364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT Dated as of November 17, 2008 among VULCAN MATERIALS COMPANY, as the Borrower, BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and The Other Lenders Party Hereto BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC and SUNTRUST ROBINSON HUMPHREY,...
Exhibit 1.1
Execution
Version
Published
CUSIP Number:
Dated as of November 17, 2008
among
VULCAN MATERIALS COMPANY,
as the Borrower,
as the Borrower,
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent,
as Administrative Agent,
and
The Other Lenders Party Hereto
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
and
SUNTRUST XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX, INC.,
as
Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Book Managers
and
SUNTRUST XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX, INC.,
as
Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Book Managers
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section |
Page | ||||
ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS |
1 | ||||
1.01 Defined Terms |
1 | ||||
1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions |
18 | ||||
1.03 Accounting Terms |
18 | ||||
1.04 Rounding |
19 | ||||
1.05 Times of Day |
19 | ||||
ARTICLE II. THE COMMITMENTS AND BORROWINGS |
19 | ||||
2.01 Committed Loans |
19 | ||||
2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans |
19 | ||||
2.03 Bid Loans |
21 | ||||
2.04 [Reserved.] |
23 | ||||
2.05 Prepayments |
24 | ||||
2.06 Termination or Reduction of Commitments |
24 | ||||
2.07 Repayment of Loans |
25 | ||||
2.08 Interest |
25 | ||||
2.09 Fees |
25 | ||||
2.10 Computation of Interest and Fees |
26 | ||||
2.11 Evidence of Debt |
26 | ||||
2.12 Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback |
26 | ||||
2.13 Sharing of Payments by Lenders |
28 | ||||
2.14 Increase in Commitments |
29 | ||||
ARTICLE III. TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY |
30 | ||||
3.01 Taxes |
30 | ||||
3.02 Illegality |
32 | ||||
3.03 Inability to Determine Rates |
33 | ||||
3.04 Increased Costs |
34 | ||||
3.05 Compensation for Losses |
35 | ||||
3.06 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders |
36 | ||||
3.07 Survival |
36 |
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Section |
Page | |||||
ARTICLE IV. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO BORROWINGS |
36 | |||||
4.01 Conditions of Initial Borrowing |
36 | |||||
4.02 Conditions to all Borrowings |
38 | |||||
ARTICLE V. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
38 | |||||
5.01 Existence, Qualification and Power |
38 | |||||
5.02 Authorization; No Contravention; Governmental Authorization |
39 | |||||
5.03 Binding Effect |
39 | |||||
5.04 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect |
39 | |||||
5.05 Litigation |
40 | |||||
5.06 Taxes |
40 | |||||
5.07 ERISA Compliance |
40 | |||||
5.08 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act |
40 | |||||
5.09 Disclosure |
40 | |||||
5.10 Compliance with Laws |
41 | |||||
5.11 Taxpayer Identification Number |
41 | |||||
ARTICLE VI. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS |
41 | |||||
6.01 Financial Statements |
41 | |||||
6.02 Certificates; Other Information |
42 | |||||
6.03 Notices |
43 | |||||
6.04 Payment of Obligations |
43 | |||||
6.05 Preservation of Existence |
44 | |||||
6.06 Maintenance of Properties |
44 | |||||
6.07 Self-Insurance |
44 | |||||
6.08 Compliance with Laws |
44 | |||||
6.09 Books and Records; Inspection Rights |
44 | |||||
6.10 Use of Proceeds |
44 | |||||
ARTICLE VII. NEGATIVE COVENANTS |
45 | |||||
7.01 Liens |
45 | |||||
7.02 Fundamental Changes |
46 | |||||
7.03 Sales of Assets |
46 | |||||
7.04 Dissolution |
46 |
ii
Section |
Page | ||||
7.05 Use of Proceeds |
46 | ||||
7.06 Ratio of Consolidated Debt to Total Capitalization |
46 | ||||
ARTICLE VIII. EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES |
46 | ||||
8.01 Events of Default |
46 | ||||
8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default |
48 | ||||
8.03 Application of Funds |
49 | ||||
ARTICLE IX. ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT |
49 | ||||
9.01 Appointment and Authority |
49 | ||||
9.02 Rights as a Lender |
49 | ||||
9.03 Exculpatory Provisions |
50 | ||||
9.04 Reliance by Administrative Agent |
50 | ||||
9.05 Delegation of Duties |
51 | ||||
9.06 Resignation of Administrative Agent |
51 | ||||
9.07 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders |
52 | ||||
9.08 No Other Duties, Etc. |
52 | ||||
9.09 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim |
52 | ||||
ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS |
53 | ||||
10.01 Amendments, Etc. |
53 | ||||
10.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication |
54 | ||||
10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies |
56 | ||||
10.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver |
56 | ||||
10.05 Payments Set Aside |
57 | ||||
10.06 Successors and Assigns |
58 | ||||
10.07 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality |
61 | ||||
10.08 Right of Setoff |
62 | ||||
10.09 Interest Rate Limitation |
62 | ||||
10.10 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness |
62 | ||||
10.11 Survival of Representations and Warranties |
63 | ||||
10.12 Severability |
63 | ||||
10.13 Replacement of Lenders |
63 | ||||
10.14 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc. |
64 |
iii
Section |
Page | ||||
10.15 Waiver of Jury Trial |
65 | ||||
10.16 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility |
65 | ||||
10.17 USA PATRIOT Act Notice |
66 | ||||
10.18 License Agreement and CDS Data |
66 | ||||
SIGNATURES |
S-1 |
iv
SCHEDULES |
2.01 Commitments and Applicable Percentages |
10.02 Administrative Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices |
EXHIBITS |
Form of |
A Committed Loan Notice |
X-x Bid Request |
B-2 Competitive Bid |
C Note |
D Compliance Certificate |
E Assignment and Assumption |
F-1 Borrower Opinion |
F-2 Special Counsel to the Administrative Agent Opinion |
v
THIS 364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of November 17,
2008, among VULCAN MATERIALS COMPANY, a New Jersey 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.
The Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide a revolving credit facility, and the
Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto
covenant and agree as follows:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
1.01 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings
set forth below:
“Absolute Rate” means a fixed rate of interest expressed in multiples of 1/100th of
one basis point.
“Absolute Rate Loan” means a Bid Loan that bears interest at a rate determined with
reference to an Absolute Rate.
“Administrative Agent” means Bank of America in its capacity as administrative agent
under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent.
“Administrative Agent’s Office” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as
appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02, or such other address or account as
the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify to the Borrower and the Lenders.
“Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form
supplied by the Administrative Agent.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, another Person that directly, or
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common
Control with the Person specified.
“Aggregate Commitments” means the Commitments of all the Lenders.
“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph hereto.
“Alternative Base Rate” means, for all Loans, on any day any such Loan is
outstanding, the fluctuating rate of interest (rounded upwards, as necessary, to the nearest 1/100
of 1%) 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 (2)
1
Business Days prior to the most recent Interest Rate Change Date, for Dollar deposits
(for delivery on such Interest Rate Change Date) with a term of one month, as adjusted
from time to time in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion for changes in deposit
insurance requirements and other regulatory costs. If such rate is not available at such
time for any reason, then the “Alternative Base Rate” shall be the rate per annum
determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate at which deposits in Dollars for
delivery in same day funds in the approximate amount of the Dollar denominated Loans
outstanding with a term equivalent to one month 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), on each day any such Loan is outstanding.
“Applicable Percentage” means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the
percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Aggregate Commitments
represented by such Lender’s Commitment at such time. If the commitment of each Lender to
make Loans has been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02 or if the Aggregate
Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage of each Lender shall be
determined based on the Applicable Percentage of such Lender most recently in effect,
giving effect to any subsequent assignments. The initial Applicable Percentage of each
Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the
Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as
applicable.
“Applicable Rate” means, from time to time, (a) with respect to facility
fees pursuant to Section 2.09(a), a percentage per annum based upon the Debt
Rating as set forth below and (b) with respect to any Committed Loan, a percentage per
annum equal to the Credit Default Swap Spread, subject to the applicable interest rate
margin floor and interest rate margin ceiling based upon the Debt Rating as set forth
below:
Applicable Rate
Margin Floor | Margin Ceiling | |||||||||||||||
for Eurodollar Rate + / | for Eurodollar Rate + / | |||||||||||||||
LIBOR Daily Floating | LIBOR Daily Floating | |||||||||||||||
Pricing | Debt Rating | Rate + / Base Rate + / | Rate + / Base Rate + / | |||||||||||||
Level | S&P/Xxxxx’x | Facility Fee | Alternative Base Rate + | Alternative Base Rate + | ||||||||||||
1 | A- / A3 or higher |
0.175 | % | 1.50 | % | 3.50 | % | |||||||||
2 | BBB+ /
Baa l |
0.225 | % | 1.75 | % | 4.00 | % | |||||||||
3 | BBB / Baa2 |
0.300 | % | 2.00 | % | 4.50 | % | |||||||||
4 | BBB- / Baa3 |
0.375 | % | 2.00 | % | 4.50 | % | |||||||||
5 | BB+ /
Ba l or lower |
0.450 | % | 2.00 | % | 5.00 | % |
“Credit Default Swap Spread” means, for any CDS Spread Determination
Date, the one (1) year point on the Borrower’s trading convention credit default
swap curve that is the most liquid and/or widely followed credit default swap
curve for the Borrower’s senior unsecured obligations as calculated by the
Reference Pricing Agent after the close of business on the Business Day
immediately preceding the CDS Spread Determination Date as provided by the
Reference Pricing Agent to the Administrative Agent and the
2
Borrower; provided that, for any Pricing Level set forth above, (x) if the Credit
Default Swap Spread for such Pricing Level exceeds the applicable interest rate “Margin
Ceiling” (as set forth above), the Credit Default Swap Spread shall be a percentage per
annum equal to such “Margin Ceiling”, and (y) if the Credit Default Swap Spread for such
Pricing Level is less than the applicable interest rate “Margin Floor” (as set forth
above), the Credit Default Swap Spread shall be a percentage per annum equal to such
“Margin Floor”; provided, further, that if such Credit Default Swap Spread
is not delivered by the Reference Pricing Agent to the Administrative Agent by 11:00 a.m.
on the relevant CDS Spread Determination Date, then the Credit Default Swap Spread
applicable to such CDS Spread Determination Date shall be (A) with respect to any
Eurodollar Rate Loan, 5.00%, and (B) with respect to any Base Rate Loan or LIBOR Floating
Rate Loan, 5.00%.
“Debt Rating” means, as of any date of determination, the rating as determined
by either S&P or Xxxxx’x (collectively, the “Debt Ratings”) of the Borrower’s
non-credit-enhanced, senior unsecured long-term debt; provided that (a) if the
respective Debt Ratings issued by the foregoing rating agencies differ by one level, then
the Pricing Level for the higher of such Debt Ratings shall apply (with the Debt Rating for
Pricing Level 1 being the highest and the Debt Rating for Pricing Level 5 being the
lowest); (b) if there is a split in Debt Ratings of more than one level, then the Pricing
Level that is one level lower than the Pricing Level of the higher Debt Rating shall apply;
and (c) if the Borrower does not have any Debt Rating, Pricing Level 5 shall apply.
Initially, the Applicable Rate shall be determined based upon Pricing Level 2. Thereafter, each
change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a publicly announced change in the Debt Rating shall
be effective during the period commencing on the date of the public announcement or publication
thereof by S&P or Xxxxx’x, respectively, or, in the absence of such announcement or publication,
on the effective date of such changed Debt Rating, and ending on the date immediately preceding
the effective date of the next such change. In no event shall the Credit Default Swap Spread be
less than the “Margin Floor” (as set forth above) or greater than the “Margin Ceiling” (as set
forth above) for each respective Pricing Level.
“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.
“Arrangers” means each of Banc of America Securities LLC and SunTrust Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Inc., each in its capacity as joint lead arranger and joint book manager.
“Assignee Group” means two or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one
another or two or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.
“Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a
Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section
10.06(b)), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit
E or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
3
“Availability Period” means the period from and including the Closing Date to the
earliest of (a) the Maturity Date, (b) the date of termination of the Aggregate Commitments
pursuant to Section 2.06, and (c) the date of termination of the commitment of each Lender
to make Loans pursuant to Section 8.02.
“Bank of America” means Bank of America, N.A. and its successors.
“Base Rate” means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the sum of (a) the
highest of (i) the Federal Funds Rate for such day plus 1/2 of 1%, (ii) the rate of
interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Bank of America as its
“prime rate” and (iii) except during a Eurodollar Unavailability Period, the Alternative Base Rate,
plus (b) the Market Disruption Spread, if any. The “prime rate” means the rate of interest
in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Bank of America as its “prime
rate.” The “prime rate” is a rate set by Bank of America based upon various factors including Bank
of America’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used
as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced
rate. Any change in such rate announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening of
business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.
“Base Rate Committed Loan” means a Committed Loan that is a Base Rate Loan.
“Base Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.
“Bid Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Bid Loans of the same
Type from each of the Lenders whose offer to make one or more Bid Loans as part of such borrowing
has been accepted under the auction bidding procedures described in Section 2.03.
“Bid Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(a).
“Bid Loan Lender” means, in respect of any Bid Loan, the Lender making such Bid Loan
to the Borrower.
“Bid Loan Sublimit” means an amount equal to $50,000,000. The Bid Loan Sublimit is
part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitments.
“Bid Request” means a written request for one or more Bid Loans substantially in the
form of Exhibit X-x.
“Borrower” means Vulcan Materials Company, a New Jersey corporation.
“Borrower Materials” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.
“Borrowing” means a Committed Borrowing or a Bid Borrowing, as the context may
require.
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which
commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the State of
North Carolina and, if such day relates to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, means any such day on
4
which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank
eurodollar market.
“Capital Stock” means any nonredeemable capital stock of the Borrower or any
Consolidated Subsidiary (to the extent issued to a Person other than the Borrower), whether common
or preferred.
“CDS Data” has the meaning specified in Section 10.18.
“CDS Spread Determination Date” means, (a) with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Loan,
the date that is two Business Days prior to the first day of the Interest Period for such
Eurodollar Rate Loan, and (b) with respect to any Base Rate Loan or any LIBOR Floating Rate Loan,
on the first Business Day of each calendar quarter.
“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.
“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 Committed 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 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto,
as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.
“Committed Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Committed Loans of
the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by
each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01.
“Committed Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.
“Committed Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Committed Borrowing, (b) a conversion
of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans,
pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of
Exhibit A.
“Competitive Bid” means a written offer by a Lender to make one or more Bid Loans,
substantially in the form of Exhibit B-2, duly completed and signed by a Lender.
“Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of
Exhibit D.
5
“Consolidated Debt” means at any date all obligations for indebtedness for borrowed
money shown on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of
such date (or would be if a balance sheet were prepared on such date); provided that
indebtedness for borrowed money of any Partially Owned Subsidiary which is a Consolidated
Subsidiary shall be equal to the Guaranteed Amount, if any, of such indebtedness.
“Consolidated Subsidiary” means at any date any Subsidiary or other entity the
accounts of which, in accordance with GAAP, are consolidated with those of any Person in its
consolidated financial statements as of such date.
“Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or
cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to
exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled”
have meanings correlative thereto.
“Controlled Group” means all members of a controlled group of corporations and all
trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under common control which, together with the
Borrower, are treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.
“Credit Default Swap Spread” has the meaning specified in the definition of
“Applicable Rate”.
“Debt Rating” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Applicable Rate”.
“Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other
liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium,
rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the
United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the
rights of creditors generally.
“Default” means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that,
with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.
“Default Rate” means an interest rate equal to (a) the Base Rate plus (b) 2%
per annum; provided, however, that with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the
Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate)
otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2% per annum.
“Defaulting Lender” means any Lender that (a) has failed to fund any portion of the
Committed Loans required to be funded by it hereunder within one Business Day of the date required
to be funded by it hereunder unless such failure has been cured, (b) has otherwise failed to pay
over to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it
hereunder within one Business Day of the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute
or unless such failure has been cured, or (c) has been deemed insolvent or become the subject of a
bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar proceeding.
“Dollar”
and “$” mean lawful money of the United States.
6
“Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of any
political subdivision of the United States.
“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).
“Environmental Laws” means any and all Federal, state, local, and foreign statutes,
laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants,
franchises, licenses 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.
“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) any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA,
other than events for which the 30 day notice period has been waived, 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 or contributions to a Pension Plan in the ordinary course,
upon the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate.
“Eurodollar Bid Margin” means the margin above or below the Eurodollar Rate to be
added to or subtracted from the Eurodollar Rate, which margin shall be expressed in multiples of
1/100th of one basis point.
“Eurodollar Margin Bid Loan” means a Bid Loan that bears interest at a rate based
upon the Eurodollar Rate.
“Eurodollar Rate” means, for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurodollar Rate
Loan, the sum of (a) the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent pursuant to the
following formula:
7
Eurodollar Base Rate | ||||||
Eurodollar Rate = | 1.00 — Eurodollar Reserve Percentage |
Where,
“Eurodollar Base Rate” means, for such Interest Period, 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 Base 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 immediately available 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;
plus (b) the Market Disruption Spread, if any, as of the time of determination.
“Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan” means a Committed Loan that bears interest at a rate
based on the Eurodollar Rate.
“Eurodollar Rate Loan” means a Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan or a Eurodollar Margin
Bid Loan.
“Eurodollar Reserve Percentage” means, for any day during any Interest Period, the
reserve percentage (expressed as a decimal, carried out to five decimal places) in effect on such
day, whether or not applicable to any Lender, under regulations issued from time to time by the
FRB for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including any emergency, supplemental or
other marginal reserve requirement) with respect to Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as
“Eurocurrency liabilities”). The Eurodollar Rate for each outstanding Eurodollar Rate Loan shall
be adjusted automatically as of the effective date of any change in the Eurodollar Reserve
Percentage. The LIBOR Daily Floating Rate for each outstanding LIBOR Floating Rate Loan shall be
adjusted automatically as of the effective date of any change in the Eurodollar Reserve
Percentage.
“Eurodollar Unavailability Period” means any period of time during which a notice
delivered to the Borrower in accordance with Section 3.03(b) shall remain in force and
effect.
“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.
8
“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 364-Day Credit Agreement” means that certain Credit Agreement dated as of
November 16, 2007 among the Borrower (successor by merger to Virginia Holdco, Inc., a New Jersey
corporation), the lenders party thereto from time to time, and Bank of America, N.A. as
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 November 14, 2008, among the Borrower,
the Administrative Agent and BAS.
“Five-Year Working Capital Credit Agreement” means that certain Five-Year Credit
Agreement, dated as of November 16, 2007, by and among the Borrower (successor by merger to
Virginia Holdco, Inc., a New Jersey corporation), Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent,
and the lenders party thereto.
“Foreign Lender” means any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction
other than that in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes. For purposes of this
definition, the United States, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to
constitute a single jurisdiction.
“FRB” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.
9
“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.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the
opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting
Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the
accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date
of determination, consistently applied.
“Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States or any other
nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency,
authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising
executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or
pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the
European Central Bank).
“Guarantee” by any Person means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such
Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other
Person and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any obligation, direct or indirect,
contingent or otherwise, of such Person (a) to secure, purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds
for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation (whether arising by virtue
of partnership arrangements, by agreement to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or
services, to provide collateral security, 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 of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee
against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part); provided that the term Guarantee
shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The
term “Guarantee” used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.
“Guaranteed Amount” means, with respect to the Indebtedness of another Person, the
aggregate amount for which the Borrower is liable (whether by Guarantee or as a general partner or
otherwise, but excluding any amounts with respect to which the Borrower is expressly exculpated).
“Indebtedness” of any Person means at any date, without duplication, (a) all
obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by
bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person to pay
the deferred purchase price of property or services, except trade accounts payable arising in the
ordinary course of business, (d) the capitalized amount of all obligations of such Person as
lessee under capital leases (excluding all Synthetic Lease Obligations) that are required to be
accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, (e) all obligations
of such Person to reimburse any bank or other Person in respect of amounts payable under a
banker’s acceptance, (f) all obligations (contingent or otherwise) of such Person to reimburse any
bank or other Person in respect of amounts paid or to be paid under a drawn letter of credit or
similar instrument, (g) all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person,
whether
10
or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person, and (h) all Indebtedness of others Guaranteed
by such Person.
“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,
however, that if any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate Loan exceeds three months, the
respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall
also be Interest Payment Dates; (b) as to any Base Rate Loan, the last Business Day of each March,
June, September and December and the Maturity Date, and (c) as to any LIBOR Floating Rate Loan,
the first Business Day of each month and the Maturity Date.
“Interest Period” means (a) as to each Eurodollar Rate Loan, the period commencing on
the date such Eurodollar Rate Loan is disbursed or (in the case of any Eurodollar Rate Committed
Loan) converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Rate Loan and ending on the date one, two, three or
six months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Committed Loan Notice or Bid Request, as
the case may be; and (b) as to each Absolute Rate Loan, a period of not less than seven days and
not more than 360 days as selected by the Borrower in its Bid Request; 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 Change Date” means, (a) with respect to the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate,
the first day of each month, and (b) with respect to the Base Rate (including any event as to
which such rate of interest is determined with reference to the Alternative Base Rate), Monday of
each week; provided, however, that if such date is not a Business Day, then the “Interest
Rate Change Date” shall be the next succeeding Business Day.
“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,
11
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.
“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.
“LIB OR Daily Floating Rate” means the sum of (a) the rate per annum determined by
the Administrative Agent pursuant to the following formula:
LIBOR Daily Floating Rate = | LIBOR Daily Floating Base Rate | |||||
1.00 — Eurodollar Reserve Percentage |
Where,
“LIBOR Daily Floating Base Rate” means, for all Loans, on any day any such
Loan is outstanding, the fluctuating rate of interest (rounded upwards, as necessary, to
the nearest 1/100 of 1%) 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 (2) Business Days prior to the most recent
Interest Rate Change Date, for Dollar deposits (for delivery on such Interest Rate Change
Date) with a term of one month, as adjusted from time to time in the Administrative
Agent’s sole discretion for changes in deposit insurance requirements and other regulatory
costs. If such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the “LIBOR Daily
Floating Base Rate” shall be the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to
be the rate at which deposits in Dollars for delivery in same day funds in the approximate
amount of the Dollar denominated Loans outstanding with a term equivalent to one month
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), on each day
any such Loan is outstanding;
plus (b) the Market Disruption Spread, if any, as of the time of determination.
“LIBOR Floating Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the
LIBOR Daily Floating Rate.
“License Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 10.18.
“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, encumbrance, lien
(statutory or other), charge, or other security interest or encumbrance (including any conditional
sale or other title retention agreement, any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title
to real property, and any capital lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of
the foregoing).
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“Loan” means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrower under Article
II in the form of a Committed Loan or a Bid Loan.
“Loan Documents” means this Agreement, each Note and the Fee Letter.
“Market Disruption Spread” means zero unless a notice delivered pursuant to
Section 3.03(b) is in effect, in which case such spread shall be a rate per annum equal to
1.50%.
“Markit” means Markit Group, Ltd.
“Material Adverse Effect” means (a) a material adverse effect upon, the operations,
business, properties or financial condition 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 upon the legality, validity, binding effect or
enforceability against the Borrower of any Loan Document.
“Maturity Date” means the date that is 364 days after the Closing Date;
provided, however, that, if such date is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date
shall be the next preceding Business Day.
“Moody’s” means Xxxxx’x Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.
“Multiemployer Plan” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section
4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make
contributions, or during the preceding five plan years, has made or been obligated to make
contributions.
“Note” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of a Lender evidencing
Loans made by such Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit C.
“Obligations” means all advances to, and debts, liabilities and other monetary
obligations of, the Borrower arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any
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 Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding,
regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding.
“Organization Documents” means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate
or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents
with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the
certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect
to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint
venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument,
filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with
the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or
13
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. “Other Taxes” shall not include any Taxes
imposed on (or measured by reference to) gross income, net income, or gain.
“Outstanding Amount” means, with respect to Committed Loans and Bid Loans on any
date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and
prepayments or repayments of Committed Loans and Bid Loans, as the case may be, occurring on such
date.
“Partially Owned Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary that is not a Wholly Owned
Subsidiary.
“Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d).
“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any entity succeeding to any or all
of its functions under ERISA.
“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.
4064(a) of ERISA, has made contributions at any time during the immediately preceding five plan years.
“Permitted Encumbrances” means:
(a) Liens imposed by law or any Governmental Authority for taxes, assessments or
charges that are not yet due or are being contested;
(b) carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s and other like
Liens imposed by law, arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations
that are not overdue by more than 30 days or where the validity or amount thereof is being
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;
(c) pledges and deposits made in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment
insurance and other social security laws or regulations;
(d) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory
obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like
nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(e) judgment liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default;
and
14
(f) easements, zoning restrictions, minor title imperfections, restrictions on use,
rights of way and similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the
ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not
materially detract from the value of the affected property or interfere with the ordinary
conduct of business of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries;
provided that the term “Permitted Encumbrances” shall not include any Lien
securing Indebtedness.
“Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust,
joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.
“Plan” means at any time an employee pension benefit plan which is covered by Title
IV of ERISA or subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code and is
either (a) maintained by a member of the Controlled Group for employees of any member of the
Controlled Group or (b) maintained pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement or any other
arrangement under which more than one employer makes contributions and to which a member of the
Controlled Group is then making or accruing an obligation to make contributions.
“Platform” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.
“Properties” means all real property owned, leased or otherwise used or occupied by
the Borrower or any Subsidiary, wherever located.
“Receivables” means all rights of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries to payment,
whether constituting an account, chattel paper, instrument, general intangible or otherwise,
arising from the sale of goods or services (including rights under xxxx and hold arrangements) by
the Borrower or its Subsidiaries (and including the right to payment of any interest or finance
charges and other obligations with respect thereto).
“Receivables Securitization” means any transaction or series of transactions that may
be entered into by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries pursuant to which the Borrower and/or its
Subsidiaries may sell, convey or otherwise transfer to the Receivables Subsidiary and, in the case
of a transfer by the Receivables Subsidiary, any other Person, or may grant a security interest
in, any Receivables (whether now existing or arising in the future); provided that:
(a) no portion of the indebtedness or any other obligations (contingent or otherwise)
of a Receivables Subsidiary (i) is guaranteed by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries (other
than the Receivables Subsidiary and excluding guarantees of obligations pursuant to
customary securitization undertakings), (ii) is recourse to or obligates the Borrower or
its Subsidiaries (other than the Receivables Subsidiary) for payment other than pursuant to
customary securitization undertakings or (iii) subjects any property or asset of the
Borrower or its Subsidiaries (other than the Receivables Subsidiary), directly or
indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction of obligations incurred in such
transactions, other than pursuant to customary securitization undertakings;
15
(b)
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (other than the Receivables Subsidiary) do not have
any obligation to maintain or preserve the financial condition of the Receivables
Subsidiary or cause such entity to achieve certain levels of operating results; and
(c) fair value has been received.
“Receivables Subsidiary” means a special purpose corporation that is a wholly owned
subsidiary of the Borrower, whose primary business shall be the acquisition of Receivables
pursuant to the Receivables Securitization and those activities incidental to the Receivables
Securitization.
“Reference Pricing Agent” means Markit in its capacity as reference pricing agent or
any successor thereto.
“Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(c).
“Registered Public Accounting Firm” has the meaning specified in the Securities Laws
and shall be independent of the Borrower as prescribed in the Securities Laws.
“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.
“Request for Borrowing” means (a) with respect to a Committed Borrowing, conversion
or continuation of Committed Loans, a Committed Loan Notice, and (b) with respect to a Bid Loan, a
Bid Request.
“Required Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having more than
50% of the Aggregate Commitments or, if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans has been
terminated pursuant to Section 8.02, Lenders holding in the aggregate more than 50% of the
aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Committed Loans; provided that the Commitment of, and
the portion of the Outstanding Amount of Committed Loans held or deemed held by, any Defaulting
Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.
“Responsible Officer” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial
officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer or controller of the Borrower and, solely for purposes of
notices given pursuant to Article II, 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 of the Borrower 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.
“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The XxXxxx-Xxxx
Companies, Inc. and any successor thereto.
16
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority
succeeding to any of its principal functions.
“Securities Laws” means the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, and the applicable accounting and auditing principles, rules, standards and practices
promulgated, approved or incorporated by the SEC, all as amended.
“Shareholders’ Equity” means, at any time, the shareholders’ equity of the Borrower
and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, as set forth or reflected on the most recent consolidated
balance sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP.
“Significant Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary within the meaning of Rule 1-02 under
Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC.
“Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited
liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of securities or
other interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body
(other than securities or interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a
contingency) are at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise
controlled, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person.
Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall
refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.
“SWAP Obligations” means all obligations of such Person with respect to interest rate
protection agreements, foreign currency exchange agreements or other hedging arrangements (valued
for any SWAP Obligation at any date, as the net payments that such Person would have to make in
the event of an early termination of the applicable agreement on such date).
“Synthetic Lease” means any operating lease under GAAP for which the lessee retains
federal tax ownership of the property leased.
“Synthetic Lease Obligations” means any and all liabilities, indebtedness, rent, and
all other obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary owed under any Synthetic Lease.
“Taxes” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions,
withholdings or like charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest,
additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
“Total Capitalization” means the sum of (a) Shareholders’ Equity plus (b)
Consolidated Debt.
“Total Outstandings” means on any date the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all
Loans.
“Type” means (a) with respect to a Committed Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan,
a Eurodollar Rate Loan or a LIBOR Floating Rate Loan, and (b) with respect to a Bid Loan, its
character as an Absolute Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Margin Bid Loan.
“United States” and “U.S.” mean the United States of America.
17
“Wholly Owned Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary all of the shares of capital stock or
other ownership interests of which (except directors’ qualifying shares) are at the time directly
or indirectly owned by the Borrower.
“Working Capital Credit Facilities” mean, collectively, (a) the Five-Year Working
Capital Credit Agreement, and (b) that certain Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of June 23,
2008 by and among the Borrower, Wachovia Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, and
the lenders party thereto.
1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions. With reference to this Agreement and each other
Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:
(a) The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of
the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding
masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and
“including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word
“will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”.
Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement,
instrument or other document (including any Organization Document) shall be construed as referring
to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or
otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications
set forth herein or in any other Loan Document), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be
construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (iii) the words “herein”,
“hereof and “hereunder”, and words of similar import when used in any Loan
Document, shall be construed to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not to any
particular provision thereof, (iv) all references in a Loan Document to Articles, Sections,
Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and
Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law
shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or
interpreting such law and any reference to any law or regulation shall, unless otherwise
specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time,
and (vi) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same
meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties,
including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.
(b) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to
a later specified date,
the word “from” means “from and including”; the words “to” and “until” each mean
“to but excluding”; and the word “through” means “to and including”.
(c) Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of
reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan
Document.
1.03
Accounting Terms. (a) Generally. All accounting terms not specifically or
completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data
(including
financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this
Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout
18
the applicable period, as in effect from time to time, except as otherwise specifically
prescribed herein.
(b) Changes in GAAP. If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation
of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Borrower or
the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower
shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent
thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders);
provided that, until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be
computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide
to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required
under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between
calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in
GAAP.
1.04 Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower pursuant to this
Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component,
carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed
herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no
nearest number).
1.05 Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be
references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).
ARTICLE II.
THE COMMITMENTS AND BORROWINGS
THE COMMITMENTS AND BORROWINGS
2.01 Committed Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender
severally agrees to make loans (each such loan, a “Committed Loan”) to the Borrower from
time to time, on any Business Day during the Availability Period, in an aggregate amount not to
exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender’s Commitment; provided,
however, that after giving effect to any Committed Borrowing, (i) the Total Outstandings
shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the
Committed Loans of any Lender shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment. Within the limits of each
Lender’s Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow
under this Section 2.01, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this
Section 2.01. Committed Loans may be Base Rate Loans, Eurodollar Rate Loans or LIBOR
Floating Rate Loans, as further provided herein.
2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans.
(a) Each Committed Borrowing, each conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other,
and each continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable
notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be
received by the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon (i) three Business Days prior to
the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or
of any conversion of Eurodollar Rate Loans to Base
19
Rate Committed Loans or LIBOR Floating Rate Loans, and (ii) on the requested date of any Borrowing
of Base Rate Committed Loans or LIBOR Floating Rate Loans. Each telephonic notice by the Borrower
pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the
Administrative Agent of a written Committed Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a
Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar
Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess
thereof. Each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Committed Loans or LIBOR Floating Rate Loans
shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each
Committed Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is
requesting a Committed Borrowing, a conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or a
continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or
continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of
Committed Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Committed Loans to be
borrowed or to which existing Committed Loans are to be converted, and (v) if applicable, the
duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto. If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of
Committed Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice
requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Committed Loans shall be made as, or
converted to, Base Rate Loans. Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective
as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurodollar
Rate Loans. If the Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurodollar
Rate Loans in any such Committed Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be
deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month.
(b) Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly
notify each Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Committed Loans,
and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the
Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base
Rate Loans described in the preceding subsection. In the case of a Committed Borrowing, each
Lender shall make the amount of its Committed Loan available to the Administrative Agent in
immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 2:00 p.m. on the
Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the
applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (and, if such Borrowing is the initial
Borrowing, 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
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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 the Base Rate with regards to the
Alternative Base Rate or whether the Alternative Base Rate is used to determine the Base Rate, and
of any change in Bank of America’s prime rate used in determining the Base Rate promptly following
the public announcement of such change..
(e) After giving effect to all Committed Borrowings, all conversions of Committed Loans from
one Type to the other, and all continuations of Committed Loans as the same Type, there shall not
be more than ten Interest Periods in effect with respect to Committed Loans.
2.03 Bid Loans.
(a) General. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender agrees
that the Borrower may from time to time request the Lenders to submit offers to make loans (each
such loan, a “Bid Loan”) to the Borrower prior to the Maturity Date pursuant to this
Section 2.03; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Bid
Borrowing, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and (ii) the
aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Bid Loans shall not exceed the Bid Loan Sublimit. There shall
not be more than ten different Interest Periods in effect with respect to Bid Loans at any time.
(b) Requesting Competitive Bids. The Borrower may request the submission of
Competitive Bids by delivering a Bid Request to the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon
(i) one Business Day prior to the requested date of any Bid Borrowing that is to consist of
Absolute Rate Loans, or (ii) four Business Days prior to the requested date of any Bid Borrowing
that is to consist of Eurodollar Margin Bid Loans. Each Bid Request shall specify (i) the requested
date of the Bid Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day), (ii) the aggregate principal amount of
Bid Loans requested (which must be $10,000,000 or a whole multiple of $5,000,000 in excess
thereof), (iii) the Type of Bid Loans requested, and (iv) the duration of the Interest Period with
respect thereto, and shall be signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. No Bid Request shall
contain a request for (i) more than one Type of Bid Loan or (ii) Bid Loans having more than three
different Interest Periods. Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise agrees in its sole and
absolute discretion, the Borrower may not submit a Bid Request if it has submitted another Bid
Request within the prior five Business Days.
(c) Submitting Competitive Bids.
(i) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of each Bid Request
received by it from the Borrower and the contents of such Bid Request.
(ii) Each Lender may (but shall have no obligation to) submit a Competitive Bid
containing an offer to make one or more Bid Loans in response to such Bid Request. Such
Competitive Bid must be delivered to the Administrative Agent not later than 10:30 a.m. (A)
on the requested date of any Bid Borrowing that is to consist of Absolute Rate Loans, and
(B) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Bid Borrowing that is to consist
of Eurodollar Margin Bid Loans; provided, however, that any Competitive Bid
submitted by Bank of America in its capacity as a Lender in response to any Bid Request
must be submitted to the Administrative Agent not later than 10:15 a.m. on the
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date on which Competitive Bids are required to be delivered by the other Lenders in response
to such Bid Request. Each Competitive Bid shall specify (A) the proposed date of the Bid
Borrowing; (B) the principal amount of each Bid Loan for which such Competitive Bid is being
made, which principal amount (x) may be equal to, greater than or less than the Commitment
of the bidding Lender, (y) must be $10,000,000 or a whole multiple of $5,000,000 in excess
thereof, and (z) may not exceed the principal amount of Bid Loans for which Competitive Bids
were requested; (C) if the proposed Bid Borrowing is to consist of Absolute Rate Loans, the
Absolute Rate offered for each such Bid Loan and the Interest Period applicable thereto; (D)
if the proposed Bid Borrowing is to consist of Eurodollar Margin Bid Loans, the Eurodollar
Bid Margin with respect to each such Eurodollar Margin Bid Loan and the Interest Period
applicable thereto; and (E) the identity of the bidding Lender.
(iii) Any Competitive Bid shall be disregarded if it (A) is received after the
applicable time specified in clause (ii) above, (B) is not substantially in the
form of a Competitive Bid as specified herein, (C) contains qualifying, conditional or
similar language, (D) proposes terms other than or in addition to those set forth in the
applicable Bid Request, or (E) is otherwise not responsive to such Bid Request. Any Lender
may correct a Competitive Bid containing a manifest error by submitting a corrected
Competitive Bid (identified as such) not later than the applicable time required for
submission of Competitive Bids. Any such submission of a corrected Competitive Bid shall
constitute a revocation of the Competitive Bid that contained the manifest error. The
Administrative Agent may, but shall not be required to, notify any Lender of any manifest
error it detects in such Lender’s Competitive Bid.
(iv) Subject only to the provisions of Sections 3.02, 3.03 and
4.02 and clause (iii) above, each Competitive Bid shall be irrevocable.
(d) Notice to Borrower of Competitive Bids. Not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) on the
requested date of any Bid Borrowing that is to consist of Absolute Rate Loans, or (ii) three
Business Days prior to the requested date of any Bid Borrowing that is to consist of Eurodollar
Margin Bid Loans, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower of the identity of each
Lender that has submitted a Competitive Bid that complies with Section 2.03(c) and of the
terms of the offers contained in each such Competitive Bid.
(e) Acceptance of Competitive Bids. Not later than 11:30 a.m. (i) on the requested
date of any Bid Borrowing that is to consist of Absolute Rate Loans, and (ii) three Business Days
prior to the requested date of any Bid Borrowing that is to consist of Eurodollar Margin Bid
Loans, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of its acceptance or rejection of the
offers notified to it pursuant to Section 2.03(d). The Borrower shall be under no
obligation to accept any Competitive Bid and may choose to reject all Competitive Bids. In the
case of acceptance, such notice shall specify the aggregate principal amount of Competitive Bids
for each Interest Period that is accepted. The Borrower may accept any Competitive Bid in whole or
in part; provided that:
(i) the aggregate principal amount of each Bid Borrowing may not exceed the applicable
amount set forth in the related Bid Request;
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(ii) the principal amount of each Bid Loan must be $10,000,000 or a whole
multiple of $5,000,000 in excess thereof;
(iii) the acceptance of offers may be made only on the basis of ascending Absolute
Rates or Eurodollar Bid Margins within each Interest Period; and
(iv) the Borrower may not accept any offer that is described in Section
2.03(c)(iii) or that otherwise fails to comply with the requirements hereof.
(f) Procedure for Identical Bids. If two or more Lenders have submitted Competitive
Bids at the same Absolute Rate or Eurodollar Bid Margin, as the case may be, for the same Interest
Period, and the result of accepting all of such Competitive Bids in whole (together with any other
Competitive Bids at lower Absolute Rates or Eurodollar Bid Margins, as the case may be, accepted
for such Interest Period in conformity with the requirements of Section 2.03(e)(iii))
would be to cause the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the applicable Bid Borrowing to
exceed the amount specified therefor in the related Bid Request, then, unless otherwise agreed by
the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and such Lenders, such Competitive Bids shall be accepted
as nearly as possible in proportion to the amount offered by each such Lender in respect of such
Interest Period, with such accepted amounts being rounded to the nearest whole multiple
of $l,000,000.
(g) Notice to Lenders of Acceptance or Rejection of Bids. The Administrative Agent
shall promptly notify each Lender having submitted a Competitive Bid whether or not its offer has
been accepted and, if its offer has been accepted, of the amount of the Bid Loan or Bid Loans to
be made by it on the date of the applicable Bid Borrowing. Any Competitive Bid or portion thereof
that is not accepted by the Borrower by the applicable time specified in Section 2.03(e)
shall be deemed rejected.
(h) Notice of Eurodollar Rate. If any Bid Borrowing is to consist of Eurodollar
Margin Loans, the Administrative Agent shall determine the Eurodollar Rate for the relevant
Interest Period, and promptly after making such determination, shall notify the Borrower and the
Lenders that will be participating in such Bid Borrowing of such Eurodollar Rate.
(i) Funding of Bid Loans. Each Lender that has received notice pursuant to
Section 2.03(g) that all or a portion of its Competitive Bid has been accepted by the
Borrower shall make the amount of its Bid Loan(s) available to the Administrative Agent in
immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the
date of the requested Bid Borrowing. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in
Section 4.02, the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the
Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent.
(j) Notice of Range of Bids. After each Competitive Bid auction pursuant to this
Section 2.03, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender that submitted a
Competitive Bid in such auction of the ranges of bids submitted (without the bidder’s name) and
accepted for each Bid Loan and the aggregate amount of each Bid Borrowing.
2.04 [Reserved.]
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2.05 Prepayments.
(a) The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to
time voluntarily prepay Committed Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty;
provided that (i) such notice (which may be conditional) must be received by the
Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon (A) three Business Days prior to any date of
prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans and (B) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans
or LIBOR Floating Rate Loans; (ii) any prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal
amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof; and (iii) any prepayment
of Base Rate Committed Loans or LIBOR Floating Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of
$500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire
principal amount thereof then outstanding. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of
such prepayment and the
Type(s) of Committed Loans to be prepaid and, if Eurodollar Rate Loans are to be repaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein. Any prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. Each such prepayment shall be applied to the Committed Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages.
Type(s) of Committed Loans to be prepaid and, if Eurodollar Rate Loans are to be repaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein. Any prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. Each such prepayment shall be applied to the Committed Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages.
(b) If for any reason the Total Outstandings at any time exceed the Aggregate Commitments
then in effect, the Borrower shall, on the next Business Day following the date on which the
Borrower receives notice from the Administrative Agent, prepay Loans in an aggregate amount equal
to such excess.
(c) No Bid Loan may be prepaid without the prior consent of the applicable Bid Loan Lender.
2.06 Termination or Reduction of Commitments. The Borrower may, upon notice
to the Administrative Agent, terminate the Aggregate Commitments, or from time to time
permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitments; provided that (a) any such notice shall
be
received by the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon three Business Days prior to
the
date of termination or reduction, (b) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate
amount
of $5,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, (c) the Borrower shall
not
terminate or reduce the Aggregate Commitments if, after giving effect thereto and to any
concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Total Outstandings would exceed the Aggregate
Commitments, and (d) if, after giving effect to any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments,
the
Bid Loan Sublimit exceeds the amount of the Aggregate Commitments, the Bid Loan Sublimit
shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess. The Administrative Agent will
promptly notify the Lenders of any such notice of termination or reduction of the Aggregate
Commitments. Any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments shall be applied to the
Commitment of each Lender according to its Applicable Percentage. All fees accrued until the
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effective date of any termination of the Aggregate Commitments shall be paid on the effective date
of such termination
2.07 Repayment of Loans. The Borrower shall repay to the Lenders on the Maturity Date the
aggregate principal amount of Committed Loans outstanding on such date.
2.08 Interest.
(a) At the Borrower’s option, subject to the provisions of subsection (b) below, (i)
each Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount
thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Eurodollar Rate for such
Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate; (ii) each Base Rate Committed Loan shall bear
interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate
per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate; (iii) each Bid Loan shall bear
interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for the Interest Period thereof at a rate per
annum equal to the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period plus (or minus) the
Eurodollar Bid Margin, or at the Absolute Rate for such Interest Period, as the case may be; and
(iv) each LIBOR Floating Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof
from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the LIBOR Daily Floating 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 Debtor Relief
Law.
2.09 Fees.
(a) Facility Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account
of each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, a facility fee equal to the
Applicable Rate times the actual daily amount of the Aggregate Commitments (or, if the
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Aggregate Commitments have terminated, on the Total Outstandings), regardless of usage. The
facility fee shall accrue at all times during the Availability Period (and thereafter so long as
any Committed Loans remain outstanding), including at any time during which one or more of the
conditions in Article IV is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on
the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such
date to occur after the Closing Date, and on the last day of the Availability Period (and, if
applicable, thereafter on demand). The facility fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and
if there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall be
computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that
such Applicable Rate was in effect.
(b) Other Fees. The Borrower shall pay to each of Banc of America Securities LLC and
the Administrative Agent for their own respective accounts fees in the amounts and at the times
specified in the Fee Letter. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable
for any reason whatsoever.
2.10 Computation of Interest and Fees. All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans when
the Base Rate is determined by Bank of America’s “prime rate” shall be made on the basis of a year
of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees
and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results
in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day
year). Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not
accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid,
provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject
to Section 2.12(a), bear interest for one day. Each determination by the Administrative
Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes,
absent manifest error.
2.11 Evidence of Debt. The Borrowings made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more
accounts or records maintained by such Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary
course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender
shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Borrowings 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.
2.12 Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback.
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(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 3:00 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 3:00 p.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day
and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. If any payment to be made by the
Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next
following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or
fees, as the case may be.
(b) (i) Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent. Unless the
Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any
Committed Borrowing of Eurodollar Rate Loans (or, in the case of any Committed Borrowing of Base
Rate Loans or LIBOR Floating Rate Loans, prior to 1:00 p.m. on the date of such Committed
Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share
of such Committed Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such
share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.02 (or, in the case of a
Committed Borrowing of Base Rate Loans or LIBOR Floating Rate Loans, that such Lender has made such
share available in accordance with and at the time required by Section 2.02) and may, in
reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such
event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing available
to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to
the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount in immediately available
funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available
to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the
case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate
determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank
compensation, plus any administrative processing or similar fees customarily charged by the
Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing, and (B) in the case of a payment to be made
by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to 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 applicable Committed Borrowing to
the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan
included in such Committed Borrowing. Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any
claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the
Administrative Agent.
(ii)
Payments by Borrower; Presumptions by Administrative Agent. Unless the
Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on
which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders
27
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 to the applicable Borrowing set forth in
Article IV are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the
Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such
Lender, without interest.
(d) Obligations of Lenders Several. The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make
Committed Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section 10.04(c) are several and not
joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Committed Loan, to fund any such participation or to
make any payment under Section 10.04(c) on any date required hereunder shall not relieve
any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be
responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Committed Loan, to purchase its
participation or to make its payment under Section 10.04(c).
(e) Funding Source. Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain
the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any
Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or
manner.
2.13 Sharing of Payments by Lenders. If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff
or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of
the Committed Loans made by it resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the
aggregate amount of such Committed Loans or participations and accrued interest thereon greater
than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater
proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at
face value) participations in the Committed Loans of the other Lenders, or make such other
adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the
Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on
their respective Committed Loans and other amounts owing them, provided that:
28
(i) if any such participations or subparticipations are purchased and all or any
portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations or
subparticipations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such
recovery, without interest; and
(ii) the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment
made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement
or (y) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a
participation in any of its Committed Loans or to any assignee or participant, other than
to the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section shall
apply).
The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so
under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing
arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to
such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount
of such participation.
2.14 Increase in Commitments.
(a) Request for Increase. Provided there exists no Default and no Default would
result therefrom, and provided the Commitments have not been terminated or reduced pursuant to
Section 2.06, then, upon notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly notify
the Lenders), the Borrower may from time to time request an increase in the Aggregate Commitments
(an “Increase”) such that the Aggregate Commitments (after all such requests) do not
exceed $300,000,000; provided that (i) any such request for an Increase shall be in a
minimum amount of $10,000,000 and (ii) the Borrower may make a maximum of three such requests;
provided, however, the amount of Increases hereunder plus the amount of
Increases under the Five-Year Working Capital Credit Agreement (as such term is defined therein)
shall not exceed, in the aggregate, $500,000,000. At the time of sending such notice, the Borrower
(in consultation with the Administrative Agent) shall specify the time period within which each
Lender is requested to respond (which shall in no event be less than ten Business Days from the
date of delivery of such notice to the Lenders).
(b) Lender Elections to Increase. Each Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent
within such time period whether or not it agrees to increase its Commitment and, if so, whether by
an amount equal to, greater than, or less than its Applicable Percentage of such requested
Increase. Any Lender not responding within such time period shall be deemed to have declined to
increase its Commitment.
(c) Notification by Administrative Agent; Additional Lenders. The Administrative
Agent shall notify the Borrower and each Lender of the Lenders’ responses to each request made
hereunder. To achieve the full amount of a requested Increase and subject to the approval of the
Administrative Agent (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), the Borrower may also
invite Eligible Assignees to become additional Lenders (“Additional Lenders”) pursuant to
a joinder agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its
counsel; provided however, that the Borrower may only invite such Additional Lenders after
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each existing Lender has notified the Administrative Agent of its decision in accordance with
clause (b) above, and any such invitation to such Additional Lenders shall only be with
respect to amounts declined or deemed to be declined by existing Lenders.
(d) Effective Date and Allocations. If the Aggregate Commitments are increased in
accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall determine the
effective date (the “Increase Effective Date”) and the final allocation of such Increase.
The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the final
allocation of such Increase and the Increase Effective Date.
(e) Conditions to Effectiveness of Increase. As a condition precedent to each
Increase, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of the Borrower as
of the Increase Effective Date (in sufficient copies for each Lender) signed by a Responsible
Officer of the Borrower (i) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by the Borrower
approving or consenting to such increase, and (ii) certifying that, before and after giving effect
to such Increase, no Default exists or would result from such Increase. The Borrower shall prepay
Committed Loans outstanding to all or certain of the Lenders on the Increase Effective Date (and
pay any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05) and/or borrow Committed
Loans from all or certain of the Lenders on the Increase Effective Date to the extent necessary to
keep the outstanding Committed Loans ratable with any revised Applicable Percentages arising from
any nonratable increase in the Commitments under this Section.
(f) Conflicting Provisions. This Section shall supersede any provisions in
Section 2.13 or 10.01 to the contrary.
ARTICLE III.
TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
3.01 Taxes.
(a) Payments Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation
of the Borrower hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and
without reduction or withholding for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, provided that
if the Borrower shall be required by applicable law to deduct any Indemnified Taxes (including any
Other Taxes) from such payments, then (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that
after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable
under this Section) the Administrative Agent or 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.
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(c) Indemnification
by the Borrower. Without duplication of any additional amounts
paid pursuant to Section 3.01 (a), the Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent
and each Lender, within ten days after written 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 penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom
or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or
legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority, provided that, if the
Borrower determines that any such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were not correctly or legally
imposed or asserted, the Administrative Agent or the Lender, as applicable, shall allow the
Borrower to contest (and shall cooperate in such contest), the imposition of such Tax upon the
reasonable request of the Borrower and at the Borrower’s expense; provided,
however, that the Administrative Agent or the Lender, as applicable, shall not be required
to participate in any contest that would, in its reasonable judgment, expose it to a material
commercial disadvantage or require it to disclose any information it considers confidential or
proprietary. 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; provided that such amounts are
determined on a reasonable basis.
(d) Evidence of Payments. As soon as reasonably practicable after any payment of
Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by the Borrower to a Governmental Authority, the Borrower shall
deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such
Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or
other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(e) Status of Lenders. Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or
reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrower is resident
for tax purposes, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments
hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the
Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested
by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation
prescribed by applicable law as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a
reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if requested by the Borrower or the
Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or
reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or
the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding
or information reporting requirements. Each Lender shall promptly provide such forms upon becoming
aware of the obsolescence, expiration or invalidity of any form previously delivered by such
Lender (unless it is legally unable to do so as a result of a Change in Law) and shall promptly
notify the Borrower at any time it determines that any previously delivered forms are no longer
valid.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower is resident
for tax purposes in the United States, any Foreign Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or
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prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time
to time thereafter upon the request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, but only if such
Foreign Lender is legally entitled to do so), whichever of the following is applicable:
(i) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN claiming eligibility
for benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party,
(ii) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI,
(iii) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for
portfolio interest under section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate to the effect that
such Foreign Lender is not (A) a “bank” within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(A) of the
Code, (B) a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of section
881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or (C) a “controlled foreign corporation” described in section
881(c)(3)(C) of the Code and (y) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form
W-8BEN, or
(iv) any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption
from or a reduction in United States Federal withholding tax duly completed together with
such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the
Borrower to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.
(f) Treatment of Certain Refunds and Credits. If the Administrative Agent or any
Lender determines, in its reasonable discretion, that it has received a refund of any Taxes or
Other Taxes or determines in its sole discretion exercised in good faith that it has obtained the
benefit of a credit for 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 or the net benefit attributable to such credit (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 or credit), 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 or credit), 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 in the event the Administrative Agent or such Lender is required to repay such
refund or credit 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 reasonably 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 Alternative Base Rate and/or the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate, or any Governmental
Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to
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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 Committed Loans or LIBOR
Floating Rate Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans or, if such notice relates to the unlawfulness or
asserted unlawfulness of charging interest based on the Alternative Base Rate or the LIBOR Daily
Floating Rate, to make Base Rate Loans or LIBOR Floating Rate Loans as to which the interest rate
is determined with reference to the Alternative Base Rate or the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate 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 and LIBOR Floating Rate Loans of such Lender, and
all Base Rate Loans as to which the interest rate is determined with reference to the Alternative
Base Rate, to Base Rate Loans as to which the rate of interest is not determined with reference to
the Alternative Base Rate, 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, Base Rate Loans or LIBOR
Floating Rate Loans. Notwithstanding the foregoing and despite the illegality for such a Lender to
make, maintain or fund Eurodollar Rate Loans, LIBOR Floating Rate Loans or Base Rate Loans as to
which the interest rate is determined with reference to the Alternative Base Rate, that Lender
shall remain committed to make Base Rate Loans (as to which the rate of interest is not determined
with reference to the Alternative Base Rate) and shall be entitled to recover interest at the Base
Rate (determined without reference to the Alternative Base Rate). 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.
(a) 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 or any request for a Base Rate
Loan or a LIBOR Floating Rate Loan that (i) 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, (ii) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the
Eurodollar Base Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate
Loan or in connection with a LIBOR Floating Rate Loan or a Base Rate Loan as to which the interest
rate is determined with reference to the Alternative Base Rate, or (iii) the Eurodollar Base Rate
for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan or in connection
with a 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, LIBOR
Floating Rate Loans and Base Rate Loans as to which the interest rate is determined with reference
to the Alternative Base Rate shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent (upon the
instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the
Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of
Eurodollar Rate Loans or LIBOR Floating Rate Loans or, failing that, will be deemed to have
converted such request into a request for a Committed
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Borrowing of Base Rate Loans (as to which the rate of interest is not determined with reference to
the Alternative Base Rate) in the amount specified therein.
(b) If the Required Lenders determine that the Eurodollar Rate, the Alternative Base Rate or
the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate, as the case may be, will not adequately and fairly reflect the
cost to such Lenders (as conclusively certified in a certificate by each such Lender, which
certificate shall be conclusive absent manifest error; provided that such determinations
are made on a reasonable basis) of making or maintaining their affected Loans, the Administrative
Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders as soon as practicable thereafter
and, upon delivery of such notice and all such certificates and for a period of 30 days
thereafter, the Market Disruption Spread, without duplication of any other costs or compensation
under this Article III, shall be included in the calculation of the Eurodollar Rate, the
Alternative Base Rate and the LIBOR Daily Floating Rate.
3.04 Increased Costs.
(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
reflected in the Eurodollar Rate);
(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;
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 (whether of principal,
interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender, but without duplication of any
other costs or compensation under this Article III, the Borrower will pay to such Lender
such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender 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
34
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, but without duplication of any other costs or compensation under this Article III,
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; provided that such determinations are made on a
reasonable basis. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such
certificate within ten 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 six months 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 six-month period
referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).
3.05 Compensation for Losses. Upon written request of any Lender (with a copy to the
Administrative Agent, which shall set forth in reasonable detail the basis for requesting such
amounts), from time to time, but without duplication of any other costs or compensation under this
Article III, the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender
harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:
(a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Loan other than a Base Rate
Loan or a LIBOR Floating Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for
such Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise);
(b) any failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a
Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan or a LIBOR
Floating Rate Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower; or
(c) any assignment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest
Period therefor as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 10.13;
including any loss 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 out-of-pocket administrative fees charged by
such Lender in connection with the foregoing.
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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 Base Rate used in determining 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, or if the
Borrower is required to pay the Market Disruption Spread pursuant to any Lender providing a
certificate pursuant to Section 3.03(b), the Borrower may replace such Lender in
accordance with Section 10.13.
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 BORROWINGS
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO BORROWINGS
4.01 Conditions of Initial Borrowing. The obligation of each Lender to make its initial
Borrowing hereunder is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:
(a) The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or
telecopies (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by
a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, 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, sufficient in number
for distribution to the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Borrower;
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(ii) a Note executed by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting a Note at
least two Business Days prior to the Closing Date;
(iii) such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or
other certificates of Responsible Officers of the Borrower as the Administrative Agent may
reasonably require evidencing the authority of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized
to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents to which the Borrower is a party;
(iv) such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably
require to evidence that the Borrower is duly organized or formed, and that the Borrower is
validly existing and in good standing in its jurisdiction of organization;
(v) (i) an opinion of in-house counsel for the Borrower, addressed to the
Administrative Agent and each Lender, in the form of
Exhibit E-1 and (ii) an opinion of McGuireWoods LLP, special counsel for the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit E-2;
Exhibit E-1 and (ii) an opinion of McGuireWoods LLP, special counsel for the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit E-2;
(vi) a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying that
there has been no event or circumstance since December 31, 2007, that has had or could be
reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(vii) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower either (i) attaching
copies of all consents, licenses and approvals required in connection with the execution,
delivery and performance by the Borrower and the validity against the Borrower of the Loan
Documents to which it is a party, and such consents, licenses and approvals shall be in
full force and effect, or (ii) stating that no such consents, licenses or approvals are so
required;
(viii) satisfactory evidence that the Existing 364-Day Credit Agreement shall have
been, or will be substantially contemporaneously with the effectiveness of this Agreement,
terminated and repaid in full;
(ix) such materials and information as are reasonably necessary for each Lender to
conduct know-your-customer due diligence; and
(x) such other documents as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders
reasonably may require.
(b) Any fees required to be paid on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid.
(c) Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall have paid all reasonable
fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent (directly to such counsel
if requested by the Administrative Agent) to the extent invoiced two Business Days prior to the
Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of such fees, charges and disbursements as
shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such fees, charges and disbursements incurred or to
37
be incurred by it through the closing proceedings (provided that such estimate shall not
thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent).
Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Section 9.04, for purposes of
determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01, each Lender that
has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be
satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by
or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received
notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.
4.02 Conditions to all Borrowings. The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for
Borrowing (other than the initial funding on the Closing Date, a Committed Loan Notice requesting
only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate
Loans) is subject to the following conditions precedent:
(a) All representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in Article V (except
for the representations and warranties contained in Sections 5.04(c) and 5.05
hereof) that are qualified by materiality shall be true and correct on and as of the date of such
Borrowing, and all representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in Article V
(except for the representations and warranties contained in
Sections 5.04(c) and 5.05 hereof) that are not qualified by materiality shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Borrowing, except, in each case, to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct as of such earlier date.
Sections 5.04(c) and 5.05 hereof) that are not qualified by materiality shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Borrowing, except, in each case, to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct as of such earlier date.
(b) No Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Borrowing or from the
application of the proceeds thereof.
(c) The Administrative Agent shall have received a Request for Borrowing in accordance with
the requirements hereof.
Each Request for Borrowing (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion
of Committed Loans to the other Type or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans) submitted by the
Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in
Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable
Borrowing.
ARTICLE V.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
The Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:
5.01 Existence, Qualification and Power. The Borrower is a corporation duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, is
duly qualified to transact business in every jurisdiction where the failure to qualify would not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and has all corporate powers and all
governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals required
38
to carry on its business as now conducted except to the extent that failure to do so would not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.02 Authorization; No Contravention; Governmental Authorization. The
execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement, the Notes and the other
Loan Documents (a) are within the Borrower’s corporate powers, (b) have been duly authorized by
all necessary corporate action, (c) require no approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or
other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person,
except as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect, (d) do not violate or
constitute a default under, (i) any provision of applicable law or regulation, (ii) any material
agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other material instrument binding upon the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or (iii) the Organization Documents of the Borrower, and (e)
do not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any of the material assets of the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, except in each case referred to in clauses (d)(i),
(d)(ii) or (e) to the extent such conflict, breach or violation would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.03 Binding Effect. This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Borrower
enforceable in accordance with its terms, and the Notes and the other Loan Documents, when
executed and delivered in accordance with this Agreement, will constitute valid and binding
obligations of the Borrower enforceable in accordance with their respective terms,
provided that the enforceability hereof and thereof is subject in each case to general
principles of equity and to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws
affecting creditors’ rights generally, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity
or at law.
5.04 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.
(a) The audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 (i) was prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently
applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and
(ii) fairly presents in all material respects the financial condition of the Borrower and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period
covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered
thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein.
(b) The unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries dated March 31, 2008, and the related consolidated statements of income or
operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the fiscal quarter ended on that date (i) were
prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby,
except as otherwise expressly noted therein, and (ii) fairly present in all material respects the
financial condition of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and
their results of operations for the period covered thereby, subject, in the case of clauses
(i) and (ii), to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit adjustments.
39
(c) Since December 31, 2007, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or
in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.05 Litigation. Except as disclosed in any SEC filings of the Borrower made prior to the
Closing Date, there is no action, suit or proceeding pending, or to the knowledge of the Borrower
threatened in writing, against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries before any court or
arbitrator or any governmental body, which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect or which in any manner draws into question the validity of or which involves this
Agreement, the Notes or any other Loan Documents.
5.06 Taxes. There have been filed on behalf of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries all Federal
income tax returns and all other material income, excise, property and other tax returns which are
required to be filed by them and all taxes due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any
assessment received by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary have been paid, except those
which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for
which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP.
5.07 ERISA Compliance.
(a) With respect to each Plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan), the Borrower and each member
of the Controlled Group have fulfilled their obligations under the minimum funding standards of
ERISA and the Code and are in compliance in all material respects with the presently applicable
provisions of ERISA and the Code, and have not incurred any material liability to the PBGC (other
than for premiums due but not yet delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA) or a Plan (other than a
Multiemployer Plan) under Title IV of ERISA (other than contributions in the ordinary course).
(b) Neither the Borrower nor any member of the Controlled Group has incurred any withdrawal
liability with respect to any Multiemployer Plan under Title IV of ERISA that could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and no such liability is expected to be incurred that
would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.08 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.
(a) The Borrower is not engaged and will not engage, principally or as one of its important
activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of
Regulation U issued by the FRB), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying
margin stock. After applying the proceeds of any Borrowing, not more than 25 percent of the value
(as determined by any reasonable method) of the assets of the Borrower is represented by margin
stock.
(b) The Borrower is not and is not required to be registered as an “investment company” under
the Investment Company Act of 1940.
5.09 Disclosure. No report, financial statement, certificate or other information
furnished in writing by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any
Lender
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in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or
delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document (in each case, as modified or supplemented by
other information so furnished), taken as a whole and including the information contained in any
filings made with the SEC by the Borrower, contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to
state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading at the time made; provided that, with respect to
projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in
good faith based upon assumptions believed by the Borrower to be reasonable at the time.
5.10 Compliance with Laws. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries are in compliance in all
material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions, executive
orders and decrees applicable to it or to its properties, except in such instances in which (a)
such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings diligently conducted or (b) the failure to comply therewith, either
individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
5.11 Taxpayer Identification Number. The Borrower’s true and correct U.S. taxpayer
identification number is set forth on Schedule 10.02.
ARTICLE VI.
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, or any Loan or other Obligation
hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, the Borrower shall:
6.01 Financial Statements. Deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and
detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:
(a) as soon as available, but in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year
of the Borrower, a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as
of the end of such fiscal year and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders’
equity and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the
figures for the previous fiscal year, all accompanied by a report thereon of a Registered Public
Accounting Firm, with such certification to be free of a going concern qualification or
qualification as to the scope of audit; and
(b) as soon as available, but in any event within 60 days after the end of each of the first
three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower (commencing with the fiscal quarter
ended September 30, 2008), (i) a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal quarter and the related statement of income, and (ii) a
statement of cash flows for the portion of the fiscal year ended at the end of such fiscal
quarter, setting forth in each case in comparative form, respectively, the figures for the
corresponding fiscal quarter and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all
certified (subject to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes) as to fairness of
41
presentation and GAAP by the chief financial officer or the chief accounting officer of the
Borrower.
As
to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to
Section 6.02(b),
the Borrower shall not be separately required to furnish such information under clause (a)
or (b) above, and to the extent that the Borrower has filed a Form 10K or Form 10Q for the
respective financial period with the SEC, it shall be deemed to have satisfied clauses (a)
and (b) above.
6.02 Certificates; Other Information. Deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in
form and detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:
(a) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections
6.01(a) and (b) (commencing with the delivery of the financial statements for the fiscal
quarter ended September 30, 2008), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by the chief
executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower;
(b) promptly after the same are available, copies of each annual report, proxy or financial
statement or other report or communication sent to the stockholders of the Borrower, and copies of
all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Borrower
may file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and not
otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto; and
(c) promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial or corporate
affairs of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as
the Administrative Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request.
Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) or Section
6.02(b) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the
SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered
on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the
Borrower’s website on the Internet, at xxx.xxx.xxx; or (ii) on which such documents are
posted on the Borrower’s behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender
and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether
sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that: upon the request of the
Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the
Administrative Agent or any Lender that makes a written request to the Borrower to deliver such
paper copies until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the
Administrative Agent or such Lender. Except for Compliance Certificates, the Administrative Agent
shall have no obligation to request the delivery or to maintain copies of the documents referred
to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with
any such request for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery
to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.
The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Arrangers will
make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on
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behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the
Borrower Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) and
(b) certain of the Lenders may be “public-side” Lenders (i.e., Lenders that do not wish to receive
material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities) (each, a
“Public Lender”). The Borrower hereby agrees that so long as the Borrower is the issuer of
any outstanding debt or equity securities that are registered or issued pursuant to a private
offering or is actively contemplating issuing any such securities (w) all Borrower Materials that
are to be made available to Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC”
which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page
thereof; (x) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC”, the Borrower shall be deemed to have
authorized the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials
as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its
securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws (provided,
however, that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be
treated as set forth in Section 10.07); (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are
permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Investor”; and
(z) the Administrative Agent and the 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”. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall be under no
obligation to xxxx any Borrower Materials “PUBLIC”.
6.03 Notices. Promptly, but in any event, within five (5) Business Days of a
Responsible Officer of the Borrower becoming aware thereof, notify the Administrative Agent
and each Lender:
(a) of the occurrence of any Default that is continuing; and
(b) of any matter that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect, including (i) breach or non-performance of, or any default under, a contractual
obligation of the Borrower or any Subsidiary; (ii) any dispute, litigation, investigation,
proceeding or suspension between the Borrower or any Subsidiary and any Governmental Authority; or
(iii) the commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting
the Borrower or any Subsidiary, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws.
Each notice pursuant to this Section 6.03 shall be accompanied by a statement of a
Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein
and stating what action the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto. Each
notice pursuant to Section 6.03(a) shall describe with reasonable particularity any and
all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached.
6.04 Payment of Obligations. Pay and discharge all its material obligations and
liabilities prior to such obligations or liabilities being delinquent, including all Federal
income
taxes and all other material tax liabilities, unless the same are being contested in good
faith by
appropriate proceedings and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained
by the Borrower or such Subsidiary, except where the failure to so pay, discharge, contest or
maintain reserves would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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6.05
Preservation of Existence. (a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its
legal existence under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation except in a transaction
permitted hereunder; (b) preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its good standing
under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, except where the failure to do so would
not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) take all reasonable
action to maintain all rights, privileges, permits, licenses and franchises necessary in the normal
conduct of its business, except to the extent that the Borrower determines such action is not
necessary in the conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or
failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.06 Maintenance of Properties. Maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties
and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order and condition,
ordinary wear and tear excepted, and make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and
replacements thereof, except where the Borrower determines such action is not necessary in the
conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or the failure to
do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.07 Self-Insurance. Maintain insurance, or adequate reserves in lieu of insurance, against
loss to all property owned by it material to its business in comparable amounts and against such
risks as are usually insured against in the same general locale by companies of established repute
engaged in the same or similar business.
6.08 Compliance with Laws. Comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws
and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property,
except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree
is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; or (b) the
failure to comply therewith would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.09
Books and Records; Inspection Rights. (a) Keep proper books of record and account in
which full, true and correct entries are made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its
business and activities sufficient to permit the preparation of statements in conformity with
GAAP; and (b) permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent and
each Lender to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine extracts from its corporate,
financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss
its affairs, finances and accounts with its officers and independent public accountants, all at
the expense of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as applicable, to the extent reasonably
requested and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and upon reasonable advance
notice to the Borrower, but not more frequently than once per every 12 month period,
provided, however, that when an Event of Default exists the Administrative Agent
or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any
of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower as often as may be reasonably requested.
6.10 Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of the Borrowings solely (a) to refinance all
indebtedness outstanding under and replace the Existing 364-Day Credit Agreement and (b) for
44
ongoing working capital requirements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and for general
corporate purposes.
ARTICLE VII.
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, or any Loan or other Obligation
hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, the Borrower shall not, directly or indirectly:
7.01 Liens. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property,
assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than the following:
(a) Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;
(b) Liens existing on the date of this Agreement;
(c) Liens on any asset securing Indebtedness incurred or assumed for the purpose of financing,
refinancing or refunding all or any part of the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving such
asset; provided that such Lien attaches to such asset concurrently with or within 18 months
after the acquisition or completion of construction thereof;
(d) Liens on any asset of any Person existing at the time such Person is merged or
consolidated with or into the Borrower and not created in contemplation of such event;
(e) Liens existing on any asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower and not
created in contemplation of such acquisition;
(f) Liens in favor of any Subsidiary;
(g) Liens arising out of the refinancing, extension, renewal, refunding or replacement of any
Indebtedness secured by any Lien permitted by any of the foregoing paragraphs of this Section
7.01; provided that the amount of such Indebtedness secured by any such Lien is not
increased;
(h) Liens incidental to the conduct of its business or the ownership of its assets which (i)
do not secure Indebtedness and (ii) do not in the aggregate materially detract from the value of
its assets or materially impair the use thereof in the operation of its business;
(i) Liens on margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB);
(j) Liens on Receivables pursuant to a bona fide Receivables Securitization;
(k) Liens not otherwise permitted by the foregoing subsections of this Section 7.01
securing Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to exceed
20% of Shareholders’ Equity; and
(1) Permitted Encumbrances.
45
7.02 Fundamental Changes. Merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into any other
Person, provided that the Borrower may enter into any such transaction with another Person
so long as (a) the Borrower is the surviving entity, or the surviving entity is a Person is
organized under the laws of the United States of America or one of its States or Commonwealths or
the District of Columbia and expressly assumes in writing the obligations set forth under this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (b) such Person is engaged in lines of business
substantially similar to those lines of business conducted by the Borrower on the date hereof or
any business substantially related or incidental thereto or logical extensions thereof, (c) prior
to giving effect to such transaction, each of S&P and Xxxxx’x shall have delivered to the
Administrative Agent a ratings letter indicating that, after giving effect to such transaction,
the Surviving Person shall have a Debt Rating of not less than BBB/Baa2, as applicable, and (d)
immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default shall have occurred and be
continuing.
7.03 Sales of Assets. Sell, lease or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of the assets
of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, unless (a) such sale, lease or other
transfer is to the Borrower or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary, or (b) such sale or other transfer
consists of the sale of Receivables pursuant to a Receivables Securitization.
7.04 Dissolution. Suffer or permit the dissolution or liquidation of any Significant
Subsidiary, except (a) in connection with a corporate reorganization of the Borrower permitted by
Section 7.02, or (b) in connection with the sale of a Subsidiary or its assets permitted
pursuant to Section 7.03.
7.05 Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of any Borrowing, whether directly or indirectly, and
whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry margin stock (within the
meaning of Regulation U of the FRB) or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or
carrying margin stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose.
7.06 Ratio of Consolidated Debt to Total Capitalization. Permit the ratio of Consolidated Debt
to Total Capitalization at any time to be greater than 0.65 to 1.00.
ARTICLE VIII.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
8.01 Events of Default. Any of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:
(a) Non-Payment. The Borrower fails to pay (i) when and as due and payable, any
amount of principal of any Loan, or (ii) within five Business Days after the same becomes due, any
interest on any Loan, or any fee due hereunder, or (iii) within five Business Days after the same
becomes due, any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document; or
(b) Specific Covenants. The Borrower fails to perform or observe any term, covenant
or agreement contained in any of Section 6.01 (within 15 days after any financial
statements required to be delivered under Section 6.01 are due), 6.03,
6.05 (with respect to existence only), 6.09(b) or 6.10 or Article VII; or
46
(c) Other Defaults. The Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant or
agreement contained in this Agreement (other than those covered by
subsection (a) or (b)
above) and such failure shall not have been cured within 30 days after the earlier to occur of (i)
written notice thereof has been given to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent at the request
of any Lender and (ii) a Responsible Officer otherwise becomes aware of any such failure; or
(d) Representations and Warranties. Any representation, warranty, certification or
statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower herein, in any other Loan
Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect in
any material respect when made or deemed made; or
(e) Cross-Default. (i) The Borrower shall fail to make any payment in respect of
Indebtedness under any Working Capital Credit Facility which results in the acceleration of the
maturity of such Indebtedness; or (ii) the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary that is a Wholly
Owned Subsidiary shall fail to make any payment in respect of Indebtedness, SWAP Obligations or
Synthetic Lease Obligations (other than the Notes) if the aggregate amount of such payment is equal
to or greater than $25,000,000 when due (after any applicable grace period); or (iii) any
Significant Subsidiary that is a Partially Owned Subsidiary shall fail to make any payment in
respect of Indebtedness, SWAP Obligations or Synthetic Lease Obligations, in each case that are
Guaranteed by the Borrower, if the aggregate amount of such payment is equal to or greater than
$25,000,000 when due (after any applicable grace period); or (iv) any event or condition shall
occur which results in the acceleration of the maturity of Indebtedness, SWAP Obligations or
Synthetic Lease Obligations in the aggregate outstanding (other than the Notes) equal to or greater
than $100,000,000 of the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary that is a Wholly Owned Subsidiary
(including, without limitation, any required mandatory prepayment or “put” of such Indebtedness to
the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary that is a Wholly Owned Subsidiary) or enables (or, with
the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would enable) the holders of such Indebtedness, SWAP
Obligations or Synthetic Lease Obligations (or commitment with respect thereto) or any Person
acting on such holders’ behalf to accelerate the maturity thereof or terminate any such commitment
(including, without limitation, any required mandatory prepayment or “put” of such Indebtedness to
the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary that is a Wholly Owned Subsidiary); or (v) any event or
condition shall occur which results in the acceleration of the maturity of Indebtedness, SWAP
Obligations or Synthetic Lease Obligations in the aggregate outstanding (other than the Notes) of
any Significant Subsidiary that is a Partially Owned Subsidiary the Guaranteed Amount of which is
equal to or greater than $100,000,000 (including, without limitation, any required mandatory
prepayment or “put” of such Indebtedness to any Significant Subsidiary that is a Partially Owned
Subsidiary) or enables (or, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would enable) the
holders of such Indebtedness, SWAP Obligations or Synthetic Lease Obligations (or commitment with
respect thereto) or any Person acting on such holders’ behalf to accelerate the maturity thereof or
terminate any such commitment (including, without limitation, any required mandatory prepayment or
“put” of such Indebtedness to any Significant Subsidiary that is a Partially Owned Subsidiary); or
(f) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc. The Borrower or any of its Significant Subsidiaries
institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes
47
an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any
receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or
for all or any substantial part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator,
liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of
such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for 60 calendar days; or any
proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any substantial
part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or
unstayed for 60 calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or
(g) Inability
to Pay Debts; Attachment. (i) The Borrower or any Significant
Subsidiary becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts
as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is
issued or levied against all or substantial part of the property of any such Person and is not
released, vacated, discharged or fully bonded within 30 days after its issue or levy; or
(h) Judgments. One or more judgments or orders for the payment of money in an
aggregate amount in excess of $100,000,000 shall be rendered against the Borrower or any Subsidiary
and such judgment or order shall continue unsatisfied and unstayed for a period of 30 days (i)
after the entry of any such judgment or order, or (ii) after any appeal in good faith of such
judgment or order so long as during such appeal any execution of such judgment or order is stayed;
or
(i) ERISA. (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Plan or Multiemployer Plan
which has resulted or is reasonably likely to result in liability of the Borrower under Title IV
of ERISA to the Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of
$100,000,000; or (ii) the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the
expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal
liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount in excess
of $100,000,000.
8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the
Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders,
take any or all of the following actions:
(a) declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans to be terminated, whereupon such
commitments and obligation shall be terminated;
(b) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and
unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document
to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any
kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower; 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, however, that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an
order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the
obligation of
48
each Lender to make Loans shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all
outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due
and payable, 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 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 indefeasibly paid
in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.
ARTICLE IX.
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
9.01 Appointment and Authority. 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.
49
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.
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,
50
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
facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.
9.06 Resignation of Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may at any
time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders 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,
unless other arrangements satisfactory to the Administrative Agent have been made, such
resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (1) the
retiring
Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under
the
other Loan Documents and (2) 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
shall promptly enter into a licensing agreement with the Reference Pricing Agent, and the
retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations
hereunder
or under the other Loan Documents and the License Agreement (if not already discharged
therefrom as provided above in this Section). The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor
Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise
51
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 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 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 Joint
Lead Arrangers or Joint Book Managers listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties
or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in their
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 Debtor Relief 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
2.09 and 10.04) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and
(b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such
claims and to distribute the same;
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official
in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make such payments to the
Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making
of such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for
the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and
its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections
2.09 and 10.04.
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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
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, 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, however, that no such amendment,
waiver or consent shall:
(a) waive any condition set forth in Section 4.01(a) without the written consent of
each Lender;
(b) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated
pursuant to Section 8.02) without the written consent of such Lender;
(c) postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment or
mandatory prepayment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of
them) or any scheduled or mandatory reduction of the Aggregate Commitments hereunder or under any
other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;
(d) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan, or
(subject to clause (ii) of the second proviso to this Section 10.01) any fees or
other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of
each Lender directly affected thereby; provided, however, that only the consent of
the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any
obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate;
(e) change Section 2.13 or Section 8.03 in a manner that would alter the pro
rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender; or
(f) change any provision of this Section or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other
provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to amend, waive or
otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder,
without the written consent of each Lender;
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
53
only by the parties thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender
shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder, except
that the Commitment of such Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such
Lender.
10.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.
(a) Notices Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications
expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection
(b) below),
all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be
delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or
sent by
telecopier as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder
to
be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:
(i) if to the Borrower 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 other Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail
address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire.
Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail,
shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by telecopier shall be deemed to
have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the
recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day
for the recipient). Notices delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in
subsection (b) below, shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b).
(b) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders
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
54
its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such
notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.
(c) The Platform. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” THE AGENT
PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR
THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE
BORROWER MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY
OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR
FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE
BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its
Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to the Borrower, any
Lender or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind
(whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s or the Administrative
Agent’s transmission of Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent
jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or
willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided, however, that in no event shall
any Agent Party have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender 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 other 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 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,
except to the extent that such losses, claims, expenses or liabilities 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 Related Party. 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.
55
10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure by any Lender or the Administrative Agent to
exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege
hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right,
remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise
of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein
provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided
by law.
10.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.
(a) Costs and Expenses. The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including the reasonable fees,
charges and disbursements of one counsel for the Administrative Agent), 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 out-of-pocket expenses incurred
by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any
counsel for the Administrative Agent 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 the 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. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative
Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing
Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee
harmless from, any and all losses, claims, penalties, damages, liabilities and related expenses
(including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), incurred by any
Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower arising out of,
in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other
Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the
parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder, the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or, in the case of the Administrative Agent (and any
sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other
Loan Documents, (ii) any Loan or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom, or (iii) any
actual or prospective claim, penalty, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of
the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third
party or by the Borrower, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto;
provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent
that such losses, claims, penalties, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by
a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the
gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (y) result from a claim brought by the
Borrower against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder
or under any other Loan
56
Document, if the Borrower has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such
claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(c) Reimbursement by Lenders. To the extent that the Borrower for any reason fails to
indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section to be
paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof) 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-agent)
in connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.12(d).
(d) Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any
Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages
(as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of,
this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or 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 of willful misconduct of such Indemnitee as determined by a final and
nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.
(e) Payments. All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than ten
Business Days after demand therefor.
(f) Survival. The agreements in this Section shall survive the resignation of the
Administrative Agent, the 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 Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the
obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in
full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and
(b) each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable
57
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 subsection (b) of
this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section, or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to
the restrictions of subsection (f) of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or
transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or
implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their
respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in
subsection (d) of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the
Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent 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 and the Loans at the time owing to it or in the case
of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no
minimum amount need be assigned; and
(B) in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A) of this Section,
the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans
outstanding thereunder) or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the principal
outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such
assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to
such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is
specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less
than $5,000,000 unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such
consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided,
however, that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee
58
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 if such assignment is to be a
Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with
respect to such Lender.
(iv) Assignment and Assumption. The parties to each assignment shall execute
and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a
processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500; provided, however,
that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing
and recordation fee in the case of any assignment. The assignee, if it is not a Lender,
shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.
(v) No Assignment to 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
59
that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a
sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with
subsection (d) of this Section.
(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 absent manifest error, 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 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 adversely affects such Participant. Subject to subsection
(e) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the
benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were
a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this
Section. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits
of Section 10.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to
be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender.
(e) Limitations upon Participant Rights. A Participant shall not be entitled to
receive
any greater payment under Section 3.01 or 3.04 than the applicable Lender
would have been
entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the
sale of the
participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent. A
Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the
benefits
of Section 3.01 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such
Participant and
such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section
3.01(e) as
though it were a Lender.
60
(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.
10.07 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative
Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information
(as defined below, limited, in the case of the Borrower, to the CDS Data), except that
Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective
partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors and representatives (it being
understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the
confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information
confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have
jurisdiction over it or any of its Affiliates (including any self-regulatory authority, such
as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by
applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other
party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any
other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan
Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement
containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of
or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or
obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its
advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower and its obligations,
(g) with the consent of the Borrower or (h) to the extent such Information (x) becomes
publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes
available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a
nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower.
For purposes of this Section, “Information” means (i) all information received from
the Borrower or any Subsidiary relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their
respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative
Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any
Subsidiary, and (ii) the CDS Data as provided by the Reference Pricing Agent and/or the
Administrative Agent, in each case other than any such information that is available to the
Administrative Agent or any Lender on a non-confidential basis prior to the disclosure to the
Borrower. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided
in this Section shall be considered to
61
have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to
maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own
confidential information.
Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders acknowledges that (a) the Information may
include material non-public information concerning the Borrower or a Subsidiary, as the case may
be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public
information and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with
applicable Law, including Federal and state securities Laws.
10.8 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 their 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.
10.9 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 and the other Loan Documents
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.
62
Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall
become effective when they 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 and any other Loan Document by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a
manually executed counterpart of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
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
and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder
shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied; provided that such representations and warranties
shall only be made or deemed made as of the dates explicitly required herein or therein. Such
representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and
each Lender.
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 the Borrower is
required to pay the Market Disruption Spread pursuant to any Lender providing a certificate
pursuant to Section 3.03(b), 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);
63
(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.
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 WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF
LAWS.
(b) SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND
UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE
COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT
COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT, 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 BORROWER, 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 ANY OF THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO
OR THEIR PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.
(c) WAIVER OF VENUE. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO 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.
64
(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 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, the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that: (a) the credit
facilities provided for hereunder and any related arranging or other services in connection
therewith (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of
any other Loan Document) are an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Borrower and its
Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Arrangers, on the
other hand, the Borrower is capable of evaluating and understanding and understands and accepts
the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan
Documents (including any amendment, waiver or other modification thereof or thereof); (b) in
connection with the process leading to such transaction, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and
the Arrangers each is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the financial advisor,
agent or fiduciary, for the Borrower or any of its Affiliates, stockholders, creditors or
employees or any other Person; (c) neither the Administrative Agent nor the Arrangers nor any
Lender has assumed or will assume an advisory, agency or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the
Borrower with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading
thereto, including with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any
other Loan Document (irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Arranger
has advised or is currently advising the Borrower or any of its Affiliates on other matters) and
neither the Administrative Agent nor any Arranger nor any Lender 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; (d) the
Administrative Agent, each Lender and each Arranger and their respective Affiliates may be engaged
in a board range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower and
its Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent nor any Arranger nor any Lender has any
obligation to disclose any of such interests by virtue of any advisory,
65
agency or fiduciary relationship; and (e) the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Arrangers
have not provided and will not provide any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect
to any of the transactions contemplated hereby (including any amendment, waiver or other
modification hereof or of any other Loan Document) and the Borrower has consulted its own legal,
accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate. The Borrower
hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that it may have
against the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Arrangers with respect to any breach or
alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty.
10.17 USA PATRIOT Act Notice. Each Lender that is subject to the Act (as hereinafter defined)
and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the
Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56
(signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Act”), it is required to obtain, verify and record
information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the
Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as
applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Act. The Borrower shall, following a
request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide all documentation and other information
that the Administrative Agent or such Lender reasonably requests in order to comply with its
ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and
regulations, including the Act.
10.18 License Agreement and CDS Data.
(a) The Administrative Agent hereby notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that it has entered
into a Syndicated Loan Pricing Benchmark Licensing Agreement (the “Licensing Agreement”)
with the Reference Pricing Agent, pursuant to which the Reference Pricing Agent will provide to
the Administrative Agent for each Business Day a composite end of day credit default swap spread
for the one (1) year point on the Borrower’s trading convention credit default swap curve that is
the most liquid and/or widely followed credit default swap curve for the Borrower’s senior
unsecured obligations (the “CDS Data”) that the Administrative Agent will use to determine
the Applicable Rate . The Administrative Agent hereby further notifies the Borrower and the
Lenders that, pursuant to the Licensing Agreement, (i) the CDS Data will be provided by the
Reference Pricing Agent on an “as is” basis, without express or implied warranty as to accuracy,
completeness, title, merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, (ii) the Reference
Pricing Agent has no liability to the Administrative Agent for any inaccuracies, errors or
omissions in the CDS Data, except in the event of its gross negligence, fraud or willful
misconduct, (iii) the CDS Data, as provided by the Reference Pricing Agent, constitutes
Information (as such term is defined in Section 10.07) and (iv) the CDS Data, as provided
by the Reference Pricing Agent, may be used by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower and the
Lenders solely for the purposes of this Agreement. Each of the Borrower and the Lenders (other
than Bank of America, in its capacity as the Administrative Agent, which is a party thereto)
agrees that it shall not be a third party beneficiary of the Licensing Agreement and shall have no
rights or obligations thereunder.
(b) The CDS Data shall be made available to the Borrower pursuant to procedures agreed upon
by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. The Borrower agrees that it will use
66
reasonable efforts (e.g., procedures substantially comparable to those applied by the Borrower in
respect of non-public information as to the business of the Borrower) to keep confidential the CDS
Data and the related materials provided by the Reference Pricing Agent pursuant to the Licensing
Agreement to the extent that the same is not and does not become publicly available;
provided, however, that nothing in this subsection shall affect the disclosure of
any such information (i) by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower or any Lender, (ii) to the
extent required by law (including statute, rule, regulation or judicial process), (iii) to counsel
for the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Borrower, (iv) to the independent public
accountants of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any Lender, (v) to bank examiners and
auditors and appropriate government examining authorities, (vi) in connection with any litigation
to which the Administrative Agent, the Borrower or any Lender is a party, (vii) to actual or
prospective assignees and participants, or (viii) to any Affiliates of the Administrative Agent,
the Lenders and the Borrower and to the respective partners, directors, officers, employees,
agents, advisors and representatives of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower and
their respective Affiliates; provided that, prior to any such disclosure pursuant to
clause (i) or clause (viii) of this subsection (b), the Person receiving
the CDS Data and any related materials shall be advised of the terms of this subsection. The
Licensing Agreement provides that the Reference Pricing Agent shall be entitled to injunctive
relief to restrain any breach, threatened or actual, of the confidentiality provisions of this
subsection and that damages may not be an adequate remedy in the event of any such breach.
(c) The Borrower acknowledges that each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders from time
to time may conduct business with and may be a shareholder of the Reference Pricing Agent and that
each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may have from time to time the right to appoint
one or more directors to the board of directors of the Reference Pricing Agent.
[Signature pages follow.]
67
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of
the date first above written.
BORROWER: VULCAN MATERIALS COMPANY |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx | |||
Title: | Vice President | |||
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender |
||||
By: | /s/ W. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx | |||
Name: | W. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President | |||
SUNTRUST BANK |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Managing Director | |||
XXXXXXX XXXXX BANK USA |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxx Xxxxxx | |||
Title: | Authorized Signatory | |||
REGIONS BANK |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President | |||
WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx | |||
Title: | Director | |||
Vulcan Materials Company
364-Day Credit Agreement
Signature Page
364-Day Credit Agreement
Signature Page
THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxx X. Xxxxx | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President | |||
Vulcan Materials Company
364-Day Credit Agreement
Signature Page
364-Day Credit Agreement
Signature Page
SCHEDULE 2.01
COMMITMENTS AND
APPLICABLE PERCENTAGES
APPLICABLE PERCENTAGES
Applicable | ||||||||
Lender | Commitment | Percentage | ||||||
Bank of America, N.A. |
$ | 30,000,000.00 | 18.181818182 | % | ||||
SunTrust Bank |
$ | 30,000,000.00 | 18.181818182 | % | ||||
Branch
Banking & Trust Company |
$ | 25,000,000.00 | 15.151515152 | % | ||||
Xxxxxxx Sachs Bank USA |
$ | 25,000,000.00 | 15.151515152 | % | ||||
Regions Bank |
$ | 25,000,000.00 | 15.151515152 | % | ||||
Wachovia Bank, National Association |
$ | 15,000,000.00 | 9.090909090 | % | ||||
The Northern Trust Company |
$ | 15,000,000.00 | 9.090909090 | % | ||||
Total |
$ | 165,000,000.00 | 100.000000000 | % |
S-1
SCHEDULE 10.02
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S OFFICE;
CERTAIN ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES
CERTAIN ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES
BORROWER:
VULCAN MATERIALS COMPANY
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopier: (000) 000-0000
Electronic Mail: xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx
Website Address: xxx.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
U.S. Taxpayer Identification Number: 00-0000000
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopier: (000) 000-0000
Electronic Mail: xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx
Website Address: xxx.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
U.S. Taxpayer Identification Number: 00-0000000
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:
For payments and requests for Borrowings:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Officer, Credit Services Rep I
Bank of America, N.A.
Mail Code: NCI-001-04-39
000 X. Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Officer, Credit Services Rep I
Bank of America, N.A.
Mail Code: NCI-001-04-39
000 X. Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000
Telephone:
|
(000) 000-0000 | |
Facsimile:
|
(000) 000-0000 | |
Email:
|
xxxxxxx.xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx |
PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS
Bank of America, N.A.
New York, NY
New York, NY
ABA # |
000000000 | |
Account No.: |
1366212250600 | |
Attn.: |
Credit Services Charlotte | |
Ref: |
Vulcan Materials Company |
S-2
Other Notices as Administrative Agent:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Assistant Vice President, Agency Management Officer II
Bank of America, N.A.
000 X. Xxxxx Xxxxxx
XX0-000-00-00
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Assistant Vice President, Agency Management Officer II
Bank of America, N.A.
000 X. Xxxxx Xxxxxx
XX0-000-00-00
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000
Telephone:
|
(000) 000-0000 | |
Facsimile:
|
(000) 000-0000 | |
Email:
|
xxxxx.xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx |
Other Notices As A Lender:
W. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
SVP; Portfolio Manager
Charlotte PM Office
Bank of America, N.A.
000 X. Xxxxx Xxxxxx
XX0-000-00-00
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000
W. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
SVP; Portfolio Manager
Charlotte PM Office
Bank of America, N.A.
000 X. Xxxxx Xxxxxx
XX0-000-00-00
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Telephone:
|
(000) 000-0000 | |
Facsimile:
|
(000) 000-0000 | |
Email:
|
x.xxxxxx.xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx |
S-3
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF COMMITTED LOAN NOTICE
Date: ,
To: Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to that certain 364-Day Credit Agreement, dated as of November 17, 2008 (as
amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the
“Agreement”; the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among Vulcan
Materials Company, a New Jersey corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders from time to
time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent.
The undersigned hereby requests (select one):
o A Borrowing of Committed Loans
|
o A conversion or continuation of Committed Loans |
1. | On (a Business Day). | ||
2. | In the amount of $ . | ||
3. | Comprised of
. [Type of Committed Loan requested] |
||
4. | For Eurodollar Rate Loans: with an Interest Period ___ of months. |
The Committed Borrowing, if any, requested herein complies with the provisos to the first
sentence of Section 2.01 of the Agreement.
VULCAN MATERIALS COMPANY | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: | ||||||
Form of Committed Loan Notice
A-1
EXHIBIT
B-1
FORM OF BID REQUEST
To: Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to that certain 364-Day Credit Agreement, dated as of November 17, 2008 (as
amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the
“Agreement:” the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among Vulcan
Materials Company, a New Jersey corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders from time to time
party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent.
The Lenders are invited to make Bid Loans:
1. | On (a Business Day). | ||
2. | In an aggregate amount not exceeding $ (with any sublimits set forth below). | ||
3. | Comprised of (select one): |
o Bid Loans based on an
Absolute Rate |
o Bid Loans based on Eurodollar Rate |
Bid Loan | Interest Period | Maximum principal | ||||
No. | requested | amount requested | ||||
1 |
days/mos | $ | ||||
2 |
days/mos | $ | ||||
3 |
days/mos | $ | ||||
The Bid Borrowing requested herein complies with the requirements of the proviso to the first
sentence of Section 2.03(a) of the Agreement.
The Borrower authorizes the Administrative Agent to deliver this Bid Request to the Lenders.
Responses by the Lenders must be in substantially the form of Exhibit B-2 to the Agreement
and must be received by the Administrative Agent by the time specified in Section 2.03 of
the Agreement for submitting Competitive Bids.
VULCAN MATERIALS COMPANY | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: | ||||||
Form of Bid Request
B-1-1
EXHIBIT B-2
FORM OF COMPETITIVE BID
,
To: Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to that certain 364-Day Credit Agreement, dated as of November 17, 2008 (as
amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the
“Agreement;” the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among Vulcan
Materials Company, a New Jersey corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders from time to
time party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent.
In
response to the Bid Request dated ___, 20___, the undersigned offers to make
the following Bid Loan(s):
1. | Borrowing date (a Business Day). | ||
2. | In an aggregate amount not exceeding $ (with any sublimits set forth below). | ||
3. | Comprised of: |
Absolute Rate Bid | ||||||||||
Interest Period | or Eurodollar | |||||||||
Bid Loan No. | offered | Bid Maximum | Margin Bid* | |||||||
1 |
days/mos | $ | (-+) | % | ||||||
2 |
days/mos | $ | (-+) | % | ||||||
3 |
days/mos | $ | (-+) | % | ||||||
Contact Person: Telephone:
[LENDER] | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: | ||||||
* | Expressed in multiples of 1/100th of a basis point. |
Form of Competitive Bid
B-2-1
THIS SECTION IS TO BE COMPLETED BY THE BORROWER IF IT WISHES
TO ACCEPT ANY OFFERS CONTAINED IN THIS COMPETITIVE BID:
The offers made above are hereby accepted in the amounts set forth below:
Principal Amount | ||||
Bid Loan No. | Accepted | |||
$ | ||||
$ | ||||
$ |
VULCAN MATERIALS COMPANY
By: |
||||
Name:
|
||||
Title:
|
||||
Date: |
||||
Form of Competitive Bid
B-2-2
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF NOTE
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned (the “Borrower”) hereby promises to pay to
or registered assigns (the “Lender”), in accordance with the provisions
of the Agreement (as hereinafter defined), the principal amount of each Loan from time to time made
by the Lender to the Borrower under that certain 364-Day Credit Agreement, dated as of November 17,
2008 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to
time, the “Agreement”; the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined),
among the Borrower, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as
Administrative Agent.
The Borrower promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Loan from the
date of such Loan until such principal amount is paid in full, at such interest rates and at such
times as provided in the Agreement. All payments of principal and interest shall be made to the
Administrative Agent for the account of the Lender in Dollars in immediately available funds at
the Administrative Agent’s Office. If any amount is not paid in full when due hereunder, such
unpaid amount shall bear interest, to be paid upon demand, from the due date thereof until the
date of actual payment (and before as well as after judgment) computed at the per annum rate set
forth in the Agreement.
This Note is one of the Notes referred to in the Agreement, is entitled to the benefits
thereof and may be prepaid in whole or in part subject to the terms and conditions provided
therein. Upon the occurrence and continuation of one or more of the Events of Default specified in
the Agreement, all amounts then remaining unpaid on this Note shall become, or may be declared to
be, immediately due and payable all as provided in the Agreement. Loans made by the Lender shall
be evidenced by one or more loan accounts or records maintained by the Lender in the ordinary
course of business. The Lender may also attach schedules to this Note and endorse thereon the
date, amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.
The Borrower, for itself, its successors and assigns, hereby waives diligence, presentment,
protest and demand and notice of protest, demand, dishonor and non-payment of this Note.
Form of Note
C-1
THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.
VULCAN MATERIALS COMPANY | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: | ||||||
Form of Note
C-2
LOANS AND PAYMENTS WITH RESPECT THERETO
Amount of | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Principal | Outstanding | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Type of | Amount of | End of | or Interest | Principal | ||||||||||||||||||||
Loan | Loan | Interest | Paid This | Balance | Notation | |||||||||||||||||||
Date | Made | Made | Period | Date | This Date | Made By | ||||||||||||||||||
Form of Note
C-3
EXHIBIT D
FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
Financial Statement Date: ,
To: Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to that certain 364-Day Credit Agreement, dated as of November 17, 2008 (as
amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the
“Agreement”; the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among Vulcan
Materials Company, a New Jersey corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders from time to
time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent.
The undersigned Responsible Officer hereby certifies as of the date hereof that he/she is
the of the Borrower, and that, as such, he/she is
authorized to execute and deliver this Certificate to the Administrative Agent on the behalf of the
Borrower, and that:
[Use following paragraph 1 for fiscal year-end financial statements]
1. Attached hereto as Schedule 1 are the year-end audited financial statements
required by Section 6.01(a) of the Agreement for the fiscal year of the Borrower ended as
of the above date, together with the report and opinion of an independent certified public
accountant required by such section.
[Use following paragraph 1 for fiscal quarter-end financial statements]
1. Attached hereto as Schedule 1 are the unaudited financial statements required by
Section 6.01(b) of the Agreement for the fiscal quarter of the Borrower ended as of the
above date. Such financial statements fairly present the financial condition, results of
operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in
accordance with GAAP as at such date and for such period, subject only to normal year-end audit
adjustments and the absence of footnotes.
2. The undersigned has reviewed and is familiar with the terms of the Agreement and has made,
or has caused to be made under his/her supervision, a detailed review of the transactions and
condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower during the accounting period covered by the
attached financial statements.
3. A review of the activities of the Borrower during such fiscal period has been made under
the supervision of the undersigned with a view to determining whether during such fiscal period
the Borrower performed and observed all its Obligations under the Loan Documents, and
Form of Compliance Certificate
D-1
[select one:]
[to the best knowledge of the undersigned during such fiscal period, the Borrower performed
and observed each covenant and condition of the Loan Documents applicable to it, and no Default
has occurred and is continuing.]
--or--
[the following covenants or conditions have not been performed or observed and the following
is a list of each such Default and its nature and status:]
4. The financial covenant analyses and information set forth on Schedule 1 attached
hereto are true and accurate on and as of the date of this Certificate.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate as of
, .
VULCAN MATERIALS COMPANY | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: | ||||||
Form of Compliance Certificate
D-2
For the Quarter/Year ended (“Statement Date”)
SCHEDULE 1
to the Compliance Certificate
($ in 000’s)
to the Compliance Certificate
($ in 000’s)
Section 7.06 — Ratio of Consolidated Debt to Total Capitalization.
A. Consolidated Debt of the Borrower and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries at Statement Date: |
$ | |||
B. Total Capitalization of the Borrower and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries at Statement Date: |
||||
1. Shareholders’ Equity at Statement Date: |
$ | |||
2. Consolidated Debt (Line A. above): |
$ | |||
3. Total Capitalization (Lines X.x. + B.2.): |
$ | |||
C. Ratio of Consolidated Debt to Total Capitalization
(Line A. ÷ Line B.3.): |
$ | |||
Maximum Permitted: | 0.65 to 1.0 |
Form of Compliance Certificate
D-3
EXHIBIT E
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION
This Assignment and Assumption (this “Assignment and Assumption”) is dated as of the
Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between [the] [each]1
Assignor identified in item 1 below ([the] [each, an] “Assignor”) and [the] [each]
Assignee identified in item 2 below ([the] [each, an] “Assignee”). [It is
understood and agreed that the rights and obligations of [the Assignors] [the
Assignees]2 hereunder are several and not joint.]3 Capitalized terms used
but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement identified
below (the “Credit Agreement”), receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by the
Assignee. The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed
to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Assumption as if
set forth herein in full.
For an agreed consideration, [the] [each] Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to
[the Assignee][the respective Assignees], and [the][each] Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases
and assumes from [the Assignor][the respective Assignors], subject to and in accordance with the
Standard Terms and Conditions and the Credit Agreement, as of the Effective Date inserted by the
Administrative Agent as contemplated below (i) all of [the Assignor’s] [the respective Assignors’]
rights and obligations in [its capacity as a Lender] [their respective capacities as Lenders]
under the Credit Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto to
the extent related to the amount and percentage interest identified below of all of such
outstanding rights and obligations of [the Assignor] [the respective Assignors] under the
respective facilities identified below and (ii) to the extent permitted to be assigned under
applicable law, all claims, suits, causes of action and any other right of [the Assignor (in its
capacity as a Lender)] [the respective Assignors (in their respective capacities as Lenders)]
against any Person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in connection with the Credit
Agreement, any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the loan transactions
governed thereby or in any way based on or related to any of the foregoing, including, but not
limited to, contract claims, tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other
claims at law or in equity related to the rights and obligations sold and assigned by [the] [any]
Assignor to [the] [any] Assignee pursuant to clause (i) above (the rights and obligations
sold and assigned pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above being referred to herein
collectively as [the] [an] “Assigned Interest”). Each such sale and assignment is without
recourse to [the] [any] Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and
Assumption, without representation or warranty by [the] [any] Assignor.
1. | Assignor[s]: |
1 | For bracketed language here and elsewhere in this form relating to the Assignor(s), if the assignment is from a single Assignor, choose the first bracketed language. If the assignment is from multiple Assignors, choose the second bracketed language. | |
2 | Select as appropriate. | |
3 | Include bracketed language if there are either multiple Assignors or multiple Assignees. |
Form of Assignment and Assumption
E-1
2. | Assignee[s]: [for each Assignee, indicate [Affiliate] [Approved Fund] of [identify Lender]] | |
3. | Borrower: Vulcan Materials Company, a New Jersey corporation | |
4. | Administrative Agent: Bank of America, N.A., as the administrative agent under the Credit Agreement | |
5. | Credit Agreement: 364-Day Credit Agreement, dated as of November 17, 2008, among Vulcan Materials Company, a New Jersey corporation, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent | |
6. | Assigned Interest: |
Aggregate | ||||||||||||||||||||
Amount of | Amount of | Percentage | ||||||||||||||||||
Commitment for | Commitment | Assigned of | CUSIP | |||||||||||||||||
Assignor[s]4 | Assignee[s]5 | all Lenders6 | Assigned | Commitment7 | Number | |||||||||||||||
$ | $ | % | ||||||||||||||||||
$ | $ | % | ||||||||||||||||||
$ | $ | % |
[7. | Trade Date: ] 8 |
Effective Date: , 20___[TO BE INSERTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER
THEREFOR.]
4 | List each Assignor, as appropriate. | |
5 | List each Assignee, as appropriate. | |
6 | Amounts in this column and in the column immediately to the right to be adjusted by the counterparties to take into account any payments or prepayments made between the Trade Date and the Effective Date. | |
7 | Set forth, to at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Commitment/Loans of all Lenders thereunder. | |
8 | To be completed if the Assignor and the Assignee intend that the minimum assignment amount is to be determined as of the Trade Date. |
Form of Assignment and Assumption
E-2
The terms set forth in this Assignment and Assumption are hereby agreed to:
ASSIGNOR [NAME OF ASSIGNOR] |
||||
By: | ||||
Title: | ||||
ASSIGNEE [NAME OF ASSIGNEE] |
||||
By: | ||||
Title: |
[Consented to and] 9 Accepted: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent |
|||
By: | |||
Title: | |||
[Consented to:] 10 VULCAN MATERIALS COMPANY |
|||
By: | |||
Title: | |||
9 | To be added only if the consent of the Administrative Agent is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement. | |
10 | To be added only if the consent of the Borrower and/or other parties is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement. |
Form of Assignment and Assumption
E-3
ANNEX 1 TO ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION
364-Day Credit Agreement, dated as of November 17, 2008 among Vulcan Materials Company, a New
Jersey corporation, as Borrower, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the Lenders
party thereto
STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION
1. Representations and Warranties.
1.1. Assignor. [The] [Each] Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the
legal and beneficial owner of [the] [the relevant] Assigned Interest, (ii) [the] [such] Assigned
Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii) it has full
power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment
and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; and (b) assumes no
responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in
connection with the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the execution, legality,
validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Loan Documents or any
collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or
Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of any Loan Document or (iv) the performance
or observance by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of
their respective obligations under any Loan Document.
1.2. Assignee. [The] [Each] Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power
and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and
Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the
Credit Agreement, (ii) it meets all the requirements to be an assignee under Section
10.06(b)(iii), (v) and (vi) of the Credit Agreement (subject to receipt of such consents as may
be required under the Credit Agreement), (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound
by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of [the] [the
relevant] Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it is
sophisticated with respect to decisions to acquire assets of the type presented by [the] [such]
Assigned Interest and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to
acquire [the] [such] Assigned Interest, is experienced in acquiring assets of such type, (v) it has
received a copy of the Credit Agreement and has received or has been accorded the opportunity to
receive copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.01
thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it deems appropriate to make
its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase
[the] [such] Assigned Interest, (vi) it has independently and without reliance upon the
Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has
deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and
Assumption and to purchase [the] [such] Assigned Interest, and (vii) if it is a Foreign Lender,
attached hereto is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the
Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by [the] [such] Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it
will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, [the] [any] Assignor or any
other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it
Form of Assignment and Assumption
E-4
shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not
taking action under the Loan Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms
all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it
as a Lender.
2. Payments. From and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make
all payments in respect of [the] [each] Assigned Interest (including payments of principal,
interest, fees and other amounts) to [the] [the relevant] Assignor for amounts which have accrued
to but excluding the Effective Date and to [the] [relevant] Assignee for amounts which have accrued
from and after the Effective Date.
3. General Provisions. This Assignment and Assumption shall be binding upon, and
inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This
Assignment and Assumption may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall
constitute one instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this
Assignment and Assumption by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed
counterpart of this Assignment and Assumption. This Assignment and Assumption shall be governed
by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.
Form of Assignment and Assumption
E-5
EXHIBIT
F-1
FORM OF BORROWER OPINION
See attached.
Form of Borrower Opinion
F-1-1
XXXXXXX X. XXXXX SENIOR ATTORNEY |
XX XXX 000000 XXXXXXXXXX. XXXXXXX 00000-00x0 TELEPHONE (000) 000-0000 FAX (000) 000-0000 E-MAlL xxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx |
November 17, 2008
To the Banks and the Administrative Agent
Referred to Below
Referred to Below
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as in-house counsel to Vulcan Materials Company, a New Jersey corporation
(the “Borrower”) in connection with the 364-Day Credit Agreement dated as of November 14, 2008,
among the Borrower, the banks listed on the signature pages thereof and Bank of America, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent and the Lenders party thereto (the “Credit Agreement”). Terms defined in
the Credit Agreement are used herein as therein defined.
We have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our
satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records, certificates of public officials and other
instruments and have conducted such other investigations of fact and law as we have deemed
necessary or advisable for purposes of this opinion. The Credit Agreement, the Notes and the
Loan Documents are herein referred to as the “Subject Documents”. In rendering the opinions
expressed herein, we have assumed (i) the due authorization, execution and delivery of the
Subject Documents by each of the parties thereto (other than the Borrower); and (ii) that the
Subject Documents are the legal, binding, and enforceable obligation of each party (other than
the Borrower).
Upon the basis of the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
1. The Borrower is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of New Jersey and has all corporate powers required to carry on its business as
now conducted.
2. The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of the Credit Agreement and the
Notes (i) are within the Borrower’s corporate powers, (ii) have been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate action, (iii) require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any
governmental body, agency or official, except as have been obtained or made and are in full
force and effect, (iv) do not contravene, or constitute a default, under any provision of
applicable law or regulation or of any agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other
instrument which to our knowledge is binding upon the Borrower, (v) do not contravene, or
constitute a default under any provision of the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the
Borrower and (vi) to our knowledge, except as provided in the Credit Agreement, do not result in
To the Banks and the Administrative Agent
November 17, 2008
Page 2
November 17, 2008
Page 2
the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries,
except in each case referred to in clauses (iv) or (vi) to the extent such contravention or
default would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
3. Except as disclosed in any SEC filings of the Borrower made prior to the Closing Date,
there is no action, suit or proceeding pending, or to the knowledge of the Borrower threatened in
writing, against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries before any court or arbitrator or any
governmental body, which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or which
in any manner draws into question the validity of or which involves the Subject Documents.
4. The Borrower is not and is not required to be registered an “investment company” within
the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940.
5. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is a “holding company”, or a “subsidiary
company” of a “holding company”, or an “affiliate” of a “holding company” or of a “subsidiary
company” of a “holding company”, as such terms are defined in the Public Utility Holding Company
Act of 1935, as amended.
6. The choice of New York law to govern the Subject Documents in which such choice is
stipulated is a valid and effective choice of law under the laws of the State of Alabama, and
adherence to existing judicial precedents generally would require a court sitting in the State of
Alabama to abide by such choice of law, unless a fundamental policy of the State of Alabama would
be violated. We are not aware of any provision of the Subject Documents which would violate a
fundamental policy of the State of Alabama.
We are qualified to practice in the State of Alabama and do not purport to be experts on any
laws other than the laws of the United States and the State of Alabama in each case in effect on
the date hereof (the “Subject Laws”) and this opinion is rendered only with respect to such laws.
We have made no independent investigation of the laws of any other jurisdiction. To the extent the
Subject Documents purport to be governed by laws other than those of the State of Alabama, we have
assumed that such laws are the same as the laws of the State of Alabama.
The opinion expressed above is subject to the following qualifications and comments:
a. Our opinion is subject to the effect of (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
liquidation, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors
generally, including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and
fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief, and
(ii) the application of general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
b. We express no opinion as to the effect of any Subject Laws (including Section 548 of the
Bankruptcy Code) regarding fraudulent transfers or fraudulent conveyances, or restricting
To the Banks and the Administrative Agent
November 17, 2008
Page 3
November 17, 2008
Page 3
dividends, loans or distributions by a corporation or limited liability company to or for the
benefit of its stockholders or members.
c. We express no opinion as to the effect of compliance or non-compliance by the Borrower
with any Subject Laws or other laws or regulations applicable to the Borrower or the transactions
contemplated by the Subject Documents because of the nature of the business of the Borrower and
its subsidiaries.
d. We express no opinion with respect to the validity or enforceability of: (i) any provision
in the Subject Documents relating to delay or omission of enforcement of rights or remedies,
waivers of defenses, waivers of notices, or waivers of benefits of usury, appraisement, valuation,
stay, extension, moratorium, redemption, statutes of limitation or other non-waivable benefits
bestowed by operation of law, (ii) any exculpation clauses, clauses relating to releases of
unmatured claims, clauses purporting to waive unmatured rights, severability clauses, and clauses
similar in substance or nature to those described in the foregoing clause (i) and this clause
(ii); (iii) any indemnification or contribution provisions set forth in the Subject Documents to
the extent they purport to relate to liabilities resulting from or based upon a party’s own gross
negligence or willful misconduct or any violation of federal or state securities or blue sky laws;
or (iv) any provisions in the Subject Documents which subject the Borrower to any claim for
deficiency resulting from a judgment being rendered in a currency other than the currency called
for in the Subject Documents.
e. The provisions of the Subject Documents that permit the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders to take action or make determinations, or to benefit from indemnities and similar
undertakings of the Borrower, may be subject to a requirement that such action, inaction or
determination by the Administrative Agent or the Lenders that may give rise to a request for
payment under such an undertaking be taken or made, or not taken or made, on a reasonable basis
and in good faith and may also be subject to public policy and equitable limitations.
f. We express no opinion as to (i) whether a federal, state or any other court outside of
the State of Alabama would give effect to the choice of New York law provided for in the Subject
Documents, (ii) provisions of the Subject Documents that relate to the subject matter
jurisdiction of any federal court of the United States of America sitting in New York City to
adjudicate any controversy related to the Subject Documents, or the transactions contemplated
thereby, (iii) any waiver of objections to venue, inconvenient forum, or the like set forth in
the Credit Agreement, (iv) the waiver of jury trial set forth in the Credit Agreement or (v) the
effect (if any) of any law of any jurisdiction (except the State of Alabama) in which any
enforcement of the Subject Documents may be sought.
g. We express no opinion as to the effect of the laws of any jurisdiction (other than the
laws of the State of Alabama) wherein any Lender may be located which limit rates of interest
that may be charged or collected by such Lender.
h. We express no opinion with respect to any provisions of the Subject Documents insofar as
they purport to create rights of set-off: (i) against deposits and indebtedness held or
To
the Banks and the Administrative Agent
November 17, 2008
Page 4
November 17, 2008
Page 4
owing by persons other than the Lenders or special deposits held by the Lenders; (ii) in respect of
contingent and unmatured indebtedness; or (iii) in favor of participants.
This opinion is delivered to you in connection with the transaction referenced above and may
only be relied upon by you, any Eligible Assignee or Participant under the Credit Agreement, and
McGuireWoods LLP without our prior written consent; provided,
however, this opinion letter
may be furnished or quoted to regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over you.
Sincerely yours, |
||||
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx | ||||
LLS/als
EXHIBIT F-2
FORM OF SPECIAL COUNSEL TO ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OPINION
See attached.
Form of Borrower Opinion
F-1-1
McGuireWoods LLP
000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 0000 Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 Phone: 000.000.0000 Fax: 000.000.0000 xxx.xxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx |
||
November 17, 2008
Each of the Lenders Parties
Referenced Below
x/x Xxxx xx Xxxxxxx, X. A.,
as Administrative Agent
000 X. Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Referenced Below
x/x Xxxx xx Xxxxxxx, X. A.,
as Administrative Agent
000 X. Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Vulcan Materials Company
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have participated in the preparation of the 364-Day Credit Agreement (the “Credit
Agreement”) dated as of November 14, 2008, among Vulcan Materials Company, a New Jersey
corporation (the “Borrower”), Bank of America, N.A., as the administrative agent (in
such capacity, the “Agent”), and the various financial institutions as are or may
from time to time become parties thereto as lenders (collectively,
the “Lenders”; the
Agent and the Lenders are collectively referred to as the “Lender Parties” and
individually as a “Lender Party”), and have acted as special counsel for the Agent for
the purpose of rendering this opinion pursuant to Section 4.01(a)(v)(ii) of the Credit
Agreement. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used
herein as therein defined.
Documents Reviewed
In connection with this opinion letter, we have examined the Credit Agreement and the
Notes (collectively, the “Subject Documents”). In addition we have examined
originals, or copies identified to our satisfaction as being true copies, of such records,
documents and other instruments as we have deemed necessary for the purposes of this opinion
letter.
Assumptions Underlying Our Opinions
For all purposes of the opinions expressed herein, we have assumed, without independent
investigation, that:
(a) Factual Matters. With regard to factual matters, to the extent
that we have reviewed and relied upon (i) certificates of the Borrower, (ii) representations
of the Borrower set forth in the Subject Documents and (iii) certificates and assurances
from public officials, all of such certificates, representations and assurances are
accurate.
(b) Contrary Knowledge of Addressee. No addressee of this opinion letter has any
actual knowledge that any of our factual assumptions or opinions is inaccurate.
(c) Signatures. The signatures of individuals signing the Subject Documents are
genuine and authorized.
(d) Authentic and Conforming Documents. All documents submitted to us as originals
are authentic, complete and accurate and all documents submitted to us as copies conform to
authentic original documents.
(e) Capacity of Certain Parties. All parties to the Subject Documents have the
capacity and full power and authority to execute, deliver and perform the Subject Documents and
the documents required or permitted to be delivered and performed thereunder.
(f) Subject Documents Binding on Certain Parties. All of the Subject Documents and
the documents required or permitted to be delivered thereunder have been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate or other action on the part of the parties thereto, have been duly executed
and delivered by such parties and are valid and binding obligations enforceable against such
parties (other than the Borrower) in accordance with their terms.
(g) Consents for Certain Parties. All necessary consents, authorizations, approvals,
permits or certificates (governmental and otherwise) which are required as a condition to the
execution and delivery of the Subject Documents by the parties thereto and to the consummation by
such parties of the transactions contemplated thereby have been obtained.
(h) Accurate Description of Parties’ Understanding. The Subject Documents accurately
describe and contain the mutual understanding of the parties, and there are no oral or written
statements or agreements that modify, amend or vary, or purport to modify, amend or vary, any of
the terms thereof.
Our Opinion
Based on and subject to the foregoing and the other limitations, assumptions, qualifications
and exclusions set forth in this opinion letter, we are of the opinion that each Subject Document
constitutes a valid, binding and enforceable obligation of the Borrower.
Exclusions
We call your attention to the following matters as to which we express no opinion:
(a) Indemnification. Any agreement of the Borrower in a Subject Document relating to
indemnification, contribution or exculpation from costs, expenses or other liabilities that is
contrary to public policy or applicable law;
(b) Fraudulent Transfer. The effect, if applicable, of fraudulent conveyance,
fraudulent transfer, and preferential transfer laws, and principles of equitable subordination;
2
(c) Jurisdiction, Venue, etc. The enforceability in any court of any agreement of the
Borrower in a Subject Document to submit to the jurisdiction of a specified federal or state court
(other than the enforceability in a court of the State of New York of any such agreement to submit
to the jurisdiction of a court of the State of New York); or the enforceability of any agreement of
the Borrower in a Subject Document to waive any objection to the laying of the venue, to waive the
defense of forum non conveniens in any action or proceeding referred to therein, to waive trial by
jury, or to effect service of process in any particular manner or to establish evidentiary
standards; or the enforceability of any agreement of the Borrower regarding the choice of law
governing a Subject Document (other than the enforceability in a court of the State of New York of
any such agreement that the laws of the State of New York shall govern a Subject Document);
(d) Trust Relationship. The creation of any trust relationship by the Borrower on
behalf of any Lender Party;
(e) Certain Laws. Federal securities laws or regulations, state securities and Blue
Sky laws or regulations, federal and state banking laws and regulations, pension and employee
benefit laws and regulations, federal and state environmental laws and regulations, federal and
state tax laws and regulations, federal and state health and occupational safety laws and
regulations, building code, zoning, subdivision and other laws and regulations governing the
development, use and occupancy of real property, the Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Antitrust Improvements Act
of 1976 and other federal and state antitrust and unfair competition laws and regulations, the
Assignment of Claims Act of 1940, and the effect of any of the foregoing on any of the opinions
expressed;
(f) Local Ordinances. The ordinances, statutes, administrative decisions, orders,
rules and regulations of any municipality, county, special district or other political subdivision
of any state;
(g) Certain Agreements of Borrower Parties. Any agreement of the Borrower in a
Subject Document providing for:
(i) specific performance of the Borrower’s obligations;
(ii) the right of any purchaser of a participation interest from any Lender to
set off or apply any deposit, property or indebtedness with respect to any such
participation interest;
(iii) establishment of a contractual rate of interest payable after judgment;
(iv) adjustments of payments among Lenders or rights of set off;
(v) the granting of any power of attorney;
3
(vi) survival of liabilities and obligations of any party under any of the
Subject Documents arising after the effective date of termination of the Credit
Agreement; or
(vii) obligations to make an agreement in the future; and
(h) Remedies. Any provision in any Subject Document to the effect that rights or
remedies are not exclusive, that every right or remedy is cumulative and may be exercised in
addition to any other right or remedy, that the election of some particular remedy does not
preclude recourse to one or more others or that failure to exercise or delay in exercising rights
or remedies will not operate as a waiver of any such right or remedy.
Qualifications and Limitations
The opinions set forth above are subject to the following qualifications and limitations:
(a) Applicable Law. Our opinions are limited to the federal law of the United States
and the laws of the State of New York, and we do not express any opinion concerning any other law.
(b) Bankruptcy. Our opinions are subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency (including, without limitation, laws relating to preferences and fraudulent transfers
or conveyances), reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights
generally.
(c) Equitable Principles. Our opinions are subject to the effect of general
principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law),
including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair
dealing. In applying such principles, a court, among other things, might limit the availability of
specific equitable remedies (such as injunctive relief and the remedy of specific performance),
might not allow a creditor to accelerate maturity of debt or exercise other remedies upon the
occurrence of a default deemed immaterial or for non-credit reasons or might decline to order a
debtor to perform covenants in a Subject Document. Further, a court may refuse to enforce a
covenant if and to the extent that it deems such covenant to be violative of applicable public
policy, including, for example, provisions requiring indemnification of a Lender Party against
liability for its own wrongful or negligent acts.
(d) Choice of New York Law and Forum. To the extent that any opinion relates to the
enforceability of the choice of New York law and choice of New York forum provisions of any
Subject Document, our opinion is rendered in reliance upon N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law §§ 5-1401 and
5-1402 (XxXxxxxx 2001) and N.Y. CPLR 327(b) (XxXxxxxx 2001) and is subject to the qualification
that such enforceability may be limited by public policy considerations of any jurisdiction, other
than the courts of the State of New York, in which enforcement of such provisions, or of a
judgment upon an agreement containing such provisions, is sought.
4
(e) Material Changes to Terms. Provisions in the Subject Documents which
provide that any obligations of the Borrower thereunder will not be affected by the
action or failure to act on the part of any Lender Party or by an amendment or waiver
of the provisions contained in the other Subject Documents might not be enforceable
under circumstances in which such action, failure to act, amendment or waiver so
materially changes the essential terms of the obligations that, in effect, a new
contract has arisen between the Lender Parties and the Borrower.
(f) Incorporated Documents. This opinion does not relate to (and we have
not reviewed) any documents or instruments other than the Subject Documents, and we
express no opinion as to such other documents or instruments (including, without
limitation, any documents or instruments referenced or incorporated in any of the
Subject Documents) or as to the interplay between the Subject Documents and any such
other documents and instruments.
Reliance on Opinions
The foregoing opinions are being furnished to the Lender Parties for the purpose
referred to in the first paragraph of this opinion letter, and this opinion letter is
not to be furnished to any other person or entity or used or relied upon for any other
purpose without our prior written consent. The opinions set forth herein are made as
of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to supplement this opinion letter if
any applicable laws change after the date hereof or if we become aware after the date
hereof of any facts that might change the opinions expressed herein. Headings in this
opinion letter are intended for convenience of reference only and shall not affect its
interpretation.
Very truly yours, |
||||
5
LENDER JOINDER AGREEMENT
November 21, 2008
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Assistant Vice President, Agency Management Officer II
Bank of America, N.A.
000 X. Xxxxx Xxxxxx
XX0-000-00-00
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000
Assistant Vice President, Agency Management Officer II
Bank of America, N.A.
000 X. Xxxxx Xxxxxx
XX0-000-00-00
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000
Vulcan Materials Company
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to that certain 364-Day Credit Agreement, dated as of November 17, 2008 (as
amended, restated, extended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified in writing
from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”; the terms defined therein being used herein as
therein defined), among Vulcan Materials Company, a New Jersey corporation (the
“Borrower”), the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as
Administrative Agent (the “Administrative Agent”).
This Lender Joinder Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and delivered pursuant to
Section 2.14(c) of the Credit Agreement.
The Borrower hereby confirms its agreement to increase the Aggregate Commitments by
$25,000,000 in accordance with the terms of said Section 2.14 effective as of November 21,
2008 (the “Increase Effective Date”).
As of the Increase Effective Date, the undersigned (the “Joining Lender”) will become
a party to the Credit Agreement as a Lender and, after giving effect to said Section 2.14,
the Joining Lender will have a Commitment equal to $25,000,000 (as from time to time adjusted in
accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement). The Joining Lender, by its execution of this
Agreement, hereby confirms and agrees that with effect on and after the Increase Effective Date, it
shall be and become a party to the Credit Agreement as a Lender, and shall have all of the rights
and be obligated to perform all of the obligations of a Lender thereunder with a Commitment of
$25,000,000 (as from time to time adjusted in accordance with the Credit Agreement). The Joining
Lender hereby (a) acknowledges that it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement and the
schedules and exhibits thereto and such other documents and information as it has deemed
appropriate to make its own credit and legal analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement;
and (b) agrees that it will, independently and without reliance upon the
Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it
shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit and legal decisions in taking
or not taking action under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
The administrative details set forth on Annex A hereto apply to the Joining Lender.
This Agreement shall constitute a Loan Document.
THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE
OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS EXECUTED, AND TO BE FULLY PERFORMED, IN SUCH STATE.
JOINING LENDER: |
||||
BRANCH BANKING AND TRUST COMPANY |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President | |||
ACKNOWLEDGED as of November 21, 2008:
VULCAN MATERIALS COMPANY, as Borrower
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
ACKNOWLEDGED as of November 19, 2008:
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx | |||
Title: | Vice President | |||