EXHIBIT 10.4
EXECUTION COPY
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CREDIT AND GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
dated as of
August 12, 2003
among
BLOCK FINANCIAL CORPORATION,
as Borrower,
H&R BLOCK, INC.,
as Guarantor,
The Lenders Party Hereto,
THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC,
as Syndication Agent,
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Documentation Agent,
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK,
as Administrative Agent,
and
X.X. XXXXXX SECURITIES INC.,
as Lead Arranger and Sole Book Manager
$2,000,000,000 SHORT-TERM REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS ........................................................ 1
SECTION 1.1. Defined Terms ........................................... 1
SECTION 1.2. Terms Generally ......................................... 17
SECTION 1.3. Classification of Loans and Borrowings .................. 18
SECTION 1.4. Accounting Terms; GAAP .................................. 18
ARTICLE II THE CREDITS ....................................................... 18
SECTION 2.1. Commitments ............................................. 18
SECTION 2.2. Loans and Borrowings .................................... 18
SECTION 2.3. Requests for Revolving Borrowings ....................... 19
SECTION 2.4. Swingline Loans ......................................... 20
SECTION 2.5. Funding of Borrowings ................................... 22
SECTION 2.6. Interest Elections ...................................... 22
SECTION 2.7. Termination and Reduction of Commitments ................ 24
SECTION 2.8. Repayment of Loans; Term-Out Option; Evidence of Debt ... 24
SECTION 2.9. Prepayment of Loans ..................................... 25
SECTION 2.10. Fees ................................................... 26
SECTION 2.11. Interest ............................................... 27
SECTION 2.12. Alternate Rate of Interest ............................. 27
SECTION 2.13. Increased Costs ........................................ 28
SECTION 2.14. Break Funding Payments ................................. 29
SECTION 2.15. Taxes .................................................. 29
SECTION 2.16. Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of
Set-offs ............................................... 30
SECTION 2.17. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders ......... 31
SECTION 2.18. Extension of Revolving Termination Date ................ 32
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES ................................... 33
SECTION 3.1. Organization; Powers .................................... 33
SECTION 3.2. Authorization; Enforceability ........................... 34
SECTION 3.3. Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts .................... 34
SECTION 3.4. Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change ......... 34
SECTION 3.5. Properties .............................................. 35
SECTION 3.6. Litigation and Environmental Matters .................... 35
SECTION 3.7. Compliance with Laws and Agreements ..................... 35
SECTION 3.8. Investment and Holding Company Status ................... 35
SECTION 3.9. Taxes ................................................... 35
SECTION 3.10. ERISA .................................................. 36
SECTION 3.11. Disclosure ............................................. 36
SECTION 3.12. Federal Regulations .................................... 36
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SECTION 3.13. Subsidiaries ....................................... 36
SECTION 3.14. Insurance .......................................... 36
ARTICLE IV CONDITIONS .................................................... 37
SECTION 4.1. Effective Date ...................................... 37
SECTION 4.2. Closing Date ....................................... 37
SECTION 4.3. Each Loan ........................................... 38
ARTICLE V AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS .......................................... 38
SECTION 5.1. Financial Statements and Other Information .......... 39
SECTION 5.2. Notices of Material Events .......................... 40
SECTION 5.3. Existence; Conduct of Business ...................... 40
SECTION 5.4. Payment of Taxes .................................... 40
SECTION 5.5. Maintenance of Properties; Insurance ................ 41
SECTION 5.6. Books and Records; Inspection Rights ................ 41
SECTION 5.7. Compliance with Laws ................................ 41
SECTION 5.8. Use of Proceeds ..................................... 41
SECTION 5.9. Cleandown ........................................... 41
ARTICLE VI NEGATIVE COVENANTS ............................................ 42
SECTION 6.1. Adjusted Net Worth .................................. 42
SECTION 6.2. Indebtedness ........................................ 42
SECTION 6.3. Liens ............................................... 44
SECTION 6.4. Fundamental Changes; Sale of Assets ................. 45
SECTION 6.5. Transactions with Affiliates ........................ 46
SECTION 6.6. Restrictive Agreements .............................. 46
ARTICLE VII GUARANTEE .................................................... 47
SECTION 7.1. Guarantee ........................................... 47
SECTION 7.2. Delay of Subrogation ................................ 48
SECTION 7.3. Amendments, etc. with respect to the Obligations;
Waiver of Rights .................................... 49
SECTION 7.4. Guarantee Absolute and Unconditional ................ 49
SECTION 7.5. Reinstatement ....................................... 50
SECTION 7.6. Payments ............................................ 50
ARTICLE VIII EVENTS OF DEFAULT ........................................... 50
ARTICLE IX THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT ...................................... 53
ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS .................................................. 55
SECTION 10.1. Notices ............................................. 55
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SECTION 10.2. Waivers; Amendments .......................................... 55
SECTION 10.3. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver ........................... 56
SECTION 10.4. Successors and Assigns ....................................... 57
SECTION 10.5. Survival ..................................................... 60
SECTION 10.6. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness ..................... 60
SECTION 10.7. Severability ................................................. 61
SECTION 10.8. Right of Setoff .............................................. 61
SECTION 10.9. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process ... 61
SECTION 10.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL ........................................ 62
SECTION 10.11. Headings .................................................... 62
SECTION 10.12. Confidentiality ............................................. 62
SECTION 10.13. Interest Rate Limitation .................................... 63
SCHEDULES:
Schedule 2.1 Commitments
Schedule 3.4(a) Guarantee Obligations
Schedule 3.6 Disclosed Matters
Schedule 3.13 Subsidiaries
Schedule 6.2 Existing Indebtedness
Schedule 6.3 Existing Liens
Schedule 6.4(b) Additional Businesses
Schedule 6.6 Existing Restrictions
EXHIBITS:
Exhibit A Form of Assignment and Acceptance
Exhibit B-1 Form of Opinion of Mayer, Brown, Xxxx & Maw LLP
Exhibit B-2 Form of Opinion of Xxxxx Xxxx LLP
Exhibit C Form of Extension Request
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CREDIT AND GUARANTEE AGREEMENT, dated as of August 12, 2003,
among BLOCK FINANCIAL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation, as Borrower, H&R
BLOCK, INC., a Missouri corporation, as Guarantor, the LENDERS party hereto, and
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, a New York banking corporation, as Administrative Agent.
WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to terminate the Existing
Agreement (as defined below); and
WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide
financing a revolving credit facility in an amount of $2,000,000,000;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements herein and in
reliance upon the representations and warranties set forth herein, the parties
agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1. Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the
following terms have the meanings specified below:
"ABR", when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers
to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are
bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base
Rate.
"Adjusted Net Worth" means, at any time, Consolidated Net Worth
of the Guarantor without giving effect to reductions in stockholders'
equity as a result of repurchases by the Guarantor of its own Capital
Stock subsequent to the Closing Date in an aggregate amount not
exceeding $350,000,000.
"Administrative Agent" means JPMorgan Chase Bank, a New York
banking corporation, in its capacity as administrative agent for the
Lenders hereunder.
"Administrative Ouestionnaire" means an Administrative
Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.
"Affiliate" means, with respect to a specified Person, another
Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries,
Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person
specified. For the avoidance of doubt, neither the Guarantor nor any of
its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to Control any of its franchisees by
virtue of provisions in the relevant franchise agreement regulating the
business and operations of such franchisee.
"Alternate Base Rate" means, for any day, a rate per annum equal
to the greater of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, and (b) the
Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus 1/2 of 1%. Any
change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate or
the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall be effective from and
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including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate or the
Federal Funds Effective Rate, respectively.
"Applicable Percentage" means, with respect to any Lender, the
percentage of the total Commitments represented by such Lender's
Commitment. If the Commitments have terminated or expired, the
Applicable Percentages shall be determined based upon the Commitments
most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments.
"Applicable Rate" means, for any day, the rate per annum based
on the Ratings in effect on such day, as set forth under the relevant
column heading below:
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Applicable Rate for
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Category Ratings ABR Loans Eurodollar Facility Fees Utilization Fees
Loans Payable Payable
Hereunder Hereunder
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Greater than: A 0% 0.18% 0.07% 0.15%
I by S&P or A2
by Moody's
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II A by S&P or 0% 0.265% 0.085% 0.15%
A2 by Moody's
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III A - by S&P or 0% 0.53% 0.095% 0.15%
A3 by Moody's
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BBB + by S&P 0% 0.64% 0.11% 0.15%
IV or Baal by
Moody's
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Lower than: 0% 0.75% 0.125% 0.15%
V BBS + by S&P
or Baal by
Moody's
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;provided that (a) if on any day the Ratings of S&P and Moody's do not
fall in the same category, then the lower of such Ratings shall be
applicable for such day, (b) if on any day the Rating of only S&P or
Xxxxx'x is available, then such Rating shall be applicable for such day
and (c) if on any day a Rating is not available from either S&P or
Moody's, then the Ratings in category V above shall be applicable for
such day. Any change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in
Rating by either S&P or Moody's shall become effective on the date such
change is publicly announced by such rating agency; provided further
that for all Revolving Loans outstanding on and after the Revolving
Termination Date (pursuant to the proviso set forth in Section
2.8(a)(i)) the Applicable Rate for utilization fees payable pursuant to
Section 2.10(b) shall be increased by 0.25% over such Applicable Rate
otherwise then in effect as set forth above.
"Assignment and Acceptance" means an assignment and acceptance
entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party
whose consent is required by Section 10.4), and accepted by the
Administrative Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit A or any
other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
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"Availability Period" means the period from and including the
Closing Date to but excluding the earlier of the Revolving Termination
Date and the date of termination of the Commitments.
"Board" means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System of the United States of America.
"Borrower" means Block Financial Corporation, a Delaware
corporation and a wholly-owned indirect Subsidiary of the Guarantor.
"Borrowing" means (a) Revolving Loans of the same Type and same
Tranche, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case
of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect
or (b) a Swingline Loan.
"Borrowing Request" means a request by the Borrower for a
Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.3.
"Business Day" means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or
other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or
required by law to remain closed; provided that, when used in connection
with a Eurodollar Loan, the term "Business Day" shall also exclude any
day on which banks are not open for dealings in dollar deposits in the
London interbank market.
"Capital Lease Obligations" of any Person means the obligations
of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other
arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a
combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and
accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under
GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount
thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.
"Capital Stock" means any and all shares, interests,
participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital
stock of a corporation, any and all equivalent ownership interests in a
Person (other than a corporation) and any and all warrants or options to
purchase any of the foregoing.
"Cash Equivalents": (a) marketable direct obligations issued by,
or unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States government or issued
by any agency thereof and backed by the full faith and credit of the
United States, in each case maturing within one year from the date of
acquisition; (b) certificates of deposit, time deposits, eurodollar time
deposits or overnight bank deposits having maturities of six months or
less from the date of acquisition issued by (i) any Lender, (ii) any
commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States or any
state thereof having combined capital and surplus of not less than
$500,000,000 or (iii) by any other bank if, and to the extent, covered
by FDIC insurance; (c) commercial paper of an issuer rated at least A-l
by S&P or P-l by Moody's, or carrying an equivalent rating by a
nationally recognized rating agency, if both of the two named rating
agencies cease publishing ratings of commercial paper issuers generally,
and maturing within six months from the date of
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acquisition; (d) repurchase obligations of any Lender or of any
commercial bank satisfying the requirements of clause (b) of this
definition, having a term of not more than 30 days, with respect to
securities issued or fully guaranteed or insured by the United States
government; (e) securities with maturities of one year or less from the
date of acquisition issued or fully guaranteed by any state,
commonwealth or territory of the United States, by any political
subdivision or taxing authority of any such state, commonwealth or
territory or by any foreign government, the securities of which state,
commonwealth, territory, political subdivision, taxing authority or
foreign government (as the case may be) are rated at least A by S&P or
A2 by Moody's; (f) securities with maturities of six months or less from
the date of acquisition backed by standby letters of credit issued by
any Lender or any commercial bank satisfying the requirements of clause
(b) of this definition; (g) money market mutual or similar funds that
invest exclusively in assets satisfying the requirements of clauses (a)
through (f) of this definition; or (h) money market funds that (i)
comply with the criteria set forth in SEC Rule 2a-7 under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended, (ii) are rated AAA by S&P and Aaa by
Moody's and (iii) have portfolio assets of at least $1,000,000,000.
"Change in Control" means (a) the acquisition of ownership,
directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person or
group (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission
thereunder as in effect on the date hereof) of shares representing more
than 25% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the
issued and outstanding Capital Stock of the Guarantor; (b) occupation of
a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of
directors of the Guarantor by Persons who were neither (i) nominated by
the board of directors of the Guarantor nor (ii) appointed by directors
so nominated; (c) the acquisition of direct or indirect Control of the
Guarantor by any Person or group; or (d) the failure of the Guarantor to
own, directly or indirectly, shares representing 100% of the aggregate
ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Capital
Stock of the Borrower.
"Change in Law" means (a) the adoption of any law, rule or
regulation after the date of this Agreement, (b) any change in any law,
rule or regulation or in the interpretation or application thereof by
any Governmental Authority after the date of this Agreement or (c)
compliance by any Lender (or, for purposes of Section 2.13(b), by any
lending office of such Lender or by such Lender's holding company, if
any) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the
force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the
date of this Agreement.
"Charges" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
10.13.
"Class" when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers
to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are
Revolving Loans or Swingline Loans.
"Closing Date" means the date on which the conditions specified
in Section 4.2 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section
10.2).
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"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from
time to time.
"Commitment" means, with respect to each Lender, the sum of its
Tranche A1 Commitment and its Tranche A2 Commitment.
"Commitment Expiration Date" has the meaning assigned to such
term in Section 2.18(a).
"Confidential Information Memorandum" means the Confidential
Information Memorandum dated July of 2003 (as edited) and furnished to
the Lenders.
"Consolidated Net Worth" means, at any time, the total amount of
stockholders' equity of the Guarantor and its consolidated Subsidiaries
at such time determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
"Contractual Obligation" means, as to any Person, any provision
of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or
undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its
property is bound.
"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.
"Credit Parties" means the collective reference to the Borrower
and the Guarantor.
"Default" means any event or condition which constitutes an
Event of Default or which upon notice, lapse of time or both would,
unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.
"Disclosed Matters" means the actions, suits and proceedings and
the environmental matters disclosed in Schedule 3.6.
"dollars" or "$" refers to lawful money of the United States of
America.
"Effective Date" means the date on which the conditions
specified in Section 4.1 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with
Section 10.2).
"Environmental Laws" means all laws, rules, regulations, codes,
ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding
agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by any Governmental
Authority, relating in any way to the environment, preservation or
reclamation of natural resources, to the management, release or
threatened release of any Hazardous Material or to health and safety
matters.
"Environmental Liability" means any liability, contingent or
otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental
remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of any Credit Party or
any Subsidiary directly or indirectly resulting from or
6
based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation,
use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any
Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the
release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the
environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual
arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with
respect to any of the foregoing.
"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended from time to time.
"ERISA Affiliate" means any trade or business (whether or not
incorporated) that, together with any Credit Party, is treated as a
single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for
purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated
as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.
"ERISA Event" means (a) any "reportable event", as defined in
Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect
to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30-day notice period is
waived); (b) the existence with respect to any Plan of an "accumulated
funding deficiency" (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section
302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section
412(d) of the Code or Section 303(d) of ERISA of an application for a
waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (d) the
incurrence by any Credit Party or any of their ERISA Affiliates of any
liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any
Plan; (e) the receipt by any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate from
the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention
to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any
Plan; (f) the incurrence by any Credit Party or any of their ERISA
Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial
withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the receipt by
any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by
any Multiemployer Plan from any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate of
any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a
determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be,
insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.
"Eurodollar", when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing,
refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are
bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the LIBO Rate.
"Events of Default" has the meaning assigned to such term in
Article VIII.
"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) income or
franchise taxes imposed on (or measured by) its net income by the United
States of America, or by the jurisdiction 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 of
America or any similar tax imposed by any other
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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 2.17(b)), any withholding tax that is imposed on
amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign Lender
becomes a party to this Agreement or is attributable to such Foreign
Lender's failure or inability to comply with Section 2.15(e), except to
the extent that such Foreign Lender's assignor (if any) was entitled, at
the time of assignment, to receive additional amounts from the Borrower
with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 2.15(a).
"Existing Agreement" means the Amended and Restated Credit and
Guarantee Agreement, dated as of October 23, 2002, among the Borrower,
the Guarantor, the lenders parties thereto, Bank One NA, as syndication
agent, Bank of America, N.A., as documentation agent, and JPMorgan Chase
Bank, as Administrative Agent.
"Extension Request" has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 2.18.
"Federal Funds Effective Rate" means (a) for the first day of a
Borrowing, the rate per annum which is the average of the rates on the
offered side of the Federal funds market quoted by three interbank
Federal funds brokers, selected by the Administrative Agent, at
approximately the time the Borrower requests such Borrowing, for dollar
deposits in immediately available funds, in an amount, comparable to the
principal amount of such Borrowing and (b) for each day of such
Borrowing thereafter, or for any other amount hereunder which bears
interest at the Alternate Base Rate, the rate per annum which is the
average of the rates on the offered side of the Federal funds market
quoted by three interbank Federal funds brokers, selected by the
Administrative Agent, at approximately 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on
such day for dollar deposits in immediately available funds, in an
amount, comparable to the principal amount of such Borrowing or other
amount, as the case may be; in the case of both clauses (a) and (b), as
determined by the Administrative Agent and rounded upwards, if
necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%.
"Financial Officer" means the chief financial officer, principal
accounting officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower or the
Guarantor, as the context may require.
"Foreign Lender" means any Lender that is organized under the
laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is located.
For purposes of this definition, the United States of America, each
State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute
a single jurisdiction.
"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the
United States of America.
"Governmental Authority" means the government of the United
States of America, any other nation or any political subdivision
thereof, whether state, provincial 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.
8
"Guarantee" of or by any Person (the "guarantor") means any
obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or
having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other
obligation of any other Person (the "primary obligor") in any manner,
whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the
guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or
supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other
obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the
purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or
lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the
owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof,
(c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial
statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable
the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (d)
as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of
guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or obligation; provided
that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or
deposit in the ordinary course of business.
"Guarantee Obligation" means, as to any Person, any obligation
of such Person guaranteeing or in effect guaranteeing any Indebtedness,
leases, dividends or other obligations (the "primary obligations") of
any other Person (the "primary obligor") in any manner, whether directly
or indirectly, including, without limitation, any obligation of such
Person, whether or not contingent, (a) to purchase any such primary
obligation or any property constituting direct or indirect security
therefor, (b) to advance or supply funds (i) for the purchase or payment
of any such primary obligation or (ii) to maintain working capital or
equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net
worth or solvency of the primary obligor, (c) to purchase property,
securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner
of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to
make payment of such primary obligation or (d) otherwise to assure or
hold harmless the owner of any such primary obligation against loss in
respect thereof; provided, however, that the term Guarantee Obligation
shall not include endorsements of instruments for deposit or collection
in the ordinary course of business. The amount of any Guarantee
Obligation shall be deemed to be an amount equal as of any date of
determination to the stated determinable amount of the primary
obligation in respect of which such Guarantee Obligation is made (unless
such Guarantee Obligation shall be expressly limited to a lesser amount,
in which case such lesser amount shall apply) or, if not stated or
determinable, the amount as of any date of determination of the maximum
reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by
such Person in good faith.
"Guarantor" means H&R Block, Inc., a Missouri corporation.
"Hazardous Materials" means all explosive or radioactive
substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or
other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos
or asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas,
infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any
nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.
9
"Hedging Agreement" means any interest rate protection
agreement, foreign currency exchange agreement, commodity price
protection agreement or other interest or currency exchange rate or
commodity price hedging arrangement.
"Indebtedness" of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all
obligations of such Person for borrowed money or with respect to
deposits or advances of any kind, (b) all obligations of such Person
evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all
obligations of such Person upon which interest charges are customarily
paid, (d) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other
title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person,
(e) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase
price of property or services (excluding current accounts payable and
accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business), (f) all
Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such
Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be
secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person,
whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed, (g)
all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, (h) all Capital
Lease Obligations of such Person, (i) all obligations, contingent or
otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of
credit and letters of guaranty, (j) all obligations, contingent or
otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers' acceptances and (k) for
purposes of Section 6.2 only, all preferred stock issued by a Subsidiary
of such Person. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the
Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which
such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable
therefor as a result of such Person's ownership interest in or other
relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such
Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor.
Indebtedness of a Person shall not include obligations with respect to
funds held by such Person in custody for, or for the benefit of, third
parties which are to be paid at the direction of such third parties (and
are not used for any other purpose).
"Indemnified Taxes" means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.
"Indemnitee" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
10.3(b).
"Information" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
10.12.
"Interest Election Request" means a request by the Borrower to
convert or continue a Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section
2.6.
"Interest Payment Date" means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan
(other than a Swingline Loan), the last day of each March, June,
September and December, (b) with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, the
last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which
such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing with an
Interest Period of more than three months' duration, each day prior to
the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three
months' duration after the first day of such Interest Period and (c)
with respect to any Swingline Loan, the day that such Loan is required
to be repaid.
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"Interest Period" means, with respect to any Eurodollar
Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and
ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that
is one week, two weeks or one, two, three or six months thereafter, as
the Borrower may elect; provided that (a) if any Interest Period would
end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be
extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding
Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such
Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day and (b) any
Interest Period that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar
month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day
in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the
last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period.
For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date
on which such Borrowing is made and thereafter shall be the effective
date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.
"Lenders" means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.1 and any other
Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to a New Lender
Supplement and/or an Assignment and Acceptance, other than any such
Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and
Acceptance. Unless the context otherwise requires, the term "Lenders"
includes the Swingline Lender.
"LIBO Rate" means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for
any Interest Period, the rate appearing on Page 3750 of the Dow Xxxxx
Markets screen at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business
Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, as the rate for
dollar deposits with a maturity comparable to such Interest Period. In
the event that such rate is not available at such time for any reason,
then the "LIBO Rate" with respect to such Eurodollar Borrowing for such
Interest Period shall be determined by reference to such other
comparable publicly available service for displaying eurodollar rates as
may be selected, by the Administrative Agent or, in the absence of such
availability, by reference to the rate at which dollar deposits of
$5,000,000 and for a maturity comparable to such Interest Period are
offered by the principal London office of the Administrative Agent in
immediately available funds in the London interbank market at
approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the
commencement of such Interest Period.
"Lien" means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed
of trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, charge or security
interest in, on or of such asset, (b) the interest of a vendor or a
lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title
retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the
same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset and
(c) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar
right of a third party with respect to such securities; provided that
clause (c) above shall be deemed not to include stock options granted by
any Person to its directors, officers or employees with respect to the
Capital Stock of such Person.
"Loans" means the loans made by the Lenders (including the
Swingline Lender) to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement.
11
"Margin Stock" means any "margin stock" as defined in Regulation
U of the Board.
"Material Adverse Effect" means a material adverse effect on (a)
the business, assets, property or condition (financial or otherwise) of
the Guarantor and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of
any Credit Party to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement
or (c) the rights of or benefits available to the Lenders under this
Agreement.
"Material Indebtedness" means Indebtedness (other than the
Loans), or obligations in respect of one or more Hedging Agreements, of
any one or more of the Credit Parties and any Subsidiaries in an
aggregate principal amount exceeding $40,000,000. For purposes of
determining Material Indebtedness, the "principal amount" of the
obligations of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary in respect of any
Hedging Agreement at any time shall be the aggregate amount (giving
effect to any netting agreements) that the Credit Party or such
Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Hedging Agreement were
terminated at such time.
"Material Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary of any Credit Party
the aggregate assets or revenues of which, as of the last day of the
most recently ended fiscal quarter for which the Borrower has delivered
financial statements pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or (b), when aggregated
with the assets or revenues of all other Subsidiaries with respect to
which the actions contemplated by Section 6.4 are taken, are greater
than 5% of the total assets or total revenues, as applicable, of the
Guarantor and its consolidated Subsidiaries, in each case as determined
in accordance with GAAP.
"Maturity Date" means August 11, 2005 or such later date as
shall be determined pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.18 with
respect to non-Objecting Lenders.
"Maximum Rate" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
10.13.
"Moody's" means Xxxxx'x Investors Service, Inc.
"Multiemployer Plan" means a multiemployer plan as defined in
Section 400l(a)(3) of ERISA.
"Objecting Lender" has the meaning assigned to such term in
Section 2.18(a).
"Obligations" means collectively, the unpaid principal of and
interest on the Loans and all other obligations and liabilities of the
Borrower (including, without limitation, interest accruing at the then
applicable rate provided herein after the maturity of the Loans and
interest accruing at the then applicable rate provided herein after the
filing of any petition in bankruptcy, or the commencement of any
insolvency, reorganization or like proceeding, relating to the Borrower,
whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is
allowed in such proceeding) to the Administrative Agent or any Lender,
whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become
due, or now existing or hereafter incurred, which may arise under, out
of, or in
12
connection with, this Agreement or any other document made, delivered or
given in connection herewith, whether on account of principal, interest,
reimbursement obligations, fees, indemnities, costs, expenses or
otherwise (including, without limitation, all fees and disbursements of
counsel to the Administrative Agent or to the Lenders that are required
to be paid by the Borrower pursuant to the terms of any of the foregoing
agreements).
"Other Taxes" means any and 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 from the
execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to,
this Agreement.
"Participant" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
10.4(e).
"PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred
to and defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar
functions.
"Permitted Encumbrances" means:
(a) judgment Liens in respect of judgments not constituting an
Event of Default under clause (k) of Article VIII;
(b) Liens imposed by law for taxes that are not yet due or are
being contested in compliance with Section 5.4;
(c) 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 are being contested in compliance with Section 5.4;
(d) pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business
in compliance with workers' compensation, unemployment insurance and
other social security laws or regulations;
(e) 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; and
(f) easements, zoning restrictions, 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 Credit Parties or
any Subsidiary;
provided that the term "Permitted Encumbrances" shall not include any
Lien securing Indebtedness.
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"Person" means any natural person, corporation, limited
liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company,
partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.
"Plan" means any employee pension benefit plan (other than a
Multiemployer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or
Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which
any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were
terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an
"employer" as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.
"Prime Rate" means the rate of interest per annum publicly
announced from time to time by JPMorgan Chase Bank as its prime rate in
effect at its principal office in New York City; each change in the
Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is
publicly announced as being effective.
"RAL Receivables Amount" means, at any time, the difference (but
not less than zero) between (i) the aggregate amount of funds received
by the Guarantor, any Subsidiary or any qualified or unqualified special
purpose entity created by any Subsidiary with respect to the transfer of
refund anticipation loans, or participation interests in refund
anticipation loans, and related rights and interest, to one or more
third parties in one or more RAL Receivables Transactions, at or prior
to such time, minus (ii) the aggregate amount received by such one or
more third parties with respect to the transferred refund anticipation
loans, or participation interests in refund anticipation loans, and
related rights and interests, in such one or more RAL Receivables
Transactions, at or prior to such time, excluding from the amounts
received by such one or more third parties, the aggregate amount of any
origination, set up, structuring or similar fees, all implicit or
explicit financing expenses and all indemnification and reimbursement
payments paid to such one or more third parties in connection with such
one or more RAL Receivables Transactions.
"RAL Receivables Transaction" means any securitization, on -- or
off -- balance sheet financing or sale transaction, involving refund
anticipation loans, or participation interests in refund anticipation
loans, and related rights and interests, that were acquired pursuant to
the refund anticipation loan program by the Guarantor, any Subsidiary
or any qualified or unqualified special purpose entity created by any
Subsidiary.
"Rating" means the rating of S&P or Moody's, as the case may be,
applicable to the long-term senior unsecured non-credit enhanced debt of
the Borrower, as announced by S&P or Moody's, as the case may be, from
time to time.
"Register" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
10.4(c).
"Related Parties" means, with respect to any specified Person,
such Person's Affiliates and the respective directors, officers,
employees, agents and advisors of such Person and such Person's
Affiliates.
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"Required Lenders" means, at any time, Lenders having Revolving
Credit Exposures and unused Commitments representing at least 51% of the
sum of the total Revolving Credit Exposures and unused Commitments at
such time.
"Restricted Margin Stock" means all Margin Stock owned by the
Guarantor and its Subsidiaries to the extent the value of such Margin
Stock does not exceed 25% of the value of all assets of the Guarantor
and its Subsidiaries (determined on a consolidated basis) that are
subject to the provisions of Section 6.3 and 6.4.
"Revolving Borrowing" means a Borrowing comprised of Revolving
Loans.
"Revolving Credit Exposure" means, with respect to any Lender at
any time, the sum of the amount of such Lender's Tranche A1 Credit
Exposure and Tranche A2 Credit Exposure at such time.
"Revolving Loans" means the Tranche A2 Revolving Loans and the
Tranche A1 Revolving Loans.
"Revolving Termination Date" means August 11, 2004 or such later
date as shall be determined pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.18
with respect to non-Objecting Lenders.
"RSM" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.1(e).
"S&P" means Standard & Poor's Ratings Services.
"Short-Term Debt" means, at any time, the aggregate amount of
Indebtedness of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries at such time
(excluding seasonal Indebtedness of H&R Block Canada, Inc.) having a
final maturity less than one year after such time, determined on a
consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, minus (a) to the extent
otherwise included therein, indebtedness outstanding at such time (i)
under mortgage facilities secured by mortgages and related assets, (ii)
incurred to fund servicing obligations required as part of servicing
mortgage backed securities in the ordinary course of business, (iii)
incurred and secured by broker-dealer Subsidiaries in the ordinary
course of business and (iv) deposits and other customary banking related
liabilities incurred by banking Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of
business, (b) the excess, if any, of (i) the aggregate amount of cash
and Cash Equivalents held at such time in accounts of the Guarantor and
its Subsidiaries (other than broker-dealer Subsidiaries and banking
Subsidiaries) to the extent freely transferable to the Credit Parties
and capable of being applied to the Obligations without any contractual,
legal or tax consequences over (ii) $15,000,000 and (c) to the extent
otherwise included therein, the current portion of long term debt. For
the avoidance of doubt, the Loans shall be considered Short-Term Debt.
"Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person (the "parent") at
any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership,
association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated
with those of the parent in the parent's consolidated financial
statements if such financial statements were prepared in
15
accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any other corporation,
limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity (a)
of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than
50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or, in
the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership
interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held, or (b) that
is, as of such date, otherwise Controlled, by the parent or one or more
Subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more Subsidiaries
of the parent. Unless the context shall otherwise require, all
references to a "Subsidiary" or to "Subsidiaries" in this Agreement
shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Guarantor, including,
without limitation, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries of the Borrower.
"Swingline Exposure" means, at any time, the aggregate principal
amount of all Swingline Loans outstanding at such time. The Swingline
Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be the sum of its Tranche A1
Swingline Exposure and its Tranche A2 Swingline Exposure.
"Swingline Lender" means JPMorgan Chase Bank, in its capacity as
lender of Swingline Loans hereunder.
"Swingline Loans" means the Tranche A1 Swingline Loans and the
Tranche A2 Swingline Loans.
"Taxes" means any and all present or future taxes, levies,
imposts, duties, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any
Governmental Authority.
"Tranche" when used in reference to any Loans or Borrowing,
refers to whether such Loans, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing,
are Tranche A2 Revolving Loans (or Tranche A2 Swingline Loans) or
Tranche A1 Revolving Loans (or Tranche A1 Swingline Loans).
"Tranche A1 Applicable Percentage" means, with respect to any
Tranche A1 Lender, the percentage of the tota1 Tranche A1 Commitments
represented by such Tranche A1 Lender's Tranche A1 Commitment. If the
Tranche A1 Commitments have terminated or expired, the Tranche A1
Applicable Percentages shall be determined based upon the Tranche A1
Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments.
"Tranche A1 Commitment" means, with respect to each Tranche A1
Lender, the commitment of such Tranche A1 Lender to make Tranche A1
Revolving Loans hereunder and to acquire participations in Tranche A1
Swingline Loans hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the
maximum aggregate amount of such Tranche A1 Lender's Tranche A1 Credit
Exposure hereunder, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to
time pursuant to Section 2.7 and (b) changed from time to time pursuant
to assignments by or to such Tranche A1 Lender pursuant to Section 10.4.
The initial amount of each Tranche A1 Lender's Tranche A1 Commitment is
set forth on Schedule 2.1 under the heading "Tranche A1 Commitment", or
in the Assignment and
16
Acceptance pursuant to which such Tranche A1 Lender shall have assumed
its Tranche A1 Commitment, as applicable.
"Tranche A1 Credit Exposure" means with respect to any Tranche
A1 Lender at any time, the sum of the outstanding principal amount of
such Tranche A1 Lender's Tranche A1 Revolving Loans and Tranche A1
Swingline Exposure, provided that if there are Tranche A1 Revolving
Loans outstanding on and after the Revolving Termination Date (pursuant
to the proviso set forth in Section 2.8(a)(i)), the amount of the
Tranche A1 Credit Exposure for each Lender shall be deemed, for purposes
of calculating the utilization fee, to equal the principal amount of
such Lender's Tranche A1 Revolving Loans just prior to the Revolving
Termination Date, giving effect to any assignments and to payments of
principal.
"Tranche A1 Lender" means each Lender that has a Tranche A1
Commitment or that has any Tranche A1 Credit Exposure hereunder.
"Tranche A1 Revolving Loans" has the meaning given to it in
Section 2.1(b).
"Tranche A1 Swingline Exposure" means, at any time, the
aggregate principal amount of all Tranche A1 Swingline Loans outstanding
at such time. The Tranche A1 Swingline Exposure of any Tranche A1 Lender
at any time shall be its Tranche A1 Applicable Percentage of the total
Tranche A1 Swingline Exposure at such time.
"Tranche A1 Swingline Loan" means a Loan made pursuant to
Section 2.4(a)(i).
"Tranche A2 Applicable Percentage" means, with respect to any
Tranche A2 Lender, the percentage of the total Tranche A2 Commitments
represented by such Tranche A2 Lender's Tranche A2 Commitment. If the
Tranche A2 Commitments have terminated or expired, the Tranche A2
Applicable Percentages shall be determined based upon the Tranche A2
Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments.
"Tranche A2 Commitment" means, with respect to each Tranche A2
Lender, the commitment of such Tranche A2 Lender to make Tranche A2
Revolving Loans hereunder and to acquire participations in Tranche A2
Swingline Loans hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the
maximum aggregate amount of such Tranche A2 Lender's Tranche A2 Credit
Exposure hereunder, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to
time pursuant to Section 2.7 and (b) changed from time to time pursuant
to assignments by or to such Tranche A2 Lender pursuant to Section 10.4.
The initial amount of each Tranche A2 Lender's Tranche A2 Commitment is
set forth on Schedule 2.1 under the heading "Tranche A2 Commitment", or
in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Tranche A2
Lender shall have assumed its Tranche A2 Commitment, as applicable.
"Tranche A2 Credit Exposure" means with respect to any Tranche
A2 Lender at any time, the sum of the outstanding principal amount of
such Tranche A2 Lender's Tranche A2 Revolving Loans and Tranche A2
Swingline Exposure, provided that if there
17
are Tranche A2 Revolving Loans outstanding on and after the Revolving
Termination Date (pursuant to the proviso set forth in Section
2.8(a)(i)), the amount of the Tranche A2 Credit Exposure for each Lender
shall be deemed, for purposes of calculating the utilization fee, to
equal the principal amount of such Lender's Tranche A2 Revolving Loans
just prior to the Revolving Termination Date, giving effect to any
assignments and to payments of principal.
"Tranche A2 Lender" means each Lender that has a Tranche A2
Commitment or that has any Tranche A2 Credit Exposure hereunder.
"Tranche A2 Revolving Loans" has the meaning given to it in
Section 2.1(a).
"Tranche A2 Swingline Exposure" means, at any time, the
aggregate principal amount of all Tranche A2 Swingline Loans outstanding
at such time. The Tranche A2 Swingline Exposure of any Tranche A2 Lender
at any time shall be its Tranche A2 Applicable Percentage of the total
Tranche A2 Swingline Exposure at such time.
"Tranche A2 Swingline Loan" means a Loan made pursuant to
Section 2.4(a)(ii).
"Transactions" means the execution, delivery and performance by
the Credit Parties of this Agreement, the borrowing of Loans and the use
of the proceeds thereof.
"Type", when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers
to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising
such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the LIBO Rate or the
Alternate Base Rate.
"Unrestricted Margin Stock" means all Margin Stock owned by the
Guarantor and its Subsidiaries other than Restricted Margin Stock.
"Withdrawal Liability" means liability to a Multiemployer Plan
as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer
Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of
ERISA.
SECTION 1.2. Terms Generally. 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 (a) any definition of or
reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein 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),
(b) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such
Person's successors and assigns, (c) the words "herein", "hereof' and
"hereunder", and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this
Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (d) all
references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be
construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to,
18
this Agreement and (e) 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.
SECTION 1.3. Classification of Loans and Borrowings. For
purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Class
(e.g., "Revolving Loan") or by Type (e.g., a "Eurodollar Loan") or by Class and
Type (e.g., a "Eurodollar Revolving Loan"). Borrowings also may be classified
and referred to by Class (e.g., a "Revolving Borrowing") or by Type (e.g.,
"Eurodollar Borrowing") or by Class and Type (e.g., a "Eurodollar Revolving
Borrowing").
SECTION 1.4. Accounting Terms: GAAP. Except as otherwise
expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall
be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided
that, if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower
requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any
change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the application thereof on
the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the
Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof
for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or
after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision
shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately
before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been
withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith.
ARTICLE II
THE CREDITS
SECTION 2.1. Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions
set forth herein (including the proviso at the end of Section 6.2), (a) each
Tranche A2 Lender agrees to make revolving loans ("Tranche A2 Revolving Loans")
to the Borrower from time to time during the Availability Period in an aggregate
principal amount that will not result in (i) such Lender's Tranche A2 Credit
Exposure exceeding such Lender's Tranche A2 Commitment or (ii) the total Tranche
A2 Credit Exposures exceeding the total Tranche A2 Commitments and (b) each
Tranche A1 Lender agrees to make revolving loans ("Tranche A1 Revolving Loans")
to the Borrower from time to time during the Availability Period in an aggregate
principal amount that will not result in (i) such Lender's Tranche A1 Credit
Exposure exceeding such Lender's Tranche A1 Commitment or (ii) the total Tranche
A1 Credit Exposures exceeding the total Tranche A1 Commitments. Within the
foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the
Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans.
SECTION 2.2. Loans and Borrowings. (a) Each Tranche A2 Revolving
Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Tranche A2 Revolving
Loans made by the Tranche A2 Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective
Tranche A2 Commitments. Each Tranche A1 Revolving Loan shall be made as part of
a Borrowing consisting of Tranche A1 Revolving Loans made by the Tranche Al
Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Tranche A1 Commitments. The
failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to
19
be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder;
provided that the Commitments of the Lenders are several and no Lender shall be
responsible for any other Lender's failure to make Loans as required.
(b) Subject to Section 2.12, (i) each Revolving Borrowing shall
be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans as the Borrower may
request in accordance herewith. Each Revolving Borrowing shall be comprised
entirely of Tranche A2 Revolving Loans or Tranche A1 Revolving Loans as the
Borrower may request in accordance herewith. Each Swingline Loan shall bear
interest at a rate to be agreed upon by the Swingline Lender and the Borrower,
which rate shall in no case be greater than the Alternate Base Rate, provided
that, if the Swingline Lender shall require other Lenders to acquire
participations in such Swingline Loan pursuant to Section 2.4(c) or (d), then
such Swingline Loan shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate. Each Lender
at its option may make any Eurodollar Loan by causing any domestic or foreign
branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan; provided that any exercise
of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such
Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(c) At the commencement of each Interest Period for any
Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount
that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $25,000,000. At the
time that each ABR Revolving Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an
aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than
$25,000,000; provided that an ABR Revolving Borrowing may be in an aggregate
amount that is equal to the entire unused balance of (i) in the case of an ABR
Revolving Borrowing comprised of Tranche A2 Revolving Loans, the total Tranche
A2 Commitments and (ii) in the case of an ABR Revolving Borrowing comprised of
Tranche A1 Revolving Loans, the total Tranche A1 Commitments. Each Swingline
Loan shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not
less than $5,000,000. Borrowings of more than one Tranche, Type and Class may be
outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not at any time be more
than a total of twelve Eurodollar Revolving Borrowings outstanding.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the
Borrower shall not be entitled to request, or to elect to convert or continue,
any Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end
after the Revolving Termination Date, provided that the Borrower may elect to
convert the Revolving Loans to term loans as provided in the proviso to Section
2.8(a)(i).
SECTION 2.3. Requests for Revolving Borrowings. To request a
Revolving Borrowing, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such
request by telephone (a) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than
11:00 a.m., New York City time, three Business Days before the date of the
proposed Borrowing or (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00
a.m., New York City time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing. Each such
telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed
promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written
Borrowing Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by
the Borrower. Each such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify
the following information in compliance with Section 2.2;
20
(i) the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing;
(ii) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a
Business Day;
(iii) the Tranche of the requested Borrowing;
(iv) whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or
a Eurodollar Borrowing;
(v) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, the initial
Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a
period contemplated by the definition of the term "Interest
Period"; and
(vi) the location and number of the Borrower's account
to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the
requirements of Section 2.5(a).
If no election as to the Type of Revolving Borrowing is specified, then the
requested Revolving Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Tranche is
specified, then (to the extent there is availability under the Tranche A1
Commitment) the requested Revolving Borrowing shall consist of Tranche A1
Revolving Loans. If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any
requested Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, then the Borrower shall be deemed to
have selected an Interest Period of one month's duration. Promptly following
receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section, the
Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of the
amount of such Lender's Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.
SECTION 2.4. Swingline Loans. (a) Subject to the terms and
conditions set forth herein (including the proviso at the end of Section 6.2),
the Swingline Lender agrees to make (i) Tranche A1 Swingline Loans to the
Borrower from time to time during the Availability Period, in an aggregate
principal amount at any time outstanding that will not result in (x) the
aggregate principal amount of outstanding Swingline Loans exceeding $100,000,000
or (y) the total Tranche A1 Credit Exposures exceeding the total Tranche A1
Commitments and (ii) Tranche A2 Swingline Loans to the Borrower from time to
time during the Availability Period, in an aggregate principal amount at any
time outstanding that will not result in (x) the aggregate principal amount of
outstanding Swingline Loans exceeding $100,000,000 or (y) the total Tranche A2
Credit Exposures exceeding the total Tranche A2 Commitments; provided that the
Swingline Lender shall not be required to make a Swingline Loan to refinance an
outstanding Swingline Loan. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms
and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow
Swingline Loans.
(b) To request a Swingline Loan, the Borrower shall notify the
Administrative Agent of such request by telephone (confirmed by telecopy), not
later than 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on the day of a proposed Swingline
Loan. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the requested date
(which shall be a Business Day), amount and Tranche of the requested Swingline
Loan. The Administrative Agent will promptly advise the Swingline Lender of any
such notice received from the Borrower. The Swingline Lender shall make each
Swingline Loan available to the Borrower by means of a wire transfer sent to an
account
21
specified by the Borrower by 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the requested
date of such Swingline Loan.
(c) The Swingline Lender may by written notice given to the
Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on any
Business Day require (i) the Tranche A1 Lenders to acquire participations on
such Business Day in all or a portion of the Tranche A1 Swingline Loans
outstanding. Such notice shall specify the aggregate amount of Tranche A1
Swingline Loans in which Tranche A1 Lenders will participate. Promptly upon
receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent will give notice thereof to
each Tranche A1 Lender, specifying in such notice such Tranche A1 Lender's
Tranche A1 Applicable Percentage of such Tranche A1 Swingline Loan or Loans.
Each Tranche A1 Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees, upon
receipt of notice as provided above, to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the
account of the Swingline Lender, such Tranche A1 Lender's Tranche A1 Applicable
Percentage of such Tranche A1 Swingline Loan or Loans.
(d) The Swingline Lender may by written notice given to the
Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on any
Business Day require (i) the Tranche A2 Lenders to acquire participations on
such Business Day in all or a portion of the Tranche A2 Swingline Loans
outstanding. Such notice shall specify the aggregate amount of Tranche A2
Swingline Loans in which Tranche A2 Lenders will participate. Promptly upon
receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent will give notice thereof to
each Tranche A2 Lender, specifying in such notice such Tranche A2 Lender's
Tranche A2 Applicable Percentage of such Tranche A2 Swingline Loan or Loans.
Each Tranche A2 Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees, upon
receipt of notice as provided above, to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the
account of the Swingline Lender, such Tranche A2 Lender's Tranche A2 Applicable
Percentage of such Tranche A2 Swingline Loan or Loans.
(e) Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to
acquire participations in Swingline Loans pursuant to paragraph (c) or (d)
above, as applicable, is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by
any circumstance whatsoever, including the occurrence and continuance of a
Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such
payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction
whatsoever. Each Lender shall comply with its obligation under this paragraph by
wire transfer of immediately available funds, in the same manner as provided in
Section 2.5 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.5 shall
apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Lenders), and the
Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the Swingline Lender the amounts so
received by it from the Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall notify the
Borrower of any participations in any Swingline Loan acquired pursuant to this
paragraph, and thereafter payments in respect of such Swingline Loan shall be
made to the Administrative Agent and not to the Swingline Lender. Any amounts
received by the Swingline Lender from the Borrower (or other party on behalf of
the Borrower) in respect of a Swingline Loan after receipt by the Swingline
Lender of the proceeds of a sale of participations therein shall be promptly
remitted to the Administrative Agent; any such amounts received by the
Administrative Agent shall be promptly remitted by the Administrative Agent to
the Lenders that shall have made their payments pursuant to this paragraph and
to the Swingline Lender, as their
22
interests may appear. The purchase of participations in a Swingline Loan
pursuant to this paragraph shall not relieve the Borrower of any default in the
payment thereof.
SECTION 2.5. Funding of Borrowings. (a) Each Lender shall make
each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire
transfer of immediately available funds by 12:00 noon, New York City time, to
the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such
purpose by notice to the Lenders; provided that, in the case of an ABR
Borrowing, if notice of a Borrowing Request was given before the date of the
proposed Borrowing, each Lender shall make such ABR Loan on the proposed date
thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 12:00 noon, New York
City time, and in the event notice was given on the date of the proposed
Borrowing, each Lender shall make such ABR Loan on the proposed date thereof by
wire transfer of immediately available funds by 1:00 p.m., New York City Time;
provided further that Swingline Loans shall be made as provided in Section 2.4.
The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower by wire
transfer of the amounts so received, in like funds, to an account specified by
the Borrower by 5:00 p.m., New York City time (to the extent funds in respect
thereof are received by the Administrative Agent reasonably prior to such time)
on the date of each requested Borrowing.
(b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice
from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing (or, in the event
notice was given on the date of the proposed Borrowing, prior to the proposed
time of such funding) that such Lender will not make available to the
Administrative Agent such Lender's share of such Borrowing, the Administrative
Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in
accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section 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 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 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 (i) in the case of such Lender, the
Federal Funds Effective Rate or (ii) in the case of the Borrower, the interest
rate applicable to ABR Loans. If such Lender pays such amount to the
Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender's Loan
included in such Borrowing.
SECTION 2.6. Interest Elections. (a) Each Revolving Borrowing
initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request
and, in the case of a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, shall have an initial
Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request or determined pursuant to
the penultimate sentence of Section 2.3. Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to
convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in
the case of a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods
therefor, all as provided in this Section. The Borrower may elect different
options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which
case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the
Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion
shall be considered a separate Borrowing. This Section shall not apply to
Swingline Borrowings.
23
(b) To make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower
shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election by telephone by the time
that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.3 if the Borrower
were requesting a Revolving Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election
to be made on the effective date of such election. Each such telephonic Interest
Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand
delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Interest Election
Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the
Borrower.
(c) Each telephonic and written Interest Election Request shall
specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.2:
(i) the Borrowing to which such Interest Election
Request applies and, if different options are being elected with
respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof to
be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the
information to be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv)
below shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing);
(ii) the effective date of the election made pursuant to
such Interest Election Request, which shall be a Business Day;
(iii) whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR
Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing; and
(iv) if the resulting Borrowing is a Eurodollar
Borrowing, the Interest Period to be applicable thereto after
giving effect to such election, which shall be a period
contemplated by the definition of the term "Interest Period".
If any such Interest Election Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing but does
not specify an Interest Period, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have
selected an Interest Period of one month's duration.
(d) Promptly following receipt of an Interest Election Request,
the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of
such Lender's portion of each resulting Borrowing.
(e) If the Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election
Request with respect to a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing prior to the end of the
Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as
provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period such Borrowing shall be
converted to an ABR Borrowing. Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if
an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent,
at the request of the Required Lenders, so notifies the Borrower, then, so long
as an Event of Default is continuing (i) no outstanding Revolving Borrowing may
be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing and (ii) unless repaid,
each Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at
the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.
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SECTION 2.7. Termination and Reduction of Commitments. (a)
Unless previously terminated, the Commitments shall terminate on the Revolving
Termination Date.
(b) The Borrower may at any time terminate, or from time to time
reduce, the Tranche A2 Commitments; provided that (i) each reduction of the
Tranche A2 Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of
$1,000,000 and not less than $25,000,000 and (ii) the Borrower shall not
terminate or reduce the Tranche A2 Commitments if, after giving effect to any
concurrent prepayment of the Loans in accordance with Section 2.9, the Tranche
A2 Credit Exposures would exceed the total Tranche A2 Commitments.
(c) The Borrower may at any time terminate, or from time to time
reduce, the Tranche A1 Commitments; provided that (i) each reduction of the
Tranche A1 Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of
$1,000,000 and not less than $25,000,000 and (ii) the Borrower shall not
terminate or reduce the Tranche A1 Commitments if, after giving effect to any
concurrent prepayment of the Loans in accordance with Section 2.9, the Tranche
A1 Credit Exposures would exceed the total Tranche A1 Commitments.
(d) The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of any
election to terminate or reduce the Commitments under paragraph (b) or (c) of
this Section at least three Business Days prior to the effective date of such
termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date
thereof. Promptly following receipt of any notice, the Administrative Agent
shall advise the applicable Lenders of the contents thereof. Each notice
delivered by the Borrower pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable;
provided that a notice of termination of the Commitments delivered by the
Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of
other credit facilities, in which case such notice may be revoked by the
Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified
effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Any termination or reduction
of the Commitments shall be permanent. Each reduction of the Commitments shall
be made ratably among the applicable Lenders in accordance with their respective
Commitments.
SECTION 2.8. Repayment of Loans; Term-Out Option; Evidence of
Debt. (a) The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay (i) to the
Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal
amount of each Revolving Loan on the Revolving Termination Date, provided that,
if prior to the Revolving Termination Date the Borrower gives the Administrative
Agent at least one Business Day's notice that the Borrower elects that all or
any portion (allocated pro rata among the Lenders based on their Commitments
immediately prior to the Revolving Termination Date) of the Revolving Loans that
are to be outstanding on the Revolving Termination Date be converted to term
loans, then on the Revolving Termination Date such Revolving Loans will be
deemed to be term loans payable in full on the Maturity Date and (ii) to the
Swingline Lender or to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.4(c) the
then unpaid principal amount of each Swingline Loan on the earlier of the first
Business Day prior to the Revolving Termination Date and the first date after
such Swingline Loan is made that is five Business Days after such Swingline Loan
is made; provided that on each date that a Revolving Loan is made, the Borrower
shall repay all Swingline Loans then outstanding. For the avoidance of doubt,
the Borrower shall not have the right to elect the "term out" option described
in the proviso to clause (i) above with respect to fewer than all of the Lenders
with Revolving Loans outstanding at the time of such election.
25
(b) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual
practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to
such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender, including the amounts
of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time
hereunder.
(c) The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it
shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Tranche, Class and
Type thereof and the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any
principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the
Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by
the Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each
Lender's share thereof
(d) The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to
paragraph (b) or (c) of this Section shall be prima facie evidence of the
existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that the
failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or
any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower
to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(e) Any Lender may request that Loans made by it be evidenced by
a promissory note. In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and
deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to the order of such Lender
(or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns) and
in a form approved by the Administrative Agent. Thereafter, the Loans evidenced
by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after
assignment pursuant to Section 10.4) be represented by one or more promissory
notes in such form payable to the order of the payee named therein (or, if such
promissory note is a registered note, to such payee and its registered assigns).
In addition, upon receipt of an affidavit of an officer of such Lender as to the
loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of the promissory note, and, in the case
of any such loss, theft, destruction or mutilation, upon cancellation of such
promissory note, the Borrower will issue, in lieu thereof, a replacement
promissory note in the same principal amount thereof and otherwise of like
tenor.
SECTION 2.9. Prepayment of Loans. (a) The Borrower shall have
the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing in whole or
in part without premium or penalty except as provided in Section 2.14, subject
to prior notice in accordance with paragraph (b) of this Section.
(b) The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent (and, in
the case of prepayment of a Swingline Loan, the Swingline Lender) by telephone
(confirmed by telecopy) of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of
prepayment of a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New
York City time, three Business Days before the date of prepayment, (ii) in the
case of prepayment of an ABR Revolving Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New
York City time, on the date of prepayment or (iii) in the case of prepayment of
a Swingline Loan, not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the date of
prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the
prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to
be prepaid; provided that, if a notice of prepayment is given in connection with
a conditional notice of termination of the Commitments as contemplated by
Section 2.7, then such notice of prepayment may be revoked if such notice of
26
termination is revoked in accordance with Section 2.7. Promptly following
receipt of any such notice relating to a Revolving Borrowing, the Administrative
Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each partial prepayment
of any Revolving Borrowing shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the
case of an advance of a Revolving Borrowing of the same Type as provided in
Section 2.2. Each prepayment of a Revolving Borrowing shall be applied ratably
to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing. Prepayments shall be accompanied
by accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.11.
SECTION 2.10. Fees. (a) The Borrower agrees to pay to the
Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a facility fee, which shall
accrue at the Applicable Rate on the daily amount of the Commitment of such
Lender (whether used or unused) during the period from and including the Closing
Date to but excluding the date on which such Commitment terminates; provided
that, if such Lender continues to have any Revolving Credit Exposure or any term
loan after its Commitment terminates, then such facility fee shall continue to
accrue on the daily amount of such Lender's Revolving Credit Exposure or such
term loan from and including the date on which its Commitment terminates to but
excluding the date on which such Lender ceases to have any Revolving Credit
Exposure or any term loan. Accrued facility fees shall be payable in arrears on
the last day of March, June, September and December of each year, on the date of
any voluntary termination of the Commitments and on the date on which all Loans
become due and payable (by acceleration or otherwise); provided that any
facility fees accruing after the date on which all Loans become due and payable
shall be payable on demand. All facility fees shall be computed on the basis of
a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed
(including the first day but excluding the last day).
(b) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for
the account of each Lender a utilization fee, which shall accrue at the
Applicable Rate on the daily amount of the Revolving Loans of such Lender for
each day on which Revolving Loans of all Lenders exceed 33% of the total
Lenders' Commitments; provided that, if any Lender continues to have any
Revolving Credit Exposure or any term loan after its Commitment terminates then
such utilization fee shall continue to accrue at the Applicable Rate on the
entire amount of such Lender's Revolving Credit Exposure or such term loan, from
and including the date on which the Commitments terminate to but excluding the
date on which such Lender ceases to have any Revolving Credit Exposure or any
term loan. Accrued utilization fees shall be payable in arrears on the last day
of March, June, September and December of each year, on the date of any
voluntary termination of the Commitments and on the date on which all Loans
become due and payable (by acceleration or otherwise); provided that any
utilization fees accruing after the date on which the Loans become due and
payable shall be payable on demand. All utilization fees shall be computed on
the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of
days elapsed (including the first but excluding the last day).
(c) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for
its own account, fees payable in the amounts and at the times separately agreed
upon between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
(d) All fees payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due,
in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent for distribution, in
the case of facility fees and utilization fees, to the Lenders. Fees paid shall
not be refundable under any circumstances.
27
SECTION 2.11. Interest. (a) The Loans comprising each ABR
Borrowing (including each Swingline Loan) shall bear interest at a rate per
annum equal to the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.
(b) The Loans comprising each Eurodollar Borrowing shall bear
interest at a rate per annum equal to the LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in
effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Rate.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any principal of or
interest on any Loan or any fee or other amount payable by the Borrower
hereunder is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or
otherwise, such overdue amount shall bear interest, after as well as before
judgment, at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of overdue principal of
any Loan, 2% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan as provided above
or (ii) in the case of any other amount, 2% plus the rate applicable to ABR
Loans as provided above.
(d) Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on
each Interest Payment Date for such Loan; provided that (i) interest accrued
pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section shall be payable on demand, (ii) in
the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan (other than a prepayment of
an ABR Revolving Loan prior to the end of the Availability Period), accrued
interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date
of such repayment or prepayment, (iii) in the event of any conversion of any
Eurodollar Revolving Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period
therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date
of such conversion and (iv) all accrued interest shall be payable upon
termination of the Commitments.
(e) All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a
year of 360 days, except that interest computed by reference to the Alternate
Base Rate at times when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate shall
be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and
in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including
the first day but excluding the last day). The applicable Alternate Base Rate or
LIBO Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such
determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Administrative
Agent shall as soon as practicable notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the
effective date and the amount of each change in interest rate.
SECTION 2.12. Alternate Rate of Interest. If prior to the
commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing:
(i) the Administrative Agent determines (which
determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that
adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the
LIBO Rate for such Interest Period; or
(ii) the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required
Lenders that the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period will not
adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making
or maintaining their Loans included in such Borrowing for such
Interest Period;
28
then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the
Lenders by telephone or telecopy as promptly as practicable thereafter and,
until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the
circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) any Interest
Election Request that requests the conversion of any Revolving Borrowing to, or
continuation of any Revolving Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be
ineffective, and (ii) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurodollar Revolving
Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing.
SECTION 2.13. Increased Costs. (a) If any Change in Law shall:
(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve,
special deposit or similar requirement against assets of,
deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any
Lender; or
(ii) impose on any Lender or the London interbank market
any other condition affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar 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 Loan (or of maintaining its
obligation to make any such Loan) or to increase the cost to such Lender or to
reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender hereunder
(whether of principal, interest or otherwise), then 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) If any Lender determines that any Change in Law 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 or the Loans made by such Lender to a
level below that which such Lender or such Lender's holding company could have
achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender's
policies and the policies of such Lender's holding company with respect to
capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender
such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such
Lender's holding company for any such reduction suffered.
(a) 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 paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section (together with a
statement of the reason for such compensation and a calculation thereof in
reasonable detail) shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive
absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as
due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.
(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand
compensation pursuant to 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 this Section for any increased
costs or reductions incurred more than six months prior to the date that such
Lender notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased
29
costs or reductions and of such Lender's intention to claim compensation
therefor; provided, further, 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.
SECTION 2.14. Break Funding Payments. In the event of (a) the
payment of any principal of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of an
Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of
Default), (b) the conversion of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day
of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the failure to borrow, convert,
continue or prepay any Revolving Loan on the date specified in any notice
delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice is permitted to be
revocable under Section 2.9(b) and is revoked in accordance herewith), (d) the
assignment of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest
Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to
Section 2.17, then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender
for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event. In the case of a
Eurodollar Loan, the loss to any Lender attributable to any such event shall be
deemed to include an amount determined by such Lender to be equal to the excess,
if any, of (i) the amount of interest that such Lender would pay for a deposit
equal to the principal amount of such Loan for the period from the date of such
payment, conversion, failure or assignment to the last day of the then current
Interest Period for such Loan (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert
or continue, the duration of the Interest Period that would have resulted from
such borrowing, conversion or continuation) if the interest rate payable on such
deposit were equal to the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period, over (ii) the
amount of interest that such Lender would earn on such principal amount for such
period if such Lender were to invest such principal amount for such period at
the interest rate that would be bid by such Lender (or an affiliate of such
Lender) for dollar deposits from other banks in the eurodollar market at the
commencement of such period. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any
amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this
Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent
manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on
any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.
SECTION 2.15. Taxes. (a) Any and all payments by or on account
of any obligation of the Borrower or the Guarantor hereunder shall be made free
and clear of and without deduction for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes;
provided that if the Borrower or the Guarantor shall be required to deduct any
Indemnified Taxes or 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 (provided,
however, that neither the Borrower nor the Guarantor shall be required to
increase any such amounts payable to the Administrative Agent or Lender (as the
case may be) with respect to any Indemnified or Other Taxes that are
attributable to such Lender's failure to comply with the requirements of
paragraph (e) of this Section), (ii) the Borrower or the Guarantor shall make
such deductions and (iii) the Borrower or the Guarantor shall pay the full
amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with
applicable law.
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(b) In addition, the Borrower shall pay any Other Taxes to the
relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.
(c) The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and
each Lender, within 10 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.
A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the
Borrower by a Lender, or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on
behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(d) As soon as 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) 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 located, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with
respect to payments under this Agreement 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, 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.
SECTION 2.16. Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of
Set-offs. (a) The Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it
hereunder (whether of principal, interest or fees, or under Section 2.13, 2.14
or 2.15, or otherwise) prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the date when
due, in immediately available funds, without set-off or counterclaim. Any
amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the
Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding
Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments
shall be made to the Administrative Agent at its offices at 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx, except payments to be made directly to the Swingline Lender as
expressly provided herein and except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.13,
2.14, 2.15 and 10.3 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto. The
Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the
account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following
receipt thereof If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a
Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding
Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest
thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension. All payments
hereunder shall be made in dollars.
(b) If at any time insufficient funds are received by and
available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal,
interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, to
pay interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among
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the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees
then due to such parties, and (ii) second, to pay principal then due hereunder,
ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of
principal then due to such parties.
(c) If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of set-off or
counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or
interest on any of its Revolving Loans or participations in Swingline Loans
resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the
aggregate amount of its Revolving Loans and participations in Swingline Loans
and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other Lender,
then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at
face value) participations in the Revolving Loans and participations in
Swingline Loans of other Lenders to the extent necessary 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
Revolving Loans and participations in Swingline Loans, provided that (i) if any
such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving
rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the
purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and
(ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any
payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express
terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for
the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Revolving Loans to
any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or
Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this paragraph 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 set-off 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.
(d) 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 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 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 Federal Funds
Effective Rate.
(e) If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be
made by it pursuant to Section 2.5(b), 2.16(c) or 2.16(d), then the
Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary
provision hereof), apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative
Agent for the account of such Lender to satisfy such Lender's obligations under
such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid.
SECTION 2.17. Mitigation Obligations: Replacement of Lenders.
(a) - If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.13, or if the Borrower
is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental
Authority for the account of any Lender
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pursuant to Section 2.15, 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
2.13 or 2.15, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) 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) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.13, 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 2.15,
or if any Lender defaults in its obligation to fund Loans hereunder, or if any
Lender becomes an Objecting 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 Section 10.4), all its interests,
rights and obligations under this Agreement to an assignee that shall assume
such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such
assignment); provided that (i) the Borrower shall have received the prior
written consent of the Administrative Agent (and, if a Commitment is being
assigned, the Swingline Lender), which consent shall not unreasonably be
withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the
outstanding principal of its Loans and participations in Swingline Loans,
accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it
hereunder, 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)
and (iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for
compensation under Section 2.13 or payments required to be made pursuant to
Section 2.15, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or
payments. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and
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.
SECTION 2.18. Extension of Revolving Termination Date. (a) Not
less than 30 days and not more than 60 days prior to the Revolving Termination
Date then in effect, provided that no Event of Default shall have occurred and
be continuing, the Borrower may request an extension of such Revolving
Termination Date by submitting to the Administrative Agent an Extension Request
(an "Extension Request") containing the information in respect of such extension
specified in Exhibit C, which the Administrative Agent shall promptly furnish to
each Lender. Each Lender shall, not less than 15 days and not more than 30 days
prior to the Revolving Termination Date then in effect, notify the Borrower and
the Administrative Agent of its election to extend or not extend the Revolving
Termination Date as requested in such Extension Request, which election shall be
made by each Lender at its absolute discretion. Any Lender which shall not
notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of its election to extend the
Revolving Termination Date on or prior to the date that is 15 days prior to the
Revolving Termination Date then in effect shall be deemed to have elected not to
extend the Revolving Termination Date as requested in such Extension Request.
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, any notice by
any Lender of its willingness to extend the Revolving Termination Date shall be
revocable by such Lender in its sole and
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absolute discretion at any time prior to the date which is 15 days prior to the
Revolving Termination Date then in effect. If the Required Lenders shall approve
in writing the extension of the Revolving Termination Date requested in such
Extension Request, the Revolving Termination Date shall automatically and
without any further action by any Person be extended for the period specified in
such Extension Request; provided that (i) each extension pursuant to this
Section 2.18 shall be for a maximum of 364 days and (ii) the Commitment of any
Lender that does not consent in writing to such extension not less than 15 days
and not more than 30 days prior to the Revolving Termination Date then in effect
(an "Objecting Lender") shall, unless earlier terminated in accordance with this
Agreement, expire on the Revolving Termination Date in effect on the date of
such Extension Request (such Revolving Termination Date, if any, referred to as
the "Commitment Expiration Date" with respect to such Objecting Lender). If, not
less than 15 days and not more than 30 days prior to the Revolving Termination
Date then in effect, the Required Lenders shall not approve in writing the
extension of the Revolving Termination Date requested in an Extension Request,
the Revolving Termination Date shall not be extended pursuant to such Extension
Request. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify (y) the Lenders and the
Borrower of any extension of the Revolving Termination Date pursuant to this
Section 2.18 and (z) the Borrower and any other Lender of any Lender which
becomes an Objecting Lender. At the request of the Borrower, if agreed by all
the Lenders other than the Objecting Lenders, the Maturity Date shall be
extended to the one year anniversary of the Revolving Termination Date, as
extended pursuant hereto.
(b) Subject to possible extension pursuant to the proviso set
forth in Section 2.8(a)(i), Obligations owing to any Objecting Lender on the
Commitment Expiration Date with respect to such Lender shall be repaid in full
on or before such Commitment Expiration Date.
(c) The Borrower shall have the right, so long as no Event of
Default has occurred and is then continuing, upon giving notice to the
Administrative Agent and the Objecting Lender in accordance with Section 2.9, to
prepay in full the Loans of the Objecting Lenders, together with accrued
interest thereon, any amounts payable pursuant to Sections 2.13, 2.14, 2.15 and
10.3 and any accrued and unpaid facility fee or other amounts payable to them
hereunder and/or, upon giving not less than three Business Days' notice to the
Objecting Lenders and the Administrative Agent, to cancel the whole or part of
the Commitments of the Objecting Lenders.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Each of the Credit Parties represents and warrants to the
Lenders that:
SECTION 3.1. Organization: Powers. Each of the Credit Parties
and the Subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has the power and
authority to carry on its business as now conducted and, except where the
failure to be so, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, is qualified to do business in,
and is in good standing in every jurisdiction where such qualification is
required.
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SECTION 3.2. Authorization: Enforceability. The Transactions are
within each Credit Party's corporate powers and have been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate and, if required, stockholder action. This Agreement has
been duly executed and delivered by each Credit Party and constitutes a legal,
valid and binding obligation of each Credit Party, enforceable in accordance
with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium or other laws affecting creditors' rights generally and subject to
general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding
in equity or at law.
SECTION 3.3. Governmental Approvals: No Conflicts. The
Transactions (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or
filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except such as
have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect, (b) will not
violate any applicable law or regulation or the charter, by-laws or other
organizational documents of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary or any order of
any Governmental Authority, (c) will not violate or result in a default under
any indenture, agreement or other instrument (other than those to be terminated
on or prior to the Closing Date) binding upon any Credit Party or any Subsidiary
or their assets, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be
made by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary, and (d) will not result in the
creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of any Credit Party or any
Subsidiary.
SECTION 3.4. Financial Condition: No Material Adverse Change.
(a) Each Credit Party has heretofore furnished to the Lenders consolidated
balance sheets and statements of income and cash flows (and, in the case of the
Guarantor, of stockholders' equity) as of and for the fiscal year ended April
30, 2003 (A) reported on by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent public
accountants, in respect of the financial statements of the Guarantor, and (B)
certified by its chief financial officer, in respect of the financial statements
of the Borrower. Such financial statements present fairly, in all material
respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of the
Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries and of the Guarantor and its
consolidated Subsidiaries as of such date and for such period in accordance with
GAAP. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.4(a), neither the Guarantor nor any of
its consolidated Subsidiaries had, at the date of the most recent balance sheet
referred to above, any material Guarantee Obligation, contingent liability or
liability for taxes, or any long-term lease or unusual forward or long-term
commitment, including, without limitation, any interest rate or foreign currency
swap or exchange transaction, which is not reflected in the foregoing statements
or in the notes thereto. During the period from April 30, 2003 to and including
the date hereof, and except as disclosed in filings made by the Guarantor with
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, there has
been no sale, transfer or other disposition by the Guarantor or any of its
consolidated Subsidiaries of any material part of its business or property other
than in the ordinary course of business and no purchase or other acquisition of
any business or property (including any Capital Stock of any other Person),
material in relation to the consolidated financial condition of the Guarantor
and its consolidated Subsidiaries at April 30, 2003.
(b) Since April 30, 2003, there has been no material adverse
change in the business, assets, property or condition (financial or otherwise)
of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
35
SECTION 3.5. Properties. (a) Each of the Credit Parties and the
Subsidiaries has good title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all its real
and personal property material to its business, except for minor defects in
title that do not interfere with its ability to conduct its business as
currently conducted or to utilize such properties for their intended purposes.
(b) Each of the Credit Parties and the Subsidiaries owns, or is
licensed to use, all trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, patents and other
intellectual property material to its business, and the use thereof by the
Credit Parties and the Subsidiaries does not infringe upon the rights of any
other Person, except for any such infringements that, individually or in the
aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
SECTION 3.6. Litigation and Environmental Mailers. (a) There are
no actions, suits or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or Governmental
Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of any Credit Party, threatened
against or affecting any Credit Party or any Subsidiary (i) as to which there is
a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination and that, if adversely
determined, would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to
result in a Material Adverse Effect (other than the Disclosed Matters) or (ii)
that challenges or would reasonably be expected to affect the legality, validity
or enforceability of this Agreement.
(b) Except for the Disclosed Matters and except with respect to
any other matters that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably
be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, neither of the Credit
Parties nor any Subsidiary (i) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law
or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval
required under any Environmental Law, (ii) has become subject to any
Environmental Liability, (iii) has received notice of any claim with respect to
any Environmental Liability or (iv) knows of any basis for any Environmental
Liability.
SECTION 3.7. Compliance with Laws and Agreements. Each of the
Credit Parties and the Subsidiaries is in compliance with all laws, regulations
and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property and
all indentures, agreements and other instruments binding upon it or its
property, except where the failure to be so, individually or in the aggregate,
would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.8. Investment and Holding Company Status. Neither of
the Credit Parties nor any of the Subsidiaries is (a) an "investment company" as
defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended, or (b) a "holding company" as defined in, or subject to regulation
under, the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935.
SECTION 3.9. Taxes. Each of the Credit Parties and the
Subsidiaries has timely filed or caused to be filed all Tax returns and reports
required to have been filed and has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes required
to have been paid by it, except (a) Taxes that are being contested in good faith
by appropriate proceedings and for which the Guarantor, the Borrower or such
Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books adequate reserves or (b)
to the extent that the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect.
36
SECTION 3.10. ERISA. No ERISA Event has occurred or is
reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA
Events for which liability is reasonably expected to occur, would reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The present value of all
accumulated benefit obligations under each Plan (based on the assumptions used
for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) did not, as
of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts,
exceed by more than $25,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of such
Plan, and the present value of all accumulated benefit obligations of all
underfunded Plans (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most
recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed by more than
$25,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of all such underfunded Plans.
SECTION 3.11. Disclosure. None of the reports, financial
statements, certificates or other information furnished by or on behalf of the
Credit Parties to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the
negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder (as modified or
supplemented by other information so furnished) 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; provided that, with respect to projected financial
information, the Credit Parties represent only that such information was
prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the
time.
SECTION 3.12. Federal Regulations. No part of the proceeds of
any Loans will be used for "purchasing" or "carrying" any "margin stock" (within
the respective meanings of each of the quoted terms under Regulation U of the
Board as now and from time to time hereafter in effect) in a manner or in
circumstances that would constitute or result in non-compliance by any Credit
Party or any Lender with the provisions of Regulations U, T or X of the Board.
If requested by any Lender or the Administrative Agent, the Borrower will
furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender a statement to the foregoing
effect in conformity with the requirements of FR Form U-1 referred to in said
Regulation U.
SECTION 3.13. Subsidiaries. As of the date hereof, the Guarantor
has only the Subsidiaries set forth on Schedule 3.13.
SECTION 3.14. Insurance. Each Credit Party and each Subsidiary
of each Credit Party maintains (pursuant to a self-insurance program and/or with
financially sound and reputable insurers) insurance with respect to its
properties and business and against at least such liabilities, casualties and
contingencies and in at least such types and amounts as is customary in the case
of companies engaged in the same or a similar business or having similar
properties similarly situated.
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ARTICLE IV
CONDITIONS
SECTION 4.1. Effective Date. Except as otherwise provided in
Sections 4.2 and 4.3, this Agreement shall become effective on the date on which
each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with
Section 10.2):
(a) The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have
received from each party hereto a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf
of such party.
(b) The Lenders and the Administrative Agent shall have received
all fees required to be paid on or prior to the Effective Date.
(c) Each Lender shall have received, for each Credit Party,
consolidated balance sheets and statements of income, stockholders' equity and
cash flows as of and for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2003, (A) reported on
by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent public accountants, in respect of the
financial statements of the Guarantor, and (B) certified by its chief financial
officer, in respect of the financial statements of the Borrower. Such financial
statements shall present fairly, in all material respects, the financial
position and results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its
consolidated Subsidiaries and of the Guarantor and its consolidated Subsidiaries
as of such dates and for such periods in accordance with GAAP.
SECTION 4.2. Closing Date. The obligations of the Lenders to
make Loans hereunder shall not become effective until the date on which each of
the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section
10.2):
(a) The Effective Date shall have occurred.
(b) The Administrative Agent shall have received reasonably
satisfactory written opinions (addressed to the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders and dated the Closing Date) of Mayer, Brown, Xxxx & Maw LLP, special New
York counsel for the Credit Parties, and Xxxxx Xxxx LLP, special counsel for the
Credit Parties, substantially in the forms of Exhibit B-1 and B-2, respectively,
and covering such other matters relating to the Credit Parties, this Agreement
or the Transactions as the Required Lenders shall reasonably request. The Credit
Parties hereby request such counsel to deliver such opinion.
(c) The Administrative Agent shall have received such documents
and certificates as the Administrative Agent or its counsel may reasonably
request relating to the organization, existence and good standing of the Credit
Parties, the authorization of the Transactions and any other legal matters
relating to the Credit Parties, this Agreement or the Transactions, all in form
and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.
(d) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate,
dated the Closing Date and signed by the President, a Vice President or a
Financial Officer of each Credit
38
Party, confirming compliance with the conditions set forth in paragraphs (a) and
(b) of Section 4.3.
(e) The Administrative Agent shall have received all fees and
other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Closing Date, including, to the
extent invoiced, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses required
to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower hereunder.
(f) The Borrower shall have repaid all obligations owing and
outstanding under the Existing Agreement.
(g) All governmental and material third party approvals
necessary in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement shall have been obtained and be in full force and effect.
The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the
Closing Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans hereunder shall not
become effective unless each of the foregoing conditions is satisfied (or waived
pursuant to Section 10.2) at or prior to the Effective Date. Upon the Effective
Date, all Lenders under the Existing Agreement that have not become parties
hereto on or prior to the Effective Date shall no longer be Lenders hereunder,
and the Commitments as of the Effective Date shall be as set forth on Schedule
2.1 hereto.
SECTION 4.3. Each Loan. The obligation of each Lender to make a
Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing is subject to the satisfaction of the
following conditions:
(a) The representations and warranties of the Credit Parties set
forth in Article III of this Agreement (other than the representations and
warranties set forth in subsections 3.4(b), 3.6(a)(i) and 3.6(b)) shall be true
and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Borrowing
(except to the extent related to a specific earlier date).
(b) At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such
Borrowing, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
Each Borrowing shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by
each of the Credit Parties on the date thereof as to the matters specified in
paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section.
ARTICLE V
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
Until the Commitments have expired or been terminated and the
principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder shall have
been paid in full, each of the Credit Parties covenants and agrees with the
Lenders that:
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SECTION 5.1. Financial Statements and Other Information. The
Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:
(a) within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the
Guarantor, an audited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of
operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows of the Guarantor and its
consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in
each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all
reported on by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or other independent public
accountants of recognized national standing (without a "going concern" or like
qualification or exception and without any qualification or exception as to the
scope of such audit) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements
present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of
operations of the Guarantor and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated
basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied;
(b) (i) in the case of the Guarantor, within 45 days after the
end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the
Guarantor and (ii) in the case of the Borrower, within 90 days after the end of
each fiscal year of the Borrower, consolidated balance sheets and related
statements of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and the Guarantor and
their consolidated Subsidiaries, and the consolidated statement of stockholders'
equity of the Guarantor, as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the
then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in
comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in
the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, all
certified by a Financial Officer of the Borrower and the Guarantor as presenting
fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of
operations of the Borrower and the Guarantor and their consolidated Subsidiaries
on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to
normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;
(c) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under
clause (a) or (b) above, a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower
and the Guarantor (i) certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and, if a
Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or
proposed to be taken with respect thereto, (ii) setting forth reasonably
detailed calculations demonstrating compliance with Section 6.1 and (iii)
stating whether any change in GAAP or in the application thereof has occurred
since the date of the audited financial statements referred to in Section 3.4
and, if any such change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on
the financial statements accompanying such certificate;
(d) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under
clause (a) above, a certificate of the accounting firm that reported on such
financial statements stating whether they obtained knowledge during the course
of their examination of such financial statements of any Default (which
certificate may be limited to the extent required by accounting rules or
guidelines);
(e) promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of
all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials (other than
routine filings by OLDE Financial Corporation and its Subsidiaries, including
H&R Block Financial Advisors, Inc., RSM McGladrey, Inc. ("RSM"), Birchtree
Financial Services, Inc., RSM Equico Capital Markets, LLC or Option One Mortgage
Corporation) filed by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary with the
40
Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to
any or all of the functions of said Commission, or with any national securities
exchange, or distributed by any Credit Party to its shareholders generally, as
the case may be; and
(f) promptly following any request therefor, such other
information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition
of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of this
Agreement, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.
SECTION 5.2. Notices of Material Events. The Borrower will
furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender prompt written notice of the
following:
(a) the occurrence of any Default;
(b) the filing or commencement of any action, suit or proceeding
by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or affecting any
Credit Party or any Affiliate thereof that is reasonably likely to be adversely
determined and, if so determined, would reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect;
(c) the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, alone or together
with any other ERISA Events that have occurred, would reasonably be expected to
result in liability of the Borrower, the Guarantor or any Subsidiary in an
aggregate amount exceeding $25,000,000; and
(d) any other development that results in, or would reasonably
be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.
Each notice delivered under this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of
a Financial Officer or other executive officer of the Borrower and the Guarantor
setting forth the details of the event or development requiring such notice and
any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.
SECTION 5.3. Existence; Conduct of Business. Each Credit Party
will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to, do or cause to be done all
things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal
existence and the rights, licenses, permits, privileges and franchises material
to the conduct of its business; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit
any merger, consolidation, liquidation, disposition or dissolution permitted
under Section 6.4.
SECTION 5.4. Payment of Taxes. Each Credit Party will, and will
cause each of the Subsidiaries to, pay its Tax liabilities that, if not paid,
would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect before the same
shall become delinquent, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is
being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) such Credit Party
or such Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect
thereto in accordance with GAAP and (c) the failure to make payment pending such
contest would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
41
SECTION 5.5. Maintenance of Properties; Insurance. Each Credit
Party will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to, (a) keep and maintain
all property material to the conduct of its business in good working order and
condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and (b) maintain (pursuant to a
self-insurance program and/or with financially sound and reputable insurers)
insurance in such amounts and against such risks as is customarily maintained by
companies engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or
similar locations.
SECTION 5.6. Books and Records; Inspection Rights. Each Credit
Party will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to, 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. Each
Credit Party will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to, permit any
representatives designated by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, upon
reasonable prior notice, to visit and inspect its properties, to examine and
make extracts from its books and records, and to discuss its affairs, finances
and condition with its officers and independent accountants, all at such
reasonable times and as often as reasonably requested; provided that so long as
no Event of Default exists, each Credit Party and each Subsidiary shall have the
right to be present and participate in any discussions with its independent
accountants. Nothing in this Section 5.6 shall permit the Administrative Agent
or any Lender to examine or otherwise have access to the tax returns or other
confidential information of any customer of either Credit Party or any of their
respective Subsidiaries.
SECTION 5.7. Compliance with Laws. Each Credit Party will, and
will cause each of the Subsidiaries to, comply with all laws, rules, regulations
and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property,
except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 5.8. Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Tranche A2
Revolving Loans will be used only for paying at maturity commercial paper issued
by the Borrower from time to time and for general corporate purposes. The
proceeds of the Tranche A1 Loans will be used only for paying at maturity
commercial paper issued by the Borrower from time to time, for general corporate
purposes and for working capital needs. No part of the proceeds of any Loan will
be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that entails a
violation of any of the Regulations of the Board, including Regulations U and X.
SECTION 5.9. Cleandown. During the period from March 1 to June
30 of each fiscal year, the Credit Parties shall reduce the aggregate
outstanding principal amount of all their Short-Term Debt to $200,000,000 or
less for a minimum period of thirty consecutive days.
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ARTICLE VI
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
Until the Commitments have expired or terminated and the
principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder have been
paid in full, each of the Credit Parties covenants and agrees with the Lenders
that:
SECTION 6.1. Adjusted Net Worth. The Guarantor will not permit
Adjusted Net Worth as at the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Guarantor to
be less than $1,000,000,000.
SECTION 6.2. Indebtedness. The Credit Parties will not, and will
not permit any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or permit to exist any
Indebtedness, except:
(a) subject to the proviso at the end of this Section 6.2,
Indebtedness created hereunder;
(b) Indebtedness existing on the date hereof and set forth in
Schedule 6.2 and extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness
that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;
(e) seasonal Indebtedness of H&R Block Canada, Inc., provided
that the aggregate principal amount of all such Indebtedness incurred pursuant
to this subsection (c) shall not exceed 125,000,000 Canadian dollars at any time
outstanding;
(d) Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Guarantor, provided
that (i) the obligations of the Credit Parties hereunder shall rank pari passu
with such Indebtedness (including with respect to security), (ii) such
Indebtedness shall have a final maturity more than one year after the date of
its incurrence and (iii) the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness
permitted by this subsection (d) shall not exceed $1,500,000,000 at any time
outstanding;
(e) subject to the proviso at the end of this Section 6.2, (i)
Indebtedness in connection with commercial paper issued in the United States
through the Borrower which is guaranteed by the Guarantor and (ii) Indebtedness
under bank lines of credit or similar facilities;
(f) Indebtedness in connection with Guarantees of the
performance of any Subsidiary's obligations under or pursuant to (i) any office
lease entered into in the ordinary course of business, and (ii) any promotional,
joint-promotional, cross-promotional, joint marketing, service, equipment or
supply procurement, software license or other similar agreement entered into by
such Subsidiary with one or more vendors, suppliers, retail businesses or other
third parties in the ordinary course of business, including, but not limited to,
indemnification obligations relating to such Subsidiary's failure to perform its
obligations under such lease or agreement;
43
(g) acquisition-related Indebtedness (either incurred or
assumed) and Indebtedness in connection with the Guarantor's guarantees of the
payment or performance of primary obligations of Subsidiaries of the Guarantor
in connection with such Subsidiaries' acquisition in accordance with subsection
6.4(b), or Indebtedness secured by Liens permitted under subsection 6.3(f);
provided that, during any fiscal year, the aggregate outstanding principal
amount of all Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this subsection 6.2(g) shall not
exceed at any time $325,000,000;
(h) Indebtedness of any Credit Party to any other Credit Party,
of any Credit Party to any Subsidiary, of any Subsidiary to any Credit Party and
of any Subsidiary to any other Subsidiary; provided that such Indebtedness shall
not be prohibited by Section 6.5;
(i) Indebtedness in connection with repurchase agreements
pursuant to which mortgage loans of a Credit Party or a Subsidiary are sold with
the simultaneous agreement to repurchase the mortgage loans at the same price
plus interest at an agreed upon rate; provided that the aggregate outstanding
principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this subsection 6.2(i)
shall not at any time exceed $500,000,000; provided, further, that no agreed
upon repurchase date shall be later than 90 business days after the date of the
corresponding repurchase agreement;
(j) Indebtedness in connection with Guarantees or Guarantee
Obligations which are made, given or undertaken as representations and
warranties, indemnities or assurances of the payment or performance of primary
obligations in connection with securitization transactions or other transactions
permitted hereunder, as to which primary obligations the primary obligor is a
Credit Party, a Subsidiary or a securitization trust or similar securitization
vehicle to which a Credit Party or a Subsidiary sold, directly or indirectly,
the relevant mortgage loans;
(k) Indebtedness of RSM, a Subsidiary of the Guarantor, to
McGladrey & Xxxxxx, LLP ("M&P") and certain related trusts under (i) that
certain Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of June 28, 1999 among RSM, M&P, the
Guarantor and certain other parties signatory thereto (the "M&P Purchase
Agreement") and (ii) the Retired Partners Agreement and the Loan Agreement (as
such terms are defined in the M&P Purchase Agreement); provided that the
aggregate outstanding principal amount payable in respect of such Indebtedness
permitted under this paragraph (k) shall not exceed $200,000,000 at any time;
(i) Indebtedness in connection with (i) Capital Lease
Obligations in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not at any time
exceeding $50,000,000 (excluding any Capital Lease Obligations permitted by
subsection 6.2(o)), (ii) obligations under existing mortgages in an aggregate
outstanding principal amount not exceeding $12,000,000 at any time, (iii)
securities sold and not yet purchased, provided that the aggregate outstanding
principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (iii)
shall not at any time exceed $15,000,000, (iv) customer deposits in the ordinary
course of business, (v) payables to brokers and dealers in the ordinary course
of business and (vi) reimbursement obligations relating to letters of credit in
favor of a clearing corporation, provided such letters of credit are used solely
to satisfy margin deposit requirements and the aggregate outstanding exposure of
the Guarantor and the Subsidiaries under all such letters of credit shall not
exceed $200,000,000 at any time;
44
(m) subject to the proviso at the end of this Section 6.2,
Indebtedness in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not to exceed
$1,500,000,000; provided, however, that (i) the proceeds of such Indebtedness
are used solely in connection with the Borrower's Refund Anticipation Loans
Program, (ii) such Indebtedness is incurred during the period beginning on
January 15 of any year and ending on March 15 of such year, (iii) such
Indebtedness is repaid in full by the earlier of March 15 the year in which such
Indebtedness is incurred and (iv) the covenants contained in any agreement
relating to such Indebtedness, or guarantee thereof (other than covenants
specific to the Borrower's Refund Anticipation Loan Program and the operation
thereof), are no more restrictive than the covenants contained in this
Agreement;
(n) subject to the proviso at the end of this Section 6.2,
liabilities related to the RAL Receivables Transactions to the extent consistent
with the definition thereof; and
(o) Indebtedness in an amount not exceeding $150,000,000 in
connection with the acquisition, development or construction of the Guarantor's
new headquarters;
(p) deposits and other customary banking related liabilities
incurred by banking Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
(q) customary liabilities of broker-dealers incurred by
broker-dealer Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business; and
(r) Indebtedness secured by Liens permitted by subsection 6.3(d)
or 6.3(e);
provided, that the sum of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all
Indebtedness permitted pursuant to subsections 6.2(a), 6.2(e) and 6.2(m) plus
the RAL Receivables Amount shall not at any time exceed the greater of the
aggregate Commitments then in effect or the then outstanding principal amount of
the Loans, except that, during the period from January 15 of any year to March
15 of such year, such sum may exceed the greater of the aggregate Commitments
then in effect or the then outstanding principal amount of the Loans by up to
$1,500,000,000.
SECTION 6.3. Liens. Each Credit Party will not, and will not
permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on
any property or asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, or assign or sell
any income or revenues (including accounts receivable) or rights in respect of
any thereof, except:
(a) Permitted Encumbrances;
(b) any Lien on any property or asset of any Credit Party or any
Subsidiary existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule 6.3; provided
that (i) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or asset of any Credit
Party or any Subsidiary and (ii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations
which it secures on the date hereof and extensions, renewals and replacements
thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;
(c) any Lien existing on any property or asset prior to the
acquisition thereof by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary or existing on any
property or asset of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the date hereof
prior to the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary;
45
provided that (i) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection
with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Subsidiary, as the case may be,
(ii) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or assets of any Credit
Party or any Subsidiary and (iii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations
which it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes
a Subsidiary, as the case may be, and extensions, renewals and replacements
thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;
(d) Liens and transfers in connection with the securitization,
financing or other transfer of any mortgage loans or mortgage servicing
reimbursement rights (and/or, in each case, related rights and interests) owned
by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;
(e) Liens and transfers in connection with the securitization or
other transfer of any credit card receivables (and/or related rights and
interests) owned by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;
(f) Liens on fixed or capital assets acquired, constructed or
improved by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary to secure Indebtedness of such
Credit Party or such Subsidiary incurred to finance the acquisition,
construction or improvement of such fixed or capital assets; provided that (i)
such Liens and the Indebtedness secured thereby are incurred prior to or within
90 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or
improvement, (ii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed 100% of the
cost of acquiring, constructing or improving such fixed or capital assets and
(iii) such security interests shall not apply to any other property or assets of
any Credit Party or any Subsidiary;
(g) Liens arising in connection with repurchase agreements
contemplated by Section 6.2(i); provided that such security interests shall not
apply to any property or assets of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary except for
the mortgage loans or securities, as applicable, subject to such repurchase
agreements;
(h) Liens arising in connection with Indebtedness permitted by
Section 6.2(l)(v), which Liens are granted in the ordinary course of business;
(i) Liens not otherwise permitted by this Section 6.3 so long as
the Obligations hereunder are contemporaneously secured equally and ratably with
the obligations secured thereby;
(j) Liens not otherwise permitted by this Section 6.3, so long
as the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the obligations secured thereby
does not exceed (as to the Credit Parties and all Subsidiaries) $250,000,000 at
any one time;
(k) Liens and transfers in connection with the RAL Receivables
Transaction; and
(l) Liens on Unrestricted Margin Stock.
SECTION 6.4. Fundamental Changes; Sale of Assets. (a) Each
Credit Party will not, and will not permit any Material Subsidiary to, merge
into or consolidate with any other
46
Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or
sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (in one transaction or in a series
of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (other than Unrestricted
Margin Stock), or all or substantially all of the stock or assets related to its
tax preparation business or liquidate or dissolve, except (i) transfers in
connection with the RAL Receivables Transaction and other securitizations
otherwise permitted hereby, (ii) sales and other transfers of mortgage loans
(and/or related rights and interests) and (iii) if at the time thereof and
immediately after giving effect thereto no Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, (A) any Material Subsidiary other than the Borrower may merge into a
Credit Party in a transaction in which the Credit Party is the surviving
corporation, (B) any wholly owned Material Subsidiary other than the Borrower
may merge into any other wholly owned Material Subsidiary in a transaction in
which the surviving entity is a wholly owned Subsidiary, (C) any Material
Subsidiary other than the Borrower may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise
dispose of its assets to the Guarantor or to another Material Subsidiary and (D)
any Material Subsidiary other than the Borrower may liquidate or dissolve if the
Guarantor determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in
the best interests of the Guarantor and is not materially disadvantageous to the
Lenders; provided that any such merger involving a Person that is not a wholly
owned Subsidiary immediately prior to such merger shall not be permitted unless
also permitted by Section 6.5.
(b) Except as set forth on Schedule 6.4(b), the Credit Parties
will not, and will not permit any Material Subsidiary to, engage to any material
extent in any business other than businesses of the type conducted by the Credit
Parties and the Subsidiaries on the date of execution of this Agreement and
businesses reasonably related thereto.
SECTION 6.5. Transactions with Affiliates. Each Credit Party
will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, sell, lease or otherwise
transfer any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any
property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any
of its Affiliates, except (a) in the ordinary course of business at prices and
on terms and conditions not less favorable to such Credit Party or such
Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arm's-length basis from unrelated third
parties and (b) transactions between or among the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries
not involving any other Affiliate.
SECTION 6.6. Restrictive Agreements The Credit Parties will not,
and will not permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, enter into, incur
or permit to exist any agreement or other arrangement that by its terms
prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon (a) the ability of any Credit
Party or any Subsidiary to create, incur or permit to exist any Lien upon any of
its material property or assets (unless such agreement or arrangement does not
prohibit, restrict or impose any condition upon the ability of either Credit
Party or any Subsidiary to create, incur or permit to exist any Lien in favor of
the Administrative Agent or any Lender created hereunder), or (b) the ability of
any Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions with respect to any
shares of its capital stock or to make or repay loans or advances to the
Guarantor or any other Subsidiary or to Guarantee Indebtedness of the Guarantor
or any other Subsidiary; provided that (i) the foregoing shall not apply to
restrictions and conditions imposed by law or by this Agreement, (ii) the
foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions existing on the date
hereof identified on Schedule 6.6 (but shall apply to any extension, renewal,
amendment or modification expanding the scope of any such restriction or
condition), (iii) the
47
foregoing shall not apply to customary restrictions and conditions contained in
agreements relating to the sale of a Subsidiary pending such sale, provided such
restrictions and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary that is to be sold and
such sale is permitted hereunder, (iv) the foregoing shall not apply to
customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the
securitization, financing or other transfer of mortgage loans (and/or related
rights and interests) owned by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (v)
clause (a) of the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions or conditions
imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this
Agreement if such restrictions or conditions apply only to the property or
assets securing such Indebtedness, (vi) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not
apply to customary provisions in leases and other contracts restricting the
assignment thereof and (vii) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not apply to
restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to Indebtedness
permitted hereunder pursuant to subsection 6.2(m) or the RAL Receivables
Transaction.
ARTICLE VII
GUARANTEE
SECTION 7.1. Guarantee. (a) The Guarantor hereby unconditionally
and irrevocably guarantees to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and their
respective successors, indorsees, transferees and assigns, the prompt and
complete payment and performance by the Borrower when due (whether at the stated
maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of the Obligations.
(b) The Guarantor further agrees to pay any and all expenses
(including, without limitation, all fees and disbursements of counsel) which may
be paid or incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in enforcing, or
obtaining advice of counsel in respect of, any rights with respect to, or
collecting, any or all of the Obligations and/or enforcing any rights with
respect to, or collecting against, the Guarantor under this Article. This
Article shall remain in full force and effect until the Obligations and the
obligations of the Guarantor under the guarantee contained in this Article shall
have been satisfied by payment in full and the Commitments shall be terminated,
notwithstanding that from time to time prior thereto the Borrower may be free
from any Obligations.
(c) No payment or payments made by any Credit Party, any other
guarantor or any other Person or received or collected by the Administrative
Agent or any Lender from any Credit Party or any other Person by virtue of any
action or proceeding or any set-off or appropriation or application, at any time
or from time to time, in reduction of or in payment of the Obligations shall be
deemed to modify, reduce, release or otherwise affect the liability of the
Guarantor hereunder which shall, notwithstanding any such payment or payments,
remain liable hereunder for the Obligations until the Obligations are paid in
full and the Commitments are terminated.
(d) The Guarantor agrees that whenever, at any time or from time
to time, it shall make any payment to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on
account of its liability
48
hereunder, it will notify the Administrative Agent and such Lender in writing
that such payment is made under this Article for such purpose.
SECTION 7.2. Delay of Subrogation. Notwithstanding any payment
or payments made by the Guarantor hereunder, or any set-off or application of
funds of the Guarantor by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, the Guarantor
shall not be entitled to be subrogated to any of the rights of the
Administrative Agent or any Lender against the Borrower or against any
collateral security or guarantee or right of offset held by the Administrative
Agent or any Lender for the payment of the Obligations, nor shall the Guarantor
seek or be entitled to seek any contribution or reimbursement from the Borrower
in respect of payments made by the Guarantor hereunder, until all amounts owing
to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders by the Borrower on account of the
Obligations are paid in full and the Commitments are terminated. If any amount
shall be paid to the Guarantor on account of such subrogation rights at any time
when all of the Obligations shall not have been paid in full, such amount shall
be held by the Guarantor in trust for the Administrative Agent and the Lenders,
segregated from other funds of the Guarantor, and shall, forthwith upon receipt
by the Guarantor, be turned over to the Administrative Agent in the exact form
received by the Guarantor (duly indorsed by the Guarantor to the Administrative
Agent, if required) to be applied against the Obligations, whether matured or
unmatured, in such order as the Administrative Agent may determine. The
provisions of this Section shall be effective notwithstanding the termination of
this Agreement and the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of
the Commitments.
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SECTION 7.3. Amendments, etc. with respect to the Obligations;
Waiver of Rights. The Guarantor shall remain obligated hereunder notwithstanding
that, without any reservation of rights against the Guarantor, and without
notice to or further assent by the Guarantor, any demand for payment of any of
the Obligations made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender may be rescinded
by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, and any of the Obligations
continued, and the Obligations, or the liability of any other party upon or for
any part thereof, or any collateral security or guarantee therefor or right of
offset with respect thereto, may, from time to time, in whole or in part, be
renewed, extended, amended, modified, accelerated, compromised, waived,
surrendered or released by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, and this
Agreement and any other documents executed and delivered in connection herewith
may be amended, modified, supplemented or terminated, in whole or in part, in
accordance with the provisions hereof as the Administrative Agent (or the
requisite Lenders, as the case may be) may deem advisable from time to time, and
any collateral security, guarantee or right of offset at any time held by the
Administrative Agent or any Lender for the payment of the Obligations may be
sold, exchanged, waived, surrendered or released. Neither the Administrative
Agent nor any Lender shall have any obligation to protect, secure, perfect or
insure any Lien at any time held by it as security for the Obligations or for
this Agreement or any property subject thereto. When making any demand hereunder
against the Guarantor, the Administrative Agent or any Lender may, but shall be
under no obligation to, make a similar demand on the Borrower or any other
guarantor, and any failure by the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make any
such demand or to collect any payments from the Borrower or any such other
guarantor or any release of the Borrower or such other guarantor shall not
relieve the Guarantor of its obligations or liabilities hereunder, and shall not
impair or affect the rights and remedies, express or implied, or as a matter of
law, of the Administrative Agent or any Lender against the Guarantor. For the
purposes hereof "demand" shall include the commencement and continuance of any
legal proceedings.
SECTION 7.4. Guarantee Absolute and Unconditional. The Guarantor
waives any and all notice of the creation, renewal, extension or accrual of any
of the Obligations and notice of or proof of reliance by the Administrative
Agent or any Lender upon this Agreement or acceptance of this Agreement; the
Obligations, and any of them, shall conclusively be deemed to have been created,
contracted or incurred, or renewed, extended, amended or waived, in reliance
upon this Agreement; and all dealings between the Borrower and the Guarantor, on
the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, on the other, shall
likewise be conclusively presumed to have been had or consummated in reliance
upon this Agreement. The Guarantor waives diligence, presentment, protest,
demand for payment and notice of default or nonpayment to or upon the Borrower
and the Guarantor with respect to the Obligations. This Article shall be
construed as a continuing, absolute and unconditional guarantee of payment
without regard to (a) the validity, regularity or enforceability of this
Agreement, any other documents executed and delivered in connection herewith,
any of the Obligations or any other collateral security therefor or guarantee or
right of offset with respect thereto at any time or from time to time held by
the Administrative Agent or any Lender, (b) any defense, set-off or counterclaim
(other than a defense of payment or performance) which may at any time be
available to or be asserted by the Guarantor against the Administrative Agent or
any Lender, or (c) any other circumstance whatsoever (with or without notice to
or knowledge of the Borrower or the Guarantor) which constitutes, or might be
construed to constitute, an equitable or legal discharge of the Borrower
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for the Obligations, or of the Guarantor under this Article, in bankruptcy or in
any other instance. When pursuing its rights and remedies hereunder against the
Guarantor, the Administrative Agent and any Lender may, but shall be under no
obligation to, pursue such rights and remedies as it may have against the
Borrower or any other Person or against any collateral security or guarantee for
the Obligations or any right of offset with respect thereto, and any failure by
the Administrative Agent or any Lender to pursue such other rights or remedies
or to collect any payments from the Borrower or any such other Person or to
realize upon any such collateral security or guarantee or to exercise any such
right of offset, or any release of the Borrower or any such other Person or of
any such collateral security, guarantee or right of offset, shall not relieve
the Guarantor of any liability hereunder, and shall not impair or affect the
rights and remedies, whether express, implied or available as a matter of law,
of the Administrative Agent or any Lender against the Guarantor. This Article
shall remain in full force and effect and be binding in accordance with and to
the extent of its terms upon the Guarantor and its successors and assigns, and
shall inure to the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and
their respective successors, indorsees, transferees and assigns, until all the
Obligations and the obligations of the Guarantor under this Agreement shall have
been satisfied by payment in full and the Commitments shall be terminated,
notwithstanding that from time to time during the term of this Agreement the
Borrower may be free from any Obligations.
SECTION 7.5. Reinstatement. This Article shall continue to be
effective, or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any
part thereof, of any of the Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be
restored or returned by the Administrative Agent or any Lender upon the
insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of any Credit
Party or upon or as a result of the appointment of a receiver, intervenor or
conservator of, or trustee or similar officer for, any Credit Party or any
substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though such payments had
not been made.
SECTION 7.6. Payments. The Guarantor hereby agrees that all
payments required to be made by it hereunder will be made to the Administrative
Agent without set-off or counterclaim in accordance with the terms of the
Obligations, including, without limitation, in the currency in which payment is
due.
ARTICLE VIII
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
If any of the following events ("Events of Default") shall
occur:
(a) the Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan
when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due date
thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment thereof or otherwise;
(b) the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or
any fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in clause (a) of
this Article) payable under this Agreement, when and as the same shall become
due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of five
business days;
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(c) any representation or warranty made or deemed made by any
Credit Party (or any of its officers) in or in connection with this Agreement or
any amendment or modification hereof, or in any report, certificate, financial
statement or other document furnished pursuant to or in connection with this
Agreement or any amendment or modification hereof, shall prove to have been
incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made;
(d) any Credit Party shall fail to observe or perform any
covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 5.2, 5.3 (with respect to
the Credit Parties' existence), 5.8 or 5.9 or in Article VI;
(e) any Credit Party shall fail to observe or perform any
covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than those
specified in clause (a), (b) or (d) of this Article), and such failure shall
continue unremedied for a period of 30 days after notice thereof from the
Administrative Agent (given at the request of any Lender) to the Borrower;
(f) any Credit Party or any Subsidiary shall fail to make any
payment (whether of principal or interest and regardless of amount) in respect
of any Material Indebtedness, when and as the same shall become due and payable
(after expiration of any applicable grace or cure period);
(g) any event or condition occurs that results in any Material
Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables or
permits (after expiration of any applicable grace or cure period) the holder or
holders of any Material Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their
behalf to cause any Material Indebtedness to become due, or to require the
prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled
maturity; provided that this clause (g) shall not apply to (i) secured
Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of
the property or assets securing such Indebtedness or (ii) any obligation under a
Hedging Agreement that becomes due as a result of a default by a party thereto
other than a Credit Party or a Subsidiary;
(h) an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an
involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or
other relief in respect of any Credit Party or any Material Subsidiary or its
debts, or of a substantial part of its assets, under any Federal, state or
foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in
effect or (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator,
conservator or similar official for any Credit Party or any Material Subsidiary
or for a substantial part of its assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding
or petition shall continue undismissed for 60 days or an order or decree
approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;
(i) any Credit Party or any Material Subsidiary shall (i)
voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation,
reorganization or other relief under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy,
insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, (ii) consent
to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner,
any proceeding or petition described in clause (h) of this Article, (iii) apply
for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian,
sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Borrower or any Material
Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, (iv) file an answer
admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such
proceeding,
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(v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or (vi) take any
action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;
(j) any Credit Party or any Material Subsidiary shall become
unable, admit in writing or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due;
(k) one or more final judgments for the payment of money shall
be rendered against the Guarantor, the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any
combination thereof and either (i) a creditor shall have commenced enforcement
proceedings upon any such judgment in an aggregate amount (to the extent not
covered by insurance as to which the relevant insurance company has not denied
coverage) in excess of $40,000,000 (a "Material Judgment") or (ii) there shall
be a period of 30 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of any
Material Judgment shall not be in effect (by reason of pending appeal or
otherwise) (it being understood that, notwithstanding the definition of
"Default", no "Default" shall be triggered solely by the rendering of such a
judgment or judgments prior to the commencement of enforcement proceedings or
the lapse of such 30 consecutive day period, so long as such judgments are
capable of satisfaction by payment at any time);
(1) an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, in the opinion of
the Required Lenders, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have
occurred, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(m) a Change in Control shall occur; or
(n) the Guarantee contained in Article VII herein shall cease,
for any reason, to be in full force and effect in any material respect or any
Credit Party shall so assert;
then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Credit
Parties described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article), and at any time
thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may,
and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower,
take either or both of the following actions, at the same or different times:
(i) terminate the Commitments, and thereupon the Commitments shall terminate
immediately, and (ii) declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable
in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and
payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the
principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued
interest thereon and all fees and other Obligations of the Credit Parties
accrued hereunder, shall become due and payable immediately, without
presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are
hereby waived by the Credit Parties; and in case of any event with respect to
the Credit Parties described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article, the
Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then
outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other
Obligations of the Credit Parties accrued hereunder, shall automatically become
due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any
kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Credit Parties.
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ARTICLE IX
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints the
Administrative Agent as its agent 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, together with such actions and
powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.
The bank 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
such bank and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to and
generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or
other Affiliate thereof as if it were not the Administrative Agent hereunder.
The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or
obligations except those expressly set forth herein. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, (a) the Administrative Agent shall not be subject
to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has
occurred and is continuing, (b) the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty
to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except
discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby that the
Administrative Agent is required to exercise in writing by the Required Lenders,
and (c) except as expressly set forth herein, the Administrative Agent shall not
have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose,
any information relating to any Credit Party or any Subsidiary that is
communicated to or obtained by the bank serving as 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 with the consent or at the request of
the Required Lenders (or when expressly, required hereby, all the Lenders) or 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 written notice thereof is given to the Administrative Agent by any
Credit Party or a Lender, and 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, (ii) the contents
of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or in
connection herewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the
covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein, (iv) the
validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement 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.
The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and
shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request,
certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing believed
by it to be genuine and to have been signed or sent 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 be made by the proper Person, and shall not
incur any liability for relying thereon. The Administrative Agent may consult
with legal counsel (who may be counsel for any Credit Party), independent
accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall
54
not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the
advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.
The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties
and exercise its rights and powers 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 of all its duties and exercise its rights and
powers through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of
the preceding paragraphs 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.
Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor
Administrative Agent as provided in this paragraph, the Administrative Agent may
resign at any time by notifying the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon any such
resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, with the consent of the
Borrower (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), to appoint a
successor. If no 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 which shall be a bank with an office in New York, New York,
or an Affiliate of any such bank. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as
Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor, such successor shall succeed to
and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the
retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be
discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder. The fees payable by the
Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable
to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such
successor. After the Administrative Agent's resignation hereunder, the
provisions of this Article and Section 10.3 shall continue in effect for its
benefit in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it
was acting as Administrative Agent.
Each Lender acknowledges that 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 Agreement. Each Lender also
acknowledges 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 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 related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
Agreement, the parties hereto hereby agree that no agent (other than the
Administrative Agent) shall have any rights, duties or responsibilities in its
capacity as agent hereunder and that no agent (other than the Administrative
Agent) shall have the authority to take any action hereunder in its capacity as
such.
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ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 10.1. Notices. Except in the case of notices and other
communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone 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 telecopy, as follows:
(a) if to the Borrower or the Guarantor, to it at 0000 Xxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, Attention of Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx (Telecopy No. (816)
753-8628);
(b) if to the Administrative Agent or the Swingline Lender, to JPMorgan
Chase Bank, Loan and Agency Services Group, 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, XX
00000, Attention of Xxxxxx Xxxxxx (Telecopy No. (000) 000-0000), with a copy to
JPMorgan Chase Bank, 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention of
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx (Telecopy No. (000) 000-0000); and
(c) if to any Lender, to it at its address (or telecopy number) set
forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.
Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other
communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. All notices and
other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions
of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date of receipt.
Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be posted to
Intralinks or a similar website or delivered by electronic communications
pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the
foregoing shall not apply to notices pursuant to Section 2 unless otherwise
agreed by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender. The Administrative
Agent, the Borrower or the Guarantor 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.
SECTION 10.2. Waivers; Amendments. (a) No failure or delay by the
Administrative Agent or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder
shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of
any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to
enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or
the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder are cumulative and are not
exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of
any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by the Credit
Parties therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be
permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent
shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which
given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan
shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the
Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of such
Default at the time.
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(b) Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived,
amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing
entered into by the Credit Parties and the Required Lenders or by the Credit
Parties and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders;
provided that no such agreement shall (i) increase the Commitment of any Lender
without the written consent of such Lender, (ii) reduce the principal amount of
any Loan or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable
hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iii)
postpone the scheduled date of payment of the principal amount of any Loan, or
any interest thereon, or any fees payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of,
waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date of expiration
of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby,
(iv) change Section 2.16(b) or (c) in a manner that would alter the pro rata
sharing of payments required thereby, without the written consent of each
Lender, (v) release the guarantee contained in Article VII, without the written
consent of each Lender or (vi) change any of the provisions of this Section or
the definition of "Required Lenders" or any other provision hereof specifying
the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any
rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder,
without the written consent of each Lender; provided, further, that no such
agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the
Administrative Agent or the Swingline Lender hereunder without the prior written
consent of the Administrative Agent or the Swingline Lender, as the case may be.
SECTION 10.3. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver. (a) 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 counsel for the Administrative Agent, in connection with the
syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation and
administration of this Agreement and any amendments, modifications or waivers of
the provisions hereof (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 in connection with
this Agreement, including its rights under this Section, or in connection with
the Loans made hereunder, including in connection with any workout,
restructuring or negotiations in respect thereof.
(b) The Credit Parties shall jointly and severally indemnify the
Administrative Agent 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, damages,
liabilities and related expenses, including the fees, charges and disbursements
of any counsel for any Indemnitee, incurred by or asserted against any
Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the
execution or delivery of this Agreement or any agreement or instrument
contemplated hereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective
obligations hereunder or the consummation of the Transactions or any other
transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) any Loan or the use of the proceeds
therefrom, (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous
Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Credit Parties or any
Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Credit
Parties or any Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim,
litigation,
57
investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on
contract, tort or any other theory 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, damages, liabilities or
related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final
and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of such Indemnitee.
(c) To the extent that any Credit Party fails to pay any amount required
to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent or the Swingline Lender under
paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the
Administrative Agent or the Swingline Lender, 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 the Swingline Lender in its capacity as
such. The Administrative Agent or the Swingline Lender shall have the right to
deduct any amount owed to it by any Lender under this paragraph (c) from any
payment made by it to such Lender hereunder.
(d) To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Credit Parties shall
not assert, and hereby waive, 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 or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the
Transactions, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof.
(e) All amounts due under this Section shall be payable promptly after
written demand therefor.
SECTION 10.4. Successors and Assigns. (a) The provisions of this
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto
and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that no
Credit Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations
hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted
assignment or transfer by any Credit Party without such consent 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 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) Any Lender may 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 (i) except
in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, each of
the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (and, in the case of an assignment of
all or a portion of a Commitment or any Lender's obligations in respect of its
Swingline Exposure, the Swingline Lender) must give its prior written consent to
such assignment (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), (ii) except
in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an
assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender's Commitment,
the amount of the Commitment of the assigning
58
Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment
and Acceptance with respect to such assignment is delivered to the
Administrative Agent) shall not be less than $5,000,000 unless each of the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent, (iii) 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, (iv) the parties
to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an
Assignment and Acceptance, together with a processing and recordation fee of
$3,500, (v) the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the
Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire and (vi) each partial
assignment shall be made ratably between the Tranche A1 Commitments and Tranche
A1 Loans, on the one hand, and the Tranche A2 Commitments and Tranche A2 Loans,
on the other hand; provided, further, that any consent of the Borrower otherwise
required under this paragraph shall not be required if an Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing. Upon acceptance and recording pursuant to paragraph
(d) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each
Assignment and Acceptance, the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and,
to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, 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 Acceptance, be released from its obligations under this Agreement
(and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance 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
2.13, 2.14, 2.15 and 10.3). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or
obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this paragraph 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 paragraph (e) of
this Section.
(c) The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an agent of the
Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices in The City of New York a copy of
each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to it and a register for the
recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitment of,
and principal amount of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms
hereof from time to time (the "Register"). The entries in the Register shall be
conclusive, and each Credit Party, 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.
(d) Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Acceptance
executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, the assignee's completed
Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender
hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of
this Section and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph
(b) of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and
Acceptance and record the information contained therein in the Register. No
assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been
recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.
(e) Any Lender may, without the consent of any Credit Party, the
Administrative Agent or the Swingline Lender, sell participations to one or more
banks or other entities (a "Participant") in all or a portion of such Lender's
rights and obligations under this
59
Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and 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 Credit
Parties, the Administrative Agent and the other Lenders shall continue to deal
solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender's rights and
obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which
a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain
the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment,
modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such
agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the
consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver
described in the first proviso to Section 10.2(b) that affects such Participant.
Subject to paragraph (f) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each
Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.13, 2.14 and 2.15 to
the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by
assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section.
(f) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment
under Section 2.13 or 2.15 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 2.15 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 2.15(e) as
though it were a Lender.
(g) Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in
all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of
such Lender, including any such pledge or assignment to a Federal Reserve Bank,
and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security
interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest
shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any
such assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.
(h) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any
Lender (a "Granting Lender") may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle (an
"SPC"), identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender
to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, the option to provide to the
Borrower all or any part of any Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise
be obligated to make to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement; provided that
(i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any SPC to make any Loan and
(ii) if an SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to provide
all or any part of such Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make
such Loan pursuant to the terms hereof. The making of a Loan by an SPC hereunder
shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as
if, such Loan were made by such Granting Lender. Each party hereto hereby agrees
that no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation
under this Agreement (all liability for which shall remain with the Granting
Lender). In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees (which
agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement) that, prior to the
date that is one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding
commercial paper or other indebtedness of any SPC, it will not institute
against, or join any other person in instituting against, such SPC any
bankruptcy,
60
reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceedings under the
laws of the United States or any state thereof. In addition, notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Section 10.4(h), any SPC may (A) with notice
to, but without the prior written consent of, the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent and without paying any processing fee therefor, assign all
or a portion of its interests in any Loans to the Granting Lender, or with the
prior written consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) to any financial institutions
providing liquidity and/or credit support to or for the account of such SPC to
support the funding or maintenance of Loans, and (B) disclose on a confidential
basis any non-public information relating to its Loans to any rating agency,
commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety, guarantee or credit or
liquidity enhancement to such SPC; provided that non-public information with
respect to the Borrower may be disclosed only with the Borrower's consent which
will not be unreasonably withheld. This paragraph (h) may not be amended without
the written consent of any SPC with Loans outstanding at the time of such
proposed amendment. An SPC shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment
under Section 2.13 or 2.15 than the applicable Granting Lender would have been
entitled to receive under such Sections if the Granting Lender had made the
relevant credit extension.
SECTION 10.5. Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and
warranties made by the Credit Parties herein and in the certificates or other
instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement shall be
considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall
survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of any Loans
regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf
and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had
notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at
the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and
effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any
fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid
and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. The provisions of
Sections 2.13, 2.14, 2.15 and 10.3 and Article IX shall survive and remain in
full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination
of the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.
SECTION 10.6. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement
may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different
counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when
taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and any
separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative
Agent constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject
matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings,
oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in
Section 4.1, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been
executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall
have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the
signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding
upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
successors and assigns. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page
of this Agreement by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually
executed counterpart of this Agreement.
61
SECTION 10.7. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement held to be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such
jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or
unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of
the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in
a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other
jurisdiction.
SECTION 10.8. Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, each Lender is hereby authorized at any time and
from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply
any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final)
at any time held and other indebtedness at any time owing by such Lender to or
for the credit or the account of either Credit Party against any of and all the
obligations of such Credit Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement
held by such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made
any demand under this Agreement and although such obligations may be unmatured.
The rights of each Lender under this Section are in addition to other rights and
remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Lender may have.
SECTION 10.9. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of
Process. (a) This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed
by the law of the State of New York.
(b) Each Credit Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits,
for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme
Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County and of the United
States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate
court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating
to this Agreement, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each
of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all
claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined
in such New York State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal
court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such
action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other
jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.
Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent
or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to
this Agreement against any Credit Party or its properties in the courts of any
jurisdiction.
(c) Each Credit Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to
the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it
may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or
proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement 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 law, the defense of an inconvenient
forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.
(d) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of
process in the manner provided for notices in Section 10.1. Nothing in this
Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process
in any other manner permitted by law.
62
SECTION 10.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO
THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL
BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR
RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (WHETHER
BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES
THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED,
EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF
LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT
AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY,
AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
SECTION 10.11. Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table of
Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this
Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into
consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.
SECTION 10.12. Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined
below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates'
directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel
and other advisors (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, (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or
regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party
to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder
or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the enforcement
of rights hereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions
substantially the same as those of this Section, to any assignee of or
Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its
rights or obligations under this Agreement, (g) with the consent of the Borrower
or (h) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than
as a result of a breach of this Section by it or (ii) becomes available to the
Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source
other than any Credit Party. For the purposes of this Section, "Information"
means all information received from any Credit Party relating to any Credit
Party or its business, other than any such information that is available to the
Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to
disclosure by such Credit Party; provided that, in the case of information
received from any Credit Party after the date hereof, such information is
clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required
to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall
be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has
exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such
Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any party to this Agreement
(and any employee, representative, or other agent of any party to this
Agreement) may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind,
the tax treatment and tax treatment of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax
analyses) that are provided to it relating to such tax treatment and tax
structure.
63
However, (x) any such information relating to the tax treatment or tax structure
is required to be kept confidential to the extent necessary to comply with any
applicable federal or state securities laws and (y) with respect to any document
that contains information concerning the tax treatment or tax structure of the
transactions contemplated hereby as well as other information, the foregoing
sentence shall only apply to such portions of such document that relate to such
tax treatment or tax structure.
SECTION 10.13. Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything herein
to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan,
together with all fees, charges and other amounts which are treated as interest
on such Loan under applicable law (collectively the "Charges"), shall exceed the
maximum lawful rate (the "Maximum Rate") which may be contracted for, charged,
taken, received or reserved by the Lender holding such Loan in accordance with
applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan hereunder,
together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the
Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have
been payable in respect of such Loan but were not payable as a result of the
operation of this Section shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges
payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or periods shall be increased
(but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together
with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Effective Rate to the date of
repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.
SECTION 10.14 Termination of Existing Agreement. The Lenders that are
parties to the Existing Agreement (and which constitute "Required Lenders" under
and as defined in the Existing Agreement) hereby waive the three business days'
notice requirement set forth in Section 2.7 of the Existing Agreement for
terminating the commitments under the Existing Agreement, and such Lenders and
the Company agree that, subject to the Company's payment of all amounts then
payable under the Existing Agreement (whether or not then due), the commitments
under the Existing Agreement shall be terminated on the Closing Date and
replaced by the Commitments hereunder. After the termination of such
commitments, the Existing Agreement shall be of no further force or effect
(except for provisions thereof which by their terms survive termination
thereof).
64
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year
first above written.
BLOCK FINANCIAL CORPORATION
By: (ILLEGIBLE)
--------------------------------
Title: President
H&R BLOCK, INC.
By: (ILLEGIBLE)
--------------------------------
Title: President, Chief Executive
Officer and Chairman of the Board
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK,
as Administrative Agent, as a Lender and as
Swingline Lender
By:
--------------------------------
Title:
64
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year
first above written.
BLOCK FINANCIAL CORPORATION
By:
--------------------------------
Title:
H&R BLOCK, INC.
By:
--------------------------------
Title:
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK,
as Administrative Agent, as a Lender and as
Swingline Lender
By: (ILLEGIBLE)
--------------------------------
Title: Vice President
Signature page for the Credit and Guarantee
Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2003, among
Block Financial Corporation, as Borrower, H&R
Block, Inc., as Guarantor, the Lenders party
thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as
Administrative Agent
Bank of America, N.A.
-----------------------------------------------
[Name of Lender]
By: /s/ XXXXXXX XXXXXX
--------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Title: Principal
Signature page for the Credit and Guarantee
Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2003, among
Block Financial Corporation, as Borrower, H&R
Block, Inc., as Guarantor, the Lenders party
thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as
Administrative Agent
Bank One, N.A.
-----------------------------------------------
[Name of Lender]
By: /s/ XXXXXX XXXXXXXX
--------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: Director
Signature page for the Credit and Guarantee
Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2003, among
Block Financial Corporation, as Borrower, H&R
Block, Inc., as Guarantor, the Lenders party
thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as
Administrative Agent
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-----------------------------------------------
Citibank, N.A.
By:
--------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President
Signature page for the Credit and Guarantee
Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2003, among
Block Financial Corporation, as Borrower, H&R
Block, Inc., as Guarantor, the Lenders party
thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as
Administrative Agent
COMERCIA BANK
-----------------------------------------------
[Name of Lender]
By: /s/ XXXXX X. XXXXXXXX
--------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: First Vice President
Signature page for the Credit and Guarantee
Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2003, among
Block Financial Corporation, as Borrower, H&R
Block, Inc., as Guarantor, the Lenders party
thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as
Administrative Agent
Commerce Bank, N.A.
-----------------------------------------------
[Name of Lender]
By: /s/ XXX XXXXX
--------------------------------------------
Name: Xxx Xxxxx
Title: Vice President
Signature page for the Credit and Guarantee
Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2003, among
Block Financial Corporation, as Borrower, H&R
Block, Inc., as Guarantor, the Lenders party
thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as
Administrative Agent
-----------------------------------------------
Credit Lyonnais New York Branch
By: /s/ XXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX
--------------------------------------------
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Vice President
Signature page for the Credit and Guarantee
Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2003, among
Block Financial Corporation, as Borrower, H&R
Block, Inc., as Guarantor, the Lenders party
thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as
Administrative Agent
Credit Suisse First Boston, acting through
its Cayman Islands Branch
-----------------------------------------------
By: /s/ XXXX X. XXXXXX
--------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Director
By: /s/ XXXXXXX XXXX
--------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Title: Associate
Signature page for the Credit and Guarantee
Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2003, among
Block Financial Corporation, as Borrower, H&R
Block, Inc., as Guarantor, the Lenders party
thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as
Administrative Agent
Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch
-----------------------------------------------
[Name of Lender]
By: /s/ XXXXX X. XXXXXXXXXX
--------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
Title: Director
By: /s/ XXXXXXXX XXXXXX
--------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Title: Director
Signature page for the Credit and Guarantee
Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2003, among
Block Financial Corporation, as Borrower, H&R
Block, Inc., as Guarantor, the Lenders party
thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as
Administrative Agent
Fifth Third Bank
-----------------------------------------------
[Name of Lender]
By: /s/ ANDY BUSCHRE
--------------------------------------------
Name: Andy Buschre
Title: Vice President
Signature page for the Third Amended and
Restated Credit and Guarantee Agreement, dated
as of August , 2003, among Block Financial
Corporation, as Borrower, H&R Block, Inc., as
Guarantor, the Lenders party thereto and
JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Administrative Agent
First National Bank of Kansas
-----------------------------------------------
[Name of Lender]
By: /s/ XXXX X. XXXXXX
--------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Senior Vice President
Signature page for the Credit and Guarantee
Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2003, among
Block Financial Corporation, as Borrower, H&R
Block, Inc., as Guarantor, the Lenders party
thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as
Administrative Agent
Keybank National Association
-----------------------------------------------
[Name of Lender]
By: /s/ XXXXXXX X. XXXX, XX.
--------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx, Xx.
Title: Vice President
Signature page for the Third Amended and
Restated Credit and Guarantee Agreement, dated
as of August , 2003, among Block Financial
Corporation, as Borrower, H&R Block, Inc., as
Guarantor, the Lenders party thereto and
JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Administrative Agent
Xxxxxx Brothers Bank, FSB
-----------------------------------------------
[Name of Lender]
By: /s/ XXXXX X. XXXX
--------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxx
Title: Sup
Signature page for the Credit and Guarantee
Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2003, among
Block Financial Corporation, as Borrower, H&R
Block, Inc., as Guarantor, the Lenders party
thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as
Administrative Agent
Mellon Bank, N.A.
-----------------------------------------------
[Name of Lender]
By: /s/ XXXXX X. XXXX
--------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxx
Title: Vice President
Signature page for the Credit and Guarantee
Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2003, Among
Block Financial Corporation, as Borrower, H&R
Block, Inc., as Guarantor, the Lenders party
thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as
Administrative Agent
-----------------------------------------------
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Bank USA
By: /s/ XXXXX XXXXX
--------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxx
Title: Vice President
Signature page for the Credit and Guarantee
Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2003, among
Block Financial Corporation, as Borrower, H&R
Block, Inc., as Guarantor, the Lenders party
thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as
Administrative Agent
National City Bank
-----------------------------------------------
[Name of Lender]
By: /s/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX
--------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Senior Vice President
Signature page for the Third Amended and
Restated Credit and Guarantee Agreement, dated
as of August ___, 2003, among Block Financial
Corporation, as Borrower, H&R Block, Inc., as
Guarantor, the Lenders party thereto and
JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Administrative Agent
PNC Bank, National Association
-----------------------------------------------
[Name of Lender]
By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXXXXX
--------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Title: Vice President
Signature page for the Credit and Guarantee
Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2003, among
Block Financial Corporation, as Borrower, H&R
Block, Inc., as Guarantor, the Lenders party
thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as
Administrative Agent
Royal Bank of Canada
-----------------------------------------------
[Name of Lender]
By: /s/ XXXXX XXX
--------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx Xxx
Title: Manager
Signature page for the Credit and Guarantee
Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2003, among
Block Financial Corporation, as Borrower, H&R
Block, Inc., as Guarantor, the Lenders party
thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as
Administrative Agent
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc
-----------------------------------------------
[Name of Lender]
By: /s/ XXXXX XXXXXXXX
--------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: Senior Vice President
Signature page for the Credit and Guarantee
Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2003, among
Block Financial Corporation, as Borrower, H&R
Block, Inc., as Guarantor, the Lenders party
thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as
Administrative Agent
The Bank of Nova Scotia
-----------------------------------------------
[Name of Lender]
By: /s/ XXXX X. XXXXXXXX
--------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: Managing Director
Signature page for the Credit and Guarantee
Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2003, among
Block Financial Corporation, as Borrower, H&R
Block, Inc., as Guarantor, the Lenders party
thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as
Administrative Agent
UBS AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
By /s/ XXXXXXXX X'XXXXX
---------------------------------------------
Xxxxxxxx X'Xxxxx
Director
By /s/ XXXXXXX X. SAINT
--------------------------------------------
Xxxxxxx X. Saint
Associate Director
Banking Products Services, US
Signature page for the Third Amended and
Restated Credit and Guarantee Agreement, dated
as of August __, 2003, among Block Financial
Corporation, as Borrower, H&R Block, Inc., as
Guarantor, the Lenders party thereto and
JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Administrative Agent
U.S. Bank, National Association
-----------------------------------------------
[Name of Lender]
By: /s/ XXXX X. XXXXX
--------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxx
Title: Vice President
Signature page for the Credit and Guarantee
Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2003, among
Block Financial Corporation, as Borrower, H&R
Block, Inc., as Guarantor, the Lenders party
thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as
Administrative Agent
Wachovia Bank National Association
-----------------------------------------------
[Name of Lender]
By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXXXXXXX
--------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxx
Title: Managing Director
Signature page for the Credit and Guarantee
Agreement, dated as of August 12, 2003, among
Block Financial Corporation, as Borrower, H&R
Block, Inc., as Guarantor, the Lenders party
thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as
Administrative Agent
Xxxxx Fargo Bank, N.A.
-----------------------------------------------
[Name of Lender]
By: /s/ XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
--------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Title: Vice President
By: /s/ XXXXX BUENTER
--------------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx Buenter
Title: Vice President
EXHIBIT 10.4
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF
ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE
Reference is made to the $2,000,000,000 Credit and Guarantee Agreement,
dated as of August 12, 2003 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from
time to time, the "Credit Agreement"), among Block Financial Corporation (the
"Borrower"), H&R Block, Inc., the Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase
Bank, as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, the "Agent").
Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used
herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.
The Assignor identified on Schedule 1 hereto (the "Assignor") and the
Assignee identified on Schedule 1 hereto (the "Assignee") agree as follows:
1. The Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to the Assignee
without recourse to the Assignor, and the Assignee hereby irrevocably
purchasers and assumes from the Assignor without recourse to the Assignor, as
of the Effective Date (as defined below), the interest described in Schedule 1
hereto (the "Assigned Interest") in and to the Assignor's rights and
obligations under the Credit Agreement with respect to those credit facilities
contained in the Credit Agreement as are set forth on Schedule 1 hereto
(individually, an "Assigned Facility"; collectively, the "Assigned
Facilities"), in a principal amount for each Assigned Facility as set forth on
Schedule 1 hereto.
2. The Assignor (a) makes no representation or warranty and assumes no
responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations
made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or with respect to the
execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or
value of the Credit Agreement, or any other instrument or document furnished
pursuant thereto, other than that the Assignor has not created any adverse
claim upon the interest being assigned by it hereunder and that such interest
is free and clear of any such adverse claim; (b) makes no representation or
warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to the financial condition
of any Credit Party, any of their respective Subsidiaries or any other obligor
or the performance or observance by any Credit Party, any of their Subsidiaries
or any other obligor of any of their respective obligations under the Credit
Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto or
thereto; and (c) attaches any promissory notes held by it evidencing the
Assigned Facilities and (i) requests that the Agent, upon request by the
Assignee, exchange the attached promissory notes for a new promissory note or
promissory notes payable to the Assignee and (ii) if the Assignor has retained
any interest in the Assigned Facility, requests that the Agent exchange the
attached promissory notes for a new promissory note or promissory notes payable
to the Assignor, in each case in amounts which reflect the assignment being
made hereby (and after giving effect to any other assignments which have become
effective on the Effective Date).
3. The Assignee (a) represents and warrants that it is legally
authorized to enter into this Assignment and Acceptance; (b) confirms that it
has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the
financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 3.4 thereof and such other
documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own
2
credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Acceptance; (c)
agrees that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Assignor, the
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 decisions
in taking or not taking action under the Credit Agreement or any other
instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto or thereto; (d) appoints and
authorizes the Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise
such powers and discretion under the Credit Agreement or any other instrument
or document furnished pursuant hereto or thereto as are delegated to the Agent
by the terms thereof, together with such powers as are incidental thereto; and
(e) agrees that it will be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement and
will perform in accordance with its terms all the obligations which by the
terms of the Credit Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender
including, if it is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the
United States, its obligation pursuant to Section 2.14 of the Credit Agreement.
4. The effective date of this Assignment and Acceptance shall be the
Effective Date of Assignment described in Schedule 1 hereto (the "Effective
Date"). Following the execution of this Assignment and Acceptance, it will be
delivered to the Agent for acceptance by it and recording by the Agent pursuant
to the Credit Agreement, effective as of the Effective Date (which shall not,
unless otherwise agreed to by the Agent, be earlier than five Business Days
after the date of such acceptance and recording by the Agent).
5. Upon such acceptance and recording, from and after the Effective Date,
the Agent shall make all payments in respect of the Assigned Interest
(including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to the
Assignor for amounts which have accrued to the Effective Date and to the
Assignee for amounts which have accrued subsequent to the Effective Date. The
Assignor and the Assignee shall make all appropriate adjustments in payments
by the Agent for periods prior to the Effective Date or with respect to the
making of this assignment directly between themselves.
6. From and after the Effective Date, (a) the Assignee shall be a party
tot the Credit Agreement and, to the extent provided in this Assignment and
Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender thereunder and shall be
bound by the provisions thereof and (b) the Assignor shall, to the extent
provided in this Assignment and Acceptance, relinquish its rights and be
released from its obligations under the Credit Agreement.
7. This Assignment and Acceptance shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Assignment and
Acceptance to be executed as of the date first above written by their
respective duly authorized officers on Schedule 1 hereto.
Schedule 1
to Assignment and Acceptance
Name of Assignor:
------------------------------
Name of Assignee:
------------------------------
Effective Date of Assignment:
------------------------------
Credit Tranche Principal Commitment
Facility Assigned Assigned Amount Assigned Percentage Assigned
----------------- -------- --------------- -------------------
Revolving Credit Tranche A2 $____________ __._______%
Revolving Credit Tranche A1 $____________ __._______%
[NAME OF ASSIGNEE] [NAME OF ASSIGNOR]
By: By:
----------------------------- -------------------------------
Title: Title:
Consented to and Accepted: [Consented To:
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, as BLOCK FINANCIAL CORPORATION
Administrative Agent and as Swingline
Lender
By:
By: -------------------------------
----------------------------- Title]
Title:
EXHIBIT B-1
[FORM OF OPINION OF MAYER, BROWN, XXXX & MAW LLP]
(MAYER, BROWN, XXXX & MAW LLP LETTERHEAD)
August 12, 2003
JPMorgan Chase Bank,
as Administrative Agent
and each of the other financial institutions
which is a party to the Credit Agreement
referred to below
Re: Credit and Guarantee Agreement dated as of August 12, 2003 among Block
Financial Corporation, as Borrower, H&R Block, Inc., as Guarantor, the
Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Administrative Agent (the
"Credit Agreement")
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special New York counsel for Block Financial Corporation,
a Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"), and H&R Block, Inc., a Missouri
corporation (the "Guarantor"), in connection with the above-referenced Credit
Agreement. This opinion letter is rendered to you pursuant to Section 4.2(b) of
the Credit Agreement. The Borrower and the Guarantor are sometimes referred to
herein as a "Credit Party" and collectively as the "Credit Parties."
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the respective meanings
given thereto in the Credit Agreement.
We have examined a copy of the Credit Agreement and conducted such
investigations of law as we have deemed necessary or advisable for purposes of
this opinion letter. We have not undertaken any independent investigation of
any factual matter which might be relevant to this opinion letter and we have
made no independent investigation of the records of, or other matters relating
to, the Credit Parties or any other Person.
For the purposes of this opinion letter, we have assumed that all items
submitted to us as originals are complete and authentic and all signatures
thereon are genuine, and all items submitted to us as copies are complete and
conform to the originals. We have also assumed, with your permission and
without independent investigation of any kind, that: (i) all of the parties to
the Credit Agreement (the "Parties") have been duly incorporated and are
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of their respective
jurisdictions of organization;
MAYER, BROWN, XXXX & MAW LLP
JPMorgan Chase Bank and the
Lenders party to the Credit Agreement
August 12, 2003
Page 2
(ii) the Credit Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
all of the Parties; (iii) the execution, delivery and performance of the Credit
Agreement by each Party (a) are in accordance with (and do not conflict with)
the laws of such Party's jurisdiction of organization, (b) do not violate
or contravene such Party's organizational documents and (c) do not violate or
contravene any provision of any agreement or contract applicable to or binding
upon such Party; (iv) the Credit Agreement is the legal, valid and binding
obligation of each Party (other than the Credit Parties, as to which we express
an opinion below); (v) there are no agreements or understandings among the
Parties, written or oral, and no usage of trade or course of prior dealing
among the Parties which would, in either case, define, supplement or qualify
the terms of the Credit Agreement; and (vi) the representations and warranties
made in the Credit Agreement by the Parties are true and accurate.
Upon the basis of the foregoing and the other assumptions and
qualifications set forth below, we are of the opinion that:
1. The Credit Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement
of the Credit Parties, enforceable in accordance with its terms.
2. Based upon our review of those statutes, rules, regulations and
judicial decisions which in our experience are normally applicable to or
normally relevant in connection with transactions of the type provided for in
the Credit Agreement, the execution and delivery by the Credit Parties of the
Credit Agreement and the performance by the Credit Parties of their respective
obligations thereunder do not and will not violate, contravene or constitute a
default under any provision of any United States Federal or New York State law
or regulation.
3. No order, consent, approval, license, authorization or validation of or
exemption by any government or public body or authority of the State of New
York is required to authorize or is required in connection with the execution,
delivery and performance by the Credit Parties of the Credit Agreement.
4. The making of the Loans and the application of the proceeds thereof as
provided in the Credit Agreement will not violate Regulation T, U or X of the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
Our opinions set forth above are subject to the following qualifications:
(1) We express no opinion as to any law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code
or similar provision of law of any county, municipality or similar political
subdivision of the State of New York or any agency or instrumentality thereof,
and we express no opinion as to any law to which the Credit Parties may be
subject solely as a result of your legal or regulatory status or as to any
federal or state securities or "blue sky" law. Members of our Firm are admitted
to practice law in the State of New York and we express no opinion on any law
other than the laws of the State of New York and the Federal law of the United
States to the extent specifically set forth herein.
Mayer, Brown, Xxxx & Maw LLP
JPMorgan Chase Bank and the
Lenders party to the Credit Agreement
August 12, 2003
Page 3
(b) Our opinions are subject to the effect of any applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance
or similar law affecting creditors' rights generally and 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 and limitations on
the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other
equitable remedies.
(c) We express no opinion as to: (i) obligations relating to
indemnification, contribution or exculpation of costs, expenses or
liabilities which contravene public policy; (ii) any agreement by the
Credit Parties to the subject matter jurisdiction of a United States
federal court, to the waiver of the right to jury trial or to be served
with process by service in a particular manner; (iii) any agreement by the
Credit Parties purporting to waive any objection to the laying of venue or
any claim that an action or proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient
forum; (iv) the effect of the law of any jurisdiction other than the State
of New York wherein any Lender may be located or wherein the enforcement of
the Credit Agreement may be sought that limits the rates of interest, fees
or other charges legally chargeable or collectible; or (v) whether any
court outside the State of New York would honor the choice of New York law
as the governing law of the Credit Agreement.
(d) We wish to point out that provisions of the Credit Agreement
which state that the liability of the Guarantor shall not be released or
reduced by any amendment to, or any variation, release or waiver of, any
obligation of the Borrower may be enforceable only to the extent such
amendment, variation, release or waiver is not so material as to constitute
a new contract between the parties.
The opinions expressed herein are effective only as to the date of
this opinion letter. We do not assume responsibility for updating this
opinion letter as of any date subsequent to the date of this opinion
letter, and we assume no responsibility for advising you of (i) any changes
with respect to any matters described in this opinion letter or (ii) the
discovery subsequent to the date of this opinion letter of factual
information not previously known to us pertaining to events occurring prior
to the date of this opinion letter.
This opinion letter is rendered solely to you in connection with the
above-described transactions. This opinion letter may not be relied upon by
you for any other purpose, or relied upon by any other Person for any
purpose, without in each case our prior written consent.
Very truly yours,
/s/ MAYER, BROWN, XXXX & MAW LLP
--------------------------------
MAYER, BROWN, XXXX & MAW LLP
EXHIBIT B-2
[FORM OF OPINION OF XXXXX XXXX LLP]
(XXXXX XXXX LOGO) (XXXXX XXXX LLP LETTERHEAD)
August 12, 2003
JPMorgan Chase Bank,
as Administrative Agent,
and each of the other financial institutions
which is a party to the Credit Agreement
referred to below
Re: Credit and Guarantee Agreement dated as of August 12, 2003 among Block
Financial Corporation, as Borrower, H&R Block, Inc., as Guarantor, the
Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Administrative Agent (the
"Credit Agreement")
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Block Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation,
as borrower (the "Borrower"), and H&R Block, Inc., a Missouri corporation, as
guarantor (the "Guarantor"), in connection with the above-referenced Credit
Agreement. The Borrower and the Guarantor are sometimes individually referred to
herein as a "Credit Party" and are sometimes collectively referred to herein as
the "Credit Parties." This opinion letter is furnished to you pursuant to
Section 4.2(b) of the Credit Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein without
definition have the same meanings as in the Credit Agreement.
For purposes of this opinion letter, we have examined the following documents;
(1) a copy of the Credit Agreement; (ii) copies of the certificates delivered to
the Administrative Agent by the Credit Parties pursuant to Sections 4.2(c) and
4.2(d) of the Credit Agreement; (iii) the Officer's Certificates delivered to us
by the Credit Parties; (iv) a copy of the Certificates of Good Standing with
respect to the Borrower issued by the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware dated August 6, 2003; (v) a copy of the Certificate of Good Standing
with respect to the Guarantor issued by the Secretary of State of the State of
Missouri dated August 7, 2003; and (vi) such other corporate records of the
Credit Parties as we have deemed necessary or appropriate to enable us to render
the opinions expressed below.
Whenever our opinion with respect to the existence or absence of facts is
indicated to be based on our knowledge or awareness, we are referring solely to
the actual knowledge of Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx and Xxxxxx X.
Xxxx. Except as expressly set forth herein, we have not undertaken any
independent investigation to determine the existence or absences of such facts
and no inference as to our
Xxxxx Xxxx LLP
August 12, 2003
Page 2
knowledge concerning such facts should be drawn from the fact that such
representation has been undertaken by us.
In rendering this opinion letter, we have made and relied upon the following
assumptions with your permission, and without independent investigation: (1) the
representations and warranties made in the Credit Agreement, and the other
factual matters contained in certificates and other documents examined by us,
are true and accurate; (ii) the signatures of individuals (other than
individuals signing on behalf of any Credit Party) signing all documents in
connection with which this opinion letter is tendered are genuine and
authorized; (iii) all documents submitted to us as copies, whether certified or
not, conform to authentic original documents; and (iv) all parties (other than
any Credit Party) to the documents reviewed by us have full power and authority
to execute, deliver and perform thereunder, and all such documents have been
duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other actions on the part of such
parties and others, have been duly executed by such parties, have been duly
delivered by such parties and, as to all such parties, constitute legal, valid
and binding obligations of such parties, enforceable in accordance with their
respective terms.
Based upon the foregoing and in reliance thereon, and subject to the
limitations, qualifications and exceptions set forth herein, we are of the
opinion that:
1. Each Credit Party is a corporation duly organized, validly existing
and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and has
full corporate power and corporate authority to own and operate its material
properties and to carry on its business as now conducted.
2. Each Credit Party has the full corporate power and corporate authority
to execute, deliver and perform the Credit Agreement.
3. The execution, delivery and performance by each Credit Party of the
Credit Agreement (a) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action
on the part of such Credit Party, and (b) do not, in respect of the Credit
Parties or any of their respective Subsidiaries, require the approval or
consent of, authorization by, or registration, declaration or filing with, any
governmental authority, except for those which have been obtained and remain in
effect.
4. The Credit Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each
Credit Party.
5. The execution, delivery and performance by each Credit Party of the
Credit Agreement will not (a) contravene the terms of the Certificate or
Articles of Incorporation or bylaws of such Credit Party; (b) conflict with or
result in a breach of any material provision of or constitute a default (with
due notice or lapse of time, or both) under any material agreement to which
such Credit Party is a party or its properties are subject, or result in the
creation or imposition of any lien or encumbrance upon any of the property of
any Credit Party pursuant to the provisions of any such agreement or
instrument; (c) contravene, to our knowledge, any order, injunction, writ or
decree of any court or arbiter to which any Credit Party or its property is
subject; or (d) violate any law, treaty, rule or
XXXXX XXXX LLP
August 12, 2003
Page 3
regulation, in each case applicable to or binding upon any Credit Party or any
of its property or to which any Credit Party or any of its property is subject.
6. Neither Credit Party is an "investment company" or a company
"controlled" by an "investment company" as such terms are defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
The opinions set forth above are subject to the following qualification:
The opinions expressed herein are limited to the laws of the State of Missouri,
the federal law of the United States, and the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware, and we do not express any opinion concerning any other law
not do we purport to be experts in the laws of any other jurisdictions.
The opinions expressed herein shall be effective only as of the date of this
opinion letter. We do not assume responsibility for updating this opinion
letter as of any date subsequent to the date hereof and assume no
responsibility for advising you of any changes with respect to any matters
described herein that may occur subsequent to the date hereof or from the
discovery subsequent to the date of this opinion letter of information not
previously known to us pertaining to events occurring prior to the date of this
opinion letter.
This opinion letter is tendered only to the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders and is solely for their benefit and the benefit of their permitted
assignees and participants in connection with the above-described transactions.
This opinion letter may not be relied upon by the Administrative Agent, the
Lenders or any permitted assignee or participant for any other purpose, or
quoted or relied upon by any other person, firm or corporation for any purpose
without our prior written consent.
Very truly yours,
/s/ XXXXX XXXX LLP
EXHIBIT C
[FORM OF EXTENSION REQUEST]
[Date]
JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Administrative Agent
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: _____________
Dear Sirs:
Reference is made to the $2,000,000, Credit and Guarantee Agreement, dated
as of August 12, 2003, among Block Financial Corporation, H&R Block, Inc., the
Lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Administrative Agent (as the
same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the
"Credit Agreement"). Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein as
therein defined.
This is an Extension Request pursuant to Section 2.18 of the Credit
Agreement requesting an extension of the Revolving Termination Date to [INSERT
REQUESTED REVOLVING TERMINATION DATE]. Please transmit a copy of this Extension
Request to each of the Lenders.
Very truly yours,
BLOCK FINANCIAL CORPORATION
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
H&R BLOCK, INC.
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
SCHEDULE 2.1
COMMITMENTS
Lender Commitment
------ --------------
JPMorgan Chase Bank $ 200,000,000
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc $ 200,000,000
Bank of America, N.A. $ 200,000,000
Bank One, NA $ 200,000,000
Citibank, N.A. $ 150,000,000
Wachovia Bank National Association $ 150,000,000
Credit Lyonnais New York Branch $ 100,000,000
Key Bank National Association $ 100,000,000
The Bank of Nova Scotia $ 100,000,000
Xxxxxx Brothers Bank, FSB $ 95,000,000
Comerica Bank $ 80,000,000
Royal Bank of Canada $ 75,000,000
Xxxxx Fargo Bank, N.A. $ 75,000,000
Mellon Bank, N.A. $ 65,000,000
U.S. Bank, National Association $ 50,000,000
Fifth Third Bank $ 25,000,000
First National Bank of Kansas $ 25,000,000
National City Bank $ 25,000,000
UBS AG, Cayman Islands Branch $ 15,000,000
Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch $ 15,000,000
Credit Suisse First Boston, $ 15,000,000
acting through its Cayman Islands Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Bank USA $ 15,000,000
PNC Bank, National Association $ 15,000,000
Commerce Bank, N.A. $ 10,000,000
TOTAL $2,000,000,000
SCHEDULE 3.4(a)
GUARANTEE OBLIGATIONS
o Guarantee Obligations with respect to obligations reflected on the
Guarantor's consolidated balance sheet as of April 30, 2003 or in the notes
thereto.
SCHEDULE 3.6
DISCLOSED MATTERS
-None-
SCHEDULE 3.13
SUBSIDIARIES
The following is a list of the direct and indirect subsidiaries of H&R Block,
Inc., a Missouri corporation. All active subsidiaries do business under their
corporate names listed below or close derivatives thereof:
Jurisdiction in
Name which organized
---- ----------------
1) Block Investment Corporation ......................... Delaware (1)
2) H&R Block Group, Inc. ................................ Delaware (1)
3) HRB Management, Inc. ................................. Missouri (2)
4) H&R Block Tax and Financial Services Limited ......... United Kingdom (3)
5) Companion Insurance, Ltd. ............................ Bermuda (3)
6) H&R Block Services, Inc. ............................. Missouri (2)
7) H&R Block Tax Services, Inc. ......................... Missouri (4)
8) H&R Block of Dallas, Inc. ............................ Texas (5)
9) HRB Partners, Inc. ................................... Delaware (6)
10) HRB Texas Enterprises, Inc. .......................... Missouri (5)
11) H&R Block and Associates, L.P. ....................... Delaware (7)
12) H&R Block Texas Tax Company, L.P. .................... Delaware (8)
13) H&R Block Texas Support Services, L.P. ............... Delaware (8)
14) BWA Advertising, Inc. ................................ Missouri (5)
15) H&R Block (Guam), Inc. ............................... Guam (5)
16) H&R Block Enterprises (Guam), Inc. ................... Guam (9)
17) H&R Block Canada, Inc. ............................... Canada (5)
18) Financial Stop, Inc. ................................. British Columbia (10)
19) H&R Block Canada Financial Services, Inc. ............ Canada (10)
20) H&R Block Enterprises, Inc. .......................... Missouri (5)
21) H&R Block Tax Company, LLC ........................... Missouri (11)
22) H&R Block Support Services, LLC ...................... Missouri (11)
23) H&R Block Tax Company ................................ California (5)
24) H&R Block Eastern Tax Services, Inc. ................. Missouri (4)
25) H&R Block Eastern Enterprises, Inc. .................. Missouri (12)
26) H&R Block Indiana Tax Company, L.P. .................. Delaware (13)
27) H&R Block Indiana Support Services, LP ............... Delaware (14)
28) H&R Block Eastern Tax Company, LLC ................... Missouri (15)
29) H&R Block Eastern Support Services, LLC .............. Missouri (15)
30) HRB Royalty, Inc. .................................... Delaware (4)
31) H&R Block Limited .................................... New South Wales (16)
32) Block Financial Corporation .......................... Delaware (2)
33) Option One Mortgage Corporation ...................... California (17)
34) Option One Mortgage Acceptance Corporation ........... Delaware (18)
35) Option One Mortgage Securities Corp. ................. Delaware (18)
36) Option One Mortgage Securities II Corp. .............. Delaware (18)
37) Premier Trust Deed Services, Inc. .................... California (18)
38) Premier Mortgage Services of Washington, Inc. ........ Washington (18)
39) H&R Block Mortgage Corporation ....................... Massachusetts (18)
40) Option One Direct Insurance Agency, Inc. ............. California (18)
41) Woodbridge Mortgage Acceptance Corporation.................................. Delaware(18)
42) Option One Loan Warehouse Corporation....................................... Delaware(18)
43) Companion Mortgage Corporation.............................................. Delaware(17)
44) Franchise Partner, Inc. .................................................... Nevada(17)
45) NCS Mortgage Services, L.L.C. .............................................. Georgia(19)
46) National Consumer Services Corp. II, L.L.C. ................................ Georgia(19)
47) OLDE Financial Corporation.................................................. Michigan(17)
48) H&R Block Financial Advisors, Inc. ......................................... Michigan(20)
49) OLDE Discount of Canada..................................................... Canada(21)
50) H&R Block Insurance Agency of Massachusetts, Inc. .......................... Massachusetts(21)
51) OLDE Property Corporation................................................... Michigan(20)
52) OLDE Realty Corporation..................................................... Michigan(20)
53) 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Inc. ..................................................... Florida(22)
54) 44 East Central, Inc. ...................................................... Florida(22)
55) 0000 Xxxx Xxxx, Inc. ....................................................... Ohio(22)
56) 0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Inc. .................................................... Michigan(22)
57) 450 Silver Spur, Inc. ...................................................... Michigan(22)
58) 0000 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxx, Inc. ................................................. Michigan(22)
59) 3414 Shawnee Mission, Inc. ................................................. Michigan(22)
60) OLDE Equipment Corporation.................................................. Michigan(20)
61) Financial Marketing Services, Inc. ......................................... Michigan(17)
62) 2430472 Nova Scotia Co. .................................................... Nova Scotia(23)
63) Xxxxxx Canadian Direct Holdings Company..................................... Canada(23)
64) RSM McGladrey Business Services, Inc. ...................................... Delaware(2)
65) RSM McGladrey, Inc. ........................................................ Delaware(24)
66) Xxxxxx, Inc. ............................................................... Arizona(25)
67) McGladrey Contract Business Services, L.L.C. ............................... Minnesota(26)
68) Birchtree Financial Services, Inc. ......................................... Oklahoma(25)
69) Birchtree Insurance Agency, Inc. ........................................... Missouri(29)
70) Pension Resources, Inc. .................................................... Illinois(25)
71) Freed Xxxxxx ABL Services, Inc. ............................................ Delaware(25)
72) FM Business Services, Inc. ................................................. Delaware(25)
73) X'Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx, Inc. ........................................... California(25)
74) X'Xxxxxx Consulting, LLC ................................................... California(26)
75) X'Xxxxxx Career Connections, LLC ........................................... California(27)
76) Credit Union Jobs, LLC...................................................... California(28)
77) PDI Global, Inc. ........................................................... Delaware(24)
78) Xxx Investments, Inc. ...................................................... Texas(24)
79) W-1 Holdings, L.L.C. ....................................................... Texas(30)
80) X.X. Xxxx Business Services, Inc. .......................................... Delaware(24)
81) X.X. Xxxx Investment Advisors, L.L.C. ...................................... Maryland(31)
82) RSM Equico, Inc. ........................................................... Delaware(24)
83) RSM Equico Capital Markets, LLC............................................. Delaware(32)
84) Equico, Inc. ............................................................... California(33)
85) Equico Limited.............................................................. United Kingdom(33)
86) RSM Equico Canada, Inc. .................................................... Canada(33)
87) RSM McGladrey Business Solutions, Inc. ..................................... Delaware(24)
88) MyBenefitSource, Inc. ...................................................... Georgia(34)
89) XxXxxxxxxXxxxxx.xxx Agency, Inc. ........................................... Georgia(35)
90) XxXxxxxxxXxxxxx.xxx Agency of Alabama, Inc. ................................ Alabama(35)
91) XxXxxxxxxXxxxxx.xxx Agency of Florida, Inc. ................................ Georgia(35)
92) HRB Retail Services, Inc. .................................................. Delaware(2)
93) H&R Block Small Business Resources, Inc. ................................... Delaware(2)
Notes to Subsidiaries of H&R Block, Inc.:
(1) Wholly owned subsidiary of H&R Block, Inc.
(2) Wholly owned subsidiary of H&R Block Group, Inc.
(3) Wholly owned subsidiary of HRB Management, Inc.
(4) Wholly owned subsidiary of H&R Block Services, Inc.
(5) Wholly owned subsidiary of H&R Block Tax Services, Inc.
(6) Wholly owned subsidiary of H&R Block of Dallas, Inc.
(7) Limited partnership in which HRB Texas Enterprises, Inc. is a 1%
general partner and HRB Partners, Inc. is a 99% limited partner
(8) Limited partnership in which HRB Texas Enterprises, Inc. is a 1%
general partner and H&R Block and Associates, L.P. is a 99% limited
partner
(9) Wholly owned subsidiary of H&R Block (Guam), Inc.
(10) Wholly owned subsidiary of H&R Block Canada, Inc.
(11) Limited liability company in which H&R Block Tax Services, Inc. has a
100% membership interest
(12) Wholly owned subsidiary of H&R Eastern Tax Services, Inc.
(13) Limited partnership in which H&R Block Eastern Enterprises, Inc. is a
1% general partner and H&R Block Eastern Tax Company, LLC is a 99%
limited partner.
(14) Limited partnership in which H&R Block Eastern Enterprises, Inc. is a
1% general partner and H&R Block Eastern Support Services, LLC is a 99%
limited partner.
(15) Limited liability company in which H&R Block Eastern Tax Services, Inc.
has a 100% membership interest
(16) Wholly owned subsidiary of HRB Royalty, Inc.
(17) Wholly owned subsidiary of Block Financial Corporation
(18) Wholly owned subsidiary of Option One Mortgage Corporation
(19) Limited liability company in which Block Financial Corporation has a
96.25% membership interest and Companion Mortgage Corporation has a
3.75% membership interest
(20) Wholly owned subsidiary of OLDE Financial Corporation
(21) Wholly owned subsidiary of H&R Block Financial Advisors, Inc.
(22) Wholly owned subsidiary of OLDE Realty Corporation
(23) Wholly owned subsidiary of Financial Marketing Services, Inc.
(24) Wholly owned subsidiary of RSM McGladrey Business Services, Inc.
(25) Wholly owned subsidiary of RSM McGladrey, Inc.
(26) Limited liability company in which RSM McGladrey, Inc. has a 100%
membership interest
(27) Limited liability company in which RSM McGladrey, Inc. owns a 50%
membership interest and the California Credit Union League owns a 50%
membership interest
(28) Limited liability company in which X'Xxxxxx Consulting, LLC has a 50%
membership interest and Credit Union Jobs, Inc. has a 50% membership
interest
(29) Wholly owned subsidiary of Birchtree Financial Services, Inc.
(30) Limited liability company in which RSM McGladrey Business Services,
Inc. has a 100% membership interest
(31) Limited liability company in which X.X. Xxxx Business Services, Inc.
has a 100% membership interest
(32) Limited liability company in which RSM Equico, Inc. has 100% membership
interest
(33) Wholly owned subsidiary of RSM Equico, Inc.
(34) Company in which RSM McGladrey Business Services, Inc. owns
approximately 80% of the issued and outstanding stock
(35) Wholly owned subsidiary of MyBenefitSource, Inc.
SCHEDULE 6.2
EXISTING INDEBTEDNESS
o The Guarantor's guarantee of Subsidiaries' obligations under surety bonds
and fidelity bonds issued pursuant to state mortgage licensing
requirements.
SCHEDULE 6.3
EXISTING LIENS
-None-
SCHEDULE 6.4(b)
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS
o Finance Company/Banking Business (consumer finance and mortgage loan related
products and services in addition to consumer finance, credit card and
mortgage business currently conducted by the Credit Parties and the
Subsidiaries).
SCHEDULE 6.6
EXISTING RESTRICTIONS
o Indenture, dated as of October 20, 1997, by and between the Credit Parties and
Bankers Trust Company, as trustee
o Repurchase Agreements of the type referred to in Section 6.2(i) of this
Agreement.
