EXHIBIT 10d.
$1,000,000,000
FIVE-YEAR
CREDIT AGREEMENT
dated as of
May 8, 1998
among
U S WEST Capital Funding, Inc. U S WEST, Inc.
USW-C, Inc.
The Banks Listed Herein
and
Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of New York,
as Administrative Agent
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc.
Lead Arranger
Bank of America National Trust and Savings Association,
Chase Securities Inc. and
Mellon Bank, N.A.,
Co-Syndication Agents
PAGE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
----------------------
PAGE
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01. The Definitions..................................................................1
SECTION 1.02. Accounting Terms and Determinations.............................................12
SECTION 1.03. Types of Borrowings.............................................................12
ARTICLE 2
THE CREDITS
SECTION 2.01. Commitments to Lend.............................................................13
SECTION 2.02. Notice of Committed Borrowing...................................................14
SECTION 2.03. Money Market Borrowings.........................................................15
SECTION 2.04. Notice to Banks; Funding of Loans...............................................19
SECTION 2.05. Notes...........................................................................20
SECTION 2.06. Maturity of Loans...............................................................20
SECTION 2.07. Interest Rates..................................................................21
SECTION 2.08. Facility Fees...................................................................23
SECTION 2.09. Termination or Reduction of Commitments.........................................23
SECTION 2.10. Method of Electing Interest Rates...............................................24
SECTION 2.11. Prepayments....................................................................25
SECTION 2.12. General Provisions as to Payments...............................................26
SECTION 2.13. Funding Losses..................................................................26
SECTION 2.14. Computation of Interest and Fees................................................27
SECTION 2.15. Change of Control...............................................................27
ARTICLE 3
CONDITIONS
SECTION 3.01. Closing.........................................................................28
SECTION 3.02. All Borrowings..................................................................29
SECTION 3.03. Loans after Separation..........................................................29
ARTICLE 4
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
SECTION 4.01. Corporate Existence and Power...................................................30
SECTION 4.02. Corporate and Governmental Authorization; No Contravention......................30
PAGE
SECTION 4.03. Binding Effect..................................................................30
SECTION 4.04. Financial Information...........................................................31
SECTION 4.05. Litigation......................................................................31
SECTION 4.06. Compliance with ERISA...........................................................31
SECTION 4.07. Environmental Matters...........................................................32
SECTION 4.08. Taxes...........................................................................32
SECTION 4.09. Subsidiaries....................................................................33
SECTION 4.10. Not an Investment Company.......................................................33
SECTION 4.11. Full Disclosure.................................................................33
ARTICLE 5
COVENANTS
SECTION 5.01. Information.....................................................................33
SECTION 5.02. Maintenance of Property; Insurance..............................................35
SECTION 5.03. Maintenance of Existence........................................................36
SECTION 5.04. Compliance with Laws............................................................36
SECTION 5.05. Inspection of Property, Books and Records.......................................36
SECTION 5.06. Subsidiary Debt.................................................................36
SECTION 5.07. Debt Coverage...................................................................37
SECTION 5.08. Negative Pledge.................................................................37
SECTION 5.09. Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets.....................................38
SECTION 5.10. Use of Proceeds.................................................................39
SECTION 5.11. Year 2000 Compatibility.........................................................39
ARTICLE 6
DEFAULTS
SECTION 6.01. Events of Default...............................................................39
SECTION 6.02. Notice of Default...............................................................42
ARTICLE 7
THE AGENT
SECTION 7.01. Appointment and Authorization...................................................42
SECTION 7.02. Agent and Affiliates............................................................42
SECTION 7.03. Action by Agent.................................................................43
SECTION 7.04. Consultation with Experts.......................................................43
SECTION 7.05. Liability of Agent..............................................................43
SECTION 7.06. Indemnification.................................................................43
SECTION 7.07. Credit Decision.................................................................43
PAGE
SECTION 7.08. Successor Agent.................................................................44
SECTION 7.09. Agent's Fee.....................................................................44
ARTICLE 8
CHANGES IN CIRCUMSTANCES
SECTION 8.01. Basis for Determining Interest Rate Inadequate or Unfair........................44
SECTION 8.02. Illegality......................................................................45
SECTION 8.03. Increased Cost and Reduced Return...............................................46
SECTION 8.04. Taxes...........................................................................47
SECTION 8.05. Domestic Loans Substituted for Affected Euro-Dollar
Loans.................................................................................49
SECTION 8.06. Substitution of Bank............................................................49
ARTICLE 9
GUARANTY
SECTION 9.01. The Guaranty....................................................................49
SECTION 9.02. Guaranty Unconditional..........................................................50
SECTION 9.03. Discharge Only upon Payment in Full; Reinstatement In
Certain Circumstances.................................................................51
SECTION 9.04. Waiver by the Company...........................................................51
SECTION 9.05. Subrogation.....................................................................51
SECTION 9.06. Stay of Acceleration............................................................51
SECTION 9.07. Release upon Separation.........................................................51
ARTICLE 10
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 10.01. Notices........................................................................52
SECTION 10.02. No Waivers.....................................................................52
SECTION 10.03. Expenses; Indemnification......................................................52
SECTION 10.04. Sharing of Set-offs............................................................53
SECTION 10.05. Amendments and Waivers.........................................................54
SECTION 10.06. Successors and Assigns........................................................54
SECTION 10.07. Termination of Existing Credit Agreements......................................56
SECTION 10.08. Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction......................................56
SECTION 10.09. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.......................................56
SECTION 10.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL...........................................................57
SECTION 10.11. Confidentiality................................................................57
Pricing Schedule
Schedule 4.07 - Environmental Matters
Exhibit A - Note
Exhibit B - Money Market Quote Request
Exhibit C - Invitation for Money Market Quotes
Exhibit D - Money Market Quote
Exhibit E - Opinion of Counsel for the Company and the Borrower
Exhibit F - Opinion of Special Counsel for the Administrative Agent
Exhibit G - Assignment and Assumption Agreement
Exhibit H - Extension Agreement
CREDIT AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT dated as of May 8, 1998 among U S WEST Capital Funding, Inc.,
U S WEST, Inc., USW-C, Inc., the BANKS listed on the signature pages hereof and
XXXXXX GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK, as Administrative Agent.
The parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.01. The Definitions.
The following terms, as used herein, have the following meanings:
"Absolute Rate Auction" means a solicitation of Money Market Quotes
setting forth Money Market Absolute Rates pursuant to Section 2.03.
"Adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate" has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.07.
"Administrative Questionnaire" means, with respect to each Bank, an
administrative questionnaire in the form prepared by the Agent and submitted to
the Agent (with a copy to the Company) duly completed by such Bank.
"Agent" means Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of New York in its capacity
as administrative agent for the Banks hereunder, and its successors in such
capacity.
"Applicable Lending Office" means, with respect to any Bank, (i) in the
case of its Domestic Loans, its Domestic Lending Office, (ii) in the case of its
Euro-Dollar Loans, its Euro-Dollar Lending Office and (iii) in the case of its
Money Market Loans, its Money Market Lending Office.
"Assignee" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.06(c).
"Bank" means each lender listed on the signature pages hereof, each
Assignee which becomes a Bank pursuant to Section 10.06(c), and their respective
successors.
"Base Rate" means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the higher of
(i) the Prime Rate for such day and (ii) the sum of 1/2 of 1% plus the Federal
Funds Rate for such day.
"Benefit Arrangement" means at any time an employee benefit plan within
the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA which is not a Plan or a Multiemployer Plan
and which is maintained or otherwise contributed to by any member of the ERISA
Group.
"Borrower" means U S WEST Capital Funding, Inc., a Colorado
corporation, and its successors.
"Borrowing" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.03.
"Closing Date" means the date on or after the Effective Date on which
the Agent shall have received the documents specified in or pursuant to Section
3.01.
"Commitment" means, with respect to each Bank, the amount set forth
opposite the name of such Bank on the signature pages hereof, as such amount may
be reduced from time to time pursuant to Sections 2.09 and 2.11.
"Committed Loan" means a loan to be made by a Bank pursuant to Section
2.01(a); provided that if any such loan or loans are combined or subdivided
pursuant to a Notice of Interest Rate Election, the term "Committed Loan" shall
refer to the combined principal amount resulting from such combination or to
each of the separate principal amounts resulting from such subdivision, as the
case may be.
"Company" means (i) prior to the Separation, U S WEST, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, and its successors and (ii) after the Separation, USW-C, Inc., a
Delaware corporation, which will be renamed U S WEST, Inc., and its successors.
"Company's 1997 Form 10-K" means U S WEST, Inc.'s annual report on Form
10-K for 1997, as amended by Form 10-K/A filed April 13, 1998, in each case as
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934.
"Consolidated EBITDA" means, for any period, the net income of the
Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis
for such period (adjusted to exclude the effect of (x) equity gains or losses in
unconsolidated Persons, (y) any preferred dividend income and any extraordinary
or other non-recurring non-cash gain or loss or (z) any gain or loss on the
disposition of investments), plus, to the extent deducted in determining such
adjusted net income, the aggregate amount of (i) interest expense, (ii) income
tax expense and (iii) depreciation, amortization and other similar non-cash
charges and minus, to the extent included in determining such adjusted net
income, the aggregate amount of (i) interest income and (ii) income tax benefit.
"Consolidated Net Worth" means at any date the consolidated
shareowners' equity of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries determined
as of such date.
"Consolidated Subsidiary" means at any date any Subsidiary or other
entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the Company in
its consolidated financial statements if such statements were prepared as of
such date.
"Debt" of any Person means at any date, without duplication, (i) all
obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (ii) all obligations of such
Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (iii)
all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or
services, except trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of
business, (iv) all obligations of such Person as lessee which are capitalized in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, (v) all Debt secured
by a Lien on any asset of such Person, whether or not such Debt is otherwise an
obligation of such Person, and (vi) all Debt of others Guaranteed by such
Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of Sections 5.06 and 5.07
Debt shall in no event include the following:
(x) Debt of Persons which are not Consolidated Subsidiaries
("Joint Ventures") (i) which is secured by a Lien on the assets or
capital stock of a Minor Subsidiary or the equity interests in such
Joint Ventures or is Guaranteed by a Minor Subsidiary, which Lien or
Guaranty is incurred in connection with the international operations of
the Company and its Subsidiaries, and (ii) for the payment of which no
other recourse may be had to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
and
(y) Debt of the Company or the Borrower issued in connection
with the issuance of Trust Originated Preferred Securities or
substantially similar securities, so long as such Debt is subordinated
and junior in right of payment to substantially all liabilities of the
Company or the Borrower, as the case may be, including, without
limitation, the Loans.
"Default" means any condition or event which constitutes an Event of
Default or which with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both would,
unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.
"Domestic Business Day" means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or
other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized by law to
close.
"Domestic Lending Office" means, as to each Bank, its office located at
its address set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire (or identified in its
Administrative Questionnaire as its Domestic Lending Office) or such other
office as such Bank may hereafter designate as its Domestic Lending Office by
notice to the Company and the Agent.
"Domestic Loan" means (i) a Committed Loan which bears interest at the
Base Rate pursuant to the applicable Notice of Committed Borrowing or Notice of
Interest Rate Election or the provisions of Article 8 or (ii) an overdue amount
which was a Domestic Loan immediately before it became overdue.
"Effective Date" means the date this Agreement becomes effective in
accordance with Section 10.09.
"Environmental Laws" means any and all federal, state, local and
foreign statutes, laws, judicial decisions, regulations, ordinances, rules,
judgments, orders, decrees, plans, injunctions, permits, concessions, grants,
franchises, licenses, agreements and other governmental restrictions relating to
the environment, the effect of the environment on human health or to emissions,
discharges or releases of pollutants, contaminants, Hazardous Substances or
wastes into the environment including, without limitation, ambient air, surface
water, ground water, or land, or otherwise relating to the manufacture,
processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or
handling of pollutants, contaminants, Hazardous Substances or wastes or the
clean-up or other remediation thereof.
"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended, or any successor statute.
"ERISA Group" means the Company, any Subsidiary and all members of a
controlled group of corporations and all trades or businesses (whether or not
incorporated) under common control which, together with the Company or any
Subsidiary, are treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Internal
Revenue Code.
"Euro-Dollar Business Day" means any Domestic Business Day on which
commercial banks are open for international business (including dealings in
dollar deposits) in London.
"Euro-Dollar Lending Office" means, as to each Bank, its office, branch
or affiliate located at its address set forth in its Administrative
Questionnaire (or identified in its Administrative Questionnaire as its
Euro-Dollar Lending Office) or such other office, branch or affiliate of such
Bank as it may hereafter designate as its Euro-Dollar Lending Office by notice
to the Company and the Agent.
"Euro-Dollar Loan" means (i) a Committed Loan which bears interest at a
Euro-Dollar Rate pursuant to the applicable Notice of Committed Borrowing or
Notice of Interest Rate Election or (ii) an overdue amount which was a
Euro-Dollar Loan before it became overdue.
"Euro-Dollar Margin" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.07.
"Euro-Dollar Rate" means a rate of interest determined pursuant to
Section 2.07 on the basis of an Adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate.
"Euro-Dollar Reference Banks" means the principal London offices of
Bank of America National Trust and Savings Association, Mellon Bank, N.A., and
Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of New York, and "Euro-Dollar Reference Bank"
means any one of the foregoing.
"Euro-Dollar Reserve Percentage" has the meaning set forth in Section
2.07.
"Event of Default" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01.
"Existing Credit Agreements" means the Amended and Restated Credit
Agreements dated as of October 31, 1997, among the Borrower, the Company, the
banks listed on the signature pages thereof and Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of
New York, as administrative agent.
"Federal Funds Rate" means, for any day, the rate per annum (rounded
upward, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100th of 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 on such day, as
published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Domestic Business Day
next succeeding such day, provided that (i) if such day is not a Domestic
Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such
transactions on the next preceding Domestic Business Day as so published on the
next
succeeding Domestic Business Day, and (ii) if no such rate is so published on
such next succeeding Domestic Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day
shall be the average rate quoted to Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of New York on
such day on such transactions as determined by the Agent.
"Fixed Rate Loans" means Euro-Dollar Loans or Money Market Loans
(excluding Money Market LIBOR Loans bearing interest at the Base Rate pursuant
to Section 8.01(a)) or any combination of the foregoing.
"Group of Loans" means at any time a group of Loans consisting of (i)
all Committed Loans which are Domestic Loans at such time or (ii) all Committed
Loans which are Euro-Dollar Loans having the same Interest Period at such time;
provided that, if a Committed Loan of any particular Bank is converted to or
made as a Domestic Loan pursuant to Section 8.02 or 8.05, such Loan shall be
included in the same Group or Groups of Loans from time to time as it would have
been in if it had not been so converted or made.
"Guaranty" by any Person means any obligation, contingent or otherwise,
of such Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Debt or other obligation
of any other Person and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any
obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person (i) to
purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such
Debt or other obligation (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements,
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 (ii)
entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such
Debt or other obligation of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee
against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), provided that the term
Guaranty shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the
ordinary course of business. The term "Guarantee" used as a verb has a
corresponding meaning.
"Hazardous Substances" means any toxic, radioactive, caustic or
otherwise hazardous substance, including petroleum, its derivatives, by-products
and other hydrocarbons, or any substance having any constituent elements
displaying any of the foregoing characteristics.
"Indemnitee" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.03(b).
"Indentures" means the agreements or instruments evidencing the
following Debt of Continental Cablevision, Inc., and its successors: (i) the 11%
Senior Subordinated Debentures Due June 1, 2007; (ii) the 8 5/8% Senior Notes
Due August 15, 2003; (iii) the 9% Senior Debentures Due September 1, 2008; (iv)
the 8 7/8% Senior Debentures Due September 15, 2002; (v) the 9 1/2% Senior
Debentures Due August 1, 2013; (vi) the 8 1/2% Senior Notes Due September 15,
2001; (vii) the 8.3% Senior Notes Due May 15, 2006; and (viii) any other Debt
containing terms and conditions as or more favorable to the holders thereof than
the terms and conditions of any of the foregoing Debt.
"Interest Period" means: (1) with respect to each Euro-Dollar Loan, a
period commencing on the date of borrowing specified in the applicable Notice of
Borrowing or the date specified in the applicable Notice of Interest Rate
Election and ending one, two, three or six months thereafter, as the Borrower
may elect in the applicable notice; provided that:
(a) any Interest Period which would otherwise end on a day
which is not a Euro-Dollar Business Day shall be extended to the next
succeeding Euro-Dollar Business Day unless such Euro-Dollar Business
Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period
shall end on the next preceding Euro-Dollar Business Day;
(b) any Interest Period which begins on the last Euro-Dollar
Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no
numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such
Interest Period) shall, subject to clause (c) below, end on the last
Euro-Dollar Business Day of a calendar month; and
(c) any Interest Period which would otherwise end
after a Termination Date shall end on such Termination Date.
(2) with respect to each Money Market LIBOR Loan, the period commencing
on the date of borrowing specified in the applicable Notice of Borrowing and
ending such whole number of months thereafter as the Borrower may elect in
accordance with Section 2.03; provided that:
(a) any Interest Period which would otherwise end on a day
which is not a Euro-Dollar Business Day shall be extended to the next
succeeding Euro-Dollar Business Day unless such Euro-Dollar Business
Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period
shall end on the next preceding Euro-Dollar Business Day;
(b) any Interest Period which begins on the last Euro-Dollar
Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no
numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such
Interest Period) shall, subject to clause (c) below, end on the last
Euro-Dollar Business Day of a calendar month; and
(c) any Interest Period which would otherwise end after a
Termination Date shall end on such Termination Date.
(3) with respect to each Money Market Absolute Rate Loan, the
period commencing on the date of borrowing specified in the applicable
Notice of Borrowing and ending such number of days thereafter (but not
less than 7 days) as the Borrower may elect in accordance with Section
2.03; provided that:
(a) any Interest Period which would otherwise end on a day
which is not a Euro-Dollar Business Day shall be extended to the next
succeeding Euro-Dollar Business Day; and
(b) any Interest Period which would otherwise end after a
Termination Date shall end on such Termination Date.
"Internal Revenue Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, or any successor statute.
"LIBOR Auction" means a solicitation of Money Market Quotes setting
forth Money Market Margins based on the London Interbank Offered Rate pursuant
to Section 2.03.
"Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge,
charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind, or any other type of
preferential arrangement that has the practical effect of creating a security
interest, in respect of such asset. For the purposes of this Agreement, the
Company or any Subsidiary shall be deemed to own subject to a Lien any asset
which it has acquired or holds subject to the interest of a vendor or lessor
under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or other title retention
agreement relating to such asset.
"Loan" means a Domestic Loan or a Euro-Dollar Loan or a Money Market
Loan and "Loans" means Domestic Loans or Euro-Dollar Loans or Money Market Loans
or any combination of the foregoing.
"London Interbank Offered Rate" has the meaning set forth in Section
2.07.
"Margin Stock" means "margin stock" as such term is defined in
Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as in
effect from time to time.
"Material Debt" means Debt (other than the Notes) of the Company and/or
one or more of its Subsidiaries, arising in one or more related or unrelated
transactions, in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $100,000,000.
"Material Plan" means at any time a Plan or Plans having aggregate
Unfunded Liabilities in excess of $100,000,000.
"Minor Subsidiary" means, for purposes of the last sentence of the
definition of Debt and of Section 5.08(f) (the "Relevant Provisions"), (i) USW
PCN Inc., and (ii) any other Subsidiary which, at the time of the issuance of a
Guaranty or grant of a Lien referred to in the Relevant Provisions, had assets
which, when taken together with all assets of Subsidiaries at any earlier time
when such Subsidiaries were deemed to be Minor Subsidiaries pursuant to this
clause (ii), did not exceed $250,000,000.
"Money Market Absolute Rate" has the meaning set forth in Section
2.03(d).
"Money Market Absolute Rate Loan" means a loan to be made by a Bank
pursuant to an Absolute Rate Auction.
"Money Market Lending Office" means, as to each Bank, its Domestic
Lending Office or such other office, branch or affiliate of such Bank as it may
hereafter designate as its Money Market Lending Office by notice to the Company
and the Agent; provided that any Bank may from time to time by notice to the
Company and the Agent designate separate Money Market Lending Offices for its
Money Market LIBOR Loans, on the one hand, and its Money Market Absolute Rate
Loans, on the other hand, in which case all references herein to the Money
Market Lending Office of such Bank shall be deemed to refer to either or both of
such offices, as the context may require.
"Money Market LIBOR Loan" means a loan to be made by a Bank pursuant to
a LIBOR Auction (including such a loan bearing interest at the Base Rate
pursuant to Section 8.01(a)).
"Money Market Loan" means a Money Market LIBOR Loan or a Money
Market Absolute Rate Loan.
"Money Market Margin" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(d).
"Money Market Quote" means an offer by a Bank to make a Money Market
Loan in accordance with Section 2.03.
"Multiemployer Plan" means at any time an employee pension benefit plan
within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which any member of the
ERISA Group is then making or accruing an obligation to make contributions or
has within the preceding five plan years made contributions, including for these
purposes any Person which ceased to be a member of the ERISA Group during such
five year period.
"Notes" means promissory notes of the Borrower, substantially in the
form of Exhibit A hereto, evidencing the obligation of the Borrower to repay the
Loans made to it, and "Note" means any one of such promissory notes issued
hereunder.
"Notice of Borrowing" means a Notice of Committed Borrowing (as defined
in Section 2.02) or a Notice of Money Market Borrowing (as defined in Section
2.03(f)).
"Parent" means, with respect to any Bank, any Person controlling such
Bank.
"Participant" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.06(b).
"PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any entity
succeeding to any or all of its functions under ERISA.
"Person" means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, an
association, a trust or any other entity or organization, including a government
or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.
"Plan" means at any time an employee pension benefit plan (other than a
Multiemployer Plan) which is covered by Title IV of ERISA or subject to the
minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code and
either (i) is maintained, or contributed to, by any member of the ERISA Group
for employees of any member of the ERISA Group or (ii) has at any time within
the preceding five years been maintained, or contributed to, by any Person which
was at such time a member of the ERISA Group for employees of any Person which
was at such time a member of the ERISA Group.
"Pricing Schedule" means the Schedule attached hereto and identified as
such.
"Prime Rate" means the rate of interest publicly announced by Xxxxxx
Guaranty Trust Company of New York in New York City from time to time as its
Prime Rate.
"Proxy Statement" means the definitive Proxy Statement for 1998 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders of U S WEST, Inc., dated and filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission on April 20, 1998.
"Required Banks" means at any time Banks having more than 50% of the
aggregate amount of the Commitments or, if the Commitments shall have been
terminated, holding Notes evidencing more than 50% of the aggregate unpaid
principal amount of the Loans.
"Revolving Credit Period" means the period from and including the
Effective Date to but excluding the Termination Date.
"Separation" has the meaning set forth in the Proxy Statement.
"Significant Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary which would meet the
definition of "significant subsidiary" contained as of the date hereof in
Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Subsidiary" means any corporation or other entity of which securities
or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of
the board of directors or other persons performing similar functions are at the
time directly or indirectly owned by the Company.
"Super-Majority Banks" means at any time Banks having at least 85% of
the aggregate amount of the Commitments or, if the Commitments shall have been
terminated, holding Notes evidencing at least 85% of the aggregate unpaid
principal amount of the Loans.
"Termination Date" means, with respect to each Bank, May 8, 2003, or
such later date to which the Termination Date for such Bank shall have been
extended pursuant to Section 2.01(b), or, if such day is not a Euro-Dollar
Business Day, the next preceding Euro-Dollar Business Day.
"Unfunded Liabilities" means, with respect to any Plan at any time, the
amount (if any) by which (i) the value of all benefit liabilities under such
Plan, determined on a plan termination basis using the assumptions prescribed by
the PBGC for purposes of Section 4044 of ERISA, exceeds (ii) the fair market
value of all Plan assets allocable to such liabilities under Title IV of ERISA
(excluding any accrued but unpaid contributions), all determined as of the then
most recent valuation date for such Plan, but only to the extent that such
excess represents a potential liability of a member of the ERISA Group to the
PBGC or any other Person under Title IV of ERISA.
"United States" means the United States of America, including the
States and the District of Columbia, but excluding its territories and
possessions.
"Wholly-Owned Consolidated Subsidiary" means any Consolidated
Subsidiary all of the shares of capital stock or other ownership interests of
which (except directors' qualifying shares) are at the time directly or
indirectly owned by the Company.
SECTION 1.02. Accounting Terms and Determinations. Unless otherwise
specified herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all
accounting determinations hereunder shall be made, and all financial statements
required to be delivered hereunder shall be prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles as in effect from time to time in the
United States, applied on a basis consistent (except for changes concurred in by
the Company's independent public accountants) with the most recent audited
consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries delivered to the Banks; provided that, if the Company notifies the
Agent that the Company wishes to amend any covenant in Article 5 to eliminate
the effect of any change in such generally accepted accounting principles on the
operation of such covenant (or if the Agent notifies the Company that the
Required Banks wish to amend Article 5 for such purpose), then compliance with
such covenant shall be determined on the basis of generally accepted accounting
principles in effect in the United States immediately before the relevant change
in generally accepted accounting principles became effective, until either such
notice is withdrawn or such covenant is amended in a manner satisfactory to the
Company and the Required Banks.
SECTION 1.03. Types of Borrowings. The term "Borrowing" denotes the
aggregation of Loans of one or more Banks to be made to the Borrower pursuant to
Article 2 on a single date, all of which Loans are of the same type (subject to
Article 8) and, except in the case of Domestic Loans, have the same Interest
Period or initial Interest Period. Borrowings are classified for purposes of
this Agreement either by reference to the pricing of Loans comprising such
Borrowing (e.g., a "Euro-Dollar Borrowing" is a Borrowing comprised of
Euro-Dollar Loans) or by reference to the provisions of Article 2 under which
participation therein is determined (i.e., a "Committed Borrowing" is a
Borrowing under Section 2.01(a) in which all Banks participate in proportion to
their Commitments, while a "Money Market Borrowing" is a Borrowing under Section
2.03 in which the Bank participants are determined on the basis of their bids in
accordance therewith).
ARTICLE 2
THE CREDITS
SECTION 2.01. Commitments to Lend.
(a) The Commitments. During the Revolving Credit Period each Bank
severally agrees, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, to
make loans to the Borrower pursuant to this subsection (a) from time to time in
amounts such that the aggregate principal amount of Committed Loans by such Bank
at any one time outstanding to the Borrower shall not exceed the amount of its
Commitment. Each Borrowing under this Section shall be in an aggregate principal
amount of $25,000,000 or any larger multiple of $5,000,000 (except that any such
Borrowing may be in the aggregate amount available in accordance with Section
3.02(c)) and shall be made from the several Banks ratably in proportion to their
respective Commitments. Within the foregoing limits, the Borrower may borrow
under this subsection (a), repay, or to the extent permitted by Section 2.11,
prepay Loans and reborrow at any time during the Revolving Credit Period under
this subsection (a). The Commitments shall terminate at the close of business on
the Termination Date.
(b) Extension of Commitments. The Commitments may be extended in the
manner and amount set forth in this subsection (b), for a period of 364 days
measured from the Termination Date then in effect. If the Company wishes to
request an extension of each Bank's Commitment, it shall give notice to that
effect to the Agent not less than 45 days and not more than 60 days prior to the
Termination Date then in effect, whereupon the Agent shall promptly notify each
of the Banks of such request. Each Bank will use its best efforts to respond to
such request, whether affirmatively or negatively, as it may elect in its
discretion, within 30 days of such notice to the Agent. If any Bank shall not
have responded affirmatively within such 30-day period, such Bank shall be
deemed to have rejected the Company's proposal to extend its Commitment, and
only the Commitments of those Banks which have responded affirmatively shall be
extended, subject to receipt by the Agent of counterparts of an Extension
Agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit H hereto duly completed and
signed by the Borrower, the Company, the Agent and all of the Banks which have
responded affirmatively. The Agent shall provide to the Company, no later than
10 days prior to the Termination Date then in effect, a list of the Banks which
have responded affirmatively. The Extension Agreement shall be executed and
delivered no later than five days prior to the Termination Date then in effect,
and no extension of the Commitments pursuant to this subsection (b) shall be
legally binding on any party hereto unless and until such Extension Agreement is
so executed and delivered. The Company and the Borrower may decline to execute
and deliver such Extension Agreement if any Bank has rejected the Company's
proposal to extend its Commitment or has failed to execute and deliver such
Extension Agreement, and will promptly notify the Agent and the Banks if it so
declines.
(c) Additional Commitments. At any time during the Revolving Credit
Period (unless the Commitments shall have been reduced pursuant to Section
2.09(b)), if no Default shall have occurred and be continuing at such time, the
Company may, if it so elects, increase the aggregate amount of the Commitments,
either by designating a Person not theretofore a Bank and acceptable to the
Agent to become a Bank or by agreeing with an existing Bank that such Bank's
Commitment shall be increased. Upon execution and delivery by the Company, the
Borrower and such Bank or other Person of an instrument of assumption in form
and amount satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, such existing Bank shall
have a Commitment as therein set forth or such other Person shall become a Bank
with a Commitment as therein set forth and all the rights and obligations of a
Bank with such a Commitment hereunder; provided that (i) the Company shall
provide prompt notice of such increase to the Agent, which shall promptly notify
the other Banks, (ii) the aggregate amount of each such increase which is
effective on any day shall be at least $50,000,000 and (iii) the aggregate
amount of the Commitments shall at no time exceed $1,250,000,000. Upon any
increase in the aggregate amount of the Commitments pursuant to this subsection
(c), within five Domestic Business Days in the case of each Group of Domestic
Loans outstanding, and at the end of the then current Interest Period with
respect thereto in the case of each Group of Euro-Dollar Loans then outstanding,
the Borrower shall prepay such Group in its entirety, and, to the extent the
Borrower elects to do so and subject to the conditions specified in Article 3,
the Borrower shall reborrow Committed Loans from the Banks in proportion to
their respective Commitments after giving effect to such increase, until such
time as all outstanding Committed Loans are held by the Banks in such
proportion.
SECTION 2.02. Notice of Committed Borrowing. The Borrower shall give
the Agent notice (a "Notice of Committed Borrowing") not later than 10:30 A.M.
(New York City time) on (x) the date of each Domestic Borrowing, and (y) the
third Euro-Dollar Business Day before each Euro-Dollar Borrowing, specifying:
(i) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Domestic
Business Day in the case of a Domestic Borrowing or a Euro-Dollar
Business Day in the case of a Euro-Dollar Borrowing,
(ii) the aggregate amount of such Borrowing,
(iii) whether the Loans comprising such Borrowing bear
interest initially at the Base Rate or at a Euro-Dollar Rate, and
(iv) in the case of a Euro-Dollar Borrowing, the duration of
the initial Interest Period applicable thereto, subject to the
provisions of the definition of Interest Period.
SECTION 2.03. Money Market Borrowings. (a) The Money Market Option. In
addition to Committed Borrowings pursuant to Section 2.01(a), the Borrower may,
as set forth in this Section, request the Banks during the Revolving Credit
Period to make offers to make Money Market Loans to the Borrower. The Banks may,
but shall have no obligation to, make such offers and the Borrower may, but
shall have no obligation to, accept any such offers in the manner set forth in
this Section.
(b) Money Market Quote Request. When the Borrower wishes to request
offers to make Money Market Loans under this Section, it shall transmit to the
Agent by telex or facsimile transmission a Money Market Quote Request
substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto so as to be received no later than
9:00 A.M. (New York City time) on (x) the fourth Euro-Dollar Business Day prior
to the date of Borrowing proposed therein, in the case of a LIBOR Auction or (y)
the Domestic Business Day prior to the date of Borrowing proposed therein, in
the case of an Absolute Rate Auction (or, in either case, such other time or
date as the Company and the Agent shall have mutually agreed and shall have
notified to the Banks not later than the date of the Money Market Quote Request
for the first LIBOR Auction or Absolute Rate Auction for which such change is to
be effective) specifying:
(i) the proposed date of Borrowing, which shall be a Euro-Dollar
Business Day in the case of a LIBOR Auction or a Domestic Business Day
in the case of an Absolute Rate Auction,
(ii) the aggregate amount of such Borrowing, which shall be $25,000,000
or a larger multiple of $5,000,000,
(iii) the duration of the Interest Period applicable thereto, subject to
the provisions of the definition of Interest Period, and
(iv) whether the Money Market Quotes requested are to set forth a Money
Market Margin or a Money Market Absolute Rate.
The Borrower may request offers to make Money Market Loans for more than one
Interest Period in a single Money Market Quote Request. No Money Market
Quote Request shall be given within five Euro-Dollar Business Days (or such
other number of days as the Company and the Agent may agree) of any other Money
Market Quote Request.
(c) Invitation for Money Market Quotes. Promptly upon receipt of a
Money Market Quote Request, the Agent shall send to the Banks by telex or
facsimile transmission an Invitation for Money Market Quotes substantially in
the form of Exhibit C hereto, which shall constitute an invitation by the
Borrower to each Bank to submit Money Market Quotes offering to make the Money
Market Loans to which such Money Market Quote Request relates in accordance with
this Section.
(d) Submission and Contents of Money Market Quotes. (i) Each Bank may
submit a Money Market Quote containing an offer or offers to make Money Market
Loans in response to any Invitation for Money Market Quotes. Each Money Market
Quote must comply with the requirements of this subsection (d) and must be
submitted to the Agent by telex or facsimile transmission at its offices
specified in or pursuant to Section 10.01 not later than (x) 10:30 A.M. (New
York City time) on the third Euro-Dollar Business Day prior to the proposed date
of Borrowing, in the case of a LIBOR Auction or (y) 9:15 A.M. (New York City
time) on the proposed date of Borrowing, in the case of an Absolute Rate Auction
(or, in either case, such other time or date as the Company and the Agent shall
have mutually agreed and shall have notified to the Banks not later than the
date of the Money Market Quote Request for the first LIBOR Auction or Absolute
Rate Auction for which such change is to be effective); provided that Money
Market Quotes submitted by the Agent (or any affiliate of the Agent) in the
capacity of a Bank may be submitted, and may only be submitted, if the Agent or
such affiliate notifies the Borrower of the terms of the offer or offers
contained therein not later than (x) one hour prior to the deadline for the
other Banks, in the case of a LIBOR Auction or (y) 15 minutes prior to the
deadline for the other Banks, in the case of an Absolute Rate Auction. Subject
to Articles 3 and 6, any Money Market Quote so made shall be irrevocable except
with the written consent of the Agent given on the instructions of the Borrower.
(ii) Each Money Market Quote shall be in substantially the form of
Exhibit D hereto and shall in any case specify:
(A) the proposed date of Borrowing,
(B) the principal amount of the Money Market Loan for
which each such offer is being made, which principal amount
(w) may be greater than or less than the Commitment of the
quoting Bank, (x) must be $5,000,000 or a larger multiple of
$1,000,000,
(y) may not exceed the principal amount of Money Market Loans
for which offers were requested, and (z) may be subject to an
aggregate limitation as to the principal amount of Money
Market Loans for which offers being made by such quoting Bank
may be accepted,
(C) in the case of a LIBOR Auction, the margin above or
below the applicable London Interbank Offered Rate (the "Money
Market Margin") offered for each such Money Market Loan,
expressed as a percentage (specified to the nearest 1/10,000th
of 1%) to be added to or subtracted from such base rate,
(D) in the case of an Absolute Rate Auction, the rate of
interest per annum (specified to the nearest 1/10,000th of 1%)
(the "Money Market Absolute Rate") offered for each such Money
Market Loan, and
(E) the identity of the quoting Bank.
A Money Market Quote may set forth up to five separate offers by the quoting
Bank with respect to each Interest Period specified in the related Invitation
for Money Market Quotes.
(iii) Any Money Market Quote shall be disregarded if it:
(A) is not substantially in conformity with Exhibit D
hereto or does not specify all of the information required by
subsection (d)(ii);
(B) contains qualifying, conditional or similar language;
(C) proposes terms other than or in addition to those set
forth in the applicable Invitation for Money Market Quotes; or
(D) arrives after the time set forth in subsection
(d)(i).
(e) Notice to Borrower. The Agent shall promptly (and in any event no
later than 11:00 A.M. (New York time) on (i) the third Euro-Dollar Business Day
prior to the proposed date of Borrowing, in the case of a LIBOR Auction or (ii)
the proposed date of Borrowing, in the case of an Absolute Rate Auction) notify
the Borrower of the terms (x) of any Money Market Quote submitted by a Bank that
is in accordance with subsection (d) and (y) of any Money Market Quote that
amends, modifies or is otherwise inconsistent with a previous Money Market
Quote submitted by such Bank with respect to the same Money Market Quote
Request. Any such subsequent Money Market Quote shall be disregarded by the
Agent unless such subsequent Money Market Quote is submitted solely to correct a
manifest error in such former Money Market Quote. The Agent's notice to the
Borrower shall specify (A) the aggregate principal amount of Money Market Loans
for which offers have been received for each Interest Period specified in the
related Money Market Quote Request, (B) the respective principal amounts and
Money Market Margins or Money Market Absolute Rates, as the case may be, so
offered and (C) if applicable, limitations on the aggregate principal amount of
Money Market Loans for which offers in any single Money Market Quote may be
accepted.
(f) Acceptance and Notice by Borrower. Not later than 11:15 A.M. (New
York City time) on (x) the third Euro-Dollar Business Day prior to the proposed
date of Borrowing, in the case of a LIBOR Auction or (y) the proposed date of
Borrowing, in the case of an Absolute Rate Auction (or, in either case, such
other time or date as the Company and the Agent shall have mutually agreed and
shall have notified to the Banks not later than the date of the Money Market
Quote Request for the first LIBOR Auction or Absolute Rate Auction for which
such change is to be effective), the Borrower shall notify the Agent of its
acceptance or non-acceptance of the offers so notified to it pursuant to
subsection (e). In the case of acceptance, such notice (a "Notice of Money
Market Borrowing") shall specify the aggregate principal amount of offers for
each Interest Period that are accepted. The Borrower may accept any Money Market
Quote in whole or in part; provided that:
(i) the aggregate principal amount of each Money Market Borrowing may
not exceed the applicable amount set forth in the related Money Market
Quote Request,
(ii) the principal amount of each Money Market Borrowing must be
$25,000,000 or a larger multiple of $5,000,000,
(iii) acceptance of offers may only be made on the basis of ascending
Money Market Margins or Money Market Absolute Rates, as the case may
be, and
(iv) the Borrower may not accept any offer that is described in
subsection (d)(iii) or that otherwise fails to comply with the
requirements of this Agreement.
(g) Allocation by Agent. If offers are made by two or more Banks with
the same Money Market Margins or Money Market Absolute Rates, as the case may
be, for a greater aggregate principal amount than the amount in respect of which
such offers are accepted for the related Interest Period, the principal amount
of Money Market Loans in respect of which such offers are accepted shall be
allocated by the Agent among such Banks as nearly as possible (in multiples of
$1,000,000, as the Agent may deem appropriate) in proportion to the aggregate
principal amounts of such offers. Determinations by the Agent of the amounts of
Money Market Loans shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.
SECTION 2.04. Notice to Banks; Funding of Loans. (a) Upon receipt of a
Notice of Borrowing, the Agent shall promptly notify each Bank of the contents
thereof and of such Bank's share (if any) of such Borrowing and such Notice of
Borrowing shall not thereafter be revocable by the Borrower.
(b) Not later than 1:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the date of each
Borrowing, each Bank participating therein shall (except as provided in
subsection (c) of this Section) make available its share of such Borrowing, in
Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City, to the Agent at
its address referred to in Section 10.01. Unless any applicable condition
specified in Article 3 has not been satisfied, as determined by the Agent in
accordance with Article 3, the Agent will make the funds so received from the
Banks immediately available to the Borrower at the Agent's aforesaid address.
(c) If any Bank makes a new Loan hereunder to the Borrower on a day on
which the Borrower is to repay all or any part of an outstanding Loan from such
Bank, such Bank shall apply the proceeds of its new Loan to make such repayment
and only an amount equal to the difference (if any) between the amount being
borrowed by the Borrower and the amount being repaid shall be made available by
such Bank to the Agent as provided in subsection (b) of this Section, or
remitted by the Borrower to the Agent as provided in Section 2.12, as the case
may be.
(d) Unless the Agent shall have received notice from a Bank prior to
the date of any Borrowing (or, in the case of a Base Rate Borrowing, prior to
Noon (New York City time) on the date of such Borrowing) that such Bank will not
make available to the Agent such Bank's share of such Borrowing, the Agent may
assume that such Bank has made such share available to the Agent on the date of
such Borrowing in accordance with subsections (b) and (c) of this Section 2.04
and the Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the
Borrower on such date a corresponding amount. If and to the extent that such
Bank shall not have so made such share available to the Agent, such Bank and the
Borrower severally agree to repay to the Agent forthwith on demand such
corresponding amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date
such amount is made available to the Borrower until the date such amount is
repaid to the Agent, at (i) in the case of the Borrower, a rate per annum equal
to the higher of the Federal Funds Rate and the interest rate applicable thereto
pursuant to Section 2.07 and (ii) in the case of such Bank, the Federal Funds
Rate. If such Bank shall repay to the Agent such corresponding amount, such
amount so repaid shall constitute such Bank's Loan included in such Borrowing
for purposes of this Agreement. If the Borrower shall have repaid such
corresponding amount of such Bank, such Bank shall reimburse the Borrower for
any loss on account thereof incurred by the Borrower.
SECTION 2.05. Notes. (a) The Loans of each Bank to the Borrower shall
be evidenced by a single Note of the Borrower payable to the order of such Bank
for the account of its Applicable Lending Office, unless such Bank requests
otherwise, in an amount equal to the aggregate unpaid principal amount of such
Bank's Loans to the Borrower.
(b) Each Bank may, by notice to the Borrower and the Agent, request
that its Loans of a particular type to the Borrower be evidenced by a separate
Note of the Borrower in an amount equal to the aggregate unpaid principal amount
of such Loans. Each such Note shall be in substantially the form of Exhibit A
hereto with appropriate modifications to reflect the fact that it evidences
solely Loans of the relevant type. Each reference in this Agreement to a "Note"
or the "Notes" of such Bank shall be deemed to refer to and include any or all
of such Notes, as the context may require.
(c) Upon receipt of each Bank's Note pursuant to Section 3.01, the
Agent shall forward such Note to such Bank. Each Bank shall record the date,
amount and type of each Loan made by it to the Borrower and the date and amount
of each payment of principal made with respect thereto, and may, if such Bank so
elects in connection with any transfer or enforcement of its Note of the
Borrower, endorse on the schedule forming a part thereof appropriate notations
to evidence the foregoing information with respect to each such Loan to the
Borrower then outstanding; provided that the failure of any Bank to make any
such recordation or endorsement shall not affect the obligations of the Borrower
hereunder or under the Notes. Each Bank is hereby irrevocably authorized by the
Borrower so to endorse its Notes and to attach to and make a part of any Note a
continuation of any such schedule as and when required.
SECTION 2.06. Maturity of Loans. Each Loan by a Bank included in any
Borrowing made pursuant to Section 2.01(a) shall mature, and the principal
amount thereof shall be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon,
on the Termination Date for such Bank. Each Loan included in any Borrowing made
pursuant to Section 2.03 shall mature, and the principal amount thereof shall
be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon, on the last day of
the Interest Period applicable thereto.
SECTION 2.07. Interest Rates. (a) Each Domestic Loan shall bear
interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof, for each day from the date
such Loan is made until it becomes due, at a rate per annum equal to the Base
Rate for such day. Such interest shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the
last day of each calendar quarter and, with respect to the principal amount of
any Domestic Loan converted to a Euro-Dollar Loan, on each date a Domestic Loan
is so converted. Any overdue principal of or interest on any Domestic Loan shall
bear interest, payable on demand, for each day until paid at a rate per annum
equal to the sum of 2% plus the rate otherwise applicable to Domestic Loans for
such day.
(b) Each Euro-Dollar Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding
principal amount thereof, for the Interest Period applicable thereto, at a rate
per annum equal to the sum of the Euro-Dollar Margin plus the applicable
Adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate. Such interest shall be payable for each
Interest Period on the last day thereof and, if such Interest Period is longer
than three months, at intervals of three months after the first day thereof.
The "Adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate" applicable to any Interest
Period means a rate per annum equal to the quotient obtained (rounded upward, if
necessary, to the next higher 1/100 of 1%) by dividing (i) the applicable London
Interbank Offered Rate by (ii) 1.00 minus the Euro-Dollar Reserve Percentage.
"Euro-Dollar Margin" means a rate per annum determined in accordance
with the Pricing Schedule.
The "London Interbank Offered Rate" applicable to any Interest Period
means the average (rounded upward, if necessary, to the next higher 1/16 of 1%)
of the respective rates per annum at which deposits in dollars are offered to
each of the Euro-Dollar Reference Banks in the London interbank market at
approximately 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Euro-Dollar Business Days before the
first day of such Interest Period in an amount approximately equal to the
principal amount of the Euro-Dollar Loan of such Euro-Dollar Reference Bank to
which such Interest Period is to apply and for a period of time comparable to
such Interest Period.
"Euro-Dollar Reserve Percentage" means for any day that percentage
(expressed as a decimal) which is in effect on such day, as prescribed by the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) for
determining the maximum reserve requirement for a member bank of the Federal
Reserve System in New York City with deposits exceeding five billion dollars in
respect of "Eurocurrency liabilities" (or in respect of any other category of
liabilities which includes deposits by reference to which the interest rate on
Euro-Dollar Loans is determined or any category of extensions of credit or other
assets which includes loans by a non-United States office of any Bank to United
States residents). The Adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate shall be adjusted
automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in the Euro-Dollar
Reserve Percentage.
(c) Any overdue principal of or interest on any Euro-Dollar Loan shall
bear interest, payable on demand, for each day from and including the date
payment thereof was due to but excluding the date of actual payment, at a rate
per annum equal to the sum of 2% plus the higher of (i) the Euro-Dollar Margin
plus the quotient obtained (rounded upward, if necessary, to the next higher
1/100 of 1%) by dividing (x) the average (rounded upward, if necessary, to the
next higher 1/16 of 1%) of the respective rates per annum at which one day (or,
if such amount due remains unpaid more than three Euro-Dollar Business Days,
then for such other period of time not longer than six months as the Agent may
select) deposits in dollars in an amount approximately equal to such overdue
payment due to each of the Euro-Dollar Reference Banks are offered to such
Euro-Dollar Reference Bank in the London interbank market for the applicable
period determined as provided above by (y) 1.00 minus the Euro-Dollar Reserve
Percentage (or, if the circumstances described in clause (a) or (b) of Section
8.01 shall exist, at a rate per annum equal to the sum of 2% plus the rate
applicable to Domestic Loans for such day) and (ii) the sum of the Euro-Dollar
Margin plus the Adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate applicable to such Loan
at the date such payment was due.
(d) Subject to Section 8.01, each Money Market LIBOR Loan shall bear
interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof, for the Interest Period
applicable thereto, at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the London Interbank
Offered Rate for such Interest Period (determined in accordance with Section
2.07 as if the related Money Market LIBOR Borrowing were a Committed Euro-Dollar
Borrowing) plus (or minus) the Money Market Margin quoted by the Bank making
such Loan in accordance with Section 2.03. Each Money Market Absolute Rate Loan
shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof, for the
Interest Period applicable thereto, at a rate per annum equal to the Money
Market Absolute Rate quoted by the Bank making such Loan in accordance with
Section 2.03. Such interest shall be payable for each Interest Period on the
last day thereof and, if such Interest Period is longer than three months, at
intervals of three months after the first day thereof. Any overdue principal of
or interest on any Money Market Loan shall bear interest, payable on demand, for
each day until paid at a rate per annum equal to the sum of 2% plus the Base
Rate for such day.
(e) The Agent shall determine each interest rate applicable to the
Loans hereunder. The Agent shall give prompt notice to the Borrower and the
participating Banks of each rate of interest so determined, and its
determination thereof shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.
(f) Each Euro-Dollar Reference Bank agrees to use its best efforts to
furnish quotations to the Agent as contemplated hereby. If any Euro-Dollar
Reference Bank does not furnish a timely quotation, the Agent shall determine
the relevant interest rate on the basis of the quotation or quotations furnished
by the remaining Euro-Dollar Reference Bank or Banks or, if none of such
quotations is available on a timely basis, the provisions of Section 8.01 shall
apply.
SECTION 2.08. Facility Fees. The Company shall pay to the Agent for the
account of the Banks ratably a facility fee at the Facility Fee Rate (determined
daily in accordance with the Pricing Schedule). Such facility fee shall accrue
(i) from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the Termination Date
(or earlier date of termination of the Commitments in their entirety), on the
daily average aggregate amount of the Commitments (whether used or unused) and
(ii) from and including the Termination Date (or earlier date of termination of
the Commitments in their entirety) to but excluding the date the Loans shall be
repaid in their entirety, on the daily average aggregate outstanding principal
amount of the Loans. Accrued facility fees shall be payable quarterly in arrears
on the last day of each calendar quarter and upon the date of termination of the
Commitments in their entirety (and, if later, the date the Loans shall be repaid
in their entirety).
"Facility Fee Rate" means a rate per annum determined in accordance
with the Pricing Schedule.
SECTION 2.09. Termination or Reduction of Commitments. (a) During the
Revolving Credit Period, the Company may, upon at least three Domestic Business
Days' notice to the Agent, (i) terminate the Commitments at any time, if no
Loans are outstanding at such time or (ii) ratably reduce from time to time by
an aggregate amount of $25,000,000 or any larger multiple of $5,000,000, the
aggregate amount of the Commitments in excess of the aggregate outstanding
principal amount of the Loans.
(b) If the Separation has not been consummated on or before November
8, 1998, the Commitments shall be ratably reduced by 50% on the next succeeding
Domestic Business Day.
SECTION 2.10. Method of Electing Interest Rates. (a) The Loans included
in each Committed Borrowing shall bear interest initially at the type of rate
specified by the Borrower in the applicable Notice of Committed Borrowing.
Thereafter, the Borrower may from time to time elect to change or continue the
type of interest rate borne by each Group of Loans (subject in each case to the
provisions of Article 8), as follows:
(i) if such Loans are Domestic Loans, the Borrower may elect to
convert such Loans to Euro-Dollar Loans as of any Euro-Dollar Business
Day;
(ii) if such Loans are Euro-Dollar Loans, the Borrower may elect to
convert such Loans to Domestic Loans or elect to continue such Loans as
Euro-Dollar Loans for an additional Interest Period, in each case
effective on the last day of the then current Interest Period
applicable to such Loans.
Each such election shall be made by delivering a notice (a "Notice of Interest
Rate Election") to the Agent at least three Euro-Dollar Business Days before the
conversion or continuation selected in such notice is to be effective. A Notice
of Interest Rate Election may, if it so specifies, apply to only a portion of
the aggregate principal amount of the relevant Group of Loans; provided that (i)
such portion is allocated ratably among the Loans comprising such Group and (ii)
the portion to which such Notice applies, and the remaining portion to which it
does not apply, are each $25,000,000 or any larger multiple of $5,000,000.
(b) Each Notice of Interest Rate Election shall specify:
(i) the Group of Loans (or portion thereof) to which such notice
applies;
(ii) the date on which the conversion or continuation selected in such
notice is to be effective, which shall comply with the applicable
clause of subsection (a) above;
(iii) if the Loans comprising such Group are to be converted, the new
type of Loans and, if such new Loans are Euro-Dollar Loans, the
duration of the initial Interest Period applicable thereto; and
(iv) if such Loans are to be continued as Euro-Dollar Loans for an
additional Interest Period, the duration of such additional Interest
Period.
Each Interest Period specified in a Notice of Interest Rate Election shall
comply with the provisions of the definition of Interest Period.
(c) Upon receipt of a Notice of Interest Rate Election from the
Borrower pursuant to subsection (a) above, the Agent shall promptly notify each
Bank of the contents thereof and such notice shall not thereafter be revocable
by such Borrower. If the Borrower fails to deliver a timely Notice of Interest
Rate Election to the Agent for any Group of Euro-Dollar Loans, such Loans shall
be converted into Domestic Loans on the last day of the then current Interest
Period applicable thereto.
SECTION 2.11. Prepayments.
(a) Subject in the case of any Euro-Dollar Loans to Section 2.13, the
Borrower may, upon at least one Domestic Business Day's notice to the Agent,
prepay the Group of Domestic Loans (or any Money Market Borrowing bearing
interest at the Base Rate pursuant to Section 8.01(a)), or, upon three
Euro-Dollar Business Days' notice to the Agent, prepay any Group of Euro-Dollar
Loans, in each case in whole at any time, or from time to time in part in
amounts aggregating $25,000,000 or any larger multiple of $5,000,000, by paying
the principal amount to be prepaid together with accrued interest thereon to the
date of prepayment.
(b) Except as provided in subsection (a) above, the Borrower may not
prepay all or any portion of the principal amount of any Money Market Loan prior
to the maturity thereof.
(c) Upon receipt of a notice of prepayment pursuant to this Section,
the Agent shall promptly notify each Bank of the contents thereof and of such
Bank's ratable share (if any) of such prepayment and such notice shall not
thereafter be revocable by the Borrower. Each such prepayment shall be applied
to prepay ratably the Loans of the several Banks included in the relevant Group
or Borrowing.
(d) On the date of any reduction of Commitments pursuant to Section
2.09(b), the Borrower shall repay such principal amount (together with accrued
interest thereon) of outstanding Loans, if any, as may be necessary so that
after such repayment (i) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of each
Bank's Committed Loans does not exceed the amount of such Bank's Commitment as
then reduced, and (ii) the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all outstanding
Loans does not exceed the aggregate amount of the Commitments as then reduced.
Any such prepayment shall be made in accordance with all applicable
provisions of this Agreement (including without limitation subsections (a)
(other than as to amount), (b) and (c) of this Section 2.11).
SECTION 2.12. General Provisions as to Payments. (a) The Borrower shall
make each payment of principal of, and interest on, the Loans and of fees and
other amounts payable hereunder, not later than 12:00 Noon (New York City time)
on the date when due, in Federal or other funds immediately available in New
York City, without off set or counterclaim, to the Agent at its address referred
to in Section 10.01. The Agent will promptly distribute to each Bank its ratable
share of each such payment received by the Agent for the account of the Banks.
Whenever any payment of principal of, or interest on, the Domestic Loans or of
fees or other amounts payable hereunder shall be due on a day which is not a
Domestic Business Day, the date for payment thereof shall be extended to the
next succeeding Domestic Business Day. Whenever any payment of principal of, or
interest on, the Euro-Dollar Loans shall be due on a day which is not a
Euro-Dollar Business Day, the date for payment thereof shall be extended to the
next succeeding Euro-Dollar Business Day unless such Euro-Dollar Business Day
falls in another calendar month, in which case the date for payment thereof
shall be the next preceding Euro-Dollar Business Day. Whenever any payment of
principal of, or interest on, the Money Market Loans shall be due on a day which
is not a Euro-Dollar Business Day, the date for payment thereof shall be
extended to the next succeeding Euro-Dollar Business Day. If the date for any
payment of principal is extended by operation of law or otherwise, interest
thereon shall be payable for such extended time.
(b) Unless the Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower
prior to the date on which any payment is due from the Borrower to the Banks
hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment in full, the Agent may
assume that the Borrower has made such payment in full to the Agent on such date
and the Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, cause to be distributed to
each Bank on such due date an amount equal to the amount then due such Bank. If
and to the extent that the Borrower shall not have so made such payment, each
Bank shall repay to the Agent forthwith on demand such amount 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 the
Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate.
SECTION 2.13. Funding Losses. If the Borrower makes any payment of
principal with respect to any Fixed Rate Loan or any Fixed Rate Loan is
converted to a Domestic Loan (pursuant to Article 2, 6 or 8 or otherwise) on any
day other than the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto, or the
last day of an applicable period fixed pursuant to Section 2.07(c), or if the
Borrower fails to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Fixed Rate Loans after
notice has been
given to any Bank in accordance with Section 2.04(a), 2.10(c) or 2.11(c), the
Company shall reimburse each Bank within 15 days after demand for any resulting
loss or expense incurred by it (or by an existing or prospective Participant in
the related Loan), including (without limitation) any loss incurred in
obtaining, liquidating or employing deposits from third parties, but excluding
loss of margin for the period after any such payment or conversion or failure to
borrow or prepay, provided that such Bank shall have delivered to the Company a
certificate as to the amount of such loss or expense, which certificate shall be
conclusive in the absence of manifest error.
SECTION 2.14. Computation of Interest and Fees. Interest based on the
Prime Rate hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or
366 days in a leap year) and paid for the actual number of days elapsed
(including the first day but excluding the last day). All other interest and
fees hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and paid for
the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the
last day).
SECTION 2.15. Change of Control. If a Change of Control shall occur,
the Company will, within ten days after the occurrence thereof, give each Bank
notice thereof, which notice shall describe in reasonable details the facts and
circumstances giving rise thereto and shall specify an Optional Termination Date
for purposes of this Section (the "Optional Termination Date") which date shall
not be less than 30 nor more than 60 days after the date of such notice. Each
Bank may, by notice to the Company and the Agent given not less than three
Domestic Business Days prior to the Optional Termination Date, terminate its
Commitment (if any), which shall thereupon be terminated, and declare the Note
held by it (together with accrued interest thereon) and any other amounts
payable hereunder for its account to be, and such Note and such other amounts
shall thereupon become, due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or
other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Company and the
Borrower, in each case effective on the Optional Termination Date.
A "Change of Control" shall occur if any person or group of persons
(within the meaning of Section 13 or 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended) shall have acquired beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule
13d-3 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under said Act) of
30% or more of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company; or, during
any period of twelve consecutive calendar months, individuals who were directors
of the Company on the first day of such period shall cease to constitute a
majority of the board of directors of the Company. The Separation shall not
constitute a Change of Control.
ARTICLE 3
CONDITIONS
SECTION 3.01. Closing. The closing hereunder shall occur upon receipt
by the Agent of the following (in the case of any document, dated the Closing
Date unless otherwise indicated):
(a) a duly executed Note of the Borrower for the account of each Bank
dated on or before the Closing Date complying with the provisions of Section
2.05;
(b) an opinion of Xxxxxx X. XxXxxxxxx, Esq., counsel for the Company
and the Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto and covering
such additional matters relating to the transactions contemplated hereby as the
Required Banks may reasonably request;
(c) an opinion of Xxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx, special counsel for the
Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit F hereto and covering such
additional matters relating to the transactions contemplated hereby as the
Required Banks may reasonably request;
(d) evidence satisfactory to the Agent that the commitments under the
Existing Credit Agreements have been terminated and that the principal and
interest on all loans and accrued fees outstanding thereunder have been paid in
full;
(e) evidence satisfactory to the Agent of the payment of all fees and
other amounts payable to the Agent for the account of the Banks or the Agent on
or prior to the Closing Date, including, to the extent invoiced, reimbursement
of all out-of-pocket expenses (including, without limitation, legal fees and
expenses) required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower or the Company
hereunder; and
(f) all documents the Agent may reasonably request relating to the
existence of the Company and the Borrower, the corporate authority for and the
validity of this Agreement and the Notes, and any other matters relevant hereto,
all in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent.
The Agent shall promptly notify the Company and the Banks of the Closing Date,
and such notice shall be conclusive and binding on all parties hereto.
SECTION 3.02. All Borrowings. The obligation of any Bank to make a
Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing is subject to the satisfaction of the
following conditions:
(a) the fact that the Closing Date shall have occurred on or prior to
May 30, 1998;
(b) receipt by the Agent of a Notice of Borrowing as required by
Section 2.02 or 2.03, as the case may be;
(c) the fact that, immediately before and after such Borrowing, the
aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Loans will not exceed the
aggregate amount of the Commitments;
(d) the fact that, immediately before and after such Borrowing, no
Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and
(e) the fact that the representations and warranties contained in this
Agreement shall be true on and as of the date of such Borrowing
(except, in the case of the representations and warranties contained in
Section 4.04(b), as disclosed by the Borrower to the Banks in writing
in the Notice of Borrowing relating to such Borrowing).
Each Borrowing hereunder shall be deemed to be a representation and
warranty by the Borrower on the date of such Borrowing as to the facts specified
in clauses (c), (d) and (e) of this Section.
SECTION 3.03. Loans after Separation. The obligation of any Bank to
make or maintain a Loan after the Separation is subject to receipt by the Agent
of the following documents, each dated or effective on the date of consummation
of the Separation:
(a) an instrument, satisfactory in form and substance to the
Agent, and duly executed and delivered by USW-C, Inc. pursuant to which
USW-C, Inc. (to be renamed U S WEST, Inc.) assumes the obligations of
U S WEST, Inc. (to be renamed MediaOne Group, Inc.) under this
Agreement;
(b) evidence satisfactory to it that the Separation has been
consummated substantially on the terms described in the Proxy
Statement;
(c) an opinion of Xxxxxx X. XxXxxxxxx, Esq., counsel for USW-C, Inc.,
substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto with such
modifications as are acceptable to the Agent and covering such
additional matters relating to the transactions contemplated hereby as
the Required Banks may reasonably request; and
(d) all documents the Agent may reasonably request relating to the
existence of USW-C, Inc., the corporate authority for and the validity
of this Agreement and the Notes, and any other matters relevant hereto,
all in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent.
The Agent shall promptly notify the Company and the Banks of the
satisfaction of the foregoing conditions.
ARTICLE 4
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Each of the Company and the Borrower represents and warrants that:
SECTION 4.01. Corporate Existence and Power. Each of the Company and
the Borrower is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the state of its incorporation, and has all corporate
powers and all material governmental licenses, authorizations, qualifications,
consents and approvals required to carry on its business as now conducted.
SECTION 4.02. Corporate and Governmental Authorization; No
Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company and the
Borrower of this Agreement and by the Borrower of the Notes are within such
Person's corporate powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate
action, require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental
body, agency or official and do not contravene, or constitute a default under,
any provision of applicable law or regulation or of the certificate of
incorporation or by-laws of such Person or of any agreement, judgment,
injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon such Person or any
Significant Subsidiary or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on
any material asset of such Person or any Significant Subsidiary.
SECTION 4.03. Binding Effect. This Agreement constitutes a valid and
binding agreement of the Company and the Borrower, and the Notes, when executed
and delivered in accordance with this Agreement, will constitute valid and
binding obligations of the Borrower, in each case enforceable in accordance with
its terms except as the same may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or
similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and by general principles of
equity.
SECTION 4.04. Financial Information.
(a) The consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1997 and the related consolidated statements of
income and cash flows for the fiscal year then ended, reported on by Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx L.L.P. and set forth in the Company's 1997 Form 10-K, a copy of which
has been delivered to each of the Banks, fairly present, in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles, the consolidated financial position of
the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of such date and their
consolidated results of operations and cash flows for such fiscal year.
(b) Since December 31, 1997 there has been no material adverse change
in the financial position or results of operations of the Company and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries, considered as a whole (it being understood that the
consummation of the Separation shall not be considered such a change).
SECTION 4.05. Litigation. Except as disclosed in the Company's 1997
Form 10-K, there is no action, suit or proceeding pending against, or to the
knowledge of the Company threatened against or affecting, the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries before any court or arbitrator or any governmental body, agency
or official in which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse decision
which would materially adversely affect the consolidated financial position or
consolidated results of operations of the Company and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries, considered as a whole, or which in any manner draws into question
the validity of this Agreement or the Notes.
SECTION 4.06. Compliance with ERISA. Each member of the ERISA Group has
fulfilled its obligations under the minimum funding standards of ERISA and the
Internal Revenue Code with respect to each Plan and is in compliance in all
respects with the presently applicable provisions of ERISA and the Internal
Revenue Code with respect to each Plan, except where failure to comply would not
have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position or
consolidated results of operations of the Company and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries, considered as a whole. No member of the ERISA Group has (i) sought
a waiver of the minimum funding standard under Section 412 of the Internal
Revenue Code in respect of any Plan, (ii) failed to make any contribution or
payment to any Plan or Multiemployer Plan or in respect of any Benefit
Arrangement, or made any amendment to any Plan or Benefit Arrangement, which has
resulted or could result in the imposition of a Lien or the posting of a bond or
other security under ERISA or the Internal Revenue Code or
(iii) incurred any liability under Title IV of ERISA other than a liability to
the PBGC for premiums under Section 4007 of ERISA.
SECTION 4.07. Environmental Matters. (a) The operations of the Company
and each of its Subsidiaries comply in all respects with all Environmental Laws
except such non-compliance which would not (if enforced in accordance with
applicable law) reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the
aggregate, in a material adverse effect on the financial position or results of
operations of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, considered as a
whole.
(b) Except as specifically identified in Schedule 4.07, the Company
and each of its Subsidiaries have obtained all material licenses, permits,
authorizations and registrations required under any Environmental Laws
("Environmental Permits") necessary for their respective operations, and all
such Environmental Permits are in good standing, and the Company and each of its
Subsidiaries is in compliance with all material terms and conditions of such
Environmental Permits.
(c) Except as specifically identified in Schedule 4.07, (i) none of
the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their present property or
operations are subject to any outstanding written order from or settlement or
consent agreement with any governmental authority or other Person, nor is any of
the foregoing subject to any judicial or docketed administrative proceedings,
respecting any Environmental Laws or Hazardous Substances with a potential
liability in excess of $1,000,000 and (ii) there are no other conditions or
circumstances known to the Company which may give rise to any claims respecting
any Environmental Laws arising from the operations of the Company or its
Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, off-site liabilities), or any
additional costs of compliance with Environmental Laws, that would reasonably be
expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial position or results
of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, considered as a whole.
SECTION 4.08. Taxes. United States Federal income tax returns of the
Company and its Subsidiaries have been examined and closed through the fiscal
year ended December 31, 1987. The Company and its Subsidiaries have filed all
United States Federal income tax returns and all other material tax returns
which are required to be filed by them and have paid all taxes due pursuant to
such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Company or any
Subsidiary, except for taxes the amount, applicability or validity of which is
being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings. The charges, accruals
and reserves on the books of the Company and its Subsidiaries in respect of
taxes or other governmental charges are, in the opinion of the Company,
adequate.
SECTION 4.09. Subsidiaries. Each of the Company's corporate Significant
Subsidiaries (including, but not limited to, the Borrower) is a corporation duly
incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of incorporation, and has all corporate powers and all material
governmental licenses, authorizations, qualifications, consents and approvals
required to carry on its business as now conducted.
SECTION 4.10. Not an Investment Company. Neither the Company nor the
Borrower is an "investment company" within the meaning of the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended.
SECTION 4.11. Full Disclosure. All written information heretofore
furnished by the Company or the Borrower to the Agent or any Bank for purposes
of or in connection with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby
is, and all such information hereafter furnished by the Company or the Borrower
to the Agent or any Bank will be, true and accurate in all material respects on
the date as of which such information is stated or certified.
ARTICLE 5
COVENANTS
The Company agrees that, so long as any Bank has any Commitment
hereunder or any amount payable under any Note remains unpaid:
SECTION 5.01. Information. The Company will deliver to each of the
Banks:
(a) as soon as available and in any event within 95 days after the end
of each fiscal year of the Company, a consolidated balance sheet of the Company
and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal year and the
related consolidated statements of income and cash flows for such fiscal year,
setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous
fiscal year, all reported on in a manner acceptable to the Securities and
Exchange Commission by Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx L.L.P. or other independent public
accountants of nationally recognized standing;
(b) as soon as available and in any event within 50 days after the end
of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year of the Company, a
consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as
of the end of such quarter and the related consolidated statements of income and
cash flows for
such quarter and for the portion of the Company's fiscal year ended at the end
of such quarter, setting forth in the case of such statements of income and cash
flows in comparative form the figures for the corresponding quarter and the
corresponding portion of the Company's previous fiscal year, all certified
(subject to normal year-end adjustments) as to fairness of presentation,
generally accepted accounting principles and consistency by the chief financial
officer or the chief accounting officer of the Company;
(c) simultaneously with the delivery of each set of financial
statements referred to in clauses (a) and (b) above, a certificate of the chief
financial officer (or such officer's designee, designated in writing by such
officer) or the chief accounting officer of the Company (i) setting forth in
reasonable detail the calculations required to establish whether the Company was
in compliance with the requirements of Sections 5.06 to 5.08, inclusive, on the
date of such financial statements and (ii) stating whether any Default exists on
the date of such certificate and, if any Default then exists, setting forth the
details thereof and the action which the Company is taking or proposes to take
with respect thereto;
(d) within five Domestic Business Days after any officer of the
Company or the Borrower obtains knowledge of any Default, if such Default is
then continuing, a certificate of the chief financial officer or the chief
accounting officer of the Company or the Borrower setting forth the details
thereof and the action which the Company or the Borrower is taking or proposes
to take with respect thereto;
(e) promptly upon the mailing thereof to the shareholders of the
Company generally, copies of all financial statements, reports and proxy
statements so mailed;
(f) promptly upon the filing thereof, copies of all registration
statements (other than the exhibits thereto and any registration statements on
Form S-8 or its equivalent) and reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K (or their
equivalents) (other than any amendment on Form 8-K the sole purpose of which is
to file exhibits relating to existing Debt meeting the requirements of clause
(ii) of the definition of Debt) which the Company shall have filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission;
(g) if and when any member of the ERISA Group (i) gives or is required
to give notice to the PBGC of any "reportable event" (as defined in Section 4043
of ERISA) with respect to any Plan which might constitute grounds for a
termination of such Plan under Title IV of ERISA, or knows that the plan
administrator of any Plan has given or is required to give notice of any such
reportable event, a copy of the notice of such reportable event given or
required to
be given to the PBGC; (ii) receives notice of complete or partial withdrawal
liability under Title IV of ERISA or notice that any Multiemployer Plan is in
reorganization, is insolvent or has been terminated, a copy of such notice;
(iii) receives notice from the PBGC under Title IV of ERISA of an intent to
terminate, impose liability (other than for premiums under Section 4007 of
ERISA) in respect of, or appoint a trustee to administer any Plan, a copy of
such notice; (iv) applies for a waiver of the minimum funding standard under
Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code, a copy of such application; (v) gives
notice of intent to terminate any Plan under Section 4041(c) of ERISA, a copy of
such notice and other information filed with the PBGC; (vi) gives notice of
withdrawal from any Plan pursuant to Section 4063 of ERISA, a copy of such
notice; or (vii) fails to make any payment or contribution to any Plan or
Multiemployer Plan or in respect of any Benefit Arrangement or makes any
amendment to any Plan or Benefit Arrangement which has resulted or could result
in the imposition of a Lien or the posting of a bond or other security, a
certificate of the chief financial officer or the chief accounting officer of
the Company setting forth details as to such occurrence and action, if any,
which the Company or applicable member of the ERISA Group is required or
proposes to take; and
(h) from time to time such additional information regarding the
financial position or business of the Company and its Subsidiaries and the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries as the Agent, at the request of any Bank, may
reasonably request.
SECTION 5.02. Maintenance of Property; Insurance. (a) The Company will
keep, and will cause each Significant Subsidiary to keep, all property useful
and necessary in its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear
and tear excepted.
(b) The Company will maintain, and will cause each Significant
Subsidiary to maintain (either in the name of the Borrower or in such
Significant Subsidiary's own name), with financially sound and responsible
insurance companies, insurance on all their respective properties in at least
such amounts and against at least such risks (and with such risk retention) as
are usually insured against in the same general area by companies of established
repute engaged in the same or a similar business; and will furnish to the Banks,
upon request from the Agent, information presented in reasonable detail as to
the insurance so carried; provided that, in lieu of any such insurance, the
Company and any Significant Subsidiary may maintain a system or systems of
self-insurance and reinsurance which will accord with sound practices of
similarly situated corporations maintaining such systems and with respect to
which the Company or such Significant Subsidiary will maintain adequate
insurance reserves, all in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles and in accordance with sound insurance principles and practice.
SECTION 5.03. Maintenance of Existence. The Company will, and will
cause each Significant Subsidiary to, preserve, renew and keep in full force and
effect their respective corporate existence and their respective rights,
privileges and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of
business; provided that nothing in this Section 5.03 shall prohibit or interfere
with the Company's publicly announced strategy to discontinue or dispose of in
one or more transactions the financial services businesses of it or of any of
its Subsidiaries.
SECTION 5.04. Compliance with Laws. The Company will comply, and will
cause each Significant Subsidiary to comply, in all material respects with all
applicable laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, and requirements of
governmental authorities (including, without limitation, Environmental Laws and
ERISA and the rules and regulations thereunder), except where the necessity of
compliance therewith is contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and
for which adequate reserves in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles have been established.
SECTION 5.05. Inspection of Property, Books and Records. The Company
will keep, and will cause each Significant Subsidiary to keep, proper books of
record and account in which full, true and correct entries shall be made of all
dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities; and will
permit, and will cause each Significant Subsidiary to permit, representatives of
any Bank at such Bank's expense to visit and inspect any of their respective
properties, to examine and make abstracts from any of their respective books and
records and to discuss their respective affairs, finances and accounts with
their respective officers, employees and independent public accountants, all at
such reasonable times and as often as may reasonably be desired.
SECTION 5.06. Subsidiary Debt. (a) Prior to the Separation, total debt of
all Consolidated Subsidiaries (excluding Debt of a Consolidated Subsidiary to
the Company or to a Wholly-Owned Consolidated Subsidiary) ("Subsidiary Debt")
will at no time exceed 250% of Consolidated Net Worth.
(b) After the Separation, Subsidiary Debt as of the last day of any
fiscal quarter of the Company ending during any period set forth below will not
exceed the percentage of Consolidated EBITDA for the four consecutive fiscal
quarters of the Company ending on such date set forth below opposite such
period; provided that in the case of any four fiscal quarter period ending prior
to the first anniversary of the Separation, Consolidated EBITDA for such period
shall equal Consolidated EBITDA for each fiscal quarter (a "Relevant Quarter")
beginning after the Separation and ending on or prior to the last day of such
period,
multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is four and the denominator of
which is the number of Relevant Quarters.
Period Percentage
Prior to December 31, 1999 150%
December 31, 1999-
December 30, 2000 140%
December 31, 2000-
December 30, 2001 130%
On or after December 31, 2001 125%
(c) For purposes of this Section, any preferred stock of a Consolidated
Subsidiary other than the Borrower which is held by a Person other than the
Company or a Wholly-Owned Consolidated Subsidiary shall be included, at the
higher of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation value, in the Debt of such
Consolidated Subsidiary.
SECTION 5.07. Debt Coverage. (a) Prior to the Separation, consolidated Debt
of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries will at all times be less than
70% of the sum of consolidated Debt of the Company and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries and consolidated shareowners' equity of the Company and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries.
(b) After the Separation, consolidated Debt of the Company and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the
Company will not exceed 400% of Consolidated EBITDA for the four consecutive
fiscal quarters of the Company ending on such date; provided that in the case of
any four fiscal quarter period ending prior to the first anniversary of the
Separation, Consolidated EBITDA for such period shall equal Consolidated EBITDA
for each fiscal quarter (a "Relevant Quarter") beginning after the Separation
and ending on or prior to the last day of such period, multiplied by a fraction,
the numerator of which is four and the denominator of which is the number of
Relevant Quarters.
SECTION 5.08. Negative Pledge. Neither the Company nor the Borrower
will, and the Company will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, assume or
suffer to exist any Lien on any asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it,
except:
(a) Liens existing on the date of this Agreement securing Debt
outstanding on the date of this Agreement in an aggregate principal amount not
exceeding $265,000,000;
(b) any Lien existing on any asset of any corporation at the time such
corporation becomes a Subsidiary and not created in contemplation of such event;
(c) any Lien on any asset securing Debt incurred or assumed for the
purpose of financing all or any part of the cost of acquiring such asset,
provided that such Lien attaches to such asset concurrently with or within 180
days after the acquisition thereof.
(d) any Lien on any asset of any corporation existing at the time such
corporation is merged or consolidated with or into the Company or a Subsidiary
and not created in contemplation of such event;
(e) any Lien existing on any asset prior to the acquisition thereof by
the Company or a Subsidiary and not created in contemplation of such
acquisition;
(f) any Lien on assets or capital stock of Minor Subsidiaries which
secures Debt of Persons which are not Consolidated Subsidiaries in which the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries has made investments ("Joint Ventures"), but
for the payment of which Debt no other recourse may be had to the Company or any
Subsidiaries ("Limited Recourse Debt"), or any Lien on equity interests in a
Joint Venture securing Limited Recourse Debt of such Joint Venture;
(g) any Lien arising out of the refinancing, replacement, extension,
renewal or refunding of any Debt secured by any Lien permitted by any of the
foregoing clauses of this Section, provided that such Debt is not increased and
is not secured by any additional assets;
(h) Liens arising in the ordinary course of business which (i) do not
secure Debt, (ii) do not secure any obligation in an amount exceeding
$50,000,000 and (iii) do not in the aggregate materially detract from the value
of its assets or materially impair the use thereof in the operation of its
business; and
(i) Liens not otherwise permitted by and in addition to the foregoing
clauses of this Section securing Debt in an aggregate principal amount at any
time outstanding not to exceed $750,000,000.
SECTION 5.09. Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets. The Company will
not (i) consolidate with or merge into any other Person or (ii) sell, lease or
otherwise transfer, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of the
assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any other
Person. The Company will retain ownership, directly or indirectly, of at least
80% of the capital stock, and at least 80% of the voting power, of U S WEST
Communications, Inc. ("Communications"), and will cause Communications to
continue to own substantially all of the telecommunications assets it owns on
the date of this Agreement.
SECTION 5.10. Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loans made under
this Agreement will be used by the Borrower for general corporate purposes. None
of such proceeds will be used, directly or indirectly, in violation of any
applicable law or regulation, and no use of such proceeds will include any use
for the purpose, whether immediate, incidental or ultimate, of buying or
carrying any Margin Stock.
SECTION 5.11. Year 2000 Compatibility. The Company shall take all
reasonable action necessary to ensure that the computer based systems of the
Company and its Subsidiaries are able to operate and effectively process data
including dates on or after January 1, 2000, except that such action shall not
be required to the extent that the failure to take such action would not have a
material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position or consolidated
results of operations of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries,
considered as a whole. At the request of the Agent, the Company shall provide
assurance reasonably acceptable to the Agent of the year 2000 compatibility of
the Company and its Subsidiaries.
ARTICLE 6
DEFAULTS
SECTION 6.01. Events of Default. If one or more of the following events
shall have occurred and be continuing:
(a) any principal of any Loan shall not be paid when due, or any
interest, any fees or any other amount payable hereunder shall not be
paid within five days of the due date thereof;
(b) the Company or the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any
covenant contained in Sections 5.06 to 5.10, inclusive;
(c) the Company or the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any
covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than those
covered by clause (a) or (b) above) for 10 days (or, in the case of
Section 5.11, 30 days) after written notice thereof has been given to
the Company by the Agent at the request of any Bank;
(d) any representation, warranty, certification or statement made by
the Company or the Borrower in this Agreement or in any certificate,
financial statement or other document delivered pursuant to this
Agreement shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect
when made (or deemed made);
(e) the Company or any Subsidiary shall fail to make any payment or
payments, in the aggregate in excess of $100,000,000, in respect of any
Material Debt when due or within any applicable grace period;
(f) any event or condition shall occur which results in the
acceleration of the maturity of any Material Debt;
(g) the Company or any Significant Subsidiary shall commence a
voluntary case or other proceeding seeking liquidation, reorganization
or other relief with respect to itself or its debts under any
bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect
or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator,
custodian or other similar official of it or any substantial part of
its property, or shall consent to any such relief or to the appointment
of or taking possession by any such official in an involuntary case or
other proceeding commenced against it, or shall make a general
assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall fail generally to pay
its debts as they become due, or shall take any corporate action to
authorize or otherwise acquiesce in any of the foregoing;
(h) an involuntary case or other proceeding shall be commenced against
the Company or any Significant Subsidiary seeking liquidation,
reorganization or other relief with respect to it or its debts under
any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in
effect or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator,
custodian or other similar official of it or any substantial part of
its property, and such involuntary case or other proceeding shall
remain undismissed and unstayed for a period of 60 days; or an order
for relief shall be entered against the Company or any Significant
Subsidiary under the federal bankruptcy laws as now or hereafter in
effect;
(i) any member of the ERISA Group shall fail to pay when due an amount
or amounts aggregating in excess of $100,000,000 which it
shall have become liable to pay under Title IV of ERISA; or notice of
intent to terminate a Material Plan shall be filed under Title IV of
ERISA by any member of the ERISA Group, any plan administrator or any
combination of the foregoing; or the PBGC shall institute proceedings
under Title IV of ERISA to terminate, to impose liability (other than
for premiums under Section 4007 of ERISA) in respect of, or to cause a
trustee to be appointed to administer any Material Plan; or a condition
shall exist by reason of which the PBGC would be entitled to obtain a
decree adjudicating that any Material Plan must be terminated; or there
shall occur a complete or partial withdrawal from, or a default, within
the meaning of Section 4219(c)(5) of ERISA, with respect to, one or
more Multiemployer Plans which could cause one or more members of the
ERISA Group to incur a current payment obligation in excess of
$100,000,000;
(j) a judgment or order for the payment of money in excess of
$100,000,000 shall be rendered against the Company or any Subsidiary
and such judgment or order shall continue unsatisfied and unstayed for
a period of 10 days;
(k) the Company shall repudiate in writing any of its obligations
under Article 9 or any such obligation shall be unenforceable against
the Company in accordance with its terms, or the Company shall so
assert in writing;
(l) prior to the Separation, one or more events or conditions shall
occur which result in a default under any agreement or agreements in
respect of any Material Debt that is subject to the Indentures and as a
consequence of such default or defaults the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries shall make any payment or give or agree to give any
consideration or benefit of any kind (including, without limitation,
any increased compensation, prepayment, shortening of maturities,
security or other credit support) to the holders of such Debt and such
payment, consideration or benefit is determined by the Required Banks,
after taking into account any payment, consideration or benefit made,
given or agreed to be given by such holders to the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries (other than a waiver of such default), to be a
material benefit to the holders of such Debt; or
(m) the Separation shall have occurred on terms and conditions which
are not substantially the same as those set forth in the Proxy
Statement;
then, and in every such event, the Agent shall (i) if requested by Banks having
more than 50% in aggregate amount of the Commitments, by notice to the Company
terminate the Commitments and they shall thereupon terminate, and/or (ii) if
requested by Banks holding Notes evidencing more than 50% in aggregate principal
amount of the Loans, by notice to the Company declare the Notes (together with
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 the Company and the Borrower;
provided that in the case of any of the Events of Default specified in clause
(g) or (h) above with respect to the Company or the Borrower, without any notice
to the Company or the Borrower or any other act by the Agent or the Banks, the
Commitments shall thereupon automatically terminate and the Notes (together with
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 the Company and the Borrower.
SECTION 6.02. Notice of Default. The Agent shall give notice to the
Company under Section 6.01(c) promptly upon being requested to do so by any Bank
and shall thereupon notify all the Banks thereof.
ARTICLE 7
THE AGENT
SECTION 7.01. Appointment and Authorization. Each Bank irrevocably
appoints and authorizes the Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and
to exercise such powers under this Agreement and the Notes as are delegated to
the Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with all such powers as are
reasonably incidental thereto.
SECTION 7.02. Agent and Affiliates. Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of
New York shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any other
Bank and may exercise or refrain from exercising the same as though it were not
the Agent, and Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of New York and its affiliates may
accept deposits from, lend money to, and generally engage in any kind of
business with the Company, the Borrower or any Subsidiary or affiliate of the
Company or the Borrower as if it were not the Agent hereunder.
SECTION 7.03. Action by Agent. The obligations of the Agent hereunder are
only those expressly set forth herein. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the Agent shall not be required to take any action with respect to
any Default, except as expressly provided in Article 6.
SECTION 7.04. Consultation with Experts. The Agent may consult with
legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Company or the Borrower), independent
public accountants and other experts selected by it and shall not be liable for
any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with
the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts.
SECTION 7.05. Liability of Agent. Neither the Agent nor any of its
affiliates nor any of their respective directors, officers, agents or employees
shall be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in connection herewith
(i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Banks or (ii) in the
absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. Neither the Agent nor
any of its affiliates nor any of their respective directors, officers, agents or
employees shall be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into
or verify (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in connection with
this Agreement or any borrowing hereunder; (ii) the performance or observance of
any of the covenants or agreements of the Company or the Borrower; (iii) the
satisfaction of any condition specified in Article 3, except receipt of items
required to be delivered to the Agent; or (iv) the validity, effectiveness or
genuineness of this Agreement, the Notes or any other instrument or writing
furnished in connection herewith. The Agent shall not incur any liability by
acting in reliance upon any notice, consent, certificate, statement, or other
writing (which may be a bank wire, telex or similar writing) believed by it to
be genuine or to be signed by the proper party or parties.
SECTION 7.06. Indemnification. Each Bank shall, ratably in accordance
with its Commitment, indemnify the Agent, its affiliates and their respective
directors, officers, agents and employees (to the extent not reimbursed by the
Company or the Borrower) against any cost, expense (including counsel fees and
disbursements), claim, demand, action, loss or liability (except such as result
from such indemnitees' gross negligence or willful misconduct) that such
indemnitees may suffer or incur in connection with this Agreement or any action
taken or omitted by such indemnitees hereunder.
SECTION 7.07. Credit Decision. Each Bank acknowledges that it has,
independently and without reliance upon the 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. Each Bank also
acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the 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 any action under this Agreement.
SECTION 7.08. Successor Agent. The Agent may resign at any time by
giving notice thereof to the Banks and the Company. Upon any such resignation,
the Required Banks shall have the right to appoint a successor Agent. If no
successor Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required Banks, and shall
have accepted such appointment, within 30 days after the retiring Agent gives
notice of resignation, then the retiring Agent may, on behalf of the Banks,
appoint a successor Agent (with the consent of the Company, such consent not to
be unreasonably withheld), which shall be a commercial bank organized or
licensed under the laws of the United States of America or of any State thereof
and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $400,000,000. Upon the
acceptance of its appointment as Agent hereunder by a successor Agent, such
successor Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights
and duties of the retiring Agent, and the retiring Agent shall be discharged
from its duties and obligations hereunder. After any retiring Agent's
resignation hereunder as Agent, the provisions of this Article shall inure to
its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was
Agent.
SECTION 7.09. Agent's Fee. The Company shall pay to the Agent for its
own account fees in the amounts and at the times previously agreed upon between
the Company and the Agent.
ARTICLE 8
CHANGES IN CIRCUMSTANCES
SECTION 8.01. Basis for Determining Interest Rate Inadequate or Unfair. If
on or prior to the first day of any Interest Period for any Euro-Dollar Loan or
Money Market LIBOR Loan:
(a) the Agent is advised by the Euro-Dollar Reference Banks that
deposits in dollars (in the applicable amounts) are not being offered to the
Euro-Dollar Reference Banks in the market for such Interest Period, or
(b) in the case of Euro-Dollar Loans, Banks having 50% or more of the
aggregate amount of the Euro-Dollar Loans advise the Agent that the Adjusted
London Interbank Offered Rate as determined by the Agent will not adequately and
fairly reflect the cost to such Banks of funding their Euro-Dollar Loans for
such Interest Period,
the Agent shall forthwith give notice thereof to the Company and the Banks,
whereupon until the Agent notifies the Company that the circumstances giving
rise to such suspension no longer exist, (i) the obligations of the Banks to
make Euro-Dollar Loans or to convert outstanding Loans into Euro-Dollar Loans
shall be suspended and (ii) each outstanding Euro-Dollar Loan shall be converted
into a Domestic Loan on the last day of the then current Interest Period
applicable thereto. Unless the Borrower notifies the Agent at least two Domestic
Business Days before the date of any Fixed Rate Borrowing for which a Notice of
Borrowing has previously been given that it elects not to borrow on such date,
(i) if such Fixed Rate Borrowing is a Committed Borrowing, such Borrowing shall
instead be made as a Domestic Borrowing and (ii) if such Fixed Rate Borrowing is
a Money Market LIBOR Borrowing, the Money Market LIBOR Loans comprising such
Borrowing shall bear interest for each day from and including the first day to
but excluding the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto at the Base
Rate for such day.
SECTION 8.02. Illegality. If, on or after the date of this Agreement,
the adoption of any applicable law, rule or regulation, or any change in any
applicable law, rule or regulation, or any change in the interpretation or
administration thereof by any governmental authority, central bank or comparable
agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance
by any Bank (or its Euro-Dollar Lending Office) with any request or directive
(whether or not having the force of law) of any such authority, central bank or
comparable agency shall make it unlawful or impossible for any Bank (or its
Euro-Dollar Lending Office) to make, maintain or fund its Euro-Dollar Loans to
the Borrower and such Bank shall so notify the Agent, the Agent shall forthwith
give notice thereof to the other Banks and the Company, whereupon until such
Bank notifies the Company and the Agent that the circumstances giving rise to
such suspension no longer exist, the obligation of such Bank to make Euro-Dollar
Loans to the Borrower, or to convert outstanding Loans into Euro-Dollar Loans,
shall be suspended. Before giving any notice to the Agent pursuant to this
Section, such Bank shall designate a different Euro-Dollar Lending Office if
such designation will avoid the need for giving such notice and will not, in the
judgment of such Bank, be otherwise disadvantageous to such Bank. If such notice
is given, each Euro-Dollar Loan of such Bank then outstanding shall be converted
to a Domestic Loan either (a) on the last day of the then current Interest
Period applicable to such Euro-Dollar Loan if such Bank may lawfully continue to
maintain and fund such Loan to such day or (b) immediately if such Bank shall
determine that it may not lawfully continue to maintain and fund such Loan to
such day.
SECTION 8.03. Increased Cost and Reduced Return. (a) If on or after (x) the
date hereof, in the case of any Committed Loan or any obligation to make
Committed Loans or (y) the date of the related Money Market Quote, in the case
of any Money Market Loan, the adoption of any applicable law, rule or
regulation, or any change in any applicable law, rule or regulation, or any
change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any governmental
authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or
administration thereof, or compliance by any Bank (or its Applicable Lending
Office) with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law)
of any such authority, central bank or comparable agency shall impose, modify or
deem applicable any reserve (including, without limitation, any such requirement
imposed by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System with respect to
any Euro-Dollar Loan any such requirement included in an applicable Euro-Dollar
Reserve Percentage), special deposit, insurance assessment or similar
requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit
extended by, any Bank (or its Applicable Lending Office) or shall impose on any
Bank (or its Applicable Lending Office) or on the United States market for
certificates of deposit or the London interbank market any other condition
affecting its Fixed Rate Loans, its Note or its obligation to make Fixed Rate
Loans and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such
Bank (or its Applicable Lending Office) of making or maintaining any Fixed Rate
Loan, or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Bank (or
its Applicable Lending Office) under this Agreement or under its Note with
respect thereto, by an amount deemed by such Bank to be material, then, within
15 days after demand by such Bank (with a copy to the Agent), the Company shall
pay to such Bank such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Bank
for such increased cost or reduction.
(b) If any Bank shall have determined that, after the date hereof, the
adoption of any applicable law, rule or regulation regarding capital adequacy,
or any change in any such law, rule or regulation, or any change in the
interpretation or administration thereof by any governmental authority, central
bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration
thereof, or any request or directive regarding capital adequacy (whether or not
having the force of law) of any such authority, central bank or comparable
agency, has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on capital
of such Bank (or its Parent) as a consequence of such Bank's obligations
hereunder to a level below that which such Bank (or its Parent) could have
achieved but for such adoption, change, request or directive (taking into
consideration its policies with respect to capital adequacy) by an amount deemed
by such Bank to be material, then from time to time, within 15 days after demand
by such Bank (with a copy to the Agent), the Company shall pay to such Bank such
additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Bank (or its Parent) for
such reduction.
(c) Each Bank will promptly notify the Company and the Agent of any
event of which it has knowledge, occurring after the date hereof, which will
entitle such Bank to compensation pursuant to this Section and will designate a
different Applicable Lending Office if such designation will avoid the need for,
or reduce the amount of, such compensation and will not, in the judgment of such
Bank, be otherwise disadvantageous to such Bank. A certificate of any Bank
claiming compensation under this Section and setting forth the additional amount
or amounts to be paid to it hereunder shall be conclusive in the absence of
manifest error. In determining such amount, such Bank may use any reasonable
averaging and attribution methods.
SECTION 8.04. Taxes. (a) Any and all payments by the Company or the
Borrower to or for the account of any Bank or the Agent hereunder or under any
Note shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any and all
present or future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or
withholdings, and all liabilities with respect thereto, excluding, in the case
of each Bank and the Agent, taxes imposed on its income, and franchise taxes
imposed on it, by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such Bank or the
Agent (as the case may be) is organized or any political subdivision thereof
and, in the case of each Bank, taxes imposed on its income, and franchise or
similar taxes imposed on it, by the jurisdiction of such Bank's Applicable
Lending Office or any political subdivision thereof (all such non-excluded
taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, charges, withholdings and
liabilities being hereinafter referred to as "Taxes"). If the Company or the
Borrower shall be required by law to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any
sum payable hereunder or under any Note to any Bank or the Agent, (i) the sum
payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required
deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under
this Section 8.04) such Bank or the Agent (as the case may be) receives an
amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made,
(ii) such Person shall make such deductions, (iii) such Person shall pay the
full amount deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in
accordance with applicable law and (iv) such Person shall furnish to the Agent,
at its address referred to in Section 10.01, the original or a certified copy of
a receipt evidencing payment thereof.
(b) In addition, the Company agrees to pay any present or future stamp
or documentary taxes and any other excise or property taxes, or charges or
similar levies which arise from any payment made hereunder or under any Note or
from the execution or delivery of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement
or any Note (hereinafter referred to as "Other Taxes").
(c) The Company agrees to indemnify each Bank and the Agent for the
full amount of Taxes or Other Taxes (including, without limitation, any Taxes or
Other Taxes imposed or asserted by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under
this Section 8.04) paid by such Bank or the Agent (as the case may be) and any
liability (including penalties, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with
respect thereto. This indemnification shall be made within 15 days from the date
such Bank or the Agent (as the case may be) makes demand therefor.
(d) Each Bank organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the
United States, on or prior to the date of its execution and delivery of this
Agreement in the case of each Bank listed on the signature pages hereof and on
or prior to the date on which it becomes a Bank in the case of each other Bank,
and from time to time thereafter if requested in writing by the Company (but
only so long as such Bank remains lawfully able to do so), shall provide the
Company with Internal Revenue Service form 1001 or 4224, as appropriate, or any
successor form prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service, certifying that such
Bank is entitled to benefits under an income tax treaty to which the United
States is a party which reduces the rate of withholding tax on payments of
interest or certifying that the income receivable pursuant to this Agreement is
effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United
States. If the form provided by a Bank at the time such Bank first becomes a
party to this Agreement indicates a United States interest withholding tax rate
in excess of zero, withholding tax at such rate shall be considered excluded
from "Taxes" as defined in Section 8.04(a) imposed by the United States.
(e) For any period with respect to which a Bank has failed to provide
the Company with the appropriate form pursuant to Section 8.04(d) (unless such
failure is due to a change in treaty, law or regulation occurring subsequent to
the date on which a form originally was required to be provided), such Bank
shall not be entitled to indemnification under Section 8.04(a) with respect to
Taxes imposed by the United States; provided, however, that should a Bank, which
is otherwise exempt from or subject to a reduced rate of withholding tax, become
subject to Taxes because of its failure to deliver a form required hereunder,
the Company shall take such steps as such Bank shall reasonably request to
assist such Bank to recover such Taxes.
(f) If the Company or the Borrower is required to pay additional
amounts to or for the account of any Bank pursuant to this Section 8.04, then
such Bank will change the jurisdiction of its Applicable Lending Office so as to
eliminate or reduce any such additional payment which may thereafter accrue if
such change, in the judgment of such Bank, is not otherwise disadvantageous to
such Bank.
SECTION 8.05. Domestic Loans Substituted for Affected Euro-Dollar
Loans. If (i) the obligation of any Bank to make Euro-Dollar Loans to the
Borrower has been suspended pursuant to Section 8.02 or (ii) any Bank has
demanded compensation under Section 8.03 or 8.04 with respect to its Euro-Dollar
Loans and the Borrower shall, by at least five Euro-Dollar Business Days' prior
notice to such Bank through the Agent, have elected that the provisions of this
Section shall apply to such Bank, then, unless and until such Bank notifies the
Company that the circumstances giving rise to such suspension or demand for
compensation no longer exist:
(a) all Loans to the Borrower which would otherwise be made by such
Bank as (or continued as or converted into) Euro-Dollar Loans shall instead be
Domestic Loans (on which interest and principal shall be payable
contemporaneously with the related Euro-Dollar Loans of the other Banks), and
(b) after each of its Euro-Dollar Loans to the Borrower has been
repaid (or converted to a Domestic Loan), all payments of principal which would
otherwise be applied to repay such Euro-Dollar Loans shall be applied to repay
its Domestic Loans instead.
If such Bank notifies the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such
notice no longer apply, the principal amount of each such Domestic Loan shall be
converted into a Euro-Dollar Loan on the first day of the next succeeding
Interest Period applicable to the related Euro-Dollar Loans of the other Banks.
SECTION 8.06. Substitution of Bank. If (i) the obligation of any Bank
to make Euro-Dollar Loans has been suspended pursuant to Section 8.02, (ii) any
Bank has demanded compensation under Section 8.03 or (iii) any Bank has not
signed an amendment or waiver which must be signed by all the Banks to become
effective, and such amendment or waiver has been signed by the Super-Majority
Banks, the Company shall have the right, with the assistance of the Agent, to
seek a mutually satisfactory substitute bank or banks (which may be one or more
of the Banks) to purchase the Notes and assume the Commitment of such Bank.
ARTICLE 9
GUARANTY
SECTION 9.01. The Guaranty. The Company hereby unconditionally
guarantees the full and punctual payment (whether at stated maturity, upon
acceleration or otherwise) of the principal of and interest on each Note issued
by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement, and the full and punctual payment of
all other amounts payable by the Borrower under this Agreement. Upon failure by
the Borrower to pay punctually any such amount, the Company shall forthwith on
demand pay the amount not so paid at the place and in the manner specified in
this Agreement.
SECTION 9.02. Guaranty Unconditional. The obligations of the Company
hereunder shall be unconditional, irrevocable and absolute and, without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, shall not be released, discharged or otherwise
affected by:
(i) any extension, renewal, settlement, compromise, waiver or
release in respect of any obligation of the Borrower under this
Agreement or any Note, by operation of law or otherwise;
(ii) any modification or amendment of or supplement to this
Agreement or any Note;
(iii) any release, impairment, non-perfection or invalidity of
any direct or indirect security for any obligation of the Borrower
under this Agreement or any Note;
(iv) any change in the corporate existence, structure or
ownership of the Borrower, or any insolvency, bankruptcy,
reorganization or other similar proceeding affecting the Borrower or
its assets or any resulting release or discharge of any obligation of
the Borrower contained in this Agreement or any Note;
(v) the existence of any claim, set-off or other rights which
the Company may have at any time against the Borrower, the Agent, any
Bank or any other Person, whether in connection herewith or any
unrelated transactions, provided that nothing herein shall prevent the
assertion of any such claim by separate suit or compulsory
counterclaim;
(vi) any invalidity or unenforceability relating to or against
the Borrower for any reason of this Agreement or any Note, or any
provision of applicable law or regulation purporting to prohibit the
payment by the Borrower of the principal of or interest on any Note or
any other amount payable by it under this Agreement; or
(vii) any other act or omission to act or delay of any kind by
the Borrower, the Agent, any Bank or any other Person or any other
circumstance whatsoever which might, but for the provisions of this
paragraph, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of the Company's
obligations hereunder.
SECTION 9.03. Discharge Only upon Payment in Full; Reinstatement In
Certain Circumstances. The Company's obligations hereunder shall remain in full
force and effect until the Commitments shall have terminated and the principal
of and interest on the Notes and all other amounts payable by the Company and
the Borrower under this Agreement shall have been indefeasibly paid in full. If
at any time any payment of the principal of or interest on any Note or any other
amount payable by the Borrower under this Agreement is rescinded or must be
otherwise restored or returned upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization
of the Borrower or otherwise, the Company's obligations hereunder with respect
to such payment shall be reinstated at such time as though such payment had been
due but not made at such time.
SECTION 9.04. Waiver by the Company. The Company irrevocably waives
acceptance hereof, presentment, demand, protest and any notice not provided for
herein, as well as any requirement that at any time any action be taken by any
Person against the Borrower or any other Person.
SECTION 9.05. Subrogation. The Company irrevocably waives any and all
rights to which it may be entitled, by operation of law or otherwise, upon
making any payment hereunder to be subrogated to the rights of the payee against
the Borrower with respect to such payment or against any direct or indirect
security therefor, or otherwise to be reimbursed, indemnified or exonerated by
or for the account of the Borrower in respect thereof.
SECTION 9.06. Stay of Acceleration. In the event that acceleration of
the time for payment of any amount payable by the Borrower under this Agreement
or its Notes is stayed upon insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the
Borrower, all such amounts otherwise subject to acceleration under the terms of
this Agreement shall nonetheless be payable by the Company hereunder forthwith
on demand by the Agent made at the request of the Required Banks.
SECTION 9.07. Release upon Separation. So long as, immediately before
and after the consummation of the Separation, no Default shall have occurred and
be continuing, simultaneously with such consummation, USW-C, Inc. (to be renamed
U S WEST, Inc.) shall succeed to all of the rights, duties and obligations of U
S WEST, Inc. (to be renamed MediaOne Group, Inc.) ("Old U S WEST") hereunder,
whereupon Old U S WEST shall have no further rights, duties and obligations
hereunder, in each case automatically, without any further action on the part of
any party hereto.
ARTICLE 10
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 10.01. Notices. All notices, requests and other communications
to any party hereunder shall be in writing (including bank wire, telex,
facsimile transmission or similar writing) and shall be given to such party: (x)
in the case of the Company, the Borrower or the Agent, at its address or
facsimile number set forth on the signature pages hereof, (y) in the case of any
Bank, at its address or facsimile number set forth in its Administrative
Questionnaire or (z) in the case of any party, such other address or facsimile
number as such party may hereafter specify for the purpose by notice to the
Agent and the Company. Each such notice, request or other communication shall be
effective (i) if given by mail, 72 hours after such communication is deposited
in the mails with first class postage prepaid, addressed as aforesaid, (ii) if
given by facsimile transmission, when such facsimile is transmitted to the
facsimile number specified pursuant to this Section 10.01 and telephonic
confirmation of receipt thereof is received, or (iii) if given by any other
means, when delivered at the address specified in this Section; provided that
notices to the Agent under Article 2 or Article 8 shall not be effective until
received.
SECTION 10.02. No Waivers. No failure or delay by the Agent or any Bank
in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder or under any Note shall
operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof
preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other
right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies herein provided shall be
cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.
SECTION 10.03. Expenses; Indemnification. (a) The Company shall pay (i)
all out-of-pocket expenses of the Agent, including fees and disbursements of
special counsel for the Agent, in connection with the preparation and
administration of this Agreement, any waiver or consent hereunder or any
amendment hereof or any Default or alleged Default hereunder and (ii) if an
Event of Default occurs, all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Agent and
each Bank, including fees and disbursements of counsel, in connection with such
Event of Default and collection, bankruptcy, insolvency and other enforcement
proceedings resulting therefrom.
(b) The Company agrees to indemnify the Agent and each Bank, their
respective affiliates and the respective directors, officers, agents and
employees of the foregoing (each an "Indemnitee") and hold each Indemnitee
harmless from and against any and all liabilities, losses, damages, costs and
expenses of any kind, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and
disbursements of
counsel, which may be incurred by such Indemnitee in connection with any
investigative, administrative or judicial proceeding (whether or not such
Indemnitee shall be designated a party thereto) brought or threatened relating
to or arising out of this Agreement or any actual or proposed use of proceeds of
Loans hereunder; provided that (i) no Indemnitee shall have the right to be
indemnified hereunder for such Indemnitee's own gross negligence or willful
misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction and (ii) the
Company shall not be liable for any settlement entered into by an Indemnitee
without its consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld).
(c) Each Indemnitee agrees to give the Company prompt written notice
after it receives any notice of the commencement of any action, suit or
proceeding for which such Indemnitee may wish to claim indemnification pursuant
to subsection (b). The Company shall have the right, exercisable by giving
written notice within fifteen Domestic Business Days after the receipt of notice
from such Indemnitee of such commencement, to assume, at the Company's expense,
the defense of any such action, suit or proceeding; provided, that such
Indemnitee shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action,
suit or proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and
expenses of such separate counsel shall be at such Indemnitee's expense unless
(1) the Company shall have agreed to pay such fees and expenses; (2) the Company
shall have failed to assume the defense of such action, suit or proceeding or
shall have failed to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnitee
in any such action, suit or proceeding; or (3) such Indemnitee shall have been
advised by independent counsel in writing (with a copy to the Company) that
there may be one or more defenses available to such Indemnitee which are in
conflict with those available to the Company (in which case, if such Indemnitee
notifies the Company in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the
Company's expense, the Company shall be obligated to assume the expense, it
being understood, however, that the Company shall not be liable for the fees or
expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys, which firm shall be
designated in writing by such Indemnitee).
SECTION 10.04. Sharing of Set-offs. Each Bank agrees that if it shall,
by exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise, receive payment
of a proportion of the aggregate amount of principal and interest due with
respect to any Note held by it which is greater than the proportion received by
any other Bank in respect of the aggregate amount of principal and interest due
with respect to any Note held by such other Bank, the Bank receiving such
proportionately greater payment shall purchase such participations in the Notes
held by the other Banks, and such other adjustments shall be made, as may be
required so that all such payments of principal and interest with respect to the
Notes held by the Banks shall be shared by the Banks pro rata; provided that
nothing in this Section
shall impair the right of any Bank to exercise any right of set-off or
counterclaim it may have and to apply the amount subject to such exercise to the
payment of indebtedness of the Borrower other than its indebtedness hereunder.
The Borrower agrees, to the fullest extent it may effectively do so under
applicable law, that any holder of a participation in a Note, whether or not
acquired pursuant to the foregoing arrangements, may exercise rights of set-off
or counterclaim and other rights with respect to such participation as fully as
if such holder of a participation were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the
amount of such participation.
SECTION 10.05. Amendments and Waivers. Any provision of this Agreement
or the Notes may be amended or waived if, but only if, such amendment or waiver
is in writing and is signed by the Company, the Borrower and the Required Banks
(and, if the rights or duties of the Agent are affected thereby, by the Agent);
provided that no such amendment or waiver shall, unless signed by all the Banks,
(i) increase or decrease the Commitment of any Bank (except for a ratable
decrease in the Commitments of all Banks) or subject any Bank to any additional
obligation, (ii) reduce the principal of or rate of interest on any Loan or any
fees hereunder, except as provided below, (iii) postpone the date fixed for any
payment of principal of or interest on any Loan or any fees hereunder or for any
reduction or termination of any Commitment, (iv) amend or waive the provisions
of Article 9 or (v) change the percentage of the Commitments or of the aggregate
unpaid principal amount of the Notes, or the number of Banks, which shall be
required for the Banks or any of them to take any action under this Section or
any other provision of this Agreement.
SECTION 10.06. Successors and Assigns. (a) The provisions of this
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto
and their respective successors and assigns, except that neither the Company nor
the Borrower may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights under this
Agreement without the prior written consent of all Banks.
(b) Any Bank may at any time grant to one or more banks or other
institutions (each a "Participant") participating interests in its Commitment or
any or all of its Loans, with (and subject to) the written consent of the
Company and the Agent, which consents shall not be unreasonably withheld;
provided that if a Participant is an affiliate of such grantor Bank or is
another Bank, no such consent shall be required. In the event of any such grant
by a Bank of a participating interest to a Participant, such Bank shall remain
responsible for the performance of its obligations hereunder, and the Company,
the Borrower and the Agent shall continue to deal solely and directly with such
Bank in connection with such Bank's rights and obligations under this Agreement.
Any agreement pursuant to which any Bank may grant such a participating interest
shall provide that such
Bank shall retain the sole right and responsibility to enforce the obligations
of the Company and the Borrower hereunder including, without limitation, the
right to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this
Agreement; provided that such participation agreement may provide that such Bank
will not agree to any modification, amendment or waiver of this Agreement
described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of Section 10.05 without the consent of
the Participant. The Borrower agrees that each Participant shall, to the extent
provided in its participation agreement, be entitled to the benefits of Article
8 with respect to its participating interest. An assignment or other transfer
which is not permitted by subsection (c) or (d) below but which is consented to
in accordance with this subsection (b) shall be given effect for purposes of
this Agreement only to the extent of a participating interest granted in
accordance with this subsection (b).
(c) Any Bank may at any time assign to one or more banks or other
institutions (each an "Assignee") all, or a proportionate part of all, of its
rights and obligations under this Agreement and the Notes, and such Assignee
shall assume such rights and obligations, pursuant to an Assignment and
Assumption Agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit G hereto executed by
such Assignee and such transferor Bank, with (and subject to) the subscribed
consent of the Company and the Agent, which consents shall not be unreasonably
withheld; provided that (i) if an Assignee is an affiliate of such transferor
Bank or is another Bank, no such consent shall be required; (ii) such assignment
may, but need not, include rights of the transferor Bank in respect of
outstanding Money Market Loans; and (iii) any assignment shall not be less than
$15,000,000, or if less, shall constitute an assignment of all of such Bank's
rights and obligations under this Agreement and the Notes except for any rights
retained in accordance with clause (ii) of this proviso. Upon execution and
delivery of such instrument and payment by such Assignee to such transferor Bank
of an amount equal to the purchase price agreed between such transferor Bank and
such Assignee, such Assignee shall be a Bank party to this Agreement and shall
have all the rights and obligations of a Bank with a Commitment as set forth in
such instrument of assumption, and the transferor Bank shall be released from
its obligations hereunder to a corresponding extent, and no further consent or
action by any party shall be required. Upon the consummation of any assignment
pursuant to this subsection (c), the transferor Bank, the Agent and the Borrower
shall make appropriate arrangements so that, if required, new Notes are issued
to the Assignee. In connection with any such assignment, the transferor Bank
shall pay to the Agent an administrative fee for processing such assignment in
the amount of $2,500. If the Assignee is not incorporated under the laws of the
United States of America or a state thereof, it shall deliver to the Company and
the Agent certification as to exemption from deduction or withholding of any
United States federal income taxes in accordance with Section 8.04.
(d) Any Bank may at any time assign all or any portion of its rights
under this Agreement and its Notes to a Federal Reserve Bank. No such assignment
shall release the transferor Bank from its obligations hereunder.
(e) No Assignee, Participant or other transferee of any Bank's rights
shall be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 8.03 or 8.04 than
such Bank would have been entitled to receive with respect to the rights
transferred, unless such transfer is made with the Company's prior written
consent or by reason of the provisions of Section 8.02, 8.03 or 8.04 requiring
such Bank to designate a different Applicable Lending Office under certain
circumstances or at a time when the circumstances giving rise to such greater
payment did not exist.
SECTION 10.07. Termination of Existing Credit Agreements. The Company
and each of the Banks that is also a "Bank" party to the Existing Credit
Agreements agrees that the "Commitments" as defined in the Existing Credit
Agreements shall be terminated in their entirety on the Effective Date. Each of
such Banks waives (a) any requirement of notice of such termination pursuant to
Section 2.09 of the Existing Credit Agreements and (b) any claim to any facility
fees or other fees under the Existing Credit Agreements for any day on or after
the Effective Date. Each of the Company and the Borrower (i) represents and
warrants that (x) after giving effect to the preceding sentences of this Section
10.07, the commitments under the Existing Credit Agreements will be terminated
effective not later than the Effective Date, (y) no loans are, as of the date
hereof, or will be, as of the Effective Date, outstanding under the Existing
Credit Agreements and (ii) covenants that all accrued and unpaid facility fees
and any other amounts due and payable under the Existing Credit Agreements shall
have been paid on or prior to the Effective Date.
SECTION 10.08. Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction. This
Agreement and each Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of New York. Each of the Company and the Borrower hereby
submits to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for
the Southern District of New York and of any New York State court sitting in New
York City for purposes of all legal proceedings arising out of or relating to
this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, and irrevocably waives,
to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection which it may now or
hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such proceeding brought in such
a court and any claim that any such proceeding brought in such a court has been
brought in an inconvenient forum.
SECTION 10.09. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement
may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original,
with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same
instrument. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding
among the parties hereto and supersedes any and all prior agreements and
understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. This
Agreement shall become effective upon receipt by the Agent of counterparts
hereof signed by each of the Company, the Borrower, the Banks and the Agent (or,
in the case of any party as to which an executed counterpart shall not have been
received, receipt by the Agent in form satisfactory to it of telegraphic, telex
or other written confirmation from such party of execution of a counterpart
hereof by such party).
SECTION 10.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE BORROWER,
THE AGENT AND THE BANKS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY
JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
SECTION 10.11. Confidentiality. Each of the Agent and the Banks agrees
to use its reasonable best efforts to keep confidential any information
delivered or made available by the Company or the Borrower to it which is
clearly stated by the Company or the Borrower to be confidential; provided that
nothing herein shall prevent the Agent or any Bank from disclosing such
information (i) to the Agent or any other Bank in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) to its officers, directors, employees,
agents, attorneys and accountants who have a need to know such information in
accordance with customary banking practices and who receive such information
having been made aware of the restrictions set forth in this Section, (iii) upon
the order of any court or administrative agency, (iv) upon the request or demand
of any regulatory agency or authority having jurisdiction over such party, (v)
which has been publicly disclosed, (vi) which has been obtained from any Person
other than the Company and its Subsidiaries, provided that such Person is not
(x) known to it to be bound by a confidentiality agreement with the Company or
its Subsidiaries or (y) known to it to be otherwise prohibited from transmitting
the information to it by a contractual, legal or fiduciary obligation, (vii) in
connection with the exercise of any remedy hereunder or under the Notes or
(viii) to any actual or proposed participant or assignee of all or any of its
rights hereunder which has agreed in writing to be bound by the provisions of
this Section.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year
first above written.
U S WEST CAPITAL FUNDING, INC.
By
Name:
Title:
0000 Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile number: 000-000-0000
Telephone number: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxx
U S WEST, INC.
By
Name:
Title:
0000 Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile number: 000-000-0000
Telephone number: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxx
USW-C, INC.
By
Name:
Title:
0000 Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile number: 000-000-0000
Telephone number: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxx
Commitments
$55,555,556 REVOLVING COMMITMENT VEHICLE
CORPORATION
By
Name:
Title:
$55,555,556 BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST
AND SAVINGS ASSOCIATION
By
Name:
Title:
$55,555,556 THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
By
Name:
Title:
$55,555,556 MELLON BANK, N.A.
By
Name:
Title:
$53,333,333 ABN AMRO BANK N.V.
By
Name:
Title:
By
Name:
Title:
$53,333,333 THE BANK OF NEW YORK
By
Name:
Title:
$53,333,333 BANK ONE, COLORADO, N.A.
By
Name:
Title:
$53,333,333 CITIBANK, N.A.
By
Name:
Title:
$53,333,333 KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By
Name:
Title:
$53,333,333 NATIONSBANK, N.A.
By
Name:
Title:
$44,444,444 COMMERZBANK AG LOS ANGELES
BRANCH
By
Name:
Title:
By
Name:
Title:
$44,444,444 FLEET NATIONAL BANK
By
Name:
Title:
$32,222,222 CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF
COMMERCE
By
Name:
Title:
$30,000,000 BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
By
Name:
Title:
$30,000,000 THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF
CHICAGO
By
Name:
Title:
$30,000,000 KREDIETBANK N.V.
By
Name:
Title:
By
Name:
Title:
$30,000,000 THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC
By
Name:
Title:
$30,000,000 XXXXX FARGO BANK, N.A.
By
Name:
Title:
$16,666,667 BANK OF HAWAII
By
Name:
Title:
$16,666,667 BARCLAYS BANK PLC
By
Name:
Title:
$16,666,667 BAYERISCHE LANDESBANK GIROZENTRALE
CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
By
Name:
Title:
By
Name:
Title:
$16,666,667 BAYERISCHE HYPOTHEKEN-UND
WECHSEL-BANK AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
By
Name:
Title:
$16,666,667 XXXXXX COMMERCIAL PAPER INC.
By
Name:
Title:
$16,666,667 XXXXXXX XXXXX CAPITAL
CORPORATION
By
Name:
Title:
$16,666,667 NORWEST BANK COLORADO, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION
By
Name:
Title:
$16,666,667 THE TOKAI BANK, LIMITED
By
Name:
Title:
$16,666,667 U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By
Name:
Title:
$11,111,111 BANQUE NATIONALE DE PARIS
By
Name:
Title:
By
Name:
Title:
$11,111,111 ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
By
Name:
Title:
$11,111,111 ISTITUTO BANCARIO SAN PAOLO DI
TORINO S.P.A.
By
Name:
Title:
By
Name:
Title:
$3,333,333 THE PROVIDENT BANK.
By
Name:
Title:
Total Commitments:
$1,000,000,000
===========
XXXXXX GUARANTY TRUST
COMPANY OF NEW YORK, as
Administrative Agent
By
Title:
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxx
Facsimile number: 000-000-0000
Telephone number: 000-000-0000
PRICING SCHEDULE
The "Euro-Dollar Margin" and "Facility Fee Rate" for any day are the
respective percentages set forth below in the applicable row under the column
corresponding to the Status that exists on such day:
Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx I II III IV V VI
Euro-Dollar
Margin:
Usage less than 50% .1175% .125% .145% .185% .215% .250%
Usage greater than
or equal to 50% .1675% .175% .195% .235% .265% .300%
Facility Fee .070% .075% .080% .090% .110% .150%
Rate
===================== ============ ============= ============= ============ ============= ============
For purposes of this Schedule, the following terms have the following
meanings:
"Level I Status" exists at any date after the Separation if, at such
date, the Borrower's outstanding senior unsecured long-term debt securities are
rated A+ or higher by S&P or A1 or higher by Moody's.
"Level II Status" exists at any date after the Separation if, at such
date, (i) the Borrower's outstanding senior unsecured long-term debt securities
are rated A or higher by S&P or A2 or higher by Moody's and (ii) Level I Status
does not exist.
"Level III Status" exists (x) at any date prior to the Separation, and
(y) at any date after the Separation if, at such date, (i) the Borrower's
outstanding senior unsecured long-term debt securities are rated A- or higher by
S&P or A3 or higher by Moody's and (ii) neither Level I Status nor Level II
Status exists.
"Level IV Status" exists at any date after the Separation if, at such
date, (i) the Borrower's outstanding senior unsecured long-term debt securities
are rated BBB+ or higher by S&P or Baa1 or higher by Moody's and (ii) none of
Level I Status, Level II Status or Level III Status exists.
"Level V Status" exists at any date after the Separation if, at such
date, (i) the Borrower's outstanding senior unsecured long-term debt securities
are rated BBB or higher by S&P or Baa2 or higher by Moody's and (ii) none of
Level I Status, Level II Status, Level III Status or Level IV Status exists.
"Level VI Status" exists at any date after the Separation if, at such
date, none of Level I Status, Level II Status, Level III Status, Level IV Status
or Level V Status exists.
"Moody's" means Xxxxx'x Investors Service, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, and its successors or, if such corporation shall be dissolved or
liquidated or shall no longer perform the functions of a securities rating
agency, "Moody's" shall be deemed to refer to any other nationally recognized
securities rating agency designated by the Required Banks, with the approval of
the Company, by notice to the Agent and the Company.
"S&P" means Standard & Poor's Ratings Group, a New York corporation,
and its successors or, if such corporation shall be dissolved or liquidated or
shall no longer perform the functions of a securities rating agency, "S&P" shall
be deemed to refer to any other nationally recognized securities rating agency
designated by the Required Banks, with the approval of the Company, by notice to
the Agent and the Company.
"Status" refers to the determination of which of Level I Status, Level
II Status, Level III Status, Level IV Status, Level V Status or Level VI Status
exists at any date.
"Usage" means at any date the percentage equivalent of a fraction (i)
the numerator of which is the sum of the aggregate outstanding principal amount
of the Loans at such date, after giving effect to any borrowing or payment on
such date, and (ii) the denominator of which is the aggregate amount of the
Commitments at such date, after giving effect to any reduction of the
Commitments on such date. For purposes of this Schedule, if for any reason any
Loans remain outstanding after termination of the Commitments, the Usage for
each date on or after the date of such termination shall be deemed to be greater
than 50%.
The credit ratings to be utilized for purposes of this Schedule are those
assigned to the senior unsecured long-term debt securities of the Borrower
guaranteed by the Company, and any rating assigned to any other debt security of
the Borrower shall be disregarded. The rating in effect at any date is that in
effect at the close of business on such date.
SCHEDULE 4.07
Environmental Matters
NONE.
EXHIBIT A
NOTE
New York, New York
________, 19__
For value received, U S WEST CAPITAL FUNDING, INC., a Colorado
corporation (the "Borrower"), promises to pay to the order of (the "Bank"), for
the account of its Applicable Lending Office, the unpaid principal amount of
each Loan made by the Bank to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement
referred to below on the maturity date therefor specified in the Credit
Agreement. The Borrower promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount
of each such Loan on the dates and at the rate or rates provided for in the
Credit Agreement. All such payments of principal and interest shall be made in
lawful money of the United States in Federal or other immediately available
funds at the office of Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of New York, 00 Xxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx.
All Loans made by the Bank, the respective types and maturities thereof
and all repayments of the principal thereof shall be recorded by the Bank and,
if the Bank so elects in connection with any transfer or enforcement hereof,
appropriate notations to evidence the foregoing information with respect to each
such Loan then outstanding may be endorsed by the Bank on the schedule attached
hereto, or on a continuation of such schedule attached to and made a part
hereof; provided that the inaccuracy of, or the failure of the Bank to make, any
such recordation or endorsement shall not affect the obligations of the Borrower
hereunder or under the Credit Agreement.
This note is one of the Notes referred to in the Five-Year Credit
Agreement dated as of May 8, 1998 among U S WEST Capital Funding, Inc., U S
WEST, Inc., USW-C, Inc., the banks listed on the signature pages thereof, the
other agents named therein and Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as
Administrative Agent (as the same may be amended from time to time, the "Credit
Agreement"). Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein with the same
meanings.
Reference is made to the Credit Agreement for provisions for the
prepayment hereof and the acceleration of the maturity hereof.
U S WEST, Inc., has, pursuant to the provisions of the Credit
Agreement, unconditionally guaranteed the payment in full of the principal of
and interest on this Note.
U S WEST CAPITAL FUNDING, INC.
By
Title:
LOANS AND PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date Amount of Type of Loan Amount of Maturity Date Notation Made
Loan Principa By
Repaid
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXHIBIT B
Form of Money Market Quote Request
[Date]
To: Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of New York
(the "Agent")
From: U S WEST Capital Funding, Inc.
Re: Five-Year Credit Agreement (the "Credit Agreement") dated as of May 8,
1998 among U S WEST Capital Funding, Inc., U S WEST, Inc., USW-C, Inc.,
the Banks listed on the signature pages thereof, the other agents named
therein and the Agent
We hereby give notice pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Credit Agreement
that we request Money Market Quotes for the following proposed Money Market
Borrowing(s):
Date of Borrowing: __________________
Principal Amount1 Interest Period2
$
Such Money Market Quotes should offer a Money Market [Margin] [Absolute
Rate]. [The applicable base rate is the London Interbank Offered Rate.] Terms
used herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Credit Agreement.
--------
1Amount must be $25,000,000 or a larger multiple of $5,000,000.
2Not less than one month (LIBOR Auction) or not less than 7 days (Absolute Rate
Auction), subject to the provisions of the definition of Interest Period.
Terms used herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Credit
Agreement.
U S WEST CAPITAL FUNDING, INC.
By________________________
Title:
EXHIBIT C
Form of Invitation for Money Market Quotes
To: [Name of Bank]
Re: Invitation for Money Market Quotes to U S WEST Capital
Funding, Inc. (the "Borrower")
Pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Five-Year Credit Agreement dated as of
May 8, 1998 among U S WEST Capital Funding, Inc., U S WEST, Inc., USW-C, Inc.,
the Banks parties thereto, the other agents named therein and the undersigned,
as Administrative Agent, we are pleased on behalf of the Borrower to invite you
to submit Money Market Quotes to the Borrower for the following proposed Money
Market Borrowing(s):
Date of Borrowing: __________________
Principal Amount Interest Period
$
Such Money Market Quotes should offer a Money Market [Margin] [Absolute
Rate]. [The applicable base rate is the London Interbank Offered Rate.] Please
respond to this invitation by no later than [10:30 A.M.] [9:15 A.M.] (New York
City time) on [date].
XXXXXX GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY
OF NEW YORK, as Administrative Agent
By______________________________
Authorized Officer
EXHIBIT D
Form of Money Market Quote
To: Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of New York,
as Administrative Agent (the "Agent")
Re: Money Market Quote to
U S WEST Capital Funding, Inc. (the "Borrower")
In response to your invitation on behalf of the Borrower dated
_____________, 19__, we hereby make the following Money Market Quote on the
following terms:
1. Quoting Bank: ________________________________
2. Person to contact at Quoting Bank: _____________________________
3. Date of Borrowing: ____________________*
4. We hereby offer to make Money Market Loan(s) in the following principal
amounts, for the following Interest Periods and at the following rates:
Principal Interest Money Market
Amount** Period*** [Margin****] [Absolute Rate*****]
$
$
[Provided, that the aggregate principal amount of Money Market Loans
for which the above offers may be accepted shall not exceed
$____________.]**
----------
* As specified in the related Invitation.
(notes continued on following page)
We understand and agree that the offer(s) set forth above, subject to
the satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in the Five-Year Credit
Agreement dated as of May 8, 1998 among U S WEST Capital Funding, Inc., U S
WEST, Inc., USW-C, Inc., the Banks listed on the signature pages thereof, the
other agents named therein and yourselves, as Agent, irrevocably obligates us to
make the Money Market Loan(s) for which any offer(s) are accepted, in whole or
in part.
Very truly yours,
[NAME OF BANK]
Dated:_______________ By:__________________________
Authorized Officer
----------
** Principal amount bid for each Interest Period may not exceed principal amount
requested. Specify aggregate limitation if the sum of the individual offers
exceeds the amount the Bank is willing to lend. Bids must be made for $5,000,000
or a larger multiple of $1,000,000. *** Not less than one month or not less than
7 days, as specified in the related Invitation. No more than five bids are
permitted for each Interest Period. **** Margin over or under the London
Interbank Offered Rate determined for the applicable Interest Period. Specify
percentage (to the nearest 1/10,000 of 1%) and specify whether "PLUS" or
"MINUS". ***** Specify rate of interest per annum (to the nearest 1/10,000th of
1%).
EXHIBIT E
OPINION OF
COUNSEL FOR THE COMPANY AND THE BORROWER
To the Banks and the Administrative
Agent Referred to Below
c/x Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company
of New York, as Administrative Agent
00 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Gentlemen and Ladies:
I have acted as counsel for U S WEST, Inc., USW-C, Inc. and U S WEST
Capital Funding, Inc., in connection with the Five-Year Credit Agreement (the
"Credit Agreement") dated as of May 8, 1998, among them, the banks listed on the
signature pages thereof, the other agents named therein and Xxxxxx Guaranty
Trust Company of New York, as Administrative Agent. Terms defined in the Credit
Agreement are used herein as therein defined. This opinion is being rendered to
you at the instruction of the client pursuant to Section 3.01(b) of the Credit
Agreement.
I am familiar with the proceedings taken by the Company, USW-C, Inc.
and the Borrower in connection with the authorization, execution and delivery of
the Credit Agreement and the Notes, and I have examined such documents,
certificates, and such other matters of fact and questions of law as I have
deemed relevant under the circumstances to express an informed opinion. Upon the
basis of the foregoing, I am of the opinion that:
1. The Company and USW-C, Inc. are each corporations duly incorporated,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware,
and each has all corporate powers and all governmental licenses, authorizations,
qualifications, consents and approvals required to carry on its business as now
conducted, except where the absence of any such license, authorization,
qualification, consent or approval would not have a material adverse effect on
the consolidated financial position or consolidated results of operations of the
Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries considered as one enterprise.
2. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company, USW-C, Inc.
and the Borrower of the Credit Agreement and by the Borrower of the Notes are
within such Person's corporate powers, have been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate action, and require no action by or in respect of, or filing
with, any governmental body, agency or official.
3. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company, USW-C, Inc.
and the Borrower of the Credit Agreement and by the Borrower of the Notes will
not (i) result in a breach or violation of, conflict with, or constitute a
default under, the articles of incorporation or bylaws of such Person or any
material law or regulation or any material order, judgment, agreement or
instrument to which such Person is a party or by which such Person is bound, or
(ii) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of such
Person.
4. The Credit Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of
the Company, USW-C, Inc. and the Borrower and the Notes constitute valid and
binding obligations of the Borrower, in each case enforceable in accordance with
its terms except as the same may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar
laws affecting creditors' rights generally and by general principles of equity.
5. To my knowledge, and except as disclosed in the Company's 1997 Form
10-K (as amended by Form 10-K/A) as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, there is no action, suit or proceeding pending against or threatened
against, or, to the best of my knowledge affecting the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries before any court or arbitrator or any governmental body, agency or
official, in which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse decision
which could materially adversely affect the business, consolidated financial
position or consolidated results of operations of the Company and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries, considered as a whole, or which in any manner draws
into question the validity of the Credit Agreement or the Notes.
6. The Borrower and each of the Company's other corporate Significant
Subsidiaries are corporations validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of their jurisdictions of incorporation, and have all corporate powers and
all governmental licenses, authorizations, qualifications, consents and
approvals required to carry on its business as now conducted, except where the
absence of any such license, authorization, qualification, consent or approval
would not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position
or consolidated results of operations of the Company and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries considered as one enterprise.
For purposes of my opinion set forth in numbered paragraph 4 above, I
have assumed that the laws of the State of New York, which are stated to govern
the Credit Agreement and the Notes, are the same as the laws of the State of
Colorado.
In rendering the opinions set forth herein, I have assumed that the
Credit Agreement and the Notes will conform to the specimens thereof examined by
me, that the signatures on all documents examined by me were genuine, and the
authenticity of all documents submitted to me as originals or as copies of
originals, assumptions which I have not independently verified.
This opinion is furnished by me as counsel for the Company and the
Borrower and is solely for your benefit and the benefit of any Assignee under
the Credit Agreement. Without my prior written consent, this opinion may not be
relied upon by you or any Assignee in any other context or by any other person.
This opinion may not be quoted, in whole or in part, or copies thereof
furnished, to any other person without my prior written consent, except that you
may furnish copies hereof (a) to your auditors and attorneys, (b) to any state
or federal authority having regulatory jurisdiction over you or the Company or
the Borrower, (c) pursuant to order or legal process of any court or
governmental agency, (d) in connection with any legal action to which you are a
party arising out of the transactions contemplated by the Credit Agreement, and
(e) to any Participant or proposed Participant in the Commitment of any Bank.
This opinion is limited to the present laws of the State of Colorado
and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, to present judicial
interpretations thereof, and to the facts as they presently exist, and I assume
no responsibility as to the applicability or effect of the laws of any other
jurisdiction. In rendering this opinion, I assume no obligation to revise or
supplement this opinion should the present laws of the State of Colorado or the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware be changed by legislative
action, judicial decision, or otherwise.
Very truly yours,
Xxxxxx X. XxXxxxxxx
EXHIBIT F
OPINION OF
XXXXX XXXX & XXXXXXXX, SPECIAL COUNSEL
FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To the Banks and the Administrative Agent
Referred to Below
c/x Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company
of New York, as Administrative Agent
00 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Dear Sirs:
We have participated in the preparation of the Five-Year Credit
Agreement (the "Credit Agreement") dated as of May 8, 1998 among U S WEST
Capital Funding, Inc., U S WEST, Inc., USW-C, Inc., the banks listed on the
signature pages thereof (the "Banks"), the other agents named therein and Xxxxxx
Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as Administrative Agent (the "Agent"), and
have acted as special counsel for the Agent for the purpose of rendering this
opinion pursuant to Section 3.01(c) of the Credit Agreement. Terms defined in
the Credit Agreement are used herein as therein defined.
We have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified
to our satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records, certificates of
public officials and other instruments and have conducted such other
investigations of fact and law as we have deemed necessary or advisable for
purposes of this opinion.
Upon the basis of the foregoing, we are of the opinion that, assuming
that the execution, delivery and performance by the Company and the Borrower of
the Credit Agreement and by the Borrower of the Notes are within such Person's
corporate powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate
action, the Credit Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the
Company and the Borrower and the Notes constitute valid and binding obligations
of the Borrower.
We are members of the Bar of the State of New York and the foregoing
opinion is limited to the laws of the State of New York. In giving the foregoing
opinion, we express no opinion as to the effect (if any) of any law of any
jurisdiction (except the State of New York) in which any Bank is located which
limits the rate of interest that such Bank may charge or collect.
This opinion is rendered solely to you in connection with the above
matter. This opinion may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose or
relied upon by or furnished to any other person without our prior written
consent.
Very truly yours,
EXHIBIT G
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT dated as of __________, __ 199_ among [ASSIGNOR] (the
"Assignor"), [ASSIGNEE] (the "Assignee"), U S WEST, Inc. (the "Company") and
XXXXXX GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK, as Administrative Agent (the
"Agent").
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, this Assignment and Assumption Agreement (the "Agreement")
relates to the Five-Year Credit Agreement dated as of May 8, 1998 among the
Company, USW-C, Inc., the Borrower named therein, the Assignor and the other
Banks party thereto, as Banks, the other agents named therein and the Agent (the
"Credit Agreement");
WHEREAS, as provided under the Credit Agreement, the Assignor has a
Commitment to make Loans in an aggregate principal amount at any time
outstanding not to exceed $__________;
WHEREAS, Committed Loans made by the Assignor under the Credit
Agreement in the aggregate principal amount of $__________ are outstanding at
the date hereof; and
WHEREAS, the Assignor proposes to assign to the Assignee all of the
rights of the Assignor under the Credit Agreement in respect of a portion of its
Commitment thereunder in an amount equal to $__________ (the "Assigned Amount"),
together with a corresponding portion of its outstanding Committed Loans, and
the Assignee proposes to accept assignment of such rights and assume the
corresponding obligations from the Assignor on such terms;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
agreements contained herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION 1. Definitions. All capitalized terms not otherwise defined
herein shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement.
SECTION 2. Assignment. The Assignor hereby assigns and sells to the
Assignee all of the rights of the Assignor under the Credit Agreement to the
extent of the Assigned Amount, and the Assignee hereby accepts such assignment
from the Assignor and assumes all of the obligations of the Assignor under the
Credit Agreement to the extent of the Assigned Amount, including the purchase
from the Assignor of the corresponding portion of the principal amount of the
Committed Loans made by the Assignor outstanding at the date hereof. Upon the
execution and delivery hereof by the Assignor, the Assignee, the Company and the
Agent and the payment of the amounts specified in Section 3 required to be paid
on the date hereof (i) the Assignee shall, as of the date hereof, succeed to the
rights and be obligated to perform the obligations of a Bank under the Credit
Agreement with a Commitment in an amount equal to the Assigned Amount, and (ii)
the Commitment of the Assignor shall, as of the date hereof, be reduced by a
like amount and the Assignor released from its obligations under the Credit
Agreement to the extent such obligations have been assumed by the Assignee. The
assignment provided for herein shall be without recourse to the Assignor.
SECTION 3. Payments. As consideration for the assignment and sale
contemplated in Section 2 hereof, the Assignee shall pay to the Assignor on the
date hereof in Federal funds the amount heretofore agreed between them.3 It is
understood that commitment and/or facility fees accrued to the date hereof are
for the account of the Assignor and such fees accruing from and including the
date hereof are for the account of the Assignee. Each of the Assignor and the
Assignee hereby agrees to that if it receives any amount under the Credit
Agreement which is for the account of the other party hereto, it shall receive
the same for the account of such other party to the extent of such other party's
interest therein and shall promptly pay the same to such other party.
[SECTION 4. Consent of the Company and the Agent. This Agreement is
conditioned upon the consent of the Company and the Agent pursuant to Section
10.06(c) of the Credit Agreement. The execution of this Agreement by the Company
and the Agent is evidence of this consent. Pursuant to Section 10.06(c) the
Company agrees to cause the Borrower to execute and deliver a Note payable to
the order of the Assignee to evidence the assignment and assumption provided for
herein.]
SECTION 5. Non-Reliance on Assignor. The Assignor makes no
representation or warranty in connection with, and shall have no responsibility
--------
3 Amount should combine principal together with accrued interest and
breakage compensation, if any, to be paid by the Assignee, net of any portion of
any upfront fee to be paid by the Assignor to the Assignee. It may be preferable
in an appropriate case to specify these amounts generically or by formula rather
than as a fixed sum.
with respect to, the solvency, financial condition, or statements of the Company
or the Borrower, or the validity and enforceability of the obligations of the
Company or the Borrower in respect of the Credit Agreement or any Note. The
Assignee acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance on the
Assignor, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed
appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this
Agreement and will continue to be responsible for making its own independent
appraisal of the business, affairs and financial condition of the Company and
the Borrower.
SECTION 6. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
SECTION 7. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the
signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be
executed and delivered by their duly authorized officers as of the date first
above written.
[ASSIGNOR]
By
Title:
[ASSIGNEE]
By
Title:
[U S WEST, INC.
By
Title:
XXXXXX GUARANTY TRUST
COMPANY OF NEW YORK, as
Administrative Agent
By
Title:]
EXHIBIT H
EXTENSION AGREEMENT
US WEST Capital Funding, Inc.
US WEST, Inc.
0000 Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of
New York, as Administrative Agent
under the Credit Agreement referred
to below
00 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Gentlemen:
The undersigned hereby agree to extend the Revolving Credit Period
under the Five-Year Credit Agreement dated as of May 8, 1998 among US WEST
Capital Funding, Inc., US WEST, Inc., USW-C, Inc., the Banks listed therein, the
other agents named therein and Xxxxxx Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as
Administrative Agent (the "Credit Agreement") for 364 days to ____________ __,
____. Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein as therein defined.
This Extension Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and
governed by the law of the State of New York. It may be signed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the
signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.
[NAME OF BANK]1
By
Title:
--------
1 Insert names of Banks which have responded affirmatively in accordance
with Section 2.01(b) of the Credit Agreement.
[NAME OF BANK]1
By
Title:
[NAME OF BANK]*
By
Title:
[NAME OF BANK]*
By
Title:
[NAME OF BANK]*
By
Title:
[NAME OF BANK]*
By
Title:
--------
1 Insert names of Banks which have responded affirmatively in accordance
with Section 2.01(b) of the Credit Agreement.
Agreed and accepted:
US WEST CAPITAL FUNDING, INC.
By
Title
US WEST, INC.
By
Title
XXXXXX GUARANTY TRUST COMPANY
OF NEW YORK, as Administrative Agent
By
Title
