CREDIT AGREEMENT by and among MIDAMERICAN ENERGY HOLDINGS COMPANY, as Borrower THE BANKS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS PARTIES HERETO, as Banks JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as L/C Issuer UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A., as Administrative Agent THE...
EXHIBIT
99.1
[EXECUTION
COPY]
by
and
among
MIDAMERICAN
ENERGY HOLDINGS COMPANY,
as
Borrower
THE
BANKS
AND OTHER FINANCIAL
INSTITUTIONS
PARTIES HERETO,
as
Banks
JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as
L/C Issuer
UNION
BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A.,
as
Administrative Agent
THE
ROYAL
BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC,
as
Syndication Agent
and
ABN
AMRO
BANK N.V.,
JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, N.A.,
and
BNP
PARIBAS,
as
Co-Documentation Agents
____________________________________________________________
RBS
SECURITIES CORPORATION,
as
Joint Lead Arranger and Joint Book Runner
UNION
BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A.,
as
Joint Lead Arranger and Joint Book Runner
Dated
as
of August 26, 2005
TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
Page
|
||
ARTICLE
I
|
DEFINITIONS
AND INTERPRETATION
|
1
|
Section
1.1
|
Defined
Terms
|
1
|
Section
1.2
|
Computation
of Time Periods
|
1
|
Section
1.3
|
Accounting
Terms
|
1
|
Section
1.4
|
No
Presumption Against Any Party
|
2
|
Section
1.5
|
Use
of Certain Terms
|
2
|
Section
1.6
|
Headings
and References
|
2
|
Section
1.7
|
Independence
of Provisions
|
2
|
|
||
ARTICLE
II
|
AMOUNTS
AND TERMS OF THE LOANS AND THE LETTERS OF CREDIT
|
2
|
Section
2.1
|
The
Loans
|
2
|
Section
2.2
|
Letters
of Credit
|
8
|
Section
2.3
|
Repayment;
Reductions
|
14
|
Section
2.4
|
Interest
on Loans
|
15
|
Section
2.5
|
Payments
and Computations
|
18
|
Section
2.6
|
Fees
|
21
|
Section
2.7
|
Increased
Costs and Capital Requirements
|
22
|
Section
2.8
|
Taxes
|
24
|
Section
2.9
|
Replacement
of Bank; Reimbursement for Bid Rate Loans
|
28
|
Section
2.10
|
Cash
Collateral Account
|
28
|
ARTICLE
III
|
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT
|
29
|
Section
3.1
|
Closing
Date Conditions Precedent
|
29
|
Section
3.2
|
Conditions
Precedent to Each Loan and Each L/C
|
31
|
ARTICLE
IV
|
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
|
32
|
Section
4.1
|
Representations
and Warranties
|
32
|
ARTICLE
V
|
COVENANTS
OF BORROWER
|
35
|
Section
5.1
|
Affirmative
Covenants
|
35
|
Section
5.2
|
Negative
Covenants
|
39
|
Section
5.3
|
Financial
Covenants
|
41
|
|
||
ARTICLE
VI
|
EVENTS
OF DEFAULT
|
41
|
Section
6.1
|
Events
of Default
|
41
|
Section
6.2
|
Cash
Collateral
|
44
|
ARTICLE
VII
|
RELATIONSHIP
OF AGENT AND BANKS
|
44
|
Section
7.1
|
Authorization
and Action
|
44
|
ii
Section
7.2
|
Agent’s
Reliance, Etc.
|
44
|
Section
7.3
|
Agent
and Affiliates
|
45
|
Section
7.4
|
Bank
Credit Decision
|
45
|
Section
7.5
|
Indemnification
|
45
|
Section
7.6
|
Successor
Agent
|
46
|
Section
7.7
|
Syndication
Agent; Other Titles
|
46
|
ARTICLE
VIII
|
MISCELLANEOUS
|
47
|
Section
8.1
|
Notices
|
47
|
Section
8.2
|
Successors
and Assigns
|
47
|
Section
8.3
|
Amendments
and Related Matters
|
47
|
Section
8.4
|
Costs
and Expenses; Indemnification
|
48
|
Section
8.5
|
Oral
Communications
|
49
|
Section
8.6
|
Entire
Agreement
|
49
|
Section
8.7
|
Governing
Law
|
49
|
Section
8.8
|
Severability
|
49
|
Section
8.9
|
Counterparts
|
49
|
Section
8.10
|
Confidentiality
|
49
|
Section
8.11
|
Assignments
and Participations
|
50
|
Section
8.12
|
Waiver
of Trial by Jury
|
53
|
Section
8.13
|
Choice
of Forum and Service of Process
|
54
|
Section
8.14
|
Remedies
|
54
|
Section
8.15
|
Right
of Set-Off
|
54
|
Section
8.16
|
Acknowledgements
|
55
|
Section
8.17
|
Patriot
Act Notice
|
55
|
APPENDICES
|
||
Appendix
A
|
Defined
Terms
|
|
SCHEDULES
|
||
Schedule
I
|
Commitment
Schedule
|
|
Schedule
II
|
Pricing
Schedules
|
|
Schedule
III
|
Letters
of Credit
|
|
EXHIBITS
|
||
Exhibit
A
|
Form
of Assignment and Assumption
|
|
Exhibit
B-1
|
Form
of Notice of Borrowing
|
|
Exhibit
B-2
|
Form
of Request for Continuation of a Eurodollar Committed Loan
|
|
Exhibit
B-3
|
Form
of Request for Conversion of or to a Eurodollar Committed
Loan
|
|
Exhibit
B-4
|
Form
of Bid Request
|
|
Exhibit
C-1
|
Form
of Note (Committed Loans)
|
|
Exhibit
C-2
|
Form
of Note (Bid Rate Loans)
|
|
Exhibit
D-1
|
Form
of Opinion of Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP
|
iii
Exhibit
D-2
|
Form
of Opinion of Borrower’s In-house Counsel
|
Exhibit
E
|
Form
of L/C Issuance Request
|
Exhibit
F
|
Form
of Accession and Amendment Agreement
|
|
Exhibit
G
|
Form
of Increasing Bank Agreement
|
iv
This
CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of August 26, 2005 (this “Agreement”),
is
made by and among MIDAMERICAN ENERGY HOLDINGS COMPANY, an Iowa corporation
(“Borrower”),
THE
BANKS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS PARTIES HERETO, as Banks, JPMORGAN
CHASE
BANK, N.A., as L/C Issuer, UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A. (“UBOC”),
as
Agent, THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC (“RBS”),
as
Syndication Agent, and ABN AMRO BANK N.V., JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. and
BNP
PARIBAS, as Co-Documentation Agents.
WHEREAS,
Borrower has requested that the Banks make loans to, and the L/C Issuer issue
letters of credit for the account of, Borrower for the purposes described
herein; and
WHEREAS,
the Banks are willing to make loans to, and the L/C Issuer is willing to
issue
letters of credit for the account of, Borrower on the terms and subject to
the
conditions contained herein.
NOW,
THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
AND INTERPRETATION
Section
1.1 Defined
Terms.
For all
purposes of this Agreement, capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined
herein shall have the meanings set forth in Appendix
A,
which
Appendix is hereby incorporated into this Agreement and made a part hereof
as if
set forth herein in full.
Section
1.2 Computation
of Time Periods.
In this
Agreement in the computation of periods of time from a specified date to
a later
specified date, the word “from” means “from and including” and the words “to”
and “until” mean “to but excluding.”
Section
1.3 Accounting
Terms.
All
accounting terms not specifically defined herein shall be construed in
accordance with GAAP. If any “Accounting Change” (as defined below) shall occur
and such change results in a change in the calculation of financial covenants,
standards or terms in this Agreement, Borrower and Agent shall enter into
negotiations to amend the affected provisions of this Agreement with the
desired
result that the criteria for evaluating Borrower’s consolidated financial
condition and results of operations shall be substantially the same after
such
Accounting Change as if such Accounting Change had not been made. Until such
time as such an amendment shall have been executed and delivered by Borrower,
Agent and the Majority Banks, all financial covenants, standards and terms
in
this Agreement shall continue to be calculated or construed as if such
Accounting Change had not occurred. “Accounting
Change”
means a
change in accounting principles required by the promulgation of any final
rule,
regulation, pronouncement or opinion by the Financial Accounting Standards
Board
of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants or, if applicable,
the
SEC (or successors thereto or agencies with similar functions).
Section
1.4 No
Presumption Against Any Party.
Neither
this Agreement nor any uncertainty or ambiguity herein shall be construed
or
resolved against Agent, the L/C Issuer, any Bank or Borrower, whether under
any
rule of construction or otherwise. On the contrary, this Agreement has been
reviewed by each of the parties and their counsel and shall be construed
and
interpreted according to the ordinary meaning of the words used so as to
fairly
accomplish the purposes and intentions of all parties hereto.
Section
1.5 Use
of
Certain Terms.
Unless
the context of any Credit Document requires otherwise, as used in any Appendix
or Schedule hereto or to any other Credit Document or in any Credit Document:
the plural includes the singular, the singular includes the plural, the part
includes the whole, “including” is not limiting and “or” has the inclusive
meaning of the phrase “and/or.” The words “hereof,”“herein,”“hereby,”“hereunder”
and other similar terms in this Agreement or in Appendix
A
refer to
this Agreement and Appendix
A
as a
whole and not exclusively to any particular provision of this Agreement or
of
Appendix
A.
The
terms “knowledge of”, “awareness of” and “receipt of notice of” in relation to
Borrower, and other similar expressions, mean knowledge of, awareness of,
or
receipt of notice by, a Responsible Officer of Borrower.
Section
1.6 Headings
and References.
Section
and other headings are for reference only and shall not affect the
interpretation or meaning of any provision of this Agreement. Unless otherwise
provided, references to Articles, Sections, Schedules and Exhibits herein
or in
Appendix
A
shall be
deemed references to Articles, Sections, Schedules and Exhibits of and to
this
Agreement. References to this Agreement or to any other Credit Document include
this Agreement or such other Credit Document, as the case may be, as it may
be
modified, amended, restated or supplemented from time to time pursuant to
the
provisions hereof or thereof. A reference to a Person, herein or in any other
Credit Document, includes the successors and assigns of such Person, but
such
successors and assigns shall have rights under this Agreement only to the
extent
permitted hereby.
Section
1.7 Independence
of Provisions.
All
agreements and covenants hereunder and under the other Credit Documents shall
be
given independent effect such that if a particular action or condition is
prohibited by the terms of any such agreement or covenant, the fact that
such
action or condition would be permitted within the limitations of another
agreement or covenant shall not be construed as allowing such action to be
taken
or condition to exist.
ARTICLE
II
AMOUNTS
AND TERMS OF THE
LOANS
AND THE LETTERS OF CREDIT
Section
2.1 The
Loans.
(a) The
Loan Commitments.
Each
Bank severally agrees on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement
(including those of Article III) to make loans to Borrower on any Banking
Day at
the Applicable Lending Office for such Bank during the period from the date
hereof until the Termination Date in an aggregate principal amount at any
one
time outstanding not to exceed (i) such Bank’s Commitment then in effect less
(ii) the sum of (A) such Bank’s pro rata
share
(based on the ratio of its Commitment to the Aggregate Commitments) of the
L/C
Outstandings and (B) such Bank’s pro rata
share
(based on the ratio of its Commitment to the Aggregate Commitments) of the
Bid
Rate Loan Outstandings.
2
Each
borrowing of Committed Loans shall be funded by the Banks ratably according
to
each Bank’s Commitment, and shall be in an aggregate amount of not less than One
Million Dollars ($1,000,000) or an integral multiple of One Million Dollars
($1,000,000) in excess thereof. Committed Loans may be borrowed, repaid or
prepaid pursuant to Section 2.3, and reborrowed (including a reborrowing
for the
purpose of refunding an outstanding Loan in whole or in part) under this
Section
2.1(a).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Committed Loan shall be made that would
cause
the sum of (1) the amount of such Committed Loan (together with the amounts
of
all other Committed Loans and all Bid Rate Loans to be made on the same Funding
Date and the face amounts of all L/Cs to be issued on such Funding Date),
(2)
the L/C Outstandings, (3) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding
Committed Loans, and (4) the Bid Rate Loan Outstandings to exceed the Aggregate
Commitments, and Committed Loans must be repaid immediately in an amount
sufficient to eliminate any excess.
(b) Post-Closing
Commitment Increase Option.
(i)
Notwithstanding
anything in Section
8.3
to the
contrary, this Agreement may be amended from time to time following the Closing
Date, pursuant to subsection (ii) and/or subsection (iii) of this clause
(b), to
increase the Aggregate Commitments, at the option of Borrower, pursuant to
one
or more Accession and Amendment Agreements and/or Increasing Bank Agreements,
as
applicable, entered into by Borrower, Agent and each Bank or other financial
institution that shall agree to provide an additional or increased Commitment,
without the consent of any other Bank; provided,
that
(A) the aggregate principal amount of such additional or increased Commitments
shall not exceed $200,000,000, (B) such option may be exercised no later
than
the date that occurs 30 days prior to the Termination Date, (C) the aggregate
amount of any such increase of the Aggregate Commitments on any date shall
not
be less than Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000) or an integral multiple
of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) in excess thereof, (D) no Default or
Event
of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such increase,
(E) the representations and warranties contained in Article
IV
of this
Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of
the
date of such increase, both before and after giving effect to such increase,
as
though made on and as of such date (except
to the extent that such representations and warranties are specifically limited
to a prior date, in which case such representations and warranties shall
be true
and correct in all material respects on and as of such prior date), (F) on
the
date of such increase, Borrower shall pay to Agent for distribution to the
then-existing Banks all interest (other than interest in respect of any Bid
Rate
Loans), Utilization Fees, Facility Fees and L/C Fees payable under Section
2.6(a)(iv),
in each
case accrued to the date of such increase, together with any amounts payable
to
such Banks pursuant to Section
2.4(d)
attributable to the reduction (prior to the Maturity Date of the applicable
Interest Period) of any such Bank’s outstanding Eurodollar Rate Loans pursuant
to subsection (v) below, calculated on the basis set forth in Section
2.4(d)
as
though Borrower has prepaid such Eurodollar Rate Loans on the date of such
increase, (G)
no
Commitment of any Bank shall be increased without the consent of such Bank
in
its sole and absolute discretion, (H) Borrower shall have delivered to Agent
such consents, authorizations, certificates, opinions and other documents
as
Agent may reasonably request in connection with such increase (including,
without limitation, any new
3
Note
or
replacement Note requested by the applicable New Bank or Increasing Bank
pursuant to Section
2.5(i)(iii))
and (I)
any New Bank shall be acceptable to the L/C Issuer based upon its then-existing
credit criteria (such acceptance not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed,
and
shall be evidenced by the L/C Issuer’s execution of the applicable Accession and
Amendment Agreement).
(ii)
In
the
event that the Aggregate Commitments shall be increased at any time following
the Closing Date in accordance with subsection (i) above through a post-closing
syndication to one or more additional financial institutions (other than
an
existing Bank) (“New
Banks”),
each
New Bank shall execute and deliver to Agent an Accession and Amendment
Agreement. Upon (A) the execution and delivery of an Accession and Amendment
Agreement by a New Bank and the other parties thereto, (B) the payment by
such
New Bank of any amounts required to be paid by such New Bank pursuant to
subsection (v) below and (C) the satisfaction of the other applicable conditions
set forth in subsection (i) above, such New Bank shall automatically become
a
Bank hereunder with a Commitment equal to the amount set forth opposite its
name
on the signature pages of such Accession and Amendment Agreement.
(iii)
In the
event that any Bank shall agree (in its sole and absolute discretion) to
increase its Commitment (an “Increasing
Bank”)
at any
time following the Closing Date in accordance with subsection (i) above,
such
Increasing Bank shall execute and deliver to Agent an Increasing Bank Agreement.
Upon (A) the execution and delivery of an Increasing Bank Agreement by an
Increasing Bank and the other parties thereto, (B) the payment by such
Increasing Bank of any amounts required to be paid by such Increasing Bank
pursuant to subsection (v) below and (C) the satisfaction of the other
applicable conditions set forth in subsection (i) above, the Commitment of
such
Increasing Bank shall automatically increase to the amount set forth opposite
its name on the signature pages of such Increasing Bank Agreement.
(iv)
Agent
shall promptly notify the Banks and the L/C Issuer of each New Bank and
Increasing Bank, each New Bank’s and Increasing Bank’s Commitment and the
Percentage of each Bank after taking into account the Commitment of each
New
Bank and Increasing Bank.
(v)
On
the
effective date of each Accession and Amendment Agreement and Increasing Bank
Agreement, each New Bank and Increasing Bank shall purchase by assignment
from
the other Banks (and such other Banks shall assign to the New Banks and
Increasing Banks) such portion of the Loans (other than any outstanding Bid
Rate
Loans), if any, owing to them as shall be designated by Agent such that,
after
giving effect to all such purchases and assignments, the outstanding Loans
(other than Bid Rate Loans) owing to each Bank shall equal such Bank’s
Percentage of the aggregate amount of Loans (other than Bid Rate Loans) owing
to
all Banks. In addition, on the effective date of each Accession and Amendment
Agreement and Increasing Bank Agreement, each New Bank and Increasing Bank
shall
be deemed to have purchased by assignment from the other Banks (and such
other
Banks shall be deemed to have assigned to the New Banks and Increasing Banks)
a
portion of the
undivided interests and participations (if any) then held by such other Banks
in
each outstanding L/C, each substitute letter of credit, each drawing made
thereunder, the related Application Documents, all L/C Obligations (other
than
fees
4
under
Section
2.6(a)(v))
relating to such L/C and all Credit Documents securing, guaranteeing, supporting
or otherwise benefiting the payment of such L/C Obligations, such that, after
giving effect to all such deemed purchases and assignments, each Bank’s
undivided interests and participations in the foregoing shall equal such
Bank’s
Percentage of the aggregate amount of such undivided interests and
participations held by all of the Banks.
(c) Notice
of Borrowing.
Each
Committed Loan shall be made pursuant to a Notice of Borrowing (substantially
in
the form of Exhibit
B-1)
given
by Borrower to Agent at the Agency Office not later than 12:00 Noon (local
time
in the city where the Agency Office is situated) on (i) the third Banking
Day
prior to the date of the proposed Committed Loan, in the case of any Eurodollar
Committed Loan, or (ii) the Banking Day prior to the date of the proposed
Committed Loan, in the case of any Base Rate Loan. Agent shall give to each
Bank
prompt notice thereof by telex, cable or telefacsimile. Committed Loans may
also
be requested by telephonic request made no later than the time by which the
Notice of Borrowing would otherwise be due pursuant to the preceding sentence,
provided
that a
Notice of Borrowing confirming such telephonic request is received by Agent
no
later than 12:00 Noon (local time in the city where the Agency Office is
situated) on the Banking Day prior to such Committed Loan. Each Notice of
Borrowing or telephonic request for a Committed Loan shall specify (1) the
date
of such Committed Loan, (2) the amount of such Committed Loan, (3) whether
such
Committed Loan is to be a Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Committed Loan,
and (4)
if such Committed Loan is to be a Eurodollar Committed Loan, the Interest
Period
with respect thereto. Each Bank shall, before 12:00 Noon (local time in the
city
where the Agency Office is situated) on the date of such Committed Loan,
make
available to Agent at the Agency Office, in same day funds in Dollars for
credit
to the Applicable Agent’s Account, such Bank’s ratable portion of such Committed
Loan and, unless Agent has been notified by a Bank pursuant to Section
2.1(f)
that
such Bank will not make available its ratable portion of such Committed Loan,
Agent will make such funds available to Borrower at the Agency Office on
the
date of such Committed Loan.
(d) Notice
of Borrowing Irrevocable.
Each
Notice of Borrowing and telephonic request for a Committed Loan shall be
irrevocable and binding on Borrower. Borrower shall indemnify each Bank against
any loss, cost or expense incurred by such Bank as a result of any failure
to
fulfill, on or before the date specified in the Notice of Borrowing or
telephonic request for a Committed Loan, the applicable conditions set forth
in
Article
III,
including, without limitation, any loss (including loss of anticipated profits),
cost or expense incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of
deposits or other funds acquired by such Bank to fund the Committed Loans
to be
made by such Bank when the Committed Loans, as a result of such failure,
are not
made on such date.
(e) Bid
Rate Loan Procedures.
(i)
Subject
to the terms and conditions set forth herein (including, without limitation,
Section
2.1(k)),
from
the date hereof until the Termination Date, Borrower may request Bids for
loans
denominated in Dollars and may (but shall not have any obligation to) accept
Bids and borrow loans from one or more Banks pursuant to this Section
2.1(e);
provided
that (A)
after giving effect to any requested Bid Rate Loan and to any other Bid Rate
Loan and any Committed Loans or L/Cs requested to be made or issued on the
same
Funding Date as such Bid Rate Loan, the sum of the outstanding principal
amount
of all Committed Loans and Bid Rate Loans plus the L/C Outstandings shall
not
exceed
5
the
Aggregate Commitments; and (B) Bid Requests may not be submitted more often
than
once in any period of five consecutive Banking Days. Each request for Bids
shall
be made pursuant to a Bid Request (substantially in the form of Exhibit
B-4) given by Borrower to Agent at the Agency Office not later than 12:00
Noon (local time in the city where the Agency Office is situated) on (X)
the
fourth Banking Day prior to the date of the proposed Bid Rate Loan, in the
case
of any Eurodollar Bid Rate Loan, or (Y) the second Banking Day prior to the
date
of the proposed Bid Rate Loan, in the case of any Fixed Rate Loan. Agent
shall
give to each Bank prompt notice thereof by telex, cable or telefacsimile,
inviting the Banks to submit Bids. Each Bid Request shall specify (1) the
date
of such Bid Rate Loan, (2) the amount of such Bid Rate Loan (which shall
not be
less than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) or an integral multiple of One
Million Dollars ($1,000,000) in excess thereof), (3) whether such Bid Rate
Loan
is to be a Eurodollar Bid Rate Loan or a Fixed Rate Loan, and (4) the Interest
Period to be applicable to such Bid Rate Loan (and, if such Bid Rate Loan
is a
Fixed Rate Loan for an Interest Period in excess of three months, the intervals
at which interest shall be payable with respect to the requested Fixed Rate
Loan).
(ii)
Each
Bank
may (but shall not have any obligation to) make one or more Bids to Borrower
in
response to a Bid Request. Each Bid by a Bank must be in a form approved
by
Agent and must be received by Agent at the Agency Office, and by Borrower,
not
later than 9:30 a.m. (local time in the city where the Agency Office is
situated) on (A) the third Banking Day prior to the date of the proposed
Bid
Rate Loan, in the case of any Eurodollar Bid Rate Loan, or (B) the Banking
Day
prior to the date of the proposed Bid Rate Loan, in the case of any Fixed
Rate
Loan. Bids that do not conform substantially to the form approved by Agent
or
that are not timely received by Agent and Borrower shall be rejected by Agent,
and Agent shall notify the applicable Bank as promptly as practicable. Borrower
shall notify Agent, promptly after 9:30 a.m. (local time in the city where
the
Agency Office is located) of the Banks from which Bids have been received
by
Borrower by such time. Each Bid shall specify (X) the principal amount of
the
Bid Rate Loan or Bid Rate Loans that the submitting Bank is willing to make,
(Y)
the Bid Rate or Bid Rates at which such Bank is prepared to make such Bid
Rate
Loan or Bid Rate Loans (expressed as a percentage rate per annum
in the
form of a decimal to no more than four decimal places) and (Z) the Interest
Period applicable to each such Bid Rate Loan and the last day
thereof.
(iii)
If
Agent
shall elect to submit a Bid in its capacity as a Bank, it shall submit such
Bid
directly to Borrower at least one quarter of an hour earlier than the time
by
which the other Banks are required to submit their Bids to Agent pursuant
to
subsection (ii) of this clause (e).
(iv)
Subject
only to the provisions of this subsection (iv), Borrower may, in its sole
and
absolute discretion, accept or reject any Bid. Borrower shall notify Agent
whether and to what extent it has decided to accept or reject each Bid at
the
Agency Office not later than 11:00 a.m. (local time in the city where the
Agency
Office is situated) on (A) the third Banking Day prior to the date of the
proposed Bid Rate Loan, in the case of any Eurodollar Bid Rate Loan, or (B)
the
Banking Day prior to the date of the proposed Bid Rate Loan, in the case
of any
Fixed Rate Loan; provided
that (W)
the failure of Borrower to give such notice shall be deemed to be a rejection
of
each Bid, (X) Borrower shall not accept a Bid made at a particular Bid Rate
if
Borrower rejects a Bid made at a lower Bid Rate, (Y) the aggregate amount
of the
Bids accepted by Borrower shall not exceed the aggregate amount of the requested
Bid Rate Loans specified in the related Bid Request, and (Z) to the extent
necessary to comply with clause (Y) above, Borrower may accept Bids at
6
the
same
Bid Rate in part, which acceptance, in the case of multiple Bids at such
Bid
Rate, shall be made pro rata
in
accordance with the amount of each such Bid, rounded to the nearest $1,000,000.
A notice given by Borrower pursuant to this subsection (iv) shall be
irrevocable.
(v)
Agent
shall promptly notify each bidding Bank by telecopy whether or not its Bid
has
been accepted (and, if so, the amount and Bid Rate so accepted), and each
successful bidder will thereupon become bound, subject to the terms and
conditions hereof, to make the Bid Rate Loan in respect of which its Bid
has
been accepted. Borrower shall indemnify each Bank that becomes so bound to
make
a Bid Rate Loan against any loss, cost or expense incurred by such Bank as
a
result of any failure to fulfill, on or before the date specified in the
relevant Bid Request, the applicable conditions set forth in Article
III,
including, without limitation, any loss (including loss of anticipated profits),
cost or expense incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of
deposits or other funds acquired by such Bank to fund the Bid Rate Loan to
be
made by such Bank when the affected Bid Rate Loan, as a result of such failure,
is not made on such date.
(f) Agent’s
Reliance on Bank Loans.
Unless
Agent shall have received notice from a Bank prior to the time of any Loan
that
such Bank will not make available to Agent the amount of such Bank’s ratable
portion of such Loan (or, in the case of a Bid Rate Loan, that such Bank
will
not make available to Agent the amount of such Bank’s Bid Rate Loan), Agent may
assume that such Bank has made such amount available to Agent on the date
of
such Loan in accordance with this Section
2.1,
and
Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to Borrower on
such
date a corresponding amount. If and to the extent that such Bank shall not
have
so made such amount available to Agent, such Bank and Borrower severally
agree
to repay to Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount advanced
to
Borrower, together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such
amount
is made available to Borrower until the date such amount is repaid to Agent,
at
(i) in the case of Borrower, the interest rate applicable at the time to
such
Loan, and (ii) in the case of such Bank, the Federal Funds Rate. If such
Bank
shall repay such amount to Agent, such repayment shall constitute such Bank’s
ratable portion of the affected Committed Loan, or such Bank’s Bid Rate Loan, as
the case may be, for purposes of this Agreement.
(g) Failure
to Make Loan.
The
failure of any Bank to make a Loan to be made by it shall not relieve any
other
Bank of its obligation, if any, hereunder to make its Loan on the date of
such
Loan, but no Bank shall be responsible for the failure of any other Bank
to make
the Loan to be made by such other Bank on the date of any Loan.
(h) Notice
of Interest Rate and Interest Period.
Agent
shall give prompt notice to Borrower and the Banks of the applicable interest
rate for each Loan determined by Agent pursuant to Section
2.4
as soon
as reasonably practicable after such rate is determined by Agent and in no
event
later than two (2) Banking Days prior to the making of such Loan in the case
of
any Eurodollar Rate Loan. Such notice shall also provide the Interest Period
for
any Eurodollar Rate Loan or Fixed Rate Loan.
7
(i) Conversion
Options.
Subject
to the provisions of Sections
2.1(k)
and
2.4(d),
Borrower may elect from time to time to convert any amount of Eurodollar
Committed Loans to Base Rate Loans by delivering a Request for Conversion
of or
to a Eurodollar Committed Loan (substantially in the form of Exhibit
B-3)
to
Agent prior to 12:00 Noon, New York City time, at least one (1) Banking Day
prior to the requested date of conversion. Subject to the provisions of
Section
2.1(k),
Borrower may elect from time to time to convert any amount of Base Rate Loans
to
Eurodollar Committed Loans by delivering a Request for Conversion of or to
a
Eurodollar Committed Loan to Agent prior to 12:00 Noon, New York City time,
at
least three (3) Banking Days prior to the requested date of conversion. Any
such
Request for Conversion of or to a Eurodollar Committed Loan with respect
to a
conversion to Eurodollar Committed Loans shall be irrevocable and shall specify
the length of the initial Interest Period or Interest Periods therefor. Upon
receipt of any such Request for Conversion of or to a Eurodollar Committed
Loan,
Agent shall promptly notify each Bank thereof. All or any part of outstanding
Eurodollar Committed Loans and Base Rate Loans may be converted as provided
herein, provided
that no
Base Rate Loan may be converted into a Eurodollar Committed Loan when any
Event
of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Majority Banks have determined
that such a conversion is not appropriate.
(j) Continuation
Options.
Subject
to the provisions of Section
2.1(k),
all or
a portion of any maturing Eurodollar Tranche may be continued as Eurodollar
Committed Loans upon the expiration of the then current Interest Period with
respect thereto by Borrower delivering a Request for Continuation of a
Eurodollar Committed Loan (substantially in the form of Exhibit
B-2)
to
Agent, prior to 12:00 Noon (New York City time) on the third Banking Day
prior
to the last day of the then current Interest Period, specifying the length
of
the next Interest Period to be applicable to such Eurodollar Committed Loans,
provided
that (i)
no portion of a Eurodollar Tranche may be continued as Eurodollar Committed
Loans when any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Majority
Banks have determined that such a continuation is not appropriate and (ii)
if
Borrower shall fail to give such notice or if such continuation is not
permitted, such Eurodollar Tranche shall be automatically converted to a
Base
Rate Loan on the last day of such then expiring Interest Period.
(k) Eurodollar
Tranches.
All
borrowings, conversions and continuations of Loans hereunder and all selections
of Interest Periods hereunder shall be in such amounts and be made pursuant
to
such elections so that, after giving effect thereto, each Eurodollar Tranche
shall be in an amount equal to One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) or a whole
multiple of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) in excess thereof and there
shall
be, in the aggregate, no more than ten (10) Eurodollar Tranches outstanding
at
any one time.
Section
2.2 Letters
of Credit.
(a) Amount
and Expiration.
(i)
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, from the Closing Date
to
the date which is thirty (30) days before the Termination Date, Borrower
may
request that the L/C Issuer, in its individual capacity, issue one or more
L/Cs
for the account of Borrower; provided,
however,
that no
L/C shall be issued if, after giving effect to the issuance of such L/C and
of
any other L/Cs requested to be issued on the same Funding Date and to the
making
of any Committed Loans or Bid Rate Loans requested to be made
on
the
same Funding Date, (A) the aggregate amount of all L/C Outstandings plus
the
aggregate amount of all Committed Loans and Bid Rate Loans then outstanding
would exceed the Aggregate Commitments at such time or (B) the aggregate
amount
of all L/C Outstandings would exceed the L/C Sublimit. Subject to the foregoing,
Borrower may request the
8
issuance
of L/Cs under this subsection (i), repay any drawings thereunder and request
the
issuance of additional L/Cs under this subsection (i). For all purposes of
this
Agreement, reference to the “issue” or “issuance” of any L/C or any L/C being
“issued” shall include the amendment, supplement or modification of any L/C,
including, without limitation, any increase in the amount thereof, or any
extension or renewal thereof.
(ii)
Each
L/C shall expire by its terms not later than the L/C Expiration Date. Any
L/C
may by its terms be automatically renewable for a period not to exceed 365
days;
provided,
that
any such L/C shall also expressly provide that its final expiry date shall
in
any event occur not later than the Termination Date, and such L/C shall not
be
extended beyond such date. No L/C may be denominated or drawable other than
in
Dollars.
(iii)
On
and after the Closing Date, the L/Cs set forth on Schedule
III
shall be
deemed to have been issued by the L/C Issuer under this Agreement.
(b) Notice
and Issuance.
(i)
Borrower shall give notice to the L/C Issuer and Agent of a request for issuance
of any L/C (a “L/C
Issuance Request”)
not
less than five (5) Banking Days prior to the proposed issuance date (which
prescribed time period may be waived at the option of the L/C Issuer in the
exercise of its sole discretion). Each L/C Issuance Request shall be
substantially in the form of Exhibit
E
and
shall specify: (A) the requested date of such issuance (which shall be a
Banking
Day); (B) the maximum amount of such L/C; (C) the expiration date of such
L/C;
(D) the purpose of such L/C; (E) the name and address of the beneficiary
of such
L/C; and (F) if requested by the L/C Issuer, the form of such L/C and any
related draw requests and similar documents (which shall be acceptable to
the
L/C Issuer in its reasonable discretion). The making of each L/C Issuance
Request shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by Borrower that
the
L/C requested therein may be issued in accordance with and will not violate
the
terms of Section
2.2(a).
Each
L/C Issuance Request shall be accompanied by the Application Documents, each
duly completed and executed and delivered by Borrower.
(ii)
Upon
acceptance of the form of the proposed L/C by the L/C Issuer and upon
fulfillment of the conditions set forth above in this Section
2.2(b)
and the
applicable conditions in Article
III,
the L/C
Issuer shall issue such L/C.
(iii)
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the L/C Issuer shall not be under any obligation
to issue any L/C if at the time of such issuance:
(A)
any
order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall
purport by its terms to enjoin or restrain the L/C Issuer from issuing such
L/C
or any requirement of law applicable to the L/C Issuer or any request or
directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental
Authority with jurisdiction over the L/C Issuer shall prohibit, or request
that
the L/C Issuer refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally
or such
L/C in particular, or shall impose upon the L/C Issuer with respect to such
L/C
any requirement (for which the L/C Issuer is not otherwise compensated) not
in
effect on the date hereof, or any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which
was
not applicable, in effect or known to the L/C Issuer as of the date hereof
and
which the L/C Issuer in good xxxxx xxxxx material to it; or
9
(B)
the
L/C
Issuer shall have received notice from Agent or any Bank prior to the issuance
of such L/C that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in this
Section
2.2(b)
or in
Article
III
are not
then satisfied, or that the issuance of such L/C would violate Section
2.2(a).
(iv)
Upon
the request of any Bank, the L/C Issuer shall promptly deliver to such Bank
the
information specified in Sections
2.2(b)(i)(A)
through
(F)
above
and copies of any L/C issued by the L/C Issuer.
(c) Reimbursement
Obligations.
(i)
The
L/C Issuer shall give prompt notice to Agent of each payment under an L/C
by the
L/C Issuer for drafts drawn or any other amount paid or disbursed under an
L/C.
Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse Agent, for the account of the L/C
Issuer, in immediately available funds at the address set forth below the
L/C
Issuer’s signature to this Agreement, on the day of each payment under an L/C
issued by the L/C Issuer for drafts drawn and any other amounts paid or
disbursed under such L/C (all such amounts so drawn, paid or disbursed until
reimbursed are hereinafter referred to as “Unreimbursed
Drawings”);
provided
that if
any such Unreimbursed Drawings are not so reimbursed on the date of any drafts
drawn, Borrower’s reimbursement obligation in respect of such Unreimbursed
Drawings shall be funded on such date (or on the next succeeding Banking
Day, if
applicable, as described in the last sentence of this clause (c)(i)) with
the
borrowing of Base Rate Loans (each such borrowing a “Mandatory
L/C Borrowing”)
in the
full amount of the Unreimbursed Drawings from all Banks based on each Bank’s
pro rata
share of
the Aggregate Commitments. Agent shall promptly notify the L/C Issuer of
the
amount of any Unreimbursed Drawings and Agent shall promptly notify the Banks
of
the amount of the related Mandatory L/C Borrowing not later than 2:00 p.m.
(New
York City time) on the date on which such Mandatory L/C Borrowing is to be
made.
Each Bank hereby irrevocably agrees to make Loans pursuant to each Mandatory
L/C
Borrowing in the amount, and not later than 5:00 p.m. (New York City time)
on
the date, and in the manner specified in the preceding sentence, notwithstanding
(A) that the amount of the Mandatory L/C Borrowing may not comply with the
minimum amount for borrowings otherwise required hereunder, (B) whether any
conditions specified in Article
III
are then
satisfied, (C) whether a Default or an Event of Default then exists, (D)
the
date of such Mandatory L/C Borrowing and (E) any reduction in the Aggregate
Commitments after any such L/C was issued. If Agent delivers the above-described
notice to any Bank later than 2:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the date
of the
required Mandatory L/C Borrowing, then such Bank shall not be obligated to
effect such Mandatory L/C Borrowing until the next succeeding Banking Day
(but
not later than 5:00 p.m. (New York City time)), and interest on the amount
of
the related Unreimbursed Drawing, at the rate of interest then applicable
to
Base Rate Loans, shall accrue and be payable by Borrower (for the account
of the
L/C Issuer to the extent that such Unreimbursed Drawing has not been reimbursed
in full) on the date on which interest on Base Rate Loans next becomes due
and
payable.
10
(ii)
Notwithstanding the foregoing (but without limiting the obligations of the
Banks
to make Loans pursuant to Mandatory L/C Borrowings in accordance with subsection
(i) above), if at any time when a draft is drawn under an L/C there are not
sufficient funds in any account of Borrower with the L/C Issuer or sufficient
availability of Commitments hereunder to permit the making of Loans sufficient
to fund the payment of such draft, any funds advanced by the L/C Issuer and
the
other Banks in payment thereof shall be due and payable immediately and shall
bear interest until paid in full at the Default Rate, such interest to be
payable on demand. In the event of any conflict, discrepancy or omission
of
terms provided herein between the terms established by the L/C Issuer in
its
Application Documents or otherwise and this Agreement, the terms provided
herein
shall prevail. The obligations of the Banks in respect of any funds so advanced
or to be advanced by the L/C Issuer under this Section
2.2(c)(ii)
and
Section
2.2(c)(i)
shall be
as more particularly described in Sections
2.2(e)(ii)
and
(iii).
(d) General
Unconditional Obligations.
The L/C
Obligations shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be
performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the
Application Documents under all circumstances whatsoever, including, without
limitation, the following circumstances, whether relating to any one or more
L/Cs:
(i)
any
agreement between Borrower and any beneficiary of an L/C or any agreement
or
instrument relating thereto (the “Beneficiary
Documents”)
proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid, unenforceable or insufficient
in any
respect;
(ii)
any
amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from all or any of the
Beneficiary Documents;
(iii)
the
existence of any claim, setoff, defense or other rights which Borrower may
have
at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of any L/C (or any
Persons
for whom any applicable beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting),
the
L/C Issuer, any other Bank, Agent or any other Person, whether in connection
with this Agreement, the Beneficiary Documents or any unrelated
transaction;
(iv)
any
demand presented under any L/C (or any endorsement thereon) proving to be
forged, fraudulent, invalid, unenforceable or insufficient in any respect
or any
statement therein being inaccurate in any respect whatsoever;
(v)
payment
by the L/C Issuer under any L/C against presentation of a demand which does
not
comply with the terms of such L/C, including, without limitation, the
circumstances referred to in subsection (iv) above or the failure of any
document to bear reference or to bear adequate reference to such L/C,
except
to
the extent resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the
L/C
Issuer;
(vi)
the
use
to which any L/C may be put or any acts or omissions of any beneficiary in
connection therewith; or
11
(vii)
any
other
circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the
foregoing, except to the extent resulting from the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of the L/C Issuer.
(e) Participations
by Banks.
(i)
On
the date of issuance of each L/C
(or, in
the case of an L/C set forth on Schedule
III,
on the
Closing Date),
the L/C
Issuer shall be deemed irrevocably and unconditionally to have sold and
transferred to each Bank (excluding, for all purposes of this Section
2.2(e),
the L/C
Issuer, which shall retain a portion equal to its pro rata
share of
the Aggregate Commitments) without recourse or warranty, and each Bank shall
be
deemed to have irrevocably and unconditionally purchased and received from
the
L/C Issuer, an undivided interest and participation, to the extent of such
Bank’s pro rata
share of
the Aggregate Commitments in effect on the date of such issuance, in such
L/C,
each substitute letter of credit, each drawing made thereunder, the related
Application Documents, all L/C Obligations (other than fees under Section
2.6(a)(v))
relating to such L/C and all Credit Documents securing, guaranteeing, supporting
or otherwise benefiting the payment of such L/C Obligations. The L/C Issuer
shall furnish to any Bank, upon request, copies of any L/C and any Application
Documents as may be requested by such Bank.
(ii)
If
any reimbursement obligation under Section
2.2(c)
is not
paid to the L/C Issuer with respect to any L/C in full immediately or by
a
Mandatory L/C Borrowing from all the Banks pro rata
pursuant
to Section
2.2(c)(i),
the L/C
Issuer shall promptly notify Agent to that effect, and Agent shall promptly
notify the Banks of the amount of such reimbursement obligation and each
Bank
shall immediately pay to Agent, for immediate payment to the L/C Issuer,
in
lawful money of the United States and in immediately available funds, an
amount
equal to such Bank’s ratable portion of the amount of such unpaid reimbursement
obligation.
(iii)
The
obligation of each Bank to make Loans in respect of each Mandatory L/C Borrowing
and to make payments under the preceding Section
2.2(e)(ii)
shall be
absolute, unconditional and irrevocable and not subject to any qualification
or
exception whatsoever and shall be made in accordance with the terms and
conditions of this Agreement under all circumstances and shall not be subject
to
any conditions set forth in Article III
or
otherwise affected by any circumstance including, without limitation, (A)
the
occurrence or continuance of a Default or an Event of Default; (B) any adverse
change in the business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations,
performance, properties or prospects of Borrower; (C) any breach of this
Agreement or any Application Documents or other Credit Documents by Borrower
or
any Bank; (D) any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right
which such Bank or Borrower may have at any time against the L/C Issuer,
any
other Bank or any beneficiary named in any L/C in connection herewith or
otherwise; (E) the validity, sufficiency or genuineness of documents, or
of any
endorsement thereon, even if such documents should prove to be in any or
all
respects invalid, insufficient, fraudulent or forged; (F) any lack of validity
or enforceability of this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents;
(G)
the granting, surrender or impairment of any security for the performance
or
observance of any of the terms of any of the other Credit Documents; or (H)
any
other circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether or not similar
to any
of the foregoing. Borrower agrees that any Bank purchasing a participation
in
any L/C from the L/C Issuer hereunder may, to the fullest extent permitted
by
law, exercise all of its rights of payment with respect to such participation
as
fully as if such Bank were the direct creditor of Borrower in the amount
of such
participation.
12
(iv)
Promptly after the L/C Issuer receives a payment on account of a reimbursement
obligation with respect to any L/C as to which any other Bank has funded
its
participation pursuant to Section
2.2(e)(ii),
the L/C
Issuer shall promptly pay to Agent, and Agent shall promptly pay to each
Bank
which funded its participation therein, in lawful money of the United States
and
in the kind of funds so received, an amount equal to such Bank’s ratable share
thereof.
(v)
If
any payment received on account of any reimbursement obligation with respect
to
an L/C and distributed to a Bank as a participant under Section
2.2(e)(iv)
is
thereafter recovered from the L/C Issuer in connection with any bankruptcy
or
insolvency proceeding relating to Borrower or otherwise, each Bank which
received such distribution shall, upon demand by Agent, repay to the L/C
Issuer
such Bank’s ratable share of the amount so recovered together with an amount
equal to such Bank’s ratable share (according to the proportion of (A) the
amount of such Bank’s required repayment to (B) the total amount so recovered)
of any interest or other amount paid or payable by the L/C Issuer in respect
of
the total amount so recovered.
(f) Non-Liability.
Borrower assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or
transferee of any L/C with respect to its use of such L/C. Neither Agent,
the
L/C Issuer nor any other Bank, nor any of their respective officers or
directors, shall be liable or responsible for: (i) the use that may be made
of
any L/C or any acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee in connection
therewith; (ii) the validity, sufficiency or genuineness of documents, or
of any
endorsement thereon, even if such documents should prove to be in any or
all
respects invalid, insufficient, fraudulent or forged; (iii) payment by the
L/C
Issuer against presentation of documents that do not comply with the terms
of an
L/C, including failure of any documents to bear any reference or adequate
reference to an L/C, except that Borrower shall have a claim against the
L/C
Issuer, and the L/C Issuer shall be liable to Borrower, to the extent of
any
direct, but not consequential, damages suffered by Borrower that Borrower
proves
were caused solely by (A) the L/C Issuer’s willful misconduct or gross
negligence in determining whether documents presented under any L/C comply
with
the terms of the L/C or (B) the L/C Issuer’s willful failure to make lawful
payment under an L/C after the presentation to it of a draft and documents
and/or certificates strictly complying with the terms and conditions of the
L/C;
(iv) errors, omissions, interruptions or delays in transmission or delivery
of
any messages, by mail, cable, telegraph, telex or otherwise, whether or not
they
are in cipher; (v) errors in interpretation of technical terms; (vi) any
loss or
delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order
to make
a drawing under any L/C or of the proceeds thereof; and (vii) any consequence
arising from causes beyond the control of the L/C Issuer, including, without
limitation, any government acts. None of the above shall affect, impair or
prevent the vesting of any of the L/C Issuer’s rights or powers hereunder. In
furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the L/C Issuer may accept
documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility
for
further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary.
The Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits or, with respect
to
standby L/Cs, The International Standby Practices, in each case, as most
recently published by the International Chamber of Commerce, shall be deemed
a
part of this Section
2.2
as if
incorporated herein in all respects and shall apply to commercial L/Cs or
standby L/Cs, as the case may be.
13
(g) Indemnification.
In
addition to amounts payable as elsewhere provided in this Agreement, without
duplication, Borrower agrees to indemnify and save harmless Agent and each
Bank,
including the L/C Issuer, from and against any and all claims, demands,
liabilities, damages, losses, penalties, costs, charges and expenses (including
reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements) which Agent or any such Bank may
incur or be subject to as a consequence, direct or indirect, of the issuance
of
any L/C or any action or proceeding relating to a court order, injunction
or
other process or decree restraining or seeking to restrain the L/C Issuer
or
Agent from paying any amount under any applicable L/C or the failure of the
L/C
Issuer to honor a drawing under an L/C as a result of any act or omission,
whether rightful or wrongful, of any present or future de jure
or
de facto
government or Governmental Authority, except that no such Person shall be
entitled to indemnification for matters to the extent caused by such Person’s
gross negligence or willful misconduct. Without modifying the foregoing,
and
anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, Borrower shall
cause
each L/C issued for its account to be canceled and returned to the L/C Issuer
on
or before its expiration date.
(h) Domestic
Affiliates.
At the
request of Borrower (if necessary to satisfy contractual or regulatory
requirements), the L/C Issuer shall arrange for one or more L/Cs to be issued
by
Affiliates of the L/C Issuer (provided,
that
any such Affiliate shall be organized under the laws of the United States
or any
State thereof), in which case the term “L/C Issuer” shall include any such
Affiliate with respect to L/Cs issued by such Affiliate. If no such Affiliate
is
available, Borrower may request that another Bank, organized under the laws
of
the United States or any State thereof, agree to issue such L/Cs, and, if
such
Bank agrees to, and does, issue such L/Cs, the term “L/C Issuer” shall include
such Bank with respect to the L/Cs issued by such Person.
Section
2.3 Repayment;
Reductions.
(a) Mandatory
Repayments.
Borrower shall repay all outstanding Committed Loans on the Termination Date.
Borrower shall repay each Bid Rate Loan on the last day of the Interest Period
for such Bid Rate Loan. Borrower shall repay such of the outstanding Loans,
together with accrued interest to the date of such repayment on the principal
amount repaid and any amounts due under Section
2.4(d),
or cash
collateralize the L/C Obligations, or both, as may be required at any time
or
from time to time, by reason of a reduction in the Commitments pursuant to
Section
2.3(c),
the
occurrence of the Termination Date or otherwise, to assure that the principal
balance of all outstanding Loans plus the amount of the L/C Outstandings
does
not at any time exceed the Aggregate Commitments. Amounts to be applied pursuant
to this clause (a) shall be applied first to repay the principal amount of
the
Loans then outstanding, together with interest thereon and any amounts due
under
Section
2.4(d),
until
all Loans, together with such interest and other amounts, shall have been
repaid
in full, and if any excess then remains, such excess shall be deposited with
Agent in the Cash Collateral Account to be held, applied or released for
application as provided in Section
2.10.
The
particular Loans to be repaid shall be as designated by Borrower (or, failing
such designation, in accordance with Section
2.5(e)).
14
(b) Voluntary
Prepayments.
Upon
prior written notice to Agent by Borrower (which notice must be received
by
Agent not later than 12:00 Noon, New York City time, three (3) Banking Days
prior to the proposed date of prepayment and which notice Agent shall promptly
give to the Banks) stating the proposed date and aggregate principal amount
of
the prepayment, Borrower may, and if such notice is given Borrower shall,
prepay
the outstanding principal amount of any Loan, as identified by Borrower in
such
notice, in whole or in part, together with accrued interest to the date of
such
prepayment on the principal amount prepaid, as well as any additional amount
owed by Borrower pursuant to Section
2.4(d),
provided
that
each partial prepayment shall be in an aggregate amount of One Million Dollars
($1,000,000) or an integral multiple of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000)
in
excess thereof.
(c) Reduction
or Termination.
On or
after the Closing Date, Borrower may upon at least three (3) Banking Days’
notice to Agent at the Agency Office, permanently terminate in whole at any
time, or ratably reduce from time to time by an aggregate amount of Five
Million
Dollars ($5,000,000) or an integral multiple of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000)
in excess thereof, the Aggregate Commitments to an amount that is not less
than
the sum of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Loans and the
L/C
Outstandings, after giving effect to any repayments of the Loans effected
on the
date of such reduction. All such reductions shall be permanent. If the
Commitments are terminated in their entirety, all accrued Fees in respect
thereof shall be payable on the effective date of such termination. Agent
shall
give prompt notice to the Banks of any such termination or reduction.
(d) Cash
Collateralization of L/C Outstandings.
Borrower shall cash collateralize the L/C Obligations as may be required
at any
time or from time to time, by reason of a reduction in the Aggregate Commitments
pursuant to Section
2.3(c),
the
occurrence of the Termination Date or otherwise, to assure that the amount
of
the L/C Outstandings does not at any time exceed the L/C Sublimit.
Section
2.4 Interest
on Loans.
(a) Base
Rate Loans.
Borrower shall pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Base Rate
Loan, from the Funding Date of such Loan until such principal amount is paid
in
full, at a rate per annum
equal to
the sum of (i) the Base Rate plus (ii) the Applicable Margin from time to
time
in effect, together with any additional interest rate margin as shall be
applicable under clause (g) of this Section
2.4.
(b) Eurodollar
Rate Loans.
(i)
Borrower shall pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Eurodollar
Committed Loan, for each Interest Period applicable thereto in accordance
with
the provisions hereof, at a rate per annum
equal to
the sum of (A) the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period plus (B) the
Applicable Margin from time to time in effect, together with any additional
interest rate margin as shall be applicable under clause (g) of this
Section
2.4.
From
and after the Maturity Date of the Interest Period applicable to any portion
of
a Eurodollar Committed Loan that is not continued as such, the unpaid principal
balance thereof shall automatically become, and bear interest as, a Base
Rate
Loan.
15
(ii)
Borrower shall pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Eurodollar
Bid Rate Loan, for the Interest Period applicable to such Eurodollar Bid
Rate
Loan, at a rate per annum
equal to
(A) the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period plus (or minus, as the case
may
be) (B) the Eurodollar Bid Margin applicable to such Eurodollar Bid Rate
Loan,
together with any additional interest rate margin as shall be applicable
under
clause (g) of this Section
2.4.
(c) Fixed
Rate Loans.
Borrower shall pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Fixed
Rate
Loan, for the Interest Period applicable to such Fixed Rate Loan, at a rate
per annum
equal to
the Fixed Rate applicable to such Fixed Rate Loan, together with any additional
interest rate margin as shall be applicable under clause (g) of this
Section
2.4.
(d) Breakage
Expenses.
If for
any reason and at any time or from time to time, including, without limitation,
voluntary or mandatory prepayment of principal or payment of principal at
any
accelerated maturity, the outstanding principal balance of any Eurodollar
Rate
Loan or Fixed Rate Loan is repaid in whole or in part, or (in the case of
a
Eurodollar Committed Loan) converted into a Base Rate Loan, in each case
prior
to the Maturity Date of the applicable Interest Period, then, in addition
to
accrued interest thereon, Borrower shall pay to the Applicable Agent’s Account
for credit to each Bank for the account of its Applicable Lending Office,
on
demand by such Bank, (i) the amount by which (x) the interest which would
have
accrued on the amount of such principal reduction subject to such Interest
Period until such Maturity Date had such principal reduction not been made
exceeds (y) the interest obtained by such Bank in the reemployment of such
principal reduction for the balance of such Interest Period, and (ii) any
cancellation or similar fees incurred by or allocated to such Bank on funds
borrowed by such Bank to carry the unpaid principal sum thereof at the
applicable Eurodollar Rate or Fixed Rate, as the case may be, and a certificate
as to such excess and fees submitted by such Bank to Borrower shall, absent
manifest error, be final and conclusive.
(e) Eurodollar
Rate Loans Not Available.
If,
prior to the commencement of any Interest Period applicable to any Eurodollar
Rate Loan, (x) Agent notifies Borrower and each Bank that (1) adequate and
fair
means do not exist for Agent to ascertain the relevant Eurodollar Rate, or
(2)
one or more of the Reference Banks or Agent, as applicable, is not offering
deposits in Dollars in the relevant interbank market in the amount, at the
time,
or for the Interest Period necessary fairly and adequately to determine the
relevant Eurodollar Rate, or (y) Banks whose Eurodollar Committed Loans will
exceed 50% of all Eurodollar Committed Loans at the commencement of such
Interest Period (after giving effect to any Loans to be made on such date)
notify Agent (in which case Agent shall promptly notify all other Banks and
Borrower) that the relevant Eurodollar Rate will not adequately reflect the
cost
to the Banks giving such notification of making or maintaining their Eurodollar
Committed Loans for such Interest Period, then, and in each such event, and
until Agent shall notify Borrower and the Banks that the circumstances specified
in clause (x) or (y) above no longer continue, (i) the obligation of the
Banks
to make or continue Eurodollar Rate Loans, and to convert Base Rate Loans
into
Eurodollar Committed Loans, shall be suspended, and (ii) all Eurodollar
Committed Loans outstanding on or after notice of such an event shall (unless
repaid) be converted into Base Rate Loans on the Maturity Dates of the
respective Interest Periods applicable thereto.
16
(f) Eurodollar
Rate Loans Unlawful.
If any
Bank shall have determined (which determination, absent manifest error, shall
be
final and conclusive) that the continuation of any interest rate based on
the
Eurodollar Rate has become unlawful (or impracticable by compliance by such
Bank
in good faith with any Directive) with respect to a Commitment of such Bank,
then, and in any such event, effective upon notice by such Bank to Agent
and
Borrower and until such notice is rescinded, no Eurodollar Rate Loans shall
be
available under such Commitment with respect to future Loans made by such
Bank
and any such existing Eurodollar Rate Loan shall from and after such notice
be
immediately converted into a Base Rate Loan for the balance of the applicable
Interest Period, and Borrower shall pay to such Bank, upon demand, all amounts
necessary to compensate such Bank in making such change in interest rates,
including any interest (without duplication) or fees payable by such Bank
on
funds obtained by it in order to make or maintain such Loan, and a certificate
of such Bank as to such interest, fees and other amounts shall be conclusive
absent manifest error; provided,
however,
that
(i) to the extent it may lawfully do so without incurring any penalty or
increased costs, such Bank shall continue any such existing Eurodollar Rate
Loan
until the Maturity Date of the relevant Interest Period, and (ii) before
such
termination, such Bank shall use reasonable efforts (consistent with internal
policies and applicable Directives) to designate a different Applicable Lending
Office if the making of such designation would avoid such illegality and
would
not, in the sole judgment of such Bank, be otherwise to its disadvantage
in any
material respect.
(g) Default
Interest Rate.
If an
Event of Default has occurred, then from and after the date of occurrence
of
such Event of Default, and so long as such Event of Default continues, (i)
the
rate or rates of interest applicable to the then and any subsequent outstanding
Loans shall in all cases be increased to (A) for Base Rate Loans, the Base
Rate
plus the Applicable Margin plus 200 basis points (2.0%) per annum,
(B) for
Eurodollar Committed Loans, the rate of interest in effect thereon at the
time
of the Event of Default plus 200 basis points (2.0%) per annum
until
the end of the then current Interest Period therefor and thereafter the Base
Rate plus the Applicable Margin plus 200 basis points (2.0%) per annum,
(C) for
Eurodollar Bid Rate Loans, the rate of interest in effect thereon at the
time of
the Event of Default plus 200 basis points (2.0%) per annum,
and (D)
for Fixed Rate Loans, the rate of interest in effect thereon at the time
of the
Event of Default plus 200 basis points (2.0%) per annum,
and
(ii) the Applicable L/C Fee Rate shall be increased by 200 basis points (2.0%)
per annum.
Other
amounts payable by Borrower hereunder that are not paid when due (whether
at
Stated Maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) shall accrue interest at a
rate
per annum
during
the period commencing on the date due until such other amounts are paid in
full
equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin plus 200 basis points (2.0%)
per annum.
(h) Interest
Payment Dates.
Borrower shall pay accrued interest on each Loan (without duplication),
determined and calculated as herein provided, payable as follows:
(i)
in
the
case of a Eurodollar Rate Loan, on the Maturity Date for the Interest Period
applicable to such Eurodollar Rate Loan, and if such Interest Period is for
more
than three months, then also on the same day of each third month of such
Interest Period as corresponds to the first day of such Interest Period (and
if
there is no such corresponding day of the month, then on the last Banking
Day of
such month);
17
(ii)
in
the
case of a Base Rate Loan, on the last Banking Day of each March, June, September
and December, commencing with the first such Banking Day following the making
of
such Loan;
(iii)
in
the
case of a Fixed Rate Loan, on the Maturity Date for the Interest Period
applicable to such Fixed Rate Loan, and if such Interest Period is for more
than
three months, then (A) also on the same day of each third month of such Interest
Period as corresponds to the first day of such Interest Period (and if there
is
no such corresponding day of the month, then on the last Banking Day of such
month), or (B) as otherwise specified in the applicable Bid
Request;
(iv)
on
the
date such Loan is converted pursuant to Section
2.1(i);
(v)
in
the
case of all Loans, on the Termination Date, if the Termination Date falls
before
the other applicable payment dates specified in this clause (h); provided
that
interest accruing on such Loans on and after the Termination Date shall be
due
daily; or
(vi)
on
the
date of any repayment or prepayment of such Loan, in whole or in part, with
respect to the principal thereof so repaid or prepaid.
(i) Limitation.
In no
contingency or event whatsoever shall the interest rate charged pursuant
to the
terms of this Agreement or any Note exceed the maximum amount of interest
permitted by applicable law. If a court of competent jurisdiction determines
that this Agreement provides for interest in excess of the maximum amount
of
interest permitted by applicable law, the excess amount of interest paid
shall
be promptly refunded to Borrower.
Section
2.5 Payments
and Computations.
(a) Payments
to Applicable Agent’s Account.
Borrower shall pay all amounts due to Agent and Banks hereunder and under
any
other Credit Document to which it is a party without condition or deduction
for
any counterclaim, defense, recoupment, setoff or (except as expressly provided
herein, including, without limitation, in Section
2.8)
any
other deduction or withholding whatsoever, in Dollars and in same day funds
delivered to Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the day
when
due by deposit of such funds to the Applicable Agent’s Account. Agent shall
promptly thereafter cause to be distributed like funds relating to the payment
of principal, interest or Fees ratably (other than amounts subject to Taxes
pursuant to Section
2.8,
Agent’s
Fees payable under Section
2.6(a)(i)
and
amounts payable under Section 2.7,
and
provided that payments of principal and interest in respect of Bid Rate Loans
shall be distributed ratably to Banks that have made the Bid Rate Loans to
which
such payments relate, in accordance with the principal or interest then due
and
payable to each Bank, respectively), in accordance with the outstanding Loans
of
the Banks (in the case of payments of principal or interest) or the Commitments
of the Banks (in the case of payments of Fees, other than Agent’s Fees payable
under Section
2.6(a)(i)),
to the
Banks for the account of their respective Applicable Lending Offices, and
like
funds relating to the payment of any other amount payable to any Bank to
such
Bank for the account of its Applicable Lending Office to be applied in
accordance with, and subject to,
18
the
terms
of this Agreement. Upon an Assignment and Assumption becoming effective as
provided in Section
8.11
and
recording by Agent of the information contained therein in the register
maintained for purposes of this Agreement by Agent at its Agency Office,
from
and after the effective date specified in such Assignment and Assumption,
Agent
shall make all payments hereunder and under any other Credit Document in
respect
of the interest assigned thereby to the Assignee thereunder, and the parties
to
such Assignment and Assumption shall make all appropriate adjustments in
such
payments for periods prior to such effective date directly between
themselves.
(b) Setoff.
Borrower hereby authorizes each Bank, if and to the extent payment owing
to such
Bank from Borrower is not made when due hereunder, to charge from time to
time
against any or all of Borrower’s accounts with such Bank or any of such Bank’s
Affiliates any amount so due.
(c) Interest
and Fee Computations.
(i)
Computations of interest based on the Eurodollar Rate, the Federal Funds
Rate
(including the Base Rate, when it is based on the Federal Funds Rate) and
any
Fixed Rate, and the computation of Fees, shall be made by Agent on the basis
of
a year of 360 days, (ii) computations of interest based on the Base Rate
(when
the Base Rate is based on the Reference Rate) shall be made by Agent on the
basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as appropriate to reflect the actual
number
of days in such year, and (iii) all computations in every case shall be for
the
actual number of days (including the first day but excluding the last day)
occurring in the period for which such interest or Fees are payable. Each
determination by Agent of an interest rate hereunder shall be conclusive
and
binding for all purposes, absent manifest error. Any change in (x) the Base
Rate
due to a change in the Reference Rate or the Federal Funds Rate shall be
effective as of the opening of business on the effective day of such change
in
the Reference Rate or the Federal Funds Rate, respectively, (y) the interest
rate on a Loan resulting from a change in the Base Rate or the Eurodollar
Rate
Reserve Percentage shall become effective as of the opening of business on
the
day on which such change becomes effective or (z) the interest rate on a
Loan or
the amount of any Fee resulting from a change in the Applicable Margin, the
Applicable L/C Fee Rate, the Applicable Facility Fee Rate or the Applicable
Utilization Fee Rate shall become effective on the applicable Rating Adjustment
Date.
(d) Agent’s
Reliance on Borrower Payments.
Unless
Agent shall have received notice from Borrower prior to the date on which
any
payment is due to a Bank hereunder that Borrower will not make such payment
in
full, Agent may assume that Borrower has made such payment in full to Agent
on
such date and Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, cause to be
distributed to the relevant Banks on such due date an amount equal to the
amount
then due to such Banks. If and to the extent Borrower shall not have so made
such payment in full to Agent, each affected Bank shall repay to Agent forthwith
on demand the amount so distributed to such Bank together with interest thereon,
for each day from the date such amount is distributed to such Bank until
the
date such Bank repays such amount to Agent, at the Federal Funds
Rate.
(e) Application
of Payments.
(i)
Amounts
received by Agent for application to the principal of any Committed Loans
shall
be applied (A) if received on or before the Termination Date (if not specified
by Borrower at or prior to the time of receipt or if received after the
occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default), first to the
ratable payment of the outstanding Committed Loans that constitute Base Rate
Loans, and second to the ratable payment of the outstanding Committed Loans
that
constitute Eurodollar Rate Loans, and (B) if received after the Termination
Date, to the ratable payment of all the outstanding Committed
Loans.
19
(ii)
Amounts
received by Agent for application to the principal of any Bid Rate Loans
shall
be applied as specified by Borrower (or, if not specified by Borrower at
or
prior to the time of receipt or if received after the occurrence and during
the
continuance of an Event of Default, to the ratable payment of the outstanding
Bid Rate Loans).
(iii)
Amounts
received by Agent for application to the principal of any Loan after the
occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default shall be deemed
to
have been received for application to the Committed Loans and the Bid Rate
Loans
on a ratable basis.
(f) Payments
on Non-Banking Days.
Whenever any payment hereunder shall be stated to be due on a day other than
a
Banking Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Banking Day
(except as otherwise provided with respect to the determination of Interest
Periods), and such extension of time shall in such case be included in the
computation of payment of interest or Fees, as the case may be.
(g) Adjustments.
If any
Bank shall obtain any payment whether voluntary, involuntary, through the
exercise of any right of setoff or otherwise with respect to principal, interest
or Fees due under the Credit Documents (other than Fees payable under
Sections
2.6(a)(i)
and
2.6(a)(v)
and
other than payments pursuant to Sections
2.7
and
2.8),
in
excess of its ratable share (based (x) in the case of principal or interest,
on
the ratio of the amount of principal or interest, as the case may be, then
due
and payable to such Bank to the aggregate amount of principal or interest,
respectively, then due and payable hereunder, and (y) in the case of Fees,
on
the ratio of such Bank’s Commitment to the Aggregate Commitments) of payments on
account of principal, interest or such Fees, as the case may be, then due
and
owing to all Banks under the Credit Documents, such Bank shall forthwith
purchase from such other Banks such participations in the principal, interest
or
such Fees, as the case may be, owing to them as shall be necessary to cause
such
purchasing Bank to share the excess payment ratably with each of the other
Banks, in accordance with the outstanding Loans of the other Banks (in the
case
of payments on account of principal), the amount of interest then due and
payable to the other Banks (in the case of payments on account of interest)
or
the Commitments of the other Banks (in the case of payments on account of
Fees,
other than Fees payable under Sections
2.6(a)(i)
and
2.6(a)(v)
and
other than payments pursuant to Sections
2.7
and
2.8);
provided,
however,
that if
all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from such
Bank, such purchase from such other Banks shall be rescinded and each such
other
Bank shall repay to the purchasing Bank the purchase price to the extent
of such
recovery, without interest. Borrower agrees that any Bank purchasing a
participation from another Bank pursuant to this Section
2.5(g)
may, to
the fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all its rights of payment
(including the right of setoff) with respect to such participation as fully
as
if such Bank were the direct creditor of Borrower in the amount of such
participation.
20
(h) Loan
Register.
Agent
shall maintain a register at the Agency Office with respect to the Loans,
which
register shall record (i) the date of and amount of each Loan, the Type of
each
Loan and, with respect to Eurodollar Rate Loans and Fixed Rate Loans, the
Interest Period applicable thereto from time to time, (ii) the terms of each
Assignment and Assumption, Increasing Bank Agreement and Accession and Amendment
Agreement delivered to and accepted by it, (iii) the amount of any principal
or
interest due and payable or to become due and payable from Borrower to each
Bank, (iv) the amount of any sum received by Agent from Borrower under any
Credit Document and each Bank’s share thereof, and (v) the interest rate for
each Loan. The entries made in such register shall be conclusive and binding
for
all purposes, absent manifest error.
(i) Notes
Optional.
(i)
Each
Bank
shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts
evidencing the indebtedness of Borrower to such Bank resulting from each
Loan
made hereunder from time to time, including the amounts of principal and
interest payable and paid to such Bank from time to time hereunder.
(ii)
The
entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to Section
2.5(h)
and the
foregoing subsection (i) of this clause (i) shall be prima facie evidence
of the
existence and amounts of the Loans therein recorded; provided,
however,
that
neither the failure of Agent or any Bank to maintain such accounts, nor any
error therein, shall in any manner affect the obligation of Borrower to repay
the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the other Credit
Documents.
(iii)
Any
Bank
may request that Borrower’s Obligations to it in respect of Loans be evidenced
by an appropriate Note. In such event, Borrower shall prepare, execute and
deliver to such Bank such Note, payable to the order of such Bank. Thereafter,
the Obligations evidenced by such Note, and interest thereon, shall at all
times
(including after any assignment pursuant to Section
8.11)
be
represented by one or more Notes payable to the order of the payee named
therein
or any assignee, except to the extent that any such Bank or assignee
subsequently returns any such Note(s) for cancellation and requests that
such
Obligations once again be evidenced as described in Section
2.5(h)
and the
foregoing subsection (i) of this clause (i).
Section
2.6 Fees.
(a) Fees
Payable.
Borrower shall pay the following fees (the “Fees”)
at the
Agency Office:
(i)
to
the
Person(s) entitled thereto, the fees provided for in (A) that certain letter
agreement among UBOC, RBS, RBS Securities Corporation and Borrower, dated
July
29, 2005, and (B) that certain letter agreement between Agent and Borrower,
dated August 26, 2005, in each case in the amounts and at the times specified
therein;
21
(ii)
to
Agent
for the benefit of all Banks (based on their respective Commitments), a
utilization fee (the “Utilization
Fee”)
accruing for each day during the period from the Closing Date to the Termination
Date in an amount equal to (A) the sum of the aggregate principal amount
of all
outstanding Loans (excluding Bid Rate Loan Outstandings) and the L/C
Outstandings on such day multiplied
by
(B)
1/360th of the Applicable Utilization Fee Rate in effect on such day. The
accrued portion of the Utilization Fee shall be payable quarterly in arrears
on
the last Banking Day of March, June, September and December of each year,
on the
Termination Date and thereafter on demand;
(iii)
to
Agent
for the benefit of all Banks (based on their respective Commitments), a facility
fee in respect of such Banks’ Commitments (the “Facility
Fee”)
accruing for each day during the period from the Closing Date to the Termination
Date in an amount equal to (A) the Aggregate Commitments on such day
multiplied
by
(B)
1/360th of the Applicable Facility Fee Rate in effect on such day. The accrued
portion of the Facility Fee shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the
last
Banking Day of March, June, September and December of each year, on the
Termination Date and thereafter on demand;
(iv)
to
Agent,
for the benefit of all Banks committed to make Committed Loans (based upon
their
respective Commitments), a fee for each L/C accruing for each day during
the
period from the date of issuance thereof to the date of termination thereof
equal to (A) the amount of outstanding L/C Obligations for such L/C on such
day
multiplied
by
(B)
1/360th of the Applicable L/C Fee Rate in effect on such day. The accrued
portion of such fee shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the last Banking
Day of March, June, September and December of each year, on the Termination
Date
and thereafter on demand; and
(v)
to
the
L/C Issuer, exclusively for the account of the L/C Issuer, (A) a fee for
each
L/C in such amount, and calculated and payable on such basis, as is set forth
in
a separate letter agreement between Borrower and the L/C Issuer, and (B)
on
demand, such standard fees, charges and expenses as are customarily charged
or
incurred by the L/C Issuer from time to time in connection with the issuance,
amendment, transfer, administration or cancellation of, or payment under,
the
L/Cs, as referred to in a separate letter agreement between Borrower and
the L/C
Issuer.
The
fees
referred to in Sections
2.6(a)(iv)
and
(v)
are
hereinafter sometimes referred to individually as an “L/C
Fee”
and
collectively as the “L/C
Fees”.
(b) Fees
Nonrefundable.
Borrower acknowledges that all Fees (i) are fully earned on the date on which
they are payable, (ii) are nonrefundable when paid (exclusive of over-payments
and other manifest errors), and (iii) are for the sole account of the Person
for
whose benefit they are payable.
Section
2.7 Increased
Costs and Capital Requirements.
22
(a) Reserves
and Similar Requirements.
If at
any time or from time to time after the date of this Agreement any Directive,
or
a change in any existing or future Directive (including any change resulting
from the operation of any transitional or phase-in requirements) or in the
interpretation or application thereof by any judicial authority or other
Governmental Authority, or any action pursuant thereto, or compliance in
good
faith by Agent or any Bank with any request or Directive imposed or modified
by
any central bank or by any other financial authority, monetary authority
or
other Governmental Authority (any of the foregoing, a “Change
in Directives”,
and
Agent, or any Bank, if subject to a Change in Directives, an “Affected
Person”))
shall
(i) impose, increase, modify or apply any reserve (including basic,
supplemental, marginal and emergency reserves, but excluding reserve
requirements which are expressly included in the determination of any interest
rate pursuant to the provisions hereof), special deposit, compulsory loan
or
similar requirement against assets held by, or deposits or other liabilities
with or for the account of, or credit extended by, or any other acquisition
of
funds by, any office of an Affected Person; or (ii) impose on any Affected
Person any fee, charge, tax (other than “Indemnified Taxes,”“Other Taxes” and
“Excluded Taxes,” to which the provisions of Section
2.8
shall
apply) or condition with respect to this Agreement, any Note, any L/C, any
Commitment or any part thereof, or any sums outstanding or payable hereunder
or
thereunder, and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost
to
such Affected Person of making or maintaining such Commitment or any Loan,
or to
reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Affected Person
with
respect to such Commitment, any L/C, any Loan or any interest, Fees or other
sums payable hereunder or under any Note, then,
upon
demand by such Affected Person, Borrower shall, subject to clause (c) of
this
Section 2.7,
pay
with respect to any affected Commitment (including Loans thereunder), promptly
for the account of the relevant Affected Person, such additional amount or
amounts as such Affected Person, in good faith, certifies in writing to Borrower
shall compensate such Affected Person for the amount of such increased cost
or
reduced amount receivable, which certification shall state that similar demands
have been made to other customers of such Affected Person that are subject
to
provisions similar to this Section
2.7(a)
and
shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes hereof absent manifest
error.
(b) Capital
Adequacy.
If any
Change in Directives shall impose, modify or deem applicable any capital
adequacy or similar requirement (including without limitation a request or
requirement which affects the manner in which any Bank (including the L/C
Issuer) allocates capital resources to its commitments, including its
obligations hereunder) and as a result thereof, in the sole opinion of such
Bank, the rate of return on such Bank’s capital as a consequence of its
obligations hereunder (including with respect to L/Cs) is or will be reduced
to
a level below that which such Bank could have achieved but for such
circumstances, then
upon
notice to Borrower through Agent, Borrower shall, subject to clause (c) of
this
Section
2.7,
pay to
such Bank such additional amount or amounts as shall compensate such Bank
for
such reduction in rate of return for (i) any Loans that are outstanding under
any Interest Period commencing after such Change in Directives becomes
effective, (ii) any Loans bearing interest at the Base Rate with respect
to the
period, or L/Cs that are outstanding, after the end of the calendar month
in
which such Change in Directives becomes effective, and (iii) any portion
of the
affected Bank’s Commitment outstanding with respect to the period after the end
of the calendar month in which such Change in Directives becomes effective.
If a
Bank determines that it may be entitled to claim any additional amounts pursuant
to this Section
2.7(b)
during
the next succeeding Interest Period or month, as the case may be, it shall
promptly notify, through Agent, Borrower and
23
each
other Bank of the event by reason of which it has become so entitled. A
certificate as to any such additional amount or amounts submitted by a Bank,
through Agent, to Borrower and the other Banks shall certify that similar
demands have been made to other customers of such Bank that are subject to
provisions similar to this Section
2.7(b)
and
shall, in the absence of manifest error, be final and conclusive. In determining
such amount, a Bank may use any reasonable averaging and attribution
methods.
(c) Limitation.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Borrower shall be obligated to compensate
Agent,
or any Bank, for any amount described in Section
2.7(a)
or
(b)
only if
such amount arises or occurs during (i) any time period commencing not more
than
ninety (90) days prior to the date on which such Bank notifies Agent and
Borrower, or Agent notifies Borrower, that such Bank or Agent, as the case
may
be, proposes to demand such compensation and (ii) any time period during
which,
because of the unannounced retroactive application of the relevant Change
in
Directives, such Bank could not have known that such amount might arise or
accrue.
(d) Mitigation.
If
Agent, or any Bank, claims any additional amounts payable pursuant to
Section
2.7(a)
or
(b),
Agent,
or such Bank, as the case may be, shall use its reasonable efforts (consistent
with its internal legal policy and regulatory restrictions) to change the
jurisdiction of its Applicable Lending Office or any other office from which
it
makes or maintains any extension of credit under this Agreement, if the making
of such change would avoid the need for, or reduce the amount of, any such
additional amounts which may thereafter accrue and would not, in the sole
judgment of Agent or such Bank, as the case may be, be otherwise disadvantageous
to it in any material respect.
(e) Survival.
Without
prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of Borrower hereunder, the
agreement and obligations of Borrower contained in this Section
2.7
shall
survive the termination of the Commitments and the payment in full of the
Obligations.
Section
2.8 Taxes.
(a) Payments
Free of Taxes.
Any and
all payments or reimbursements made hereunder or under any other Credit Document
shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any and all present
and future taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, fees, charges or withholdings
of
any kind, or any interest, penalties or additions to tax or liabilities
whatsoever with respect thereto (“Taxes”),
excluding (i) in the case of payments to each Bank, (A) Taxes imposed on,
or
measured by, its net income or receipts (including branch profits tax) and
franchise taxes imposed on it by the jurisdiction under the laws of which
such
Bank is organized (or any political subdivision thereof), or by the jurisdiction
of such Bank’s Applicable Lending Office (or any political subdivision thereof)
and (B) U.S. Withholding Taxes, if and to the extent that such U.S. Withholding
Taxes shall be in effect and shall be applicable (after giving effect to
any
treaty or other applicable basis for exemption) under current laws and
regulations (including judicial and administrative interpretations thereof)
to
payments to be made for the account of such Bank’s Applicable Lending Office on
the Closing Date, or, in the case of an Assignee, on the effective date of
the
Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which it became a Bank, or on the date
the
Bank changes its Applicable Lending Office, or, if such U.S. Withholding
Taxes
result therefrom, changes any other office from which such Bank makes or
maintains any extension of credit under this Agreement (other than any change
pursuant to Section
2.8(e));
and
(ii) in the case of payments
24
to
Agent,
(A) Taxes imposed on, or measured by, its net income or receipts (including
branch profits tax) and franchise taxes imposed on it by the jurisdiction
under
the laws of which it is organized (or any political subdivision thereof)
or by
any jurisdiction in which Agent is doing business (other than where such
circumstances would not exist but for a connection arising in respect of
this
Agreement) and (B) U.S. Withholding Taxes, if and to the extent that such
U.S.
Withholding Taxes shall be in effect and shall be applicable (after giving
effect to any treaty or other applicable basis for exemption) under current
laws
and regulations (including judicial and administrative interpretations thereof)
to payments to Agent under any Credit Document on the Closing Date (all Taxes
described in clauses (i) and (ii) being referred to as “Excluded
Taxes”
and all
Taxes not described in clause (i) or (ii) being hereinafter referred to as
“Indemnified
Taxes”).
Subject to Section
2.8(h),
if
Borrower shall be required by law to deduct any Indemnified Taxes from or
in
respect of any sum payable hereunder or under any other Credit Document to
any
Bank or Agent (each of Agent and any Bank to which any rights accrue under
this
Section
2.8,
a
“Tax
Indemnitee”),
(1)
the sum payable shall be increased as may be necessary so that after making
all
required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable
under this Section) such Tax Indemnitee receives an amount equal to the sum
it
would have received had such deductions of Indemnified Taxes not been made,
(2)
Borrower shall make such deductions, and (3) Borrower shall pay the full
amount
deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance
with applicable law (and shall be entitled to any Tax Credit with respect
to
such payment pursuant to Section
2.8(g)).
(b) Other
Taxes.
In
addition, Borrower agrees to pay any present or future stamp or documentary
taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies (but
not
any tax on any transfer or assignment of, or any participation in, the Loans
(or
a portion thereof) or this Agreement) that arise from any payment made hereunder
or under any other Credit Document or from the execution, delivery,
registration, filing or recording of, or otherwise with respect to, this
Agreement or any other Credit Document or document delivered hereunder or
under
any other Credit Document (hereinafter referred to as “Other
Taxes”).
Agent, and each Bank, represents that, to its knowledge, except for any such
Other Taxes as may be imposed under the federal, state or local laws of the
United States of America (or any political subdivision thereof), it is not
aware, as of the date of this Agreement, of any Other Taxes that may apply
to
payments to it under this Agreement or any Note or to the transactions by
it
that are contemplated by this Agreement.
(c) Tax
Indemnity.
Borrower will indemnify each Tax Indemnitee for the full amount of Indemnified
Taxes (but not any Tax on any transfer or assignment of, or any participation
in, the Loans or this Agreement) or Other Taxes (and any Taxes or Other Taxes
imposed by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this Section) paid by
such
Tax Indemnitee, including any liability (including penalties, interest and
expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such
Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally asserted. Any
indemnification payment to which any Tax Indemnitee is entitled pursuant
to this
clause (c) shall be made within thirty (30) days from the date such Tax
Indemnitee makes written demand therefor; provided,
however,
that
Borrower shall not be obligated to make payment to such Tax Indemnitee pursuant
to this Section
2.8(c)
in
respect of penalties, interest or additions to taxes attributable to any
Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes if (i) written demand for such Indemnified
Taxes or Other Taxes has not been made by such Tax Indemnitee within 60 days
from the date on which such Tax Indemnitee received written notice of the
imposition of such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by the
25
relevant
taxing authority or other Governmental Authority, but only to the extent
such
penalties, interest and additions to taxes are attributable to such failure
or
delay by such Tax Indemnitee in making such written demand, or (ii) such
penalties, interest or additions to taxes are attributable to the gross
negligence or willful misconduct of such Tax Indemnitee. After such Tax
Indemnitee receives written notice of the imposition of any Indemnified Taxes
or
Other Taxes that are subject to this Section
2.8(c),
such
Tax Indemnitee shall act in good faith to promptly notify Borrower of Borrower’s
Obligations under this Section
2.8(c);
provided,
however,
that,
except to the extent expressly provided in clause (i) of the preceding sentence,
no failure to give notice shall prejudice any Tax Indemnitee’s rights
hereunder.
(d) Evidence
of Tax Payments.
Within
forty-five (45) days after the date of any payment of Indemnified Taxes with
respect to any Tax Indemnitee, Borrower shall (as to Indemnified Taxes paid
by
it) furnish to Agent, at the Agency Office, the original or a certified copy
of
a receipt or other evidence reasonably satisfactory to Agent of payment
thereof.
(e) Change
of Applicable Lending Office, Etc.
Any Tax
Indemnitee claiming any additional amounts payable pursuant to this Section
2.8
shall
use its reasonable efforts (consistent with its internal policy and legal
and
regulatory restrictions) to change the jurisdiction of its Applicable Lending
Office or any other office from which such Tax Indemnitee makes or maintains
any
extension of credit under this Agreement, if the making of such a change
would
avoid the need for or reduce the amount of any such additional amounts which
may
thereafter accrue and would not, in the sole judgment of such Tax Indemnitee,
be
otherwise disadvantageous to such Tax Indemnitee in any material respect.
In
addition, each Tax Indemnitee shall take all reasonable actions reasonably
requested by Borrower in writing that are (i) without material risk and cost
to
such Tax Indemnitee, and (ii) consistent with the internal policies of such
Tax
Indemnitee and applicable legal and regulatory restrictions, in order to
(1)
maintain all exemptions, if any, available to it from withholding taxes (whether
available by treaty or existing administrative waiver) and (2) otherwise
to
minimize any amounts payable by Borrower under this Section
2.8;
provided,
however,
that in
each case any cost relating to such action requested by Borrower shall be
borne
by Borrower.
(f) Survival.
Without
prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of Borrower hereunder, the
agreement and obligations of Borrower contained in this Section
2.8
shall
survive the payment in full of the Obligations for a period expiring
concurrently with the expiration of the statute of limitations applicable
to
claims made by the relevant taxing authorities to collect Taxes or Other
Taxes.
(g) Tax
Credits.
If any
Tax Indemnitee shall receive a credit or refund from a taxing authority with
respect to, and actually resulting from, an amount of Indemnified Taxes or
Other
Taxes actually paid to or on behalf of such Tax Indemnitee by Borrower, which
credit or refund would not arise but for such Indemnified Taxes or Other
Taxes
(a “Tax
Credit”),
such
Tax Indemnitee shall promptly notify Borrower of such Tax Credit. If such
Tax
Credit is received by such Tax Indemnitee in the form of cash, such Tax
Indemnitee shall promptly pay to Borrower the amount so received with respect
to
the Tax Credit. If such Tax Credit is not received by such Tax Indemnitee
in the
form of cash, such Tax Indemnitee shall pay the amount of such Tax Credit
to
Borrower in cash not later than the time prescribed by applicable law for
filing
the return (including extensions of time) for such Tax
26
Indemnitee’s
taxable period that includes the period in which such Tax Indemnitee receives
the economic benefit of such Tax Credit. In any event, the amount of any
Tax
Credit payable by a Tax Indemnitee to Borrower pursuant to this Section
2.8(g)
shall
not exceed the actual amount of cash refunded to, or credits received and
usable
by, such Tax Indemnitee from a taxing authority. In determining the amount
of
any Tax Credit, a Tax Indemnitee shall use such apportionment and attribution
rules as such Tax Indemnitee customarily employs in allocating taxes among
its
various operations and income sources, and such determination shall be
conclusive absent manifest error. Borrower shall promptly return to a Tax
Indemnitee the amount paid to Borrower with respect to a Tax Credit by such
Tax
Indemnitee if such Tax Indemnitee is required to repay, or is determined
to be
ineligible for, a Tax Credit for such amount.
(h) Withholding.
Each
Bank that is organized under the laws of the United States of America or
any
State thereof or the District of Columbia shall deliver to Borrower and Agent
at
the time or times prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by
Borrower two properly completed and executed originals of Internal Revenue
Service Form W-9 (or any subsequent versions thereof of successors thereto).
Each Bank organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States
(a “Foreign
Bank”)
as to
which payments to be made under any Credit Document are exempt from (or are
subject to a reduced rate of) U.S. Withholding Tax under an applicable statute
or tax treaty shall provide to Borrower and Agent two properly completed
and
executed originals of (i) Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or Form W-8ECI
claiming exemption from U.S. Withholding Tax under an applicable treaty or
as
“effectively connected income,” or (ii) in each case of a Foreign Bank that
is not a “bank” (for applicable United States federal income tax purposes) and
that does not comply with the requirements of clause (i) of this Section
2.8(h),
(x) a
statement to the effect that such Bank is eligible for a complete exemption
from
withholding of U.S Withholding Tax under the “portfolio interest” exemption, and
(y) Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN, or (iii) any other applicable form,
certificate or document prescribed by the federal government of the United
States of America certifying as to such Foreign Bank’s entitlement to exemption
from (or reduced rate of) U.S. Withholding Tax with respect to payments to
be
made to such Foreign Bank under any Credit Document (each form, statement,
certificate and document described in the first sentence of this Section
2.8(h)
or in
clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of this Section
2.8(h)
is
referred to as a “Certificate
of Exemption”).
Prior
to becoming a Bank under this Agreement and on or before the date the
Certificate of Exemption previously submitted by a Foreign Bank expires or
becomes obsolete, such Foreign Bank, if legally able to do so, shall provide
a
newly executed Certificate of Exemption to Borrower and Agent. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary, if a Foreign Bank is entitled to an exemption (or
reduced rate) with respect to payments to be made to such Foreign Bank under
any
Credit Document and does not provide a Certificate of Exemption to Borrower
and
Agent within the time periods set forth in the preceding sentence, Borrower
shall withhold taxes from payments to such Foreign Bank at the applicable
statutory rates and Borrower shall not be required to pay any additional
amounts
as a result of such withholding; provided,
however,
that
all such withholding shall cease (or be reduced, as appropriate) upon delivery
by such Foreign Bank of a Certificate of Exemption to Borrower and Agent
in
accordance with the relevant law. In those circumstances as shall be necessary
to allow payments hereunder to be made free of (or at a reduced rate of)
U.S.
Withholding Tax, at the written request of Borrower, Agent shall provide
Borrower with two properly completed executed originals of Internal Revenue
Service Form W-8IMY (or any subsequent versions thereof or successors thereto),
together with such documentation to be supplied therewith as shall have been
received from the Banks pursuant hereto.
27
Section
2.9 Replacement
of Bank; Reimbursement for Bid Rate Loans.
(a) If
(i) a
Bank delivers a notice pursuant to Section
2.4(f),
(ii) a
Bank makes a demand for additional amounts pursuant to Section
2.7,
(iii) a
Bank makes a demand for additional amounts pursuant to Section
2.8
or (iv)
Borrower is required to pay additional amounts in respect of a Bank pursuant
to
Section
2.8,
Borrower shall have the right, at its expense, to require the affected Bank
to
assign without recourse (in accordance with Section 8.11)
all of
such Bank’s rights and obligations under the Credit Documents to another Bank or
to another Person approved by Agent (which approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld or delayed) that is willing to, and that does, assume such rights
and
obligations; provided
that (1)
no such assignment shall conflict with any applicable Directive, and (2)
Borrower shall pay (or the replacement Bank shall purchase) all principal,
interest, Fees and other amounts owed to the replaced Bank on or prior to
the
effective date of such assignment.
(b) Notwithstanding
anything contained herein to the contrary, no Bank shall be entitled to receive
any additional amounts pursuant to Section
2.7
or
2.8
with
respect to any Bid Rate Loan if the circumstance giving rise to such Bank’s
request for such additional amounts was applicable to such Bank at the time
of
submission of the Bid Request pursuant to which such Bid Rate Loan was
made.
Section
2.10 Cash
Collateral Account.
(a) All
amounts required to be deposited as cash collateral with Agent pursuant to
Section
2.3(a),
Section
2.3(d)
or
Section
6.2
shall be
deposited in a cash collateral account (such account, and any replacement
or
supplemental account into which any such cash collateral may at any time
be
deposited, collectively, the “Cash
Collateral Account”)
established by Borrower with Agent and under the dominion and control of
Agent,
to be held or applied, or released for application, as provided in this
Section
2.10.
Borrower hereby grants to Agent, for the ratable benefit of Agent, the L/C
Issuer and the Banks, as security for the payment and performance of the
Obligations, a security interest in and lien on (i) the Cash Collateral Account,
(ii) all amounts now or at any time on deposit therein, (iii) all investment
property or other financial assets from time to time credited thereto, and
(iv)
all proceeds of any of the foregoing, in whatever form. Upon the termination
of
the Commitments, the termination, expiration, drawing in full or cancellation
of
all outstanding L/Cs and payment in full of all Obligations, Agent (and the
Banks, if required under applicable law) shall take, at Borrower’s expense, such
actions as Borrower may reasonably request to effect the release of the security
interest and lien granted pursuant to this clause (a).
(b) If
and
when any portion of the L/C Obligations on which a deposit of cash collateral
was based (the “Relevant
Contingent Exposure”)
shall
become fixed (a “Direct
Exposure”)
as a
result of the payment by the L/C Issuer of a draft presented under an L/C,
the
amount of such Direct Exposure (but not more than the amount in the Cash
Collateral Account at the time) shall be withdrawn by Agent from the Cash
Collateral Account and shall be paid to the L/C Issuer to be applied against
such Direct Exposure and the Relevant Contingent Exposure shall thereupon
be
reduced by such amount. If at any time the amount in the Cash Collateral
Account
exceeds the Relevant Contingent Exposure, the
28
excess
amount shall, so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred
and
be continuing, be withdrawn by Agent and paid to Borrower. If a Default or
an
Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, such excess amount
shall
be retained in the Cash Collateral Account and, if and when requested by
the
Majority Banks during the continuance of an Event of Default, shall be withdrawn
by Agent and applied to repay the Loans, Unreimbursed Drawings and other
due and
unpaid Obligations. Any amount remaining after payment of such Obligations
in
full shall be paid to Borrower. If at any time the amount in the Cash Collateral
Account is less than the Relevant Contingent Exposure, Borrower shall promptly
deposit in the Cash Collateral Account additional cash collateral in the
amount
of such shortfall.
(c) Interest
and other payments and distributions made on or with respect to the cash
collateral held by Agent in the Cash Collateral Account shall be for the
account
of Borrower and shall constitute cash collateral to be held by Agent or returned
to Borrower in accordance with clause (b) of this Section 2.10;
provided
that
Agent shall have no obligation to invest any cash collateral on behalf of
Borrower or any other Person. Beyond the exercise of reasonable care in the
custody thereof, Agent shall have no duty as to any cash collateral in its
possession or control or in the possession or control of any agent or bailee
or
any income thereon or as to the preservation of rights against prior parties
or
any other rights pertaining thereto. Agent shall be deemed to have exercised
reasonable care in the custody and preservation of the cash collateral in
its
possession if the cash collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal
to
that which it accords its own property, and shall not be liable or responsible
for any loss or damage to any of the cash collateral, or for any diminution
in
the value thereof, by reason of the act or omission of any agent or bailee
selected by Agent in good faith. All expenses and liabilities incurred by
Agent
in connection with taking, holding and disposing of any cash collateral
(including customary custody and similar fees with respect to any cash
collateral held directly by Agent) shall be paid by Borrower from time to
time
upon demand. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of
Default, Agent shall be entitled to apply (and, at the request of the Majority
Banks but subject to applicable law, shall apply) cash collateral or the
proceeds thereof to payment of any such expenses, liabilities and
fees.
ARTICLE
III
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT
Section
3.1 Closing
Date Conditions Precedent.
The
effectiveness of this Agreement, the obligation of each Bank to make its
ratable
share of Loans on the Closing Date or any date thereafter and the obligation
of
the L/C Issuer to issue L/Cs on the Closing Date or any date thereafter are
subject to the condition precedent that Agent shall have received the following
items, on or before the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to Agent in its sole discretion:
(a) Articles
of Incorporation or Other Organizational Documents.
A copy
of the articles of incorporation or other organizational documents of Borrower
and each amendment thereto, certified by the Secretary of State of the State
of
Borrower’s incorporation or other appropriate Governmental Authority as being a
true and correct copy thereof, such certification to be dated a recent date
prior to the Closing Date.
29
(b) Certificate
of Good Standing.
A
certificate or other appropriate document from the Secretary of State of
the
State of Borrower’s incorporation or other Governmental Authority listing the
articles of incorporation or other organizational documents of Borrower and
each
amendment thereto on file in the office of such Secretary of State or other
Governmental Authority, and, if available, certifying that (i) such amendments
are the only amendments to such articles of incorporation or other
organizational documents on file in such office, (ii) Borrower has paid all
franchise taxes to the date of such certificate and (iii) Borrower is duly
incorporated and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of
Borrower’s incorporation, such certification to be dated a recent date prior to
the Closing Date.
(c) By-Laws
and Resolutions.
Copies
of (i) Borrower’s by-laws or other equivalent organizational documents, (ii) the
resolutions of Borrower’s Board of Directors approving each Credit Document to
which Borrower is a party, and (iii) all documents evidencing other necessary
corporate action and governmental approvals, if any, with respect to each
such
Credit Document, certified as of the Closing Date as true and correct in
each
case by a Responsible Officer of Borrower.
(d) Incumbency
Certificate.
A
certificate of a Responsible Officer of Borrower, dated as of the Closing
Date,
certifying the names and true signatures of the officers of Borrower authorized
to sign each Credit Document to which Borrower is a party and the other
documents to be delivered by Borrower pursuant to any Credit
Document.
(e) Opinions
of Counsel.
A
favorable opinion of (i) Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP, as special New York counsel
to Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit
D-1,
and
(ii) Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, as in-house counsel to Borrower, substantially in
the
form of Exhibit
D-2,
in each
case dated the Closing Date and addressed to Agent and the Banks.
(f) Fees.
All
Fees and expenses that are required under this Agreement or pursuant to the
letter agreements described in Section
2.6(a)(i)
to be
paid by Borrower on or before the Closing Date and for which Borrower receives
a
written invoice at least one (1) Banking Day prior to the Closing
Date.
(g) Notes.
If
requested by any Bank, fully executed Notes completed, issued and delivered
in
conformity with this Agreement with respect to the Committed Loans and Bid
Rate
Loans, if any, of such Bank.
(h) Officer’s
Certificate.
A
certificate of a Responsible Officer of Borrower, dated the Closing Date,
stating (which statements shall be true and correct) that: (i) on the Closing
Date and after giving effect to the funding of Loans and the issuance of
L/Cs on
the Closing Date, if any, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and
is
continuing; (ii) the representations and warranties set forth in Article
IV
are true
and correct in all material respects on and as of such date with the same
effect
as though made on and as of such date; and (iii) neither Borrower nor any
of its
Material Subsidiaries is in material default under any material agreement,
indenture, credit agreement or other document to which it is a
party.
30
(i) Confirmation
of Agent for Service.
Confirmation from CT Corporation System of its acceptance of its appointment
as
agent for service of process as required under Section
8.13.
(j) Termination
of Prior Credit Agreement.
Evidence that (i) Borrower has paid in full the principal of all loans
outstanding, interest thereon and all other amounts payable by Borrower under
the Prior Credit Agreement, (ii) all commitments of the banks and
letter of
credit issuer under the Prior Credit Agreement have been irrevocably and
permanently terminated, and (iii) all letters of credit outstanding under
the
Prior Credit Agreement (other than the L/Cs set forth on Schedule
III)
have
been returned and canceled (or Agent shall be satisfied with the arrangements
made for such cancellation).
(k) Bank
Regulatory Requirements.
All
documentation and other information required by bank regulatory authorities
under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and
regulations, including without limitation the Patriot Act, to the extent
requested by Agent or any Bank.
Section
3.2 Conditions
Precedent to Each Loan and Each L/C.
The
commitment of each Bank to make each Loan and of the L/C Issuer to issue
each
L/C shall be subject to the further conditions precedent that, on the Funding
Date therefor:
(a) Representations
and Warranties; No Defaults; Aggregate Commitments Not Exceeded.
The
following statements shall be true (and the delivery of a Notice of Borrowing
or
Request for L/C Issuance shall be deemed to constitute a representation and
warranty by Borrower that on such Funding Date such statements are
true):
(i)
The
representations and warranties contained in Article
IV
of this
Agreement are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the
date of
the making of such Loan or the issuance of such L/C, before and after giving
effect to such Loan or L/C and to any other Loans to be made or L/Cs to be
issued contemporaneously therewith, and to the application of the proceeds
therefrom, as though made on and as of such date (except to the extent that
such
representations and warranties are specifically limited to a prior date,
in
which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct
in all
material respects on and as of such prior date);
(ii)
No
Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or would result
from
such Loan or L/C or any other Loans to be made or L/Cs to be issued
contemporaneously therewith, or from the application of the proceeds thereof;
and
(iii)
After
giving effect to (A) such Loan or L/C, together with all other Loans to be
made
or L/Cs to be issued contemporaneously therewith, and (B) the repayment of
any
Loans that are to be contemporaneously repaid at the time such Loan is made
or
L/C issued, such Loan or L/C will not result in (x) the sum of the then current
amount of outstanding Loans plus the then current amount of L/C Outstandings
exceeding the Aggregate Commitments or (y) the then current amount of L/C
Outstandings exceeding the L/C Sublimit.
31
(b) Notice
of Borrowing/Bids Accepted/L/C Issuance Request.
(i)
In
connection with the making of a Committed Loan (other than a Committed Loan
to
be made pursuant to Section
2.2(c)(i)),
Borrower shall have timely delivered to Agent a Notice of Borrowing in
accordance with Section
2.1(c)
with
respect thereto;
(ii)
in
connection with the issuance of an L/C, (A) Borrower shall have timely delivered
to the L/C Issuer and to Agent an L/C Issuance Request in accordance with
Section
2.2(b)
with
respect to such L/C, if applicable, (B) the L/C Issuer shall have accepted
the
form of proposed L/C in accordance with Section
2.2(b),
if
required by that Section, (C) the conditions expressly set forth in Section
2.2(b)
shall
have been fulfilled, and (D) no circumstance described in Section
2.2(b)(iii)
shall
exist; and
(iii)
in
connection with the making of a Bid Rate Loan, the related Bid shall have
been
timely accepted by Borrower in accordance with Section
2.1(e).
ARTICLE
IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Section
4.1 Representations
and Warranties.
In
order to induce Agent and each Bank to enter into this Agreement and to induce
each Bank to make the Loans and the L/C Issuer to issue the L/Cs hereunder,
Borrower represents and warrants to Agent and each Bank as follows:
(a) Organization.
Borrower and each of its Material Subsidiaries are duly organized and validly
existing under the Laws of their respective jurisdictions of formation, and
are
properly qualified to do business and in good standing in every jurisdiction
where the failure to maintain such qualification or good standing would
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Authorization
of Credit Documents.
The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and each of the Credit
Documents by Borrower are within its corporate powers and have been duly
authorized. Each of the Credit Documents to which Borrower is a party has
been
validly executed and delivered by Borrower.
(c) Consents.
The
execution, delivery and performance of each of the Credit Documents to which
Borrower is a party do not and will not require any registration with, consent
or approval of, notice to, or other action to, with or by, any Governmental
Authority, regulatory body or any other Person, except for (i) such filings
as
may be required by federal or state securities laws (which filings (to the
extent so required) have been made and true and complete copies of which
have
been delivered to Agent) and (ii) other filings, authorizations, consents
and
approvals, all of which have been made or obtained or the absence of which
would
not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
32
(d) No
Conflicts.
The
execution, delivery and performance by Borrower of the Credit Documents will
not
(i) violate (A) the articles of incorporation or by-laws (or comparable
documents) of Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries, (B) any applicable
Law or (C) any provision of any material contract, agreement, indenture or
instrument to which Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries is a party
or
by which any of its or their respective properties is bound, (ii) be in conflict
with, or result in a breach of or constitute a default under, any contract,
agreement, indenture or instrument referred to in the preceding subclause
(d)(i)(C), (iii) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on the
property of Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries other than Permitted
Liens, or (iv) give to any Person rights to cancel, terminate or suspend
performance of its obligations to Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries
under, or accelerate payment of amounts owed by Borrower or any of its Material
Subsidiaries to others under, any of the foregoing, in the case of any of
the
foregoing subclauses other than subclause (d)(i)(A), that would reasonably
be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(e) Enforceability
of Credit Documents.
Each
Credit Document to which Borrower is a party is a legal, valid and binding
agreement of Borrower, enforceable against Borrower in accordance with its
terms, except for bankruptcy and similar laws affecting the enforcement of
creditors’ rights generally and for the application of general equitable
principles.
(f) Compliance
with Law.
Borrower, and each of its Material Subsidiaries, is in compliance with all
applicable Laws (including Environmental Laws) that such Person’s failure to
comply with would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(g) No
Litigation.
There
are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to Borrower’s
knowledge, threatened against or affecting Borrower or any of its Material
Subsidiaries, or any of its or their respective properties or assets, before
any
court or governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency or
instrumentality, domestic or foreign, that, in the aggregate, would reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There is no injunction, writ,
preliminary restraining order or any other order of any nature issued by
an
arbitrator, court or other Governmental Authority directing that any material
aspect of the transactions expressly provided for in any of the Credit Documents
not be consummated as herein or therein provided.
(h) Financial
Condition.
The
consolidated balance sheet of Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at December
31,
2004, and the related consolidated statements of income, cash flows and
stockholders’ equity for the fiscal year ended on such date, certified by
Deloitte & Touche LLP, copies of which have heretofore been furnished to
Agent with sufficient copies for each Bank, are complete and correct in all
material respects and present fairly the financial condition of Borrower
and its
Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as at such date, and the consolidated
results of their operations and cash flows for the fiscal year then ended.
The
consolidated balance sheet of Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at June 30,
2005,
and the related consolidated statements of income, cash flows and stockholders’
equity for the fiscal quarter ended on such date, copies of which have
heretofore been furnished to Agent with sufficient copies for each Bank,
are
complete and correct in all material respects and present fairly the
consolidated financial condition of Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at such
date, and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows for
the
fiscal quarter then ended (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments).
All
such financial statements, including the related schedules and notes thereto,
have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied consistently throughout
the
periods involved (except as may be disclosed therein).
33
(i) No
Material Adverse Effect.
Since
June 30, 2005, there has been no Material Adverse Effect.
(j) Taxes.
Borrower and each of its Material Subsidiaries have filed or caused to be
filed
all federal and other material tax returns which are required by Law to be
filed, and have paid all material taxes shown to be due and payable on said
returns or on any assessments made against it or any of its property (other
than
those the amount or validity of which is currently being contested in good
faith
by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which reserves in conformity
with
GAAP have been provided on the books of Borrower or the applicable Material
Subsidiary, as the case may be).
(k) ERISA
and IRC Compliance and Liability.
(i)
No
Termination Event has occurred that, together with all other Termination
Events
that have occurred, has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, a Material
Adverse Effect.
(ii)
No
proceeding, claim, lawsuit or investigation is existing or, to the knowledge
of
Borrower, threatened concerning or involving any (A) employee welfare benefit
plan (as defined in Section 3(l) of ERISA) currently maintained or contributed
to by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of its ERISA Affiliates
to
which Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries may have liability, (B) Pension
Plan,
or (C) to the knowledge of Borrower, Multiemployer Plan, in any such case,
that
has resulted in or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
(iii)
Neither
Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries has any obligation to provide
post-retirement welfare benefits under any Employee Benefit Plan or other
plan
or agreement that has resulted in or would reasonably be expected to result
in a
Material Adverse Effect.
(l) Margin
Regulations.
Borrower is not engaged in the business of extending credit for the purpose
of
purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation T,
U or X
of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), and no proceeds
of any
Loan will be used in a manner that would violate, or result in a violation
of,
such Regulation T, U or X.
(m) Investment
Company Act; Public Utility Holding Company Act.
Neither
Borrower nor any of its Material Subsidiaries is an “investment company” or a
company “controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. Until the effective date of the
repeal of PUHCA pursuant to Title XII, Subtitle G of the Energy Policy Act
of
2005, either:
(i)
neither
Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is a “holding company” or a “subsidiary
company” of a “public utility holding company” as defined in PUHCA;
or
34
(ii)
an
exemption from regulation as a registered utility holding company under PUHCA
applies to Borrower and its Subsidiaries, or, if no such exemption is available,
Borrower (or such Subsidiary, as the case may be) is a duly registered holding
company under PUHCA and has obtained all requisite approvals thereunder for
Borrower’s incurrence and performance of the Obligations, which approvals are in
full force and effect.
(n) Environmental
Matters.
(i)
There
are
no claims, liabilities, investigations, litigation, notices of violation
or
liability, administrative proceedings, judgments or orders, whether asserted,
pending or threatened, relating to any liability under or compliance with
any
applicable Environmental Law, against Borrower or any of its Material
Subsidiaries or relating to any real property currently or formerly owned,
leased or operated by Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries, that
would
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ii)
No
Hazardous Materials have been or are present or are being spilled, discharged
or
released on, in, under or from property (real, personal or mixed) currently
or
formerly owned, leased or operated by Borrower or any of its Material
Subsidiaries in any quantity or manner violating, or resulting in liability
under, any applicable Environmental Law, which violation or liability would
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(o) Disclosure.
No
representation or warranty of Borrower (excluding projections, forecasts
and
similar information) contained in any Credit Document or any other document,
certificate or written statement furnished to Agent or any Bank by or on
behalf
of Borrower for use in connection with the Credit Documents contains any
untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material
fact necessary in order to make the statements contained herein or therein,
when
taken as a whole, not misleading in any material respect in light of the
circumstances in which the same were made.
(p) Rank
of Indebtedness.
The
Obligations outstanding hereunder are, and will continue to be, pari passu
with
all other existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness of
Borrower.
(q) Regulatory
Restrictions on Distributions.
No
Material Subsidiary is subject to any prohibition, restriction or limitation
on
its ability to make or pay dividends or other distributions to Borrower (i)
that
has been imposed by a Governmental Authority, and (ii) that, as imposed on
any
date on which this representation is made or is deemed made, would reasonably
be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
ARTICLE
V
COVENANTS OF BORROWER
Section
5.1 Affirmative
Covenants.
So long
as any Obligations shall remain outstanding or any of the Commitments shall
remain available hereunder or any L/C is outstanding, Borrower shall, unless
the
Majority Banks shall otherwise give their prior written consent:
35
(a) Payment
of Taxes, Etc.
Pay and
discharge, and cause each of its Material Subsidiaries to pay and discharge,
before the same shall become delinquent, (i) all taxes, assessments and
governmental charges or levies imposed upon it or its property, and (ii)
all
lawful claims that, if unpaid, would by Law become a Lien upon its property,
in
each case, to the extent that the failure to pay and discharge such amounts,
either singly or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect; provided,
however,
that
neither Borrower nor any of its Material Subsidiaries shall be required to
pay
or discharge any such tax, assessment, charge or claim which is being contested
in good faith and by proper proceedings and as to which adequate reserves
have
been established.
(b) Maintenance
of Insurance.
Maintain, and cause each of its Material Subsidiaries to maintain, or cause
to
be maintained for each of its Material Subsidiaries, with responsible and
reputable insurance companies or associations or through self-insurance (limited
to such risks and to such amounts as are customary for companies engaged
in
similar businesses and owning similar properties), insurance in such amounts
and
covering such risks (including, but not limited to, catastrophe perils insurance
(i.e., hurricane, earthquake, flood and storm) and business interruption
insurance) as is usually carried by companies engaged in similar businesses
and
owning similar properties in the same general areas in which Borrower or
any of
its Material Subsidiaries operates to the extent available on commercially
reasonable terms (the “Industry
Standard”);
provided
that if
the Industry Standard is such that the insurance coverage then being maintained
by Borrower and its Material Subsidiaries is below the Industry Standard,
Borrower shall only be required to use its reasonable best efforts to obtain
the
necessary insurance coverage such that its and its Material Subsidiaries’
insurance coverage equals or is greater than the Industry Standard.
(c) Preservation
of Corporate Existence, Etc.
Preserve
(subject to Section
5.2(b)),
maintain and keep in full force and effect, and cause each of its Material
Subsidiaries to preserve, maintain and keep in full force and effect, its
corporate existence, rights (charter and statutory) and franchises, if the
failure to do so would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(d) Compliance
with Laws.
Comply,
and cause each of its Material Subsidiaries to comply, with the requirements
of
all applicable Laws, if noncompliance would reasonably be expected to have
a
Material Adverse Effect.
(e) Inspection
Rights.
At any
reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable notice (but not more
than
once in any calendar quarter unless an Event of Default has occurred and
is
continuing), permit Agent or any agents or representatives thereof, at Agent’s
(or the Banks’) expense, to (i) examine (at the location where normally kept)
and make abstracts from the records and books of account of, and visit the
properties of, Borrower and its Material Subsidiaries, (ii) discuss the affairs,
finances and accounts of Borrower and its Material Subsidiaries with any
of
their respective officers, and (iii) following the occurrence and during
the
continuance of an Event of Default, (A) discuss the affairs, finances and
accounts of Borrower and its Material Subsidiaries with Borrower’s independent
certified public accountants (at which discussion, if Borrower or its Material
Subsidiary
36
or
Material Subsidiaries so requests, a representative of Borrower or such Material
Subsidiary or Material Subsidiaries shall be permitted to be present, and
if
such accountants should require that a representative of Borrower be present,
Borrower agrees to provide a representative to attend such discussion), and
(B)
permit such accountants to disclose to Agent any and all financial statements
and other reasonably requested information of any kind that they may have
with
respect to Borrower and its Material Subsidiaries.
(f) Keeping
of Books.
Keep,
and cause each of its Material Subsidiaries to keep, proper books of record
and
account, in which full and correct entries shall be made of all financial
transactions and the assets and business of Borrower and its Material
Subsidiaries in a form, in the case of Borrower, such that Borrower may readily
produce, no less frequently than the time periods specified in Section
5.1(h),
financial statements in accordance with GAAP consistently applied.
(g) Maintenance
of Properties, Etc.
Maintain
and preserve, and cause each of its Material Subsidiaries to maintain and
preserve, (i) all rights with respect to licenses, franchises or agreements
with
respect to the usage of technology or other permits, in each case, that are
necessary for the ownership, operation or maintenance of the business of
Borrower and its Material Subsidiaries and the termination or loss of which
would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (ii)
all of
its properties that are material to the conduct of its business in good working
order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted (subject to any customary
mandatory requirement of any contractual obligation); provided,
however,
that
nothing in this Section
5.1(g)
shall
prevent Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries from (A) discontinuing
the
operation or maintenance of, or ceasing to preserve, any such properties
or
rights, or (B) if not prohibited under Section
5.2(b),
disposing of any of them, if such discontinuance, cessation or disposal is,
as
determined by Borrower in good faith, desirable in the conduct of its business
or the business of any of its Material Subsidiaries and would not reasonably
be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(h) Reporting
Requirements.
Furnish
to Agent, with sufficient copies for each Bank (as designated by
Agent):
(i)
Quarterly
Consolidated Financial Statements.
Within
sixty (60) days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters
of each
fiscal year of Borrower, the consolidated balance sheet of Borrower and its
Subsidiaries (on a consolidated basis) as of the end of such quarter and
consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of
Borrower and its Subsidiaries (on a consolidated basis) for such quarter
and for
the period commencing at the beginning of such fiscal year and ending with
the
end of such quarter, all in reasonable detail and duly certified (subject
to
year-end audit adjustments) by a Responsible Officer of Borrower as having
been
prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied;
(ii)
Annual
Consolidated Financial Statements.
Within
ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of Borrower, the consolidated
balance sheet of Borrower and its Subsidiaries (on a consolidated basis)
as of
the end of such fiscal year and the consolidated statements of operations,
stockholders’ equity and cash flows of Borrower and its Subsidiaries (on a
consolidated basis) for such fiscal year, in each case certified, without
material qualifications or limitations as to scope of the audit, by independent
public accountants of recognized standing as having been prepared in accordance
with GAAP consistently applied;
37
(iii)
Defaults;
Events of Default.
As soon
as practicable and in any event within five (5) days after a Responsible
Officer
of Borrower has actual knowledge of the occurrence of a Default or an Event
of
Default, a statement of a Responsible Officer of Borrower setting forth the
details of such Default or Event of Default and the action that Borrower
has
taken and proposes to take with respect thereto;
(iv)
Litigation.
Promptly after the commencement thereof, notice of all actions, suits and
proceedings before any court or governmental department, commission, board,
bureau, agency or instrumentality, domestic or foreign, against Borrower
or any
of its Subsidiaries, or any of its or their respective assets or properties,
that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect;
(v)
Officer’s
Certificate.
Together with the financial statements referred to in Sections
5.1(h)(i)
and
(ii),
a
certificate of the Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer or Chief Accounting
Officer of Borrower (A) to the effect that during the course of such officer’s
review of the operations of Borrower and its condition as of the end of the
fiscal quarter to which such certificate relates, nothing has come to such
officer’s attention that would indicate that a Default or an Event of Default
has occurred or that there was any violation of the covenants of Borrower
contained in Section
5.2
or
5.3,
or if
such cannot be so certified, specifying in reasonable detail the exceptions,
if
any, to such statement, and (B) setting forth calculations, in reasonable
detail, establishing Borrower’s compliance, as at the end of such fiscal
quarter, with the financial covenants contained in Section
5.3;
(vi)
ERISA.
Promptly upon a Responsible Officer of Borrower becoming aware of any of
the
following, if such occurrence has resulted in, or would reasonably be expected
to result in, liability of Borrower and its Subsidiaries that would reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (A) the failure to make a
required contribution to any Pension Plan if such failure is sufficient to
give
rise to a Lien under Section 302(f) of ERISA, (B) the taking of any action
with
respect to a Pension Plan that has resulted, or would reasonably be expected
to
result, in the requirement that Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries
furnish a bond or other security to the PBGC or such Pension Plan, or (C)
the
occurrence of any Termination Event;
(vii)
Additional
Information.
Such
other customary financial information regarding Borrower or its Material
Subsidiaries as any Bank through Agent may from time to time reasonably
request;
provided
that if
the financial statements required to be delivered pursuant to Section
5.1(h)(i)
or
(ii)
are
included any Form 10-K or 10-Q filed by Borrower, Borrower’s obligation to
deliver such documents or information to Agent shall be deemed to be satisfied
upon (1) delivery of a copy of the relevant form to Agent (with sufficient
copies for each Bank, as designated by Agent), within the time period required
by such Section or (y) the relevant form being available on XXXXX within
the
time period required by such Section. Agent shall promptly deliver to each
Bank
any documents furnished to Agent pursuant to Section 5.1(h).
38
(i) Use
of
Proceeds.
Use the
proceeds of the Loans made and any L/C issued under this Agreement for general
corporate purposes (including the acquisition of the capital stock or other
equity interests in a Person or assets in transactions that are not otherwise
prohibited by this Agreement and that do not cause a breach of Borrower’s
representation and warranty contained in Section 4.1(l)) and to provide
liquidity support for Commercial Paper.
(j) Maintenance
of Rank.
Cause
the Obligations hereunder to rank pari passu with all other senior unsecured
indebtedness of Borrower.
Section
5.2 Negative
Covenants.
So long
as any Obligations shall remain outstanding or any of the Commitments shall
remain available hereunder or any L/C is outstanding, Borrower shall not,
without the prior written consent of the Majority Banks:
(a) Liens.
Create,
incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien, except Permitted Liens, upon any
assets or property of Borrower.
(b) Fundamental
Changes.
(i)
Consolidate
with or merge with or into any other Person, whether or not Borrower is the
surviving entity, or sell, lease or otherwise transfer all or substantially
all
of the assets of Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any
other
Person, unless, in each case, (A) both immediately before and immediately
after
giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists
or
would exist (determined, for purposes of compliance with Section
5.3(a)
after
giving effect to such transaction, on a pro forma basis for the period of
four
consecutive fiscal quarters of Borrower then most recently ended, as if such
transaction had occurred on the first day of such period, and, for purposes
of
compliance with Section
5.3(b)
after
giving effect to such transaction, on a pro forma basis as if such transaction
had occurred on the last day of Borrower’s fiscal quarter then most recently
ended), and (B) the surviving Person or the purchaser of assets, as applicable,
is a corporation or limited liability company formed under the laws of the
United States of America, one of the States thereof or the District of Columbia
and assumes or is responsible by operation of law for the Obligations;
or
(ii)
Permit
any Material Subsidiary to consolidate with or merge with or into any other
Person, or sell, lease or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of
its
assets, except that (A) any Material Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve
voluntarily into, and may merge with and into, Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries, and substantially all of the assets of any Material Subsidiary
may
be purchased by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; and (B) provided that,
both
immediately before and immediately after giving effect thereto, no Default
or
Event of Default exists or would exist (determined, for purposes of compliance
with Section
5.3(a)
after
giving effect to such transaction, on a pro forma basis for the period of
four
consecutive fiscal quarters of Borrower then most recently ended, as if such
transaction had occurred on the first day of such period, and, for purposes
of
compliance with Section
5.3(b)
after
giving effect to such transaction, on a pro forma basis as if such transaction
had occurred on the last day of Borrower’s fiscal quarter then most recently
ended), any Material Subsidiary may (I) merge with or into another Person,
or
(II) sell all or substantially all of its assets pursuant to a transaction
described in any of clauses (b) through (e) of the definition of “Permitted
Asset Sales.”
39
(c) Transactions
with Affiliates.
Enter
into, or permit any of its Material Subsidiaries to enter into, any material
transaction, including, without limitation, the purchase, sale or exchange
of
property or the rendering of any service, with any Affiliate of Borrower
except
(i) transactions that are upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable
to Borrower or such Material Subsidiary than would be obtained in a comparable
arm’s-length transaction with a Person that is not an Affiliate of Borrower,
and
(ii) transactions between or among Borrower and/or its wholly-owned Subsidiaries
that do not involve any other Affiliate. The foregoing provision shall not
be
construed to prohibit (x) the Trust Preferred Securities and any financing
transactions provided by Berkshire Hathaway with comparable terms as the
Trust
Preferred Securities, or (y) the payment of reasonable and customary directors’
fees, indemnification and similar arrangements, employee salaries, bonuses
or
employment agreements, consulting agreements, compensation or employee benefit
arrangements and incentive arrangements with any officer, director or employee
of Borrower or such Material Subsidiary entered into in the ordinary course
of
business.
(d) Sales
of Assets.
Sell or
otherwise dispose of, or permit any of its consolidated Subsidiaries to sell
or
otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any of its consolidated assets,
except for Permitted Asset Sales.
(e) Incurrence
of Debt.
(i) Incur
any
Debt (other than the Obligations and Debt outstanding on the Closing Date)
unless, after giving effect to the incurrence of such Debt, Borrower would
be in
compliance with the covenants contained in Section
5.3
(determined, for purposes of compliance with Section
5.3(a),
on a
pro forma basis for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of Borrower
then most recently ended, as if such Debt had been incurred on the first
day of
such period, and, for purposes of compliance with Section
5.3(b),
on a
pro forma basis as if such Debt had been incurred on the last day of Borrower’s
fiscal quarter then most recently ended).
(ii) Permit
any of its Subsidiaries to incur any Debt other than Permitted Subsidiary
Debt.
(f) Restricted
Payments.
Pay, or
permit any of its Subsidiaries to pay, any Restricted Payments after the
Closing
Date if a Default or an Event of Default exists at the time of, or would
result
from, the payment of such Restricted Payments (determined, for purposes of
compliance with Section
5.3(a),
on a
pro forma basis for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of Borrower
then most recently ended, as if such Restricted Payment had been made on
the
first day of such period, and, for purposes of compliance with Section
5.3(b),
on a
pro forma basis as if such Restricted Payment had been made on the last day
of
Borrower’s fiscal quarter then most recently ended).
40
(g) Restrictive
Agreements.
Permit
any of its Subsidiaries to enter into any agreement that prohibits such
Subsidiary from making any payments, directly or indirectly, to Borrower
by way
of dividends, advances, repayment of loans or advances, reimbursements of
management or other intercompany charges, expenses and accruals or other
returns
on investment, or any other agreement that restricts the ability of such
Subsidiary to make any payment, directly or indirectly, to Borrower, if such
prohibition or restriction has or would reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect, other than agreements entered into in connection
with
the incurrence of (i) Debt described in clause (e) of the definition of
“Permitted Subsidiary Debt” and (ii) to the extent related to Debt described in
such clause (e), Debt described in clause (h) of the definition of “Permitted
Subsidiary Debt”.
(h) Investments.
Make,
or permit any of its Subsidiaries to make, any Investment in any Person that
is
not engaged in a line of business that is similar or related to any business
(including any geographic extensions thereof) engaged in by Borrower or any
of
its Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date if (i) such Investment, when combined
into one Person with all other such Investments, would constitute a Material
Subsidiary, or (ii) a Default or an Event of Default exists at the time of,
or
would result from, the making of such Investment (determined, for purposes
of
compliance with Section
5.3(a),
on a
pro forma basis for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of Borrower
then most recently ended, as if such Investment had been made on the first
day
of such period, and, for purposes of compliance with Section
5.3(b),
on a
pro forma basis as if such Investment had been made on the last day of
Borrower’s fiscal quarter then most recently ended).
Section
5.3 Financial
Covenants.
So long
as any Obligations shall remain outstanding or any of the Commitments shall
remain available hereunder or any L/C is outstanding, Borrower agrees that
the
financial covenants set forth below under this Section
5.3
shall be
applicable:
(a) Coverage
Ratio.
As of
the last day of each fiscal quarter of Borrower, the Coverage Ratio for the
period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of Borrower then ended shall not
be
less than 2.50 to 1.00; provided,
however,
that
Borrower shall not be required to comply with this Section
5.3(a),
and
this Section
5.3(a)
shall
not apply, in the event that, and at all times during which, the Index Debt
is
rated BBB or higher by S&P and Baa2 or higher by Xxxxx’x.
(b) Consolidated
Debt to Capital.
The
ratio (expressed as a percentage) of (i) Consolidated Debt plus Aggregate
Operating Lease Obligations to (ii) Capital plus Aggregate Operating Lease
Obligations shall not be greater than 70% at the end of any fiscal quarter
of
Borrower.
ARTICLE
VI
EVENTS
OF DEFAULT
Section
6.1 Events
of Default.
If any
of the following events (“Events
of Default”)
shall
occur and be continuing:
41
(a) Payments.
Borrower shall (i) fail to pay any principal of any of the Loans when the
same
becomes due and payable, or (ii) fail to pay any interest on any of the Loans
within three (3) days of the due date therefor, or (iii) fail to reimburse
the
L/C Issuer for any payment made by the L/C Issuer under or in respect of
any L/C
Obligations when due, or (iv) fail to pay any fees payable under this Agreement
or any other sum due under this Agreement or any other Credit Document within
five (5) Banking Days of the date when the same becomes due and payable;
or
(b) Representations
and Warranties.
Any
representation or warranty made or deemed to be made by Borrower under or
in
connection with any Credit Document shall have been incorrect or misleading
in
any material respect when made or deemed to be made; or
(c) Particular
Covenant Defaults.
(i)
Borrower
shall fail to perform or observe any covenant contained in Section 5.1(i),
5.2(b),
5.2(d),
5.2(h)
(by
reason of a failure to comply with Section
5.3(a)
on a pro
forma basis with respect to an Investment) or 5.3(a);
or
(ii)
Borrower
shall fail to perform or observe any covenant contained in Section
5.2(e),
5.2(f),
5.2(g),
5.2(h)
(by
reason of a failure to comply with Section
5.3(b)
on a pro
forma basis with respect to an Investment) or 5.3(b)
and such
failure shall remain unremedied for ten (10) Banking Days after the earliest
of
(i) such failure first becoming known to Borrower, (ii) the date on which
Borrower could reasonably have been expected to have known of such failure
and
(iii) the date on which a written notice thereof shall have been given to
Borrower by Agent or any Bank; or
(d) Other
Covenant Defaults.
Borrower shall fail to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement
contained herein or in any other Credit Document on its part to be performed
or
observed (other than those referred to in any of Sections
6.1(a),
(b)
and
(c))
and
such failure shall remain unremedied for thirty (30) days after the earliest
of
(i) such failure first becoming known to Borrower, (ii) the date on which
Borrower could reasonably have been expected to have known of such failure
and
(iii) the date on which a written notice thereof shall have been given to
Borrower by Agent or any Bank; or
(e) Other
Debt.
(i)
Borrower
shall default in the payment of principal of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000)
(or the equivalent in any foreign currency) or more on any Debt (other than
the
Obligations) having an outstanding principal amount of Fifty Million Dollars
($50,000,000) (or the equivalent in any foreign currency) or more in the
aggregate, or any interest or premium thereon, when due (whether by scheduled
maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise) and such
failure shall continue after the applicable notice and grace period, if any,
specified in the agreement or instrument relating to such Debt; or
(ii)
any
other
default under any agreement or instrument relating to any such Debt, or any
other event, shall occur and shall continue after the applicable notice and
grace period, if any, specified in such agreement or instrument, if, as a
result
thereof, the maturity of such Debt is accelerated, provided
that if
such acceleration is rescinded within thirty (30) days, the Event of Default
arising out of such acceleration shall be deemed to have been cured;
or
42
(f) Debt
of Material Subsidiaries.
Any
default under any agreement or instrument relating to Debt of any Material
Subsidiary having an outstanding principal amount of Fifty Million Dollars
($50,000,000) or more in the aggregate shall occur and shall continue after
the
applicable notice and grace period, if any, specified in such agreement or
instrument, if, as a result thereof, the maturity of such Debt is accelerated;
provided
that if
such acceleration is rescinded within thirty (30) days, the Event of Default
arising out of such acceleration shall be deemed to have been cured;
or
(g) Judgments
and Orders.
One or
more judgments or orders for the payment of money in the aggregate in excess
of
Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000) (or the equivalent in any foreign currency)
shall be rendered against Borrower or any Material Subsidiary and either
(i)
enforcement proceedings shall have been commenced by any creditor upon such
judgment or order or (ii) there shall be any period of ninety (90) consecutive
days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment or order, by reason
of
a pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect; or
(h) Insolvency
or Voluntary Proceedings.
Borrower or any Material Subsidiary is generally not paying or admits in
writing
its inability to pay its debts as such debts become due, or files any petition
or action for relief under any bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency or
moratorium Law or any other Law for the relief of debtors, now or hereafter
in
effect, or makes any assignment for the benefit of creditors, liquidates
or
dissolves, or takes any action in furtherance of any of the foregoing;
or
(i) Involuntary
Proceedings.
An
involuntary petition is filed against Borrower or any Material Subsidiary
under
any bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency or moratorium Law now or hereafter
in
effect, or a custodian, receiver, trustee or assignee for the benefit of
creditors (or other similar official) is appointed to take possession, custody
or control of any property of Borrower or such Material Subsidiary, as the
case
may be, and (i) such petition or appointment is not set aside or withdrawn
or
otherwise ceases to be in effect within ninety (90) days from the date of
said
filing or appointment, or (ii) an order for relief is entered against Borrower
or such Material Subsidiary, as the case may be, with respect thereto, or
(iii)
Borrower or such Material Subsidiary, as the case may be, shall take any
action
indicating its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any such petition
or
appointment; or
(j) ERISA.
A
Termination Event shall have occurred that, when taken together with all
other
Termination Events that have occurred, has resulted in, or would reasonably
be
expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect; or
(k) Berkshire
Hathaway Ownership.
Berkshire Hathaway shall fail to own beneficially (directly or indirectly)
at
least 50% of the common stock of Borrower, calculated on a fully-diluted
basis;
43
then
and in
every such event, Agent shall (i) if requested by the Majority Banks, by
written
notice to Borrower, terminate the Commitments and they shall thereupon
terminate, and (ii) if requested by the Majority Banks, by written notice
to
Borrower, declare the Obligations (including, without limitation, the Loans
and
all accrued interest thereon) to be, and the Notes shall thereupon become,
immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other
notice
of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by Borrower; provided
that
upon the occurrence of an Event of Default described in Section
6.1(h)
or
(i),
without
any notice to Borrower or any other act by Agent or the Banks, the Commitments
shall immediately and automatically terminate and the Obligations (including,
without limitation, the Loans and all accrued interest thereon) shall become
immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other
notice
of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by Borrower.
Section
6.2 Cash
Collateral.
If any
Event of Default described in Section
6.1(h)
or
(i)
shall
occur or the Loans shall have otherwise been accelerated and the Commitments
terminated pursuant to Section
6.1,
then,
without any request or the taking of any other action by Agent or any of
the
Banks, Borrower shall forthwith pay to Agent an amount in immediately available
funds equal to the then aggregate amount available for drawings (regardless
of
whether any conditions to any such drawing can then be met) under all L/Cs
at
the time outstanding, to be held by Agent as cash collateral as provided
in
Section
2.10.
ARTICLE
VII
RELATIONSHIP
OF AGENT AND BANKS
Section
7.1 Authorization
and Action.
Each
Bank hereby appoints and authorizes Agent, as agent on behalf of such Bank,
to
take such action and to exercise such powers under the Credit Documents as
are
delegated to Agent by the terms thereof, together with such powers as are
reasonably incidental thereto. As to any (a) matters requiring or permitting
an
approval, consent, waiver, election or other action by the Majority Banks,
(b)
matters as to which, notwithstanding any delegation of authority to Agent,
Agent
has requested instructions from the Majority Banks, or (c) matters not expressly
provided for by the Credit Documents, Agent shall not be required to exercise
any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or to refrain
from acting only (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining
from
acting) upon the instructions of the Majority Banks, and such instructions
shall
be binding upon all Banks; provided,
however,
that
Agent shall not be required to take any action which exposes Agent to personal
liability or which is contrary to any Credit Document or applicable Law.
Agent
agrees to give to each Bank prompt notice of each notice given to it by Borrower
pursuant to the terms of any Credit Document.
Section
7.2 Agent’s
Reliance, Etc.
Neither
Agent nor any of its directors, officers, agents, attorneys or employees
shall
be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it or them under
or in
connection with any Credit Document, except for its or their own gross
negligence or willful misconduct. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, Agent: (a) may treat each Bank as the holder of the right
to
payment of its outstanding Loans until Agent receives and accepts (together
with
any required transfer fee) an Assignment and Assumption signed by such Bank
and
its Assignee in form satisfactory to Agent and otherwise in accordance with
the
provisions of this Agreement; (b) may consult
44
with
legal counsel (including counsel for Borrower), independent public accountants
and other experts selected by it and shall not be liable for any action taken
or
omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of
such
counsel, accountants or other experts if such counsel, accountants or other
experts are selected without gross negligence or willful misconduct on the
part
of Agent; (c) makes no warranty or representation to any Bank and shall not
be
responsible to any Bank for any statements, warranties or representations
made
in or in connection with any Credit Document; (d) shall not have any duty
to
ascertain or to inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the
terms,
covenants or conditions of any Credit Document on the part of Borrower or
to
inspect the property (including the books and records) of Borrower; (e) shall
not be responsible to any Bank for the due execution, legality, validity,
enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of any Credit Document
or any
other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto; and (f) shall incur
no
liability under or in respect of any Credit Document by acting upon any notice,
consent, certificate or other instrument or writing (which may be, without
limitation, by telegram, cable, telex or telecopy) believed by it to be genuine
and signed or sent by the proper party or parties unless such action by Agent
constitutes gross negligence or willful misconduct on its part.
Section
7.3 Agent
and Affiliates.
With
respect to its Commitments, the Loans made by it, the L/Cs issued by it and
the
obligations of Borrower owed to it under the Credit Documents as a Bank
thereunder, Agent shall have the same rights and powers under the Credit
Documents as any other Bank and may exercise the same as though it were not
Agent; and the term “Bank” or “Banks” shall, unless otherwise expressly
indicated, include Agent in its individual capacity. Agent and its Affiliates
may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as trustee under indentures
of, and
generally engage in any kind of business with, Borrower, any of its Affiliates
and any Person who may do business with or own securities of Borrower or
any
such Affiliates, all as if Agent were not Agent and without any duty to account
therefor to the Banks.
Section
7.4 Bank
Credit Decision.
Each
Bank acknowledges that (a) it has, independently and without reliance upon
Agent
or any other Bank and based on such documents and information as it has deemed
appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this
Agreement, (b) it will, independently and without reliance upon Agent or
any
other Bank 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 this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, and
(c)
Agent has no duty or responsibility, either initially or on a continuing
basis,
to provide any Bank with any credit or other information (other than obtained
under the provisions of this Agreement) with respect thereto, whether coming
into its possession before the date hereof or at any time
thereafter.
Section
7.5 Indemnification.
Each
Bank agrees to indemnify Agent (to the extent not reimbursed by Borrower),
ratably according to its respective Percentage, from and against any and
all
liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments,
suits,
costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever which may
be
imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against Agent in any way relating to
or
arising out of the Credit Documents, or any of them, or any action taken
or
omitted by Agent under the Credit Documents, or any of them, provided
that no
Bank shall be liable for any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses,
damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements
resulting from Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. Without limiting
the foregoing, each Bank agrees to reimburse Agent promptly upon demand for
such
Bank’s ratable share (based upon its respective Percentage) of any out-of-pocket
expenses (including counsel fees and allocated costs of in-house legal services)
incurred by Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery,
administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through
negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect
of
rights or responsibilities under, the Credit Documents, or any of them, to
the
extent that Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by Borrower.
45
Section
7.6 Successor
Agent.
Agent
(a) may resign at any time as Agent under the Credit Documents by giving
thirty
(30) days’ prior written notice thereof to the Banks and Borrower, and (b) may
be removed as Agent under the Credit Documents at any time with or without
cause
upon written notice to Agent and Borrower signed by the Majority Banks. Upon
any
such resignation or removal, the Majority Banks shall have the right to appoint
a successor Agent thereunder (with, unless an Event of Default has occurred
and
is continuing, Borrower’s prior written consent, not to be unreasonably withheld
or delayed). If no successor Agent shall have been so appointed by the Majority
Banks, and shall have accepted such appointment, within thirty (30) days
after
the retiring Agent’s giving of notice of resignation or the Majority Banks’
removal of the retiring Agent, then the retiring Agent may, on behalf of
the
Banks, appoint a successor Agent (with, unless an Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing, Borrower’s prior written consent, not to be unreasonably
withheld or delayed), which shall be a commercial bank organized under the
laws
of the United States of America or of a state thereof and having a combined
capital and surplus of at least Two Hundred Million Dollars ($200,000,000).
Unless and until a successor Agent shall have been appointed as above provided,
the retiring Agent shall serve as a caretaker Agent unless dismissed by the
Majority Banks. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Agent under the
Credit
Documents by a successor Agent, such successor Agent shall thereupon succeed
to
and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the
retiring Agent, and the retiring Agent shall be discharged from all duties
and
obligations of Agent arising thereafter under the Credit Documents. After
any
retiring Agent’s resignation or removal as Agent under the Credit Documents, the
provisions of this Article
VII
shall
inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it
while
it was Agent under the Credit Documents.
Section
7.7 Syndication
Agent; Other Titles.
No Bank
identified on the signature pages of this Agreement as a “Syndication
Agent,”“Co-Agent,” or “Co-Documentation Agent,” or that is given any other title
hereunder other than “Agent”, shall have any right, power, obligation,
liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement other than those
applicable to all Banks as such. Without limiting the foregoing, no Bank
so
identified as a “Syndication Agent,”“Co-Agent,” or “Co-Documentation Agent,” or
that is given any other title hereunder, shall have, or be deemed to have,
any
fiduciary relationship with any Bank. Each Bank acknowledges that it has
not
relied, and will not rely, on the Banks so identified in deciding to enter
into
this Agreement or in taking or not taking action hereunder.
46
ARTICLE
VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section
8.1 Notices.
Except
as provided in Article
II
with
respect to the matters therein specified, all notices, demands, instructions,
requests, and other communications required or permitted to be given to,
or made
upon, any party hereto shall be in writing and (except for financial statements
and other related informational documents to be furnished pursuant hereto,
which
may be sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid) shall be personally delivered
or sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt
requested, by overnight courier, or by prepaid telex, TWX, telecopy or telegram
(with messenger delivery specified) and shall be deemed to be given for purposes
of this Agreement on the day that such writing is received by the Person
to whom
it is to be sent pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement. Unless otherwise
specified in a notice sent or delivered in accordance with the foregoing
provisions of this Section, notices, demands, requests, instructions and
other
communications in writing shall be given to or made upon each party hereto
at
the address (or its telex, TWX or telecopier numbers, if any) set forth for
such
party on the signature pages hereof or in Schedule
I
or, in
the case of any Assignee or New Bank, set forth in the relevant Assignment
and
Assumption or Accession and Amendment Agreement, respectively.
Section
8.2 Successors
and Assigns.
This
Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
respective successors and assigns; provided,
however,
that
(a) other than in a transaction effected in accordance with Section
5.2(b),
Borrower shall not assign this Agreement or any of the rights or obligations
of
Borrower hereunder without the prior written consent of all Banks and Agent
(the
giving of such consent to be in each Bank’s and Agent’s sole and absolute
discretion), and any such purported assignment without such consent shall
be
absolutely void, and (b) no Bank shall assign this Agreement or any of the
rights or obligations of such Bank hereunder except in accordance with
Section
8.11.
Section
8.3 Amendments
and Related Matters.
No
amendment or waiver of any provision of any Credit Document, nor consent
to any
departure by Borrower therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the
same
shall be in writing and signed by the Majority Banks and Borrower and then
such
waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for
the
specific purpose for which given; provided,
however,
that no
amendment, waiver or consent with respect to any Credit Document shall, unless
in writing and signed by all Banks, do any of the following: (a) waive, or
have
the effect of waiving, any of the conditions specified in Section
3.1,
(b)
increase the Commitment of any Bank or subject the Banks to any additional
obligations, (c) reduce the principal of, or interest on, the Loans, any
Fee or
any other amount payable to any Bank hereunder or under any other Credit
Document, (d) postpone any date fixed for any payment of principal of, or
interest on, the Loans, any Fee or any other amount payable to any Bank
hereunder or under any other Credit Document (including, without limitation,
to
extend the scheduled Termination Date), (e) change the relative percentage
of
the Commitments, or of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Loans,
required for the Banks or any of them to take any action hereunder, (f) change
the several nature of the obligations of the Banks hereunder or under the
other
Credit Documents, or (g) amend Section
2.7,
8.2,
this
Section
8.3
or
Section
8.4(b);
and
provided,
further,
that no
amendment, waiver or consent with respect to any Credit Document shall, unless
in writing and signed by Agent in addition to the Banks required above to
take
such action, affect the rights or duties of Agent under this Agreement or
any
other Credit Document; and provided,
further,
that no
amendment, waiver or consent with respect to any Credit Document shall, unless
in writing and signed by the L/C Issuer in addition to the Banks required
above
to take such action, affect the rights or duties of the L/C Issuer under
this
Agreement or any other Credit Document.
47
Section
8.4 Costs
and Expenses; Indemnification.
(a) Expenses.
Borrower agrees to pay on demand, subject to the proviso set forth below,
(i)
all costs and expenses of Agent and the Syndication Agent in connection with
the
syndication by Agent or the Syndication Agent, as the case may be, of the
credit
facility provided hereunder upon presentation of supporting documentation
and in
connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration,
modification and amendment of the Credit Documents and the other documents
to be
delivered under the Credit Documents, including, without limitation, (A)
the
reasonable fees and expenses of counsel (excluding allocated costs for in-house
legal services) for Agent or the Syndication Agent, as the case may be, with
respect thereto and with respect to advising Agent or the Syndication Agent,
as
the case may be, as to its rights and responsibilities under the Credit
Documents, and (B) any fees payable in respect of the use and maintenance
by
Agent of IntraLinks®
or a
similar website in connection with the syndication of the credit facility
provided hereunder and the administration of the Credit Documents, and (ii)
all
costs and expenses of Agent and each of the Banks, if any (including, without
limitation, reasonable counsel fees and expenses, but limited to costs and
expenses of one counsel and any one local counsel who shall act for Agent
and
the Banks (excluding allocated costs for in-house legal services)), in
connection with (A) the enforcement of, or other protection of the interests
of
Agent and the Banks under (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings
or
otherwise and including in connection with any bankruptcy or insolvency
proceedings), or (B) restructuring (whether or not in the nature of a
“work-out”) and administration of, the Credit Documents and the other documents
to be delivered under the Credit Documents; provided
that
Borrower shall only be liable for costs or expenses incurred in connection
with
the initial syndication of the credit facility provided hereunder pursuant
to
subclause (a)(i) of this Section
8.4
to any
Bank that is or becomes party to this Agreement on or prior to the Closing
Date
or within ninety (90) days thereafter. The provisions of this Section
8.4(a)
shall
survive the payment in full of the Obligations and termination of the
Commitments and of this Agreement.
(b) Indemnification.
Borrower agrees to indemnify Agent, each Bank and each officer, director,
Affiliate, employee, agent or representative of Agent or such Bank
(“Bank
Indemnitees”)
and
hold each Bank Indemnitee harmless, from and against any and all liabilities,
losses, damages, penalties, costs and expenses of any kind (including the
reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for any Bank Indemnitee (excluding
allocated costs of in-house counsel)) in connection with any investigative,
administrative or judicial proceeding, whether or not such Bank Indemnitee
shall
be designated a party thereto (but if not a party thereto, then only with
respect to such proceedings where such Bank Indemnitee (i) is subject to
legal
process (whether by subpoena or otherwise) or other compulsion of law, (ii)
believes in good faith that it will be so subject, or (iii) believes in good
faith that it is necessary or appropriate for it to resist any legal process
or
other compulsion of law which is purported to be asserted against it), that
may
be incurred by any Bank Indemnitee, relating to or arising out of this Agreement
or any of the other Credit Documents, any of the transactions contemplated
hereby or thereby, or any actual or proposed use of proceeds of Loans hereunder;
provided,
however,
that no
Bank Indemnitee shall have the right to be indemnified hereunder for its
own
gross negligence or willful misconduct. The provisions of this Section
8.4(b)
shall
survive the payment in full of the Obligations and termination of the
Commitments and of this Agreement.
48
Section
8.5 Oral
Communications.
Agent
may, but is not required (except as otherwise provided herein) to, accept
and
act upon oral communications from Borrower. Any oral communication from Borrower
to Agent (including telephone communications) hereunder shall be immediately
confirmed in writing by Borrower, but in the event of any conflict between
any
such oral communication and the written confirmation thereof, such oral
communication shall control if Agent has acted thereon prior to actual receipt
of written confirmation. Borrower shall indemnify Agent and hold Agent harmless
from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages,
penalties, claims, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses and disbursements
of any kind or nature whatsoever (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and
disbursements (but excluding allocated costs for in-house legal services))
that
arise out of or are incurred in connection with the making of Loans or taking
other action in reliance upon oral communications, except that Agent shall
not
be indemnified against its own gross negligence or willful misconduct.
Section
8.6 Entire
Agreement.
This
Agreement and the other Credit Documents are intended by the parties hereto
to
be a final and complete expression of all terms and conditions of their
agreement with respect to the subject matter thereof and supersede all oral
negotiations and prior writings in respect of the subject matter
hereof.
Section
8.7 Governing
Law.
THIS
AGREEMENT AND EACH OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT (EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THE LAW OF
ANOTHER JURISDICTION IS EXPRESSLY CHOSEN THEREIN) SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK.
Section
8.8 Severability.
The
illegality or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement or any
other
Credit Document shall not in any way affect or impair the legality or
enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement or such Credit
Document.
Section
8.9 Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in as many counterparts as may be deemed necessary
or
convenient, and by the different parties hereto on separate counterparts,
each
of which, when so executed, shall be deemed an original but all such
counterparts shall constitute but one and the same agreement. Delivery of
an
executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by telecopier
shall
be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this
Agreement.
Section
8.10 Confidentiality.
Unless
otherwise required by any Directive, Agent and each Bank agree not to disclose
voluntarily to any third party information that Borrower designates in writing
as “Confidential” and that is provided to it pursuant to this Agreement
(including in connection with any inspection pursuant to Section
5.1(e))
or the
other Credit Documents, except that there shall be no obligation of
confidentiality in respect of (a)
any
information that may be generally available to the public or that becomes
49
available
to the public through no fault of Agent or such Bank; (b)
communications with actual or prospective participants,
Assignees or counterparties (or their advisors) to any swap, securitization
or
derivative transaction referenced to credit risk or other risks arising under
this Agreement,
that
undertake in writing to be bound by this Section
8.10
and that
are banks or other financial institutions; or (c)
disclosures to Agent’s or any Bank’s directors, officers, employees and other
representatives and agents, and directors, officers, employees and other
representatives and agents of its Affiliates that are banks or other financial
institutions, legal counsel, auditors and internal bank examiners, and to
the
extent necessary or advisable in its judgment, independent engineering
consultants and other experts or consultants retained by it
(or any
rating agency when required by it, or any rating agency, commercial paper
dealer
or provider of any surety, guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement in
connection with a grant to an SPFV under Section
8.11(g)),
if, in
the case of a Person other than a director, officer, employee, legal counsel,
auditor or internal bank examiner, Agent or such Bank obtains from such Person
an undertaking in writing as to confidentiality substantially identical to
this
undertaking and if, as to all other Persons, Agent or such Bank informs them
of
the obligations under this Section
8.10
and is
responsible for any breach thereof. If any subpoena or other process is served
on Agent or any Bank seeking disclosure of any information designated by
Borrower as “Confidential” in accordance with this Section
8.10,
then,
to the extent permitted to do so under applicable law, Agent or such Bank,
as
the case may be, shall promptly give notice to Borrower of such occurrence
and
shall reasonably cooperate, at Borrower’s expense, with Borrower’s efforts to
seek a protective order with respect to, or other limitation on, the requested
disclosure.
Section
8.11 Assignments
and Participations.
(a) Assignments.
Each
Bank may assign to one or more financial institutions (as “Assignee”)
all or
a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including,
without
limitation, all or a portion of its Commitments, L/C Obligations and Loans);
provided,
however,
that
(i) each such assignment shall be of a constant, and not a varying, percentage
of the assigning Bank’s rights and obligations under this Agreement being
assigned, and any assignment of such Bank’s Commitment and Committed Loans shall
cover the same percentage of such Bank’s Commitment and Committed Loans, (ii)
unless Agent,
Borrower
and the
L/C Issuer
otherwise consent, the amount of the Commitment (such amount to be determined
without reduction for utilization) of the assigning Bank being assigned pursuant
to each such assignment (determined as of the date of the Assignment and
Assumption with respect to such assignment) shall not be less than One Million
Dollars ($1,000,000) or shall be an integral multiple of One Million Dollars
($1,000,000) in excess thereof, and, unless such assigning Bank is assigning
its
entire Commitment, shall not reduce the amount of the Commitment retained
by
such Bank to less than Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000), (iii) the parties
to
each such assignment shall execute and deliver to Agent for recording an
Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee
of
Three Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($3,500), and (iv) such assignment shall
require the consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed) of Borrower (unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and
be
continuing), Agent and the L/C Issuer; provided,
however,
that
the consent of the L/C Issuer shall not be required for any assignments by
a
Bank to any other Bank.
Upon
such execution, delivery, approval, acceptance and recording, from and after
the
effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, (x) the Assignee
thereunder shall be a party hereto as a Bank and, to the extent that rights
and
obligations hereunder have been assigned to it pursuant to such Assignment
and
Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Bank hereunder and under
the
other Credit Documents and (y) the Bank assignor thereunder shall, to the
extent
that
50
rights
and obligations hereunder have been assigned by it pursuant to such Assignment
and Assumption, relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations
under
this Agreement and under the other Credit Documents (and, in the case of
an
Assignment and Assumption covering all or the remaining portion of an assigning
Bank’s rights and obligations under this Agreement and under the other Credit
Documents, such Bank shall cease to be a party hereto, but shall remain entitled
to the benefit of all of Borrower’s indemnities hereunder with respect to the
period preceding such assignment).
(b) Effect
of Assignment.
By
executing and delivering an Assignment and Assumption, a Bank assignor
thereunder and the Assignee thereunder confirm to and agree with each other
and
the other parties hereto as follows: (i) other than as expressly provided
in
such Assignment and Assumption, such assigning Bank makes no representation
or
warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements,
warranties or representations made in or in connection with any Credit Document
or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency
or value of any Credit Document or any other instrument or document furnished
pursuant to any Credit Document; (ii) such assigning Bank makes no
representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to
the
financial condition of Borrower or the performance or observance by Borrower
of
any of its obligations under any Credit Document or any other instrument
or
document furnished pursuant to any Credit Document or with respect to the
taxability of payments to be made hereunder or under the other Credit Documents;
(iii) such Assignee confirms that it has received a copy of the Credit
Documents, together with copies of the financial statements referred to in
the
Credit Documents and such other documents and information as it has deemed
appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into such
Assignment and Assumption; (iv) such Assignee will, independently and without
reliance upon Agent, such assigning Bank or any other Bank 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 any Credit
Document; (v) such Assignee appoints and authorizes Agent to take such action
as
agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under the Credit Documents
as
are delegated to Agent by the terms thereof, together with such powers as
are
reasonably incidental thereto; and (vi) such Assignee agrees that it will
perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the
terms
of any Credit Document are required to be performed by it as a
Bank.
(c) Register.
Agent
shall maintain at its Agency Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption,
Accession and Amendment Agreement and Increasing Bank Agreement delivered
to it
and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Banks
and
the Commitments of, and principal amount of the Loans owing to, each Bank
from
time to time. The entries in such register shall be conclusive and binding
for
all purposes, absent manifest error, and Borrower, Agent and the Banks may
treat
each Person whose name is recorded in the register as a Bank hereunder for
all
purposes of this Agreement. The register shall be available for inspection
by
Borrower or any Bank at any reasonable time and from time to time upon
reasonable prior notice.
51
(d) Assignments
Recorded.
Upon
its receipt of an Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Bank
and an
Assignee, Agent shall, if such Assignment and Assumption has been properly
completed, and subject to Borrower’s consent as above provided, (i) record the
information contained therein in the register maintained by Agent for this
purpose and (ii) give prompt notice thereof to Borrower.
(e) Participations.
Each
Bank may sell participations to one or more Persons in all or a portion of
its
rights and obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation,
all
or a portion of its Commitments, L/C Obligations and Loans); provided,
however,
that
(i) such Bank’s obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation,
its Commitments to Borrower hereunder) shall remain unchanged, (ii) such
Bank
shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance
of such obligations, (iii) such Bank shall remain the owner of such Loans
for
all purposes of this Agreement, and (iv) Borrower, Agent and the Banks shall
continue to deal solely and directly with such Bank in connection with such
Bank’s rights and obligations under this Agreement; provided,
further,
that to
the extent of any such participation (unless otherwise stated therein and
subject to the preceding proviso), the assignee or purchaser of such
participation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have the same
rights and benefits hereunder as it would have if it were a Bank hereunder;
provided,
further,
that
each such participation shall be granted pursuant to an agreement providing
that
the purchaser thereof shall not have the right to consent or object to any
action by the selling Bank (who shall retain such right) with respect to
this
Agreement or any other Credit Document other than an action that would (A)
reduce the principal of or interest on any Loan or any Fee due under any
Credit
Document in which such purchaser has an interest, or (B) postpone any date
fixed
for payment of principal of or interest on any such Loan or such Fee; and
provided,
further,
that
notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section
8.11(e),
the
provisions of Sections
2.7
and
2.8
shall
apply to the purchasers of participations as if they were Banks, provided
that no
such purchaser shall be entitled to receive any greater amount pursuant to
either such Section than the Bank selling such participation would have been
entitled to receive in respect of the participation transferred had no such
transfer occurred.
(f) Assignment
to Affiliates and Federal Reserve Bank.
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, each Bank shall have the
right,
without the prior consent of Borrower, to assign or pledge from time to time
any
or all of its Commitments, Loans or other rights hereunder or under any of
the
other Credit Documents to any of its Affiliates or to any Federal Reserve
Bank.
(g) Funding
by SPFV.
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, each Bank (the “Granting
Bank”)
shall
have the right, without the prior consent of Borrower, to grant to a special
purpose funding vehicle (the “SPFV”)
that
is an Affiliate of such Granting Bank, identified as such in writing from
time
to time by the Granting Bank to Agent and Borrower, the option to provide
all or
any part of any Loan that such Granting Bank would otherwise be obligated
to
make hereunder, provided
that (i)
nothing herein shall constitute a commitment to make any Loan by any SPFV
or
shall relieve its Granting Bank of any obligation of such Granting Bank
hereunder or under any other Credit Document, except to the extent that such
SPFV actually funds all or part of any Loan such Granting Bank is obligated
to
make hereunder, (ii) if an SPFV elects not to exercise such option or otherwise
fails to provide all or any part of such Loan, such Granting Bank shall be
obligated to make such Loan pursuant to the terms hereof, (iii) the Granting
Bank hereby
52
indemnifies
and holds Agent harmless from and against any liability, loss, penalty, cost
or
expense (including for or in respect of Taxes) arising out of such
identification and grant or any transaction contemplated thereby, and (iv)
the
provisions of this Section
8.11(g)
shall
not impose any increased cost or liability on Borrower. The making of a Loan
by
an SPFV hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of its Granting Bank to the
same
extent, and as if, such Loan were made by such Granting Bank. Each party
hereto
agrees that no SPFV shall be liable for any payment under this Agreement
or any
other Credit Document for which a Bank would otherwise be liable, for so
long
as, and to the extent that, its Granting Bank makes such payment. As to any
Loans or portions of Loans made by it, each SPFV shall have all the rights
that
a Bank making such Loans or such portions of Loans would have had under this
Agreement and otherwise; provided
that (1)
its voting rights under this Agreement shall be exercised solely by its Granting
Bank and (2) its Granting Bank shall remain solely responsible to the other
parties hereto for the performance of such SPFV’s obligations under this
Agreement, including its obligations in respect of the Loans or portions
of
Loans made by it. No additional Notes, if any, shall be required to evidence
the
Loans or portions of Loans made by a SPFV; and the Granting Bank shall be
deemed
to hold its Note, if any, as agent for its SPFV to the extent of the Loans
or
portions of Loans funded by such SPFV. Each Granting Bank shall act as
administrative agent for its SPFV and give and receive notices and other
communications on its behalf. Any payments for the account of any SPFV shall
be
paid to its Granting Bank as administrative agent for such SPFV, and neither
Borrower nor Agent shall be responsible for any Granting Bank’s application of
such payments. In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby
agrees
that, until the date that is one year and one day after the payment in full
of
all outstanding senior Debt of any SPFV, it shall not institute against,
or join
any other Person in instituting against, such SPFV any bankruptcy,
reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceedings (or any
similar proceedings) under the laws of the United States of America or any
State
thereof. In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
in this
Section
8.11,
an SPFV
may (1) (A) with notice to, but without the prior written consent of, Agent
or
Borrower and without paying any processing fee therefor, assign all or any
portion of its interest in any Loan to its Granting Bank or (B) with the
consent
(which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) of Agent and (if no Event
of
Default has occurred and is continuing) Borrower, but without paying any
processing fee therefor, assign all or any portion of its interest in any
Loan
to any financial institution providing liquidity or credit facilities to
or for
the account of such SPFV to fund the Loans funded by such SPFV or to support
any
securities issued by such SPFV to fund such Loans, and (2) disclose, on a
confidential basis, any non-public information relating to Loans funded by
it to
any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of a surety, guaranty
or
credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPFV. Borrower shall not be required
to
pay, or to reimburse any Granting Bank for, its expenses relating to any
SPFV
identified by such Granting Bank pursuant to this Section
8.11.
Section
8.12 Waiver
of Trial by Jury.
BORROWER, THE BANKS, THE L/C ISSUER AND AGENT, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT THEY
MAY
LEGALLY DO SO, HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM,
DEMAND, ACTION, CAUSE OF ACTION, OR PROCEEDING ARISING UNDER OR WITH RESPECT
TO
THIS AGREEMENT, THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS, OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH,
OR
RELATED TO, OR INCIDENTAL TO, THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO WITH RESPECT
TO
THIS AGREEMENT OR THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS, THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION,
PERFORMANCE, OR
53
ENFORCEMENT
HEREOF OR THEREOF, OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED HERETO OR THERETO, IN EACH
CASE
WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER SOUNDING
IN CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE. TO THE EXTENT THEY MAY LEGALLY DO SO, BORROWER,
THE BANKS, THE L/C ISSUER AND AGENT HEREBY AGREE THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND,
ACTION, CAUSE OF ACTION, OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE DECIDED BY A COURT TRIAL
WITHOUT
A JURY AND THAT ANY PARTY HERETO MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY
OF
THIS SECTION 8.12
WITH ANY
COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE OTHER PARTY OR PARTIES HERETO
TO
WAIVER OF ITS OR THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.
Section
8.13 Choice
of Forum and Service of Process.
To the
maximum extent permitted by Law, Borrower agrees that all actions or proceedings
arising in connection with the Credit Documents shall be tried and determined
only in the state and federal courts located in New York, New York, or, at
the
sole option of Agent, in any other court in which Agent shall initiate legal
or
equitable proceedings and which has subject matter jurisdiction over the
matter
in controversy. Borrower waives any right it may have to assert the doctrine
of
forum non conveniens or to object to venue to the extent any proceeding is
brought in accordance with this Section. Borrower hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally designates and appoints (a) CT Corporation System, with an
office on the date hereof at 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000,
and
(b) such other Person as may be selected by Borrower that shall irrevocably
agree in writing to so serve, as its agent to receive on its behalf service
of
all process in any proceedings in any such court, such service being hereby
acknowledged by Borrower to be effective and binding service in every respect.
A
copy of any such process so served shall be mailed by registered mail to
Borrower; provided,
however,
that
unless otherwise provided by mandatory provisions of applicable law, no failure
to mail such copy shall affect the validity of service of process. If any
agent
appointed by Borrower refuses to accept service, Borrower hereby agrees that
service upon it by mail shall constitute sufficient notice. Nothing herein
shall
affect the right to serve process in any other manner permitted by
Law.
Section
8.14 Remedies.
The
remedies provided to Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Banks in the Credit Documents
are cumulative and are in addition to, and not in lieu of, any remedies provided
by Law. To the maximum extent permitted by Law, remedies may be exercised
by
Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Bank successively or concurrently, and the failure
to exercise any remedy shall not constitute a waiver thereof, nor shall the
single or partial exercise of any remedy preclude any other or further exercise
of such remedy or any other right or remedy.
Section
8.15 Right
of Set-Off.
Upon
the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, each Bank
is
hereby authorized, after receipt of written consent of Agent, 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 Bank or
any of
such Bank’s Affiliates to or for the credit or the account of Borrower against
an equivalent amount of the Obligations, irrespective of whether or not such
Bank shall have made any demand under this Agreement and although such
Obligations may be unmatured. Each Bank agrees promptly to notify Borrower
and
Agent after any such set-off and application is made by such Bank, provided
that the
failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off
and
application. The rights of each Bank under this Section are in addition to
other
rights and remedies (including, without limitation, other rights of set-off)
which such Bank may have.
54
Section
8.16 Acknowledgements.
Borrower hereby acknowledges that:
(a) it
has
been advised by counsel in the negotiation, execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the other Credit Documents;
(b) none
of
Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Bank has any fiduciary relationship with or
fiduciary duty to Borrower arising out of or in connection with this Agreement
or any of the other Credit Documents; and
(c) no
joint
venture is created hereby or by the other Credit Documents or otherwise exists
by virtue of the transactions contemplated hereby among the Banks, or among
Borrower and the Banks, or between Borrower and Agent, or between Borrower
and
the L/C Issuer.
Section
8.17 Patriot
Act Notice.
Each
Bank
and Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any other party) hereby notifies
Borrower that, pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act, Title
III of
Pub. L. 107-56, signed into law October 26, 2001 (the “Patriot
Act”),
it is
required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies Borrower,
which information includes the name and address of Borrower and other
information that will allow such Bank or Agent, as applicable, to identify
Borrower in accordance with the Patriot Act.
[Signature
pages follow.]
55
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Credit Agreement to
be
executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the
date
first above written.
MIDAMERICAN
ENERGY HOLDINGS COMPANY,
|
||||
as
Borrower
|
||||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
|
|||
Name:
|
Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
|
|||
Title:
|
Vice
President and Treasurer
|
|||
Address
for Notices:
|
||||
000
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
|
||||
00xx
Xxxxx
|
||||
Xxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxx 00000-0000
|
||||
Attn:
General Counsel
|
||||
Telecopier:
(000)
000-0000
|
||||
with
a copy to:
|
||||
Xxxxxx
& Xxxxxxx LLP
|
||||
000
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
|
||||
Xxxxx
0000
|
||||
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
|
||||
Attn:
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Esq.
|
||||
Telecopier:
(000) 000-0000
|
UNION
BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A.,
|
||||
as
Agent and a Bank
|
||||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
|
|||
Name:
|
Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxx
|
|||
Title:
|
Vice
President
|
|||
Address
for Notices:
|
||||
Credit
Contact:
|
||||
000
X. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx
|
||||
Xxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
|
||||
Attn:
Xxxx Xxxxxxxx/Xxxxxx Xxxxx
|
||||
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000/6564
|
||||
Telecopier:
(000) 000-0000
|
||||
Operations
Contact:
|
||||
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xx.
|
||||
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
|
||||
Attn:
Xxxx Xxxxx
|
||||
Commercial
Loan Operations
|
||||
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
|
||||
Telecopier:
(000) 000-0000
|
THE
ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC,
|
||||
as
Syndication Agent and a Bank
|
||||
By:
|
/s/
X. Xxxxxxx
|
|||
Name:
|
X.
Xxxxxxx
|
|||
Title:
|
Vice
President
|
|||
Address
for Notices:
|
||||
Credit
Contact:
|
||||
000
Xxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx
|
||||
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
|
||||
Attn:
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
|
||||
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
|
||||
Telecopier:
(000) 000-0000
|
||||
Operations
Contact:
|
||||
000
Xxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx
|
||||
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
|
||||
Attn:
Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
|
||||
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
|
||||
Telecopier:
(000) 000-0000
|
ABN
AMRO BANK N.V.,
|
||||
as
Co-Documentation Agent and a Bank
|
||||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx-Xxxxxxxxx
|
|||
Name:
|
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxx-Xxxxxxxxx
|
|||
Title:
|
Vice
President
|
|||
By:
|
/s/
R. Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
|
|||
Name:
|
R.
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
|
|||
Title:
|
Vice
President
|
|||
Address
for Notices:
|
||||
Credit
Contact:
|
||||
000
Xxxx Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
|
||||
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000
|
||||
Attn:
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
|
||||
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
|
||||
Telecopier:
(000) 000-0000
|
||||
Operations
Contact:
|
||||
000
Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
|
||||
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000
|
||||
Attn:
Loan Administration/Credit Administration
|
||||
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
|
||||
Telecopier:
(000) 000-0000/ (000) 000-0000
|
JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, N.A.,
|
||||
as
L/C Issuer, Co-Documentation Agent and a Bank
|
||||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
|
|||
Name:
|
Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxx
|
|||
Title:
|
Vice
President
|
|||
Address
for Notices:
|
||||
Credit
Contact:
|
||||
000
Xxxx Xxxxxx
|
||||
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
|
||||
Attn:
Xxx
Xxxxx
|
||||
Telephone:
(000)
000-0000
|
||||
Telecopier:
(000)
000-0000
|
||||
Operations
Contact:
|
||||
000
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
|
||||
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000
|
||||
Attn:
Xxxx
Xxxxxxx
|
||||
Telephone:
(000)
000-0000
|
||||
Telecopier:
(000)
000-0000
|
BNP
PARIBAS,
|
||||
as
Co-Documentation Agent and a Bank
|
||||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxxx XxXxxxx
|
|||
Name:
|
Xxxxxxx
XxXxxxx
|
|||
Title:
|
Managing
Director
|
|||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
|
|||
Name:
|
Xxxx
X. Xxxxxx
|
|||
Title:
|
Managing
Director
|
|||
Address
for Notices:
|
||||
Credit
Contact:
|
||||
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
|
||||
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
|
||||
Attn:
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
|
||||
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
|
||||
Telecopier:
(000) 000-0000
|
||||
Operations
Contact:
|
||||
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
|
||||
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
|
||||
Attn:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
|
||||
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
|
||||
Telecopier:
(000) 000-0000
|
BARCLAYS
BANK PLC,
|
||||
as
a Bank
|
||||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx
|
|||
Name:
|
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxx
|
|||
Title:
|
Director
|
|||
Address
for Notices:
|
||||
Credit
Contact:
|
||||
000
Xxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx
Xxxxx
|
||||
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
|
||||
Attn:
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx
|
||||
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
|
||||
Telecopier:
(000) 000-0000
|
||||
Operations
Contact:
|
||||
000
Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx
|
||||
Xxxxxxxx,
Xxx Xxxxxx 00000
|
||||
Attn:
Xxxx Xxxxxxx
|
||||
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
|
||||
Telecopier:
(000) 000-0000
|
CALYON
NEW YORK BRANCH,
|
||||
as
a Bank
|
||||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
|
|||
Name:
|
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
|
|||
Title:
|
Managing
Director
|
|||
By:
|
/s/
Philippe Soustra
|
|||
Name:
|
Philippe
Soustra
|
|||
Title:
|
Executive
Vice President
|
|||
Address
for Notices:
|
||||
Credit
Contact:
|
||||
0000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
|
||||
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000
|
||||
Attn:
Xxxxx Xxxxx
|
||||
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
|
||||
Telecopier:
(000) 000-0000
|
||||
Operations
Contact:
|
||||
0000
Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
|
||||
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
|
||||
Attn:
Xxxxx Xxxxx
|
||||
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
|
||||
Telecopier:
(000) 000-0000
|
CREDIT
SUISSE, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH,
|
||||
as
a Bank
|
||||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
|
|||
Name:
|
Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx
|
|||
Title:
|
Director
|
|||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
|
|||
Name:
|
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx
|
|||
Title:
|
Associate
|
|||
Address
for Notices:
|
||||
Credit
Contact:
|
||||
Eleven
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
|
||||
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
|
||||
Attn:
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
|
||||
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
|
||||
Telecopier:
(000) 000-0000
|
||||
Operations
Contact:
|
||||
Xxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
|
||||
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
|
||||
Attn:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
|
||||
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
|
||||
Telecopier:
(000) 000-0000
|
XXXXXX
BROTHERS BANK, FSB,
|
||||
as
a Bank
|
||||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
|
|||
Name:
|
Xxxx
X. Xxxxxx
|
|||
Title:
|
Senior
Vice President
|
|||
Address
for Notices:
|
||||
Credit
Contact:
|
||||
000
0xx
Xxxxxx,
0xx
Xxxxx
|
||||
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
|
||||
Attn:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
|
||||
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
|
||||
Telecopier:
(000) 000-0000
|
||||
Operations
Contact:
|
||||
000
0xx
Xxxxxx,
00xx
Xxxxx
|
||||
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
|
||||
Attn:
Xxxxxxx Xxx
|
||||
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
|
||||
Telecopier:
(000) 000-0000
|
LLOYDS
TSB BANK PLC,
|
||||
as
a Bank
|
||||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
|
|||
Name:
|
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
|
|||
Title:
|
VP
& Manager - Business Development C.B.
|
|||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxx X. Xxxx
|
|||
Name:
|
Xxxxx
X. Xxxx
|
|||
Title:
|
Vice
President Financial Institutions, USA
|
|||
Address
for Notices:
|
||||
Credit
Contact:
|
||||
1251
Avenue of the Xxxxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx
|
||||
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
|
||||
Attn:
Windsor X. Xxxxxx
|
||||
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
|
||||
Telecopier:
(000) 000-0000
|
||||
Operations
Contact:
|
||||
1251
Avenue of the Xxxxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx
|
||||
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
|
||||
Attn:
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
|
||||
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
|
||||
Telecopier:
(000) 000-0000
|
MIZUHO
CORPORATE BANK, LTD,
|
||||
as
a Bank
|
||||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxx Xxxxxxx
|
|||
Name:
|
Xxxx
Xxxxxxx
|
|||
Title:
|
Senior
Vice President
|
|||
Address
for Notices:
|
||||
Credit
Contact:
|
||||
0000
Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
|
||||
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
|
||||
Attn:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
|
||||
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
|
||||
Telecopier:
(000) 000-0000
|
||||
Operations
Contact:
|
||||
0000
Xxxxx Xxx
|
||||
Xxxxxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000
|
||||
Attn:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
|
||||
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
|
||||
Telecopier:
(000) 000-0000
|
THE
BANK OF NEW YORK,
|
||||
as
a Bank
|
||||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
|
|||
Name:
|
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
|
|||
Title:
|
Vice
President
|
|||
Address
for Notices:
|
||||
Credit
Contact:
|
||||
Xxx
Xxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx
|
||||
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
|
||||
Attn:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
|
||||
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
|
||||
Telecopier:
(000) 000-0000
|
||||
Operations
Contact:
|
||||
Xxx
Xxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx
|
||||
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
|
||||
Attn:
Xxxxx Xx
|
||||
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
|
||||
Telecopier:
(000) 000-0000
|
WACHOVIA
BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
|
||||
as
a Bank
|
||||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
|
|||
Name:
|
Xxxxxxxx
X. Xxxxx
|
|||
Title:
|
Assistant
Vice President
|
|||
Address
for Notices:
|
||||
Credit
Contact:
|
||||
000
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx
Xxxxx
|
||||
Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000
|
||||
Attn:
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
|
||||
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
|
||||
Telecopier:
(000) 000-0000
|
||||
Operations
Contact:
|
||||
000
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx
Xxxxx
|
||||
Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000
|
||||
Attn:
XxXxxxxx Xxxxxxx
|
||||
Telephone:
(000) 000-0000
|
||||
Telecopier:
(000) 000-0000
|
APPENDIX
A
DEFINED
TERMS
As
used
in the Credit Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings,
except to the extent otherwise defined in the Credit Agreement.
“Accession
and Amendment Agreement”
means
an Accession and Amendment Agreement entered into by a New Bank, Borrower
and
Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit
F.
“Accounting
Change”
has the
meaning ascribed thereto in Section
1.3.
“Affected
Person”
has the
meaning ascribed thereto in Section
2.7(a).
“Affiliate”
means,
as to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or
controlled by or under common control with such Person.
“Agency
Office”
means
the office of Agent designated on the Commitment Schedule, or such other
office
of Agent as Agent may from time to time designate by notice to Borrower and
the
Banks.
“Agent”
means
UBOC, in its capacity as administrative agent for the Banks hereunder, and
any
successor thereto in such capacity.
“Aggregate
Commitments”
means
the sum of the Commitments. The
Aggregate Commitments shall in no event exceed (i) on the Closing Date,
$400,000,000, and (ii) at any time after the Closing Date,
$600,000,000.
“Aggregate
Operating Lease Obligations”
means,
at any time, the sum of the Significant Operating Lease Obligations with
respect
to all Significant Operating Leases then in effect.
“Applicable
Agent’s Account”
means
the account of Agent maintained at the Agency Office, or such other account
of
Agent as may be hereafter from time to time designated by Agent upon notice
to
Borrower and the Banks, as the account through which the Banks are to make
Loans
and Borrower is to repay Loans and to pay the other sums due under this
Agreement.
“Applicable
Facility Fee Rate”
means,
at any date (and subject to adjustment from time to time in accordance with
the
provisions of Section
2.5(c)),
the
rate per annum
determined in accordance with the Pricing Schedule attached hereto as
Schedule
II.
“Applicable
L/C Fee Rate”
means,
at any date (and subject to adjustment from time to time in accordance with
the
provisions of Section
2.5(c)),
the
rate per annum
determined in accordance with the Pricing Schedule attached hereto as
Schedule
II.
“Applicable
Lending Office”
means,
with respect to each Bank, the office of such Bank designated on the Commitment
Schedule, or in the Assignment and Acceptance
Agreement or Accession and Amendment Agreement (as the case may be) pursuant
to
which it became a Bank, or such other office of such Bank as such Bank may
from
time to time designate by notice to Borrower and Agent.
“Applicable
Margin”
means,
at any date (and subject to adjustment from time to time in accordance with
the
provisions of Section
2.5(c)),
the
rate per annum determined
in accordance with the Pricing Schedule attached hereto as Schedule
II.
“Applicable
Utilization Fee Rate”
means,
at any date (and subject to adjustment from time to time in accordance with
the
provisions of Section
2.5(c)),
the
rate per annum
determined in accordance with the Pricing Schedule attached hereto as
Schedule
II.
“Application
Documents”
means
the L/C Issuer’s customary L/C application and such other standard documents as
may be required by the L/C Issuer in connection with the issuance of an
L/C.
“Assignee”
has the
meaning ascribed thereto in Section
8.11(a).
“Assignment
and Assumption”
means
an assignment and assumption agreement, in compliance with Section
8.11
and
substantially in the form of Exhibit
A.
“Banking
Day”
means
(a) a day on which banks are not required or authorized to close in the city
in
which the Agency Office is located and (b) in matters relating to the
determination of a Eurodollar Rate or an Interest Period for a Eurodollar
Rate
Loan or the borrowing or continuation of, or conversion to, a Eurodollar
Rate
Loan, any day which is a Banking Day described in clause (a) above and which
is
also a day on which the London interbank market deals in Dollar
deposits.
“Banks”
means
the banks and other financial institutions signatory hereto in their capacity
as
Banks, any Assignees hereafter added as Banks under one
or
more Assignment and Acceptance Agreements pursuant to Section
8.11,
and any
New Banks that are hereafter added as Banks under one or more Accession and
Amendment Agreements pursuant to Section
2.1(b)(ii).
“Bankruptcy
Code”
means
Title 11 of the United States Code entitled “Bankruptcy,” as amended from time
to time, or any successor statute.
“Base
Rate”
means,
for any day, a rate per annum
equal to
the greater of (a) the Reference Rate in effect on such day, and (b) the
Federal
Funds Rate in effect on such day plus a margin of 0.50 percentage points.
Any
change in the Base Rate due to a change in the Reference Rate or the Federal
Funds Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such
change in the Reference Rate or the Federal Funds Rate,
respectively.
“Base
Rate Loan”
means a
Committed Loan bearing interest as provided in Section
2.4(a).
“Beneficiary
Documents”
has the
meaning ascribed thereto in Section
2.2(d)(i).
2
“Berkshire
Hathaway”
means
Berkshire Hathaway Inc., a Delaware corporation.
“Bid”
means
an offer by a Bank to make a Bid Rate Loan in accordance with Section
2.1(e).
“Bid
Rate”
means,
with respect to any Bid, the Eurodollar Bid Margin or the Fixed Rate, as
applicable, offered by the Bank making such Bid.
“Bid
Rate Loan”
means
any loan made by a Bank to Borrower pursuant to Section
2.1(e).
“Bid
Rate Loan Outstandings”
means,
at any time, the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Bid Rate
Loans.
“Bid
Request”
means a
request for Bids in the form of Exhibit
B-4.
“Board
of Directors”
means
either the Board of Directors of Borrower or any duly authorized committee
of
such Board.
“Capital”
means
the sum of Consolidated Debt of Borrower plus
the
outstanding amount of the Trust Preferred Securities plus
minority
interest and stockholders’ equity of Borrower.
“Capital
Stock”
means,
with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests, participations
or
other equivalents (however designated, whether voting or nonvoting) in,
or
interests (however designated) in, the equity of such Person that is outstanding
or issued on or after the Closing Date, including, without limitation,
all
common stock and preferred stock and partnership, membership and joint
venture
interests in such Person.
“Cash
Collateral Account”
has the
meaning ascribed thereto in Section
2.10.
“Cash
Equivalents”
means
any of the following: (a) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed
or
insured by the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality
thereof
(provided
that the
full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged in support
thereof), (b) time deposits and certificates of deposit of any commercial
bank
organized in the United States of America having capital and surplus in excess
of Five Hundred Million Dollars ($500,000,000) or any commercial bank organized
under the laws of any other country having total assets in excess of Five
Hundred Million Dollars ($500,000,000) with a maturity date not more than
two
years from the date of acquisition, (c) repurchase obligations with a term
of
not more than thirty (30) days for underlying securities of the types described
in clause (a) or (d) of this definition that were entered into with any bank
meeting the qualifications set forth in clause (b) of this definition or
another
financial institution of national reputation, (d) direct obligations issued
by
any state or other jurisdiction of the United States of America or any other
country or any political subdivision or public instrumentality thereof maturing,
or subject to tender at the option of the holder thereof, within 90 days
after
the date of acquisition thereof and, at the time of acquisition, having a
rating
of A from S&P or A-2 from Xxxxx’x (or, if at any time neither S&P nor
Xxxxx’x may be rating such obligations, then having an equivalent rating from
another nationally recognized rating service designated by Borrower and
reasonably acceptable to Agent), (e) direct obligations of, or obligations
the
principal of and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, any
government-sponsored enterprise created under the federal laws of the United
States of America (including, without limitation, the Federal Farm Credit
Banks,
the Federal Home Loan Bank System, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation
(Xxxxxxx Mac), the Federal National Mortgage Association (Xxxxxx Mae), the
Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (Xxxxxx Mac) and the Student Loan
Marketing Association (Xxxxxx Mae)), provided
that
such obligations are rated, at the date of acquisition thereof, at least
AAA by
S&P or Aaa by Xxxxx’x (or, if at any time neither S&P nor Xxxxx’x may be
rating such obligations, then having an equivalent rating from another
nationally recognized rating service designated by Borrower and reasonably
acceptable to Agent), (f) commercial paper issued by (i) the parent corporation
of any commercial bank organized in the United States of America having capital
and surplus in excess of Five Hundred Million Dollars ($500,000,000) or any
commercial bank organized under the laws of any other country having total
assets in excess of Five Hundred Million Dollars ($500,000,000), or (ii)
other
Persons having one of the two highest ratings obtainable from either S&P or
Xxxxx’x (or, if at any time neither S&P nor Xxxxx’x may be rating such
obligations, then from another nationally recognized rating service designated
by Borrower and reasonably acceptable to Agent) and in each case maturing
within
one year from the date of acquisition, (g) overnight bank deposits and bankers’
acceptances at any commercial bank organized in the United States of America
having capital and surplus in excess of Five Hundred Million Dollars
($500,000,000) or any commercial bank organized under the laws of any other
country having total assets in excess of Five Hundred Million Dollars
($500,000,000), (h) deposits available for withdrawal on demand with any
commercial bank organized in the United States of America having capital
and
surplus in excess of Five Hundred Million Dollars ($500,000,000) or any
commercial bank organized under the laws of any other country having total
assets in excess of Five Hundred Million Dollars ($500,000,000), (i) investments
in money market funds substantially all of whose assets comprise securities
of
the types described in clauses (a) through (g) and (j) of this definition,
and
(j) auction rate securities or money market preferred stock having one of
the
two highest ratings obtainable from either S&P or Xxxxx’x (or, if at any
time neither S&P nor Xxxxx’x may be rating such obligations, then from
another nationally recognized rating service designated by Borrower and
reasonably acceptable to Agent).
3
“Certificate
of Exemption”
has the
meaning ascribed thereto in Section
2.8(h).
“Change
in Directives”
has the
meaning ascribed thereto in Section
2.7(a).
“Closing
Date”
means
August 26, 2005.
“Commercial
Paper”
means
any commercial paper issued by Borrower in respect of which the Aggregate
Commitments are providing liquidity support.
“Commitment”
means,
as to any Bank, (a) the amount set forth opposite such Bank’s name as its
Commitment on the Commitment Schedule, (b) in
the
case of any New Bank, the amount set forth opposite such New Bank’s name on the
signature pages to the Accession and Amendment Agreement to which it is a
party,
or (c) in the case of any Increasing Bank, the amount set forth opposite
such
Increasing Bank’s name on the signature pages to the Increasing Bank Agreement
to which it is a party, in each case
adjusted
for the effect of any one or more Assignment and Acceptance Agreements to
which
such Bank may be or become a party and for any reductions in the Aggregate
Commitments pursuant to Section
2.3(c).
4
“Commitment
Schedule”
means
the schedule attached as Schedule
I
to the
Credit Agreement.
“Committed
Loan”
means
any loan made by the Banks to Borrower pursuant to Section
2.1(a)
or
Section
2.2(c)(i).
“Commodity
Swap Agreement”
means,
with respect to any Person, any physical or financial transaction for the
forward or future purchase or sale of gas, gas transportation, coal, coal
transportation, electric energy, electric capacity, electric transmission
or
related products to or under which such Person is a party or a beneficiary
on
the Closing Date or becomes a party or a beneficiary thereafter, in each
case to
the extent such transaction is entered into for operations or hedging
purposes.
“Consolidated
Debt”
means,
without duplication, Debt of
Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis (excluding
(i) obligations in respect of the Trust Preferred Securities, (ii) from the
date
hereof until the Northern GIC Termination Date, the GIC-Supported Northern
Debt
and (iii) from the date hereof until the Yorkshire GIC Termination Date,
the
GIC-Supported Yorkshire Debt) plus
the
Subsidiary Preferred Securities.
“Consolidated
Funds From Operations”
means
Consolidated Net Income plus (or minus, as the case may be) depreciation,
amortization, deferred taxes, allowance for funds used during construction,
capitalized interest and all other non-cash items included, in accordance
with
GAAP, in operating activities in Borrower’s consolidated statement of cash flows
(but excluding changes in working capital).
“Consolidated
Net Income”
means,
for any period, the net income (or loss) of Borrower and its consolidated
Subsidiaries for such period computed on a consolidated basis in accordance
with
GAAP (but excluding all extraordinary and non-recurring gains and losses
as
determined in accordance with GAAP).
“Consolidated
Net Interest Expense”
means,
for any period, the total interest expense of Borrower and its consolidated
Subsidiaries for such period computed on a consolidated basis in accordance
with
GAAP (including, without limitation, all interest, preferred dividends and
preference dividends payable in respect of the Trust Preferred Securities
and
the Subsidiary Preferred Securities, whether or not they would be included
in
total interest expense under GAAP), net of interest income and capitalized
interest.
“Consolidated
Net Tangible Assets”
means,
as of the date of any determination thereof, the total amount of all assets
of
Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis
in
accordance with GAAP as of such date less the sum of (a) the consolidated
current liabilities of Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries determined
in
accordance with GAAP and (b) the assets of Borrower and its consolidated
Subsidiaries properly classified as intangible assets determined on a
consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
5
“Consolidated
Senior Interest Expense”
means,
for any period, the total interest expense of Borrower and its consolidated
Subsidiaries for such period computed on a consolidated basis in accordance
with
GAAP (excluding all interest, preferred dividends and preference dividends
payable in respect of the Trust Preferred Securities and the Subsidiary
Preferred Securities), net of interest income and capitalized
interest.
“Contingent
Performance Guarantee”
means a
performance guarantee (in respect of an obligation that is not principally
a
monetary obligation) as to which (a) the guarantor’s obligation cannot be
reasonably quantified, and (b) neither Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries
has
any information that raises a reasonable possibility that a demand under
such
performance guarantee may be made prior to, or within eighteen (18) months
after, the Termination Date.
“Control”
(including the terms “controlling,”“controlled by” and “under common control
with”) means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause
the direction of the management and policies of a Person whether through
the
ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“Coverage
Ratio”
means
the ratio of (x) the sum of Consolidated Funds From Operations plus Consolidated
Net Interest Expense plus Significant Operating Lease Payments to (y)
Consolidated Senior Interest Expense plus Significant Operating Lease
Payments.
“Credit
Documents”
means
(a) this Agreement, the Notes, any Assignment and Acceptance Agreements,
any
Accession and Amendment Agreements and any Increasing Bank Agreements, (b)
any
certificates, opinions and other documents required to be delivered pursuant
to
Section
3.1,
and (c)
any other documents (i) delivered pursuant to or in connection with any one
or
more of the foregoing and (ii) expressly agreed by Agent and Borrower to
be a
“Credit Document” at the time of delivery hereunder.
“Currency
Protection Agreement”
means,
with respect to any Person, any foreign exchange contract, currency swap
agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement intended to protect such
Person against fluctuations in currency values to or under which such Person
is
a party or a beneficiary on the Closing Date or becomes a party or a beneficiary
thereafter.
“Debt”
of any
Person means, at any date, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness of such
Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by
bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (c) all obligations
of
such Person in respect of letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances, surety, bid,
operating and performance bonds, performance guarantees or other similar
instruments or obligations (or reimbursement obligations with respect thereto)
(except, in each case, to the extent incurred in the ordinary course of
business), (d) obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price
of
property or services, except trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary
course of business, (e) obligations of such Person as lessee under leases
that
shall have been or are required to be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded
as
capital leases, (f) all Debt of others secured by a Lien on any Property
of such
Person, whether or not such Debt is assumed by such Person, provided
that,
for purposes of determining the amount of any Debt of the type described
in this
clause, if recourse with respect to such Debt is limited to such Property,
the
amount of such Debt shall be limited to the lesser of the fair market value
of
such Property and the amount of such Debt, (g) all Redeemable Stock (excluding,
to the extent otherwise included, the Trust Preferred Securities), valued
at the
greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus accrued
and
unpaid dividends, (h) all Debt of others Guaranteed by such Person to the
extent
such Debt is Guaranteed by such Person, and (i) all net obligations of such
Person under Currency Protection Agreements and Interest Rate Protection
Agreements.
6
For
purposes of determining any particular amount of Debt that is or would
be
outstanding, the following shall not be included: (i) Contingent Performance
Guarantees, and (ii) Guarantees of, or obligations with respect to letters
of
credit or similar instruments supporting (to the extent any of the foregoing
constitutes Debt), Debt otherwise included in the determination of such
particular amount.
“Default”
means
any event, occurrence, condition, act or omission that, with the giving
of
notice, the passage of time, or both, would constitute an Event of
Default.
“Default
Rate”
means
the rate of interest determined pursuant to Section
2.4(g),
and
unless otherwise specified, shall be calculated with reference to the Base
Rate.
“Direct
Exposure”
has the
meaning ascribed thereto in Section
2.10(b).
“Directive”
means
any Law, and any directive, guideline or requirement of any Governmental
Authority (whether or not having the force of law).
“Dollar”
and
“$”
mean
the lawful currency of the United States of America (and
references to dollar amounts in Articles
IV,
V
and
VI
shall
also include the equivalent thereof in any foreign currency).
“XXXXX”
means
the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system which can be
accessed through the SEC’s internet site at xxx.xxx.xxx
(or any
successor system).
“Employee
Benefit Plan”
means
any employee benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) within the meaning
of Section 3(3) of ERISA that (a) is maintained by Borrower or any ERISA
Affiliate of Borrower for, or on behalf of, its current or former employees,
officers or directors or (b) has at any time within the preceding six years
been
maintained by Borrower or any current or former ERISA Affiliate of
Borrower.
“Environmental
Law”
means
any Law imposing liability or standards of conduct concerning, or otherwise
relating to, pollution, waste disposal, industrial hygiene, occupational
health
and safety, the presence, manufacture, use, handling, treatment, storage,
disposal or release of Hazardous Materials or the protection of human health,
plant life or animal life, natural resources or the environment.
“ERISA”
means
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time
to
time.
7
“ERISA
Affiliate”
means,
as applied to any Person, any Person who, together with such first Person,
is
treated as a single employer within the meaning of Section 414(b), (c), (m)
or
(o) of the IRC or Section 4001(b) of ERISA.
“Eurocurrency
Liabilities”
has the
meaning specified in Regulation D promulgated by the Board of Governors of
the
Federal Reserve System, as in effect from time to time.
“Eurodollar
Bid Margin”
means,
with respect to any Eurodollar Bid Rate Loan, the marginal rate of interest,
if
any, to be added to or subtracted from the Eurodollar Rate to determine the
rate
of interest applicable to such Eurodollar Bid Rate Loan, as specified by
the
Bank making such Eurodollar Bid Rate Loan in its related Bid.
“Eurodollar
Bid Rate Loan”
means
any Bid Rate Loan bearing interest as provided in Section
2.4(b)(ii).
“Eurodollar
Committed Loan”
means a
Committed Loan bearing interest as provided in Section 2.4(b)(i).
“Eurodollar
Rate”
means
the rate per annum
equal to
(a) the rate determined by Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time)
on
the Interest Rate Determination Date by reference to the British Bankers
Association Interest Settlement Rates for deposits in Dollars (as set forth
by
any service selected by Agent which has been nominated by the British Bankers
Association as an authorized information vendor for the purpose of displaying
such rates) for a period equal to the relevant Interest Period, divided by
(b) a
percentage equal to 100% minus
the
Eurodollar Rate Reserve Percentage for such Interest Period (rounded upward
to
the nearest whole multiple of one-sixteenth of one percent (0.0625%));
provided
that, to
the extent that an interest rate is not ascertainable pursuant to the foregoing
provisions of this definition, the “Eurodollar Rate” shall be the interest rate
per annum
determined by Agent to be the average (rounded upward to the nearest whole
multiple of one-sixteenth of one percent (0.0625%) per annum,
if such
average is not such a multiple) of the rates per annum
at which
deposits in Dollars are offered to major banks in the London interbank market
in
London, England by the Reference Banks at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London
time)
on the Interest Rate Determination Date for such Interest Period.
“Eurodollar
Rate Loan”
means
any Eurodollar Bid Rate Loan or Eurodollar Committed Loan.
“Eurodollar
Rate Reserve Percentage”
means,
for each Interest Period applicable to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the highest
reserve percentage applicable to any Bank during such Interest Period under
regulations issued from time to time by the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System or any successor for determining the maximum reserve requirement
(including, without limitation, any emergency, supplemental or other marginal
reserve requirement) with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of
or
including Eurocurrency Liabilities having a term equal to such Interest
Period.
8
“Eurodollar
Tranche”
means
all Eurodollar Committed Loans that have current Interest Periods beginning
on
the same date and ending on the same later date (whether or not such Loans
shall
originally have been made on the same day).
“Event
of Default”
has the
meaning specified in Section
6.1.
“Excluded
Taxes”
has the
meaning ascribed thereto in Section
2.8(a).
“Facility
Fee”
has the
meaning ascribed thereto in Section
2.6(a)(iii).
“Federal
Funds Rate”
means,
for any day, the rate per annum
(rounded
upwards, if necessary, to the nearest one-hundredth (1/100th) of one percent
(1%)), equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight federal funds
transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by federal
funds brokers, as published for such day (or if such day is not a Banking
Day,
for the next preceding Banking Day) by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York,
or
if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Banking Day, the average
of the quotations for such day on such transactions received by Agent from
three
federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by Agent.
“Fees”
has the
meaning ascribed thereto in Section
2.6(a).
“Fixed
Rate”
means,
with respect to any Fixed Rate Loan, the fixed rate of interest per annum
specified by the Bank making such Fixed Rate Loan in its related
Bid.
“Fixed
Rate Loan”
means
any Bid Rate Loan bearing interest as provided in Section
2.4(c).
“Foreign
Bank”
has the
meaning ascribed thereto in Section
2.8(h).
“Funding
Date”
means,
with respect to any Loan or L/C, the date on which such Loan is funded or
such
L/C is issued.
“GAAP”
means
United States generally accepted accounting principles.
“GIC-Supported
Northern Debt”
means
£100,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of the £150,000,000 5.125 per cent.
Guaranteed Bonds due 2035 issued by Northern Electric Finance plc pursuant
to
that certain Trust Deed, dated May 5, 2005, among Northern Electric Finance
plc,
Northern Electric Distribution Limited, Ambac Assurance UK Limited and HSBC
Trustee (C.I.) Limited; provided,
however,
that
the aggregate principal amount of such Bonds that shall be deemed to constitute
GIC-Supported Northern Debt for purposes of this Agreement shall, on any
date of
determination, be equal to the lesser of (a) $185,000,000 or (b) the product
of
(i) the amount of Invested Monies (as defined in the Northern GIC), denominated
in Sterling, then on deposit with Ambac Capital Funding, Inc. pursuant to
the
Northern GIC multiplied
by
(ii)
1.85.
“GIC-Supported
Yorkshire Debt”
means
the £200,000,000 5.125 per cent. Bonds due 2035 issued by Yorkshire Electricity
Distribution plc pursuant to that certain Trust Deed, dated May 5, 2005,
among
Yorkshire Electricity Distribution plc, Ambac Assurance UK Limited and HSBC
Trustee (C.I.) Limited; provided,
however,
that
the aggregate
9
principal
amount of such Bonds that shall be deemed to constitute GIC-Supported Yorkshire
Debt for purposes of this Agreement shall, on any date of determination,
be
equal to the lesser of (a) $370,000,000 or (b) the product of (i) the amount
of
Invested Monies (as defined in the Yorkshire GIC), denominated in Sterling,
then
on deposit with Ambac Capital Funding, Inc. pursuant to the Yorkshire GIC
multiplied
by
(ii)
1.85.
“Governmental
Authority”
means
any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof,
and
any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or
administrative functions of or pertaining to government.
“Guarantee”
by any
Person means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person directly
or
indirectly guaranteeing any Debt of any other Person and, without limiting
the
generality of the foregoing, any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent
or
otherwise, of such Person (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds
for
the purchase or payment of) such Debt (whether arising by virtue of partnership
arrangements (other than
solely by reason by being a general partner of a partnership), by agreement
to
keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay,
or
to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise, or (b) entered into
for
the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Debt of the
payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof
(in
whole or in part); provided
that the
term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in
the
ordinary course of business or the grant of any Lien in connection with any
limited recourse project financings of the type described in clause (e) of
the
definition of “Permitted Subsidiary Debt”. The term “Guarantee” used as a verb
has a corresponding meaning.
“Hazardous
Materials”
means
any asbestos, flammables, volatile hydrocarbons, industrial solvents, explosive
or radioactive materials, hazardous wastes, toxic substances, oil, petroleum,
or
related materials or any other material, substance, waste, element or compound
regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law now or hereafter in effect,
including, without limitation, substances defined as “hazardous
substances,”“hazardous materials,”“contaminants,”“pollutants,”“hazardous
wastes,”“toxic substances,”“solid waste,”“extremely hazardous
substance,”“liquefied natural gas,”“synthetic gas” or “natural gas liquids” (a)
in (i) the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability
Act
of 1980, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act,
42
U.S.C. Section 9601 et seq.,
(ii)
the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, 49 U.S.C. Section 1801 et seq.,
(iii)
the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 6901 et seq.,
(iv)
the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, 33 U.S.C. Section 1251
et seq.,
(v)
the Clean Air Act, 33 U.S.C. Section 7401 et seq.,
(vi)
the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. Section 2601 et seq.,
(vii)
the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 300f et seq.,
(viii)
applicable foreign, state or local law, or (ix) the rules, orders or regulations
adopted or proposed or in the publications promulgated pursuant to said laws;
or
(b) in any reported decision of a foreign, state or federal court.
“Increasing
Bank”
has the
meaning ascribed thereto in Section
2.1(b)(iii).
10
“Increasing
Bank Agreement”
means
an Increasing Bank Agreement entered into by an Increasing Bank, Agent and
Borrower, in substantially the form of Exhibit
G.
“Indemnified
Taxes”
has the
meaning ascribed thereto in Section
2.8(a).
“Index
Debt”
has the
meaning ascribed thereto in Schedule
II.
“Industry
Standard”
has the
meaning ascribed thereto in Section
5.1(b).
“Interest
Period”
means:
(a) with
respect to any Eurodollar Committed Loan, the period commencing on:
(i) the
Funding Date or conversion date, as the case may be, with respect to such
Eurodollar Committed Loan, or
(ii) if
such
Interest Period is selected in connection with the continuation of all or
any
portion of a Eurodollar Tranche, the last day of the Interest Period applicable
to such Eurodollar Tranche,
and
ending one, two, three or six months or, if available, nine or twelve months,
thereafter, or, if available, such periods of shorter than one month as
may be
agreed to by Agent, as selected by Borrower in its Notice of Borrowing,
Request
for Conversion of or to a Eurodollar Committed Loan or Request for Continuation
of a Eurodollar Committed Loan, as the case may be, given with respect
thereto;
(b) with
respect to any Eurodollar Bid Rate Loan, the period commencing on the Funding
Date with respect to such Eurodollar Bid Rate Loan and ending one, two,
three or
six months, or, if available, nine or twelve months thereafter (or, if
available, such periods of shorter than one month as may be agreed to by
Agent),
as specified by Borrower in the applicable Bid Request; and
(c)
with
respect to any Fixed Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date of such
Loan
and ending on the date specified in the applicable Bid Request;
provided
that the
foregoing provisions relating to Interest Periods are subject to the
following:
(w) if
any
Interest Period would otherwise end on a day that is not a Banking Day,
such
Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Banking Day unless,
in
the case of an Interest Period applicable to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the
result
of such extension would be to carry such Interest Period into another calendar
month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the immediately
preceding
Banking Day;
(x)
no
Interest Period may be selected that would extend beyond the Termination
Date,
and any Interest Period that would otherwise extend beyond the Termination
Date
shall end on the Termination Date;
11
(y) any
Interest Period applicable to a Eurodollar Rate Loan that begins on the last
Banking Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically
corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period)
shall end on the last Banking Day of a calendar month; and
(z) Borrower
shall select Interest Periods so as not to require a payment or prepayment
of
any Eurodollar Rate Loan or Fixed Rate Loan during an Interest Period for
such
Loan.
“Interest
Rate Determination Date”
means,
as to any Interest Period applicable to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the second
Banking Day before the first day of such Interest Period.
“Interest
Rate Protection Agreement”
means,
with respect to any Person, any interest rate protection agreement, interest
rate future agreement, interest rate option agreement, interest rate swap
agreement, interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar agreement, interest
rate hedge agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement intended to
protect such Person against fluctuations in interest rates to or under which
such Person or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or a beneficiary on the
date
of this Agreement or becomes a party or a beneficiary thereafter.
“Investment”
in any
Person means (a) any direct or indirect loan, advance or other extension
of
credit made to such Person (excluding commission, travel and similar advances
to
officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business), (b) any
capital
contribution to such Person, (c) any purchase of an ownership interest in
such
Person, (d) any purchase of all or substantially all of the assets of such
Person or (e) any purchase of assets constituting a business unit of such
Person. For purposes of this definition, the dollar value of any Investment
made
by any Person shall be the amount of capital invested by such Person in such
Investment.
“IRC”
means
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
“L/C”
means
each
of
the letters of credit set forth on Schedule
III
hereto
and any
standby L/C issued by the L/C Issuer for the account of Borrower pursuant
to
Section
2.2,
in each
case, as amended, supplemented or modified from time to time.
“L/C
Expiration Date”
means,
with respect to any L/C, the date that is the earlier to occur of (a)
three-hundred sixty-five (365) days after the date of issuance thereof and
(b)
the Termination Date.
“L/C
Fees”
has the
meaning ascribed thereto in Section
2.6.
“L/C
Issuance Request”
has the
meaning ascribed thereto in Section
2.2(b)(i).
“L/C
Issuer”
means
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., and, for purposes of any L/C issued by such Person,
any other Person that becomes an “L/C Issuer” pursuant to Section
2.2(h).
“L/C
Obligations”
means,
as of any date of determination, all the existing liabilities (including
all
fees) of Borrower to the L/C Issuer, Agent and the Banks in respect of all
L/Cs
outstanding, whether such liability is contingent or fixed, which liabilities
shall be computed to include the sum of the aggregate maximum amount then
available to be drawn under all L/Cs (assuming, whether or not such is the
case,
that such aggregate maximum amount shall have been drawn) and the aggregate
amount of any Unreimbursed Drawings then outstanding.
12
“L/C
Outstandings”
means
at any time, the sum of (a) the maximum aggregate amount available to be
drawn
under all outstanding L/Cs (assuming
the satisfaction of all conditions for drawing enumerated therein) and
(b)
the amount of all Unreimbursed Drawings.
“L/C
Sublimit”
means
$200,000,000.
“Laws”
means
all federal, state, local or foreign laws, rules, regulations and treaties,
all
judgments, awards, orders, writs, injunctions or decrees issued by any federal,
state, local or foreign authority, court, tribunal, agency or other Governmental
Authority, or by any arbitrator, all permits, licenses, approvals, franchises,
notices, authorizations and similar filings by or with any federal, state,
local
or foreign Governmental Authority and all consent decrees or regulatory
agreements with any federal, state, local or foreign Governmental
Authority.
“Lien”
means
any lien, mortgage, security interest, pledge, charge, conditional sale or
other
title retention arrangement or other encumbrance (it being understood, however,
for avoidance of doubt, that a mere agreement not to xxxxx x Xxxx on any
one or
more assets does not constitute a “Lien”).
“Loan”
means
any Committed Loan or Bid Rate Loan.
“Majority
Banks”
means:
(a) As
of any
time before the Termination Date, except during any period that an Event
of
Default pursuant to Section
6.1(a)(i)
has
occurred and is continuing, Banks holding Commitments that collectively
constitute more than 50% of the aggregate amount of all Commitments;
and
(b) As
of any
time on or after the Termination Date, and during any period that an Event
of
Default pursuant to Section
6.1(a)(i)
has
occurred and is continuing, Banks whose total outstanding Loans exceed 50%
of
the total outstanding Loans of all Banks (or, if no Loans are then outstanding,
Banks whose total participation interests in all L/C Obligations (other than
fees under Section
2.6(a)(v))
exceed
50% of all such L/C Obligations).
“Mandatory
L/C Borrowing”
has the
meaning ascribed thereto in Section
2.2(c)(i).
“Material
Adverse Effect”
means
(a) any change or effect, when taken together with all other adverse changes
and
effects relating to Borrower and its Subsidiaries, that is materially adverse
to
the business, operations, properties, financial condition, assets or liabilities
(including, without limitation, contingent liabilities) of Borrower and
its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (b) the material impairment of the ability
of
Borrower to perform its obligations under any Credit Document to which
it is a
party or the material impairment of the ability of Agent, the L/C Issuer
or any
Bank to enforce or collect any of the Obligations.
13
“Material
Subsidiary”
means
MidAmerican Energy Company and each other Subsidiary of Borrower with respect
to
which (x) Borrower’s percentage ownership interest in such Subsidiary
multiplied
by
(y) the
value of the consolidated assets of such Subsidiary, determined on a
consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, represents at least 15% of the
consolidated assets of Borrower, determined on a consolidated basis in
accordance with GAAP, based on (i) the most recent financial statements
delivered pursuant to Section
5.1(h),
or (ii)
until the first such financial statements have been so delivered under
Section
5.1(h),
the
most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(h) of
the
Prior Credit Agreement.
“Maturity
Date”
means
with respect to each Eurodollar Rate Loan or Fixed Rate Loan, the last day
of
the Interest Period applicable to such Eurodollar Rate Loan or Fixed Rate
Loan.
“MEHC
Shareholders”
means,
collectively, (a) the holders of the common stock of Borrower, (b) the holders
of Borrower’s 11% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures and (c) the
holders of Borrower’s Zero Coupon Convertible Preferred Stock.
“Moody’s”
means
Xxxxx’x Investors Service, Inc.
“Multiemployer
Plan”
means a
“multiemployer plan” as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which Borrower
or any ERISA Affiliate of Borrower is making, or is obligated to make,
contributions or has made, or has been obligated to make, contributions within
the preceding six years.
“New
Bank”
has the
meaning ascribed thereto in Section
2.1(b)(ii).
“Northern
GIC”
means
the Investment Agreement, dated April 29, 2004, among Ambac Capital Funding,
Inc., Ambac Assurance UK Limited, Northern Electric Finance plc, Northern
Electric Distribution Limited and RBS.
“Northern
GIC Termination Date”
has the
meaning assigned to the term “Termination Date” in the Northern
GIC.
“Note”
means a
promissory note issued by Borrower pursuant to Section
2.5(i),
substantially in the form of (a) Exhibit
C-1,
with
respect to Committed Loans, or (b) Exhibit
C-2,
with
respect to Bid Rate Loans, in each case, appropriately completed in conformity
herewith.
“Notice
of Borrowing”
means a
request for a borrowing of Committed Loans in the form of Exhibit
B-1.
“Obligations”
means
all obligations, liabilities and indebtedness of every nature of Borrower
from
time to time owed to
Agent,
the L/C Issuer or
any Bank
under the Credit Documents and the
Application Documents and any other agreement, instrument
or document
relating to reimbursement or payment of L/C Obligations, including the principal
amount of all debts, claims and indebtedness, accrued and unpaid interest
and
all fees, costs and expenses, whether primary or secondary, direct or
contingent, fixed or otherwise, heretofore, now or from time to time hereafter
owing, due or payable whether before or after the filing of a proceeding
under
the Bankruptcy Code by or against Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries.
14
“Other
Taxes”
has the
meaning ascribed thereto in Section
2.8(b).
“Patriot
Act”
has the
meaning ascribed thereto in Section
8.17.
“PBGC”
means
the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any successor thereto.
“Pension
Plan”
means
any “pension plan” (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) that is subject to the
provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the IRC (other than a
Multiemployer Plan) and that (a) is maintained for employees of Borrower
or any
of its ERISA Affiliates or (b) has at any time within the preceding six years
been maintained for the employees of Borrower or any of its current or former
ERISA Affiliates.
“Percentage”
means,
for any Bank on any date of determination, the percentage obtained by dividing
such Bank’s Commitment on such date by the Aggregate Commitments on such date,
and multiplying the quotient so obtained by 100%. In the event that the
Commitments have been terminated, each Bank’s Percentage shall be calculated on
the basis of the Commitments in effect immediately prior to such
termination.
“Permitted
Asset Sales”
means,
collectively, (a) dispositions of all or substantially all of the assets
of
Borrower and its Subsidiaries that are permitted under Section
5.2(b),
(b)
dispositions of assets required to be sold to conform with laws or governmental
regulations, (c) dispositions of short-term, readily marketable investments
purchased for cash management purposes with funds not representing the proceeds
of other asset sales, (d) dispositions of assets in addition to the foregoing
if
the proceeds thereof are retained by Borrower as cash or Cash Equivalents
or
used to retire Debt of Borrower (other than Debt that is subordinated to
the
Obligations) and its Subsidiaries, and (e) dispositions of assets in addition
to
the foregoing if, on a pro forma basis, the aggregate net book value of all
such
dispositions during the most recent 12-month period would not exceed 10%
of
Consolidated Net Tangible Assets computed as of the end of the most recent
quarter preceding the disposition, provided
that any
such dispositions will be disregarded for purposes of such 10% limitation
(but,
for the avoidance of doubt, be deemed to be Permitted Asset Sales) if the
net
proceeds thereof are invested in assets in similar or related lines of business
(including geographic extensions thereof) of Borrower and its
Subsidiaries.
“Permitted
Liens”
means
any Liens that are:
(a) Liens
for
taxes or other governmental levies and assessments that (i) do not arise
under
ERISA or Environmental Laws and (ii) are not yet due or that are being contested
in good faith and by appropriate proceedings if adequate reserves with respect
thereto are available to Borrower and reasonably acceptable to Agent or are
maintained on the books of Borrower in accordance with GAAP;
(b) carriers’,
warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other like Liens
arising in the ordinary course of business that are not overdue for a period
of
more than 60 days or that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate
proceedings;
15
(c) pledges
or deposits in connection with worker’s compensation, unemployment insurance and
other social security legislation;
(d) deposits
to secure the performance of
bids,
trade contracts (other than for borrowed money), leases, statutory obligations,
surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like
nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(e) easements,
rights-of-way, restrictions (including landmarking and zoning restrictions),
royalties, leasehold and fee interest covenants and other similar encumbrances
incurred or imposed in the ordinary course of business which are not of the
nature of a Lien for security purposes and which do not in any case materially
detract from the value of the property subject thereto or interfere with
the
ordinary conduct of the business of Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries;
(f) Liens
incidental to the conduct of the grantor’s business or the ownership of its
property and assets which do not relate to Debt, do not arise under ERISA,
the
IRC or Environmental Laws and which do not materially detract from the value
of
its property or its assets or materially impair the use thereof in the operation
of its business;
(g) zoning
and landmarking restrictions;
(h) Liens
arising from judgments, provided
that (i)
the execution or other enforcement of such Lien is effectively stayed, (ii)
the
judgment secured thereby is being actively appealed in good faith and by
appropriate proceedings, (iii) adequate book reserves shall have been
established and maintained and shall exist with respect thereto, (iv) such
Lien
shall have been in existence no more than sixty days from the date of its
creation, and (v) the aggregate amount so secured, with respect to all judgments
against Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries, shall not at any time
exceed Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000);
(i) Purchase
Money Liens, if, after giving effect thereto and any concurrent transactions:
(i) each such Purchase Money Lien secures Debt in an amount not exceeding
the
lesser of (A) the cost of acquisition or construction of the property subject
to
such Lien and (B) 90% of the fair market value of such property at the time
of
acquisition or construction, (ii) no Default or Event of Default would exist
as
a result of incurring the Debt secured by such Purchase Money Lien (determined,
for purposes of compliance with Section
5.3(a),
on a
pro forma basis for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of Borrower
then most recently ended, as if the Debt secured thereby had been incurred
(and
the property subject to such Lien had been acquired) on the first day of
such
period, and, for purposes of compliance with Section
5.3(b),
on a
pro forma basis as if the Debt secured thereby had been incurred (and the
property subject to such Lien had been acquired) on the last day of Borrower’s
fiscal quarter then most recently ended), and (iii) the holder of such Debt
has
no recourse to Borrower or its assets other than assets subject to such Purchase
Money Lien; and any extensions, renewals, refundings or refinancings of any
Debt
secured thereby, provided
that the
Liens in connection with such renewal, extension, refunding or refinancing
shall
be limited to all or part of the specific property that was subject to the
original Lien;
16
(j) Liens
existing on property of a Person at the time such property is acquired by
Borrower, provided
that
such Liens (i) are not created, incurred or assumed in contemplation of such
acquisition and (ii) do not extend to any other property of Borrower; and
any
extensions, renewals, refundings or refinancings of any Debt secured thereby,
provided
that the
Liens in connection with such renewal, extension, refunding or refinancing
shall
be limited to all or part of the specific property that was subject to the
original Lien;
(k) Liens
created in the ordinary course of business of Borrower which are (i) Liens
incurred to secure obligations in respect of letters of credit, bankers’
acceptances, surety, bid, operating and performance bonds, performance
guarantees or other similar instruments or obligations (or reimbursement
obligations with respect thereto), (ii) Liens arising by reason of security
for
the performance of tenders, contracts (other than contracts for the
payment of
money)
or leases, or (iii) Liens arising by reason of deposits to secure public
or
statutory obligations, or to secure permitted contracts for the purchase
or sale
of any currency entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(l) Liens
in
effect on the date hereof on the assets of Borrower, and any refinancing,
restructuring, extension or renewal thereof, provided
that the
Liens in connection with such refinancing, restructuring, extension or renewal
shall be limited to all or part of the specific property that was subject
to the
original Lien;
(m) Liens
to
secure the Obligations;
(n) Liens
to
secure (i) Debt described in clause (e) of the definition of “Permitted
Subsidiary Debt,” and (ii) to the extent incurred with respect to Debt described
in such clause (e), Debt described in clause (h) of the definition of “Permitted
Subsidiary Debt”); and
(o) Liens,
in
addition to the foregoing, that secure obligations not in excess of Twenty
Five
Million Dollars ($25,000,000).
“Permitted
Subsidiary Debt”
means,
with respect to any Subsidiary of Borrower (without duplication):
(a) Debt
outstanding on the Closing Date;
(b) Debt
incurred under any Interest Rate Protection Agreement or Currency Protection
Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt, obligations under Commodity Swap
Agreements shall not be deemed to constitute Debt);
17
(c) Debt
owed
to any Affiliate of such Subsidiary;
(d) Debt
of
any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the Closing Date, provided
that
such Debt exists at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary and is not
created, incurred or assumed in contemplation of such acquisition;
(e) Debt
that
is not recourse to Borrower other than with respect to Liens granted by Borrower
to secure such Debt and limited guarantees of, or equity commitments with
respect to, such Debt by Borrower, which Liens, limited guarantees and equity
commitments are of a type consistent with other limited recourse project
financings, including, to the extent otherwise complying with the foregoing
restriction, (i) Debt incurred in connection with the acquisition, development,
construction, improvement, maintenance or operation of any projects, companies,
partnership or joint venture interests or other assets, including Debt assumed
in connection with the acquisition of such assets, (ii) Debt incurred for
working capital purposes, and (iii) Debt incurred by a Subsidiary that such
Subsidiary is expressly permitted to incur under any credit agreement, indenture
or other debt instrument to which such Subsidiary is a party;
(f) Debt
in
addition to the foregoing to the extent that (i) the Debt of such Subsidiary
has
been assigned a rating by either Moody’s or S&P, (ii) a Ratings Downgrade
with respect to such Subsidiary does not occur as a result of the incurrence
of
such Debt and (iii) such Debt is not incurred to any material extent to fund
a
dividend to the shareholders of Borrower;
(g) Debt
in
addition to the foregoing that does not at any time exceed Fifty Million
Dollars
($50,000,000) in the aggregate for all Subsidiaries of Borrower;
and
(h) Debt
that
represents an extension, renewal, replacement or refinancing of any of the
foregoing, provided
that, in
the case of a replacement or refinancing, the principal amount of such new
Debt
shall not exceed the principal amount of the Debt being replaced or refinanced
plus 10% of such principal amount.
If
an
incurrence of Debt falls within more than one of the categories of Permitted
Subsidiary Debt described above, Borrower may elect which category (or
categories) of Permitted Subsidiary Debt in which to include such
issuance.
“Person”
means
an individual, partnership, corporation (including a business trust), joint
stock company, trust, unincorporated association, limited liability company,
joint venture or other entity, or a government or any political subdivision
or
agency thereof.
“Prior
Credit Agreement”
means
the Credit Agreement, dated as of June 6, 2003, among Borrower, the banks
and
other financial institutions parties thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (as
successor to Bank One, NA), as L/C Issuer, Credit Suisse First Boston, acting
through its Cayman Islands Branch, as Administrative Agent, UBOC, as Syndication
Agent, and the Co-Documentation Agents named therein, as amended.
18
“Property”
of any
Person means all types of real, personal, tangible or mixed property owned
by
such Person whether or not included in the most recent consolidated balance
sheet of such Person under GAAP.
“PUHCA”
means
the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended.
“Purchase
Money Lien”
means
any Lien on property acquired or constructed by Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries after the Closing Date, which Lien secures all or a portion
of the
related purchase price or construction costs of such property, provided
that
such Lien (i) is created within 180 days of such acquisition or construction,
(ii) encumbers only property purchased or constructed after the Closing Date
and
acquired or constructed with the proceeds of the Debt secured thereby, and
(iii)
does not extend to any other property.
“Rating
Adjustment Date”
means
any date on which the Status (as defined in the Pricing Schedule attached
hereto
as Schedule
II)
changes
as a result of an upgrade or downgrade in the rating of the Index Debt by
S&P or Moody’s.
“Ratings
Downgrade”
means,
with respect to any Person, a downgrade in the ratings assigned to such Person’s
Debt by S&P or Moody’s.
“RBS”
has the
meaning ascribed thereto in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Redeemable
Stock”
means
any class or series of Capital Stock of any Person that by its terms or
otherwise is (a) required to be redeemed on or prior to the date that occurs
91
days after the Termination Date, (b) redeemable at the option of the holder
of
such class or series of Capital Stock at any time on or prior to the date
that
occurs 91 days after the Termination Date or (c) convertible into or
exchangeable for Capital Stock referred to in clause (a) or (b) above or
Debt
having a scheduled maturity on or prior to the date that occurs 91 days after
the Termination Date, provided
that any
Capital Stock that would not constitute Redeemable Stock but for provisions
thereof giving holders thereof the right to require Borrower to purchase
or
redeem such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of an “asset sale” or a “change of
control” occurring on or prior to the date that occurs 91 days after the
Termination Date shall not constitute Redeemable Stock if the “asset sale” or
“change of control” provision applicable to such Capital Stock specifically
provides that Borrower shall not purchase or redeem any such Capital Stock
pursuant to such covenants either (x) prior to Borrower’s repayment of the
Loans, termination of the Commitments and cash collateralization of any
outstanding L/Cs or (y) at any time after the occurrence and during the
continuance of an Event of Default.
“Reference
Banks”
means,
initially, RBS and, at the request of Agent, shall include one other Bank
that
deals in Dollar deposits in the London interbank market that may be selected
from time to time by Agent with Borrower’s written consent (which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld) or any substitute Reference Bank for the foregoing
(or any of them) from time to time selected by Agent with Borrower’s written
consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld).
“Reference
Rate”
means
the variable rate of interest per annum
established by UBOC from time to time as its “reference rate”. Such “reference
rate” is set by UBOC as a general reference rate of interest, taking into
account such factors as UBOC may deem appropriate, it being understood that
many
of UBOC’s commercial or other loans are priced in relation to such rate, that it
is not necessarily the lowest or best rate actually charged to any customer
and
that UBOC may make various commercial or other loans at rates of interest
having
no relationship to such rate. For purposes of this Agreement, each change
in the
Reference Rate shall be effective as of the opening of business on the date
announced as the effective date of any change in such “reference
rate”.
19
“Relevant
Contingent Exposure”
has the
meaning ascribed thereto in Section
2.10(b).
“Request
for Continuation of a Eurodollar Committed Loan”
means a
request for the continuation of a Eurodollar Committed Loan in the form
of
Exhibit
B-2.
“Request
for Conversion of or to a Eurodollar Committed Loan”
means a
request for the conversion of or to a Eurodollar Committed Loan in the
form of
Exhibit
B-3.
“Responsible
Officer”
means,
as to any Person, the president, the chief executive officer, the chief
operating officer, the chief financial officer, any vice president, the chief
corporate officer, the treasurer or the controller of such Person.
“Restricted
Payments”
means
all dividends (other than dividends payable in shares of Capital Stock of
Borrower) and other distributions, including, without limitation, pursuant
to
stock repurchases, to the MEHC Shareholders (excluding all interest, preferred
dividends and preference dividends payable in respect of the Trust Preferred
Securities).
“S&P”
means
Standard & Poor’s Rating Services, a division of The XxXxxx-Xxxx Companies,
Inc.
“SEC”
means
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Significant
Operating Lease”
means
any operating lease or group of related operating leases (including, without
limitation, any synthetic lease or tax retention operating lease) with respect
to assets having an aggregate fair market value, at the time such assets
first
become subject to such lease, in excess of Seventy Five Million Dollars
($75,000,000).
“Significant
Operating Lease Obligations”
means,
at any time, with respect to any Significant Operating Lease, the sum of
the
present values at such time of all payments that Borrower or any of its
consolidated Subsidiaries is required to make over the remaining term of
such
Significant Operating Lease.
“Significant
Operating Lease Payments”
means,
for any period, the aggregate amount of all payments paid or required to
be paid
by Borrower or any of its consolidated Subsidiaries under Significant Operating
Leases for such period.
“SPFV”
has the
meaning ascribed thereto in Section
8.11(g).
20
“Stated
Maturity”
means,
with respect to any debt security or any installment of interest thereon,
the
date specified in such debt security as the fixed date on which any principal
of
such debt security or any such installment of interest is due and
payable.
“Sterling”
and
“£”
mean
the lawful currency of the United Kingdom that is legal tender for the payment
of public and private debts, as in effect from time to time.
“Subsidiary”
means,
with respect to any Person, any corporation or other entity (a) of which
such
Person owns, directly or indirectly, at least 50% of the Capital Stock or
other
ownership interests, and (b) in respect of which such Person, directly or
indirectly, (i) controls, by voting power, board or management committee
membership or through the provisions of any applicable partnership, shareholder
or other similar agreement or under an operating, maintenance or management
agreement or otherwise, the management or operation of such corporation or
other
entity, or (ii) otherwise has significant influence over the management or
operation of such corporation or other entity in all material respects
(significant influence includes, without limitation, the right to control
or
veto any material act or decision) in connection with such management or
operation.
“Subsidiary
Preferred Securities”
means,
collectively, (a) each of the $3.30, $3.75, $3.90, $4.20, $4.35, $4.40 and
$4.60
Series of Cumulative Preferred Stock of MidAmerican Energy Company, (b) the
8.061p Series of Cumulative Preference Shares of Northern Electric plc, (c)
the
Series A and Series B Preferred Stock of CE Luzon Geothermal Power Company,
Inc.
and (d) any other series of preferred or preference stock that may in the
future
be issued by any Subsidiary of Borrower to Persons other than the MEHC
Shareholders.
“Tax
Credit”
has the
meaning ascribed thereto in Section
2.8(g).
“Taxes”
has the
meaning ascribed thereto in Section
2.8(a).
“Tax
Indemnitee”
has the
meaning ascribed thereto in Section
2.8(a).
“Termination
Date”
means
August 26, 2010 or such earlier date upon which the whole of the Commitments
are
terminated, pursuant to Section
6.1
or
otherwise.
“Termination
Event”
means:
(a) a “Reportable Event” described in Section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations
issued thereunder occurs with respect to a Pension Plan, except to the extent
that the PBGC has by regulation waived the notice requirements of Section
4043(a) of ERISA; or (b) the withdrawal of Borrower or any of its ERISA
Affiliates from a Pension Plan during a plan year in which it was a “substantial
employer” as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA; or (c) the termination of a
Pension Plan, the filing of a notice of intent to terminate a Pension Plan
or
the treatment of a Pension Plan amendment as a termination under Section
4041 of
ERISA; or (d) the institution of proceedings to terminate, or the appointment
of
a trustee with respect to, any Pension Plan by the PBGC; or (e) the partial
or
complete withdrawal of Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates from a
Multiemployer Plan; or (f) the imposition of a Lien with respect to a Pension
Plan pursuant to Section 412 of the IRC or Section 302 of ERISA; or (g) any
event or condition that results in the reorganization or insolvency of a
Multiemployer Plan under Sections 4241 or 4245 of ERISA; or (h) any event
or
condition that results in the termination of a Multiemployer Plan under Section
4041A of ERISA or the institution by the PBGC of proceedings to terminate
a
Multiemployer Plan under Section 4042 of ERISA.
21
“Trust
Preferred Securities”
means,
collectively, (a) the preferred securities issued by CalEnergy Capital Trust
II,
CalEnergy Capital Trust III, MidAmerican Capital Trust I, MidAmerican Capital
Trust II or MidAmerican Capital Trust III, the common securities of which
are
directly or indirectly owned by Borrower and, without duplication, any junior
subordinated debentures issued by Borrower to any of such trusts in connection
with such preferred securities, and (b) any other series of preferred securities
that may in the future be issued to the MEHC Shareholders or any controlled
Affiliates of Berkshire Hathaway, and, without duplication, any junior
subordinated debentures issued by Borrower in connection with any such preferred
securities to the trust issuing such preferred securities.
“Type”
means,
with respect to any Loan, a Base Rate Loan, a Eurodollar Committed Loan,
a
Eurodollar Bid Rate Loan or a Fixed Rate Loan.
“UBOC”
has the
meaning ascribed thereto in the preamble to this Agreement.
“Unreimbursed
Drawings”
has the
meaning ascribed thereto in Section
2.2(c)(i).
“U.S.
Withholding Taxes”
means
Taxes imposed by the federal government of the United States of America by
means
of withholding pursuant to sections 881 and 1442 of the IRC.
“Utilization
Fee”
has the
meaning ascribed thereto in Section
2.6(a)(ii).
“Utilized
Percentage”
means,
on any day, (a) the sum of the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding
Loans and the L/C Outstandings, but excluding Bid Rate Loan Outstandings,
divided by (b) the Aggregate Commitments, expressed as a
percentage.
“Yorkshire
GIC”
means
the Investment Agreement, dated April 29, 2004, among Ambac Capital Funding,
Inc., Ambac Assurance UK Limited, Yorkshire Electricity Distribution plc
and
RBS.
“Yorkshire
GIC Termination Date”
has the
meaning assigned to the term “Termination Date” in the Yorkshire
GIC.
22