which the Borrower
reasonably believes to be no less favorable to the Borrower or the Subsidiary than those
that might be obtained at the time from Persons that are not Affiliates of the Borrower; and
(c) to which neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary of the Borrower has any obligation
to maintain or preserve the entity’s financial condition or cause the entity to achieve
certain levels of operating results other than pursuant to Standard Securitization
Undertakings.
Any designation of this kind by the Board of Directors shall be evidenced to the
Administrative Agent by filing with the Administrative Agent a certified copy of the resolution of
the Board of Directors giving effect to the designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying
that the designation complied with the foregoing conditions.
“Refinance” means, in respect of any Indebtedness, to refinance, extend, renew,
refund, repay, prepay, repurchase, redeem, defease or retire, or to issue other Indebtedness, in
exchange or replacement for, that Indebtedness. “Refinanced” and “Refinancing”
shall have correlative meanings.
“Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(c).
32
“Related Business” means any business that is related, ancillary or complementary to
the businesses of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries on the Closing Date.
“Related Parties” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the
partners, directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and of such Person’s
Affiliates.
“Repay” means, in respect of any Indebtedness, to repay, prepay, repurchase, redeem,
legally defease or otherwise retire that Indebtedness. “Repayment” and “Repaid” shall have
correlative meanings. For purposes of Sections 7.01 and 7.04 and the definition of
“Consolidated Fixed Charges Coverage Ratio”, Indebtedness shall be considered to have been Repaid
only to the extent the related loan commitment, if any, shall have been permanently reduced in
connection therewith.
“Reportable Event” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA,
other than any such event for which the 30 day notice requirement under ERISA has been waived in
regulations issued by the PBGC.
“Request for Borrowing” means with respect to the Borrowing, a conversion or a
continuation of Loans, a Committed Loan Notice.
“Required Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders holding more than
50% of the Facility; provided that the portion of the Facility held or deemed held by any
Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.
“Requirement of Law” means, as to any Person, any law (statutory or common), treaty,
rule or regulation or determination of an arbitrator or of a Governmental Authority, in each case
applicable to or binding upon the Person or any of its property or to which the Person or any of
its property is subject.
“Responsible Officer” means an Officer and any other officer or employee of the
Borrower so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a notice to the Administrative Agent.
Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer shall be conclusively
presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the
part of the Borrower and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on
behalf of the Borrower.
“Restricted Payment” means:
(a) any dividend or distribution (whether made in cash, securities or other Property)
declared or paid on or with respect to any shares of Capital Stock of the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary (including any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation
with or into the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary), except for any dividend or
distribution that is made to the Borrower or the parent of the Restricted Subsidiary or any
dividend or distribution payable solely in shares of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified
Stock) of the Borrower;
33
(b) the purchase, repurchase, redemption, acquisition or retirement for value of any
Capital Stock of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than from the Borrower or
a Restricted Subsidiary) or any securities exchangeable for or convertible into Capital
Stock of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, including the exercise of any option to
exchange any Capital Stock (other than for or into Capital Stock of the Borrower that is not
Disqualified Stock);
(c) the purchase, repurchase, redemption, acquisition or retirement for value, prior to
the date for any scheduled maturity, sinking fund or amortization or other installment
payment, of any Subordinated Obligation (other than the purchase, repurchase or other
acquisition of any Subordinated Obligation purchased in anticipation of satisfying a
scheduled maturity, sinking fund or amortization or other installment obligation, in each
case due within one year of the date of acquisition);
(d) any Investment (other than Permitted Investments) in any Person; or
(e) the issuance, sale or other disposition of Capital Stock of any Restricted
Subsidiary to a Person other than the Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary if the
result thereof is that the Restricted Subsidiary shall cease to be a Restricted Subsidiary,
in which event the amount of the “Restricted Payment” shall be the Fair Market Value of the
remaining interest, if any, in the former Restricted Subsidiary held by the Borrower and the
other Restricted Subsidiaries.
“Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower other than an
Unrestricted Subsidiary.
“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service or any successor to the rating agency
business thereof.
“Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means any direct or indirect arrangement relating to
Property now owned or hereafter acquired whereby the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary transfers
that Property to another Person and the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary leases it from that
other Person together with any Refinancings thereof.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority
succeeding to any of its principal functions.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933.
“Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that would be a “Significant Subsidiary”
of the Borrower within the meaning of Rule 1-02 under Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC.
“Standard Securitization Undertakings” means representations, warranties, covenants
and indemnities entered into by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower which are customary
in an accounts receivable securitization transaction involving a comparable company.
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“Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any security, the date specified in the
security as the fixed date on which the payment of principal of the security is due and payable,
including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision (but excluding any provision providing for
the repurchase of the security at the option of the holder thereof upon the happening of any
contingency beyond the control of the issuer unless that contingency has occurred).
“Subordinated Obligation” means any Indebtedness of the Borrower (whether outstanding
on the Measurement Date or thereafter Incurred) that is subordinate or junior in right of payment
to the Loans pursuant to a written agreement to that effect.
“Subsidiary” means, in respect of any Person, any corporation, company (including any
limited liability company), association, partnership, joint venture or other business entity of
which a majority of the total voting power of the Voting Stock is at the time owned or controlled,
directly or indirectly, by:
(a) that Person,
(b) that Person and one or more Subsidiaries of that Person, or
(c) one or more Subsidiaries of that Person.
“Surviving Corporation” has the meaning specified in Section 7.09.
“Suspended Covenants” has the meaning specified in Section 7.10.
“Syndication Agent” means Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Credit Partners L.P., in its capacity as the
syndication agent in respect of the Facility.
“Taxes” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions,
withholdings, assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including
any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
“Temporary Cash Investments” means any of the following:
(a) Investments in U.S. Government Obligations maturing within 365 days of the date of
acquisition thereof;
(b) Investments in time deposit accounts, banker’s acceptances, certificates of deposit
and money market deposits maturing within 180 days of the date of acquisition thereof issued
by a bank or trust company organized under the laws of the United States of America or any
state thereof having capital, surplus and undivided profits aggregating in excess of $500.0
million or issued by a commercial bank organized under the laws of any other country that is
a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development having total assets in
excess of $500.0 million (or its foreign currency equivalent at the time), and in any case
whose long-term debt is rated “A-3” or “A-” or higher according to Xxxxx’x or S&P (or a
similar equivalent rating by at least one
35
“nationally recognized statistical rating
organization” (as defined in Rule 436 under the Securities Act));
(c) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than 30 days for underlying
securities of the types described in clause (a) entered into with:
(1) a bank meeting the qualifications described in clause (b) above, or
(2) any primary government securities dealer reporting to the Market Reports
Division of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York;
(d) Investments in commercial paper, maturing not more than 270 days after the date of
acquisition, issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate of the Borrower) organized and
in existence under the laws of the United States of America or any other country that is a
member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and in any case with a
rating at the time as of which any Investment therein is made of “P-1” (or higher) according
to Xxxxx’x or “A-1” (or higher) according to S&P (or a similar equivalent rating by at least
one “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined in Rule 436 under
the Securities Act); and
(e) direct obligations (or certificates representing an ownership interest in such
obligations) of any state of the United States of America (including any agency or
instrumentality thereof) for the payment of which the full faith and credit of such state is
pledged and which are not callable or redeemable at the issuer’s option, provided
that:
(1) the long-term debt of the state is rated “A-3” or “A-” or higher according
to Xxxxx’x or S&P (or a similar equivalent rating by at least one “nationally
recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined in Rule 436 under the
Securities Act)), and
(2) the obligations mature within 180 days of the date of acquisition thereof.
“2012 Notes” has the meaning specified in the Preliminary Statements.
“2012 Notes Refinancing” has the meaning specified in the Preliminary Statements.
“Type” means, with respect to a Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a
Eurodollar Rate Loan.
“United States” and “U.S.” mean the United States of America.
“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means (a) any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is designated
after the Closing Date as an Unrestricted Subsidiary as permitted or required pursuant to
Section 7.07 and is not thereafter redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary as permitted
pursuant thereto; and (b) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
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“U.S. Government Obligations” means direct obligations (or certificates representing
an ownership interest in such obligations) of the United States of America (including any agency or
instrumentality thereof) for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of
America is pledged and which are not callable or redeemable at the issuer’s option.
“Voting Stock” of any Person means all classes of Capital Stock or other interests
(including partnership interests, and in the case of the Borrower, Voting Trust Certificates) of
that Person then outstanding and normally entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any
contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof.
“Voting Trust Agreement” means the Voting Trust Agreement entered into as of April 15,
1996 by and among Xxxxxx X. Xxxx; Xxxxx X. Xxxx, Xx.; Xxxxx X. Xxxx, Xx.; and F. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx as
the Voting Trustees and the stockholders of the Borrower who are parties thereto.
“Voting Trust Certificates” means those certificates issued pursuant to the Voting
Trust Agreement.
“Voting Trustees” means the persons entitled to act as voting trustees under the
Voting Trust Agreement.
“Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary” means, at any time, a Restricted Subsidiary all
the Voting Stock of which (except directors’ qualifying shares) is at that time owned, directly or
indirectly, by the Borrower and its other Wholly Owned Subsidiaries.
“Wholly Owned Subsidiary” means, at any time, a Subsidiary all the Voting Stock of
which (except directors’ qualifying shares) is at that time owned, directly or indirectly, by the
Borrower and its other Wholly Owned Subsidiaries.
1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions. With reference to this Agreement and each other
Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:
(a) The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural
forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the
corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,”
“includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase
“without limitation.” The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning
and effect as the word “shall.” Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any
definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document (including any
Organization Document) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or
other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to
any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein or in any
other Loan Document), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include
such Person’s successors and assigns, (iii) the words “herein,” “hereof” and
“hereunder,” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document, shall be
construed to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not to any particular provision
thereof, (iv) all references in a Loan Document to Articles, Sections, Preliminary
Statements, Exhibits
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and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of,
and Preliminary Statements, Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such
references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory
provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or interpreting such law and any reference to
any law or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as
amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and (vi) the words “asset” and
“property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to
any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities,
accounts and contract rights.
(b) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified
date, the word “from” means “from and including;” the words “to” and
“until” each mean “to but excluding;” and the word “through” means
“to and including.”
(c) Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for
convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or
any other Loan Document.
1.03 Accounting Terms. Unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in
accordance with GAAP;
(b) unsecured Indebtedness shall not be deemed to be subordinate or junior to secured
Indebtedness merely by virtue of its nature as unsecured Indebtedness;
(c) the principal amount of any noninterest bearing or other discount security at any
date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance sheet of the
issuer dated such date prepared in accordance with GAAP; and
(d) the principal amount of any Preferred Stock shall be the greater of (i) the maximum
liquidation value of such Preferred Stock or (ii) the maximum mandatory redemption or
mandatory repurchase price with respect to such Preferred Stock.
1.04 Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day
shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).
ARTICLE II
THE COMMITMENTS AND THE BORROWING
2.01 The Loans. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein (including
paragraph (b) below), each Lender severally agrees to make a single term loan to the Borrower on
the Closing Date in an amount not to exceed such Lender’s Commitment. The Borrowing shall consist
of Loans made simultaneously by the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable
Percentages of the Facility. Amounts borrowed under this Section 2.01 and repaid or
prepaid may not be reborrowed. Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further
provided herein.
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(b) It is understood and agreed that each Loan made by a Lender on the Closing Date is to be
made net of a discount in the amount of 0.75% of the amount of such Loan, such that each Lender
shall be required to fund only 99.25% of the amount of the Loan required to be made by it on the
Closing Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the “principal amount” of each Loan so made shall,
for all purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, be determined without regard to
such discount with the same effect as though 100% of the amount of such Loan had been funded on the
Closing Date.
2.02 The Borrowing, Conversions and Continuations of Loans. (a) The Borrowing, each
conversion of Loans from one Type to the other and each continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall
be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by
telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon
(i) three Business Days prior to the requested date of the conversion to or continuation of
Eurodollar Rate Loans or of any conversion of Eurodollar Rate Loans to Base Rate Loans; (ii) one
Business Day prior to the Closing Date for the Borrowing of Eurodollar Rate Loans; and (iii) on the
requested date of the Borrowing of Base Rate Loans; provided that (A) if the Borrower
wishes to request Eurodollar Rate Loans having an Interest Period other than one, two, three or six
months in duration as provided in the definition of “Interest Period,” the applicable notice must
be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon five Business Days prior to the
requested date of the Borrowing or such conversion or continuation, whereupon the Administrative
Agent shall give prompt notice to the Lenders of such request and determine whether the requested
Interest Period is acceptable to all of them and (B) in the case of a notice of the Borrowing to be
made on the Closing Date, any such notice pursuant to clause (iii) above must be received no later
than 9:00 a.m. on the Closing Date. In the case of a notice contemplated by clause (A) above, not
later than 12:00 noon, four Business Days before the requested date of the Borrowing or such
conversion or continuation, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower (which notice may be
by telephone) whether or not the requested Interest Period has been consented to by all the
Lenders. Each telephonic notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) must be
confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written Committed Loan Notice,
appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. The Borrowing of,
each conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or Base Rate Loans shall be in a
principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. Each Committed
Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting
the Borrowing, a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurodollar
Rate Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may
be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Loans to be borrowed, converted
or continued, (iv) the Type of Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Loans are to be converted,
and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto. If the Borrower
fails to specify a Type of Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a
timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Loans shall be made as,
or converted to, Base Rate Loans. Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be
effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable
Eurodollar Rate Loans. If the Borrower requests the Borrowing of, a conversion to, or a
continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an
Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month.
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(b) Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly
notify each Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Loans and if no
timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent
shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans described in
Section 2.02(a). In the case of the Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its
Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative
Agent’s Office not later than 10:00 a.m. on the Business Day specified in the applicable Committed
Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 4.01, the
Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower in like funds as
received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Borrower on the
books of Bank of America with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each
case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative
Agent by the Borrower.
(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurodollar Rate Loan may be continued or converted
only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate Loan. During the existence of
a Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as Eurodollar Rate Loans without
the consent of the Required Lenders.
(d) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the
interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurodollar Rate Loans upon determination of
such interest rate. At any time that Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the Administrative Agent
shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of any change in Bank of America’s prime rate used in
determining the Base Rate promptly following the public announcement of such change.
(e) After giving effect to the Borrowing, all conversions of Loans from one Type to the other,
and all continuations of Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than five Interest Periods
in effect.
2.03 Prepayments. (a) Optional. (i) The Borrower shall not be permitted to
voluntarily prepay any Loans during the period from the Closing Date to the date that is one year
following the Closing Date.
(ii) Thereafter, the Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or
from time to time voluntarily prepay Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty;
provided that (A) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than
11:00 a.m. (1) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans and (2)
on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans; and (B) any partial prepayment of Loans of any Type
shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof.
Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Loans to
be prepaid and, if Eurodollar Rate Loans are to be prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans.
The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and
of the amount of such Lender’s ratable portion of such prepayment (based on such Lender’s
Applicable Percentage). If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such
prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date
specified therein. Any prepayment of a
40
Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued
interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to
Section 3.05. Each prepayment of the outstanding Loans pursuant to this Section
2.03(a) shall be paid to the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable
Percentages.
(b) Change of Control. (i) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each Lender
shall have the right to require the Borrower to prepay all or any part of such Lender’s Loans
pursuant to the offer described below (the “Change of Control Offer”) at 101.0% of the
principal amount thereof (the “Change of Control Prepayment Amount”), plus accrued and
unpaid interest, if any, to the Change of Control Prepayment Date (as defined below).
(ii) Within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Borrower shall notify the
Administrative Agent (which will promptly notify each Lender) of the Change of Control Offer, which
notice shall state: (1) that a Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this Section
2.03(b) and that the Borrower will prepay the Loans of all Lenders who timely elect to have
their Loans prepaid; (2) the Change of Control Prepayment Amount and the prepayment date, which
shall be, subject to any contrary requirements of applicable law, a Business Day no earlier than 30
days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is given (the “Change of Control
Prepayment Date”); (3) the circumstances and relevant facts regarding the Change of Control
(including information with respect to pro forma historical income, cash flow and capitalization
after giving effect to the Change of Control); and (4) the procedures (which shall be reasonably
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) that Lenders must follow in order to elect to have their
Loans (or portions thereof) prepaid and the procedures that Lenders must follow in order to
withdraw an election to have their Loans (or portions thereof) prepaid.
(iii) Lenders electing to have their Loans (or portions thereof) prepaid shall be required to
complete the procedures specified in the notice at least three Business Days prior to the Change of
Control Prepayment Date. Lenders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the
Administrative Agent or the Borrower receives not later than one Business Day prior to the Change
of Control Prepayment Date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the
name of the Lender, the principal amount of such Lender’s Loans (or portion thereof) that such
Lender elected to have prepaid and a statement that such Lender is withdrawing its election to have
such Loans (or portion thereof) prepaid.
(iv) On or prior to the Change of Control Prepayment Date, the Borrower shall irrevocably
deposit with the Administrative Agent in cash an amount equal to the Change of Control Prepayment
Amount payable to the Lenders entitled thereto, together with accrued and unpaid interest on the
Loans being prepaid to the Change of Control Prepayment Date.
(v) The Borrower will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer following a Change of
Control if, upon the direction of the Borrower, a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in
the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this
Agreement applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Borrower and prepays all Loans (or
portions thereof) of Lenders who validly elect to have their Loans (or portions thereof) prepaid
under such Change of Control Offer.
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(c) Asset Sales. The Borrower shall also make Prepayment Offers as provided in
Section 7.04(c).
2.04 Termination of Commitments. The Aggregate Commitments shall be automatically and
permanently reduced to zero on the Closing Date after giving effect to the Borrowing made on the
Closing Date.
2.05 Repayment of Loans. The Borrower shall repay to the Lenders the aggregate principal
amount of all Loans outstanding on the Maturity Date.
2.06 Interest. (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.06(b), (i) each
Eurodollar Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each
Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period
plus the Applicable Rate and (ii) each Base Rate Loan shall bear interest on the
outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal
to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.
(b) (i) If any amount of principal of any Loan is not paid when due (without regard to any
applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such amount
shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the
Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
(ii) If any amount (other than principal of any Loan) payable by the Borrower under any Loan
Document is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated
maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, then upon the request of the Required Lenders such amount
shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the
Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
(iii) Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due
interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.
(c) Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date
applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein. Interest hereunder shall be
due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after
the commencement of any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law.
2.07 Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Lead Arrangers and the Administrative Agent
for their own respective accounts fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Fee Letter.
Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.
2.08 Computation of Interest. All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans when
the Base Rate is determined by Bank of America’s “prime rate” shall be made on the basis of a year
of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of
interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in
more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year).
Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and
42
shall not accrue on a
Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid,
provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to
Section 2.10(a), bear interest for one day. Each determination by the Administrative Agent
of an interest rate hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest
error.
2.09 Evidence of Debt. The Loans made by the Lenders shall be evidenced by one or
more accounts or records maintained by each Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary
course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender
shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Loans made by the Lenders to the
Borrower and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so
shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any
amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts
and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in
respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the
absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent,
the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note,
which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may
attach schedules to its Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount and
maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.
2.10 Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback. (a) General. All
payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition or deduction for any
counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all
payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of
the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in
Dollars and in immediately available funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein.
The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Applicable Percentage (or
other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire
transfer to such Lender’s Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after
2:00 p.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest
shall continue to accrue. If any payment to be made by the Borrower shall come due on a day other
than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension
of time shall be reflected on computing interest or fees, as the case may be.
(b) (i) Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent. Unless the
Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the Closing Date (or, in the
case of the Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 9:00 a.m. on the Closing Date) that such Lender
will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of the Loans to be made on
the Closing Date, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share
available on such date in accordance with Section 2.02 (or, in the case of the Borrowing of
Base Rate Loans, that such Lender has made such share available in accordance with and at the time
required by Section 2.02) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the
Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the
Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower
severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith
43
on demand such corresponding amount in
immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such
amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative
Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds
Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on
interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by
the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing, and (B) in the case of a payment to be
made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans. If the Borrower and such
Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period,
the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by
the Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the Borrowing to the Administrative
Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in the Borrowing. Any
payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a
Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.
(ii) Payments by Borrower; Presumptions by Administrative Agent. Unless the
Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the time at which any
payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders hereunder that the
Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made
such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption,
distribute to the Lenders the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such
payment, then each of the Lenders severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith
on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender in immediately available funds with interest
thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding
the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a
rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank
compensation.
A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower with respect to any amount
owing under this subsection (b) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
(c) Failure to Satisfy Conditions Precedent. If any Lender makes available to the
Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing
provisions of this Article II, and such funds are not made available to the Borrower by the
Administrative Agent because the conditions set forth in Article IV are not satisfied or
waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in
like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.
(d) Obligations of Lenders Several. The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make
Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section 10.04(c) are several and not joint. The
failure of any Lender to make any Loan or to make any payment under Section 10.04(c) on any
date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so
on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its
Loan or to make its payment under Section 10.04(c).
(e) Funding Source. Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain
the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a
44
representation by any
Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or
manner.
(f) Insufficient Funds. If at any time insufficient funds are received by and
available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, interest and fees then
due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, toward payment of interest and fees
then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of
interest and fees then due to such parties, and (ii) second, toward payment of principal
then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of
principal then due to such parties.
2.11 Sharing of Payments by Lenders. If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of
setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of (a) Obligations due and payable
to such Lender hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such time in excess of its ratable
share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such Obligations due and payable to such
Lender at such time to (ii) the aggregate amount of the Obligations due and payable to all Lenders
hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such time) of payments on account of the
Obligations due and payable to all Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such
time obtained by all the Lenders at such time or (b) Obligations owing (but not due and payable) to
such Lender hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such time in excess of its ratable
share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such Obligations owing (but not due and
payable) to such Lender at such time to (ii) the aggregate amount of the Obligations owing (but not
due and payable) to all Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents at such time) of
payment on account of the Obligations owing (but not due and payable) to all Lenders hereunder and
under the other Loan Documents at such time obtained by all of the Lenders at such time then the
Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact,
and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans of the other Lenders, or make
such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be
shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of Obligations then due and
payable to the Lenders or owing (but not due and payable) to the Lenders, as the case may be,
provided that:
(i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise
thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the
extent of such recovery, without interest; and
(ii) the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to (A) any payment made by
the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or (B) any
payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in
any of its Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary
thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section shall apply).
The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so
under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing
arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to
such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount
of such participation.
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ARTICLE III
TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
3.01 Taxes. (a) Payments Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on
account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be made
free and clear of and without reduction or withholding for any Indemnified Taxes (including Other
Taxes), provided that if the Borrower shall be required by applicable law to deduct any
Indemnified Taxes (including any Other Taxes) from such payments, then (i) the sum payable shall be
increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions
applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the Administrative Agent or any Lender,
as the case may be, receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such
deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower shall
timely pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with
applicable law.
(b) Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower. Without limiting the provisions of
subsection (a) above, the Borrower shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental
Authority in accordance with applicable law.
(c) Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative
Agent and each Lender, within 10 days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified
Taxes or Other Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or
attributable to amounts payable under this Section) paid by the Administrative Agent or such
Lender, as the case may be, and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto,
whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted
by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or
liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by
the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent
manifest error.
(d) Evidence of Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified
Taxes (including Other Taxes) by the Borrower to a Governmental Authority, the Borrower shall
deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such
Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or
other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(e) Status of Lenders. Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or
reduction of withholding Tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrower is resident
for tax purposes, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments
hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the
Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by
the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation
prescribed by applicable law as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a
reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if requested by the Borrower or the
Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or
reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will
46
enable the Borrower or the
Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or
information reporting requirements.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if the Borrower is resident for tax purposes in
the United States, any Foreign Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent
(in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which
such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon
the request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, but only if such Foreign Lender is legally
entitled to do so), whichever of the following is applicable:
(i) duly completed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN claiming eligibility for benefits of an
income tax treaty to which the United States is a party,
(ii) duly completed copies of IRS Form W-8ECI,
(iii) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for
portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (A) a certificate to the effect that
such Foreign Lender is not (1) a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the
Code, (2) a “10-percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of Section
881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or (3) a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section
881(c)(3)(C) of the Code and (B) duly completed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN, or
(iv) any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from
or a reduction in United States Federal withholding tax duly completed together with such
supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Borrower to
determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.
(f) Treatment of Certain Refunds. If the Administrative Agent or any Lender
determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to
which it has been indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid
additional amounts pursuant to this Section, it shall pay to the Borrower an amount equal to such
refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the
Borrower under this Section with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund),
net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be,
and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with
respect to such refund), provided that the Borrower upon the request of the Administrative
Agent or such Lender, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus any
penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the
Administrative Agent or such Lender if the Administrative Agent or such Lender is required to repay
such refund to such Governmental Authority. This subsection shall not be construed to require the
Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its tax returns (or any other information
relating to its Taxes that it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other Person.
3.02 Illegality. If any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that
any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable
Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Eurodollar Rate Loans, or to determine or charge interest
rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate, or any Governmental Authority has imposed
47
material
restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars
in the London interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the
Administrative Agent, any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Eurodollar Rate Loans or to
convert Base Rate Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended until such Lender notifies the
Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no
longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with
a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all Eurodollar Rate Loans of
such Lender to Base Rate Loans, either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such
Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if
such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans. Upon any such
prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or
converted.
3.03 Inability to Determine Rates. If the Required Lenders determine that for any
reason in connection with any request for a Eurodollar Rate Loan or a conversion to or continuation
thereof that (a) Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank eurodollar
market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Eurodollar Rate Loan, (b) adequate and
reasonable means do not exist for determining the Eurodollar Rate for any requested Interest Period
with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan, or (c) the Eurodollar Rate for any requested
Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan does not adequately and fairly
reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so
notify the Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain
Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of
the Required Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke
any pending request for the Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans
or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for Base Rate Loans
in the amount specified therein.
3.04 Increased Costs; Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans. (a) Increased Costs
Generally. If any Change in Law shall:
(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan,
insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account
of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any reserve requirement
contemplated by Section 3.04(e));
(ii) subject any Lender to any tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to this
Agreement or any Eurodollar Rate Loan made by it, or change the basis of taxation of
payments to such Lender in respect thereof (except for Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes
covered by Section 3.01 and the imposition of, or any change in the rate of, any
Excluded Tax payable by such Lender); or
(iii) impose on any Lender or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or
expense affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Rate Loans made by such Lender;
48
and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or
maintaining any Eurodollar Rate Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or
to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender hereunder (whether of
principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender, the Borrower will pay
to such Lender, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such
Lender, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.
(b) Capital Requirements. If any Lender determines that any Change in Law affecting
such Lender or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s holding company, if any,
regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such
Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of
this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by such Lender to a level below
that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in
Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding
company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such
Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding
company for any such reduction suffered.
(c) Certificates for Reimbursement. A certificate of a Lender setting forth the
amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as the case may be,
as specified in subsection (a) or (b) of this Section and delivered to the Borrower shall be
conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on
any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.
(d) Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand
compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section shall not constitute a waiver of
such Lender’s right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrower shall not be
required to compensate a Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section for any
increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than 180 days prior to the date that such
Lender notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions
and of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law
giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 180-day period referred
to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).
(e) Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans. The Borrower shall pay to each Lender, as long
as such Lender shall be required to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets
consisting of or including Eurocurrency funds or deposits (currently known as “Eurocurrency
liabilities”), additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Eurodollar Rate Loan
equal to the actual costs of such reserves allocated to such Loan by such Lender (as determined by
such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive), which shall be due and payable
on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided that the Borrower shall
have received at least 10 days’ prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such
additional interest from such Lender. If a Lender fails to give notice 10 days prior to the
relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional interest shall be due and payable 10 days from
receipt of such notice.
49
3.05 Compensation for Losses. Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the
Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and
hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:
(a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Eurodollar Rate Loan on
a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan (whether voluntary,
mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise);
(b) any failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to
make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Eurodollar Rate Loan on the date or
in the amount notified by the Borrower; or
(c) any assignment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the
Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section
10.13;
including any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it
to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were
obtained. The Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in
connection with the foregoing.
For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this Section
3.05, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurodollar Rate Loan made by it at the
Eurodollar Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the London interbank
eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such
Eurodollar Rate Loan was in fact so funded.
3.06 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders. (a) Designation of a
Different Lending Office. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or
the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority
for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender gives a notice
pursuant to Section 3.02, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a
different Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and
obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of
such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant
to Section 3.01 or 3.04, as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need
for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02, as applicable, and (ii) in each case, would not
subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous
to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by
any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.
(b) Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section
3.04, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any
Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, the Borrower
may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 10.13.
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3.07 Survival. All of the Borrower’s obligations under this Article III shall
survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.
ARTICLE IV
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE BORROWING
4.01 Conditions to the Borrowing. The obligation of each Lender to make Loans
hereunder is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:
(a) The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be
originals, telecopies or electronically transmitted copies (followed promptly by originals)
unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer, each dated the
Closing Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date
before the Closing Date) and each in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative
Agent and each of the Lenders:
(i) executed counterparts of this Agreement;
(ii) a Note executed by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting a Note;
(iii) such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent or its
counsel may reasonably require relating to the organization, existence and good
standing of the Borrower, the authorization of the Loans and the transactions
contemplated hereby and any other legal matters relating to the Borrower or the
transactions contemplated hereby, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to the Administrative Agent;
(iv) favorable opinions of (A) the general counsel of the Borrower and (B)
Shearman & Sterling LLP, counsel to the Borrower, in each case addressed to the
Administrative Agent and each Lender, as to the matters set forth in Exhibits
D-1 and D-2, respectively, and such other matters concerning the Borrower and
the Loan Documents as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request;
(v) all documentation and other information required by bank regulatory
authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules
and regulations, including, without limitation, the Patriot Act; and
(vi) a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying
that the conditions specified in Section 4.01(c) has been satisfied.
(b) The Borrower shall have (i) paid all fees required by the Fee Letter to be paid on
or before the Closing Date and (ii) paid or reimbursed all out-of-pocket fees and expenses
(including fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel) required by this Agreement to
be paid or reimbursed to the extent invoiced.
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(c) All representations and warranties made in Article V shall be true and
correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date and no Default shall exist, or would
result from the making of the Loans or from the application of the proceeds thereof.
(d) The Administrative Agent shall have received a Request for Borrowing in accordance
with the requirements hereof.
(e) If the Closing Date occurs on or before the date that is 45 days after the end of
the Borrower’s first fiscal quarter of 2007, the Borrower shall have delivered to the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders its consolidated financial statements for such fiscal
quarter.
(f) The Existing Bank Credit Facility shall have been amended or waived as necessary to
permit the Loans to be made on the terms set forth herein, and the Borrower shall have
delivered to the Administrative Agent copies of the documentation in respect of such
amendment or waiver.
(g) The Closing Date shall occur on or before April 4, 2007.
Without limiting the generality of the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 9.03,
for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01,
each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or
accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented
to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall
have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection
thereto.
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
The Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:
5.01 Authorization, Validity, and Enforceability of this Agreement and the Loan
Documents. The Borrower has the power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its
obligations under each Loan Document and to incur the Obligations. The Borrower has taken all
necessary action (including obtaining approval of its stockholders if necessary) to authorize its
execution, delivery and performance of each Loan Document. Each Loan Document has been duly
executed and delivered by the Borrower, and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligations of
the Borrower, enforceable against it in accordance with their respective terms. The Borrower’s
execution, delivery and performance of each Loan Document does not and will not conflict with, or
constitute a violation or breach of, or result in the imposition of any Lien upon the property of
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, by reason of the terms of (a) any contract, mortgage,
lease, agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is a
party or which is binding upon it, (b) any Requirement of Law applicable to the Borrower or any of
its Subsidiaries, or (c) the Organization Documents of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries,
except with respect to any conflict, violation or breach referred to in clause (a)
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or (b), to the
extent that such conflicts, violations and breaches, in the aggregate, could not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.02 Organization and Qualification. The Borrower (a) is duly incorporated and
validly existing in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, (b) is qualified to do
business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which qualification is necessary in order
for it to own or lease its property and conduct its business and (c) has all requisite power and
authority to conduct its business and to own its property, except in each case to the extent that
failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.03 Subsidiaries. Schedule 5.03 is a correct and complete list of the name
and relationship to the Borrower of each and all of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries. Each Subsidiary is
(a) duly incorporated or organized and validly existing in good standing under the laws of its
state of incorporation or organization set forth on Schedule 5.03, (b) qualified to do
business and in good standing in each jurisdiction in which it owns or leases property or conducts
its business and (c) has all requisite power and authority to conduct its business and own its
property, except in each case to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.04 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect. (a) The Borrower has
delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders the audited consolidated balance sheet and
related statements of income, cash flows, and stockholders’ deficit and comprehensive income for
the Borrower as of November 26, 2006, and for the fiscal year then ended, accompanied by the report
thereon of the Borrower’s independent registered public accounting firm. The Borrower has also
delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders the unaudited consolidated balance sheets and
related statements of income and cash flows for the Borrower as of February 25, 2007, and for the
three-month period then ended, if the Closing Date occurs on or after the date that is 45 days
after the end of such fiscal quarter. Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance
with United States generally accepted accounting principles and present fairly in all material
respects the consolidated financial position of the Borrower as of the dates thereof and its
consolidated results of operations for the periods then ended.
(b) Since November 26, 2006, there has been no event or circumstance, individually or in the
aggregate, that has had or could be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.05 Tax Shelter Regulations. The Borrower does not intend to treat the Loans and
related transactions as being a “reportable transaction” (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation
Section 1.6011-4). In the event the Borrower determines to take any action inconsistent with such
intention, it will promptly notify the Administrative Agent thereof. If the Borrower so notifies
the Administrative Agent, the Borrower acknowledges that one or more of the Lenders may treat the
Loans as part of a transaction that is subject to Treasury Regulation Section 301.6112-1, and such
Lender or Lenders, as applicable, will maintain the lists and other records required by such
Treasury Regulation.
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5.06 Litigation. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.06, there is no pending,
or to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge threatened, action, suit, proceeding, or counterclaim by
any Person, or to the best of the Borrower’s knowledge, investigation by any Governmental
Authority, or any basis for any of the foregoing, which could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
5.07 No Violation of Law. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is in
violation of any law, statute, regulation, ordinance, judgment, order, or decree applicable to it
which violation could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.08 No Default. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default with
respect to any note, indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, lease, deed, or other agreement to which
the Borrower or such Subsidiary is a party or by which it is bound, which default could reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.09 ERISA Compliance. Except as specifically disclosed in Schedule 5.09:
(a) Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions
of ERISA, the Code and other Federal or state law. Each Plan which is intended to qualify
under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS
and to the best knowledge of the Borrower, nothing has occurred which would cause the loss
of such qualification. The Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate has made all required
contributions to any Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code, and no application for a
funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the
Code has been made with respect to any Plan.
(b) There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, threatened claims,
actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan which
has resulted in or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary
responsibility rules with respect to any Plan which has resulted in or could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(d) (i) No ERISA Event has occurred; (ii) no Pension Plan has a Funded Current
Liability Percentage of less than 85% as of the most recently completed valuation date;
(iii) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to
incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan (other than
premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA); (iv) neither the Borrower nor
any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability (and no
event has occurred which, with the giving of notice under Section 4219 of ERISA, would
result in such liability) under Section 4201 or 4243 of ERISA with respect to a
Multiemployer Plan; and (v) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a
transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.
(e) With respect to each retirement plan or arrangement mandated by a government other
than the United States (a “Foreign Government Scheme or
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Arrangement”) and with
respect to each employee benefit plan maintained or contributed to by the Borrower or any
Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not subject to United States law (a “Foreign
Plan”), each Foreign Plan is in compliance with the applicable Foreign Government Scheme
or Arrangement and neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred or
reasonably expects to incur any liability under any Foreign Government Scheme or
Arrangement, which noncompliance or liability could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
5.10 Taxes. Except as could not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably
be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries have filed
all Federal and state and other tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all
Taxes levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable,
except those (a) which are not overdue by more than 30 days or (b) which are being contested in
good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate liabilities and
allowances have been provided in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting
principles.
5.11 Regulated Entities. None of the Borrower, any Person controlling the Borrower,
or any of its Subsidiaries, is an “Investment Company” within the meaning of the Investment Company
Act of 1940. The Borrower is not subject to regulation under the Federal Power Act, the Interstate
Commerce Act, any state public utilities code or Law.
5.12 Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations. The proceeds of the Loans will be used to
finance the 2012 Notes Refinancing. The Borrower is not engaged, nor will it engage, principally
or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock, or
extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock.
5.13 Full Disclosure. No report, financial statement, certificate or other written
information furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement (as modified or supplemented by other
information so furnished) when taken as a whole contains any material misstatement of fact or omits
to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading; provided that, with
respect to projected financial information and pro forma financial information, the Borrower
represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to
be reasonable at the time of preparation; it being understood that such projections may vary from
actual results and that such variances may be material.
5.14 Governmental Authorization. No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or
other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or other Person is
necessary or required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement
against, the Borrower of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, other than any filing on Form
8-K with the SEC relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document and the amendment or waiver
referred to in Section 4.01(f).
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ARTICLE VI
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder or any Loan shall remain
outstanding, the Borrower agrees that:
6.01 Books and Records. The Borrower shall maintain, at all times, correct and
complete books, records and accounts in which complete, correct and timely entries are made of its
transactions in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles applied
consistently with the consolidated audited financial statements of the Borrower. The Borrower
shall, by means of appropriate entries, reflect in such accounts and in all financial statements
proper liabilities for all Taxes and proper provision for depreciation of property and bad debts,
all in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles.
6.02 SEC Reports; Other Information. (a) Notwithstanding that the Borrower may not be
subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Borrower
shall file with the SEC and provide the Administrative Agent and the Lenders with annual reports
and information, documents and other reports as are specified in Sections 13 and 15(d) of the
Exchange Act and applicable to a U.S. corporation subject to those Sections, and the information,
documents and reports to be so filed and provided at the times specified for the filing of the
information, documents and reports under those Sections; provided that (i) the Borrower
shall not be so obligated to file the information, documents and reports with the SEC if the SEC
does not permit those filings and (ii) the electronic filing with the SEC through the SEC’s
Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval System (or any successor system providing for
free public access to such filings) shall satisfy the Borrower’s obligation to provide such
information, documents and reports to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders. Delivery of such
information, documents and reports to the Administrative Agent is for informational purposes only
and the Administrative Agent’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any
information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the
Borrower’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Administrative Agent is
entitled to rely exclusively on Officers’ Certificates).
(b) The Borrower shall furnish to the Administrative Agent, not less often than annually, a
brief certificate from the chief executive officer, chief financial officer or principal accounting
officer as to his or her knowledge of the Borrower’s compliance with all covenants under this
Agreement. For purposes of this Section, such compliance shall be determined without regard to any
period of grace or requirement of notice provided under this Agreement.
The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Lead Arrangers
will make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the
Borrower hereunder (collectively, the “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower
Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) and (b)
certain of the Lenders (each, a “Public Lender”) may have personnel who do not wish to
receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its Affiliates, or the
respective securities of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other
market-related activities with respect to such Persons’ securities. The Borrower hereby agrees
that it
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will use commercially reasonable efforts to identify that portion of the Borrower Materials
that may be distributed to the Public Lenders and that (w) all such Borrower Materials shall be
clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC”
shall appear prominently on the first page thereof (unless it is evident, based on the nature of
such Borrowing Materials, that such Borrowing Materials are in fact publicly available); (x) by
marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the
Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not
containing any material non-public information (although it may be sensitive and proprietary) with
respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal and state
securities laws (provided, however, that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute
Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 10.07); (y) all Borrower
Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform
designated “Public Investor;” and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers shall be
entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for
posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Investor.”
6.03 Notice of Defaults. The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent (which
will promptly notify each Lender) promptly after becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default.
6.04 Taxes. The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries
to, (a) file when due all tax returns and other reports which it is required to file and (b) pay,
discharge or otherwise satisfy as the same shall become due and payable, all its obligations and
liabilities in respect of Taxes imposed upon it or upon its income or profits or in respect of its
property, except, in each case, to the extent the failure to pay or discharge the same could not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.05 Legal Existence and Good Standing. The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of
its Restricted Subsidiaries to, maintain its legal existence and its qualification and good
standing in all jurisdictions in which the failure to maintain such existence and qualification or
good standing could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.06 Compliance with Law and Agreements; Maintenance of Licenses. The Borrower shall,
and shall cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, comply in all material respects with all
Requirements of Law of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over it or its business
(including the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act and all Environmental Laws). The Borrower shall,
and shall cause each of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, obtain and maintain all licenses, permits,
franchises, and governmental authorizations necessary to own its property and to conduct its
business as conducted on the Closing Date, except in each case where the failure to do so could not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.07 Maintenance of Property. The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its
Restricted Subsidiaries to, except if the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect, (a) maintain, preserve and protect all of its properties and equipment
necessary in the operation of its business in good working order, repair and condition, ordinary
wear and tear excepted and casualty or condemnation excepted, and (b) make all necessary
57
renewals,
replacements, modifications, improvements, upgrades, extensions and additions thereof or thereto in
accordance with prudent industry practice.
6.08 Insurance. The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance with
respect to its properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured
against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business, of such types and in such amounts
(after giving effect to any self-insurance reasonable and customary for similarly situated Persons
engaged in the same or similar businesses as the Borrower) as are customarily carried under similar
circumstances by such other Persons.
6.09 Environmental Laws. The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, conduct its business in compliance with all Environmental Laws applicable to it,
except to the extent that non-compliance could not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
6.10 Compliance with ERISA. The Borrower shall, and shall cause each of its ERISA
Affiliates to: (a) maintain each Plan in compliance in all material respects with the applicable
provisions of ERISA, the Code and other Federal or state law; (b) cause each Plan which is
qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code to maintain such qualification; (c) make all required
contributions to any Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code; (d) not engage in a prohibited
transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan, except
where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and
(e) not engage in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.
ARTICLE VII
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
Subject to Section 7.10, so long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder or
any Loan shall remain outstanding, the Borrower agrees that:
7.01 Limitation on Indebtedness. The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any
Restricted Subsidiary to, Incur, directly or indirectly, any Indebtedness unless, after giving
effect to the application of the proceeds thereof, no Default or Event of Default would occur as a
consequence of the Incurrence or be continuing following the Incurrence and either:
(1) the Indebtedness is Indebtedness of the Borrower and after giving effect to the
Incurrence of the Indebtedness and the application of the proceeds thereof, the
Consolidated Fixed Charges Coverage Ratio would be greater than 2.00 to 1.00, or
(2) the Indebtedness is Permitted Indebtedness.
“Permitted Indebtedness” means:
(a) Indebtedness of the Borrower in respect of the Loans;
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(b) Indebtedness of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary Incurred under any Credit
Facilities, Incurred by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to a Real Estate
Financing Transaction, a Sale and Leaseback Transaction, an Equipment Financing Transaction
or Debt Issuances, Indebtedness Incurred by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in
respect of Capital Lease Obligations and Purchase Money Indebtedness, or Incurred by a
Receivables Entity in a Qualified Receivables Transaction that is not recourse to the
Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrower (except for Standard
Securitization Undertakings), provided that the aggregate principal amount of all
Indebtedness of this kind at any one time outstanding shall not exceed the greater of:
(i) $1.6 billion, which amount shall be permanently reduced by the amount of
Net Available Cash used to Repay Indebtedness under the Credit Facilities or
otherwise Incurred pursuant to this clause (b) pursuant to Section 7.04, and
(ii) the sum of the amounts equal to:
(A) 50% of the book value of the inventory of the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries, and
(B) 85% of the book value of the accounts receivable of the Borrower
and the Restricted Subsidiaries, in the case of each of clauses (A) and (B)
as of the most recently ended fiscal quarter for which financial statements
of the Borrower have been provided to the Lenders;
(c) Indebtedness of the Borrower owing to and held by any Restricted Subsidiary and
Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to and held by the Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary; provided that (i) any subsequent issue or transfer of Capital Stock or
other event that results in any Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary
or any subsequent transfer of that Indebtedness (except to the Borrower or a Restricted
Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute the Incurrence of that Indebtedness
by the issuer thereof, and (ii) if the Borrower is the obligor on that Indebtedness, the
Indebtedness is expressly subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of all
Obligations;
(d) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary outstanding on the date on which that
Restricted Subsidiary was acquired by the Borrower or otherwise became a Restricted
Subsidiary (other than Indebtedness Incurred as consideration in, or to provide all or any
portion of the funds or credit support utilized to consummate, the transaction or series of
transactions pursuant to which that Restricted Subsidiary became a Subsidiary of the
Borrower or was otherwise acquired by the Borrower), provided that at the time that
Restricted Subsidiary was acquired by the Borrower or otherwise became a Restricted
Subsidiary and after giving effect to the Incurrence of that Indebtedness, the Borrower
would have been able to Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to clause (1) of the
first paragraph of this Section 7.01;
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(e) Indebtedness under Interest Rate Agreements entered into by the Borrower or a
Restricted Subsidiary for the purpose of limiting interest rate risk in the ordinary course
of the financial management of the Borrower or that Restricted Subsidiary and not for
speculative purposes, provided that the obligations under those agreements are
related to payment obligations on Indebtedness otherwise permitted by the terms of this
Section 7.01;
(f) Indebtedness under Currency Exchange Protection Agreements entered into by the
Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary for the purpose of limiting currency exchange rate risks
directly related to transactions entered into by the Borrower or that Restricted Subsidiary
in the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;
(g) Indebtedness under Commodity Price Protection Agreements entered into by the
Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of the financial management of
the Borrower or that Restricted Subsidiary and not for speculative purposes;
(h) Indebtedness in connection with one or more standby letters of credit or
performance bonds issued by the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course
of business or pursuant to self-insurance obligations and not in connection with the
borrowing of money or the obtaining of advances or credit;
(i) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary
providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each
case, incurred in connection with the disposition of any business, assets or Capital Stock
of a Subsidiary, other than Guarantees of Indebtedness Incurred by any Person acquiring all
or any portion of such business, assets or Capital Stock; provided that the maximum
aggregate liability in respect of all such Indebtedness shall at no time exceed the gross
proceeds actually received by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with
such disposition;
(j) Indebtedness outstanding on the Closing Date not otherwise described in clauses (a)
through (i) above;
(k) Indebtedness of the Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate principal
amount outstanding at any one time not to exceed $100.0 million; and
(l) Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness Incurred in respect of Indebtedness Incurred
pursuant to clause (1) of the first paragraph of this Section 7.01 and clauses (a),
(d) and (j) above.
For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 7.01:
(A) in the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of
the types of Indebtedness described above, the Borrower, in its sole discretion, will
classify such item of Indebtedness at the time of Incurrence and only be required to include
the amount and type of such Indebtedness in one of the above clauses; and
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(B) the Borrower will be entitled to divide and classify an item of Indebtedness in
more than one of the types of Indebtedness described above.
7.02 Limitation on Restricted Payments. The Borrower shall not make, and shall not
permit any Restricted Subsidiary to make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment if at the
time of, and after giving effect to, the proposed Restricted Payment,
(a) a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing,
(b) the Borrower could not Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to
clause (1) of the first paragraph of Section 7.01, or
(c) the aggregate amount of that Restricted Payment and all other Restricted Payments
declared or made since the Measurement Date (the amount of any Restricted Payment, if made
other than in cash, to be based upon Fair Market Value) would exceed an amount equal to the
sum of:
(1) 50% of the aggregate amount of Consolidated Net Income accrued during the
period (treated as one accounting period) from the beginning of the fiscal quarter
ended February 27, 2005 to the end of the most recent fiscal quarter ending at least
45 days prior to the date of the Restricted Payment (or if the aggregate amount of
Consolidated Net Income for such period shall be a deficit, minus 100% of such
deficit), plus
(2) Capital Stock Sale Proceeds received after the Measurement Date, plus
(3) the sum of:
(A) the aggregate net cash proceeds received by the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary from the issuance or sale after the Measurement Date
of convertible or exchangeable Indebtedness that has been converted into or
exchanged for Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Borrower,
and
(B) the aggregate amount by which Indebtedness of the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary is reduced on the Borrower’s consolidated balance
sheet on or after the Measurement Date upon the conversion or exchange of
any Indebtedness issued or sold on or prior to the Measurement Date that is
convertible or exchangeable for Capital Stock (other than Disqualified
Stock) of the Borrower,
(C) excluding, in the case of clause (A) or (B):
(x) any Indebtedness issued or sold to the Borrower or a
Subsidiary of the Borrower or an employee stock ownership
plan or trust established by the Borrower or any Subsidiary
for the benefit of their employees, and
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(y) the aggregate amount of any cash or other Property
distributed by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary upon
any such conversion or exchange, plus
(4) an amount equal to the sum of:
(D) the net reduction in Investments in any Person other than the
Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary resulting from dividends, repayments of
loans or advances or other transfers of Property made after the Measurement
Date, in each case to the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary from that
Person, less the cost of the disposition of those Investments, and
(E) the lesser of the net book value or the Fair Market Value of the
Borrower’s equity interest in an Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time the
Unrestricted Subsidiary is designated a Restricted Subsidiary (provided that
such designation occurs after the Measurement Date);
provided that the foregoing sum shall not exceed, in the case of any
Person, the amount of Investments previously made (and treated as a
Restricted Payment) by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in that
Person.
Notwithstanding the foregoing limitation, the Borrower may:
(a) pay dividends on its Capital Stock within 60 days of the declaration thereof if, on
said declaration date, the dividends could have been paid in compliance with this Agreement;
provided that at the time of the payment of the dividend, no other Default or Event
of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (or result therefrom); provided
further that, if declared on or after the Measurement Date, the dividend shall be
included in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;
(b) purchase, repurchase, redeem, legally defease, acquire or retire for value Capital
Stock of the Borrower or Subordinated Obligations on or after the Measurement Date in
exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, Capital Stock
of the Borrower (other than Disqualified Stock and other than Capital Stock issued or sold
to a Subsidiary of the Borrower or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by
the Borrower or any Subsidiary for the benefit of their employees); provided that
(1) the purchase, repurchase, redemption, legal defeasance, acquisition or
retirement shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted
Payments, and
(2) the Capital Stock Sale Proceeds from the exchange or sale shall be excluded
from the calculation pursuant to clause (c)(2) above;
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(c) purchase, repurchase, redeem, legally defease, acquire or retire for value any
Subordinated Obligations on or after the Measurement Date in exchange for, or out of the
proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness;
provided that the purchase, repurchase, redemption, legal defeasance, acquisition or
retirement shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;
(d) pay scheduled dividends (not constituting a return on capital) on Disqualified
Stock of the Borrower issued pursuant to and in compliance with Section 7.01 on or
after the Measurement Date;
(e) permit a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary to pay
dividends to shareholders of that Restricted Subsidiary on or after the Measurement Date
that are not the parent of that Restricted Subsidiary, so long as the Borrower or a
Restricted Subsidiary that is the parent of that Restricted Subsidiary receives dividends on
a pro rata basis or on a basis that results in the receipt by the Borrower or a Restricted
Subsidiary that is the parent of that Restricted Subsidiary of dividends or distributions of
greater value than it would receive on a pro rata basis;
(f) make cash payments in lieu of fractional shares in connection with the exercise of
warrants, options or other securities convertible into Capital Stock of the Borrower;
provided that such repurchases shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of
Restricted Payments;
(g) make repurchases of shares of common stock of the Borrower deemed to occur upon the
exercise of options to purchase shares of common stock of the Borrower if such shares of
common stock of the Borrower represent a portion of the exercise price of such options;
provided that such repurchases shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of
Restricted Payments;
(h) pay dividends on the common stock of the Borrower following the first Public Equity
Offering of the Borrower after the Closing Date in an annual amount not to exceed 6.0% of
the net cash proceeds received by the Borrower in such Public Equity Offering;
provided that such dividends shall be included in the calculation of the amount of
Restricted Payments;
(i) repurchase shares of, or options to purchase shares of, common stock of the
Borrower from current or former officers, directors or employees of the Borrower or any of
its Subsidiaries (or permitted transferees of such current or former officers, directors or
employees), pursuant to the terms of agreements (including employment agreements) or plans
approved by the Board of Directors under which such individuals acquire shares of such
common stock; provided that the aggregate amount of such repurchases shall not
exceed $10.0 million; and provided further that such repurchases shall be excluded
in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments; and
(j) purchase, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Subordinated
Obligations upon a Change of Control of the Borrower or an Asset Sale by
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the Borrower, to
the extent required by any agreement pursuant to which such Subordinated Obligations were
issued, but only if the Borrower has previously made the offer to prepay the Loans required
under Section 2.03(b) or Section 7.04; provided that such payments
shall be included in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments.
7.03 Limitation on Liens. The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted
Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, Incur or suffer to exist, any Lien (other than Permitted
Liens) upon any of its Property (including Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary), whether owned
at the Closing Date or thereafter acquired, or any interest therein or any income or profits
therefrom, unless it has made or will make effective provision whereby the Loans will be secured by
that Lien equally and ratably with (or prior to) all other Indebtedness of the Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary secured by that Lien.
7.04 Limitation on Asset Sales. (a) The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any
Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, consummate any Asset Sale unless:
(i) the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiary receives consideration at the time of the
Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value of the Property subject to such Asset
Sale;
(ii) at least 75% of the consideration paid to the Borrower or the Restricted
Subsidiary in connection with such Asset Sale is in the form of cash or cash equivalents or
the assumption by the purchaser of liabilities of the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary
(other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Loans) as a result of
which the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries are no longer obligated with respect to
such liabilities; and
(iii) the Borrower delivers an Officers’ Certificate to the Administrative Agent
certifying that such Asset Sale complies with the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii).
For the purposes of this Section 7.04:
(1) in the case of a transaction involving a sale of any distribution center by the
Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary and the establishment of an outsourcing arrangement in
which the purchaser assumes distribution responsibilities on behalf of the Borrower or the
Restricted Subsidiary, any credits or other consideration the purchaser grants to the
Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiary as part of the purchase price of the distribution
center, which credits or other consideration effectively offset future payments due from the
Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiary to the purchaser as part of the outsourcing
arrangement, will be considered to be cash equivalents;
(2) securities or other assets received by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary
from the transferee that are converted by the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary into
cash within 90 days shall be considered to be cash to the extent of the cash received in
that conversion;
(3) any cash consideration paid to the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiary in
connection with the Asset Sale that is held in escrow or on deposit to support
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indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations in respect of such
Asset Sale shall be considered to be cash; and
(4) the requirement that at least 75% of the consideration paid to the Borrower or the
Restricted Subsidiary in connection with the Asset Sale be in the form of cash or cash
equivalents shall also be considered satisfied if the cash received constitutes at least 75%
of the consideration received by the Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiary in connection
with such Asset Sale, determined on an after-tax basis.
(b) The Net Available Cash (or any portion thereof) from Asset Sales may be applied by the
Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary, to the extent the Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary
elects (or is required by the terms of any Indebtedness):
(i) to Repay Indebtedness of the Borrower (excluding, in any such case, any
Indebtedness that (A) constitutes a Subordinated Obligation or (B) is owed to the Borrower
or an Affiliate of the Borrower); or
(ii) to reinvest in Additional Assets (including by means of an Investment in
Additional Assets by a Restricted Subsidiary with Net Available Cash received by the
Borrower or another Restricted Subsidiary), provided that the Net Available Cash (or
any portion thereof) from Asset Sales from the Borrower to any Subsidiary must be reinvested
in Additional Assets of the Borrower.
(c) Any Net Available Cash from an Asset Sale not applied in accordance with the preceding
paragraph within 360 days from the date of the receipt of such Net Available Cash or that the
Borrower earlier elects to so designate shall constitute “Excess Proceeds”.
When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds not previously subject to a Prepayment Offer (as
defined below) exceeds $10.0 million (taking into account income earned on those Excess Proceeds,
if any), the Borrower will be required to make an offer to prepay (the “Prepayment Offer”)
the Loans (or portions thereof), which offer shall be in the amount of the Allocable Excess
Proceeds, on a pro rata basis according to principal amount, at an amount equal to 100% of the
principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Prepayment Date (as
defined below), in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Agreement. To the extent that
any portion of the amount of Net Available Cash remains after compliance with the preceding
sentence and provided that all Lenders have been given the opportunity to have their Loans (or
portions thereof) prepaid in accordance with this Agreement, the Borrower or such Restricted
Subsidiary may use the remaining amount for any purpose permitted by this Agreement and the amount
of Excess Proceeds will be reset to zero.
The term “Allocable Excess Proceeds” will mean the product of:
(a) the Excess Proceeds, and
(b) a fraction,
(1) the numerator of which is the aggregate principal amount of the Loans
outstanding on the date of the Prepayment Offer, and
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(2) the denominator of which is the sum of the aggregate principal amount of
the Loans outstanding on the date of the Prepayment Offer and the aggregate
principal amount of other Indebtedness of the Borrower outstanding on the date of
the Prepayment Offer that is pari passu in right of payment with the
Loans and subject to terms and conditions in respect of Asset Sales similar in all
material respects to the covenant described hereunder and requiring the Borrower to
make an offer to prepay such Indebtedness at substantially the same time as the
Prepayment Offer.
(d) (i) Within 30 days after the Borrower is obligated to make a Prepayment Offer as
described in the preceding paragraph, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent (which
will promptly notify each Lender) of the Prepayment Offer, which notice shall state: (1) that a
Prepayment Offer is being made pursuant to this Section 7.04 and that the Borrower will
prepay the Loans of all Lenders who timely elect to have their Loans prepaid; (2) the amount of
Allocable Excess Proceeds and the prepayment date, which shall be, subject to any contrary
requirements of applicable law, a Business Day no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from
the date such notice is given (the “Prepayment Date”); (3) the circumstances and relevant
facts regarding the relevant Asset Sale; and (4) the procedures (which shall be reasonably
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) that Lenders must follow in order to elect to have their
Loans (or portions thereof) prepaid and the procedures that Lenders must follow in order to
withdraw an election to have their Loans (or portions thereof) prepaid.
(ii) Lenders electing to have their Loans (or portions thereof) prepaid shall be required to
complete the procedures specified in the notice at least three Business Days prior to the
Prepayment Date. Lenders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Administrative Agent
or the Borrower receives not later than one Business Day prior to the Prepayment Date, a telegram,
telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Lender, the principal amount
of such Lender’s Loans (or portion thereof) that such Lender elected to have prepaid and a
statement that such Lender is withdrawing its election to have such Loans (or portion thereof)
prepaid.
(iii) On or prior to the Prepayment Date, the Borrower shall irrevocably deposit with the
Administrative Agent in cash an amount equal to the Allocable Excess Proceeds payable to the
Lenders entitled thereto as provided in clause (ii) above, together with accrued and unpaid
interest on the Loans being prepaid to the Prepayment Date.
(iv) The Borrower will not be required to make a Prepayment Offer following an Asset Sale that
would require the Borrower to make a Prepayment Offer pursuant to this Section 7.04 if,
upon the direction of the Borrower, a third party makes the Prepayment Offer in the manner, at the
times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in this Agreement applicable to a
Prepayment Offer made by the Borrower and prepays all Loans (or portions thereof) of Lenders who
validly elect to have their Loans (or portions thereof) prepaid under such Prepayment Offer.
7.05 Limitation on Restrictions on Distributions from Restricted Subsidiaries. The
Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly,
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create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist any consensual restriction on the right of any
Restricted Subsidiary to:
(a) pay dividends, in cash or otherwise, or make any other distributions on or in
respect of its Capital Stock, or pay any Indebtedness or other obligation owed, to the
Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary,
(b) make any loans or advances to the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary, or
(c) transfer any of its Property to the Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary.
The foregoing limitations will not apply:
(1) with respect to clauses (a), (b) and (c), to restrictions:
(A) in effect on the Closing Date,
(B) relating to Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary and existing at
the time it became a Restricted Subsidiary if such restriction was not
created in connection with or in anticipation of the transaction or series
of transactions pursuant to which that Restricted Subsidiary became a
Restricted Subsidiary or was acquired by the Borrower,
(C) that result from the Refinancing of Indebtedness Incurred pursuant
to an agreement referred to in clause (1)(A) or (B) above or in clause
(2)(A) or (B) below, provided that restriction is no less favorable
to the Lenders than those under the agreement evidencing the Indebtedness so
Refinanced,
(D) resulting from the Incurrence of any Permitted Indebtedness
described in clause (b) of the second paragraph of Section 7.01,
provided that the restriction is no less favorable to the Lenders
than the restrictions of the same type contained in this Agreement, or
(E) constituting Standard Securitization Undertakings relating solely
to, and restricting only the rights of, a Receivables Entity in connection
with a Qualified Receivables Transaction, and
(2) with respect to clause (c) only, to restrictions:
(A) relating to Indebtedness that is permitted to be Incurred and
secured without also securing the Loans pursuant to Sections 7.01
and 7.03 that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the
Property securing that Indebtedness,
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(B) encumbering Property at the time the Property was acquired by the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, so long as the restriction relates
solely to the Property so acquired and was not created in connection with or
in anticipation of the acquisition,
(C) resulting from customary provisions restricting subletting or
assignment of leases or customary provisions in other agreements (including,
without limitation, intellectual property licenses entered into in the
ordinary course of business) that restrict assignment of the agreements or
rights thereunder, or
(D) which are customary restrictions contained in asset sale agreements
limiting the transfer of Property pending the closing of the sale.
7.06 Limitation on Transactions with Affiliates. The Borrower shall not, and shall
not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, conduct any business or enter into
or suffer to exist any transaction or series of transactions (including the purchase, sale,
transfer, assignment, lease, conveyance or exchange of any Property or the rendering of any
service) with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Borrower (an “Affiliate
Transaction”), unless:
(a) the terms of such Affiliate Transaction are:
(1) set forth in writing, and
(2) no less favorable to the Borrower or that Restricted Subsidiary, as the
case may be, than those that could be obtained in a comparable arm’s-length
transaction with a Person that is not an Affiliate of the Borrower, and
(b) if the Affiliate Transaction involves aggregate payments or value in excess of
$10.0 million, the Board of Directors (including a majority of the disinterested members of
the Board of Directors) approves the Affiliate Transaction and, in its good faith judgment,
believes that the Affiliate Transaction complies with clauses (a)(1) and (2) of this
paragraph as evidenced by a Board Resolution promptly delivered to the Administrative Agent.
Notwithstanding the foregoing limitation, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may enter
into or suffer to exist the following:
(a) any transaction or series of transactions between the Borrower and one or more
Restricted Subsidiaries or between two or more Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary
course of business, provided that no more than 5% of the total voting power of the
Voting Stock (on a fully diluted basis) of any such Restricted Subsidiary is owned by an
Affiliate of the Borrower (other than a Restricted Subsidiary);
(b) any Restricted Payment permitted to be made pursuant to Section 7.02 or any
Permitted Investment;
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(c) the payment of compensation (including amounts paid pursuant to employee benefit
plans) for the personal services of officers, directors and employees of the Borrower or any
of the Restricted Subsidiaries, so long as, in the case of executive officers and directors,
the Board of Directors in good faith shall have approved the terms thereof and deemed the
services theretofore or thereafter to be performed for the compensation to be fair
consideration therefor;
(d) loans and advances to employees made in the ordinary course of business in
compliance with applicable laws and consistent with the past practices of the Borrower or
that Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, provided that those loans and
advances do not exceed $10.0 million in the aggregate at any one time outstanding;
(e) any transaction effected as part of a Qualified Receivables Transaction or any
transaction involving the transfer of accounts receivable of the type specified in the
definition of “Credit Facility” and permitted under clause (b) of the second paragraph of
Section 7.01;
(f) the Existing Policies or any transaction contemplated thereby; and
(g) any sale of shares of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the
Borrower.
7.07 Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries. The Board of Directors
may designate any Subsidiary of the Borrower to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary if:
(a) the Subsidiary to be so designated does not own any Capital Stock or Indebtedness
of, or own or hold any Lien on any Property of, the Borrower or any other Restricted
Subsidiary, and
(b) any of the following:
(1) the Subsidiary to be so designated has total assets of $1,000 or less,
(2) if the Subsidiary has consolidated assets greater than $1,000, then the
designation would be permitted under Section 7.02, or
(3) the designation is effective immediately upon the entity becoming a
Subsidiary of the Borrower.
Unless so designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, any Person that becomes a Subsidiary of the
Borrower will be classified as a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that the Subsidiary shall
not be designated a Restricted Subsidiary and shall be automatically classified as an Unrestricted
Subsidiary if either of the requirements set forth in clauses (x) and (y) of the second immediately
following paragraph will not be satisfied after giving pro forma effect to the classification or if
the Person is a Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
Except as provided in the first sentence of the preceding paragraph, no Restricted Subsidiary
may be redesignated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary. In addition, neither the Borrower
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nor any
Restricted Subsidiary shall at any time be directly or indirectly liable for any Indebtedness that
provides that the holder thereof may (with the passage of time or notice or both) declare a default
thereon or cause the payment thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to its Stated Maturity upon
the occurrence of a default with respect to any Indebtedness, Lien or other obligation of any
Unrestricted Subsidiary in existence and classified as an Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time the
Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiary is liable for that Indebtedness (including any right to take
enforcement action against that Unrestricted Subsidiary).
The Board of Directors may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary
if, immediately after giving pro forma effect to the designation,
(x) the Borrower could Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to
clause (1) of the first paragraph of Section 7.01, and
(y) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would
result therefrom.
Any designation or redesignation of this kind by the Board of Directors will be evidenced to
the Administrative Agent by filing with the Administrative Agent a Board Resolution giving effect
to the designation or redesignation and an Officers’ Certificate that:
(a) certifies that the designation or redesignation complies with the foregoing
provisions, and
(b) gives the effective date of the designation or redesignation, and the filing with
the Administrative Agent to occur within 45 days after the end of the fiscal quarter of the
Borrower in which the designation or redesignation is made (or, in the case of a designation
or redesignation made during the last fiscal quarter of the Borrower’s fiscal year, within
90 days after the end of that fiscal year).
7.08 Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions. The Borrower shall not, and shall
not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any Sale and Leaseback Transaction with respect
to any Property unless:
(a) the Borrower or that Restricted Subsidiary would be entitled to:
(1) Incur Indebtedness in an amount equal to the Attributable Indebtedness with
respect to that Sale and Leaseback Transaction pursuant to Section 7.01, and
(2) create a Lien on the Property securing that Attributable Indebtedness
without also securing the Loans pursuant to Section 7.03, and
(b) the Sale and Leaseback Transaction is effected in compliance with Section
7.04.
7.09 Mergers, Consolidation and Sale of Property. The Borrower shall not merge,
consolidate or amalgamate with or into any other Person (other than a merger of a
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Wholly Owned
Restricted Subsidiary into the Borrower) or sell, transfer, assign, lease, convey or otherwise
dispose of all or substantially all its Property in any one transaction or series of transactions
unless:
(a) the Borrower shall be the surviving Person (the “Surviving Person”) or the
Surviving Person (if other than the Borrower) formed by that merger, consolidation or
amalgamation or to which that sale, transfer, assignment, lease, conveyance or disposition
is made shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of
America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia;
(b) the Surviving Person (if other than the Borrower) expressly assumes, by an
assumption agreement in form satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, executed and
delivered to the Administrative Agent by that Surviving Person, the due and punctual payment
of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, all Loans, according to their
tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all the covenants and
conditions of this Agreement to be performed by the Borrower;
(c) in the case of a sale, transfer, assignment, lease, conveyance or other disposition
of all or substantially all the Property of the Borrower, that Property shall have been
transferred as an entirety or virtually as an entirety to one Person;
(d) immediately before and after giving effect to that transaction or series of
transactions on a pro forma basis (and treating, for purposes of this clause (d) and clause
(e) below, any Indebtedness that becomes, or is anticipated to become, an obligation of the
Surviving Person or any Restricted Subsidiary as a result of that transaction or series of
transactions as having been Incurred by the Surviving Person or the Restricted Subsidiary at
the time of that transaction or series of transactions), no Default or Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing;
(e) immediately after giving effect to that transaction or series of transactions on a
pro forma basis, the Borrower or the Surviving Person, as the case may be, would be able to
Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness under clause (1) of the first paragraph of
Section 7.01, provided that this clause (e) shall not be applicable to the
Borrower merging, consolidating or amalgamating with or into an Affiliate incorporated
solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Borrower in another State of the United States
so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries is not
increased thereby;
(f) the Borrower shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Administrative Agent,
in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, an Officers’
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that the transaction and the assumption
agreement, if any, in respect thereto comply with this Section and that all conditions
precedent herein provided for relating to the transaction have been satisfied; and
(g) the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an Opinion of Counsel
to the effect that the Lenders will not recognize income, gain or loss for
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Federal income
tax purposes as a result of the transaction and will be subject to Federal income tax on the
same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if that
transaction had not occurred.
The Surviving Person shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right
and power of the Borrower under this Agreement, but the predecessor Borrower in the case of:
(a) a sale, transfer, assignment, conveyance or other disposition (unless that sale,
transfer, assignment, conveyance or other disposition is of all the assets of the Borrower
as an entirety or virtually as an entirety), or
(b) a lease,
shall not be released from any obligation to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and
interest on, the Loans.
7.10 Covenant Suspension. During any period of time that:
(a) the Loans have Investment Grade Ratings from both Rating Agencies, and
(b) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under this Agreement,
the Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries will not be subject to the following Sections of this
Agreement: Sections 7.01, 7.02, 7.04, 7.05, clause (x) of the third
paragraph (and as referred to in the first paragraph) of Section 7.07, and clause (e) of
Section 7.09 (collectively, the “Suspended Covenants”). In the event that the
Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries are not subject to the Suspended Covenants for any period
of time as a result of the preceding sentence and, subsequently, one or both of the Rating Agencies
withdraws its ratings or downgrades the ratings assigned to the Loans below the required Investment
Grade Rating or a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing, then the Borrower and the
Restricted Subsidiaries will thereafter again be subject to the Suspended Covenants for all periods
after that withdrawal, downgrade, Default or Event of Default and, furthermore, compliance with the
provisions of Section 7.02 with respect to Restricted Payments made after the time of the
withdrawal, downgrade, Default or Event of Default will be calculated in accordance with the terms
of that covenant as though that covenant had been in effect during the entire period of time from
the Measurement Date, provided that there will not be deemed to have occurred a Default or Event of
Default with respect to that covenant during the time that the Borrower and the Restricted
Subsidiaries were not subject to the Suspended Covenants (or after that time based solely on events
that occurred during that time).
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ARTICLE VIII
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
8.01 Events of Default. Any of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:
(a) the Borrower defaults in any payment of interest on any Loan when the same becomes
due and payable, and such default continues for a period of 30 days;
(b) the Borrower defaults in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, on
any Loan when the same becomes due and payable, upon acceleration, prepayment or otherwise;
(c) the Borrower fails to comply with Section 7.09;
(d) the Borrower fails to comply with any covenant or agreement in any Loan Documents
(other than a failure that is the subject of the foregoing clause (a), (b) or (c)) and such
failure continues for 30 days after written notice is given to the Borrower as specified
below;
(e) a default under any Indebtedness by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that
results in acceleration of the maturity of that Indebtedness, or failure to pay any
Indebtedness at maturity, in an aggregate amount greater than $25.0 million or its foreign
currency equivalent at the time;
(f) the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of any
Bankruptcy Law:
(i) commences a voluntary case;
(ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary
case;
(iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for any substantial
part of its property; or
(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors;
or takes any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to insolvency;
(g) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy
Law that:
(i) is for relief against the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary in an
involuntary case;
(ii) appoints a Custodian of the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary or for
any substantial part of its property;
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(iii) orders the winding up or liquidation of the Borrower or any Significant
Subsidiary; or
(iv) grants any similar relief under any foreign laws;
and in each such case the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 30 days; or
(h) any judgment or judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess
of $25.0 million (or its foreign currency equivalent at the time) that shall be rendered
against the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and that shall not be waived, satisfied or
discharged for any period of 30 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement shall
not be in effect.
The foregoing will constitute Events of Default whatever the reason for any such Event of
Default and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or is effected by operation of law or pursuant
to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any
administrative or governmental body.
The term “Bankruptcy Law” means Xxxxx 00, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Code, or any similar Federal
or state law for the relief of debtors. The term “Custodian” means any receiver,
Administrative Agent, assignee, liquidator, custodian or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
A Default under clause (d) is not an Event of Default until the Administrative Agent or the
Lenders holding at least 25% of the Facility notify the Borrower (and in the case of such notice by
the Lenders, the Administrative Agent) of the Default and the Borrower does not cure that Default
within the time specified after receipt of such notice. The notice must specify the Default,
demand that it be remedied and state that such notice is a “Notice of Default”.
8.02 Remedies upon Event of Default. If any Event of Default occurs and is
continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the
Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:
(a) declare the Commitment of each Lender to be terminated, whereupon such Commitments
shall be terminated;
(b) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued
and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan
Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other
notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower; and
(c) exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to
it and the Lenders under the Loan Documents;
provided that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with
respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of each
Lender to make Loans shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding
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Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable
without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.
8.03 Application of Funds. After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section
8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable), any amounts
received on account of the Obligations shall be applied by the Administrative Agent in the
following order:
First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees,
indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of
counsel to the Administrative Agent and amounts payable under Article III) payable
to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;
Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees,
indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Lenders
(including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders and fees and
time charges for attorneys who may be employees of any Lender) and amounts payable under
Article III, ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in
this clause Second payable to them;
Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and
unpaid interest on the Loans and other Obligations, ratably among the Lenders in proportion
to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;
Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid
principal of the Loans ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts
described in this clause Fourth held by them; and
Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been paid in full,
to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.
ARTICLE IX
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
9.01 Appointment and Authority. (a) Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints
Bank of America to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan
Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to
exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof,
together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this
Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and the Borrower
shall not have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.
9.02 Rights as a Lender. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder
shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may
exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders”
shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the
Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity.
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Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as the financial
advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the
Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative
Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.
9.03 Exculpatory Provisions. The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or
obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:
(a) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of
whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;
(b) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any
discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby
or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as
directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the
Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents),
provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action
that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to
liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law; and
(c) shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents,
have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any
information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or
obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any
capacity.
The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with
the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the
Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be
necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 10.01 and 8.02) or (ii)
in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall
be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is
given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or a Lender.
The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire
into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or
any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered
hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance
of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the
occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this
Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, or (v) the
satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to
confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.
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9.04 Reliance by Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to
rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate,
consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message,
Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to
have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent
also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been
made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining
compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan that by its terms must be fulfilled
to the satisfaction of a Lender, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is
satisfactory to such Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the
contrary from such Lender prior to the making of such Loan. The Administrative Agent may consult
with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts
selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with
the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.
9.05 Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its
duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through
any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any
such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or
through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply
to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such
sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the
credit facility provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.
9.06 Resignation of Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may at any time
give notice of its resignation to the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of
resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower, to
appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of
any such bank with an office in the United States. If no such successor shall have been so
appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the
retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative
Agent may on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the
qualifications set forth above; provided that if the Administrative Agent shall notify the
Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such
resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (a) the retiring
Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the
other Loan Documents and (b) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made
by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly,
until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for
above in this Section. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent
hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers,
privileges and
duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative
Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan
Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section). The fees
payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent
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shall be the same as those payable to
its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the
retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the
provisions of this Article and Section 10.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of
such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect
of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent
was acting as Administrative Agent.
9.07 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders. Each Lender acknowledges
that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Syndication
Agent, any Lead Arranger or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such
documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision
to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and
without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Syndication Agent, any Lead Arranger or any
other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it
shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not
taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement
or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.
9.08 No Other Duties, Etc. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of
the Lead Arrangers or the Syndication Agent shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under
this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the
Administrative Agent or a Lender hereunder.
9.09 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any
proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to the Borrower, the
Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan shall then be due and
payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the
Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered,
by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise
(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing
and unpaid in respect of the Loans and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and
to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of
the Lenders and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable
compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative
Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due
the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.07 and 10.04)
allowed in such judicial proceeding; and
(b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any
such claims and to distribute the same;
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official
in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make such payments to the
Administrative Agent and, if the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments
directly to the Lenders to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable
compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent
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and its agents and
counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.07 and
10.04.
Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or
consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender any plan of reorganization, arrangement,
adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender to authorize the
Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
10.01 Amendments, Etc. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or
any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom, shall be
effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Borrower and acknowledged by the
Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific
instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided that no such amendment,
waiver or consent shall:
(a) waive any condition set forth in Section 4.01 (other than conditions
relating to the payment of fees and expenses of the Administrative Agent) without the
written consent of each Lender;
(b) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment
terminated pursuant to Section 8.02) without the written consent of such Lender;
(c) postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any
payment (excluding mandatory prepayments) of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due
to the Lenders (or any of them) hereunder or under such other Loan Document without the
written consent of each Lender entitled to such payment;
(d) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan, or
any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the
written consent of each Lender entitled to such amount;
(e) change Section 8.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of
payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender;
(f) change any provision of this Section 10.01 or the definition of “Required
Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders
required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination
or grant any consent hereunder without the written consent of each Lender;
(g) reduce the amount payable upon the prepayment of any Loan under Section
2.03(b) or Section 7.04 or, at any time after an Asset Sale that would require
the Borrower to make a Prepayment Offer pursuant to Section 7.04 or a Change of
Control has occurred, change the time at which any Change of Control Offer or Prepayment
Offer
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must be made or at which the Loans must be prepaid pursuant to such Change of Control
Offer or Prepayment Offer without the written consent of each Lender;
(h) release any security interest that may have been granted in favor of the Lenders
other than pursuant to the terms of the agreement granting that security interest without
the written consent of each Lender; or
(i) subordinate the Loans to any other obligation of the Borrower without the written
consent of each Lender;
and provided further that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and
signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or
duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; and (ii) the
Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by
the parties thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall
have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder, except that the
Commitment of such Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender.
If any Lender does not consent to a proposed amendment, waiver, consent or release with
respect to any Loan Document that requires the consent of each Lender and that has been approved by
the Required Lenders, the Borrower may replace such non-consenting Lender in accordance with
Section 10.13; provided that such amendment, waiver, consent or release can be
effected as a result of the assignment contemplated by such Section (together with all other such
assignments required by the Borrower to be made pursuant to this paragraph).
10.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communications. (a) Notices
Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be
given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b) below), all notices and other
communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight
courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopier as follows, and all
notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be
made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:
(i) if to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, to the address, telecopier number,
electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule
10.02; and
(ii) if to any Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or
telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire.
Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall
be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by telecopier shall be deemed to have been
given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be
deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient).
Notices delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b) below
shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b).
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(b) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders
hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet
or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided
that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender pursuant to Article II if such
Lender has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such
Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its
discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic
communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such
procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.
Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications
sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement
from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available,
return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if such notice or other
communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or
communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day
for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website
shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as
described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is
available and identifying the website address therefor.
(c) The Platform. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” THE AGENT
PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR
THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE
BORROWER MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY
OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR
FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE
BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its
Related Parties or any Lead Arranger or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent
Parties”) have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other
Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort,
contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s or any Lead
Arranger’s transmission of the Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that
such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent
jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or
willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided that in no event shall any Agent Party
have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for indirect, special,
incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).
(d) Change of Address, Etc. Each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may
change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder
by notice to the other parties hereto. Each Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone
number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify
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the Administrative Agent from time
to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact
name, telephone number, telecopier number and electronic mail address to which notices and other
communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender.
(e) Reliance by Administrative Agent and Lenders. The Administrative Agent and the
Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Committed Loan
Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made
in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of
notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any
confirmation thereof. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the
Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the
reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower. All
telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be
recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such
recording.
10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure by any Lender or the Administrative
Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or
privilege hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall
any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any
other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege.
The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided, and provided under each other Loan
Document, are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided
by law.
10.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver. (a) Costs and Expenses. The
Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the
Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers and their respective Affiliates (including the reasonable
and documented fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent and the Lead
Arrangers), in connection
with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation,
negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents
or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated) and (ii) all reasonable and
documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers or any
Lender (including the reasonable and documented fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for
the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers or any Lender), and shall pay all fees and time
charges for attorneys who may be employees of the Administrative Agent, the Lead Arrangers or any
Lender, in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in
connection with Loans made hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any
workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans.
(b) Indemnification by the Borrower. (i) The Borrower agrees to defend, indemnify and
hold the Administrative Agent, the Syndication Agent, the Lead Arrangers, their respective
Affiliates and the officers, directors, employees, counsel, representatives, agents and
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attorneys-in-fact of the Administrative Agent, the Syndication Agent, the Lead Arrangers and such
Affiliates, and each Lender and each of its respective officers, directors, employees, counsel,
representatives, agents and attorneys-in-fact (each, an “Indemnitee”), harmless from and
against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments,
suits, costs, charges, expenses and disbursements (including Attorney Costs) of any kind or nature
whatsoever which may at any time (including at any time following repayment of the Loans and the
termination, resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or replacement of any Lender)
be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against any such Person in any way relating to or arising
out of this Agreement or any document contemplated by or referred to herein, or the transactions
contemplated hereby, or any action taken or omitted by any such Person under or in connection with
any of the foregoing, including with respect to any investigation, litigation or proceeding
(including any insolvency proceeding or appellate proceeding) related to or arising out of this
Agreement, any other Loan Document, or the Loans or the use of the proceeds thereof, whether or not
any Indemnitee is a party thereto (all the foregoing, collectively, the “Indemnified
Liabilities”); provided that the Borrower shall not have any obligation hereunder to
any Indemnitee with respect to Indemnified Liabilities resulting solely from the gross negligence
or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee. The agreements in this Section shall survive payment of
all other Obligations.
(ii) The Borrower agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Administrative Agent, the
Syndication Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders from any loss or liability directly or
indirectly arising out of the use, generation, manufacture, production, storage, release,
threatened release, discharge, disposal or presence of a hazardous substance relating to any
Borrower’s operations, business or property. This indemnity will apply whether the hazardous
substance is on, under or about any Borrower’s property or operations or property leased to any
Borrower. The indemnity includes but is not limited to Attorney Costs. The indemnity extends to the
Administrative Agent, the Syndication Agent, the Lead Arrangers and the Lenders, their parents,
affiliates, subsidiaries and all of their directors, officers, employees, agents, successors,
attorneys and assigns.
“Hazardous Substances” means any substance, material or waste that is or becomes
designated or regulated as “toxic,” “hazardous,” “pollutant,” or “contaminant” or a similar
designation or regulation under any federal, state or local law (whether under common law, statute,
regulation or otherwise) or judicial or administrative interpretation of such, including petroleum
or natural gas. This indemnity will survive repayment of all other Obligations.
(c) Reimbursement by Lenders. To the extent that the Borrower for any reason fails to
indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section to be paid by it
to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof) or any Related Party of any of the
foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent)
or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (determined as of
the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid
amount, provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage,
liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the
Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party
of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-
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agent) in connection
with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c) are subject to the
provisions of Section 2.10(d).
(d) Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee,
on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to
direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement,
any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby or any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee
referred to in subsection (b) above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by
unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed to such unintended
recipients by such Indemnitee through telecommunications, electronic or other information
transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby other than for direct or actual damages resulting from
the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee as determined by a final and
nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.
(e) Payments. All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than 10
Business Days after demand therefor.
(f) Survival. The agreements in this Section shall survive the resignation of the
Administrative Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments
and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.
10.05 Payments Set Aside. To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the
Borrower is made to the Administrative Agent, or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent or any
Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part
thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or
required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent or such Lender
in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any
proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the
obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in
full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b)
each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share
(without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent,
plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a
rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the
Lenders under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the
Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
10.06 Successors and Assigns. (a) Successors and Assigns Generally. The
provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto
and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that the Borrower may not
assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written
consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer
any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the
provisions of Section 10.06(b) or (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the
provisions
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of Section 10.06(d), (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any
party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be
construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and
assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d) of this Section
and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this
Agreement.
(b) Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more
assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a
portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it); provided that any such
assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:
(i) Minimum Amounts.
(A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the
assigning Lender’s Commitment or the Loans at the time owing to it or in the case of
an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum
amount need be assigned; and
(B) in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A) of this Section, the
aggregate amount of the Commitment or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the
principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each
such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with
respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade
Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not
be less than $1,000,000, unless each of the
Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be
unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that concurrent assignments to
members of an Assignee Group and concurrent assignments from members of an Assignee
Group to a single Eligible Assignee (or to an Eligible Assignee and members of its
Assignee Group) will be treated as a single assignment for purposes of determining
whether such minimum amount has been met;
(ii) Proportionate Amounts. Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of
a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with
respect to the Loans or the Commitment assigned;
(iii) Required Consents. No consent shall be required for any assignment except to
the extent required by subsection (b)(i)(B) of this Section and, in addition: (A) the consent of
the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (1)
an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such
assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; and (B) the consent of the
Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required
for assignments to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund.
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(iv) Assignment and Assumption. The parties to each assignment shall execute and
deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and
recordation fee in the amount, if any, required as set forth in Schedule 10.06;
provided, however, that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect
to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment. The assignee, if it is
not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.
(v) No Assignment to Borrower. No such assignment shall be made to the Borrower or
any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries.
(vi) No Assignment to Natural Persons. No such assignment shall be made to a natural
person.
Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c)
of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the
assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned
by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this
Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by
such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the
case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations
under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be
entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05 and 10.04
with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment.
Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee
Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that
does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a
sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with
Section 10.06(d).
(c) Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of
the Borrower, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and
Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the
Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant
to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall
be conclusive, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person
whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all
purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be
available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to
time upon reasonable prior notice.
(d) Participations. Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to,
the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural
person or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a
“Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this
Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans owing to it);
provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged,
(ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of
such obligations
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and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall continue to
deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations
under this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a
participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement
and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement;
provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without
the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in
the first proviso to Section 10.01 that affects such Participant. Subject to
subsection (e) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled
to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as if it
were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to Section 10.06(b). To
the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section
10.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to
Section 2.11 as though it were a Lender.
(e) Limitations upon Participant Rights. A Participant shall not be entitled to
receive any greater payment under Section 3.01 or 3.04 than the applicable Lender
would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant,
unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written
consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to
the benefits of Section 3.01 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to
such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with
Section 3.01(e) as though it were a Lender.
(f) Certain Pledges. Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest
in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note, if any) to
secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to
a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such
Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such
Lender as a party hereto.
(g) Electronic Execution of Assignments. The words “execution,” “signed,”
“signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption shall be deemed to include
electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the
same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a
paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any
applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act,
the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on
the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.
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10.07 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality. (a) The Borrower hereby
consents that the Administrative Agent, the Syndication Agent, the Lead Arrangers and each Lender
may issue and disseminate to the public general information describing the credit accommodation
entered into pursuant to this Agreement, including the name and address of the Borrower and a
general description of the Borrower’s business and may use the Borrower’s name in advertising and
other promotional material.
(b) Each Lender severally agrees to take normal and reasonable precautions and exercise due
care to maintain the confidentiality of all information identified as “confidential” or “secret” by
the Borrower and provided to the Administrative Agent, the Syndication Agent, the Lead Arrangers or
such Lender by or on behalf of the Borrower, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document
(“Information”), except to the extent that such Information (i) was or becomes generally
available to the public other than as a result of disclosure by the Administrative Agent or such
Lender, or (ii) was or becomes available on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the
Borrower, provided that such source is not bound by a confidentiality agreement with the Borrower
known to the Administrative Agent or such Lender; provided that the Administrative Agent,
the Syndication Agent, the Lead Arrangers and any Lender may disclose such Information (1) at the
request or pursuant to any requirement of any Governmental Authority to which the Administrative
Agent, the Syndication Agent, the Lead Arrangers or such Lender or any of its Affiliates are
subject or in connection with an examination of the Administrative Agent, the Syndication Agent,
the Lead Arrangers or such Lender or any of its Affiliates by any such Governmental Authority; (2)
pursuant to subpoena or other court process; (3) when required to do so in accordance with the
provisions of any applicable Requirement of Law; (4) to the extent reasonably required in
connection with any litigation or proceeding (including, but not limited to, any bankruptcy
proceeding) to which the Administrative Agent, the Syndication Agent, the Lead Arrangers, any
Lender or their respective Affiliates may be party; (5) to the extent reasonably required in
connection with the exercise of any remedy hereunder or under any other Loan Document; (6) to the
Administrative Agent’s, the Syndication Agent’s, the Lead Arrangers’ or such Lender’s independent
auditors, accountants, attorneys and other professional advisors, and then in each case only on a
confidential basis; (7) to any prospective Participant or assignee under any Assignment and
Assumption or any derivatives contract counterparty, actual or potential, or their advisors
provided that such
prospective Participant, assignee or derivatives contract counterparty agrees to keep such
Information confidential to the same extent required of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
hereunder; (8) as expressly permitted under the terms of any other document or agreement regarding
confidentiality to which the Borrower is party with the Administrative Agent, the Syndication
Agent, the Lead Arrangers or such Lender; and (9) to its Related Parties, and then in each case
only on a confidential basis.
(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Agreement is intended to provide
express authorization to the Administrative Agent, the Syndication Agent, the Lead Arrangers, each
Lender, each Borrower and each of their respective Affiliates (and each of their respective
employees, representatives, or other agents) to disclose to any and all Persons, without limitation
of any kind, the “tax treatment” and “tax structure” (in each case, within the meaning of Treasury
Regulation Section 1.6011-4) of the transactions contemplated hereby and all materials of any kind
(including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to any such Person relating to such
tax treatment and tax structure; provided that with respect to any
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document or similar item
that in either case contains information concerning the tax treatment or tax structure of the
transactions contemplated hereby as well as other information, this authorization shall only apply
to such portions of the document or similar item that relate to the tax treatment or tax structure
of the Loans and transactions contemplated hereby.
10.08 Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing,
each Lender and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time
to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all
deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any
time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender or any such
Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any and all of the
obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan
Document to such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand
under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower may
be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender different from the
branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness. The rights of each Lender
and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies
(including other rights of setoff) that such Lender or its respective Affiliates may have. Each
Lender agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff
and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the
validity of such setoff and application.
10.09 Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in
any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed
the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “Maximum Rate”).
If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the
Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds
such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower. In determining whether the interest contracted
for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate,
such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is
not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary
prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or
unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations
hereunder.
10.10 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in
counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall
constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.
This Agreement and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire contract among the parties
relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and
understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in
Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the
Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof
that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of an
executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy shall be effective as
delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
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10.11 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties
made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or
thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and
thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the
Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative
Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any
Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of the Borrowing, and shall
continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall
remain unpaid or unsatisfied.
10.12 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is
held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the
remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or
impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the
illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which
comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The
invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable
such provision in any other jurisdiction.
10.13 Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section
3.04, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any
Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any
Lender is a Defaulting Lender, then the
Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the
Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance
with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section
10.06), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan
Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender,
if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:
(a) the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee
specified in Section 10.06(b);
(b) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding
principal of its Loans accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable
to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section
3.05) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued
interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);
(c) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under
Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01, such
assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter; and
(d) such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws.
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A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as
a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to
require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.
10.14 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc. (a) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT
SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
(b) SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. THE BORROWER IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS,
FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE NEW YORK, AND ANY
APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS
AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH
OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH
ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST
EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE 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 OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY
LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER
LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST THE BORROWER OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.
(c) WAIVER OF VENUE. THE BORROWER IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE
FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE
LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY
OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION. EACH OF THE PARTIES
HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF
AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.
(d) SERVICE OF PROCESS. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS
IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 10.02. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT
THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW
10.15 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE
FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE
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LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL
PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN
DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY
OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY
OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON 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
BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
10.16 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. In connection with all aspects of each
transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other
modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), the Borrower acknowledges and agrees, and
acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (i) (A) the arranging and other services
regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers are
arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Borrower and its respective Affiliates, on the one
hand, and the Administrative
Agent and the Lead Arrangers, on the other hand, (B) the Borrower has consulted its own legal,
accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the
Borrower is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of
the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii) (A) the Administrative
Agent and the Lead Arrangers each is and has been acting solely as a principal and has not been, is
not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Borrower or any of its
Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) neither the Administrative Agent nor any of the Lead
Arrangers has any obligation to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates with respect to the
transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the
other Loan Documents; and (iii) each of the Administrative Agent and the Lead Arrangers and their
respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that
differ from those of the Borrower and its Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent nor the
Lead Arrangers has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower or its
Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Borrower hereby waives and releases any
claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent and each Lead Arranger with respect to any
breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any
transaction contemplated hereby.
10.17 USA PATRIOT Act Notice. Each Lender that is subject to the Patriot Act (as
hereinafter defined), each Lead Arranger, the Syndication Agent and the Administrative Agent (for
itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the
requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26,
2001)) (the “Patriot Act”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that
identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other
information that will allow such Lender, each Lead Arranger, the Syndication Agent or the
Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Patriot Act.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of
the date first above written.
LEVI XXXXXXX & CO. | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: | ||||||
S-1
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as | ||||||
Administrative Agent | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: | ||||||
S-2
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: | ||||||
S-3