CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of May 22, 2009 among EL POLLO LOCO, INC., as Borrower, EPL INTERMEDIATE, INC., and THE OTHER GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO, as Guarantors, THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO, and JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC, as Arranger, Book Manager,...
dated
as of May 22, 2009
among
EL
POLLO LOCO, INC.,
as
Borrower,
and
THE
OTHER GUARANTORS PARTY HERETO,
as
Guarantors,
THE
LENDERS PARTY HERETO,
and
JEFFERIES
FINANCE LLC,
as
Arranger, Book Manager, Documentation Agent,
Administrative
Agent and Collateral Agent
and
JEFFERIES
FINANCE LLC,
as
Syndication Agent
and
JEFFERIES
FINANCE LLC,
as
Issuing Bank
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE
I DEFINITIONS
|
1
|
|
Section
1.01
|
Defined
Terms
|
1
|
Section
1.02
|
Classification
of Loans and Borrowings
|
40
|
Section
1.03
|
Terms
Generally
|
40
|
Section
1.04
|
Accounting
Terms; GAAP
|
40
|
Section
1.05
|
Pro
Forma Calculations
|
40
|
Section
1.06
|
Rounding
|
41
|
Section
1.07
|
Resolution
of Drafting Ambiguities
|
41
|
ARTICLE
II THE CREDITS
|
41
|
|
Section
2.01
|
Commitments
|
41
|
Section
2.02
|
Loans
|
41
|
Section
2.03
|
Borrowing
Procedure
|
42
|
Section
2.04
|
Evidence
of Debt; Repayment of Loans
|
43
|
Section
2.05
|
Fees
|
43
|
Section
2.06
|
Interest
on Loans
|
44
|
Section
2.07
|
Termination
and Reduction of Commitments
|
45
|
Section
2.08
|
Interest
Elections
|
45
|
Section
2.09
|
Intentionally
Omitted
|
46
|
Section
2.10
|
Optional
and Mandatory Prepayments of Loans
|
47
|
Section
2.11
|
Alternate
Rate of Interest
|
49
|
Section
2.12
|
Increased
Costs; Change in Legality
|
50
|
Section
2.13
|
Breakage
Payments
|
51
|
Section
2.14
|
Payments
Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Setoffs
|
52
|
Section
2.15
|
Taxes
|
53
|
Section
2.16
|
Mitigation
Obligations; Replacement of Lenders
|
55
|
Section
2.17
|
Intentionally
Omitted
|
57
|
Section
2.18
|
Letters
of Credit
|
57
|
ARTICLE
III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
|
62
|
|
Section
3.01
|
Organization;
Powers
|
62
|
Section
3.02
|
Authorization;
Enforceability
|
62
|
Section
3.03
|
No
Conflicts; No Default
|
63
|
Section
3.04
|
Financial
Statements; Projections
|
63
|
Section
3.05
|
Properties
|
63
|
Section
3.06
|
Intellectual
Property
|
64
|
Section
3.07
|
Equity
Interests and Subsidiaries
|
65
|
Section
3.08
|
Litigation;
Compliance with Legal Requirements
|
66
|
Section
3.09
|
Agreements
|
66
|
Section
3.10
|
Federal
Reserve Regulations
|
66
|
Section
3.11
|
Investment
Company Act, etc.
|
67
|
Section
3.12
|
Use
of Proceeds
|
67
|
Section
3.13
|
Taxes
|
67
|
Section
3.14
|
No
Material Misstatements
|
67
|
Section
3.15
|
Labor
Matters
|
68
|
i
Section
3.16
|
Solvency
|
68
|
Section
3.17
|
Employee
Benefit Plans
|
68
|
Section
3.18
|
Environmental
Matters
|
69
|
Section
3.19
|
Insurance
|
70
|
Section
3.20
|
Security
Documents
|
70
|
Section
3.21
|
Intentionally
Omitted
|
71
|
Section
3.22
|
Anti-Terrorism
Law; Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
|
71
|
Section
3.23
|
Subordinated
Indebtedness
|
72
|
Section
3.24
|
Intentionally
Omitted
|
72
|
Section
3.25
|
Bank
Accounts
|
72
|
ARTICLE
IV CONDITIONS TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS
|
72
|
|
Section
4.01
|
Conditions
to Initial Credit Extension
|
72
|
Section
4.02
|
Conditions
to All Credit Extensions
|
76
|
ARTICLE
V AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
|
77
|
|
Section
5.01
|
Financial
Statements, Reports, etc
|
77
|
Section
5.02
|
Litigation
and Other Notices
|
79
|
Section
5.03
|
Existence;
Businesses and Properties
|
80
|
Section
5.04
|
Insurance
|
80
|
Section
5.05
|
Obligations
and Taxes
|
81
|
Section
5.06
|
Employee
Benefits
|
81
|
Section
5.07
|
Maintaining
Records; Access to Properties and Inspections; Annual
Meetings
|
82
|
Section
5.08
|
Use
of Proceeds
|
82
|
Section
5.09
|
Compliance
with Environmental Laws; Environmental Reports
|
82
|
Section
5.10
|
Intentionally
Omitted
|
84
|
Section
5.11
|
Additional
Collateral; Additional Guarantors
|
84
|
Section
5.12
|
Security
Interests; Further Assurances
|
85
|
Section
5.13
|
Information
Regarding Collateral
|
86
|
Section
5.14
|
Maintenance
of Corporate Separateness
|
86
|
Section
5.15
|
Intentionally
Omitted.
|
86
|
Section
5.16
|
Post-Closing
Collateral Matters
|
86
|
Section
5.17
|
Intentionally
Omitted.
|
87
|
Section
5.18
|
Bank
Accounts
|
87
|
Section
5.19
|
Compliance
with Terms of Leaseholds
|
88
|
ARTICLE
VI NEGATIVE COVENANTS
|
88
|
|
Section
6.01
|
Incurrence
of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock
|
88
|
Section
6.02
|
Liens
|
89
|
Section
6.03
|
Mergers,
Consolidations or Sale of Assets
|
89
|
Section
6.04
|
Asset
Sales
|
90
|
Section
6.05
|
Restricted
Payments
|
91
|
Section
6.06
|
Transactions
with Affiliates
|
94
|
Section
6.07
|
Financial
Covenants
|
96
|
Section
6.08
|
Prepayments
of Other Indebtedness; Modifications of Organizational Documents,
Acquisition and Certain Other Documents, etc
|
96
|
Section
6.09
|
Dividend
and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries
|
97
|
ii
Section
6.10
|
Limitation
on Issuances and Sales of Equity Interests in Wholly Owned
Subsidiaries
|
98
|
Section
6.11
|
Business
Activities
|
98
|
Section
6.12
|
Limitation
on Accounting Changes
|
98
|
Section
6.13
|
Fiscal
Periods
|
98
|
Section
6.14
|
No
Further Negative Pledge
|
99
|
Section
6.15
|
Anti-Terrorism
Law; Anti-Money Laundering
|
99
|
Section
6.16
|
Embargoed
Person
|
99
|
Section
6.17
|
Intentionally
Omitted.
|
99
|
Section
6.18
|
Designation
of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries.
|
99
|
Section
6.19
|
Permitted
Activities of Holdings
|
100
|
ARTICLE
VII GUARANTEE
|
101
|
|
Section
7.01
|
The
Guarantee
|
101
|
Section
7.02
|
Obligations
Unconditional
|
101
|
Section
7.03
|
Reinstatement
|
102
|
Section
7.04
|
Subrogation;
Subordination
|
102
|
Section
7.05
|
Remedies
|
102
|
Section
7.06
|
Instrument
for the Payment of Money
|
102
|
Section
7.07
|
Continuing
Guarantee
|
103
|
Section
7.08
|
General
Limitation on Guarantee Obligations
|
103
|
Section
7.09
|
Release
of Guarantors
|
103
|
Section
7.10
|
Right
of Contribution
|
103
|
ARTICLE
VIII EVENTS OF DEFAULT
|
103
|
|
Section
8.01
|
Events
of Default
|
103
|
Section
8.02
|
Rescission
|
106
|
ARTICLE
IX COLLATERAL ACCOUNT; APPLICATION OF COLLATERAL PROCEEDS
|
107
|
|
Section
9.01
|
Collateral
Account
|
107
|
Section
9.02
|
Application
of Proceeds
|
107
|
ARTICLE
X THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND THE COLLATERAL AGENT
|
108
|
|
Section
10.01
|
Appointment
|
108
|
Section
10.02
|
Agent
in Its Individual Capacity
|
109
|
Section
10.03
|
Exculpatory
Provisions
|
109
|
Section
10.04
|
Reliance
by Agent
|
110
|
Section
10.05
|
Delegation
of Duties
|
110
|
Section
10.06
|
Successor
Agent
|
110
|
Section
10.07
|
Non-Reliance
on Agent and Other Lenders
|
111
|
Section
10.08
|
Name
Agents
|
111
|
Section
10.09
|
Indemnification
|
111
|
ARTICLE
XI MISCELLANEOUS
|
112
|
|
Section
11.01
|
Notices
|
112
|
Section
11.02
|
Waivers;
Amendment
|
114
|
iii
Section
11.03
|
Expenses;
Indemnity; Damage Waiver
|
116
|
Section
11.04
|
Successors
and Assigns
|
118
|
Section
11.05
|
Survival
of Agreement
|
121
|
Section
11.06
|
Counterparts;
Integration; Effectiveness
|
122
|
Section
11.07
|
Severability
|
122
|
Section
11.08
|
Right
of Setoff
|
122
|
Section
11.09
|
Governing
Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process
|
122
|
Section
11.10
|
Waiver
of Jury Trial
|
123
|
Section
11.11
|
Headings;
No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements
|
123
|
Section
11.12
|
Confidentiality
|
124
|
Section
11.13
|
Interest
Rate Limitation
|
124
|
Section
11.14
|
Assignment
and Acceptance
|
124
|
Section
11.15
|
Obligations
Absolute
|
124
|
Section
11.16
|
Waiver
of Defenses; Absence of Fiduciary Duties
|
125
|
Section
11.17
|
USA
Patriot Act
|
125
|
ANNEX
|
||
Annex I
|
Initial
Lenders and Commitments
|
Annex I-1
|
SCHEDULES
|
||
Schedule 1.01(a)
|
Historical
Consolidated Cash Flow
|
|
Schedule 1.01(b)
|
Material
Indebtedness
|
|
Schedule 1.01(c)
|
Mortgaged
Property
|
|
Schedule 1.01(d)
|
Pledgors
|
|
Schedule 1.01(e)
|
Refinancing
Indebtedness
|
|
Schedule 3.05(b)
|
Real
Property
|
|
Schedule 3.06(b)
|
Ownership;
No Claims; Use of Intellectual Property;
|
|
Protection
of Trade Secrets
|
||
Schedule 3.06(f)
|
Agreement
and Orders Materially Affecting Intellectual Property
|
|
Schedule 3.07(a)
|
Subsidiaries
|
|
Schedule 3.07(c)
|
Corporate
Organizational Chart
|
|
Schedule 3.20(c)
|
Mortgage
Filing Offices
|
|
Schedule 3.25
|
Bank
Accounts; Deposit Accounts; Investment Accounts
|
|
Schedule 4.01(g)(ii)
|
Local
Counsel (other than with respect to Mortgaged Properties)
|
|
Schedule 4.01(g)(iii)
|
Local
Counsel with Respect to Mortgaged Properties
|
|
Schedule 5.16(a)
|
Title
Insurance Amounts
|
|
Schedule 6.01
|
Existing
Indebtedness
|
|
Schedule 6.02
|
Existing
Liens
|
|
EXHIBITS
|
||
Exhibit A
|
Form
of Assignment and Acceptance
|
|
Exhibit B
|
Form
of Borrowing Request
|
|
Exhibit C
|
Form
of Compliance Certificate
|
|
Exhibit D
|
Form
of Intercompany Note
|
|
Exhibit E
|
Form
of Interest Election Request
|
|
Exhibit F
|
Intentionally
Omitted
|
iv
Exhibit G
|
Form
of LC Request
|
|
Exhibit H-1
|
Form
of Fee Mortgage
|
|
Exhibit I
|
Form
of Note
|
|
Exhibit J-1
|
Form
of Perfection Certificate
|
|
Exhibit J-2
|
Form
of Perfection Certificate Supplement
|
|
Exhibit K
|
Form
of Security Agreement
|
|
Exhibit L
|
Form
of Non-Bank Certificate
|
|
Exhibit M
|
Form
of Solvency Certificate
|
|
Exhibit N
|
Form
of Management Fee Subordination Agreement
|
|
Exhibit O
|
Form
of Intercreditor Agreement
|
v
This
CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) dated as of May
22, 2009, among EL POLLO LOCO, INC. (“Borrower”), EPL INTERMEDIATE,
INC. (“Holdings”), the
Subsidiary Guarantors (such term and each other capitalized term used but not
defined herein having the meaning given to it in Article I), the
Lenders, Jefferies Finance LLC, as lead arranger (in such capacity, the “Arranger”), as book manager
(in such capacity, the “Book
Manager”), as documentation agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, the
“Documentation Agent”),
as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”) and as
collateral agent for the Secured Parties (in such capacity, the “Collateral Agent”), Jefferies
Finance LLC, as syndication agent (in such capacity, the “Syndication Agent”) and
Jefferies Finance LLC, as issuing bank (in such capacity, the “Issuing Bank”) for the
Lenders.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS,
Borrower has requested the Lenders to extend credit in the form of Loans at any
time and from time to time prior to the Maturity Date, in an aggregate principal
amount at any time outstanding not in excess of $12,500,000.
WHEREAS,
Borrower has requested the Issuing Bank to issue letters of credit, in an
aggregate face amount at any time outstanding not in excess of $10,000,000 to
support payment obligations incurred by Borrower and its
Subsidiaries.
WHEREAS,
the proceeds of the Loans are to be used in accordance with Section
3.12.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth
herein and in the other Loan Documents, the receipt and adequacy of which are
hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
Section
1.01 Defined
Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall
have the meanings specified below:
“ABR,” when used in reference
to any Loan or Borrowing, is used when such Loan comprising such Borrowing is,
or the Loans comprising such Borrowing are, bearing interest at a rate
determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate in accordance with the
provisions of Article
II.
“ABR Borrowing” shall mean a
Borrowing comprised of ABR Loans.
“ABR Loan” shall mean any Loan
bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate in
accordance with the provisions of Article
II.
“Acquired Debt” shall mean,
with respect to any specified Person:
(1) Indebtedness
of any other person existing at the time such other person is merged with or
into or became a Subsidiary of such specified person, whether or not such
Indebtedness is incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other
person merging with or into, or becoming a Subsidiary of, such specified person;
provided, however, that Indebtedness of
such acquired person which is redeemed, defeased, retired or otherwise repaid at
the time of or immediately upon consummation of the transactions by which such
person merges with or into or becomes a Subsidiary of such person shall not be
Acquired Debt; and
1
(2) Indebtedness
secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified
person.
“Adjusted LIBOR Rate” shall
mean, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, an
interest rate per annum (rounded upward, if necessary, to the next 1/100th of
1%) determined by the Administrative Agent to be equal to (a) the LIBOR Rate for
such Eurodollar Borrowing in effect for such Interest Period divided by (b) 1
minus the Statutory
Reserves (if any) for such Eurodollar Borrowing for such Interest
Period.
“Administrative Agent” shall
have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto and includes each
other person appointed as the successor administrative agent pursuant to Article
X.
“Administrative Agent Fees”
shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(b).
“Administrative Questionnaire”
shall mean an Administrative Questionnaire in the form supplied from time to
time by the Administrative Agent.
“Advisors” shall mean legal
counsel (including local, foreign and in-house counsel), auditors, accountants,
consultants, appraisers, engineers or other advisors.
“Affiliate” shall mean, when
used with respect to a specified person, another person that directly, or
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or
is under common Control with the person specified; provided, however, that, for
purposes of Section
6.06, the term “Affiliate” shall also include (i) any person that
directly or indirectly owns more than 10% of any class of Equity Interests of
the person specified or (ii) any person that is an officer or director of the
person specified.
“Affiliate Transaction” shall
have the meaning assigned to such term in Section
6.06.
“Agents” shall mean the
Arranger, the Documentation Agent, the Syndication Agent, the Administrative
Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Book Manager; and “Agent” shall mean any of
them.
“Agreement” shall have the
meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.
“Alternate Base Rate” shall
mean, for any day, a rate per annum (rounded upward, if necessary, to the next
1/100th of 1%) equal to the greatest of (a) the Base Rate in effect on such day,
(b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus 0.50% and (c) the
Adjusted LIBOR Rate in effect on such day for three-month interest period LIBOR
Rate borrowings (as determined by the Administrative Agent) plus 1.00%. If the
Administrative Agent shall have determined (which determination shall be
conclusive absent manifest error) that it is unable to ascertain the Federal
Funds Effective Rate or the applicable LIBOR rate for any reason, including the
inability or failure of the Administrative Agent to obtain sufficient quotations
in accordance with the terms of the definition thereof, the Alternate Base Rate
shall be determined without regard to clause (b) of the preceding sentence until
the circumstances giving rise to such inability no longer exist. Any
change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Base Rate, the Federal
Funds Effective Rate or the then applicable LIBOR rate shall be effective on the
effective date of such change in the Base Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate
or the then applicable LIBOR rate, respectively.
“Anti-Terrorism Laws” shall
have the meaning assigned to such term in Section
3.22.
2
“Applicable Margin” shall mean
with respect to ABR Loans, 4.50% per annum and with respect to Eurodollar Loans,
5.50% per annum.
“Approved Fund” shall mean any
person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making,
purchasing, holding or investing in bank and other commercial loans and similar
extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and that is
administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an
entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a
Lender.
“Arranger” shall have the
meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.
“Asset Sale” shall
mean:
(1) the
sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of any assets or rights; provided that the sale,
lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets
of Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole will be governed by the
provisions of Section
2.10(h) hereof and/or the provisions of Section 6.03 hereof
and not by the provisions of Section 6.04 hereof;
and
(2) the
issuance or sale of Equity Interests in any of Borrower’s Restricted
Subsidiaries.
Notwithstanding
the preceding, none of the following items will be deemed to be an Asset
Sale:
(1) any
single transaction or series of related transactions that involves assets having
a Fair Market Value of less than $1.0 million;
(2) a
transfer of assets between or among Borrower and its Restricted
Subsidiaries;
(3) an
issuance of Equity Interests by a Restricted Subsidiary of Borrower to Borrower
or to a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of Borrower;
(4) the
sale, lease or discount of products, services or accounts receivable in the
ordinary course of business, any sale or other disposition of surplus, damaged,
worn-out or obsolete assets in the ordinary course of business and the
assignment, cancellation or abandonment or other disposition of intellectual
property that is no longer useful in any material respect in the conduct of the
business of Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole;
(5) the
sale or other disposition of cash or Cash Equivalents;
(6) a
Restricted Payment that does not violate Section 6.05 hereof or a Permitted
Investment;
(7) dispositions
of Investments or receivables in connection with the compromise, settlement or
collection thereof in the ordinary course of business or in bankruptcy or
similar proceedings and exclusive of factoring or similar
arrangements;
(8) the
licensing or sublicensing of intellectual property or other general intangibles
and licenses, sublicenses, leases or subleases of other property in the ordinary
course of business which do not materially interfere with the business of
Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(9)
the sale or other disposition of Equity Interests of an Unrestricted Subsidiary;
and
(10)
the sale of Permitted Investments (other than sales of Equity Interests of any
of Borrower’s Restricted Subsidiaries) made by Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary after the date of this Agreement, if such Permitted Investments were
(a) received in exchange for, or purchased out of the net cash proceeds of the
substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of Borrower) of,
Equity Interests of Borrower (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) or (b)
received in the form of, or were purchased from the proceeds of, a substantially
concurrent contribution of common equity capital to Borrower.
3
“Assignment and Acceptance”
shall mean an assignment and acceptance entered into by a Lender and an assignee
(with the consent of any party whose consent is required pursuant to Section 11.04(b)),
and accepted by the Administrative Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit A, or such
other form as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent.
“Availability Period” shall
mean the period from and including the Closing Date to but excluding the earlier
of (i) the Business Day preceding the Maturity Date and (ii) the date of
termination of the Commitments.
“Bailee Letter” shall have the
meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.
“Base Rate” shall mean, for any
day, the rate of interest per annum (x) publicly announced from time to time by
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in
New York City or (y) if the foregoing prime rate in clause (x) is then
unavailable, such other publicly announced prime rate of another significant
U.S. financial institution as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent;
each change in the Base Rate shall be effective on the date such change is
effective. The prime rate is not necessarily the lowest rate charged
by any financial institution to its customers.
“Beneficial Owner” shall have
the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the
Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any
particular “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange
Act), such “person” will be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all
securities that such “person” has the right to acquire by conversion or exercise
of other securities, whether such right is currently exercisable or is
exercisable only after the passage of time except following an initial public
offering of equity of Borrower or any direct or indirect parent of
Borrower. The term “beneficial ownership” has a corresponding
meaning.
“Board” shall mean the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.
“Board of Directors” shall
mean, with respect to any person, (i) in the case of any corporation, the board
of directors of such person, (ii) in the case of any limited liability company,
the board of managers or board of directors, as applicable, of such person, or
if such limited liability company does not have a board of managers or board of
directors, the functional equivalent of the foregoing, (iii) in the case of any
partnership, the board of directors or board of managers, as applicable, of the
general partner of such person and (iv) in any other case, the functional
equivalent of the foregoing.
“Book Manager” shall have the
meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.
“Borrower” shall have the
meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.
“Borrowing” shall mean Loans of
the same Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of
Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in
effect.
“Borrowing Base” shall mean at
any time an amount equal to the Consolidated Cash Flow of Holdings and its
Subsidiaries for the most recent Test Period.
4
“Borrowing Request” shall mean
a request by Borrower in accordance with the terms of Section 2.03 and
substantially in the form of Exhibit B, or such
other form as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent.
“Business Day” shall mean any
day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banks in New York City
are authorized or required by law to close; provided, however, that when
used in connection with a Eurodollar Loan, the term “Business Day” shall also
exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in Dollar deposits in
the London interbank market.
“Capital Lease Obligations”
shall mean, at the time any determination is to be made, the amount of the
liability in respect of a capital lease that would at that time be required to
be capitalized on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP, and the
Stated Maturity thereof shall be the date of the last payment of rent or any
other amount due under such lease prior to the first date upon which such lease
may be prepaid by the lessee without payment of a penalty.
“Capital Requirements” shall
mean, as to any person, any matter, directly or indirectly, (i) regarding
capital adequacy, capital ratios, capital requirements, the calculation of such
person’s capital or similar matters, or (ii) affecting the amount of capital
required to be obtained or maintained by such person or any person controlling
such person (including any holding company), or the manner in which such person
or any person controlling such person (including any holding company), allocates
capital to any of its contingent liabilities (including letters of credit),
advances, acceptances, commitments, assets or liabilities.
“Capital Stock” shall
mean
(1) in
the case of a corporation, corporate stock;
(2) in
the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests,
participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate
stock;
(3) in
the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership interests
(whether general or limited) or membership interests; and
(4) any
other interest or participation that confers on a person the right to receive a
share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing
Person, but excluding from all of the foregoing any debt securities convertible
into Capital Stock, whether or not such debt securities include any right of
participation with Capital Stock,
including,
in each case, Preferred Stock.
“Cash Collateralized” shall
mean, with respect to any Letter of Credit, as of any date, that Borrower shall
have deposited in the LC Sub-Account, in the name of the Collateral Agent and
for the benefit of the Lenders, an amount in cash equal to 105% of the LC
Exposure as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest
thereon. “Cash
Collateralize” shall have the correlative meaning.
“Cash Equivalents” shall
mean:
(1) United
States dollars;
(2) securities
or any evidence of indebtedness issued or directly and fully guaranteed or
insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality of the
United States government (provided that the full faith
and credit of the United States is pledged in support of those securities or
such evidence of indebtedness);
5
(3) certificates
of deposit and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of twelve months or less
from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding
twelve months and overnight bank deposits, in each case, with any Lender or with
any domestic commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500.0
million and a Thomson Bank Watch Rating of “B” or better;
(4) repurchase
obligations with a term of not more than 30 days for underlying securities of
the types described in clauses (2) and (3) above entered into with any financial
institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (3)
above;
(5) commercial
paper having one of the two highest ratings obtainable from Xxxxx’x Investors
Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor’s Rating Services and in each case maturing
within twelve months after the date of acquisition; and
(6) money
market funds at least 95% of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents of
the kinds described in clauses (1) through (5) of this definition.
“Casualty Event” shall mean any
loss of title (other than through a consensual sale or other consensual
Disposition of such property in accordance with this Agreement) or any loss of
or damage to or any destruction of, or any condemnation or other taking
(including by any Governmental Authority) of, any property of any Company; provided that any such event
(or series of related events) resulting in Net Cash Proceeds (i) not exceeding
$250,000 for any such event (or series of related events) and (ii) not exceeding
in the aggregate for all such events (or series of related events) $500,000 in
any fiscal year, shall not be deemed a “Casualty Event”. “Casualty
Event” shall include any taking of all or any part of any Real Property of any
person or any part thereof, in or by condemnation or other eminent domain
proceedings pursuant to any Legal Requirement, or by reason of the temporary
requisition of the use or occupancy of all or any part of any Real Property of
any person or any part thereof by any Governmental Authority, or any settlement
in lieu thereof.
“CERCLA” shall mean the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980,
as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 9601 et seq.
A “Change in Control” shall mean
the occurrence of any of the following:
(1) the
direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other
than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related
transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of
Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any “person” (as that term is
used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) other than a Principal or a Related
Party of a Principal;
(2) the
adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of Holdings or the
Borrower;
(3) the
consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or
consolidation), the result of which is that any “person” (as defined above),
other than the Principal and its Related Parties, becomes the Beneficial Owner,
directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Stock of Holdings,
measured by voting power rather than number of shares;
6
(4) after
an initial public offering of Holdings or any direct or indirect parent of
Holdings, the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of
Directors of Holdings are not Continuing Directors; or
(5) Holdings
shall cease to beneficially own and control 100% on a fully diluted basis of the
economic and voting interest in the Equity Interests of the
Borrower.
“Change in Law” shall mean (a)
the adoption of, or taking effect of, any law, treaty, order, rule or regulation
after the date of this Agreement, (b) any change in any law, treaty, order, rule
or regulation or in the interpretation or application thereof by any
Governmental Authority after the date of this Agreement or (c) compliance by any
Lender or Issuing Bank (or, for purposes of Section 2.12(b), by
any lending office of such Lender or by such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s holding
company, if any) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having
the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of
this Agreement.
“Charges” shall have the
meaning assigned to such term in Section
11.13.
“Claims” shall have the meaning
assigned to such term in Section
11.03(b).
“Closing Date” shall mean May
22, 2009.
“Code” shall mean the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Collateral” shall mean,
collectively, all of the Security Agreement Collateral, the Mortgaged Property
and all other property of whatever kind and nature, whether now existing or
hereafter acquired, pledged or purported to be pledged as collateral or
otherwise subject to a security interest or purported to be subject to a
security interest under any Security Document.
“Collateral Account” shall mean
one or more collateral accounts or sub-accounts established and maintained from
time to time by the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, in
accordance with the provisions of Section
9.01.
“Collateral Agent” shall have
the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.
“Commercial Letter of Credit”
shall mean any letter of credit issued for the purpose of providing credit
support to the sellers of materials, goods or services to Borrower or any of its
Wholly Owned Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of their respective
businesses.
“Commitment” shall mean, with
respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make Loans hereunder up
to the amount set forth on Annex I or on Schedule 1 to
the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender assumed its
Commitment, as applicable, as the same may be reduced from time to time pursuant
to Section 2.07 and
reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such
Lender pursuant to Section 11.04. The
aggregate principal amount of the Lenders’ Commitments on the Closing Date is
$12,500,000.
“Commitment Fee” shall have the
meaning assigned to such term in Section
2.05(a).
“Communications” shall have the
meaning assigned to such term in Section
11.01(d).
“Companies” shall mean Holdings
and its Subsidiaries; and “Company” shall mean any one of
them.
7
“Compliance Certificate” shall
mean a certificate of a Financial Officer of Holdings substantially in the form
of Exhibit
C.
“Consolidated Cash Flow” shall
mean, with respect to any specified person for any period, the Consolidated Net
Income of such person for such period plus, without duplication:
(1) an
amount equal to (a) any extraordinary loss plus (b) any net loss realized by
such person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset
Sale, in each case to the extent such losses were deducted in computing such
Consolidated Net Income; plus
(2) any
payments pursuant to clause (2) of Permitted Parent Payments and provision for
taxes based on income or profits of such person and its Restricted Subsidiaries
for such period, to the extent that such payment or provision for taxes was
deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus
(3) the
Fixed Charges of such person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to
the extent that such Fixed Charges were deducted in computing such Consolidated
Net Income; plus
(4) payments
pursuant to or to fund payments under the Management Agreement as in effect on
the Closing Date; plus
(5) (a)
customary fees and expenses of Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries payable
in connection with (i) the issuance and maintenance of the Senior Secured Notes
and the Borrowings, (ii) any Equity Offering, (iii) the incurrence, maintenance,
termination or repayment of Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01 hereof or
(iv) any Permitted Investment and any acquisition permitted under this
Agreement, (b) cash or non-cash charges relating to the repricing or issuance of
employee stock options (whether accruing at or subsequent to the time of such
repricing or issuance) or the adoption of cash bonus arrangements, in any case
in connection with the issuance of the Senior Secured Notes, and payments
pursuant to any such arrangement and (c) restructuring charges, in each case to
the extent that such items were deducted in computing such Consolidated Net
Income; plus
(6) depreciation,
amortization (including amortization of intangibles but excluding amortization
of prepaid cash expenses that were paid in a prior period) and other non-cash
expenses (including charges related to the writeoff of goodwill or intangibles
as a result of impairment, in each case, as required by SFAS No. 142 or SFAS No.
144 but excluding any such non-cash expense to the extent that it represents an
accrual of or reserve for cash expenses in any future period or amortization of
a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a prior period) of such person and its
Restricted Subsidiaries for such period to the extent that such depreciation,
amortization and other non-cash expenses were deducted in computing such
Consolidated Net Income; plus
(7) fees,
expenses and amounts paid in defense of, or to discharge judgments, pursuant to
settlements or as fines or penalties arising from or related to, lawsuits,
governmental proceedings or regulatory actions or investigations relating to (i)
allegations that Borrower, Holdings or any of their Subsidiaries improperly
classified certain employees as “exempt” employees under federal or state labor
laws or related or similar allegations and (ii), to the extent incurred prior to
the date hereof, ongoing Mexican trademark litigation and litigation incidental
or related thereto; minus
8
(8) non-cash
items increasing such Consolidated Net Income, other than reductions of negative
leasehold liability, for such period, other than the accrual of revenue in the
ordinary course of business;
in each
case, on a consolidated basis and determined in accordance with
GAAP. The amount of Consolidated Cash Flow for each of the 12 fiscal
months ended prior to the Closing Date shall be as set forth in Schedule
1.01(a).
“Consolidated Leverage Ratio”
shall mean, as of any date of determination (the “Reference Date”), the ratio of
(x) the sum of the total principal amount of Indebtedness (or, in the case of
Indebtedness issued at less than its principal amount at maturity, the accreted
value thereof) and the total amount of Disqualified Capital Stock outstanding of
Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis and determined
in accordance with GAAP on the Reference Date, less the amount of cash and Cash
Equivalents held by Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the Reference
Date (“Total
Indebtedness”), to (y) the Consolidated Cash Flow of Borrower for the
most recent four consecutive full fiscal quarters for which financial statements
are available (the “Four-Quarter Period”) ending
on or prior to the Reference Date. For purposes of this definition, Total
Indebtedness and Consolidated Cash Flow shall be calculated after giving effect
on a pro forma basis to:
(1) all incurrences or repayments of
any Indebtedness by Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries occurring at
any time subsequent to the last day of the Four-Quarter Period and on or prior
to the Reference Date, as if such incurrence or repayment, as the case may be,
occurred on the first day of the Four-Quarter Period; and
(2)
acquisitions, including through mergers or consolidations, and Asset Sales that
have been made by Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any person
or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries acquired by Borrower or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries, and including any related financing transactions and
including increases in ownership of Restricted Subsidiaries, during the
Four-Quarter Period or subsequent thereto and on or prior to the Reference Date,
as if such acquisition or Asset Sale, as the case may be, occurred on the first
day of the Four-Quarter Period.
“Consolidated Net Income” shall
mean , with respect to any specified Person for any period, the aggregate of the
Net Income of such person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a
consolidated basis, determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that:
(1) the
Net Income (if positive) of any person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or
that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting will be included only
to the extent of the amount of dividends or similar distributions paid in cash
to the specified person or a Restricted Subsidiary of the person;
(2) the
Net Income (but not loss) of any Restricted Subsidiary will be excluded to the
extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by
that Restricted Subsidiary of that Net Income is not at the date of
determination permitted without any prior governmental approval (that has not
been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by operation of the terms of its
charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or
governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its
stockholders;
(3) the
cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles will be
excluded;
9
(4) non-cash
expenses related to the writeoff of goodwill or intangibles as a result of
impairment, including, without limitation, as required by SFAS No. 142 or SFAS
No. 144 will be excluded; and
(5) notwithstanding
clause (1) above, the Net Income of any Unrestricted Subsidiary will be
excluded, whether or not distributed to the specified person or one of its
Subsidiaries.
“Contingent Obligation” shall
mean, as to any person, any obligation, agreement, understanding or arrangement
of such person guaranteeing or intended to guarantee any Indebtedness, leases,
dividends or other obligations (“primary obligations”) of any
other person (the “primary
obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including any
obligation, agreement, understanding or arrangement of such person, whether or
not contingent, (a) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property
constituting direct or indirect security therefor, (b) to advance or supply
funds (i) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation or (ii) to
maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise
to maintain the net worth, net equity, liquidity, level of income, cash flow or
solvency of the primary obligor, (c) to purchase or lease property, securities
or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the primary obligor of any
such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of
such primary obligation, (d) with respect to bankers’ acceptances, letters of
credit and similar credit arrangements, until a reimbursement or equivalent
obligation arises (which reimbursement obligation shall constitute a primary
obligation), or (e) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the primary obligor of
any such primary obligation against loss (in whole or in part) in respect
thereof; provided,
however, that the term
“Contingent Obligation” shall not include endorsements of instruments for
deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business or any product
warranties given in the ordinary course of business. The amount of
any Contingent Obligation shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or
determinable amount of the primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of
which such Contingent Obligation is made (or, if less, the maximum amount of
such primary obligation for which such person may be liable, whether singly or
jointly, pursuant to the terms of the instrument, agreements or other documents
or, if applicable, unwritten agreement, evidencing such Contingent Obligation)
or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability
in respect thereof (assuming such person is required to perform thereunder) as
determined by such person in good faith.
“Continuing Directors” shall
mean, as of any date of determination, any member of the Board of Directors of
Holdings who:
(1) was
a member of such Board of Directors on the date of an initial public offering of
Holdings or any direct or indirect parent of Holdings; or
(2) was
nominated for election or elected to such Board of Directors with the approval
of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board of
Directors at the time of such nomination or election.
“Control” shall mean the
possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management or policies of a person, whether through the ability
to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise, and the terms “Controlling” and “Controlled” shall have
meanings correlative thereto.
“Control Agreement” shall have
the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.
“Controlled Investment
Affiliate” shall mean, as to any person, any other person which directly
or indirectly is in Control of, is Controlled by, or is under common Control
with, such person and is organized by such person (or any person Controlling
such person) primarily for making equity or debt investments in Holdings or
other portfolio companies of such person.
10
“Credit Extension” shall mean,
as the context may require, (i) the making of a Loan by a Lender or (ii) the
issuance of any Letter of Credit, or the extension of the expiry date or
renewal, or any amendment or other modification to increase the amount, of any
existing Letter of Credit, by the Issuing Bank.
“Credit Facilities” shall mean
the revolving credit and letter of credit facilities.
“Debt Issuance” shall mean the
incurrence by any Company of any Indebtedness after the Closing Date (other than
as permitted by Section 6.01).
“Default” shall mean any event,
occurrence or condition which is, or upon notice, lapse of time or both would
constitute, an Event of Default.
“Default Excess” shall have the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.16(c).
“Default Period” shall have the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.16(c).
“Default Rate” shall have the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(c).
“Defaulting Lender” shall mean,
at any time of determination thereof, any Lender that (i) has failed to fund any
portion of the Loans or participations in LC Exposure required to be funded by
it hereunder, except to the extent that any such failure to fund is based on a
good faith dispute about such Lender’s obligation to so fund, of which dispute
the Administrative Agent has been informed in writing in reasonable detail, or
(ii) has notified Borrower, any Issuing Bank and/or the Administrative Agent in
writing of any of the foregoing (including any written notification of its
intent not to comply with its funding obligations described in preceding clause
(i)).
“Disposition” shall mean, with
respect to any property, any conveyance, sale, lease, sublease, exclusive
license, exclusive sublicense, assignment, transfer or other disposition of such
property (including by way of merger or consolidation).
“Disqualified Capital Stock”
shall mean any Equity Interest that, by its terms (or by the terms of any
security into which it is convertible, or for which it is exchangeable, in each
case at the option of the holder of the Equity Interest), or upon the happening
of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund
obligation or otherwise, or redeemable at the option of the holder of the Equity
Interest, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the
date on which the Senior Secured Notes mature. Notwithstanding the
preceding sentence, any Equity Interest that would constitute Disqualified
Capital Stock solely because the holders of the Equity Interest have the right
to require the Company to repurchase such Equity Interest upon the occurrence of
a change of control or an asset sale shall not constitute Disqualified Capital
Stock if the asset sale provisions or change of control definition applicable to
such Equity Interest are not more favorable to the holders of such Equity
Interest than the provisions of Sections 6.04 and the definition "Change in
Control", as reasonably determined by the Company. The amount of
Disqualified Capital Stock deemed to be outstanding at any time for purposes of
this Agreement will be the maximum amount that the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries may become obligated to pay upon the maturity of, or pursuant to
any mandatory redemption provisions of, such Disqualified Capital Stock,
exclusive of accrued dividends.
“Documentation Agent” shall
have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.
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“Dollars” or “$” shall mean lawful money of
the United States.
“Embargoed Person” shall have
the meaning assigned to such term in Section
6.16.
“Employee Benefit Plan” shall
mean any “employee benefit plan” as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA which is or
was maintained or contributed to by any Company or any of its ERISA
Affiliates.
“Environment” shall mean
ambient and indoor air, surface water and groundwater (including potable water,
navigable water and wetlands), the land surface or subsurface strata or
sediment, natural resources such as flora and fauna or as otherwise defined in
any Environmental Law.
“Environmental Claim” shall
mean any claim, notice, demand, Order, action, suit, proceeding, or other
communication alleging or asserting liability or obligations under Environmental
Law, including liability or obligation for investigation, assessment,
remediation, removal, cleanup, response, corrective action, monitoring,
post-remedial or post-closure studies, investigations, operations and
maintenance, injury, damage, destruction or loss to natural resources, personal
injury, wrongful death, property damage, fines, penalties or other costs
resulting from, related to or arising out of (i) the presence, Release or
threatened Release of Hazardous Material in, on, into or from the Environment at
any location or (ii) any violation of or non-compliance with Environmental Law,
and shall include any claim, notice, demand, Order, action, suit or proceeding
seeking damages (including the costs of remediation), contribution,
indemnification, cost recovery, penalties, fines, indemnities, compensation or
injunctive relief resulting from, related to or arising out of the presence,
Release or threatened Release of Hazardous Material or alleged injury or threat
of injury to human health or the Environment.
“Environmental Law” shall mean
any and all applicable current and future Legal Requirements relating to human
health, pollution or the protection of the Environment, the Release or
threatened Release of Hazardous Material, natural resources or natural resource
damages, or, to the extent relating to exposure to Hazardous Materials,
occupational safety or health.
“Environmental Permit” shall
mean any permit, license, approval, consent, registration, notification,
exemption or other authorization required by or from a Governmental Authority
under any Environmental Law.
“Equity Interest” shall mean,
with respect to any person, any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase,
warrants, options, participations or other equivalents, including membership
interests (however designated, whether voting or nonvoting), of equity of such
person, including, if such person is a partnership, partnership interests
(whether general or limited), or if such person is a limited liability company,
membership interests and any other interest or participation that confers on a
person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or
distributions of property of, such partnership, whether outstanding on the date
hereof or issued on or after the Closing Date, but excluding debt securities
convertible or exchangeable into such equity.
“Equity Investors” shall mean
the Sponsor, the other direct or indirect holders of Equity Interests in
Holdings and each of their respective Controlled Investment
Affiliates.
“Equity Offering” shall mean an
offer and sale of common stock of Borrower or any direct or indirect parent of
Borrower pursuant to a registration statement that has been declared effective
by the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act (other than a registration statement
on Form S-8 or otherwise relating to equity securities issuable under any
employee benefit plan of Borrower).
12
“ERISA” shall mean the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, the
regulations promulgated thereunder and any successor statute.
“ERISA Affiliate” shall mean,
with respect to any person, any trade or business (whether or not incorporated)
that, together with such person, is treated as a single employer under Section
414(b) or (c) of the Code, or solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and
Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of
the Code. Any former ERISA Affiliate of a person or any of its
Subsidiaries shall continue to be considered an ERISA Affiliate of such person
or such Subsidiary within the meaning of this definition with respect to the
period such entity was an ERISA Affiliate of such person or such Subsidiary and
with respect to liabilities arising after such period for which such person or
such Subsidiary could reasonably be expected to be liable under the Code or
ERISA, but in no event for more than six years after such period if no such
liability has been asserted against such person or such Subsidiary; provided, however, that such person or
such Subsidiary shall continue to be an ERISA Affiliate of such person or such
Subsidiary after the expiration of the six-year period solely with respect to
any liability asserted against such person or such Subsidiary prior to the
expiration of such six-year period.
“ERISA Event” shall mean (i) a
“reportable event” within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA and the
regulations issued thereunder with respect to any Pension Plan; (ii) the failure
to meet the minimum funding standard of Sections 412 and 430 of the Code or
Sections 302 or 303 of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan (whether or not
waived in accordance with Section 412(c) of the Code or Section 302(c) of ERISA)
or the failure to make by its due date a required installment under Section
430(j) of the Code with respect to any Pension Plan or the failure to make any
required contribution to a Multiemployer Plan; (iii) a determination that any
Pension Plan is, or is expected to be, in “at risk” status (as defined in
Section 430 of the Code or Section 303 of ERISA); (iv) the provision by the
administrator of any Pension Plan pursuant to Section 4041(a)(2) of ERISA of a
notice of intent to terminate such plan in a distress termination described in
Section 4041(c) of ERISA; (v) a determination that any Multiemployer Plan is, or
is expected to be, in “critical” or “endangered” status under Section 432 of the
Code or Section 305 of ERISA; (vi) the withdrawal by any Company from any
Pension Plan with two or more contributing sponsors or the termination of any
such Pension Plan resulting, in either case, in actual or contingent liability
to any Company, pursuant to Section 4063 or 4064 of ERISA; (vii) the institution
by the PBGC of proceedings to terminate any Pension Plan, or the occurrence of
any event or condition which could reasonably be expected to constitute grounds
under ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to
administer, any Pension Plan; (viii) the imposition of liability on any Company
pursuant to Section 4062(e) or 4069 of ERISA or by reason of the application of
Section 4212(c) of ERISA; (ix) the withdrawal of any Company or any of its ERISA
Affiliates in a complete or partial withdrawal (within the meaning of Sections
4203 and 4205 of ERISA) from any Multiemployer Plan , or the receipt by any
Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates of notice from any Multiemployer Plan
that it is in reorganization or insolvency pursuant to Section 4241 or 4245 of
ERISA, or that it intends to terminate or has terminated under Section 4041A or
4042 of ERISA, if, in any such case, there is potential liability of any Company
therefor; (x) the assertion of a material claim (other than routine claims for
benefits) against any Employee Benefit Plan, or the assets thereof, or against
any Company in connection with any Employee Benefit Plan; (xi) receipt from the
Internal Revenue Service of notice of the failure of any Pension Plan (or any
other Employee Benefit Plan intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the
Code) to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code, or the failure of any trust
forming part of any Pension Plan to qualify for exemption from taxation under
Section 501(a) of the Code; (xii) the imposition of a Lien pursuant to Section
430(k) of the Code or pursuant to Section 303(k) of ERISA or a violation of
Section 436 of the Code with respect to any Pension Plan; or (xiii) the
occurrence of a non-exempt prohibited transaction (within the meaning of Section
4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA) which could reasonably be expected to
result in material liability to any Company.
13
“Eurodollar Borrowing” shall
mean a Borrowing comprised of Eurodollar Loans.
“Eurodollar Loan” shall mean
any Loan bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted
LIBOR Rate.
“Event of Default” shall have
the meaning assigned to such term in Article VIII,
and shall include any Default.
“Exchange Act” shall mean the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
“Exchange Senior Secured Notes”
shall mean senior secured notes issued in exchange for Senior Secured Notes,
which Exchange Senior Secured Notes are substantially identical securities to
the originally issued Senior Secured Notes, as contemplated by the registration
rights agreement described in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum.
“Excluded Contributions” shall
mean net cash proceeds or marketable securities received by Borrower from
contributions to its common equity capital designated as Excluded Contributions
pursuant to an officers’ certificate on the date such capital contributions are
made.
“Excluded Issuance” shall mean
an issuance and sale for cash of Qualified Capital Stock of Holdings to any of
the Equity Investors.
“Excluded Taxes” shall mean,
with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the Issuing Bank or any
other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of
any Loan Party hereunder,
(a)
income, franchise or branch profits taxes imposed on (or measured by) its net
income by the United States or any jurisdiction (i) under the laws of which such
recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located, (ii) as a
result of a present or former connection between such person and the
jurisdiction of the Governmental Authority imposing such tax (other than any
such connection arising solely from such person having executed, delivered or
performed its obligations or received a payment under, or enforced, this
Agreement or any other Loan Document), or (iii) in the case of any Lender, in
which its applicable lending office is located, or
(b) in
the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by
Borrower under Section
2.16), any withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such
Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party to this Agreement
(or designates a new lending office) or is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s
failure or inability (other than as a result of a Change in Law) to comply with
Section
2.15(e), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor,
if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new lending office (or
assignment), to receive additional amounts from Borrower with respect to such
withholding tax pursuant to Section 2.15(a) (it
being understood and agreed, for the avoidance of doubt, that any withholding
tax imposed on a Foreign Lender not described in (b) above shall not be an
Excluded Tax).
“Executive Order” shall have
the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.22.
“Existing Indebtedness” shall
mean all Indebtedness for borrowed money of Borrower and its Subsidiaries (other
than Indebtedness incurred hereunder) existing on the Closing Date, as set forth
on Schedule 6.01, until such amounts are paid.
“Existing Lien” shall mean all
Liens existing on the Closing Date, as set forth on Schedule 6.02.
14
“Exposure” shall mean, with
respect to any Lender at any time, the aggregate principal amount at such time
of all outstanding Loans of such Lender, plus the aggregate amount at
such time of such Lender’s LC Exposure.
“Fair Market Value” shall mean,
with respect to any asset (including any Equity Interests of any person), the
value that would be paid by a willing buyer to an unaffiliated willing seller in
a transaction not involving distress or necessity of either party, determined in
good faith by the chief financial officer, chief accounting officer, controller
or Board of Directors of Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable,
which determination will be conclusive (unless otherwise provided in this
Agreement).
“Federal Funds Effective Rate”
shall mean, for any day, the weighted average of the rates on overnight federal
funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System of the United
States arranged by federal funds brokers, as published on the next succeeding
Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so
published for any day that is a Business Day, the average (rounded upwards, if
necessary to the next 1/100th of 1%) of the quotations for the day for such
transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three federal funds
brokers of recognized standing selected by it.
“Fee Letter” shall mean the
confidential Fee Letter, dated as of the date hereof, among Holdings, Borrower
and Jefferies Finance LLC.
“Fees” shall mean the
Commitment Fees, the Administrative Agent Fees, the LC Participation Fees, the
Fronting Fees and the other fees referred to in Section 2.05(d).
“Financial Officer” of any
person shall mean the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer,
treasurer or controller of such person.
“FIRREA” shall mean the
Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989, as
amended.
“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio”
shall mean, with respect to any specified person for any period, the ratio of
the Consolidated Cash Flow of such Person for such period to the Fixed Charges
of such person for such period. In the event that the specified
person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurs, assumes, guarantees,
repays, repurchases, redeems, defeases or otherwise discharges any Indebtedness
(other than ordinary working capital borrowings) or issues, repurchases or
redeems preferred stock subsequent to the commencement of the period for which
the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being calculated and on or prior to the date
on which the event for which the calculation of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio
is made (the “Calculation
Date”), then the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio will be calculated giving
pro forma effect to such incurrence, assumption, guarantee, repayment,
repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other discharge of Indebtedness, or such
issuance, repurchase or redemption of preferred stock, and the use of the
proceeds therefrom, as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the
applicable four-quarter reference period. For purposes of calculating
the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio:
(1) acquisitions
that have been made by the specified person or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries, including through mergers or consolidations, or any person or any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries acquired by the specified person or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries, and including any related financing transactions and
including increases in ownership of Restricted Subsidiaries, during the
four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or
prior to the Calculation Date will be given pro forma effect (in accordance with
Regulation S-X under the Securities Act) as if they had occurred on the first
day of the four-quarter reference period;
15
(2) the
Consolidated Cash Flow attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in
accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses (and ownership interests
therein) disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, will be
excluded;
(3) the
Fixed Charges attributable to discontinued operations, as determined in
accordance with GAAP, and operations or businesses (and ownership interests
therein) disposed of prior to the Calculation Date, will be excluded, but only
to the extent that the obligations giving rise to such Fixed Charges will not be
obligations of the specified person or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
following the Calculation Date;
(4) any
person that is a Restricted Subsidiary on the Calculation Date (or would become
a Restricted Subsidiary on such Calculation Date in connection with the
transaction requiring determination of such Consolidated Cash Flow) will be
deemed to have been a Restricted Subsidiary at all times during such
four-quarter period;
(5) any
person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary on the Calculation Date (or would
cease to be a Restricted Subsidiary on such Calculation Date in connection with
the transaction requiring determination of such Consolidated Cash Flow) will be
deemed not to have been a Restricted Subsidiary at any time during such
four-quarter period; and
(6) if
any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest, the interest expense on such
Indebtedness will be calculated as if the rate in effect on the Calculation Date
had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any
Hedging Obligation applicable to such Indebtedness if such Hedging Obligation
has a remaining term as at the Calculation Date in excess of 12
months).
“Fixed Charges” shall mean,
with respect to any specified person for any period, the sum, without
duplication, of:
(1) the
consolidated interest expense of such person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for
such period, whether paid or accrued, including, without limitation, original
issue discount, non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any
deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all payments associated
with Capital Lease Obligations, commissions, discounts and other fees and
charges incurred in respect of letter of credit or bankers’ acceptance
financings, and net of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to
Hedging Obligations in respect of interest rates, but excluding amortization of
debt issuance costs; plus
(2) the
consolidated interest expense of such person and its Restricted Subsidiaries
that was capitalized during such period; plus
(3) any
interest accruing on Indebtedness of another person that is guaranteed by such
person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries or secured by a Lien on assets of
such person or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries, whether or not such guarantee
or Lien is called upon; plus
(4) the
product of (a) all dividends, whether paid or accrued and whether or not in
cash, on any series of preferred stock of such person or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries, other than dividends on Equity Interests payable solely in Equity
Interests of Borrower (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) or to Borrower or
a Restricted Subsidiary of Borrower, times (b) a fraction, the numerator of
which is one and the denominator of which is one minus the then current combined
federal, state and local statutory tax rate of such person, expressed as a
decimal, in each case, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with
GAAP.
16
“Foreign Lender” shall mean any
Lender that is not, for United States federal income tax purposes, (i) a citizen
or individual resident of the United States, (ii) a corporation or entity
treated as a corporation created or organized in or under the laws of the United
States, or any political subdivision thereof, (iii) an estate whose income is
subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source or (iv) a trust
if (a) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision
over the administration of such trust and one or more United States persons have
the authority to control all substantial decisions of such trust, or (b) such
trust has validly elected to be treated as a U.S. person for U.S. federal income
tax purposes.
“Foreign Subsidiary” shall mean
a Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the
United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia.
“Fronting Fee” shall have the
meaning assigned to such term in Section
2.05(c).
“GAAP” shall mean generally
accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent
basis.
“Governmental Authority” shall
mean any federal, state, local or foreign (whether civil, criminal, military or
otherwise) court, central bank or governmental agency, tribunal, authority,
instrumentality or regulatory body or any subdivision thereof or other entity
exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or
administrative powers of or pertaining to government (including any
supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central
Bank).
“Governmental Real Property Disclosure
Requirements” shall mean any Legal Requirement of any Governmental
Authority requiring notification of the buyer, lessee, mortgagee, assignee or
other transferee of any Real Property, facility, establishment or business, or
any notification, registration or filing to or with any Governmental Authority,
in connection with the Disposition (including any transfer of control) of any
Real Property, facility, establishment or business, as may be required under any
applicable Environmental Law or of any actual or threatened presence or Release
in, on, into or from the Environment, or the use, disposal or handling of
Hazardous Material on, at, under, from or near the Real Property, facility,
establishment or business to be sold, acquired, leased, mortgaged, assigned or
transferred.
“Granting Lender” shall have
the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.04(h).
“Guaranteed Obligations” shall
have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.01.
“Guarantees” shall mean the
guarantees issued pursuant to Article VII by the
Guarantors.
“Guarantors” shall mean
Holdings and the Subsidiary Guarantors.
“Hazardous Materials” shall
mean hazardous substances, hazardous wastes, hazardous materials,
polychlorinated biphenyls (“PCBs”) or any substance or
compound containing PCBs, asbestos or any asbestos-containing materials in any
form or condition, lead-based paint, urea formaldehyde, pesticides, radon or any
other radioactive materials including any source, special nuclear or by-product
material, petroleum, petroleum products, petroleum-derived substances, crude oil
or any fraction thereof, any toxic mold, microbial or fungal contamination that
could pose a risk to human health or the Environment or would negatively impact
the condition of the Real Property in any material respect or any other
pollutants, contaminants, chemicals, wastes, materials, compounds, constituents
or substances, listed, regulated, or defined as hazardous or toxic, or as
pollutants or contaminants under any Environmental Laws.
17
“Hedging Agreement” shall mean
(a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative
transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options,
forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or
bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price
or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign
exchange transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap
transactions, currency options, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar
transactions, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any
combination of any of the foregoing (including any options or warrants to enter
into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by,
or otherwise subject to, any master agreement or any netting agreement, and (b)
any and all transactions or arrangements of any kind, and the related
confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by,
any form of master agreement (or similar documentation) published from time to
time by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any
International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement
(any such agreement or documentation, together with any related schedules, a
“Master Agreement”),
including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master
Agreement.
“Hedging Obligations” shall
mean obligations under or with respect to Hedging Agreements.
“Hedging Termination Value”
shall mean, in respect of any one or more Hedging Agreements, after taking into
account the effect of any netting agreements relating to such Hedging Agreements
(to the extent, and only to the extent, such netting agreements are legally
enforceable in Insolvency Proceedings against the applicable counterparty
obligor thereunder), (i) for any date on or after the date such Hedging
Agreements have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in
accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (ii) for any date prior to
the date referenced in preceding clause (i), the amount(s) determined as the
xxxx-to-market value(s) for such Hedging Agreements, as determined based upon
one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any
recognized dealer in such Hedging Agreements (which may include a Lender or any
Affiliate of a Lender).
“Holdco Notes” shall mean the
14½% Senior Discount Notes due 2014 of Holdings.
“Holdings” shall have the
meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.
“incur” shall have the meaning
assigned to such term in Section
6.01.
“Indebtedness” means, with
respect to any specified Person, any indebtedness of such Person (excluding
accrued expenses and trade payables), whether or not contingent:
(1) in
respect of borrowed money;
(2) evidenced
by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit (or
reimbursement agreements in respect thereof);
(3) in
respect of banker’s acceptances or letters of credit (other than obligations
with respect to letters of credit securing obligations (other than obligations
described in (1) or (2) above or (4) below) entered into in the ordinary course
of business of such Person to the extent such letters of credit are not drawn
upon or, if and to the extent drawn upon, such drawing is reimbursed no later
than the tenth business day following receipt by such Person or a demand for
reimbursement);
(4) representing
Capital Lease Obligations;
18
(5) representing
the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property or
services due more than six months after such property is acquired or such
services are completed; or
(6) representing
any Hedging Obligations,
if and to
the extent any of the preceding items (other than letters of credit and Hedging
Obligations) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of the specified
Person prepared in accordance with GAAP. The term “Indebtedness”
includes (a) all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any asset of the
specified Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by the specified
Person), but only to the extent of the lesser of (a) the Fair Market Value of
the assets subject to such Lien, or (b) the amount of the Indebtedness secured
by such Lien and (b) to the extent not otherwise included, the Guarantee by the
specified Person of any Indebtedness of any other Person.
“Indemnified Taxes” shall mean
Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.
“Indemnitee” shall have the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.03(b).
“Information” shall have the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.12.
“Insolvency Laws” shall mean
the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other insolvency, bankruptcy,
receivership, liquidation, conservatorship, assignment for the benefit of
creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, reorganization, or similar Legal
Requirements of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to
time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.
“Insolvency Proceeding” shall
mean (i) any case, action or proceeding before any court or other Governmental
Authority relating to bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, liquidation,
receivership, dissolution, winding-up or relief of debtors, or (ii) any general
assignment for the benefit of creditors, formal or informal moratorium,
composition, marshaling of assets for creditors or other, similar arrangement in
respect of its creditors generally or any substantial portion of its creditors,
in each case, undertaken under United States federal or state or non-United
States Legal Requirements, including the Bankruptcy Code of the United
States.
“Insurance Policies” shall mean
the insurance policies and coverages required to be maintained by each Loan
Party that is an owner or lessee of Mortgaged Property with respect to the
applicable Mortgaged Property pursuant to Section 5.04 and all
renewals and extensions thereof.
“Insurance Requirements” shall
mean, collectively, all provisions of the Insurance Policies, all requirements
of the issuer of any of the Insurance Policies and all Orders, rules,
regulations and any other requirements of the National Board of Fire
Underwriters (or any other body exercising similar functions) binding upon any
Loan Party that is an owner of Mortgaged Property and applicable to the
Mortgaged Property or any use or condition thereof.
“Intellectual Property” shall
have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.06(b).
“Intercompany Note” shall mean
the intercompany demand promissory note substantially in the form of Exhibit D.
“Intercreditor Agreement” shall
mean the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, substantially in
the form of Exhibit
O as in effect on the date hereof and thereafter as amended from time to
time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.
19
“Interest Election Request”
shall mean a request by Borrower to convert or continue a Borrowing in
accordance with Section 2.08(b),
substantially in the form of Exhibit
E.
“Interest Payment Date” shall
mean (a) with respect to any ABR Loan, the last Business Day of each March,
June, September and December to occur during any period in which such Loan is
outstanding, (b) with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, the last day of the
Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in
the case of a Eurodollar Loan with an Interest Period of more than three months’
duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at
intervals of three months’ duration after the first day of such Interest Period,
and (c) with respect to any Loan, the Maturity Date (or such earlier date on
which the Commitments are terminated) and, after such maturity (or termination
as the case may be), on each date on which demand for payment is
made.
“Interest Period” shall mean,
with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of
such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar
month that is one, two, three or, if available to all Lenders, six , nine or
twelve months thereafter, as Borrower may elect; provided that (a) if any
Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest
Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next
succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case
such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day, and (b) any
Interest Period that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or
on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last
calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of
the last calendar month of such Interest Period. For purposes hereof,
the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is
made and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or
continuation of such Borrowing.
“Investments” shall mean, with
respect to any person, all direct or indirect investments by such person in
other persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of loans (including guarantees
or other obligations), advances or capital contributions (excluding commission,
travel and similar advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary
course of business and advances to customers in the ordinary course of business
that are recorded as accounts receivable), purchases or other acquisitions for
consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities, together
with all items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet
prepared in accordance with GAAP. If Borrower or any Subsidiary of
Borrower sells or otherwise disposes of any Equity Interests of any Restricted
Subsidiary of Borrower such that, after giving effect to any such sale or
disposition, such person is no longer a Restricted Subsidiary of Borrower,
Borrower will be deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale
or disposition equal to the Fair Market Value of Borrower’s Investments in such
Restricted Subsidiary that were not sold or disposed of in an amount determined
as provided in Section 6.06 hereof. The acquisition by Borrower or
any Subsidiary of Borrower of a person that holds an Investment in a third
person will be deemed to be an Investment by Borrower or such Subsidiary in such
third person in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of the Investments held
by the acquired person in such third person in an amount determined as provided
in Section 6.06 hereof. Except as otherwise provided in this
Agreement, the amount of an Investment will be determined at the time the
Investment is made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in
value.
“ISP” shall mean, with respect
to any Letter of Credit, the ‘International Standby Practices 1998’ (or ‘ISP
98’) published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice,
Inc. (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance
of such Letter of Credit).
“Issuing Bank” shall mean, as
the context may require, (a) Jefferies Finance LLC (directly or indirectly
through one of its Affiliates or through Wachovia Bank National Association
directly or indirectly through one of its Affiliates), with respect to Letters
of Credit issued by it; (b) any other Lender that may become an Issuing Bank
pursuant to Sections 2.18(j)
and (k) with
respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Lender; or (c) collectively, all of
the foregoing.
20
“Joinder Agreement” shall mean
a joinder agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit 3 to the
Security Agreement.
“Judgment Currency” shall have
the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.18.
“Judgment Currency Conversion Date” shall have
the meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.18.
“LC Commitment” shall mean the
commitment of the Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit pursuant to Section 2.18;
provided that at no
time shall the LC Commitment exceed the Commitment. The amount of the
LC Commitment shall be $10,000,000 on the Closing Date.
“LC Disbursement” shall mean a
payment or disbursement made by the Issuing Bank pursuant to a Letter of
Credit.
“LC Exposure” shall mean, as at
any date of determination, the sum of (a) the aggregate amount available to be
drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time plus (b) the aggregate
principal amount of all Reimbursement Obligations outstanding at such
time. The LC Exposure of any Lender at any time shall mean its Pro
Rata Percentage of the aggregate LC Exposure at such time. For all
purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, if on any date of
determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may
still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP (or
any other equivalent applicable rule with respect to force majeure events), such
Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining
available to be drawn.
“LC Participation Fee” shall
have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(c).
“LC Request” shall mean a
request by Borrower in accordance with the terms of Section 2.18(b)
and substantially in the form of Exhibit G, or
such other form as shall be approved by the Issuing Bank.
“LC Sub-Account” shall have the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.01(d).
“Leases” shall mean any and all
leases, subleases, tenancies, options, concession agreements, rental agreements,
occupancy agreements, franchise agreements, access agreements and any other
agreements (including all amendments, extensions, replacements, renewals,
modifications and/or guarantees thereof), whether or not of record and whether
now in existence or hereafter entered into, affecting the use or occupancy of
all or any portion of any Real Property.
“Legal Requirements” shall
mean, as to any person, the Organizational Documents of such person, and any
treaty, law (including the common law), statute, ordinance, code, rule,
regulation, guidelines, license, permit, permit requirement, qualification for
exemption from registration, Order or determination of an arbitrator or a court
or other Governmental Authority, including without limitation any and all
franchise laws, regulations, rules and requirements, and the interpretation or
administration thereof, in each case applicable to or binding upon such person
or any of its property or to which such person or any of its property is
subject.
“Lenders” shall mean (a) the
financial institutions and other persons party hereto as “Lenders” on the date
hereof, and (b) each financial institutions or other person that becomes a party
hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance, other than, in each case, any
such financial institution or person that has ceased to be a party hereto
pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance.
21
“Letter of Credit” shall mean
any Standby Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by an Issuing Bank for the
account of Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries pursuant to Section 2.18.
“Letter of Credit Expiration
Date” shall mean the date which is five Business Days prior to the
Maturity Date.
“LIBOR Rate” shall mean, with
respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period therefor, the rate
per annum equal to the arithmetic mean (rounded to the nearest 1/100th of 1%) of
the offered rates for deposits in Dollars with a term comparable to such
Interest Period that appears on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 (or such other page as
may replace such page on such service for the purpose of displaying the rates at
which Dollar deposits are offered by leading banks in the London interbank
deposit market as designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) at
approximately 11:00 a.m., London, England time, on the second full Business Day
preceding the first day of such Interest Period; provided, however, that (i) if no
comparable term for an Interest Period is available, the LIBOR Rate shall be
determined using the weighted average of the offered rates for the two terms
most nearly corresponding to such Interest Period and (ii) if Reuters Screen
LIBOR01 shall at any time no longer exist, “LIBOR Rate” shall mean, with
respect to each day during each Interest Period pertaining to Eurodollar
Borrowings comprising part of the same Borrowing, the rate per annum equal to
the rate at which the Administrative Agent is offered deposits in Dollars at
approximately 11:00 a.m., London, England time, two Business Days prior to the
first day of such Interest Period in the London interbank market for delivery on
the first day of such Interest Period for the number of days comprised therein
and in an amount comparable to its portion of the amount of such Eurodollar
Borrowing to be outstanding during such Interest Period. “Reuters Screen LIBOR01” shall
mean the display designated on the Reuters 3000 Xtra Page (or such other page as
may replace such page on such service for the purpose of displaying the rates at
which Dollar deposits are offered by leading banks in the London interbank
deposit market).
“Lien” shall mean, with respect
to any property, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien (statutory or other),
pledge, encumbrance, claim, charge, assignment, hypothecation, deposit
arrangement, security interest or encumbrance of any kind or any arrangement to
provide priority or preference or any filing of any financing statement under
the UCC or any other similar notice of Lien under any similar notice or
recording statute of any Governmental Authority, including any easement,
servitude, right-of-way or other encumbrance on title to Real Property, in each
of the foregoing cases whether voluntary or imposed by law, and any agreement to
give any of the foregoing, (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any
conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any
financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the
foregoing) relating to such property, and (c) in the case of securities, any
purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such
securities.
“Loan” shall mean a Loan made
by the Lenders to Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01. Each
Loan shall either be an ABR Loan or a Eurodollar Loan.
“Loan Documents” shall mean
this Agreement, the Letters of Credit, the Notes (if any), the Security
Documents, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Management Fee Subordination
Agreement, each Joinder Agreement and, except for purposes of Section 11.02(b),
the Fee Letter.
“Loan Parties” shall mean
Holdings, Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors.
22
“Management Agreement” shall
mean the Monitoring and Management Services Agreement, dated as of November 18,
2005, by Chicken Acquisition Corp., Trimaran Fund Management, L.L.C. and Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx & Co. V, L.P. (as amended, restated, replaced or otherwise modified),
as in effect on the date hereof.
“Management Fee Subordination
Agreement” shall mean a Management Fee Subordination Agreement
substantially in the form of Exhibit N among
Chicken Acquisition Corp., Trimaran Fund Management, L.L.C. and Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
& Co. V, L.P., the Companies and the Collateral Agent.
“Margin Stock” shall have the
meaning assigned to such term in Regulation U.
“Material Adverse Effect” shall
mean (a) a material adverse effect on, or material adverse change in, the
condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, assets, liabilities
(contingent or otherwise), properties, solvency, business, management, prospects
or value of the Companies, taken as a whole, or the Loan Parties, taken as a
whole, (b) material impairment of the ability of the Loan Parties to fully and
timely perform any of their obligations under any Loan Document, (c) a material
impairment of the rights of or benefits or remedies available to the Lenders,
the Issuing Bank or any Agent under any Loan Document, or (d) a material adverse
effect on the validity, enforceability, perfection or priority of Liens in favor
of the Collateral Agent.
“Material Indebtedness” shall
mean (a) the Indebtedness listed on Schedule 1.01(b)
and (b) any other Indebtedness (other than the Loans and Letters of
Credit) or Hedging Obligations of any Company in an aggregate outstanding
principal amount exceeding $3,000,000. For purposes of determining
Material Indebtedness, the “principal amount” in respect of any Hedging
Obligations of any Company at any time shall be the Hedging Termination Value
thereof at such time.
“Maturity Date” shall mean July
22, 2012, the date which is three years and two months after the Closing Date
or, if such date is not a Business Day, the first Business Day
thereafter.
“Maximum Rate” shall have the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.13.
“Mortgage” shall mean an
agreement, including a mortgage, deed of trust, security interest or any other
document, creating and evidencing a first priority Lien (subject to Permitted
Collateral Liens) on a Mortgaged Property, which shall be substantially in the
form of Exhibit
H-1 or other form reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, in
each case, with such schedules and including such provisions as shall be
necessary to conform such document to applicable local or foreign law or as
shall be customary under applicable local or foreign Legal
Requirements.
“Mortgaged Property” shall mean
(a) each Real Property identified on Schedule 1.01(c)
hereto and (b) each Real Property, if any, which shall be subject to a Mortgage
delivered after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 5.11(d).
“Multiemployer Plan” shall mean
a multiemployer plan within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) or
Section 3(37) of ERISA, (a) to which any Company is then making
or accruing an obligation to make contributions, (b) to which any Company has
within the preceding six plan years made or been obligated to make
contributions, or (c) with respect to which any Company could reasonably be
expected to incur liability, contingent or otherwise, under ERISA.
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“Net Cash Proceeds” shall
mean:
(a) with
respect to any Asset Sale (other than any issuance or sale of Equity Interests),
the proceeds thereof in the form of cash, cash equivalents and marketable
securities (including any such proceeds received by way of deferred payment of
principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or purchase price
adjustment receivable, or by the sale, transfer or other Disposition of any
non-cash consideration received in connection therewith or otherwise, but only
as and when received) received by any Company (including cash proceeds
subsequently received (as and when received by any Company) in respect of
non-cash consideration initially received) net of (i) reasonable and
customary selling expenses (including reasonable brokers’ fees or commissions,
legal, accounting and other professional and transactional fees, transfer and
similar taxes and Borrower’s good faith estimate of income taxes paid or payable
in connection with such sale (after taking into account any available tax
credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements)), (ii) amounts provided
as a reserve, in accordance with GAAP, against (x) any liabilities under
any indemnification obligations associated with such Asset Sale or (y) any
other liabilities retained by any Company associated with the properties sold in
such Asset Sale (provided that, to the extent
and at the time any such amounts are released from such reserve, such amounts
shall constitute Net Cash Proceeds), and (iii) the principal amount, premium or
penalty, if any, interest and other amounts on any Indebtedness for borrowed
money that is secured by a Lien on the properties sold in such Asset Sale (so
long as such Lien was permitted to encumber such properties under the Loan
Documents at the time of such sale) and which is repaid with such proceeds
(other than any such Indebtedness assumed by the purchaser of such
properties);
(b) with
respect to any (i) Debt Issuance, or (ii) Preferred Stock Issuance, the
cash proceeds thereof received by any Company, net of reasonable and customary
fees (including legal, accounting and other professional and transaction fees
and brokers’ fees), commissions, costs and other expenses incurred in connection
therewith; and
(c) with
respect to any Casualty Event, the cash insurance proceeds, condemnation awards
and other compensation received by any Company in respect thereof, net of all
reasonable costs and expenses (including legal, accounting and other
professional and transaction fees and brokers’ fees) incurred in connection with
the collection of such proceeds, awards or other compensation in respect of such
Casualty Event (including legal, accounting and other professional and
transaction fees and brokers’ fees).
“Net Income” shall mean with
respect to any specified person, the net income (loss) of such person,
determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of
preferred stock dividends, excluding, however:
(1) any
gain (but not loss), together with any related provision for taxes on such gain
(but not loss), realized in connection with: (a) any Asset Sale; or
(b) the disposition of any securities by such person or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries or the extinguishment of any Indebtedness of such person or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries; and
(2) any
extraordinary gain (but not loss), together with any related provision for taxes
on such extraordinary gain (but not loss).
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“Non-Recourse Debt” shall mean
Indebtedness:
(1) as
to which neither Borrower nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) provides
credit support of any kind (including any undertaking, agreement or instrument
that would constitute Indebtedness), (b) is directly or indirectly liable as a
guarantor or otherwise, or (c) constitutes the lender;
(2) no
default with respect to which (including any rights that the holders of the
Indebtedness may have to take enforcement action against an Unrestricted
Subsidiary) would permit upon notice, lapse of time or both any holder of any
other Indebtedness of Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to declare
a default on such other Indebtedness or cause the payment of the Indebtedness to
be accelerated or payable prior to its Stated Maturity; and
(3) as
to which the lenders have been notified in writing that they will not have any
recourse to the stock or assets of Borrower or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries
“Note Guarantor” shall have the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.11(b).
“Notes” shall mean any notes
evidencing the Loans issued pursuant to Section 2.04(e), if
any, substantially in the form of Exhibit I.
“Obligations” shall mean (a)
all obligations of Borrower and the other Loan Parties from time to time arising
under or in respect of the due and punctual payment of (i) the principal of and
premium, if any, and interest (including interest accruing during the pendency
of any Insolvency Proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such
Insolvency Proceeding) on the Loans, when and as due, whether at maturity, by
acceleration, upon one or more dates set for prepayment or otherwise, (ii) each
payment required to be made by Borrower and the other Loan Parties under this
Agreement in respect of any Letter of Credit, when and as due, including
payments in respect of Reimbursement Obligations, interest thereon and
obligations to provide cash collateral and (iii) all other monetary obligations,
including fees, costs, expenses and indemnities, whether primary, secondary,
direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise (including monetary obligations incurred
during the pendency of any Insolvency Proceeding, regardless of whether allowed
or allowable in such Insolvency Proceeding), of Borrower and the other Loan
Parties under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and (b) the due and
punctual performance of all covenants, agreements, obligations and liabilities
of Borrower and the other Loan Parties under or pursuant to this Agreement and
the other Loan Documents, in each case, whether direct or indirect (including
those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now
existing or hereafter arising.
“OFAC” shall have the meaning
assigned to such term in Section 3.22.
“Officers’ Certificate” shall
mean a certificate executed by (i) the chairman of the Board of Directors (if an
officer), the chief executive officer or the president and (ii) one of the
Financial Officers, each in his or her official (and not individual)
capacity.
“Operating Account” has the
meaning specified in Section 3.25.
“Order” shall mean any
judgment, decree, verdict, order, consent order, consent decree, writ,
declaration or injunction.
“Organizational Documents”
shall mean, with respect to any person, (i) in the case of any corporation, the
certificate of incorporation or deed of incorporation and by-laws (or similar
documents) of such person, (ii) in the case of any limited liability company,
the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement
or memorandum and articles of association (or similar constitutive documents) of
such person, (iii) in the case of any limited partnership, the certificate of
formation and limited partnership agreement (or similar constitutive documents)
of such person (and, where applicable, the equityholders or shareholders
registry of such person), (iv) in the case of any general partnership, the
partnership agreement (or similar constitutive document) of such person, (v) in
any other case, the functional equivalent of the foregoing, and (vi) any
shareholder, voting trust or similar agreement between or among any holders of
Equity Interests of such person.
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“Other Taxes” shall mean any
and all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or
property taxes, charges (including fees and expenses to the extent incurred with
respect to any such taxes or charges) or similar levies (including interest,
fines, penalties and additions with respect to any of the foregoing) arising
from any payment made or required to be made under any Loan Document or from the
execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan
Document.
“Parent” shall mean any of El
Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Chicken Subsidiary Corp., a
Delaware corporation, Chicken Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and
Trimaran Pollo Partners L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability corporation, or any
successor thereto including by way of merger, consolidation, liquidation,
dissolution or winding up.
“Parity Lien Debt” means (i)
the Senior Secured Notes and (ii) additional Indebtedness (including additional
notes) of the Borrower permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 6.01
provided that the aggregate amount of Parity Lien Debt outstanding at any time
does not exceed $145.0 million less the amount of any Priority Lien Debt (as
defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) outstanding.
“Participant” shall have the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.04(e).
“Patriot Act” shall have the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.22(a).
“PBGC” shall mean the Pension
Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA.
“Pension Plan” shall mean any
Employee Benefit Plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject to the
provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Sections 412 or 430 of the Code or Section
302 of ERISA which is maintained or contributed to by any Company or with
respect to which any Company could reasonably be expected to incur liability,
contingent or otherwise, under ERISA (including under Section 4069 of
ERISA).
“Perfection Certificate” shall
mean a perfection certificate in the form of Exhibit J-1 or
any other form approved by the Collateral Agent, as the same shall be
supplemented from time to time by a Perfection Certificate Supplement or
otherwise.
“Perfection Certificate
Supplement” shall mean a perfection certificate supplement in the form of
Exhibit J-2 or
any other form approved by the Collateral Agent.
“Permitted Acquisition” shall
mean any transaction permitted under Article VI for the
(a) acquisition of all or substantially all of the property of any person,
or of any business or division of any person; or (b) acquisition (including by
merger or consolidation) of the Equity Interests of any person that becomes a
Subsidiary after giving effect such transaction.
“Permitted Collateral Liens”
shall mean (a) in the case of Collateral other than Mortgaged Property,
Permitted Liens and (b) in the case of Mortgaged Property, “Permitted Collateral
Liens” shall mean the Liens described in clauses (2), (3), (5) (with respect to
property acquired after the date hereof), (7), (9), (14) and (16) of Permitted
Liens; provided, however, on the Closing Date
or upon the date of delivery of each additional Mortgage under Section 5.11 or 5.12, Permitted
Collateral Liens shall mean only those Liens that are Permitted
Liens.
26
“Permitted Debt” shall
mean:
(1) Indebtedness
of Borrower and any Guarantor consisting of the Obligations hereunder in an
aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding under this clause (1)
(with letters of credit being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the
maximum potential liability of Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries
thereunder) not to exceed $12.5 million;
(2) Existing
Indebtedness of Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(3) Indebtedness
of Borrower and the Guarantors represented by the Senior Secured Notes and the
related Senior Secured Note Guarantees to be issued on the date of this
Agreement and the Exchange Senior Secured Notes and the related Senior Secured
Note Guarantees to be issued pursuant to the registration rights agreement
described in the Preliminary Offering Memorandum;
(4) Indebtedness
of Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries represented by Capital Lease
Obligations, mortgage financings or purchase money obligations, in each case,
(x) incurred for the purpose of financing, whether or not incurred at the time
of such cost or acquisition, all or any part of the purchase price or cost of
design, construction, installation or improvement of property, plant or
equipment or intellectual property rights used in the business of Borrower or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or (y) with respect to assets that are
acquired by Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with
the acquisition of restaurants, including from any of Borrower’s franchisees, in
an aggregate principal amount, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness
incurred to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge any
Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (4), not to exceed the amount of
amortization payments since the Closing Date with respect to any such
Indebtedness outstanding on the Closing Date plus $3.0 million during any
twelve-month period; provided, that amounts available pursuant to this clause
(4) during any twelve-month period may be carried forward and incurred in the
next succeeding twelve-month period, subject to a maximum aggregate principal
amount of all such Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (4) at any one
time outstanding of $10.5 million;
(5) Indebtedness
of Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries consisting of Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used
to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge any Indebtedness
(other than intercompany Indebtedness) that was permitted by this Agreement to
be incurred under the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test described in Section 6.01
or clauses (2), (4), (5), (13) or (14) of this definition;
(6) Indebtedness
of Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries owed to Borrower and any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided, however,
that:
(A) if
Borrower or any Guarantor is the obligor on such Indebtedness and the payee is
not Borrower or a Guarantor, such Indebtedness must be subordinated to the prior
payment in full in cash of all Obligations hereunder then due, in the case of
Borrower, or the Guarantee, in the case of a Guarantor; and
27
(B) (i)
any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such
Indebtedness being held by a person other than Borrower or a Restricted
Subsidiary of Borrower and (ii) any sale or other transfer of any such
Indebtedness to a person that is not either Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary
of Borrower will be deemed, in each case, to constitute Indebtedness by Borrower
or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, that was not permitted by
this clause (6);
(7) the
issuance by any of Borrower’s Restricted Subsidiaries to Borrower or to any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries of shares of preferred stock; provided, however, that (A)
any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such
preferred stock being held by a person other than Borrower or a Subsidiary of
Borrower and (B) any sale or other transfer of any such preferred stock to a
person that is neither Borrower nor a Restricted Subsidiary of Borrower will be
deemed, in each case, to constitute an issuance of such preferred stock by such
Restricted Subsidiary that was not permitted by this clause (7);
(8) Indebtedness
of Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries consisting of Hedging
Obligations that are incurred for the purpose of fixing or hedging (a) interest
rate risk with respect to any floating rate Indebtedness that is permitted by
the terms of this Agreement to be outstanding or (b) currency values or
commodity prices with respect to transactions entered into by Borrower or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
(9) guarantees
by Borrower or any of the Guarantors of Indebtedness of Borrower or a Restricted
Subsidiary of Borrower that was permitted to be incurred by another provision of
this definition; provided that if the
Indebtedness being guaranteed is subordinated to or pari passu with the
Obligations hereunder, then the guarantee shall be subordinated or pari passu, as applicable, to
the same extent as the Indebtedness guaranteed;
(10) Indebtedness
of Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of workers’
compensation claims, self-insurance obligations, bankers’ acceptances,
performance and surety bonds in the ordinary course of business;
(11) Indebtedness
of Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries arising from the honoring by a
bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument
inadvertently drawn against insufficient funds, so long as such Indebtedness is
covered within five business days;
(12) Indebtedness
arising from agreements of Borrower or a Restricted Subsidiary providing for
indemnification, adjustment or purchase price or similar obligations, in each
case, incurred or assumed in connection with the disposition of any business,
assets or a Subsidiary, other than guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by any
person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or a Subsidiary for
the purpose of financing such acquisition;
(13) additional
Indebtedness of Borrower or any Guarantor in an aggregate principal amount (or
accreted value, as applicable) at any time outstanding, including all Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to renew, refund, refinance, replace, defease
or discharge any Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (13), not to
exceed $5.0 million;
(14) the
assumption by Borrower of Indebtedness under the Holdco Notes, if the
Consolidated Leverage Ratio for Borrower’s most recently ended four full fiscal
quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately
preceding the date on which such Indebtedness is assumed, would have been equal
to or less than 4.0 to 1, as determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro
forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if such Indebtedness had
been assumed at the beginning of such four-quarter period; and
28
(15) Indebtedness
representing installment insurance premiums of Borrower or any Restricted
Subsidiary owing to insurance companies in the ordinary course of
business.
“Permitted Investment” shall
mean:
(1) any
Investment in Borrower or in a Restricted Subsidiary of Borrower that is a
Guarantor;
(2) any
Investment in Cash Equivalents;
(3) any
Investment by Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of Borrower in a Person, if
as a result of such Investment:
(a) such
Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of Borrower and a Guarantor;
or
(b) such
Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or
conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, Borrower or a
Restricted Subsidiary of Borrower that is a Guarantor;
(4) any
Investment made prior to the date of this Agreement;
(5) any
Investment made as a result of the receipt of non-cash consideration from an
Asset Sale that was made pursuant to and in compliance with Section 6.04
hereof;
(6) any
acquisition of assets or Capital Stock solely in exchange for, or out of the net
cash proceeds received from, the issuance of Equity Interests (other than
Disqualified Capital Stock) of Borrower; provided that the amount of
any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such Investment pursuant to
this clause (6) will be excluded from clause (3)(b) of Section 6.05(a)
hereof;
(7) any
Investments received in compromise or resolution of (A) obligations of trade
creditors, franchisees or customers that are accounts receivable of Borrower or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, including pursuant to any plan of
reorganization or similar arrangement upon the bankruptcy or insolvency of any
trade creditor, franchisee or customer; or (B) litigation, arbitration or other
disputes with persons who are not Affiliates;
(8) Investments
represented by Hedging Obligations;
(9) endorsements
of negotiable instruments and documents in the ordinary course of
business;
(10) pledges
or deposits permitted under clause (9) of the definition of Permitted
Liens;
(11) repurchases
of the Senior Secured Notes;
(12) payroll,
travel and similar advances to cover matters that are expected at the time of
such advances ultimately to be treated as expenses for accounting purposes and
that are made in the ordinary course of business;
29
(13) loans
or advances to employees made in the ordinary course of business of Borrower or
such Restricted Subsidiary;
(14) receivables
owing to Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary if created or acquired in the
ordinary course of business and payable or dischargeable in accordance with
customary trade terms as Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary deems reasonable
under the circumstances; and
(15) other
Investments in any Person other than an Affiliate of Borrower having an
aggregate Fair Market Value (measured on the date each such Investment was made
and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), when taken together
with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (15) that are at the
time outstanding not to exceed $7.0 million.
“Permitted Liens” shall
mean:
(1) Liens
arising under the Loan Documents;
(2) Liens
securing the Senior Secured Notes, the Senior Secured Note Guarantees and other
Parity Lien Debt, provided that such Liens shall be subject to the Intercreditor
Agreement and shall be junior to the Liens securing the
Obligations;
(3) Liens
in favor of Borrower or the Guarantors;
(4) Liens
on property or shares of Capital Stock of a Person existing at the time such
Person is merged with or into or consolidated with Borrower or any Subsidiary of
Borrower; provided that
such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such merger or
consolidation and do not extend to any assets other than those of the Person
merged into or consolidated with Borrower or the Subsidiary;
(5) Liens
on property (including Capital Stock) existing at the time of acquisition of the
property by Borrower or any Subsidiary of Borrower; provided that such Liens were
in existence prior to such acquisition, and not incurred in contemplation of,
such acquisition;
(6) Liens
to secure the performance of statutory obligations, surety, customs or appeal
bonds, performance bonds or other obligations of a like nature incurred in the
ordinary course of business;
(7) Liens
to secure Indebtedness permitted by clause (4) of the definition of Permitted
Debt, in each case covering only the assets acquired with or financed by such
Indebtedness and the proceeds thereof;
(8) the
Existing Liens;
(9) Liens
for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or claims that are not yet
delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings
promptly instituted and diligently concluded; provided that any reserve or
other appropriate provision as is required in conformity with GAAP has been made
therefor;
(10) pledges
or deposits by a Person under worker’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance
laws or similar legislation, or good faith deposits in connection with bids,
tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to
which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or
import duties or for the payment of rent, in each case incurred in the ordinary
course of business;
30
(11) Liens
imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s, landlord’s and mechanics’
Liens, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(12) judgment
Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default so long as such Lien is adequately
bonded and any appropriate legal proceedings which may have been duly initiated
for the review of such judgment shall not have been finally terminated or the
period within which such proceedings may be initiated shall not have
expired;
(13) Liens
arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provision relating to
banker’s Liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies as to deposit
accounts or other funds maintained with a creditor depository institution; provided, however, that (A) such
deposit account is not a dedicated cash collateral account and is not subject to
restrictions against access by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
in excess of those set forth by regulations promulgated by the Federal Reserve
Board and (B) such deposit account is not intended by the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary to provide collateral to the depository
institution;
(14) survey
exceptions, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses,
rights-of-way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other
similar purposes, or zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real property
that were not incurred in connection with Indebtedness and that do not in the
aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially
impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;
(15) Liens
securing Hedging Obligations so long as (i) such Hedging Obligations relate to
Indebtedness that is permitted to be incurred under this Agreement and (ii) the
notional amount for all such Hedging Obligations does not exceed, at any time
outstanding, $10,000,000;
(16) Liens
to secure any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under
this Agreement; provided, however, that:
(a) the
new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property and assets that
secured or, under the written agreements pursuant to which the original Lien
arose, could secure the original Lien (plus improvements and accessions to, such
property or proceeds or distributions thereof); and
(b) the
Indebtedness secured by the new Lien is not increased to any amount greater than
the sum of (x) the outstanding principal amount, or, if greater, committed
amount, of the Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness and (y) an amount necessary to
pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such renewal,
refunding, refinancing, replacement, defeasance or discharge;
(17) Liens
incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any Subsidiary of
the Company with respect to obligations that do not exceed $2.0 million at any
one time outstanding;
(18) Licenses,
leases, subleases or sublicenses as licensor, lessor, sublessor or sublicensor
of any of its property, including Intellectual Property, in the ordinary course
of business;
31
(19) Liens
on assets pursuant to merger agreements, stock or asset purchase agreements and
similar agreements in respect of the dispositions of such assets;
(20) options,
put and call arrangements, rights of first refusal and similar rights relating
to Investments in joint ventures, partnerships and the like;
(21) any
pledge of the Capital Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to secure Indebtedness
of such Unrestricted Subsidiary;
(22) Liens
on insurance policies and the proceeds thereof securing the financing of the
premiums with respect thereto;
(23) Liens
on any xxxx xxxxxxx money deposits made by Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary
in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement;
(24) Liens
in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure
payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods in the
ordinary course of business;
(25) any
encumbrances or restrictions (including put and call agreements) with respect to
the Capital Stock of any joint venture; and
(26) Liens
in the nature of the right of setoff in favor of counterparties to contractual
agreements with Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of
business.
“Permitted Parent Payments”
shall mean, without duplication as to amounts:
(1) payments
to Parent or Holdings or, in each case, any Subsidiary or successor thereof, to
permit Parent or Holdings or such Subsidiary or successor to pay (i) franchise
taxes or other costs of maintaining its corporate existence and (ii) accounting,
legal and administrative and other operating expenses of Parent or Holdings when
due; provided that, in
the case of clause (ii), such payments shall not exceed $500,000 per
annum;
(2) for
so long as Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof is a member of a group or subgroup
filing a consolidated or combined tax return with Parent or Holdings or, in each
case, any Subsidiary or successor thereof, payments, directly or indirectly, to
Parent or Holdings or any such Subsidiary or successor in respect of an
allocable portion of the tax liabilities of such group or subgroup that is
attributable to Borrower and its Subsidiaries (“Tax Payments”). The Tax Payments shall
not exceed the net amount of the relevant tax that Parent or Holdings or, in
each case, any Subsidiary or successor thereof, actually owes to the appropriate
taxing authority attributable to (without duplication) (i) the operations of
Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (ii) the direct or indirect ownership of Borrower
and its Subsidiaries or (iii) any payments received pursuant to this clause (2)
of Permitted Parent Payments. Any Tax Payments received from Borrower
shall be paid over to the appropriate taxing authority within 30 days of
Parent’s, Holdings’ or such Subsidiary’s or successor’s receipt of such Tax
Payments or refunded to Borrower;
(3) dividends
or distributions to Parent or Holdings to permit Parent or Holdings to (a)
satisfy its payment obligations, if any, under the Management Agreement as in
effect on the Closing Date, or as later amended, provided that any such
amendment is not more disadvantageous to Borrower in any material respect than
the Management Agreement as in effect on the Closing Date or (b) make payments
pursuant to bonus arrangements adopted in connection with the issuance of the
Senior Secured Notes; and
32
(4) fees
and expenses related to any equity offering of any direct or indirect parent of
Borrower.
“Permitted Refinancing
Indebtedness” shall mean any Indebtedness of Borrower or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are
used to refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge other Indebtedness of
Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than intercompany
Indebtedness), including Indebtedness of Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary
used to refinance Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness; provided that:
(1) the
principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted
value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness renewed, refunded, refinanced,
replaced, defeased or discharged (plus all accrued interest on the Indebtedness
and the amount of all fees and expenses, including premiums, incurred in
connection therewith);
(2) such
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the
final maturity date of, and has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or
greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being
renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged;
(3) if
the Indebtedness being renewed, refunded, refinanced, replaced, defeased or
discharged is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations hereunder,
such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than the
Maturity Date, and is subordinated in right of payment to, the Obligations
hereunder on terms at least as favorable to the Lenders as those contained in
the documentation governing the Indebtedness being renewed, refunded,
refinanced, replaced, defeased or discharged; and
(4) such
Indebtedness is incurred either by Borrower or by the Restricted Subsidiary who
is the obligor on the Indebtedness being renewed, refunded, refinanced,
replaced, defeased or discharged.
“person” shall mean any
individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock
company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company or
government or other entity.
“Platform” shall have the
meaning assigned to such term in Section
11.01(d).
“Pledgor” shall mean each
Company listed on Schedule 1.01(d), and
each other Subsidiary of any Loan Party that is or becomes a party to this
Agreement (in its capacity as a Subsidiary Guarantor) and the Security Documents
pursuant to Section
5.11.
“Preferred Stock” shall mean
any Equity Interest with preferential right of payment (i) of dividends, or (ii)
upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the issuer of such Equity
Interest.
“Preferred Stock Issuance”
shall mean the issuance or sale by any Company of any Preferred Stock
constituting Disqualified Capital Stock after the Closing Date (other than any
Excluded Issuance).
33
“Preliminary Offering
Memorandum” shall mean that certain confidential information memorandum
dated May 14, 2009.
“Premises” shall have the
meaning assigned thereto in the applicable Mortgage.
“Principal” shall mean
Trimaran, investment funds managed by Trimaran, partners of Trimaran, equity
co-investors in Trimaran Pollo Partners, L.L.C., affiliates of Trimaran, an
entity controlled by any of the foregoing and/or by a trust of the type
described hereafter, and/or a trust for the benefit of any of the
foregoing.
“Pro Forma Basis” shall mean,
with respect to compliance with any test or covenant hereunder, compliance with
such covenant or test after giving effect to (a) any Permitted Acquisition
(to the extent not subsequently disposed of during such period) or (b) any Asset
Sale, as if such Permitted Acquisition or Asset Sale, and all other Permitted
Acquisitions or Asset Sales consummated during the applicable period, and any
Indebtedness or other liabilities incurred in connection with such Permitted
Acquisitions or Asset Sales had been consummated and incurred at the beginning
of such period. For purposes of this definition, if any Indebtedness
to be so incurred bears interest at a floating rate and is being given pro forma
effect, the interest on such Indebtedness will be calculated as if the rate in
effect on the date of incurrence had been the applicable rate for the entire
period (taking into account any applicable interest rate Hedging
Agreements).
“Pro Rata Percentage” of any
Lender at any time shall mean the percentage of the total Commitments of all
Lenders represented by such Lender’s Commitment.
“Projections” shall have the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.04(c).
“property” shall mean any
right, title or interest in or to property or assets of any kind whatsoever,
whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible and including
Equity Interests of any person and whether now in existence or owned or
hereafter entered into or acquired, including all Real Property, cash,
securities, accounts, revenues and contract rights.
“Qualified Capital Stock” of
any person shall mean any Equity Interests of such person that are not
Disqualified Capital Stock.
“Real Property” shall mean,
collectively, all right, title and interest (including any leasehold, fee,
mineral or other estate) in and to any and all parcels of or interests in real
property owned, leased or operated by any person, whether by lease, license or
other means, together with, in each case, all easements, hereditaments and
appurtenances relating thereto, all improvements and appurtenant fixtures and
equipment, all general intangibles and contract rights and other property and
rights incidental to the ownership, lease or operation thereof.
“Refinancing” shall mean the
repayment in full of, and the termination of any commitment to make extensions
of credit under, all of the outstanding indebtedness of any Company listed on
Schedule 1.01(e).
“Register” shall have the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 11.04(c).
“Regulation D” shall mean
Regulation D of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official
rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.
34
“Regulation T” shall mean
Regulation T of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official
rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.
“Regulation U” shall mean
Regulation U of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official
rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.
“Regulation X” shall mean
Regulation X of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official
rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.
“Reimbursement Obligations”
shall mean Borrower’s obligations under Section 2.18(e)
to reimburse LC Disbursements.
“Related Party” shall
mean:
(1) any
controlling equity holder or more than 50% owned Subsidiary of any Principal;
or
(2) any
trust, corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity, the
beneficiaries, stockholders, partners, members, owners or persons beneficially
holding a more than 50% controlling interest of which consist of the Principal
and/or such other persons referred to in the immediately preceding clause
(1).
“Related Person” shall mean,
with respect to any person, (a) each Affiliate of such person and each of the
officers, directors, partners, trustees, employees, affiliates, shareholders,
Advisors, agents, attorneys-in-fact and Controlling persons of each of the
foregoing, and (b) if such person is an Agent, each other person designated,
nominated or otherwise mandated by or assisting such Agent pursuant to Section 10.05 or any
comparable provision of any Loan Document.
“Release” shall mean any
spilling, leaking, seepage, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging,
injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, disposing, depositing, dispersing,
emanating or migrating of any Hazardous Materials in, into, onto, from or
through the Environment.
“Required Lenders” shall mean,
at any date of determination (and subject to Section 2.16(c)), Lenders having
Loans, LC Exposure and unused Commitments representing more than 50% of the sum
of all Loans outstanding, LC Exposure and unused Commitments at such
time.
“Response” shall mean (a)
“response” as such term is defined in CERCLA, 42 U.S.C. § 9601(25) or any other
applicable Environmental Law, or (b) all other actions required by any
Governmental Authority or voluntarily undertaken to (i) clean up, remove, treat,
remediate, contain, assess, xxxxx, monitor or in any other way address any
Hazardous Materials at, in, on, under or from any Real Property, or otherwise in
the Environment, (ii) prevent, stop, control or minimize the Release or
threat of Release, or minimize the further Release, of any Hazardous Material,
or (iii) perform studies, investigations, maintenance or monitoring in
connection with, following, or as a precondition to or to determine the
necessity of, the actions set forth in clause (i) or (ii) above.
“Responsible Officer” of any
person shall mean any executive officer or Financial Officer of such person and
any other officer or similar official thereof with significant responsibility
for the administration of the obligations of such person in respect of this
Agreement.
“Restricted Investment” shall
mean an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.
“Restricted Payments” shall
have the meaning assigned to such term in Section
6.05.
35
“Restricted Subsidiary” of a
person means any Subsidiary of the referent person that is not an Unrestricted
Subsidiary.
“Restaurant” means a particular
restaurant at a particular location that is owned or operated by the Borrower or
a Subsidiary of the Borrower.
“Secured Obligations” shall
mean the Obligations
“Secured Parties” shall mean,
collectively with respect to the Obligations, the Administrative Agent, the
Collateral Agent, each other Agent and the Lenders
“Securities Act” shall mean the
Securities Act of 1933.
“Securities Collateral” shall
mean all securities and other investment related property constituting
Collateral.
“Security Agreement” shall mean
a Security Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit K among
the Loan Parties and the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured
Parties, as the same may be supplemented from time to time by one or more
Joinder Agreements.
“Security Agreement Collateral”
shall mean all property pledged or granted as collateral pursuant to the
Security Agreement delivered on the Closing Date or thereafter pursuant to Section 5.11.
“Security Documents” shall mean
the Security Agreement, the Mortgages, each Control Agreement and each other
security document or pledge agreement delivered in accordance with applicable
local or foreign Legal Requirements to grant a valid, enforceable, perfected
security interest (with the priority required under the Loan Documents) in any
property as collateral for the Secured Obligations, and all UCC or other
financing statements or instruments of perfection required by this Agreement,
the Security Agreement, any Mortgage, any Control Agreement or any other such
security document or pledge agreement to be filed or registered with respect to
the security interests in property created pursuant to the Security Agreement,
any Mortgage, any Control Agreement and any other document or instrument
utilized to pledge any property as collateral for the Secured
Obligations.
“Senior Secured Note Agreement”
shall mean the indenture, dated as of May 22, 2009, and the purchase agreement
dated as of May 14, 2009, together with any other agreement pursuant to which
the Senior Secured Notes are issued or sold as in effect on the date hereof and
thereafter amended from time to time subject to the requirements of this
Agreement.
“Senior Secured Note Documents”
shall mean the Senior Secured Notes, the Senior Secured Note Agreement, the
Senior Secured Note Guarantees, and all other documents executed and delivered
with respect to the Senior Secured Notes or the Senior Secured Note
Agreement.
“Senior Secured Note
Guarantees” shall mean the guarantees of Holdings and the Subsidiary
Guarantors pursuant to the Senior Secured Note Agreement.
“Senior Secured Notes” shall
mean Borrower’s 11.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2012 issued pursuant to the
Senior Secured Note Agreement and any Exchange Senior Secured
Notes. As used in this Agreement, the term “Senior Secured Notes”
shall include any Exchange Senior Secured Notes.
36
“Similar Business” shall mean
any business conducted by Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the date
hereof or any business that is similar, reasonably related, incidental or
ancillary thereto.
“Solvency Certificate” shall
have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.01(h).
“SPC” shall have the meaning
assigned to such term in Section 11.04(h).
“Sponsor” shall mean,
collectively, Trimaran Capital Partners and Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx &
Co.
“Standby Letter of Credit”
shall mean any letter of credit (other than a Commercial Letter of Credit) or
similar instrument issued pursuant to this Agreement to support obligations of
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of
business.
“Stated Maturity” shall mean,
with respect to any installment of interest or principal on any series of
Indebtedness, the date on which the payment of interest or principal was
scheduled to be paid in the documentation governing such Indebtedness as of the
date of this Agreement, and will not include any contingent obligations to
repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date
originally scheduled for the payment thereof.
“Statutory Reserves” shall
mean, for any day during any Interest Period for any Eurodollar Borrowing, the
average maximum rate at which reserves (including any marginal, supplemental or
emergency reserves) are required to be maintained, during such Interest Period
under regulations issued from time to time (including Regulation D (the “Reserve Regulations”)) by
member banks of the United States Federal Reserve System in New York City with
deposits exceeding one billion Dollars against Eurocurrency funding liabilities
(currently referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities” (as such term is used in
Regulation D)). Eurodollar Borrowings shall be deemed to constitute
Eurodollar liabilities and to be subject to such reserve requirements without
benefit of or credit for proration, exceptions or offsets which may be available
from time to time to any Lender under the Reserve Regulations.
“Subordinated Indebtedness”
shall mean Indebtedness of any Company that is by its terms subordinated in
right of payment to all or any portion of the Secured Obligations.
“Subsidiary” shall mean, with
respect to any person (the “parent”) at any date, (i) any
person the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in
the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were
prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, (ii) any other corporation,
limited liability company, association or other business entity of which
securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the voting
power of all Equity Interests entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any
contingency) to vote in the election of the Board of Directors thereof are, as
of such date, owned, controlled or held by the parent and/or one or more
subsidiaries of the parent, (iii) any partnership (a) the sole general partner
or the managing general partner of which is the parent and/or one or more
subsidiaries of the parent or (b) the only general partners of which are the
parent and/or one or more subsidiaries of the parent and (iv) any other person
that is otherwise Controlled by the parent and/or one or more subsidiaries of
the parent. Unless the context requires otherwise, “Subsidiary” refers to a
Subsidiary of Borrower. For purposes of Sections 3.02, 3.03, 3.05,
3.06, 3.09, 3.11, 3.15, 3.16, 3.19, 3.20, 3.25, 5.03, 5.04, 5.07, 5.11, 5.12,
5.13, 5.16, 5.18, 5.19, 8.01(g), 8.01(h) and Articles VI and VII, references to
a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall be deemed to exclude any Unrestricted
Subsidiary.
“Subsidiary Guarantor” shall
mean each Subsidiary of any Loan Party that is or becomes a party to this
Agreement and the Security Documents pursuant to Section 5.11.
37
“Survey” shall mean a ALTA/ACSM
survey of any Mortgaged Property (and all improvements thereon) which is (a) (i)
prepared by a surveyor or engineer licensed to perform surveys in the state
where such Mortgaged Property is located, (ii) current as of a date which shows
all exterior construction on the site of such Mortgaged Property or any
easement, right of way or other interest in the Mortgaged Property that has been
granted or become effective through operation of applicable Legal Requirements
or otherwise with respect to such Mortgaged Property which, in either case, can
be depicted on a survey unless otherwise acceptable to Collateral Agent, (iii)
complying in all respects with the minimum detail requirements of the American
Land Title Association as such requirements are in effect on the date of
preparation of such survey and (iv) sufficient for the Title Company to remove
all standard survey exceptions from the title insurance policy (or commitment)
relating to such Mortgaged Property and issue the endorsements of the type
required by Section 4.01(o)(iii)
or (b) otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent.
“Syndication Agent” shall have
the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.
“Tax Returns” shall mean all
returns, statements, filings, attachments and other documents or certifications
filed or required to be filed in respect of Taxes.
“Taxes” shall mean (i) any and
all present or future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, assessments, fees,
deductions, withholdings or other similar charges, whether computed on a
separate, consolidated, unitary, combined or other basis and any and all
liabilities (including interest, fines, penalties or additions with respect to
any of the foregoing) with respect to the foregoing, and (ii) solely for
purposes of Sections 3.13 and 5.05, any transferee, successor, joint and
several, contractual or other liability (including liability pursuant to
Treasury Regulation § 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local or
non-U.S. law)) in respect of any item described in clause (i).
“Test Period” shall mean, at
any time, the twelve consecutive fiscal months of Holdings then last ended (in
each case taken as one accounting period) for which financial statements have
been or are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a),
(b) or (c).
“Title Company” shall mean any
title insurance company as shall be retained by Borrower and reasonably
acceptable to the Administrative Agent.
“Title Policy” shall have the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.16.
“Transaction Documents” shall
mean the Senior Secured Note Documents and the Loan Documents.
“Transactions” shall mean,
collectively, the transactions to occur pursuant to, or contemplated by, the
Transaction Documents, including (a) the execution, delivery and
performance of the Loan Documents and the initial Credit Extensions hereunder,
(b) the Refinancing; (c) the execution and delivery of the Senior Secured
Note Documents and the issuance and sale of the Senior Secured Notes pursuant to
the Senior Secured Note Documents, and (d) the payment of all fees, costs and
expenses to be paid on or prior to the Closing Date owing in connection with the
foregoing.
“Transferred Guarantor” shall
have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 7.09.
“Type” shall mean, when used in
reference to any Loan or Borrowing, a reference to whether the rate of interest
on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined on the
basis of Adjusted LIBOR Rate or the Alternate Base Rate.
38
“UCC” shall mean the Uniform
Commercial Code as in effect from time to time (except as otherwise specified)
in any applicable state or jurisdiction.
“Unfunded Pension Liability”
shall mean the excess of a Pension Plan’s benefit liabilities under
Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA, over the current value of that Pension Plan’s
assets, determined in accordance with the actuarial assumptions used for funding
the Pension Plan pursuant to Section 412 of the Code for the applicable plan
year.
“United States” and “U.S.” shall mean the United
States of America.
“Unrestricted Subsidiary” shall
mean any Subsidiary of Borrower that is designated by the Board of Directors of
Borrower as an Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a resolution of the Board of
Directors, and any Subsidiary of such Unrestricted Subsidiary, but only to the
extent that such Subsidiary:
(1) has
no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt;
(2) except
as permitted by Section 6.06 hereof,
is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of Borrower unless the terms of any such
agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to
Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the
time from Persons who are not Affiliates of Borrower;
(3) is
a Person with respect to which neither Borrower nor any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries has any direct or indirect obligation (a) to subscribe for
additional Equity Interests or (b) to maintain or preserve such person’s
financial condition or to cause such person to achieve any specified levels of
operating results; and
(4) has
not guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly provided credit support for
any Indebtedness of Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.
“Voting Stock” shall mean, with
respect to any person, any class or classes of Equity Interests pursuant to
which the holders thereof have the general voting power under ordinary
circumstances to elect at least a majority of the Board of Directors of such
person.
“Weighted Average Life to
Maturity” shall mean, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the
number of years obtained by dividing:
(1) the
sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then
remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments
of principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect of the
Indebtedness, by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth)
that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment;
by
(2) the
then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.
“Wholly Owned Subsidiary” shall
mean, with respect to any person, a Subsidiary of such person all of the
outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which (other than
directors’ qualifying shares) will at the time be owned by such person and/or by
one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such person.
“Wholly Owned Restricted
Subsidiary” of any specified person shall mean a Subsidiary of such
person all of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of
which (other than directors’ qualifying shares) will at the time be owned by
such person or by one or more Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiaries of such
person and one or more Wholly-Owned Restricted Subsidiaries of such
person.
39
Section
1.02 Classification
of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes of this Agreement, Loans
may be classified and referred to by Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar
Loan”). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Type
(e.g., a “Eurodollar
Borrowing”).
Section
1.03 Terms
Generally. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally
to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the
context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine,
feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,” “includes” and
“including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without
limitation”. The phrase “Material Adverse Effect” shall be deemed to
be followed by the phrase “, individually or in the aggregate”. The
words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and
effect. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning
and effect as the word “shall.” Unless the context requires otherwise
(a) any definition of or reference to any Loan Document, agreement, instrument
or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement,
instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or
otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements
or modifications set forth in any Loan Document), (b) any reference herein to
any person shall be construed to include such person’s successors and assigns,
(c) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import,
shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any
particular provision hereof, and (d) all references herein to Articles,
Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and
Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement, unless otherwise
indicated and (e) any reference to any law or regulation shall (i) include all
statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or
interpreting or supplementing such law or regulation, and (ii) unless otherwise
specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented
from time to time. This Section 1.03 shall
apply, mutatis
mutandis, to all Loan Documents.
Section
1.04 Accounting
Terms; GAAP. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein,
all financial statements to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be
prepared in accordance with GAAP as in effect from time to time and all terms of
an accounting or financial nature shall be construed and interpreted in
accordance with GAAP, as in effect on the date hereof. If at any time
any change in GAAP would affect the computation of any financial ratio set forth
in any Loan Document or any financial definition of any other provision of this
Agreement, and Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the
Administrative Agent and Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such
ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such
change in GAAP (subject to approval by the Required Lenders and Borrower); provided that, until so
amended, such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance
with GAAP prior to such change therein, and Borrower shall provide to the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders within five days after delivery of each
certificate or financial report required hereunder that is affected thereby a
written statement of a Financial Officer of Borrower setting forth in reasonable
detail the differences (including any differences that would affect any
calculations relating to the financial covenants as set forth in Section 6.07)
that would have resulted if such financial statements had been prepared without
giving effect to such change.
Section
1.05 Pro Forma
Calculations. With respect to any applicable period during
which any Permitted Acquisition or Asset Sale occurs as permitted pursuant to
the terms hereof, the financial covenants set forth in Section 6.07 shall be
calculated with respect to such period and such Permitted Acquisition or Asset
Sale on a Pro Forma Basis.
40
Section
1.06 Rounding. Any
financial ratios required to be satisfied in order for a specific action to be
permitted under this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate
component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the
number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result
up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest
number).
Section
1.07 Resolution
of Drafting Ambiguities. Each Loan Party acknowledges and
agrees that it was represented by counsel in connection with the execution and
delivery of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, that it and its counsel
reviewed and participated in the preparation and negotiation hereof or thereof
and that any rule of construction to the effect that ambiguities are to be
resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation
hereof or thereof.
ARTICLE
II
THE
CREDITS
Section
2.01 Commitments. Subject
to the terms and conditions and relying upon the representations and warranties
herein set forth, each Lender agrees, severally and not jointly to make Loans to
Borrower, at any time and from time to time after the Closing Date until the
earlier of the Maturity Date and the termination of the Commitment of such
Lender in accordance with the terms hereof, in an aggregate principal amount at
any time outstanding that will not result in such Lender’s Exposure exceeding
such Lender’s Commitment. Within the limits set forth above and
subject to the terms, conditions and limitations set forth herein, Borrower may
borrow, pay or prepay and reborrow Loans.
Section
2.02 Loans. (a) Each
Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans made by the
Lenders ratably in accordance with their applicable Commitments; provided that the failure of
any Lender to make any Loan shall not in itself relieve any other Lender of its
obligation to lend hereunder (it being understood, however, that no Lender shall
be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make any Loan required to
be made by such other Lender). Except for Loans deemed made pursuant
to Section 2.18(e)(ii),
(x) any Borrowing shall be in an aggregate principal amount that is (i) an
integral multiple of $100,000 and not less than $250,000 or (ii) equal to the
remaining available balance of the applicable Commitments.
(b) Subject
to Sections 2.11
and 2.12, each
Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans as
Borrower may request pursuant to Section 2.03. Each
Lender may at its option make any Eurodollar Loan by causing any domestic or
foreign branch of such Lender to make such Loan; provided that any exercise of
such option shall not affect the obligation of the Lender to make such Loan and
Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement. Borrowings of more than one Type may be outstanding at the
same time; provided
that Borrower shall not be entitled to request any Borrowing that, if made,
would result in more than five Eurodollar Borrowings outstanding hereunder at
any one time. For purposes of the foregoing, Borrowings having
different Interest Periods, regardless of whether they commence on the same
date, shall be considered separate Borrowings.
(c) Except
with respect to Loans made pursuant to Section 2.18(e)(ii),
each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date
thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds to such account in New
York City as the Administrative Agent may designate from time to time not later
than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, and the Administrative Agent shall promptly
credit the amounts so received to an account as directed by Borrower in the
applicable Borrowing Request or, if a Borrowing shall not occur on such date
because any condition precedent herein specified shall not have been met, return
the amounts so received to the respective Lenders within two Business
Days.
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(d) Unless
the Administrative Agent shall have received written notice from a Lender prior
to the date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the
Administrative Agent such Lender’s portion of such Borrowing, the Administrative
Agent may assume that such Lender has made such portion available to the
Administrative Agent on the date of such Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.02(c), and
the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available
to Borrower on such date a corresponding amount. If the
Administrative Agent shall have so made funds available, then, to the extent
that such Lender shall not have made such portion available to the
Administrative Agent, each of such Lender and Borrower severally agrees to repay
to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount
together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is made
available to Borrower until the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative
Agent at (i) in the case of such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds
Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance
with banking industry rules or practices on interbank compensation, and (ii) in
the case of Borrower, the interest rate applicable at the time to ABR
Loans. If such Lender shall repay to the Administrative Agent such
corresponding amount, such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan as part of
such Borrowing for purposes of this Agreement, and Borrower’s obligation to
repay the Administrative Agent such corresponding amount pursuant to this Section 2.02(d)
shall cease.
(e) Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, Borrower shall not be entitled to
request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Borrowing if the Interest
Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Maturity
Date.
Section
2.03 Borrowing
Procedure. To request a Borrowing, Borrower shall deliver, by
hand delivery or telecopy (or transmit by other electronic transmission, if
arrangements for doing so have been approved in writing by the Administrative
Agent), a duly completed and executed Borrowing Request to the Administrative
Agent (i) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 1:00 p.m., New
York City time, three Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing or
(ii) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 12:00 p.m., New York City
time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing. Each Borrowing Request
shall be irrevocable and shall specify the following information in compliance
with Section 2.02:
(a) the
aggregate amount of such Borrowing;
(b) the
date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;
(c) whether
such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing;
(d) in
the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, the initial Interest Period to be applicable
thereto;
(e) the
location and number of Borrower’s account to which funds are to be disbursed;
and
(f) that
the conditions set forth in Sections 4.02(b)-(e)
are satisfied as of the date of the notice.
If no
election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified, then the requested Borrowing
shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period is specified with
respect to any requested Eurodollar Borrowing, then Borrower shall be deemed to
have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration. Promptly
following receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section 2.03, the
Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of the
amount of such Lender’s Loan to be made as part of the requested
Borrowing.
42
Section
2.04 Evidence
of Debt; Repayment of Loans. (a) Borrower hereby
unconditionally promises to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of
each Lender, the then unpaid principal amount of each Loan of such Lender on the
Maturity Date.
(b) Each
Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or
accounts evidencing the indebtedness of Borrower to such Lender resulting from
each Loan made by such Lender from time to time, including the amounts of
principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time under
this Agreement.
(c) The
Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it will record (i) the
amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Type thereof and the Interest Period
applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable
or to become due and payable from Borrower to each Lender hereunder, and (iii)
the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder for the
account of the Lenders and each Lender’s share thereof.
(d) The
entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to Sections 2.04(b) and
(c) shall be
prima facie evidence of
the existence and amounts of the obligations therein recorded; provided that the failure of
any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error
therein shall not in any manner affect the obligations of Borrower and the other
Loan Parties to pay, and perform, the Obligations in accordance with the Loan
Documents. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and
records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the
Administrative Agent in respect of such entries, the accounts and records of the
Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest
error.
(e) Any
Lender by written notice to Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent)
may request that Loans made by it be evidenced by a promissory
note. In such event, Borrower shall promptly (and, in all events,
within five Business Days of receipt of such request) prepare, execute and
deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to the order of such Lender in
the form of Exhibit I. Thereafter,
the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all
times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 11.04) be
represented by one or more promissory notes in such form payable to the order of
the payee named therein.
Section
2.05 Fees.
(a) Commitment
Fee. Subject to Section 2.16(c),
Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each
Lender a commitment fee (a “Commitment Fee”) equal to
1.00% per annum of the average daily unused amount of each Commitment of such
Lender during the period from and including the date hereof to but excluding the
date on which such Commitment terminates. Accrued Commitment Fees
shall be payable in arrears (A) on the last Business Day of each month of each
year, commencing on the first such date to occur after the date hereof, and (B)
on the date on which such Commitment terminates. Commitment Fees
shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for
the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the
last day). For purposes of computing Commitment Fees, a Commitment of
a Lender shall be deemed to be used to the extent of the outstanding Loans and
LC Exposure of such Lender.
(b) Administrative Agent
Fees. Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for
its own account, the administrative fees set forth in the Fee Letter, and such
other fees payable in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon
between Borrower and the Administrative Agent (the “Administrative Agent
Fees”).
43
(c) LC and Fronting
Fees. Subject to Section 2.16(c),
Borrower agrees to pay to (i) the Administrative Agent for the account of each
Lender a participation fee (“LC
Participation Fee”) with respect to its participations in Letters of
Credit, which shall accrue at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Margin
from time to time used to determine the interest rate on Eurodollar Loans
pursuant to Section
2.06 on the average daily amount of such Lender’s LC Exposure (excluding
any portion thereof attributable to Reimbursement Obligations) during the period
from and including the Closing Date to but excluding the later of the date on
which such Lender’s Commitment terminates and the date on which such Lender
ceases to have any LC Exposure, and (ii) the Issuing Bank a fronting fee (“Fronting Fee”), which shall
accrue at a rate to be agreed between the Issuing Bank and the Borrower on the
average daily amount of the LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof
attributable to Reimbursement Obligations) during the period from and including
the Closing Date to but excluding the later of the date of termination of the
Commitments and the date on which there ceases to be any LC Exposure, as well as
the Issuing Bank’s customary fees with respect to the issuance, amendment,
renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or processing of drawings
thereunder. Accrued LC Participation Fees and Fronting Fees shall be
payable in arrears (i) on the last Business Day of March, June, September and
December of each year, commencing on the first such date to occur after the
Closing Date, and (ii) on the date on which the Commitments
terminate. Any such fees accruing after the date on which the
Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand. Any other fees
payable to the Issuing Bank pursuant to this Section 2.05(c) shall
be payable within five Business Days after demand therefor. All LC
Participation Fees and Fronting Fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of
360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including
the first day but excluding the last day).
(d) Other
Fees. Borrower agrees to pay the Agents, for their own
account, fees payable in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon
between Borrower and the applicable Agents.
(e) Payment of
Fees. All Fees shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately
available funds in Dollars, to the Administrative Agent for distribution, if and
as appropriate, among the Lenders, except that Borrower shall pay (i) the
Fronting Fees directly to the Issuing Bank, and (ii) the Fees provided
under Section
2.05(d) directly to the Agents. Once paid, none of the Fees
shall be refundable under any circumstances.
Section
2.06 Interest
on Loans. (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.06(c),
the Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing shall bear interest at a rate per annum
equal to the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin in effect from time
to time.
(b) Subject
to the provisions of Section 2.06(c),
the Loans comprising each Eurodollar Borrowing shall bear interest at a rate per
annum equal to the Adjusted LIBOR Rate for the Interest Period in effect for
such Borrowing plus the Applicable Margin in effect from time to
time.
(c) Notwithstanding
the foregoing, during an Event of Default, all Obligations shall, bear interest,
after as well as before judgment, at a per annum rate equal to (i) in the case
of principal of or interest on any Loan, 2.0% plus the rate otherwise applicable
to such Loan as provided in Sections 2.06(a) and
(b),
(ii) in the case of participations in Letters of Credit, 2.0% plus the LC
Participation Fee applicable under Section 2.05 or
(iii) in the case of any other Obligation, 2.0% plus the rate applicable to ABR
Loans as provided in Section 2.06(a) (in
either case, the “Default
Rate”).
44
(d) Accrued
interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date
for such Loan; provided
that (i) interest accrued pursuant to Section 2.06(c)
(including interest on past due interest) and all interest accrued but unpaid on
or after the Maturity Date shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of any
repayment or prepayment of any Loan (other than a prepayment of an ABR Loan),
accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on
the date of such repayment or prepayment and (iii) in the event of any
conversion of any Eurodollar Loan prior to the end of the current Interest
Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective
date of such conversion.
(e) All
interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except
that interest computed by reference to the Alternate Base Rate shall be computed
on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and in each
case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first
day but excluding the last day); provided that any Loan that
is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.14,
bear interest for one day. The applicable Alternate Base Rate or
Adjusted LIBOR Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent in
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and such determination shall be
conclusive absent manifest error. Interest hereunder shall be due and
payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and
before and after the commencement of any Insolvency Proceeding.
Section
2.07 Termination
and Reduction of Commitments. (a) The Commitments
and the LC Commitment shall automatically terminate on the Maturity
Date.
(b) At
its option, Borrower may at any time terminate, or from time to time permanently
reduce, the Commitments; provided that (i) each
reduction of the Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple
of $250,000 and not less than $500,000 and (ii) the Commitments shall not be
terminated or reduced if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of
the Loans in accordance with Section 2.10,
the aggregate amount of Exposures would exceed the lesser of (A) the
aggregate amount of Commitments or (B) the Borrowing Base then in
effect.
(c) Borrower
shall notify the Administrative Agent in writing of any election to terminate or
reduce the Commitments under Section 2.07(b)
at least three Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination or
reduction (which effective date shall be a Business Day), specifying such
election and the effective date thereof. Promptly following receipt
of any such notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the
contents thereof. Each notice delivered by the Borrower pursuant to
this Section
2.07 shall be irrevocable, provided that a notice of
termination of the Commitments delivered by Borrower in accordance with this
Section 2.07 may, if the Administrative Agent (in its reasonable discretion) has
previously agreed to a customary pay-off letter with Borrower, expressly state
that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of new credit facilities
or similar new Indebtedness and which effectiveness will result in the immediate
payment in full of all Obligations and the Cash Collateralization of all
outstanding Letters of Credit, in which case such notice may be revoked by
Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to 2:00 p.m., New
York City time, one Business Day prior to the specified notice effective date)
if such condition is not satisfied (or is then unlikely to be
satisfied). Any termination or reduction of the Commitments shall be
permanent. Each reduction of the Commitments shall be made ratably
among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Commitments.
Section
2.08 Interest
Elections. (a) Each Borrowing shall be of the Type
specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the case of a Eurodollar
Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing
Request. Thereafter, Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to
a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurodollar
Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section
2.08. Borrower may elect different options with respect to
different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion
shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such
Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a
separate Borrowing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary,
Borrower shall not be entitled to request any conversion or continuation that,
if made, would result in more than five Eurodollar Borrowings outstanding
hereunder at any one time.
45
(b) To
make an election pursuant to this Section 2.08,
Borrower shall deliver, by hand delivery or telecopy, a duly completed and
executed Interest Election Request to the Administrative Agent not later than
the time that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.03 if
Borrower were requesting a Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to
be made on the effective date of such election. Each Interest
Election Request shall be irrevocable.
(c) Each
Interest Election Request shall specify the following information in compliance
with Section 2.02:
(i) the
Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies and, if different
options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, or if
outstanding Borrowings are being combined, allocation to each resulting
Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to clauses
(iii) and (iv) below shall be specified for each resulting
Borrowing);
(ii)
the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest Election
Request, which shall be a Business Day;
(iii) whether
the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing;
and
(iv) if
the resulting Borrowing is a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Interest Period to be
applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which shall be a period
contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”.
If any
such Interest Election Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing but does not
specify an Interest Period, then Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an
Interest Period of one month’s duration.
(d) Promptly
following receipt of an Interest Election Request, the Administrative Agent
shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of such Lender’s portion of
each resulting Borrowing.
(e) If
an Interest Election Request with respect to a Eurodollar Borrowing is not
timely delivered prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto,
then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such
Interest Period such Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR
Borrowing. Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event
of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Administrative Agent or the
Required Lenders may require, by notice to Borrower, that (i) no outstanding
Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing and (ii)
unless repaid, each Eurodollar Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing
at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.
Section
2.09 Intentionally
Omitted.
46
Section
2.10 Optional
and Mandatory Prepayments of Loans. (a) Optional
Prepayments. Borrower shall have the right at any time and
from time to time to prepay any Borrowing, in whole or in part, without premium
or penalty, subject to the requirements of this Section 2.10;
provided that each
partial prepayment shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of not
less than $250,000 or, if less, the outstanding principal amount of such
Borrowing.
(b) Loan
Prepayments. (i) In the event of the termination of
all the Commitments, Borrower shall, on the date of such termination, repay or
prepay all its outstanding Borrowings and either (A) replace all outstanding
Letters of Credit or (B) cash collateralize all outstanding Letters of Credit in
accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.18(i).
(ii) In
the event of any partial reduction of the Commitments, then (x) at or prior to
the effective date of such reduction, the Administrative Agent shall notify
Borrower and the Lenders of the sum of the Exposures after giving effect thereto
and (y) if the sum of the Exposures would exceed the aggregate amount of
Commitments after giving effect to such reduction, then Borrower shall, on the
date of such reduction, first, repay or prepay
Borrowings and second,
replace outstanding Letters of Credit or cash collateralize outstanding Letters
of Credit in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.18(i)
in an aggregate amount sufficient to eliminate such excess.
(iii) In
the event that the sum of all Lenders’ Exposures exceeds the lesser of (A) the
Commitments then in effect and (B) the Borrowing Base then in effect, Borrower
shall, without notice or demand, immediately first, repay or prepay
Borrowings, and second,
replace outstanding Letters of Credit or cash collateralize outstanding Letters
of Credit in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.18(i)
in an aggregate amount sufficient to eliminate such excess.
(iv) In
the event that the aggregate LC Exposure exceeds the lesser of (A) the LC
Commitment and (B) the Borrowing Base then in effect, Borrower shall, without
notice or demand, immediately replace outstanding Letters of Credit or cash
collateralize outstanding Letters of Credit in accordance with the
procedures set forth in Section 2.18(i)
in an aggregate amount sufficient to eliminate such excess.
(c) Asset
Sales. Not later than three Business Days following the
receipt of any Net Cash Proceeds of any Asset Sale, Borrower shall apply 100% of
such Net Cash Proceeds to make prepayments in accordance with Section 2.10(i);
provided
that:
(i) so
long as no Event of Default shall then exist or would arise therefrom, such
proceeds shall not be required to be so applied on such date to the extent that
Borrower shall have delivered an Officers’ Certificate to the Administrative
Agent on or prior to such date stating that such Net Cash Proceeds are
reasonably expected to be (a) used to prepay other Indebtedness within 270 days
following the date of such Asset Sale in an amount of Net Cash Proceeds not to
exceed $1,500,000 in any fiscal year or $5,000,000 since the Closing Date or (b)
reinvested in assets useful in the business of any Loan Party (or enter into a
binding commitment for such reinvestment) within 270 days following the date of
such Asset Sale; provided that, if all or any
portion of such Net Cash Proceeds is not so reinvested within a 90-day period
following such 270-day period, such unused portion shall be immediately applied
on the last day of such period as a mandatory prepayment as provided in this
Section
2.10(c); provided, further, that, if the
property subject to such Asset Sale constituted Collateral, then all property
purchased or otherwise acquired with the Net Cash Proceeds thereof pursuant to
this subsection shall be made subject to the first priority perfected Lien
(subject to Permitted Liens) of the applicable Security Documents in favor of
the Collateral Agent, for its benefit and for the benefit of the other Secured
Parties to the extent required under Sections 5.11
and 5.12;
and
47
(ii) if
all or any portion of such Net Cash Proceeds is not so reinvested or used to
prepay other Indebtedness within such 270-day or 360-day period, such unused
portion shall be applied on the last day of such period as a mandatory
prepayment as provided in this Section
2.10(c).
(d) Debt Issuance or Preferred
Stock Issuance. Not later than three Business Days following
the receipt of any Net Cash Proceeds of any Debt Issuance or Preferred Stock
Issuance by any Company, Borrower shall make prepayments in accordance with
Section 2.10(i)
in an aggregate principal amount equal to 100% of such Net Cash
Proceeds.
(e) Intentionally
Omitted.
(f) Intentionally
Omitted.
(g) Casualty
Events. Not later than three Business Days following the
receipt of any Net Cash Proceeds from a Casualty Event by any Company, Borrower
shall apply an amount equal to 100% of such Net Cash Proceeds to make
prepayments in accordance with Section 2.10(i);
provided
that:
(i) so
long as no Event of Default shall then exist or arise therefrom, such proceeds
shall not be required to be so applied on such date to the extent that Borrower
shall have delivered an Officers’ Certificate to the Administrative Agent on or
prior to such date stating that such proceeds are reasonably expected to be used
to repair, replace or restore any property in respect of which such Net Cash
Proceeds were paid or to reinvest in assets useful in the business of any Loan
Party (or enter into a binding commitment for such reinvestment), no later than
270 days following the date of receipt of such proceeds; provided that if all or any
portion of such Net Cash Proceeds is not so reinvested within a 90-day period
following such 270-day period, such unused portion shall be immediately applied
on the last day of such period as a mandatory prepayment as provided in this
Section
2.10(g); provided, further, that, if the
property subject to such Casualty Event constituted Collateral, then all
property purchased or otherwise acquired with the Net Cash Proceeds thereof
pursuant to this subsection shall be made subject to the first priority
perfected Lien (subject to Permitted Liens) of the applicable Security Documents
in favor of the Collateral Agent, for its benefit and for the benefit of the
other Secured Parties to the extent required under Sections 5.11
and 5.12;
and
(ii) if
all or any portion of such Net Cash Proceeds shall not be so applied within such
270-day or 360-day period, such unused portion shall be applied on the last day
of such period as a mandatory prepayment as provided in this Section 2.10(g).
(h) Change in
Control. Borrower shall promptly, and in any event no later
than five (5) Business Days following a Change in Control, provide the
Administrative Agent written notice of such Change in Control and, no later than
the tenth (10th)
Business Day following such Change in Control, Borrower shall prepay the
outstanding Loans in full in accordance with Section 2.10(i) (and to the extent
any Letters of Credit are then outstanding, deposit with the Issuing Bank an
amount equal to 105% of the face amount of such Letters of Credit as cash
collateral to secure the payment of such Letters of Credit and any related fees
and expenses) and the Commitments shall be terminated in full.
(i)
Application of
Prepayments.
(i) Prior
to any optional prepayment hereunder, Borrower shall select the Borrowing or
Borrowings to be prepaid and shall specify such selection in the notice of such
prepayment pursuant to Section 2.10(i)(iii),
subject to the provisions of this Section
2.10(i)(i). Unless otherwise agreed by the Required Lenders in
writing, any prepayments of Loans pursuant to Section 2.10
(c)-(g) shall be applied to the prepayment of outstanding Loans with a
corresponding reduction in Commitments and Borrower shall comply with Section 2.10(b);.
48
(ii) Amounts
to be applied pursuant to this Section 2.10 to
the prepayment of Loans shall be applied, as applicable, first to reduce ABR
Loans. Any amounts remaining after each such application shall be
applied to prepay Eurodollar Loans.
(iii) Notice of
Prepayment. Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent by
written notice of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of prepayment of a
Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, three
Business Days before the date of prepayment and (ii) in the case of prepayment
of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, one Business
Day before the date of prepayment; provided that a notice of
prepayment delivered by Borrower in accordance with this Section 2.10(i)
may, if the Administrative Agent (in its reasonable discretion) has previously
agreed to a customary pay-off letter with Borrower, expressly state that such
notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of new credit facilities or similar
new Indebtedness and which effectiveness will result in the immediate payment in
full of all Obligations and the Cash Collateralization of all outstanding
Letters of Credit, in which case such notice may be revoked by Borrower (by
notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to 2:00 p.m., New York City time,
one Business Day prior to the specified notice effective date) if such condition
is not satisfied (or is then unlikely to be satisfied). Each such
notice shall be irrevocable. Each such notice shall specify the
prepayment date, the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be
prepaid and, in the case of a mandatory prepayment, a reasonably detailed
calculation of the amount of such prepayment. Promptly following
receipt of any such notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of
the contents thereof. Such notice to the Lenders may be by electronic
communication. Each partial prepayment of any Borrowing shall be in
an amount that would be permitted in the case of a Borrowing of the same Type as
provided in Section 2.02,
except as necessary to apply fully the required amount of a mandatory
prepayment. Each prepayment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably
to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing and otherwise in accordance with
this Section 2.10. Prepayments
shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.06.
Section
2.11 Alternate
Rate of Interest. If prior to the commencement of any Interest
Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing:
(a) the
Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be final and
conclusive absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not
exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBOR Rate for such Interest Period;
or
(b) the
Administrative Agent is advised in writing by the Required Lenders that the
Adjusted LIBOR Rate for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly
reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining their Loans included
in such Borrowing for such Interest Period;
then the
Administrative Agent shall give written notice thereof to Borrower and the
Lenders as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Administrative
Agent notifies Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to
such notice no longer exist, (i) any Interest Election Request that requests the
conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a
Eurodollar Borrowing shall be ineffective and (ii) if any Borrowing Request
requests a Eurodollar Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR
Borrowing.
49
Section
2.12 Increased
Costs; Change in Legality. (a) If any Change in Law
shall:
(i) impose,
modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan,
insurance charge or similar requirement against property of, deposits with or
for the account of, or credit extended by or participated in by, any Lender
(except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted LIBOR Rate) or
the Issuing Bank; or
(ii) impose
on any Lender or the Issuing Bank or the London interbank market any other
condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Loans made by
such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;
and the
result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of
making or maintaining any Eurodollar Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to
make any such Loan) or to increase the cost to such Lender, the Issuing Bank or
such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any, of participating
in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its
obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit) or to reduce the
amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or the Issuing Bank
hereunder (whether of principal, interest or otherwise), then Borrower shall,
upon the written request of such Lender or the Issuing Bank, pay to such Lender
or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as
will compensate such Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, for such
additional costs incurred or reduction suffered, it being understood that this
Section 2.12
shall not apply to Taxes. The protection of this Section 2.12 shall be
available to each Lender and the Issuing Bank regardless of any possible
contention of the invalidity or inapplicability of the Change in Law that shall
have occurred or been imposed.
(b) If
any Lender or the Issuing Bank determines (in good faith, but in its sole
absolute discretion) that any Change in Law regarding Capital Requirements has
or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or the
Issuing Bank’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s
holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of
such Lender or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit or the
Letters of Credit issued by the Issuing Bank, to a level below that which such
Lender or the Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding
company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into
consideration such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s policies and the policies of
such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s holding company with respect to capital
adequacy), then from time to time Borrower will pay to such Lender or the
Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will
compensate such Lender or the Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or the Issuing
Bank’s holding company, for any such reduction suffered.
(c) A
certificate of a Lender or the Issuing Bank setting forth in reasonable detail
the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or the Issuing Bank or
its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in Sections 2.12(a) or
(b) shall be
delivered to Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) and shall be
conclusive and binding absent manifest error. Borrower shall pay such
Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any
such certificate within three Business Days after receipt thereof.
(d) Failure
or delay on the part of any Lender or the Issuing Bank to demand compensation
pursuant to this Section 2.12 shall
not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s right to demand
such compensation; provided that Borrower shall
not be required to compensate a Lender or the Issuing Bank pursuant to this
Section 2.12 for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than
12 months prior to the earlier of (x) the date on which such Lender or the
Issuing Bank, as the case may be, notifies Borrower of the Change in Law giving
rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or the Issuing
Bank’s intention to claim compensation therefor and (y) the date on which such
Change in Law becomes effective.
50
(e) Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, if any Change in Law shall make it
unlawful for any Lender to make or maintain any Eurodollar Loan or to give
effect to its obligations as contemplated hereby with respect to any Eurodollar
Loan, then, by written notice to Borrower and to the Administrative
Agent:
(i) such
Lender may declare that Eurodollar Loans will not thereafter (for the duration
of such unlawfulness (as determined in good faith by such Lender)) be made by
such Lender hereunder (or be continued for additional Interest Periods and ABR
Loans will not thereafter (for such duration) be converted into Eurodollar
Loans), whereupon any request for a Eurodollar Loan (or to convert an ABR Loan
to a Eurodollar Loan or to continue a Eurodollar Loan for an additional Interest
Period) shall, as to such Lender only, be deemed a request for an ABR Loan (or a
request to continue an ABR Loan as such for an additional Interest Period or to
convert a Eurodollar Loan into an ABR Loan, as the case may be), unless such
declaration shall be subsequently withdrawn by such Lender by written notice to
Borrower and to the Administrative Agent; and
(ii) such
Lender may require that all outstanding Eurodollar Loans made by it be converted
to ABR Loans, in which event all such Eurodollar Loans shall be automatically
converted to ABR Loans as of the effective date of such notice as provided in
Section
2.12(f).
In the
event any Lender shall exercise its rights under clause (i) or
(ii) above, all payments and prepayments of principal that would otherwise
have been applied to repay the Eurodollar Loans that would have been made by
such Lender or the converted Eurodollar Loans of such Lender shall instead be
applied to repay the ABR Loans made by such Lender in lieu of, or resulting from
the conversion of, such Eurodollar Loans.
(f)
For purposes of Section 2.12(e), a
notice to Borrower by any Lender shall be effective as to each Eurodollar Loan
made by such Lender, if lawful, on the last day of the Interest Period then
applicable to such Eurodollar Loan; in all other cases such notice shall be
effective on the date of receipt by Borrower.
Section
2.13 Breakage
Payments. In the event of (a) the payment or prepayment,
whether optional or mandatory, of any principal of any Eurodollar Loan earlier
than the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a
result of an Event of Default), (b) the conversion of any Eurodollar Loan
earlier than the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the
failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Loan on the date specified in
any notice delivered pursuant hereto or (d) the assignment of any Eurodollar
Loan earlier than the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a
result of a request by Borrower pursuant to Section 2.16,
then, in any such event, Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss,
cost and expense attributable to such event. In the case of a
Eurodollar Loan, such loss, cost or expense to any Lender shall be deemed to
include an amount determined by such Lender to be the excess, if any, of (i) the
amount of interest that would have accrued on the principal amount of such Loan
had such event not occurred, at the Adjusted LIBOR Rate that would have been
applicable to such Loan, for the period from the date of such event to the last
day of the then current Interest Period therefor (or, in the case of a failure
to borrow, convert or continue, for the period that would have been the Interest
Period for such Loan), over (ii) the amount of interest that would accrue on
such principal amount for such period at the interest rate which such Lender
would bid were it to bid, at the commencement of such period, for Dollar
deposits of a comparable amount and period from other banks in the Eurodollar
market. A certificate of any Lender setting forth in reasonable
detail any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to
this Section 2.13
shall be delivered to Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) and
shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error. Borrower shall
pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within three
Business Days after receipt thereof.
51
Section
2.14 Payments
Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of
Setoffs. (a) Borrower shall make each payment
required to be made by it hereunder or under any other Loan Document (whether of
principal, interest, fees or Reimbursement Obligations, or of amounts payable
under Section 2.12, 2.13 or 2.15, or otherwise)
on or before the time expressly required hereunder or under such other Loan
Document for such payment (or, if no such time is expressly required, prior to
1:00 p.m., New York City time), on the date when due, in immediately available
funds, without setoff, deduction or counterclaim. Any amounts
received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the
Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding
Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such
payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent at its offices at 000 Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 Attn: El Pollo Loco Account Manager, except
payments to be made directly to the Issuing Bank as expressly provided herein
and except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.12,
2.13, 2.15 and 11.03 shall be made
directly to the persons entitled thereto and payments pursuant to other Loan
Documents shall be made to the persons specified therein. The
Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the
account of any other person to the appropriate recipient promptly following
receipt thereof. If any payment under any Loan Document shall be due
on a day that is not a Business Day, unless specified otherwise, the date for
payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case
of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the
period of such extension. All payments under each Loan Document shall
be made in Dollars.
(b) If
at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the
Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, Reimbursement
Obligations, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied
(i) first, towards
payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties
entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to
such parties, and (ii) second, towards payment of
principal and Reimbursement Obligations then due hereunder, ratably among the
parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal and
Reimbursement Obligations then due to such parties.
(c) If
any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim (including
pursuant to Section 11.08)
or otherwise (including by exercise of its rights under the Security Documents),
obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans or
participations in LC Disbursements resulting in such Lender receiving payment of
a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and participations in
LC Disbursements and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by
any other Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall
purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans and participations
in LC Disbursements of other Lenders to the extent necessary so that the benefit
of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with
the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective
Loans and participations in LC Disbursements; provided that (i) if any such
participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise
thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase
price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (ii) the
provisions of this Section 2.14(c) shall
not be construed to apply to any payment made by Borrower pursuant to and in
accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a
Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any
of its Loans or participations in LC Disbursements to any assignee or
participant, other than to any Company or any Affiliates thereof (as to which
the provisions of this Section 2.14(c) shall
apply). Each Loan Party consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the
extent it may effectively do so under applicable Legal Requirements, that any
Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may
exercise against each Loan Party rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect
to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of such
Loan Party in the amount of such participation. If under applicable
Insolvency Law any Secured Party receives a secured claim in lieu of a setoff or
counterclaim to which this Section 2.14(c)
applies, such Secured Party shall to the extent practicable, exercise its rights
in respect of such secured claim in a manner consistent with the rights to which
the Secured Party is entitled under this Section 2.14(c)
to share in the benefits of the recovery of such secured
claim.
52
(d) Unless
the Administrative Agent shall have received written notice from Borrower prior
to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the
account of the Lenders or the Issuing Bank hereunder that Borrower will not make
such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that Borrower has made such
payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such
assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be,
the amount due. In such event, if Borrower has not in fact made such
payment, then each of the Lenders or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be,
severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the
amount so distributed to such Lender or the Issuing Bank with interest thereon,
for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but
excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the
Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent
in accordance with banking industry rules or practices on interbank
compensation.
(e) If
any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to
Section 2.02(c),
2.14(d), 2.18(d), 2.18(e) or 11.03(e), then the
Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary
provision hereof), apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative
Agent for the account of such Lender to satisfy such Lender’s obligations under
such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully
paid.
Section
2.15 Taxes. (a) Any
and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Loan Parties
hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be made without setoff,
counterclaim or other defense and free and clear of and without deduction,
reduction or withholding for any and all Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes; provided that if any
Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes are required to be deducted or withheld from
such payments under applicable Legal Requirements, then (i) the sum payable
shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions
(including deductions, reductions or withholdings applicable to additional sums
payable under this Section 2.15)
the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be,
receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such
deductions, reductions or withholdings been made, (ii) Borrower shall make or
cause to be made such deductions, reductions or withholdings and
(iii) Borrower shall timely pay or cause to be paid the full amount
deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with
applicable Legal Requirements.
(b) In
addition, Borrower shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental
Authority in accordance with applicable Legal Requirements.
(c) Borrower
shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Issuing Bank,
within ten Business Days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of
any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes paid by the Administrative Agent, such
Lender or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, on or with respect to any
payment by or on account of any obligation of Borrower hereunder or under any
other Loan Document (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or
asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 2.15)
and any penalties, interest and expenses arising therefrom or with respect
thereto (other than those resulting from such person’s gross negligence or
willful misconduct as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction),
whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally
imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A
certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability and setting forth in
reasonable detail the calculation of and basis for such payment or liability
delivered to Borrower by a Lender or the Issuing Bank (in each case, with a copy
delivered concurrently to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative
Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender or the Issuing Bank, shall be
conclusive absent manifest error.
53
(d) As
soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes and in
any event within 30 days following any such payment being due, by or on behalf
of Borrower to a Governmental Authority, Borrower shall deliver to the
Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by
such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return
reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory
to the Administrative Agent.
(e) Any
Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding
tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which Borrower is resident for tax
purposes, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to
payments under this Agreement shall deliver to Borrower and the Administrative
Agent, at the time or times prescribed by applicable law, such properly
completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably
requested by Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments
to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of
withholding. Each Foreign Lender shall (i) furnish either (a) two
accurate and complete originally executed U.S. Internal Revenue Service Forms
W-8BEN (or successor form) or (b) two accurate and complete originally executed
U.S. Internal Revenue Service Forms W-8ECI (or successor form), certifying, in
either case, to such Foreign Lender’s legal entitlement to an exemption or
reduction from U.S. federal withholding tax with respect to all interest
payments hereunder, and (ii) to the extent it may lawfully do so at such times,
upon reasonable request by Borrower or the Administrative Agent, provide a new
Form W-8BEN (or successor form) or Form W-8ECI (or successor form) upon the
expiration or obsolescence of any previously delivered form to reconfirm any
complete exemption from, or any entitlement to a reduction in, U.S. federal
withholding tax with respect to any interest payment hereunder; provided that any Foreign
Lender that is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of
the Code and is claiming the “portfolio interest exemption” shall also furnish a
“Non-Bank Certificate” in the form of Exhibit L if it is
furnishing a Form W-8BEN.
(f)
The Administrative Agent and each Lender that is not a
Foreign Lender shall furnish two accurate and complete originally executed U.S.
Internal Revenue Service Forms W-9 (or successor form).
(g) If
the Administrative Agent or a Lender (or an assignee) determines in its
reasonable discretion that it has received a refund of any Indemnified Taxes or
Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by Borrower or with respect to
which Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.15, it
shall pay over such refund to Borrower (but only to the extent of indemnity
payments made, or additional amounts paid, by Borrower under this Section 2.15
with respect to the Indemnified Taxes or the Other Taxes giving rise to such
refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent or such
Lender (or assignee) and without interest (other than any interest paid by the
relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); provided, however, that if the
Administrative Agent or such Lender (or assignee) is required to repay all or a
portion of such refund to the relevant Governmental Authority, Borrower, upon
the request of the Administrative Agent or such Lender (or assignee), shall
repay the amount paid over to Borrower that is required to be repaid (plus any
penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental
Authority) to the Administrative Agent or such Lender (or assignee) within three
Business Days after receipt of written notice that the Administrative Agent or
such Lender (or assignee) is required to repay such refund (or a portion
thereof) to such Governmental Authority. Nothing contained in this
Section 2.15(g)
shall require the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or assignee) to make
available its Tax Returns or any other information which it deems confidential
or privileged to Borrower or any other person. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary, in no event will the Administrative Agent or any
Lender (or assignee) be required to pay any amount to Borrower the payment of
which would place the Administrative Agent or such Lender (or assignee) in a
less favorable net after-tax position than the Administrative Agent or such
Lender (or assignee) would have been in if the additional amounts giving rise to
such refund of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes had never been
paid.
54
Section
2.16 Mitigation
Obligations; Replacement of Lenders. (a) Mitigation of
Obligations. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.12(a) or
(b), or if any
event described in Section 2.12(a)
occurs (to the extent (and only to the extent) that such event shall materially
disproportionately adversely affect any individual Lender), or if Borrower is
required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental
Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.15,
then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending
office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and
obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in
the reasonable judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would
eliminate or reduce materially amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.12(a),
2.12(b) or
2.15, as the
case may be, in the future, or eliminate the matters described in Section 2.12(c), (ii)
would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense,
(iii) would not require such Lender to take any action inconsistent with
its internal policies or legal or regulatory restrictions, and (iv) would
not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. Borrower shall pay
all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in
connection with any such designation or assignment. A certificate
setting forth such costs and expenses submitted by such Lender to the
Administrative Agent shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(b) Replacement of
Lenders. In the event (i) any Lender or the Issuing Bank
delivers a certificate requesting compensation pursuant to Section 2.12(a)
or (b), (ii)
any Lender or the Issuing Bank delivers a notice described in Section 2.12(e),
(iii) Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or the
Issuing Bank or any Governmental Authority on account of any Lender or the
Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.15,
(iv) any Lender fails to consent to any amendment, waiver or other modification
of any Loan Document requested by Borrower that requires the consent of 100% of
the Lenders or 100% of all affected Lenders and, which, in each case, has been
consented to by all other Lenders or all other affected Lenders, as the case may
be, or (v) any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender or the Issuing Bank
defaults in its obligations to issue Letters of Credit, Borrower may, at its
sole expense and effort (including with respect to the processing and
recordation fee referred to in Section 11.04(b)),
upon notice to such Lender or the Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent,
require such Lender or the Issuing Bank to transfer and assign, without recourse
(in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 11.04),
all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement to an assignee
which shall assume such assigned obligations (which assignee may be another
Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that no Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (x) such assignment shall not
conflict with any applicable Legal Requirement, (y) Borrower shall have received
the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank,
which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld or delayed, and (z) Borrower or
such assignee shall have paid to the affected Lender or the Issuing Bank in
immediately available funds an amount equal to the sum of the principal of and
interest accrued to the date of such payment on the outstanding Loans or LC
Disbursements of such Lender or the Issuing Bank, respectively, affected by such
assignment plus all Fees and other amounts owing to or accrued for the account
of such Lender or such Issuing Bank hereunder (including any amounts under Sections 2.12
and 2.13);
provided further that,
if prior to any such transfer and assignment the circumstances or event that
resulted in such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s claim for compensation under
Section 2.12(a)
or (b) or
notice under Section 2.12(e)
or the amounts paid pursuant to Section 2.15, as
the case may be, cease to cause such Lender or the Issuing Bank to suffer
increased costs or reductions in amounts received or receivable or reduction in
return on capital, or cease to have the consequences specified in Section 2.12(e),
or cease to result in amounts being payable under Section 2.15, as
the case may be (including as a result of any action taken by such Lender or the
Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.16(a)), or
if such Lender or the Issuing Bank shall waive its right to claim further
compensation under Section 2.12(a)
or (b) in
respect of such circumstances or event or shall withdraw its notice under Section 2.12(e)
or shall waive its right to further payments under Section 2.15 in
respect of such circumstances or event or shall consent to the proposed
amendment, waiver, consent or other modification, as the case may be, then such
Lender or the Issuing Bank shall not thereafter be required to make any such
transfer and assignment hereunder. Each Lender and the Issuing Bank
hereby grants to the Administrative Agent an irrevocable power of attorney
(which power is coupled with an interest) to execute and deliver, on behalf of
such Lender and the Issuing Bank as assignor, any Assignment and Acceptance
necessary to effectuate any assignment of such Lender’s or the Issuing Bank’s
interests hereunder in the circumstances contemplated by this Section
2.16(b).
55
(c) Defaulting
Lenders. Anything contained herein to the contrary
notwithstanding, in the event that any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then
(i) during any Default Period (as defined below) with respect to such Defaulting
Lender, such Defaulting Lender shall be deemed not to be a “Lender”, and the
amount of such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment and Loans shall be excluded for
purposes of voting, and the calculation of voting, on any matters (including the
granting of any consents or waivers) with respect to any of the Loan Documents,
(ii) to the extent permitted by applicable Legal Requirements, until such time
as the Default Excess (as defined below) with respect to such Defaulting Lender
shall have been reduced to zero, (a) any voluntary prepayment of the Loans
pursuant to Section
2.10(a) shall, if Borrower so directs at the time of making such
voluntary prepayment, be applied to the Loans of other Lenders in accordance
with Section
2.10(a) as if such Defaulting Lender had no Loans outstanding and the
Exposure of such Defaulting Lender were zero, and (b) any mandatory prepayment
of the Loans pursuant to Section 2.10 shall,
if Borrower so directs at the time of making such mandatory prepayment, be
applied to the Loans of other Lenders (but not to the Loans of such Defaulting
Lender) in accordance with Section 2.10 as if
such Defaulting Lender had funded all Loans that such Defaulting Lender is
required to fund hereunder, it being understood and agreed that Borrower shall
be entitled to retain any portion of any mandatory prepayment of the Loans that
is not paid to such Defaulting Lender solely as a result of the operation of the
provisions of this clause (b), (iii) the amount of such Defaulting Lender’s
Commitment, Loans and LC Exposure shall be excluded for purposes of calculating
the Commitment Fee payable to Lenders pursuant to Section 2.05(a) in
respect of any day during any Default Period with respect to such Defaulting
Lender, and such Defaulting Lender shall not be entitled to receive any
commitment fee pursuant to Section 2.05(a) with
respect to such Defaulting Lender’s Commitment in respect of any Default Period
with respect to such Defaulting Lender, and (iv) the Exposure of all Lenders as
at any date of determination shall be calculated as if such Defaulting Lender
had funded all Loans that such Defaulting Lender is required to fund
hereunder.
For purposes of this Agreement, (i)
“Default Period” means,
with respect to any Defaulting Lender, the period commencing on the date of the
applicable failure to satisfy a funding obligation of such Defaulting Lender
under this Agreement and ending on the earliest of the following dates: (a) the
date on which all Commitments are cancelled or terminated and/or the Obligations
are declared or become immediately due and payable, (b) the date on which (1)
the Default Excess with respect to such Defaulting Lender shall have been
reduced to zero (whether by the funding by such Defaulting Lender of any such
funding obligation or by the non-pro rata application of any voluntary or
mandatory prepayments of the Loans in accordance with the terms hereof or any
combination thereof) and (2) such Defaulting Lender shall have delivered to
Borrower and the Administrative Agent a written reaffirmation of its intention
to honor its obligations under this Agreement with respect to its Commitment(s),
and (c) the date on which Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Required
Lenders waive in writing all matters giving rise to such Defaulting Lender
status, and (ii) “Default
Excess” shall mean, with respect to any Defaulting Lender, the excess, if
any, of such Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Percentage of the aggregate
outstanding principal amount of Loans of all Lenders (calculated as if all
Defaulting Lenders (including such Defaulting Lender) had funded all of their
respective funding obligations) over the aggregate outstanding principal amount
of Loans of such Defaulting Lender.
56
No amount of the Commitment of any
Lender shall be increased or otherwise affected, and, except as otherwise
expressly provided in Section 2.16(c),
performance by Borrower of its obligations under this Agreement and the other
Loan Documents shall not be excused or otherwise modified, as a result of any
matter giving rise to a Lender’s status as a Defaulting Lender or the operation
of Section
2.16(c). The rights and remedies against a Defaulting Lender
under Section
2.16(c) are in addition to other rights and remedies that Borrower may
have against such Defaulting Lender with respect to all matters giving rise to
such Defaulting Lender status and that the Administrative Agent or any Lender
may have against such Defaulting Lender with respect to any matter giving rise
to such Defaulting Lender status.
Section
2.17 Intentionally
Omitted.
Section
2.18 Letters
of Credit. (a) General. Subject
to the terms and conditions set forth herein, Borrower may request the Issuing
Bank, and the Issuing Bank agrees, to issue Letters of Credit for its own
account or the account of a Wholly Owned Subsidiary in a form reasonably
acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank, at any time and
from time to time during the Availability Period (provided that Borrower shall
be a co-applicant, and be jointly and severally liable, with respect to each
Letter of Credit issued for the account of a Wholly Owned
Subsidiary). The Issuing Bank shall have no obligation to issue, and
Borrower shall not request the issuance of, any Letter of Credit at any time if
after giving effect to such issuance, the LC Exposure would exceed the LC
Commitment or the total Exposure would exceed the lesser of (A) the total
Commitments and (B) the Borrowing Base then in effect. In the event
of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the
terms and conditions of any form of letter of credit application or other
agreement submitted by Borrower to, or entered into by Borrower with, the
Issuing Bank relating to any Letter of Credit, the terms and conditions of this
Agreement shall control.
(b) Request for Issuance,
Amendment, Renewal, Extension; Certain Conditions. To request
the issuance of a Letter of Credit or the amendment, renewal or extension of an
outstanding Letter of Credit, Borrower shall hand deliver or telecopy (or
transmit by electronic communication, if arrangements for doing so have been
approved in writing by the Issuing Bank) an LC Request to the Issuing Bank and
the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the
third Business Day preceding the requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal
or extension (or such later date and time as is acceptable to the Issuing
Bank).
A request
for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit shall specify in form and detail
reasonably satisfactory to the Issuing Bank:
(i) the
proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a
Business Day);
(ii)
the face amount thereof;
(iii) the
expiry date thereof (which shall not be later than the close of business on the
Letter of Credit Expiration Date);
57
(iv) the
name and address of the beneficiary thereof;
(v)
whether the Letter of Credit is to be issued for its own
account or for the account of one of its Wholly Owned Subsidiaries (provided that Borrower shall
be a co-applicant, and be jointly and severally liable, with respect to each
Letter of Credit issued for the account of a Wholly Owned
Subsidiary);
(vi) the
documents, if any, to be presented by such beneficiary in connection with any
drawing thereunder;
(vii) the
full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in connection
with any drawing thereunder; and
(viii) such
other matters as the Issuing Bank may require.
A request
for an amendment, renewal or extension of any outstanding Letter of Credit shall
specify in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Issuing
Bank:
(i) the
Letter of Credit to be amended, renewed or extended;
(ii) the
proposed date of amendment, renewal or extension thereof (which shall be a
Business Day);
(iii) the
nature of the proposed amendment, renewal or extension; and
(iv) such
other matters as the Issuing Bank may require.
If
requested by the Issuing Bank, Borrower also shall submit a letter of credit
application on the Issuing Bank’s standard form in connection with any request
for a Letter of Credit. A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended,
renewed or extended only if (and, upon issuance, amendment, renewal or extension
of each Letter of Credit, Borrower shall be deemed to represent and warrant
that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension,
(i) the LC Exposure shall not exceed the LC Commitment, (ii) the total
Exposures shall not exceed the lesser of (A) the total Commitments and (B) the
Borrowing Base then in effect and (iii) the conditions set forth in Article IV in respect
of such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension shall have been
satisfied. Unless the Issuing Bank shall agree otherwise, no Letter
of Credit shall be in an initial amount less than $50,000.
(c) Expiration
Date. Each Letter of Credit shall expire at or prior to the
close of business on the earlier of (x) the date which is one year after the
date of the issuance of such Standby Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any
renewal or extension thereof, one year after such renewal or extension) and (y)
the Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided that this Section 2.18(c) shall
not prevent any Issuing Bank from agreeing that a Standby Letter of Credit will
automatically be extended for one or more successive periods not to exceed one
year each (and, in any case, not to extend beyond the Letter of Credit
Expiration Date) unless each such Issuing Bank elects not to extend for any such
additional period.
(d) Participations. By
the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Letter of Credit
increasing the amount thereof) and without any further action on the part of the
Issuing Bank or the Lenders, the Issuing Bank hereby irrevocably grants to each
Lender, and each Lender hereby acquires from the Issuing Bank, a participation
in such Letter of Credit equal to such Lender’s Pro Rata Percentage of the
aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of
Credit. In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each
Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the Administrative
Agent, for the account of the Issuing Bank, such Lender’s Pro Rata Percentage of
each LC Disbursement made by the Issuing Bank and not reimbursed by Borrower on
the date due as provided in Section 2.18(e),
or of any reimbursement payment required to be refunded to Borrower for any
reason. Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to
acquire participations pursuant to this Section 2.18(d) in
respect of Letters of Credit is absolute and unconditional and shall not be
affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including any amendment, renewal or
extension of any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default
or reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall
be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever (so
long as such payment shall not cause such Lender’s Exposure to exceed such
Lender’s Commitment).
58
(e) Reimbursement.
(i) If
the Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement in respect of a Letter of
Credit, Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement by paying to the Issuing
Bank an amount equal to such LC Disbursement not later than 1:00 p.m., New York
City time, on the date that such LC Disbursement is made if Borrower shall have
received notice of such LC Disbursement prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time,
on such date, or, if such notice has not been received by Borrower prior to such
time on such date, then not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on the
Business Day immediately following the day that Borrower receives such notice;
provided that Borrower
may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in
accordance with Section 2.03
that such payment be financed with ABR Loans in an equivalent amount and, to the
extent so financed, Borrower’s obligation to make such payment shall be
discharged and replaced by the resulting ABR Loans.
(ii) If
Borrower fails to make such payment when due, or if the amount is not financed
pursuant to the proviso to Section 2.18(e)(i),
the Issuing Bank shall notify the Administrative Agent and the Administrative
Agent shall notify each Lender of the applicable LC Disbursement, the payment
then due from Borrower in respect thereof and such Lender’s Pro Rata Percentage
thereof. Each Lender shall pay by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 p.m., New York
City time, on such date (or, if such Lender shall have received such notice
later than 12:00 p.m., New York City time, on any day, not later than 11:00
a.m., New York City time, on the immediately following Business Day), an amount
equal to such Lender’s Pro Rata Percentage of the unreimbursed LC Disbursement
in the same manner as provided in Section 2.02(c)
with respect to Loans made by such Lender, and the Administrative Agent will
promptly pay to the Issuing Bank the amounts so received by it from the
Lenders. The Administrative Agent will promptly pay to the Issuing
Bank any amounts received by it from Borrower pursuant to the above paragraph
prior to the time that any Lender makes any payment pursuant to the preceding
sentence and any such amounts received by the Administrative Agent from Borrower
thereafter will be promptly remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders
that shall have made such payments and to the Issuing Bank, as
appropriate.
(iii) If
any Lender shall not have made its Pro Rata Percentage of such LC Disbursement
available to the Administrative Agent as provided above, each of Borrower and
such Lender severally agrees to pay interest on such amount, for each day from
and including the date such amount is required to be paid in accordance with the
foregoing to but excluding the date such amount is paid, to the Administrative
Agent for the account of the Issuing Bank at (i) in the case of Borrower, the
Default Rate and (ii) in the case of such Lender, at the greater of the Federal
Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in
accordance with banking industry rules or practices on interbank
compensation.
59
(f) Obligations
Absolute. The Reimbursement Obligation of Borrower as provided
in Section 2.18(e)
shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid and
performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under any and
all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of (i) any lack of validity or
enforceability of any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, or any term or
provision therein; (ii) any draft or other document presented under a Letter of
Credit being proved to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any
respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect;
(iii) payment by the Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit against presentation
of a draft or other document that fails to comply with the terms of such Letter
of Credit; (iv) any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not
similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this
Section 2.18,
constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff
against, the obligations of Borrower hereunder; (v) the fact that a Default
shall have occurred and be continuing; (vi) any material adverse change in the
condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, assets, liabilities
(contingent or otherwise), material agreements, properties, solvency, business,
management, prospects or value of any Company; or (vii) any other fact,
circumstance or event whatsoever. None of the Agents, the Lenders,
the Issuing Bank or any of their Affiliates shall have any liability or
responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of
any Letter of Credit or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder
(irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding
sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission
or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any
Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder),
any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence arising from
causes beyond the control of the Issuing Bank; provided that the foregoing
shall not be construed to excuse the Issuing Bank from liability to Borrower to
the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to consequential, exemplary,
special, punitive or other indirect damages, claims in respect of which are
hereby waived by Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable Legal
Requirements) suffered by Borrower that are caused by the Issuing Bank’s failure
to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented
under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. The parties
hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of gross negligence or willful
misconduct on the part of the Issuing Bank (as finally determined by a court of
competent jurisdiction) with respect to such a determination, the Issuing Bank
shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination. In
furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the
parties agree that, with respect to documents presented which appear on their
face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, the
Issuing Bank may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon
such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of
any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment
upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the
terms of such Letter of Credit.
(g) Disbursement
Procedures. The Issuing Bank shall, promptly following its
receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for
payment under a Letter of Credit. The Issuing Bank shall promptly
give written notice to the Administrative Agent and Borrower of such demand for
payment and whether the Issuing Bank has made or will make an LC Disbursement
thereunder; provided
that any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve
Borrower of its Reimbursement Obligation to the Issuing Bank and the Lenders
with respect to any such LC Disbursement (other than with respect to the timing
of such Reimbursement Obligation set forth in Section 2.18(e)).
(h) Interim
Interest. If the Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement,
then, unless Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement in full on the date
such LC Disbursement is made, the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest
payable on demand, for each day from and including the date such LC Disbursement
is made to but excluding the date that Borrower reimburses such LC Disbursement,
at the Default Rate. Interest accrued pursuant to this Section 2.18(h) shall
be for the account of the Issuing Bank, except that interest accrued on and
after the date of payment by any Lender pursuant to Section 2.18(e)
to reimburse the Issuing Bank shall be for the account of such Lender to the
extent of such payment.
60
(i) Cash
Collateralization. If any Event of Default shall occur and be
continuing, on the Business Day that Borrower receives notice from the
Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders (or, if the maturity of the Loans
has been accelerated, Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50% of
the total LC Exposure) demanding the deposit of cash collateral pursuant to this
Section
2.18(i), Borrower shall deposit in the LC Sub-Account, in the name of the
Collateral Agent and for the benefit of the Lenders, an amount in cash equal to
105% of the LC Exposure as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest
thereon; provided that
the obligation to deposit such cash collateral shall become effective
immediately, and such deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without
demand or other notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default
with respect to Holdings or Borrower described in paragraph (g) or (h) of Article
VIII. Funds in the LC Sub-Account shall be applied by the
Collateral Agent to reimburse the Issuing Bank for LC Disbursements for which it
has not been reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the
satisfaction of outstanding Reimbursement Obligations or, if the maturity of the
Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of Lenders with LC
Exposure representing greater than 50% of the total LC Exposure), be applied to
satisfy other Obligations of Borrower in accordance with Article IX. If
Borrower is required to provide an amount of cash collateral hereunder as a
result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such amount plus any accrued interest
with respect to such amounts (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall, in
accordance with Article IX, be
returned to Borrower within five Business Days after all Events of Default have
been cured or waived.
(j) Additional Issuing
Banks. Borrower may, at any time and from time to time,
designate one or more additional Lenders to act as an issuing bank under the
terms of this Agreement, with the consent of each of the Administrative Agent
(which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), the Issuing Bank (which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) and such Lender(s). Any
Lender designated as an issuing bank pursuant to this Section 2.18(j) shall
be deemed (in addition to being a Lender) to be the Issuing Bank with respect to
Letters of Credit issued or to be issued by such Lender, and all references
herein and in the other Loan Documents to the term “Issuing Bank” shall, with
respect to such Letters of Credit, be deemed to refer to such Lender in its
capacity as Issuing Bank, as the context shall require.
(k) Resignation or Removal of
the Issuing Bank. The Issuing Bank may resign as Issuing Bank
hereunder at any time upon at least 10 days’ prior written notice to the
Lenders, the Administrative Agent and Borrower. The Issuing Bank may
be replaced at any time by written agreement among Borrower, the Administrative
Agent and the successor Issuing Bank. The Administrative Agent shall
notify the Lenders of any such replacement of the Issuing Bank or any such
additional Issuing Bank. At the time any such resignation or
replacement shall become effective, Borrower shall pay all unpaid fees accrued
for the account of the replaced Issuing Bank pursuant to Section
2.05(c). From and after the effective date of any such
resignation or replacement or addition, as applicable, (i) the successor or
additional Issuing Bank shall have all the rights and obligations of the Issuing
Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit to be issued by it
thereafter and (ii) references herein and in the other Loan Documents to the
term “Issuing Bank” shall be deemed to refer to such successor or such addition
or to any previous Issuing Bank, or to such successor or such addition and all
previous Issuing Banks, as the context shall require. After the
resignation or replacement of an Issuing Bank hereunder, the replaced Issuing
Bank shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and
obligations of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of
Credit issued by it prior to such resignation or replacement, but shall not be
required to issue additional Letters of Credit. If at any time there
is more than one Issuing Bank hereunder, Borrower may, in its discretion, select
which Issuing Bank is to issue any particular Letter of Credit.
61
(l) Other. The
Issuing Bank shall be under no obligation to issue any Letter of Credit
if:
(i) any
Order of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to
enjoin or restrain the Issuing Bank from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any
Legal Requirement applicable to the Issuing Bank or any request or directive
(whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with
jurisdiction over the Issuing Bank shall prohibit, or request that the Issuing
Bank refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of
Credit in particular or shall impose upon the Issuing Bank with respect to such
Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which the
Issuing Bank is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the
Closing Date, or shall impose upon the Issuing Bank any unreimbursed loss, cost
or expense which was not applicable on the Closing Date and which the Issuing
Bank deems material to it; or
(ii) the
issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of general
application of the Issuing Bank.
The
Issuing Bank shall be under no obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if (A)
the Issuing Bank would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of
Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof, or (B) the beneficiary of
such Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to such Letter of
Credit.
ARTICLE
III
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
Each Loan
Party represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent,
the Issuing Bank and each of the Lenders (subject to Section 5.16)
that:
Section
3.01 Organization;
Powers. Each Company (a) is duly organized and validly
existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or
organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority and all requisite
governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to carry on its
business as now conducted and to own, lease and operate its property and (c) is
qualified, licensed and in good standing (to the extent such concept is
applicable in the applicable jurisdiction) to do business in every jurisdiction
where such qualification is required, except in such jurisdictions where the
failure to so qualify, be licensed or be in good standing could not reasonably
be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. There is no
existing default under any Organizational Document of any Company or any event
which, with the giving of notice or passage of time or both, would constitute a
default by any party thereunder.
Section
3.02 Authorization;
Enforceability. The Transactions to be entered into by each
Loan Party are within such Loan Party’s powers and have been duly authorized by
all necessary corporate or other organizational action on the part of each such
Loan Party. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
each Loan Party and constitutes, and each other Loan Document to which any Loan
Party is to be a party, when executed and delivered by such Loan Party, will
constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party,
enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights
generally, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law.
62
Section
3.03 No
Conflicts; No Default. The Transactions (a) do not require any
consent, exemption, authorization or approval of, registration or filing with,
or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except (i) such as have been
obtained or made and are in full force and effect, (ii) filings necessary to
perfect or maintain the perfection or priority of the Liens created by the
Security Documents and (iii) consents, approvals, exemptions, authorizations,
registrations, filings, permits or actions the failure of which to obtain or
perform could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect,
(b) will not violate the Organizational Documents of any Company, (c) will not
violate or result in a default or require any consent or approval under (x) any
indenture, instrument, agreement, or other document binding upon any Company or
its property or to which any Company or its property is subject, or give rise to
a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by any Company, except for
violations, defaults or the creation of such rights that could not reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or (y) any Organizational
Document, (d) will not violate any Legal Requirement in any material respect,
and (e) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any
property of any Company, except Liens created by the Security
Documents. No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing.
Section 3.04
Financial
Statements; Projections. (a) The financial statements filed
with SEC for the fiscal years ended 2006, 2007 and 2008 and the three-month
period ended April 1, 2009 and all financial statements delivered pursuant to
Sections 5.01(a), (b) and (c) have been
prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the applicable
period covered, respectively, thereby and present fairly and accurately the
financial condition and results of operations and cash flows of Holdings as of
the dates and for the periods to which they relate (subject to normal year-end
audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes). Except as set forth
in such financial statements, there are no material liabilities of any Company
of any kind, whether accrued, contingent, absolute, determined, determinable or
otherwise, and there is no existing condition, situation or set of circumstances
which could reasonably be expected to result in such a liability.
(b) Intentionally
Omitted.
(c) Borrower
has heretofore delivered to the Lenders the forecasts of financial performance
of Holdings and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year 2009 (the “Projections”). The
Projections have been prepared in good faith by the Loan Parties and based upon
(i) the assumptions stated therein (which assumptions are believed by the
Loan Parties on the date hereof and the Closing Date to be reasonable),
(ii) accounting principles consistent with the historical audited financial
statements delivered pursuant to Section 3.04(a) above
consistently applied throughout the fiscal years covered thereby, and
(iii) the best information available to the Loan Parties as of the date
hereof and the Closing Date.
(d) Except
as set forth in the financial statements referred to in Section 3.04(a),
there are no liabilities of any Company of any kind of the type required to be
set forth on a balance sheet of Holdings prepared in accordance with GAAP
whether accrued, contingent, absolute, determined, determinable or otherwise,
which could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result
in a Material Adverse Effect. Since December 31, 2008, there has been
no event, change, circumstance or occurrence that has had, or could reasonably
be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.05
Properties. (a) Each
Company has good title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all its property
material to its business, free and clear of all Liens and irregularities,
deficiencies and defects in title except for Permitted Liens (or, in the case of
Collateral, Permitted Collateral Liens) and minor irregularities, deficiencies
and defects in title that, individually or in the aggregate, do not, and could
not reasonably be expected to, interfere with its ability to conduct its
business as currently conducted or to utilize such property for its intended
purpose. The property of the Companies, taken as a whole, (i) is in
good operating order, condition and repair (ordinary wear and tear excepted),
and (ii) constitutes all the property which is required for the business and
operations of the Companies as presently conducted.
63
(b) Schedule 3.05(b)
contains a true and complete list of each ownership and leasehold interest in
Real Property (i) owned by any Company as of the Closing Date and describes the
type of interest therein held by such Company and (ii) leased, subleased or
otherwise occupied or utilized by any Company, as lessee, sublessee, franchisee
or licensee, as of the Closing Date and describes the type of interest therein
held by such Company.
(c) No
Mortgage encumbers improved Real Property that is located in an area that has
been identified by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development as an area
having special flood hazards within the meaning of the National Flood Insurance
Act of 1968, as amended, unless flood insurance available under such Act has
been obtained in accordance with Section 5.04.
(d) Each
Mortgaged Property is zoned in all material respects to permit the uses for
which such Mortgaged Property is currently being used. The present
uses of the Mortgaged Property and the current operations of each Company’s
business do not violate in any material respect any provision of any applicable
building codes, subdivision regulations, fire regulations, health regulations or
building and zoning by-laws.
(e) Except
for exceptions to the following that, individually or in the aggregate, could
not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, there is no
pending or threatened condemnation or eminent domain proceeding with respect to,
or that could affect any of the Real Property of the Companies.
(f) Each
parcel of Real Property is taxed as a separate tax lot and is currently being
used in a manner that is consistent with and in compliance in all material
respects with the property classification assigned to it for real estate tax
assessment purposes.
Section 3.06
Intellectual
Property. (a) El Pollo Loco
Xxxx. The Company owns all right, title and interest in the
“El Pollo Loco” xxxx in the United States for use in connection with the goods
and services for which such xxxx is currently used by the Company and the
Company owns all right, title, and interest in its registrations for such xxxx
elsewhere in the world (except for Mexico) and, to the Company’s knowledge, no
other person or entity has any ownership interest in such xxxx in connection
with such goods and services anywhere in the world (except for
Mexico).
(b) Ownership; No Claims; Use of
Intellectual Property; Protection of Trade Secrets. Without
limiting the foregoing subsection, each Company owns or is licensed to use, free
and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens), all patents and patent
applications, trademarks, trade names, service marks, trade dress, logotypes and
other indicia of origin, copyrights, domain names and applications for
registration thereof, and technology, trade secrets, proprietary information,
inventions, know-how and processes, (“Intellectual Property”) in
each case necessary to carry on the business now operated by it (including, to
the extent that the Company is licensing its Intellectual Property to third
parties, the right to do so and to collect royalties therefrom, and including,
with respect to Intellectual Property owned by the Company, the right to enforce
its rights therein), except for those failures to own or license which,
individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in
a Material Adverse Effect. Except pursuant to franchise agreements,
samples of which have been provided to the Administrative Agent and other
licenses, supply agreements, and other user agreements entered into by each
Company which, to the extent Material and in existence on the Closing Date, are
listed in Schedule 3.06(b), no Company has authorized any other Person to use
any Intellectual Property owned by such Company. Each Company has
taken commercially reasonable actions to protect the secrecy and confidentiality
of all material trade secrets owned by such Company’s business.
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(c) Registered Intellectual
Property Trade Secrets. (i) On and as of the Closing Date,
each Company owns the issued patents and pending patent applications, trademark,
service xxxx and domain name registrations and pending applications, and
copyright registrations and pending applications listed in Section II(B) (or
accompanying schedule) of the Perfection Certificate, and (ii) all such patents
and registered trademarks, service marks, copyrights and domain names owned by
each Company and material to its business are, subsisting and in full force and
effect and, to the Company’s knowledge, are valid.
(d) No Violations or
Proceedings. (i) The Company is not aware of any violation by
others of any right of any Company with respect to any Intellectual Property,
other than such violations that, individually or in the aggregate, would not
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) no Company
is infringing upon or misappropriating any copyright, patent, trademark, trade
secret or other intellectual property right of any other Person except such as
individually or in the aggregate would not reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect, (iii) no proceedings are pending against any Company,
or to the Company’s knowledge, threatened, and no written claim against any
Company has been received by any Company, alleging any infringement or
misappropriation, except to the extent that such proceedings, threats, or
claims, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect, (iv) no claim has been asserted in writing
by Person and is pending challenging the Company right to own to use any
Intellectual Property, or the validity of the Company's Intellectual Property,
except to the extent that such claims, individually or in the aggregate, would
not result in a Material Adverse effect, and (iv) no Company is in breach of, or
in default under, any license of Intellectual Property or trademark co-existence
agreement or covenant not to xxx, except where such breach or default,
individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in
a Material Adverse Effect.
(e) No
Impairment. The consummation of the Transactions, will not
alter or impair the Company’s right to own or use any Intellectual Property,
except for such alterations or impairments which result from the Company's
compliance with, or the Agent's enforcement of its rights under, the
Loan Documents, and except for such alterations or impairments that,
individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in
a Material Adverse Effect.
(f) No Agreement or Order
Materially Affecting Intellectual Property. Except as set
forth in Schedule 3.06(f), no Company is a party to or otherwise bound by any
settlement, covenant not to xxx, or other agreement, or outstanding Order, which
would materially affect the Company’s use or licensing of its Intellectual
Property in its business as currently conducted.
Section 3.07
Equity
Interests and Subsidiaries. (a) Schedule 3.07(a)
sets forth a list of (i) Holdings and each Subsidiary of Holdings and its
jurisdiction of incorporation or organization as of the Closing Date and (ii)
the number of each class of its Equity Interests authorized, and the number
outstanding, on the Closing Date and the number of Equity Interests covered by
all outstanding options, warrants, rights of conversion or purchase and similar
rights on the Closing Date. All Equity Interests of each Company are
duly and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable, and, other than
the Equity Interests of Holdings and Borrower, are owned by Borrower, directly
or indirectly, through Wholly Owned Subsidiaries. All Equity
Interests of Borrower are owned directly by Holdings. Each Loan Party
is the record and beneficial owner of, and has good and marketable title to, the
Equity Interests pledged by (or purporting to be pledged by) it under the
Security Documents, free of any and all Liens, rights or claims of other
persons, except the security interest created by the Security Documents and any
Permitted Liens that arise by operation of applicable Legal Requirements and are
not voluntarily granted, and, as of the Closing Date, there are no outstanding
warrants, options or other rights (including derivatives) to purchase, or
shareholder, voting trust or similar agreements outstanding with respect to, or
property that is convertible into, or that requires the issuance or sale of, any
such Equity Interests (or any economic or voting interests therein) of Borrower,
Holdings or any of its other Subsidiaries.
65
(b) No
consent of any person, including any general or limited partner, any other
member or manager of a limited liability company, any shareholder, any other
trust beneficiary or derivative counterparty, is necessary in connection with
the creation, perfection or first priority status (or the maintenance thereof)
of the security interest of the Collateral Agent in any Equity Interests pledged
to the Collateral Agent under the Security Documents or the exercise by the
Collateral Agent or any Lender of the voting or other rights provided for in the
Security Documents or the exercise of remedies in respect of such Equity
Interests.
(c) A
complete and accurate organization chart, showing the ownership and
organizational structure of the Companies on the Closing Date, both before and
after giving effect to the Transactions, is set forth on Schedule
3.07(c).
Section 3.08
Litigation;
Compliance with Legal Requirements. (a) There are
no actions, suits, claims, disputes, investigations, suspensions, or proceedings
at law or in equity by or before any Governmental Authority now pending or, to
the best of the knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened against or affecting any
Company or any business, property or rights of any Company, including (i) that
purport to affect or involve any Loan Document or any of the Transactions or
(ii) that have resulted, or if adversely determined, could, individually or in
the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result, in a Material Adverse
Effect. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company is now and, after
giving effect to the Transactions, will continue to be, authorized to offer and
sell franchises in each of the states in which there now exist El Pollo Loco
franchises.
(b) No
Company or any of its property is (i) in violation of, nor will the continued
operation of its business as currently conducted violate, any Legal Requirements
(including any franchise laws, regulations, rules, decrees, orders, permits,
exemptions or zoning or building ordinance, code or approval or any building
permits) or any restrictions of record or agreements affecting any Company’s
Real Property or (ii) in default with respect to any Order, where such violation
or default, has resulted, or could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably
be expected to result, in a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.09
Agreements. (a) No
Company is a party to any agreement, instrument or other document or subject to
any corporate or other constitutional restriction, or any restriction under its
Organizational Documents, that has resulted, or could reasonably be expected to
result, in a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) No
Company is in default in any manner under any provision of any indenture or
other document, agreement or instrument evidencing Indebtedness or Contingent
Obligation, or any other document, agreement or instrument to which it is a
party or by which it or any of its property is or may be bound or subject, where
such default has resulted, or could reasonably be expected to result, in a
Material Adverse Effect, and no condition exists which, with the giving of
notice or the lapse of time or both could reasonably be expected to constitute
such a default.
Section 3.10
Federal
Reserve Regulations. (a) No Company is engaged
principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending
credit for the purpose of purchasing, buying or carrying Margin
Stock.
(b) No
part of the proceeds of any Credit Extension will be used, whether directly or
indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, for any purpose
that entails a violation of, or that is inconsistent with, the provisions of the
regulations of the Board, including Regulation T, U or X. The pledge
of the Securities Collateral pursuant to the Security Agreement does not violate
such regulations.
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Section 3.11
Investment
Company Act, etc. No Company is (a) an “investment company” or
a company “controlled” by an “investment company,” as defined in, or subject to
regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or
(b) subject to regulation under any Legal Requirement (other than
Regulation X) that limits its ability to incur, create, assume or permit to
exist Indebtedness or grant any Contingent Obligation in respect of
Indebtedness.
Section 3.12
Use of
Proceeds. Borrower will use the proceeds of the Loans to (i)
refinance the certain existing Indebtedness of the Borrower, (ii) fund certain
fees and expenses associated with the Credit Facilities and (iii) fund working
capital, capital expenditures and general corporate purposes (including to
effect the Permitted Acquisitions).
Section 3.13
Taxes. Each
Company has (a) timely filed or caused to be timely filed all material federal,
state, local and foreign Tax Returns required to have been filed by it and all
such Tax Returns are true and correct in all material respects and (b) duly and
timely paid or caused to be duly and timely paid all material Taxes (whether or
not shown on any Tax Return) due and payable by it and all assessments received
by it, except Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings and for which such Company has set aside on its books adequate
reserves in accordance with GAAP. Each Company has made adequate
provision in accordance with GAAP for all Taxes not yet due and
payable. No Company has knowledge of any proposed or pending tax
assessments, deficiencies, audits or other proceedings and no proposed or
pending tax assessments, deficiencies, audits or other proceedings have
resulted, or could, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
result, in a Material Adverse Effect. No Company has ever
“participated” in a “reportable transaction” within the meaning of Treasury
Regulation Section 1.6011-4. No Company is party to any tax sharing
or similar agreement other than such arrangements solely among any of the
Companies.
Section 3.14
No
Material Misstatements. No information, report, financial
statement, certificate (including the Perfection Certificate), Borrowing
Request, LC Request, exhibit or schedule furnished by or on behalf of any
Company to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection any Loan
Document or included therein or delivered pursuant thereto (including the
Preliminary Information Memorandum taken as a whole, contained or contains any
material misstatement of fact or omitted or omits to state any material fact
necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were or are made, not misleading as of the date such
information is dated or certified; provided that to the extent
any such information, report, financial statement, exhibit or schedule
constitutes a forecast or projection, each Loan Party represents and warrants
only that on the date of delivery thereof such forecast or projection was
prepared in good faith based upon (i) the assumptions stated therein (which
assumptions are believed by the Loan Parties on the date delivered to the
Administrative Agent or a Lender to be reasonable it being recognized that such
forecasts or projections are not to be viewed as facts and that actual results
during the period or periods covered by any such projections may differ
significantly from the projected results, and no assurance can be given that the
projected results will be realized), (ii) accounting principles consistent with
the historical audited financial statements of Holdings, and (iii) the best
information available to the Loan Parties as of the date of delivery thereof to
the Administrative Agent or a Lender. As of the Closing Date, each
Company has disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all
agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it or any
of its Subsidiaries is subject, and all other matters known to it, that have
resulted, or could reasonably be expected to result, in a Material Adverse
Effect.
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Section 3.15
Labor
Matters. There are no strikes, lockouts or slowdowns against
any Company pending or, to the best of the knowledge of the Loan Parties,
threatened that have resulted in, or could reasonably be expected to result in,
a Material Adverse Effect. The hours worked by and payments made to
employees of any Company have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards
Act of 1938, as amended, or any other applicable Legal Requirement dealing with
such matters in any manner that has resulted in, or could reasonably be expected
to result in, a Material Adverse Effect. All payments due from any
Company, or for which any claim may be made against any Company, on account of
wages and employee health and welfare insurance and other benefits, have been
paid or accrued as a liability on the books of such Company except to the extent
that the failure to do so has not resulted in, and could not reasonably be
expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect. The consummation of
the Transactions will not give rise to any right of termination or right of
renegotiation on the part of any union under any collective bargaining agreement
to which any Company is bound.
Section 3.16
Solvency. Both
immediately before and immediately after the consummation of the Transactions to
occur on the Closing Date and immediately following the making of each Credit
Extension and after giving effect to the application of the proceeds of each
Credit Extension, (a) with respect to each of Borrower and
Holdings, (i) the fair value of the properties of each such Loan Party will
exceed its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, (ii)
the present fair saleable value of the property of each such Loan Party will be
greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of
its debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such
debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured, (iii) each such Loan
Party will be able to pay its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or
otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured, and (iv)
each such Loan Party will not have unreasonably small capital with which to
conduct the business in which it is engaged, as such business is now conducted
and is proposed, contemplated or about to be conducted following the Closing
Date; and
(b) with
respect to all of the Loan Parties, (i) the fair value of the properties of such
Loan Parties, taken as a whole, will exceed their debts and liabilities,
subordinated, contingent or otherwise, (ii) the present fair saleable value of
the property of such Loan Parties, taken as a whole, will be greater than the
amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of their debts and
other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and
other liabilities become absolute and matured, (iii) such Loan Parties, taken as
a whole, will be able to pay their debts and liabilities, subordinated,
contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and
matured, and (iv) such Loan Parties, taken as a whole, will not have
unreasonably small capital with which to conduct the businesses in which they
are engaged, as such businesses are now conducted and are proposed, contemplated
or about to be conducted following the Closing Date.
Section 3.17
Employee
Benefit Plans. (a) Except to the extent the failure
to comply could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect,
the Company and each of its ERISA Affiliates is in material compliance with all
applicable Legal Requirements, including all applicable provisions of ERISA and
the Code and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder, with
respect to all Employee Benefit Plans. Each Employee Benefit Plan
complies in all material respects, and is operated and maintained in compliance
in all material respects, with all applicable Legal Requirements, including all
applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code and the regulations and published
interpretations thereunder. Each Employee Benefit Plan that is
intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable
determination from the Internal Revenue Service for all required amendments and
nothing has occurred which could reasonably be expected to prevent, or cause the
loss of, such qualification.
(b) No
ERISA Event has occurred or is expected to occur. No Pension Plan has
any Unfunded Pension Liability. Except as would not reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect| (either individually or in the
aggregate), within the last six years, no Pension Plan has been terminated,
whether or not in a “standard termination” as that term is used in Section 4041
of ERISA, nor has any Pension Plan (determined at any time within the last six
years) with an Unfunded Pension Liability been transferred outside of the
“controlled group” (within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA) of any
Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates. Using actuarial assumptions
and computation methods consistent with subpart I of subtitle E of Title IV of
ERISA, the aggregate liabilities of any Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates
to all Multiemployer Plans in the event of a complete withdrawal therefrom, as
of the close of the most recent fiscal year of each such Multiemployer Plan,
have not resulted in, and could not reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect.
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(c) Except
as would not reasonably be expected to result in material liability (either
individually or in the aggregate), to the extent required under (i) Section
4980B of the Code or applicable state law or (ii) the terms of any employment
agreement, no Employee Benefit Plan provides health or welfare benefits (through
the purchase of insurance or otherwise) for any retired or former employee of
any Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates.
Section 3.18
Environmental
Matters.
(a) Except
as could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect:
(i) the
Companies and their businesses, operations and Real Property are and have at all
times during the Companies’ ownership or lease thereof been in compliance with,
and, the Companies have no liability under, any applicable Environmental
Law;
(ii) the
Companies have obtained all Environmental Permits required for the conduct of
their businesses and operations, and the ownership, operation and use of their
Real Property, under all applicable Environmental Laws. The Companies
are in compliance with the terms and conditions of such Environmental Permits,
and all such Environmental Permits are valid and in good standing. No
expenditures or operational adjustments are reasonably anticipated to be
required to remain in compliance with the terms and conditions of, or to renew
or modify such Environmental Permits during the next five years;
(iii) there
has been no Release or threatened Release or any handling, management,
generation, treatment, storage or disposal of, or exposure to, Hazardous
Materials on, at, under or from any Real Property or facility presently or
formerly owned, leased or operated by any of the Companies or their predecessors
in interest that has resulted in, or is reasonably likely to result in,
liability or obligations by any of the Companies under Environmental Law or in
an Environmental Claim;
(iv) there
is no Environmental Claim pending or, to the knowledge of the Loan Parties,
threatened against any of the Companies, or relating to the Real Property
currently or formerly owned, leased or operated by any of the Companies or
relating to the operations of the Companies and there are no actions,
activities, circumstances, conditions, events or incidents that are reasonably
likely to form the basis of such an Environmental Claim;
(v) no
person with an indemnity, contribution or other obligation to any of the
Companies relating to compliance with or liability under Environmental Law is in
default with respect to any such indemnity, contribution or other
obligation;
(vi) no
Company is obligated to perform any action or otherwise incur any expense under
Environmental Law, including pursuant to any Order or agreement by which it is
bound or has assumed by contract or agreement, and no Company is conducting or
financing any Response pursuant to any Environmental Law with respect to any
Real Property or any other location;
69
(vii) no
Real Property or facility owned, operated or leased by the Companies and, to the
knowledge of the Loan Parties, no Real Property or facility formerly owned,
operated or leased by any of the Companies or any of their predecessors in
interest is (i) listed or proposed for listing on the National Priorities List
as defined in and promulgated pursuant to CERCLA or (ii) listed on the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Information
System promulgated pursuant to CERCLA or (iii) included on any similar list
maintained by any Governmental Authority that indicates that any Company has or
is reasonably likely to have an obligation to undertake investigatory or
remediation obligations under applicable Environmental Laws;
(viii) there
are no underground or aboveground storage tanks, whether empty or containing any
Hazardous Material, located on any Real Property; and
(ix) no
Lien has been recorded or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened under
any Environmental Law with respect to any Real Property or property of the
Companies.
(b) The
Companies have made available to the Lenders all material records and files in
the possession, custody or control of, or otherwise reasonably available to, the
Companies concerning compliance with or liability or obligation under
Environmental Law, including those concerning the condition of the Real Property
or the actual or suspected existence or Release of Hazardous Materials at, under
or from Real Property or facilities currently or formerly owned, operated,
leased or used by any of the Companies.
Section 3.19
Insurance. Each
Company has insurance in such amounts and covering such risks and liabilities as
are customary for companies of a similar size engaged in similar businesses in
similar locations. All material insurance maintained by the Companies
is in full force and effect, all premiums have been duly paid, no Company has
received notice of violation, invalidity or cancellation thereof, the premises,
and the use, occupancy and operation thereof, comply in all material respects
with all Insurance Requirements, and there exists no default under any Insurance
Requirement.
Section 3.20
Security
Documents. (a) The Security Agreement is effective
to create in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured
Parties, legal, valid and enforceable Liens on, and security interests in, the
Security Agreement Collateral and, when (i) financing statements and other
filings in appropriate form are filed in the jurisdictions specified in Section
I(A) and Section II(E)(1) of the Perfection Certificate (as updated in
accordance with the terms hereof) and (ii) upon the taking of possession or
control by the Collateral Agent of the Security Agreement Collateral with
respect to which a security interest may be perfected only by possession or
control (which possession or control shall be given to the Collateral Agent to
the extent possession or control by the Collateral Agent is required by each
Security Document), the Liens created by the Security Agreement shall constitute
fully perfected Liens on, and security interests in, all right, title and
interest of the grantors thereunder in the Security Agreement Collateral (other
than (A) the Intellectual Property constituting Collateral and (B) such Security
Agreement Collateral in which a security interest cannot be perfected under the
UCC as in effect at the relevant time in the relevant jurisdiction), in each
case subject to no Liens other than Permitted Collateral Liens.
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(b) When
(i) the Security Agreement or a short form thereof is recorded in the United
States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, and
(ii) financing statements and other filings in appropriate form are filed in the
jurisdictions specified in Schedule I(A) of the Perfection Certificate, the
Liens created by the Security Agreement shall constitute fully perfected Liens
on, and security interests in, all right, title and interest of the grantors
thereunder in the Intellectual Property constituting Collateral, in each case
subject to no Liens other than Permitted Collateral Liens, but subject, as to
Intellectual Property acquired by a Loan Party subsequent to the date hereof, to
the making of additional recordings in the USPTO or USCO, as applicable, and
subject, as to Intellectual Property created under the laws of jurisdictions
outside the United States, to the taking of actions appropriate under the laws
of such jurisdiction to achieve perfection of the Liens in such Intellectual
Property provided that, pursuant to Section 5.11, no such actions need to be
taken by any Loan Party.
(c) Each
Mortgage is effective to create, in favor of the Collateral Agent, for its
benefit and the benefit of the Secured Parties, legal, valid and enforceable
first priority Liens on, and security interests in, all of the Loan Parties’
right, title and interest in and to the Mortgaged Properties thereunder and the
proceeds thereof, subject only to Permitted Collateral Liens, and when the
Mortgages are filed in the offices specified on Schedule 3.20(c)
(or, in the case of any Mortgage executed and delivered after the date thereof
in accordance with the provisions of Sections 5.11
and 5.12, when
such Mortgage is filed in the offices specified in the local counsel opinion
delivered with respect thereto in accordance with the provisions of Sections 5.11
and 5.12, the
Mortgages shall constitute fully perfected Liens on, and security interests in,
all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties in the Mortgaged Properties
and the proceeds thereof, in each case prior and superior in right to any other
person, other than Permitted Collateral Liens.
(d) Each
Security Document delivered pursuant to Sections 5.11
and 5.12 will,
upon execution and delivery thereof, be effective to create in favor of the
Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, legal, valid and
enforceable Liens on, and security interests in, all of the Loan Parties’ right,
title and interest in and to the Collateral thereunder, and (i) when all
appropriate filings or recordings are made in the appropriate offices as may be
required under applicable Legal Requirements and (ii) upon the taking of
possession or control by the Collateral Agent of such Collateral with respect to
which a security interest may be perfected only by possession or control (which
such possession or control shall be given to the Collateral Agent to the extent
required by any Security Document), the Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent
created under such Security Document will constitute valid, enforceable and
fully perfected first priority Liens on, and security interests in, all right,
title and interest of the Loan Parties in such Collateral, in each case subject
to no Liens other than Permitted Collateral Liens.
Section 3.21
Intentionally
Omitted.
Section 3.22
Anti-Terrorism
Law; Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. (a) No Company
and, to the knowledge of the Loan Parties, none of its Affiliates is in
violation of any Legal Requirements relating to terrorism or money laundering
(“Anti-Terrorism Laws”),
including Executive Order No. 13224 on Terrorist Financing, effective September
24, 2001 (the “Executive
Order”), and the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing
Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001,
Public Law 107-56 (the “Patriot
Act”).
(b) No
Company and to the knowledge of the Loan Parties, no Affiliate or broker or
other agent of any Loan Party acting or benefiting in any capacity in connection
with the Credit Extensions is any of the following:
(i) a
person that is listed in the annex to, or is otherwise subject to the provisions
of, the Executive Order;
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(ii) a
person owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, any person that is
listed in the annex to, or is otherwise subject to the provisions of, the
Executive Order;
(iii) a
person with which any Lender is prohibited from dealing or otherwise engaging in
any transaction by any Anti-Terrorism Law;
(iv) a
person that commits, threatens or conspires to commit or supports “terrorism” as
defined in the Executive Order; or
(v) a
person that is named as a “specially designated national and blocked person” on
the most current list published by the U.S. Treasury Department Office of
Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) at its official website
or any replacement website or other replacement official publication of such
list.
(c) No
Company and, to the knowledge of the Loan Parties, no broker or other agent of
any Company acting in any capacity in connection with the Loans (i) conducts any
business or engages in making or receiving any contribution of funds, goods or
services to or for the benefit of any person described in Section 3.22(b), (ii)
deals in, or otherwise engages in any transaction relating to, any property or
interests in property blocked pursuant to the Executive Order, or (iii) engages
in or conspires to engage in any transaction that evades or avoids, or has the
purpose of evading or avoiding, or attempts to violate, any of the prohibitions
set forth in any Anti-Terrorism Law.
(d) No
Company nor any director or officer, nor to the knowledge of the Loan Parties,
any agent, employee or other person acting, directly or indirectly, on behalf of
any Company, has, in the course of its actions for, or on behalf of, any
Company, directly or indirectly (i) used any corporate funds for any
unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating
to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to
any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds;
(iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the U.S. Foreign
Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended; or (iv) made any unlawful bribe,
rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment to any
foreign or domestic government official or employee.
Section 3.23
Subordinated
Indebtedness. Without limiting the foregoing, the Secured
Obligations and the Guaranteed Obligations are, and at all times shall be
designated, “Senior Debt”, “Designated Senior Debt” or the equivalent thereof
for all purposes of all Subordinated Indebtedness.
Section 3.24
Intentionally
Omitted.
Section 3.25
Bank
Accounts. The account
numbers, names of the applicable financial institutions, and locations of all
bank accounts, deposit accounts, and investment accounts of the Borrower and/or
any of its Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date are set forth on Schedule 3.25
(as such Schedule may be amended by delivery of an amended Schedule to the
Administrative Agent) hereto (the “Operating Accounts”), which
schedule identifies all Operating Accounts (if any) used as tax accounts or
payroll accounts.
ARTICLE
IV
CONDITIONS
TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS
Section 4.01
Conditions
to Initial Credit Extension. The obligation of each Lender
and, if applicable, each Issuing Bank to fund the initial Credit Extension
requested to be made by it shall be subject to the prior or concurrent
satisfaction of each of the conditions precedent set forth in this Section 4.01.
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(a) Loan
Documents. All legal matters incident to this Agreement, the
Credit Extensions hereunder and the other Loan Documents shall be satisfactory
to the Lenders, to the Issuing Bank and to the Administrative Agent and there
shall have been delivered to the Administrative Agent a properly executed
counterpart of each of the Loan Documents and the Perfection
Certificate.
(b) Corporate
Documents. The Administrative Agent shall have
received:
(i) a
certificate of the secretary or assistant secretary of each Loan Party dated the
Closing Date, certifying (A) that attached thereto is a true and complete copy
of each Organizational Document of such Loan Party certified (to the extent
applicable) as of a recent date by the Secretary of State of the state of its
organization, (B) that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of
resolutions duly adopted by the Board of Directors of such Loan Party
authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to
which such person is a party and, in the case of Borrower, the Credit Extensions
hereunder, and that such resolutions have not been modified, rescinded or
amended and are in full force and effect and (C) as to the incumbency and
specimen signature of each officer executing any Loan Document or any other
document delivered in connection herewith on behalf of such Loan Party (together
with a certificate of another officer as to the incumbency and specimen
signature of the secretary or assistant secretary executing the certificate
required by this clause (i)); and
(ii) a
certificate as to the good standing of each Loan Party (in so-called “long-form”
if available) as of a recent date, from such Secretary of State.
(c) Officers’
Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received a
certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by the chief executive officer of
Borrower, confirming compliance with the conditions precedent set forth in this
Section 4.01
and Sections
4.02(b), (c), and (d).
(d) Financings and Other
Transactions, Etc. (i) Each of the Transaction Documents shall
be in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the
Arranger, and shall be in full force and effect on the Closing
Date. The Transactions shall have been consummated or shall be
consummated simultaneously on the Closing Date, in each case in accordance with
the terms hereof and the terms of the Transaction Documents, without the waiver
or amendment of any such terms not approved by the Administrative Agent and the
Arranger.
(ii) Borrower
shall have received not less than $132,500,000 million in gross proceeds from
the issuance and sale of the Senior Secured Notes.
(iii) The
Administrative Agent shall have received evidence that the Borrower’s Senior
Secured Notes due 2009 have been discharged and all liens in respect thereof
have been released, in each case on terms reasonably satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent.
(iv) Intentionally
Omitted.
(v) The
Refinancing shall have been consummated in full to the satisfaction of the
Lenders with all liens in favor of the existing lenders being unconditionally
released; the Administrative Agent shall have received a “pay-off” letter in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent with
respect to all Indebtedness being refinanced in the Refinancing; and the
Administrative Agent shall have received from any person holding any Lien
securing any such Indebtedness, such UCC (or equivalent) termination statements,
mortgage releases, releases of assignments of leases and rents, releases of
security interests in Intellectual Property and other instruments, in each case
in proper form for recording or filing, as the Administrative Agent shall have
reasonably requested to release and terminate of record the Liens securing such
Indebtedness.
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(e) Projections. The
Lenders shall have received the Projections described in Section
3.04.
(f) Indebtedness. After
giving effect to the Transactions and the other transactions contemplated
hereby, no Company shall have outstanding any Indebtedness for borrowed money or
Preferred Stock other than (i) the Loans and Credit Extensions hereunder, (ii)
the Senior Secured Notes, (iii) the Indebtedness listed on Schedule 6.01 and
(iv) Indebtedness owed to any Loan Party.
(g) Opinions of
Counsel. The Administrative Agent shall have received, on
behalf of itself, the other Agents, the Arranger, the Lenders and the Issuing
Bank, a favorable written opinion in form and substance satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent of (i) Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx, LLP,
special counsel for the Loan Parties, (ii) each local counsel listed on
Schedule
4.01(g)(ii), and (iii) each local counsel listed on Schedule
4.01(g)(iii) with respect to the Mortgaged Properties, in each case, (A) dated
the Closing Date, (B) addressed to the Agents, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders
and (C) covering such matters relating to the Loan Documents and the
Transactions as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request.
(h) Solvency
Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have received a
solvency certificate (a “Solvency Certificate”) in the
form of Exhibit M, dated the Closing Date and signed by the chief financial
officer of Borrower.
(i) Legal
Requirements. The Lenders shall be satisfied that each
Company, and the Transactions shall be in full compliance with all material
Legal Requirements, including Regulations T, U and X of the Board, and shall
have received satisfactory evidence of such compliance reasonably requested by
them.
(j) Consents. The
Lenders shall be satisfied that all requisite Governmental Authorities,
equityholders and third parties shall have approved, authorized or consented to
the Transactions, and there shall be no governmental or judicial action, actual
or threatened, that has or would have, individually or in the aggregate, a
reasonable likelihood of restraining, preventing or imposing burdensome
conditions on the Transactions or the other transactions contemplated
hereby.
(k) Litigation. There
shall not exist any claim, action, suit, investigation, litigation or proceeding
pending or threatened by or before any court, or any governmental,
administrative or regulatory agency or authority, domestic or foreign, that, in
the opinion of the Administrative Agent or any Lender (a) has had, or could
reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect, (b) calls into
question in any material respect the Projections or any of the material
assumptions on which the Projections were prepared, or (c) the ability of any
Company to perform its obligations under the Loan Documents or the Senior
Secured Note Documents, or the ability of the parties to consummate the
financings contemplated hereby or the other Transactions.
(l) Intentionally
Omitted.
(m) Fees. The
Arranger and Administrative Agent shall have received all Fees and other amounts
due and payable on or prior to the Closing Date, including, to the extent
invoiced, reimbursement or payment of all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
(including the premiums, survey charges and recording taxes and fees and the
legal fees and expenses of Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP, special counsel to the
Administrative Agent and Arranger, and the fees and expenses of any local
counsel, foreign counsel and other advisors) required to be reimbursed or paid
by the Loan Parties hereunder or under any other Loan Document.
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(n) Personal Property
Requirements. The Collateral Agent shall have
received:
(i) all
certificates, agreements or instruments representing or evidencing the
Securities Collateral accompanied by instruments of transfer and stock powers
undated and endorsed in blank;
(ii) the
Intercompany Note executed by and among the Companies, accompanied by an
endorsement to the Intercompany Note in the form attached thereto, undated and
endorsed in blank by each of the Loan Parties;
(iii) all
other certificates, agreements, including control agreements, or instruments
necessary to perfect the Collateral Agent’s security interest in all chattel
paper, all Instruments, all deposit accounts identified in Section II(A)(3) of
the Perfection Certificate and all Investment Property of each Loan Party (as
each such term is defined in, and to the extent required by, the Security
Agreement);
(iv) UCC
financing statements in appropriate form for filing under the UCC, filings with
the United States Patent and Trademark Office and United States Copyright Office
and such other documents under applicable Legal Requirements in each
jurisdiction as may be necessary or appropriate or, in the opinion of the
Collateral Agent, desirable to perfect the Liens created, or purported to be
created, by the Security Documents;
(v) copies,
each as of a recent date, of (w) the UCC searches requested by the
Administrative Agent, (x) United States Patent and Trademark Office and United
States Copyright Office searches with respect to each Company, (y) tax and
judgment lien searches, bankruptcy and pending lawsuit searches or equivalent
reports or searches listing all effective lien notices or comparable documents
that name any Company as debtor and that are filed in the state and county
jurisdictions in which any Company is organized or maintains its principal place
of business, and (z) such other searches that the Collateral Agent deems
necessary or appropriate; and
(vi) evidence
reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent of payment or arrangements for
payment by the Loan Parties of all applicable filing or recording taxes, fees,
charges, costs and expenses required for the filing or recording of the Security
Documents.
(o) Real Property and
Environmental Requirements. The Collateral Agent shall have
received:
(i)
a Mortgage encumbering each Mortgaged Property in favor of the Collateral Agent,
for the benefit of the Secured Parties, duly executed and acknowledged by each
Loan Party that is the owner of such Mortgaged Property, and otherwise in form
for recording or filing in the recording or filing office of each applicable
governmental subdivision where each such Mortgaged Property is situated,
together with such certificates, affidavits, questionnaires or returns as shall
be required in connection with the recording or filing thereof to create a lien
under applicable Legal Requirements, and such financing statements and any other
instruments necessary to grant a mortgage Lien under the laws of any applicable
jurisdiction, all of which shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the
Collateral Agent;
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(ii) with
respect to each Mortgaged Property, such consents, approvals, amendments,
supplements, estoppels, tenant subordination agreements or other instruments as
are necessary to consummate the Transactions or as shall reasonably be deemed
necessary by the Collateral Agent in order for the owner or holder of the fee
interest constituting such Mortgaged Property to grant the Lien contemplated by
the Mortgage with respect to such Mortgaged Property;
(iii) with
respect to each Real Property or Mortgaged Property, copies of all Leases or
subleases, if any, in which any Loan Party holds the lessor’s interest or other
agreements relating to possessory interests, if any. To the extent
any of the foregoing affect any Mortgaged Property, such agreement shall be
subordinate to the Lien of the Mortgage to be recorded against such Mortgaged
Property, either expressly by its terms or pursuant to a subordination,
non-disturbance and attornment agreement, and shall otherwise be reasonably
acceptable to the Collateral Agent;
(iv) with
respect to each Real Property or Mortgaged Property, each Loan Party shall have
made all notifications, registrations and filings, to the extent required by,
and in accordance with, all Governmental Real Property Disclosure Requirements
applicable to such Real Property or Mortgaged Property; and
(v) a
completed Federal Emergency Management Agency Standard Flood Hazard
Determination with respect to each Mortgaged Property.
(p) Insurance. The
Administrative Agent shall have received a copy of, or a certificate as to
coverage under, the insurance policies required by Section 5.04 and the
applicable provisions of the Security Documents, each of which shall be endorsed
or otherwise amended to include a “standard” or “New York” lender’s loss payable
or mortgagee endorsement (as applicable) and shall name the Collateral Agent, on
behalf of the Secured Parties, as additional insured, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent.
Section 4.02
Conditions
to All Credit Extensions. The obligation of each Lender and
each Issuing Bank to make any Credit Extension (including the initial Credit
Extension) shall be subject to, and to the satisfaction of, each of the
conditions precedent set forth below.
(a) Notice. The
Administrative Agent shall have received a Borrowing Request as required by
Section 2.03 (or
such notice shall have been deemed given in accordance with Section 2.03) if
Loans are being requested or, in the case of the issuance, amendment, extension
or renewal of a Letter of Credit, the Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent
shall have received a notice requesting the issuance, amendment, extension or
renewal of such Letter of Credit as required by Section
2.18(b).
(b) No
Default. At the time of and immediately after giving effect to
such Credit Extension and the application of the proceeds thereof, no Default
shall have occurred and be continuing on such date.
(c) Representations and
Warranties. Each of the representations and warranties made by
any Loan Party set forth in Article III or in any
other Loan Document shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as
of the date of such Credit Extension with the same effect as though made on and
as of such date, except to the extent such representations and warranties
expressly relate to an earlier date (in which case such representations and
warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of such
earlier date); provided
that any representation and warranty that is qualified as to “materiality”,
“Material Adverse Effect” or similar language shall be true and correct (after
giving effect to any qualification therein) in all respects on such respective
dates.
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(d) No Legal
Bar. No Order of any Governmental Authority shall purport to
restrain (i) any Lender from making any Loans to be made by it or (ii) the
Issuing Bank from issuing any Letters of Credit to be issued by
it. No injunction or other restraining Order shall have been issued,
shall be pending or noticed with respect to any action, suit or proceeding
seeking to enjoin or otherwise prevent the consummation of, or to recover any
damages or obtain relief as a result of, the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement or the making of Loans or the issuance of Letters of Credit
hereunder.
(e) Availability. After
making the Credit Extensions, the sum of all Lender’s Exposure shall not exceed
the lesser of (A) the Commitments then in effect and (B) the Borrowing Base then
in effect.
Each of
the delivery of a Borrowing Request or notice requesting the issuance,
amendment, extension or renewal of a Letter of Credit and the acceptance by
Borrower of the proceeds of such Credit Extension shall constitute a
representation and warranty by Borrower and each other Loan Party that on the
date of such Credit Extension (both immediately before and after giving effect
to such Credit Extension and the application of the proceeds thereof) the
conditions contained in this Section 4.02
have been satisfied.
ARTICLE
V
AFFIRMATIVE
COVENANTS
Each Loan
Party warrants, covenants and agrees with the Administrative Agent, the
Collateral Agent, the Issuing Bank and each Lender that so long as this
Agreement shall remain in effect and until the Commitments have been terminated
and the principal of and interest and premium (if any) on each Loan, all Fees
and all other expenses or amounts payable under any Loan Document shall have
been paid in full and all Letters of Credit have been canceled or Cash
Collateralized or have expired and all amounts drawn thereunder have been
reimbursed in full, each Loan Party will, and will cause each of its
Subsidiaries to:
Section 5.01
Financial
Statements, Reports, etc. Furnish to the Administrative Agent
and each Lender:
(a) Annual
Reports. As soon as available and in any event within 90 days
after the end of each fiscal year, (i) the consolidated balance sheet of
Borrower as of the end of such fiscal year and related consolidated statements
of income, cash flows and stockholders’ equity for such fiscal year, in
comparative form with such financial statements as of the end of, and for, the
preceding fiscal year, and notes thereto (including a note with a consolidating
balance sheet and statements of income and cash flows separating out Borrower
and its Subsidiaries), all prepared in accordance with GAAP and accompanied by
an opinion of Deloitte & Touche LLP or other independent public accountants
of recognized national standing reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative
Agent (which opinion shall not be qualified as to scope or contain any going
concern or other material qualification or exemption), stating that such
financial statements fairly present, in all material respects, the consolidated
financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of Borrower as of the
dates and for the periods specified in accordance with GAAP, (ii) a management
report in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent setting
forth the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of Borrower
as of the end of and for such fiscal year, compared to the end of and for the
previous fiscal year, and (iii) a management’s discussion and analysis of the
financial condition and results of operations for such fiscal year, as compared
to the previous fiscal year;
Notwithstanding
the foregoing such financial statements may be delivered in the form and with
the accompanying certifications required by applicable Legal Requirements filing
Form 10-K with the SEC.
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(b) Quarterly
Reports. As soon as available and in any event within 45 days
after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year,
(i) the consolidated balance sheet of Borrower as of the end of such fiscal
quarter and related consolidated statements of income and cash flows for such
fiscal quarter and for the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, in
comparative form with the consolidated statements of income and cash flows for
the comparable periods in the previous fiscal year, and notes thereto (including
a note with a consolidating balance sheet and statements of income and cash
flows separating out Borrower and its Subsidiaries), all prepared in accordance
with GAAP and accompanied by a certificate of a Financial Officer stating that
such financial statements fairly present, in all material respects, the
consolidated financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of
Borrower as of the date and for the periods specified in accordance with GAAP
consistently applied, and on a basis consistent with audited financial
statements referred to in clause (a) of this Section 5.01, subject
to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes, (ii) a
management report in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent
setting forth the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of
Borrower as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and for the then elapsed
portion of the fiscal year, compared to the end of such fiscal quarter and for
the comparable periods in the previous fiscal year, and (iii) a management’s
discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations for
such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, as compared
to the comparable periods in the previous fiscal year;
Notwithstanding
the foregoing such financial statements may be delivered in the form and with
the accompanying certifications required by applicable Legal Requirements filing
Form 10-Q with the SEC.
(c) Monthly
Reports. Within 30 days after the end of each fiscal month, an
internally generated consolidated balance sheet of Borrower as of the end of
such month and the related consolidated statement of income for such
month.
(d) Financial Officer’s
Certificate. (i) Concurrently with any delivery of financial
statements under Section 5.01(a),
(b) or (c) above, a
Compliance Certificate certifying that no Default has occurred or, if such a
Default has occurred, specifying in reasonable detail the nature and extent
thereof and any corrective action taken or proposed to be taken with respect
thereto; (ii) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under Section 5.01(a),
(b) or (c) above, a
Compliance Certificate setting forth computations in reasonable detail
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent demonstrating compliance with the
covenants contained in Section 6.07;
and (iii) in the case of Section 5.01(a)
above, a report of the accounting firm opining on or certifying such financial
statements stating that in the course of its regular audit of the financial
statements of Borrower and its Subsidiaries, which audit was conducted in
accordance with GAAP, such accounting firm obtained no knowledge that any
Default has occurred or, if in the opinion of such accounting firm such a
Default has occurred, specifying in reasonable detail the nature and extent
thereof in each case insofar as such Default relates to accounting matters
(provided, however, that such report may indicate that the accounting firm’s
audit was not directed primarily toward obtaining knowledge of such
noncompliance);
(e) Intentionally
Omitted.
(f) Public
Reports. Promptly after the same become publicly available,
copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements, notices and other
materials or information filed by any Company with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all of the
functions of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or with any national
securities exchange, or distributed to holders of its Indebtedness pursuant to
the terms of the documentation governing such Indebtedness (or any trustee,
agent or other representative therefor), as the case may be;
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(g) Management
Letters. Promptly after the receipt thereof by any Company, a
copy of any “management letter” received by any such person from its certified
public accountants and the management’s responses thereto;
(h) Budgets. No
later than the 60th day of
each fiscal year of Borrower, a budget in form reasonably satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent (including budgeted statements of income for each of
Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ business units and sources and uses of cash and
balance sheets) prepared by Borrower for each fiscal month of such fiscal year
prepared in detail;
(i)
Organization. Within
30 days after the close of each fiscal year of Borrower, Borrower shall deliver
an accurate and complete organization chart showing in reasonable detail the
ownership structure of the Companies as of the last day of such fiscal year, or
confirm that there are no changes to Schedule 3.07(c);
(j)
Organizational
Documents. Promptly, from time to time, (i) copies of any
Organizational Documents that have been amended or modified in a manner that is,
or could reasonably be expected to be, adverse in any material respects to any
Agent or Lender, and (ii) a copy of any notice of default (or equivalent)
given or received by any Company under any Organizational Document within 15
days after such Company gives or receives such notice; and
(k) Other
Information. Promptly, from time to time, such other
information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition
of any Company, or compliance with the terms of any Loan Document, or the
environmental condition of any Real Property, as the Administrative Agent or any
Lender may reasonably request.
Section 5.02
Litigation
and Other Notices. Furnish to the Administrative Agent and
each Lender written notice of the following promptly (and, in any event, within
10 Business Days (or in the event of clause (a) below, five Business Days)
following the date on which a Responsible Officer or any senior vice-president
obtains knowledge thereof):
(a) any
Default, specifying the nature and extent thereof and the corrective action (if
any) taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto;
(b) the
filing or commencement of, or any threat or notice of intention of any person to
file or commence, any action, suit, litigation or proceeding, whether at law or
in equity or otherwise by or before any Governmental Authority, (i) against any
Company or any Affiliate thereof that has had, or could reasonably be expected
to result in, a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) with respect to any Loan Document
or (iii) with respect to any of the other Transactions;
(c) any
development that has resulted, or could reasonably be expected to result, in a
Material Adverse Effect;
(d) the
occurrence of a Casualty Event that could reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect;
(e) the
receipt by any Company of any notice of any Environmental Claim or violation of
or potential liability under, or knowledge by any Company that there exists a
condition that has resulted, or could reasonably be expected to result, in an
Environmental Claim or a violation of or liability under, any Environmental Law,
except for Environmental Claims, violations and liabilities the consequence of
which, in the aggregate, have not and could not be reasonably likely to subject
the Companies collectively to liabilities exceeding $3,500,000;
and
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(f) (i)
the incurrence of any Lien (other than Permitted Collateral Liens) on, or claim
asserted against, all or any material portion of the Collateral.
Section 5.03
Existence;
Businesses and Properties. (a) Do or cause to be
done all things necessary to preserve, renew and maintain in full force and
effect its legal existence, except as otherwise expressly permitted under Section 6.03 or
Section 6.04.
(b) Do
or cause to be done all things necessary to obtain, preserve, renew, extend and
keep in full force and effect the rights, licenses, permits, privileges,
franchises, authorizations, patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade names, in
each case, material to the conduct of its business; maintain and operate such
business in accordance with Section 6.11; comply
with all applicable Legal Requirements (including any and all zoning, building,
Environmental Law, ordinance, code or approval or any building permits or any
restrictions of record or agreements affecting the Real Property) and decrees
and Orders of any Governmental Authority, whether now in effect or hereafter
enacted, except where the failure to comply with such Legal Requirements could
not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; pay and
perform its obligations under all Leases and Transaction Documents (other than
the Loan Documents) except where the failure to perform such obligations could
not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; pay and
perform its obligations under all Loan Documents; and except where the failure
to comply, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect, at all times maintain, preserve and protect
all property material to the conduct of such business and keep such property in
good repair, working order and condition (other than wear and tear occurring in
the ordinary course of business) and from time to time make, or cause to be
made, all necessary and proper repairs, renewals, additions, improvements and
replacements thereto necessary in order that the business carried on in
connection therewith may be properly conducted at all times; provided that nothing in this
Section 5.03(b)
shall prevent (i) Dispositions of property, consolidations or mergers by or
involving any Company in accordance with Section 6.03 or
Section 6.04;
(ii) the withdrawal by any Company of its qualification as a foreign corporation
in any jurisdiction where such withdrawal could not reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect; or (iii) the abandonment (or other failure
to maintain, preserve, renew, extend, protect or keep in full force and effect)
by any Company of any Intellectual Property that such Company reasonably
determines is not useful in any material respect to its businesses or no longer
commercially desirable for such Company to maintain, preserve, renew, extend,
protect, or keep in full force and effect.
Section 5.04
Insurance. (a) Keep
its insurable property adequately insured at all times by financially sound and
reputable insurers; maintain such other insurance, to such extent and against
such risks as is customary for companies in the same or similar businesses
operating in the same or similar locations.
(b) All
such insurance shall (i) provide that no cancellation, material reduction in
amount or material change in coverage thereof shall be effective until at least
15 days after receipt by the Collateral Agent of written notice thereof, (ii)
name the Collateral Agent as mortgagee (in the case of property insurance) or
additional insured on behalf of the Secured Parties (in the case of liability
insurance) or loss payee (in the case of property insurance), as applicable, and
(iii) if reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent, include a breach of
warranty clause.
(c) Intentionally
Omitted.
(d) With
respect to each Mortgaged Property, obtain flood insurance in such total amount
as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may from time to time
reasonably require, if at any time the area in which any improvements located on
any Mortgaged Property is designated a “flood hazard area” in any Flood
Insurance Rate Map published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (or any
successor agency), and otherwise comply with the National Flood Insurance
Program as set forth in the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, as
amended.
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(e) Deliver
to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Lenders a report of a
reputable insurance broker with respect to such insurance and such supplemental
reports with respect thereto as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent
may from time to time reasonably request (but in no event more than one time per
calendar year unless an Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing).
(f) No
Loan Party that is an owner of any Mortgaged Property shall take any action that
is reasonably likely to be the basis for termination, revocation or denial of
any insurance coverage required to be maintained under such Loan Party’s
respective Mortgage or that could reasonably be the basis for a defense to any
claim under any Insurance Policy maintained in respect of the Premises, and each
Loan Party shall otherwise comply in all material respects with all Insurance
Requirements in respect of the Premises; provided, however, that each Loan Party
may, at its own expense and after written notice to the Administrative Agent,
(i) contest the applicability or enforceability of any such Insurance
Requirements by appropriate legal proceedings, the prosecution of which does not
constitute a basis for cancellation or revocation of any insurance coverage
required under this Section 5.04 or
(ii) cause the Insurance Policy containing any such Insurance Requirement to be
replaced by a new policy complying with the provisions of this Section 5.04.
Section 5.05
Obligations
and Taxes. (a) Pay its Indebtedness and other
material obligations promptly and in accordance with their terms and pay and
discharge promptly when due all material Taxes, assessments and governmental
charges or levies imposed upon it or upon its income or profits or in respect of
its property, before the same shall become delinquent or in default, as well as
all lawful claims for labor, services, materials and supplies or otherwise that,
if unpaid, might give rise to a Lien other than a Permitted Lien upon such
properties or any part thereof; provided that such payment
and discharge shall not be required with respect to any such Tax, assessment,
charge, levy or claim so long as (i) the validity or amount thereof shall be
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and the
applicable Company shall have set aside on its books adequate reserves or other
appropriate provisions with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP, and (ii)
such contest operates to suspend collection of the contested obligation, Tax,
assessment or charge and enforcement of a Lien other than a Permitted
Lien.
(b) Timely
and correctly file all income Tax Returns and other material Tax Returns
required to be filed by it.
(c) Borrower
does not intend to treat the Loans as being a “reportable transaction” within
the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4. In the event
Borrower determines to take any action inconsistent with such intention, it will
promptly notify the Administrative Agent thereof.
Section 5.06
Employee
Benefits. (a) Comply in all material respects with
all applicable Legal Requirements, including the applicable provisions of ERISA
and the Code with respect to all Employee Benefit Plans and (b) furnish to the
Administrative Agent (x) as soon as possible after, and in any event within five
Business Days after any Responsible Officer of any Company or any ERISA
Affiliate of any Company knows or has reason to know that, any ERISA Event or
other material event with respect to an Employee Benefit Plan has occurred that,
alone or together with any other ERISA Event could reasonably be expected to
result in liability of the Companies or any of their ERISA Affiliates in an
aggregate amount exceeding $1,000,000 or the imposition of a Lien, a statement
of a Financial Officer of Borrower setting forth details as to such ERISA Event
and the action, if any, that the Companies propose to take with respect thereto,
and (y) upon request by the Administrative Agent, copies of (i) annual report
(Form 5500 Series) filed by any Company with the Employee Benefits Security
Administration with respect to each Employee Benefit Plan; (ii) the most recent
actuarial valuation report for each Pension Plan; (iii) all notices received by
any Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates from a Multiemployer Plan sponsor or
any governmental agency concerning an ERISA Event; and (iv) such other
information, documents or governmental reports or filings relating to any
Employee Benefit Plan as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably
request.
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Section 5.07
Maintaining
Records; Access to Properties and Inspections; Annual
Meetings. (a) Keep proper books of record and
account in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP and all
Legal Requirements are made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its
business and activities. Each Company will permit any representatives
designated by the Administrative Agent or, upon the occurrence and during the
continuation of any Event of Default, any Lender (i) to visit and inspect the
financial records and the property of such Company upon reasonable prior notice
and at reasonable times not more than once per fiscal year during normal
business hours (other than at any time during the continuance of any Default or
Event of Default), and (ii) to make extracts from and copies of such financial
records, and permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent
or, upon the occurrence and during the continuation of any Event of Default, any
Lender to discuss the affairs, finances, accounts and condition of any Company
with the officers and employees thereof and advisors therefor (including
independent accountants).
(b) Within
120 days after the close of each fiscal year of the Companies, at the request of
the Administrative Agent or Required Lenders, hold a conference call with all
Lenders who choose to attend such meeting or conference call at which meeting or
conference call shall be reviewed the financial results of the previous fiscal
year and the financial condition of the Companies and the budgets presented for
the current fiscal year of the Companies.
Section 5.08
Use of
Proceeds. Use the proceeds of the Loans only for the purposes
set forth in Section 3.12 and
request the issuance of Letters of Credit to support obligations of the Borrower
or any of its Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of
business.
Section 5.09
Compliance
with Environmental Laws; Environmental
Reports. (a) Comply, and use commercially
reasonable efforts to cause all lessees and other persons occupying Real
Property owned, operated or leased by any Company to comply, in all material
respects, with all Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits applicable to
its operations and the Real Property; obtain and maintain in full force and
effect all material Environmental Permits applicable to its operations and the
Real Property; and conduct all Responses required by any Governmental Authority
or under any applicable Environmental Laws, and in accordance with, the
requirements of any Governmental Authority and applicable Environmental
Laws.
(b) Take
commercially reasonable efforts to do or cause to be done all things necessary
to prevent any material Release of Hazardous Materials in, on, under, at, to or
from any Real Property owned, leased or operated by any of the Companies or
their predecessors in interest except in full compliance with applicable
Environmental Laws or an Environmental Permit and to ensure that there shall be
no Hazardous Materials in, on, under or from any Real Property owned, leased or
operated by any of the Companies except those that are used, stored, handled and
managed in full compliance with applicable Environmental Laws.
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(c) Undertake
all actions, including Response actions, necessary, at the sole cost and expense
of Borrower, (i) to address any Release of Hazardous Materials on, at, under,
from or onto any Real Property owned, leased or operated by any of the Companies
or their predecessors in interest as required pursuant to Environmental Law or
the requirements of any Governmental Authority; (ii) to address, to the extent
required by applicable Environmental Laws or to eliminate any imminent or
substantial risk to human health or the Environment, any material environmental
conditions relating to any Company, any Company’s business or to any Real
Property, owned, leased or operated by any of the Companies pursuant to any
reasonable written request of the Administrative Agent and share with the
Administrative Agent all data, information and reports generated or prepared in
connection therewith; (iii) to keep any Real Property owned, leased or operated
by any of the Companies free and clear of all Liens and other encumbrances
pursuant to any Environmental Law, whether due to any act or omission of any
Company or any other person; and (iv) in any event which could reasonably be
expected to result in liability to the Companies exceeding $3,500,000, to
promptly notify the Administrative Agent in writing of: (1) any Release or
threatened Release of Hazardous Materials in, on, under, at, from or migrating
to any Real Property owned, leased or operated by any of the Companies, except
those that are pursuant to and in compliance with the terms and conditions of an
Environmental Permit, (2) any non-compliance with, or violation of, any
Environmental Law applicable to any Company, any Company’s business and any Real
Property owned, leased or operated by any of the Companies, (3) any Lien
pursuant to Environmental Law imposed on any Real Property owned, leased or
operated by any of the Companies, (4) any investigation or remediation of any
Real Property owned, leased or operated by any of the Companies required to be
undertaken pursuant to Environmental Law, and (5) any notice or other
communication received by any Company from any person or Governmental Authority
relating to any Environmental Claim or liability or potential liability of any
Company pursuant to any Environmental Law.
(d) Diligently
pursue and use reasonable best efforts to cause any person with a material
indemnity, contribution or other obligation to any of the Companies in an
aggregate amount in excess of $500,000 relating to compliance with or liability
under Environmental Law to satisfy such material obligations in full and in a
timely manner; provided,
however, that if the Loan Parties determine in their best business
judgment that it is not financially prudent to pursue such indemnity,
contribution or other obligation, they shall advise the Administrative Agent of
such determination and shall obtain the Administrative Agent’s written consent
(which shall not be unreasonably withheld) not to pursue such indemnity,
contribution or other obligation, as the case may be. To the extent
that such person has not fully satisfied or is not diligently undertaking the
necessary actions to achieve satisfaction of such material obligations, the
Companies shall promptly undertake all action necessary to achieve full and
timely satisfaction of such material obligations.
(e) Shall
not amend in any way or waive in any manner materially adverse to the interests
of the Lenders any or all of the rights it may have under any other agreement
pursuant to which there are material indemnity, contribution, statutory rights
or other obligation to any of the Companies relating to compliance with or
liability under Environmental Law, without the prior written consent of the
Administrative Agent.
(f) At
any time, within 30 days following a written request of the Administrative
Agent, but no more frequently than once each year unless an Event of Default
exists, provide the Administrative Agent (or the Required Lenders through the
Administrative Agent) with a Phase I environmental assessment regarding any
Real Property owned or leased by any of the Companies prepared by an
environmental consulting firm, and in form and substance, reasonably acceptable
to the Administrative Agent. If a Default caused by reason of a
breach of Section 3.18 or
this Section
5.09 shall (i) have occurred and is not reasonably curable within 10 days
or (ii) be continuing for more than 10 days without the Companies commencing
activities reasonably likely to cure such Default, the Companies shall, at the
written request of the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders through the
Administrative Agent, (i) provide to the Lenders within 30 days after such
request, at the expense of Borrower, an environmental assessment report
regarding the matters which are the subject of such Default, including, where
appropriate, any soil and/or groundwater sampling, prepared by a nationally
recognized environmental consulting firm reasonably acceptable to the
Administrative Agent and in the form and substance reasonably acceptable to the
Administrative Agent and evaluating the presence or absence of Hazardous
Materials and the estimated cost of any compliance or Response to address them;
(ii) promptly undertake all actions required by applicable Environmental Law to
address any non-compliance with or violation of Environmental Law or Release of
Hazardous Materials; (iii) promptly undertake all Response actions reasonably
required to address any recognized environmental conditions identified in the
environmental assessment report to the reasonable satisfaction of the
Administrative Agent; and (iv) permit the Administrative Agent and its
representatives to have access to all Real Property and all facilities owned,
leased or operated by any of the Companies which are the subject of such Default
for the purpose of conducting such environmental audits and testing related to
the condition of Default as the Administrative Agent deems appropriate,
including subsurface sampling of soil and groundwater, all of which shall be at
Borrower’s cost.
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Section 5.10
Intentionally
Omitted.
Section 5.11
Additional
Collateral; Additional Guarantors. (a) Subject to
this Section 5.11,
with respect to any property acquired after the Closing Date by any Loan Party
that is intended to be subject to the Lien created by any of the Security
Documents but is not so subject (but, in any event, excluding any Equity
Interest of a Foreign Subsidiary not required to be pledged pursuant to the last
sentence of Section 5.11(b)),
promptly (and in any event within 15 Business Days after the acquisition
thereof, unless extended by the Administrative Agent in writing in its sole
discretion) (i) execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent and the
Collateral Agent such amendments or supplements to the relevant Security
Documents or such other documents as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral
Agent shall deem necessary or advisable to grant to the Collateral Agent, for
its benefit and for the benefit of the other Secured Parties, a Lien on such
property subject to no Liens other than Permitted Collateral Liens, (ii) if
requested by the Administrative Agent, deliver opinions of counsel to Borrower
in form and substance, and from counsel, reasonably acceptable to the
Administrative Agent, and (iii) take all actions necessary to cause such Lien to
be duly perfected to the extent required by such Security Documents in
accordance with all applicable Legal Requirements, including the filing of
financing statements in such jurisdictions as may be reasonably requested by the
Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary herein, the Loan Parties shall not have any obligation
to perfect Liens on the Intellectual Property Collateral in any jurisdiction
other than in the United States. Borrower and the other Loan Parties
shall otherwise take such actions and execute and/or deliver to the Collateral
Agent such documents as the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent shall
require to confirm the validity, perfection and priority of the Lien of the
Security Documents against such after-acquired properties.
(b) With
respect to any person that is or becomes a (A) a guarantor of the payment and/or
performance of all or any portion of the obligations under or in respect of any
or all the Senior Secured Note Documents (a “Note Guarantor”) or (B) a
Subsidiary of a Loan Party after the Closing Date, promptly (and in any event
within (x) five Business Days after such person becomes a Note Guarantor and (y)
30 days after such person becomes a Subsidiary), in each case, unless extended
by the Administrative Agent in writing in its sole discretion), (i) deliver to
the Collateral Agent the certificates, if any, representing all of the Equity
Interests of such Subsidiary, together with undated stock powers or other
appropriate instruments of transfer executed and delivered in blank by a duly
authorized officer of the holder(s) of such Equity Interests, and all
intercompany notes owing from such Subsidiary to any Loan Party together with
instruments of transfer executed and delivered in blank by a duly authorized
officer of such Loan Party and (ii) cause such new Subsidiary (A) to execute a
Joinder Agreement to become a Subsidiary Guarantor and a Pledgor, (B) deliver
opinions of counsel to Borrower in form and substance, and from counsel,
reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and (C) to take all actions
necessary or advisable in the opinion of the Administrative Agent or the
Collateral Agent to cause the Lien created by the applicable Security Document
to be duly perfected to the extent required by such Security Document in
accordance with all applicable Legal Requirements, including the filing of
financing statements (or equivalent registrations) in such jurisdictions as may
be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral
Agent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) the Equity Interests
required to be delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to clause (i) of the
preceding sentence shall not include any Equity Interests of a Foreign
Subsidiary that is a controlled foreign corporation (within the meaning of
Section 957(a) of the Code) and (2) no Foreign Subsidiary shall be required to
take the actions specified in clauses (i) or (ii) of the preceding sentence;
provided that the
exception contained in clause (1) shall not apply to (A) Voting Stock of any
Subsidiary which is a first-tier controlled foreign corporation (as defined in
Section 957(a) of the Code) representing 65% of the total voting power of all
outstanding Voting Stock of such Subsidiary and (B) 100% of the Equity Interests
not constituting Voting Stock of any such Subsidiary, except that any such
Equity Interests constituting “stock entitled to vote” within the meaning of
Treasury Regulation Section 1.956-2(c)(2) shall be treated as Voting Stock for
purposes of this Section 5.11(b).
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(c) With
respect to any person that is or becomes a Subsidiary (other than a Foreign
Subsidiary) of a Loan Party after the Closing Date, promptly (and in any event
within 10 Business Days after such person becomes a Subsidiary), unless extended
by the Administrative Agent in writing in its sole discretion) execute and
deliver to the Collateral Agent (i) a counterpart to the Intercompany Note and
(ii) if such Subsidiary is a Loan Party, an endorsement to the Intercompany Note
(undated and endorsed in blank) in the form attached thereto, endorsed by such
Subsidiary.
(d) Promptly
grant to the Collateral Agent (and in any event within 10 Business Days of the
acquisition thereof, unless extended by the Administrative Agent in writing in
its sole discretion) a security interest in and Mortgage on each Real Property
owned in fee by such Loan Party as is acquired by such Loan Party after the
Closing Date and that, together with any improvements thereon, individually has
a Fair Market Value of at least $1,000,000, as additional security for the
Secured Obligations (unless the subject property is already mortgaged to a third
party to the extent permitted by Section
6.02). Such Mortgages shall be granted pursuant to
documentation reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the
Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent and shall constitute valid and
enforceable perfected first priority Liens subject only to Permitted Collateral
Liens. The Mortgages or instruments related thereto shall be duly
recorded or filed in such manner and in such places as are required by
applicable Legal Requirements to establish, perfect, preserve and protect the
Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent required to be granted pursuant to the
Mortgages and all taxes, fees and other charges payable in connection therewith
shall be paid in full. Such Loan Party shall otherwise take such
actions and execute and/or deliver to the Collateral Agent such documents as the
Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent shall reasonably require to confirm
the validity, enforceability, perfection and priority of the Lien of any
existing Mortgage or new Mortgage against such after-acquired Real Property
(including a Title Policy, a Survey and local counsel opinion (in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral
Agent) in respect of such Mortgage).
Section 5.12
Security
Interests; Further Assurances. (a) Promptly, upon
the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, at
the Companies’ expense, execute, acknowledge and deliver, or cause the
execution, acknowledgment and delivery of, and thereafter register, file or
record, or cause to be registered, filed or recorded, in an appropriate
governmental office, any document or instrument supplemental to or confirmatory
of the Security Documents or otherwise deemed by the Administrative Agent or the
Collateral Agent reasonably necessary or desirable for the continued validity,
enforceability, perfection and priority of the Liens on the Collateral covered
thereby subject to no other Liens except Permitted Liens, or obtain any consents
or waivers as may be necessary or appropriate in connection
therewith.
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(b) Deliver
or cause to be delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent
from time to time such other documentation, instruments, consents,
authorizations, approvals and Orders in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent as the
Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall reasonably deem necessary or
advisable to perfect or maintain the validity, enforceability, perfection and
priority of the Liens on the Collateral pursuant to the Security
Documents.
(c) Upon
the exercise by the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender of
any power, right, privilege or remedy pursuant to any Loan Document which
requires any consent, approval, registration, qualification or authorization of
any Governmental Authority, execute and deliver all applications,
certifications, instruments and other documents and papers that the
Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or such Lender may
require.
(d) If
the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or the Required Lenders determine
that they are required by any Legal Requirements to have appraisals prepared in
respect of the Real Property of any Loan Party constituting Collateral, Borrower
shall provide to the Administrative Agent appraisals that satisfy the applicable
requirements of the Real Estate Appraisal Reform Amendments of FIRREA and are
otherwise in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the
Collateral Agent.
(e) In
furtherance of the foregoing in this Section 5.12 and Section 5.11, to the
maximum extent permitted by applicable Legal Requirements, each Loan Party (A)
authorizes each of the Collateral Agent and/or the Administrative Agent to
execute any such documentation, consents, authorizations, approvals, Orders,
applications, certifications, instruments and other documents and papers in such
Loan Party’s name and to file such agreements, instruments or other documents in
any appropriate filing office, (B) authorizes each of the Collateral Agent
and/or the Administrative Agent to file any financing statement (and/or
equivalent foreign registration) required hereunder or under any other Loan
Document, and any continuation statement or amendment (and/or equivalent foreign
registration) with respect thereto, in any appropriate filing office without the
signature of such Loan Party, and (C) ratifies the filing of any financing
statement (and/or equivalent foreign registration), and any continuation
statement or amendment with respect thereto (and/or equivalent foreign
registration), filed without the signature of such Loan Party prior to the date
hereof.
Section 5.13
Information
Regarding Collateral. Concurrently with the delivery of
financial statements pursuant to Section 5.01(a),
deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent a Perfection
Certificate Supplement.
Section 5.14
Maintenance
of Corporate Separateness. Satisfy in all material respects,
customary corporate, limited liability company or other like formalities,
including the accurate maintenance of separate organizational and business
records.
Section
5.15 Intentionally
Omitted.
Section 5.16
Post-Closing
Collateral Matters. Execute and deliver the documents and
complete the tasks set forth below in this Section 5.16, in each
case within the time limits specified below:
(a) Real Property
Collateral: Within 60 days of the Closing
Date:
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(i) with
respect to each Mortgage, a policy of title insurance (or marked up title
insurance commitment having the effect of a policy of title insurance) insuring
the Lien of such Mortgage as a valid first mortgage Lien on the Mortgaged
Property and fixtures described therein in the amount equal to not less than
115% of the Fair Market Value of such Mortgaged Property and fixtures, which
Fair Market Value as of the Closing Date is set forth on Schedule 5.16(a),
which policy (or such marked-up commitment) (each, a “Title Policy”) shall (A) be
issued by the Title Company, (B) to the extent necessary, include such
reinsurance arrangements (with provisions for direct access, if necessary) as
shall be acceptable to the Collateral Agent, (C) contain a “tie-in” or “cluster”
endorsement, if available under applicable Legal Requirements (i.e., policies which insure
against losses regardless of location or allocated value of the insured property
up to a stated maximum coverage amount), (D) have been supplemented by such
endorsements (or where such endorsements are not available, opinions of special
counsel, architects or other professionals reasonably acceptable to the
Collateral Agent) as shall be reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent
(including endorsements on matters relating to usury, first loss, last dollar,
zoning, contiguity, revolving credit, doing business, non-imputation, public
road access, survey, variable rate, environmental lien, subdivision, separate
tax lot, revolving credit, and so-called comprehensive coverage over covenants
and restrictions), and (E) contain no exceptions to title other than exceptions
reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent;
(ii) with
respect to each Mortgaged Property, such affidavits, certificates, information
(including financial data) and instruments of indemnification (including a
so-called “gap” indemnification) as shall be required to induce the Title
Company to issue the Title Policy/ies and endorsements contemplated
above;
(iii) evidence
reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent of payment by Borrower of all
Title Policy premiums, search and examination charges, escrow charges and
related charges, mortgage recording taxes, fees, charges, costs and expenses
required for the recording of the Mortgages and issuance of the Title Policies
referred to above; and
(iv) Surveys
with respect to each Mortgaged Property.
(b) Control
Accounts: Within 90 days of the Closing Date:
(i) take
all steps as shall be necessary to comply with Section 5.18; and
(ii) take
all steps necessary to grant to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the
Lenders a first priority perfected security interest in all securities account
to the extent required under the Security Agreement.
Section
5.17 Intentionally
Omitted.
Section 5.18
Bank
Accounts. The Loan Parties will direct all customers to, cause
all cash, including cash proceeds of accounts receivable, to be deposited only
into Operating Accounts with financial institutions which have entered into
Control Agreements and to take all such other steps as shall be necessary to
grant to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders a first
priority perfected security interest in all funds which may be in each such
Operating Account from time to time, other than (a) Operating Accounts specially
and exclusively used for payroll, payroll taxes and other employee wage and
benefit payments to or for the benefit of any Loan Party’s salaried employees,
(b) except to the extent permitted by the following clause (c), Operating
Accounts with balances not in excess of $10,000 at any time in any individual
account or $50,000 in the aggregate at any time for all such accounts and (c)
Operating Accounts with balances not in excess of $200,000 at any time for a
period no longer than 60 days from the creation of such Operating Account or
such longer period of time as may be agreed to by the Administrative Agent in
writing. The Collateral Agent’s rights with respect to each Operating
Account subject to a Control Agreement shall be governed by such Control
Agreement.
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Section 5.19
Compliance
with Terms of Leaseholds. The Borrower will, and will cause
each of its Subsidiaries to, make all payments and otherwise perform all
obligations in respect of all restaurant leases, keep such leases in full force
and effect and not allow such leases to lapse or be terminated (other than in
connection with a dissolution, liquidation, disposal permitted pursuant to
Section 6.04 or termination of any such lease pursuant to the terms thereof) or
any rights to renew such leases to be forfeited or cancelled, notify the
Administrative Agent of any default by any party with respect to such leases and
cooperate with the Administrative Agent to cure any such default except, in each
case, where any such failure would not result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
ARTICLE
VI
NEGATIVE
COVENANTS
Each Loan
Party warrants, covenants and agrees with the Administrative Agent, the
Collateral Agent, the Issuing Bank and each Lender that, so long as this
Agreement shall remain in effect and until the Commitments have been terminated
and the principal of and interest and premium (if any) on each Loan, all Fees
and all other expenses or amounts payable under any Loan Document have been paid
in full and all Letters of Credit have been canceled or have expired or have
been Cash Collateralized and all amounts drawn thereunder have been reimbursed
in full:
Section 6.01
Incurrence
of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred
Stock. (a) Borrower will not, nor will it cause or
permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create, incur,
issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable,
contingently or otherwise, with respect to (collectively, “incur”) or suffer to exist any
Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) other than Permitted Debt, and Borrower
will not issue any Disqualified Capital Stock and will not permit any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any shares of preferred
stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower may incur
Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt) or issue Disqualified Capital Stock, and
Borrower’s Restricted Subsidiaries may incur Indebtedness (including Acquired
Debt) or issue preferred stock, if the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for
Borrower’s most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal
financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such
additional Indebtedness is incurred or such Disqualified Capital Stock or such
preferred stock is issued, as the case may be, would have been at least 2.0 to 1
determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net
proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been incurred or the
Disqualified Capital Stock or the preferred stock had been issued, as the case
may be, at the beginning of such four-quarter period. This Section
6.01(a) will not prohibit the incurrence of any Permitted Debt.
(b) Borrower
will not incur, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to incur,
any Indebtedness (including Permitted Debt) that is contractually subordinated
in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of Borrower or such Restricted
Subsidiary unless such Indebtedness is also contractually subordinated in right
of payment to the Obligations and the Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary on
substantially identical terms; provided, however, that no Indebtedness
will be deemed to be contractually subordinated in right of payment to any other
Indebtedness of Borrower solely by virtue of being unsecured or by virtue of
being secured on a junior priority basis.
(c) For
purposes of determining compliance with this Section 6.01, in the event that an
item of proposed Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the
categories of Permitted Debt, or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to the
first paragraph of this Section 6.01, the Borrower will be permitted, in its
sole discretion, to classify such item of Indebtedness on the date of its
incurrence, or later reclassify all or a portion of such item of Indebtedness,
in any manner that complies with this Section 6.01. The accrual of
interest, the accretion or amortization of original issue discount, the payment
of interest on any Indebtedness in the form of additional Indebtedness with the
same terms, the reclassification of preferred stock as Indebtedness due to a
change in accounting principles, and the payment of dividends on Disqualified
Capital Stock in the form of additional shares of the same class of Disqualified
Capital Stock will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness or an
issuance of Disqualified Capital Stock for purposes of this Section 6.01; provided, in each such case,
that the amount of any such accrual, accretion or payment is included in Fixed
Charges of the Borrower as accrued. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Section 6.01, the maximum amount of Indebtedness that the
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary may incur pursuant to this Section 6.01
shall not be deemed to be exceeded solely as a result of fluctuations in
exchange rates or currency values.
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(d) The
amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date will be:
(i) the
accreted value of the Indebtedness, in the case of any Indebtedness issued with
original issue discount;
(ii) the
principal amount of the Indebtedness, in the case of any other Indebtedness;
and
(iii) in
respect of Indebtedness of another person secured by a Lien on the assets of the
specified person, the lesser of:
(a) the
Fair Market Value of such assets at the date of determination; and
(b) the
amount of the Indebtedness of the other person.
Section 6.02
Liens. (a) Borrower
will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or
indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien of any kind on any
asset now owned or hereafter acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries or any proceeds, income or profits therefrom securing any
Indebtedness, except Permitted Liens. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained in the Loan Documents, Borrower will not, and will not permit
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, pledge any
Capital Stock of Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries to secure
Indebtedness of Borrower or any Guarantor, other than Liens securing the
Obligations hereunder, the Senior Secured Notes and any other Parity Lien Debt
and as otherwise required as a matter of law.
Section 6.03
Mergers,
Consolidations or Sale of Assets. (a) Borrower will
not, directly or indirectly, consolidate or merge with or into another person
(whether or not Borrower is the surviving corporation), or sell, assign,
transfer, convey, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the
properties or assets of Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a
whole, in one or more related transactions, to another person;
unless:
(i) either: (a)
Borrower is the surviving corporation; or (b) the person formed by or surviving
any such consolidation or merger (if other than Borrower) or to which such sale,
assignment, transfer, conveyance, lease or other disposition has been made is a
corporation organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state
of the United States or the District of Columbia;
(ii) the
Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than
the Borrower) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer,
conveyance, lease or other disposition has been made assumes all the obligations
of Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any other
applicable agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative
Agent;
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(iii) immediately
after such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists;
(iv) the
Borrower or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger
(if other than the Borrower), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer,
conveyance, lease or other disposition has been made, would, on the date of such
transaction after giving pro forma effect thereto and any related financing
transactions as if the same had occurred at the beginning of the applicable
four-quarter period, either (a) be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of
additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set
forth in Section 6.01(a) hereof or (b) have a pro forma Fixed Charge Coverage
Ratio that is at least equal to the actual Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of the
Company as of such date;
(v) the
Borrower or the surviving entity shall have delivered to the Administrative
Agent an Officers’ Certificate and legal opinion in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, each stating that such
consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other
disposition complies with the applicable provisions of this Agreement and an
Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent in this Agreement
relating to such transaction have been satisfied; and
(vi) (A)
each Guarantor, unless it is the other party to such merger or consolidation,
shall have by a supplement to the Guarantee confirmed that its guarantee
thereunder shall apply to any successor Borrower’s obligations under this
Agreement, (B) each Subsidiary grantor and each Subsidiary pledgor, unless it is
the other party to such merger or consolidation, shall have by a supplement to
the Security Agreement affirmed that its obligations thereunder shall apply to
its Guarantee as reaffirmed pursuant to clause (A), (C) each mortgagor of a
Mortgaged Property, unless it is the other party to such merger or
consolidation, shall have affirmed that its obligations under the applicable
Mortgage shall apply to its Guarantee as reaffirmed pursuant to clause (A) and
(D) the successor Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent (x)
an officer’s certificate stating that such merger or consolidation and such
supplements preserve the enforceability of the Guarantee and the perfection and
priority of the Liens under the applicable Security Documents and (y) if
requested by the Administrative Agent, an opinion of counsel to the effect that
such merger or consolidation does not violate this Agreement or any other Loan
Document and that the provisions set forth in the preceding clauses (A) through
(D) preserve the enforceability of the Guarantee and the perfection and priority
of the Liens created under the applicable Security Documents; it
being understood that if the foregoing are satisfied, the successor Borrower
will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Borrower under this
Agreement.
(b) Section
6.03(a) will not apply to:
(i) a
merger of Borrower with an Affiliate solely for the purpose of reincorporating
Borrower in another jurisdiction, provided the successor is a
corporation organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state
of the United States or the District of Columbia; or
(ii) any
consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, lease or
other disposition of assets between or among Borrower and its Wholly Owned
Restricted Subsidiaries.
Section 6.04
Asset
Sales. (a) Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Sale unless:
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(1) Borrower
(or the Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) receives consideration at the
time of the Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value of the assets or
Equity Interests issued or sold or otherwise disposed of; and
(2) at
least 75% of the consideration received in the Asset Sale by Borrower or such
Restricted Subsidiary is in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents. For
purposes of this clause (2), each of the following will be deemed to be
cash:
(A) any
liabilities, as shown on Holdings’ most recent consolidated balance sheet, of
Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and
liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Obligations hereunder or
under the other Loan Documents) that are assumed by the transferee of any such
assets pursuant to a customary novation agreement that releases Borrower or such
Restricted Subsidiary from further liability;
(B) any
securities, notes or other obligations received by Borrower or any such
Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by Borrower or
such Restricted Subsidiary into cash within 120 days after such Asset Sale, to
the extent of the cash received in that conversion; and
(C) (i)
any stock or assets in another Permitted Business if, after giving effect to any
such acquisition of Capital Stock, the Permitted Business is or becomes a
Restricted Subsidiary of Borrower, (ii) any assets that are not classified as
current assets under GAAP that are used or useful in a Permitted Business, (iii)
other assets (including current assets) of any of Borrower’s franchisees and
(iv) any Permitted Investments.
(b) Borrower
(or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) shall apply such
Net Cash Proceeds of Asset Sales in accordance with Section
2.10(c).
Section 6.05
Restricted
Payments. (a) Borrower will not, nor will it cause or permit
any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly,
(1) declare
or pay any dividend or make any other payment or distribution on account of
Borrower’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests (including,
without limitation, any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation
involving Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) or to the direct or
indirect holders of Borrower’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity
Interests in their capacity as such (other than dividends or distributions
payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) of Borrower
and other than dividends or distributions payable to Borrower or a Restricted
Subsidiary of Borrower);
(2) purchase,
redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value (including, without limitation,
in connection with any merger or consolidation involving Borrower) any Equity
Interests of Borrower or any direct or indirect parent of Borrower;
(3) make
any payment on or with respect to, or purchase, redeem, defease or otherwise
acquire or retire for value any Indebtedness of Borrower or any Guarantor that
is unsecured or contractually subordinated to the Obligations hereunder or to
any Guarantee (excluding any intercompany Indebtedness between or among Borrower
and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), except (X) a payment of interest or
principal at the Stated Maturity thereof; or (Y) a payment, purchase,
redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of any such
Indebtedness in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal
installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year of the date of
payment, purchase, redemption, defeasance, acquisition or retirement;
or
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(4) make
any Restricted Investment
(all such
payments and other actions set forth in these clauses (1) through (4) above
being collectively referred to as “Restricted Payments”), unless,
at the time of and after giving effect to such Restricted Payment:
(1) no
Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur as a
consequence of such Restricted Payment;
(2) Borrower
would, at the time of such Restricted Payment and after giving pro forma effect
thereto as if such Restricted Payment had been made at the beginning of the
applicable four-quarter period, have been permitted to incur at least $1.00 of
additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set
forth in Section 6.01(a); and
(3) such
Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted
Payments made by Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries since the Closing Date
(excluding Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (2), (3), (4), (5), (6),
(8), (9), (10), (11), (12) and (13) of Section 6.05(b)), is less than the sum,
without duplication, of:
(a) 50%
of (i) the Consolidated Net Income of Borrower for the period (taken as one
accounting period) from the first day of the first full fiscal quarter following
the date of this Agreement to the end of Borrower’s most recently ended fiscal
quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of
such Restricted Payment (or, if such Consolidated Net Income for such period is
a deficit, less 100% of such deficit) and (ii) any dividends received by
Borrower or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of Borrower that is a Guarantor
after the Closing Date from an Unrestricted Subsidiary of Borrower, to the
extent that such dividends were not otherwise included in Consolidated Net
Income of Borrower for such period, plus
(b) 100%
of (x) the aggregate net cash proceeds received by Borrower since the date of
this Agreement as a contribution to its common equity capital or from the issue
or sale of Equity Interests of Borrower (other than Disqualified Capital Stock
and Excluded Contributions) or from the issue or sale of convertible or
exchangeable Disqualified Capital Stock or convertible or exchangeable debt
securities of Borrower that have been converted into or exchanged for such
Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests (or Disqualified Capital Stock or
debt securities) sold to a Subsidiary of the Company), and (y) the Fair Market
Value of assets received by Borrower in the form of a capital contribution
(other than Excluded Contributions), plus
(c) to
the extent that any Unrestricted Subsidiary designated as such after the Closing
Date is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date, the Fair
Market Value of Borrower’s Investment in such Subsidiary as of the date of such
redesignation, plus
(d) to
the extent that any Restricted Investment that was made after the Closing Date
is sold for cash or otherwise liquidated, repaid, repurchased or redeemed for
cash, the lesser of (i) the cash return of capital with respect to such
Restricted Investment (less the cost of disposition, if any), and (ii) the
initial amount of such Restricted Investment.
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(b) The
preceding provisions will not prohibit:
(1) the
payment of any dividend or the consummation of any irrevocable redemption within
60 days after the date of declaration of the dividend or giving of the
redemption notice, as the case may be, if at the date of declaration or notice,
the dividend or redemption payment would have complied with the provisions of
this Agreement;
(2) so
long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby,
the making of any Restricted Payment in exchange for Equity Interests of
Borrower (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) or out of the net cash proceeds
received by Borrower from the sale (other than to a Subsidiary of Borrower) of
Equity Interests of Borrower (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) or from the
contribution of common equity capital to Borrower; provided that the amount of
any such net cash proceeds will be excluded from and not duplicated with clause
(3)(b) of Section 6.05(a);
(3) so
long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby,
the repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for
value of Indebtedness of Borrower or any Guarantor that is unsecured or
contractually subordinated to the Obligations hereunder or to any Guarantee with
the net cash proceeds from a substantially concurrent incurrence of Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness;
(4) the
payment of any dividend (or, in the case of any partnership or limited liability
company, any similar distribution) by a Restricted Subsidiary of Borrower to the
holders of its Equity Interests on a pro rata basis;
(5) the
repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of, or
dividends or distributions to Parent or Holdings to allow Parent or Holdings to
repurchase, redeem or acquire, any Equity Interests of Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary of Borrower held by any current or former officer,
director or employee of Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant
to any equity subscription agreement, stock option agreement, shareholders’
agreement or similar agreement:
(a) upon
the death or disability of such officer, director or employee; or
(b) upon
the resignation or other termination of employment of such officer, director or
employee; provided that
the aggregate price paid for all such repurchased, redeemed, acquired or retired
Equity Interests pursuant to this clause (b) may not exceed $2.0 million in any
twelve-month period plus the aggregate net cash proceeds received by Borrower
after the date of this Agreement from the issuance of such Equity Interests to,
or the exercise of options to purchase such Equity Interests by, any current or
former director, officer or employee of Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary
(provided that the amount of such net cash proceeds received by Borrower and
utilized pursuant to this clause (b) for any such repurchase, redemption,
acquisition or retirement will be excluded from clause (3)(b) of Section
6.05(a); and provided, further, that amounts
available pursuant to this clause (v) to be utilized for Restricted Payments
during any twelve-month period may be carried forward and utilized in the next
succeeding twelve-month period).
93
(6) the
repurchase of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon the exercise of stock
options to the extent such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise
price of those stock options;
(7) so
long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby,
the declaration and payment of regularly scheduled or accrued dividends to
holders of any class or series of Disqualified Capital Stock of Borrower or any
Restricted Subsidiary of Borrower issued on or after the date of this Agreement
in accordance with the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test described in Section
6.01(a) hereof;
(8) so
long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused thereby,
payments pursuant to (or to fund payments under) the Management Agreement as in
effect on the date of this Agreement;
(9) any
repricing or issuance of employee stock options or the adoption of bonus
arrangements, in each case in connection with the issuance of the Senior Secured
Notes, and payments pursuant to such arrangements;
(10)
Permitted Parent Payments;
(11)
Restricted Payments that are made with Excluded
Contributions;
(12) cash
dividends or other distributions on Borrower’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s
Capital Stock used to, or the making of loans, the proceeds of which will be
used to, fund the payment of fees and expenses incurred in connection with the
transactions with any person described in clauses (1) and (4) of Section
6.06(b); or
(13) other Restricted Payments in an
aggregate amount not to exceed $5.0 million since the date of this
Agreement.
(c) The
amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) will be the Fair Market
Value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities
proposed to be transferred or issued by Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary,
as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. The Fair
Market Value of any assets or securities that are required to be valued by this
Section 6.05 must be based upon an opinion or appraisal issued by an accounting,
appraisal or investment banking firm of national standing if the Fair Market
Value exceeds $10.0 million.
(d) For
purposes of determining compliance with this Section 6.05, if a Restricted
Payment meets the criteria of more than one of the exceptions described in
clauses (1) through (13) of Section 6.05(b) or is entitled to be made according
to Section 6.05(a), Borrower may, in its sole discretion, classify the
Restricted Payment in any manner that complies with this Section
6.05.
Section 6.06
Transactions
with Affiliates.
(a) Borrower
will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, make any
payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its
properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into
or make or amend any transaction, contract, agreement, understanding, loan,
advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of Borrower
(each, an “Affiliate
Transaction”), unless:
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(1) the
Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to Borrower or the
relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that would have been obtained in a
comparable transaction by Borrower or such Restricted Subsidiary with an
unrelated person; and
(2) Borrower
delivers to the Administrative Agent:
(a) with
respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions
involving aggregate consideration in excess of $2.5 million, a resolution of the
Board of Directors of Borrower set forth in an Officers’ Certificate certifying
that such Affiliate Transaction complies with this Section 6.06(a) and that such
Affiliate Transaction has been approved by a majority of the disinterested
members of the Board of Directors of Borrower; and
(b) with
respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions
involving aggregate consideration in excess of $10.0 million, an opinion as to
the fairness to Borrower or such Subsidiary of such Affiliate Transaction from a
financial point of view issued by an accounting, appraisal or investment banking
firm of national standing.
(b) The
following items and any agreements or employee benefit plans in effect on the
date of this Agreement or any amendment thereto or replacement agreement or plan
thereof so long as any such amendment or replacement agreement is not more
disadvantageous to Borrower in any material respect than the original agreement
or plan as in effect on the date of this Agreement, as reasonably determined by
the Board of Directors or senior management of Borrower, and payments pursuant
thereto, will not be deemed to be Affiliate Transactions and, therefore, will
not be subject to the provisions of Section 6.06(a):
(1) any
employment or consulting agreement, employee benefit plan, officer or director
indemnification agreement or any similar arrangement entered into by Borrower or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business or
approved in good faith by the Board of Directors of Borrower and payments
pursuant thereto and the issuance of Equity Interests of Borrower (other than
Disqualified Capital Stock) to directors and employees pursuant to stock option
or stock ownership plans;
(2) transactions
between or among Borrower and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(3) transactions
with a person (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary of Borrower) that is an
Affiliate of Borrower solely because Borrower owns, directly or through a
Restricted Subsidiary, an Equity Interest in, or controls, such
person;
(4) payment
of reasonable directors’ fees, compensation benefits or indemnity to
directors;
(5) any
issuance of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) of Borrower
to Affiliates of Borrower;
(6) Permitted
Investments or Restricted Payments that do not violate Section 6.02 hereof and
Section 6.05 hereof;
(7) loans
or advances to employees made in the ordinary course of
business;
95
(8) any
transaction with suppliers or franchisees in the ordinary course of business
that are on substantially similar terms to those contained in similar
transactions by Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with unaffiliated
suppliers and franchisees consistent with past practice;
(9) Permitted
Parent Payments; and
(10) the
existence of, or the performance by Borrower or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of its obligations under the terms of any stockholders agreement,
partnership agreement or limited liability company members agreement (including
any registration rights agreement or purchase agreement related thereto) to
which it is a party as of the date of this Agreement and any similar agreements
which it may enter into thereafter, in each case subject to compliance with the
other provisions of this Agreement; provided, however, that the existence,
or the performance by Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of
obligations under, any future amendment to any such existing agreement or under
any similar agreement entered into after the date of this Agreement shall only
be permitted by this clause (10) to the extent that the terms (taken as a whole)
of any such amendment or new agreement are not otherwise materially
disadvantageous to the Lenders, as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors or senior management of Borrower or such Restricted
Subsidiary.
Section 6.07
Financial
Covenants.
(a) Minimum Consolidated Cash
Flow. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries to, permit Consolidated Cash Flow, as of the end of any
Test Period, to be less than $10,000,000.
Section 6.08
Prepayments
of Other Indebtedness; Modifications of Organizational Documents, Acquisition
and Certain Other Documents, etc. Directly or
indirectly:
(a) at
any time a Default has occurred and is then continuing, make or offer to make
(or give any notice in respect thereof) any voluntary or optional payment or
prepayment on or redemption, retirement, defeasance, or acquisition for value
of, or any prepayment or redemption as a result of any asset sale, change of
control or similar event of, any Indebtedness outstanding under the Senior
Secured Notes, the Holdco Notes or the Borrower’s 11.75% Senior Notes due 2013;
provided that, (i)
Exchange Senior Secured Notes may be issued as contemplated by the definition of
Senior Secured Notes and consistent with the definition of Exchange Senior
Secured Notes and (ii) any such Indebtedness may be converted to Qualified
Capital Stock of Holdings or any of its direct or indirect parents;
(b) amend
or modify, or permit the amendment or modification of, any provision of any
Senior Secured Note Document in any manner that is prohibited under the
Intercreditor Agreement;
(c) amend
or modify, or permit the amendment or modification of, any provision of any
Transaction Document or any Material Indebtedness in any manner that is, or
could reasonably be expected to be, adverse in any material respect to the
interests of any Agent or the Lenders under the Loan Documents; or
(d) terminate,
amend, modify (including electing to treat any Pledged Interests (as defined in
the Security Agreement) as a “security” under Section 8-103 of the UCC) or
change any of its Organizational Documents (including by the filing or
modification of any certificate of designation) or any agreement to which it is
a party with respect to its Equity Interests (including any stockholders’
agreement), or enter into any new agreement with respect to its Equity
Interests, other than any such amendments, modifications or changes or such new
agreements which are not, and could not reasonably be expected to be, adverse in
any material respect to the interests of any Agent or Lender.
96
Section 6.09
Dividend
and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries. (a)
Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to,
directly or indirectly, create or permit to exist or become effective any
consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted
Subsidiary to:
(1) pay
dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock to Borrower or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, or with respect to any other interest or
participation in, or measured by, its profits, or pay any indebtedness owed to
the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(2) make
loans or advances to Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
or
(3) sell,
lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to Borrower or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries.
(b) The
restrictions in Section 6.09(a) will not apply to encumbrances or restrictions
existing under or by reason of:
(1) agreements
as in effect on the Closing Date and any amendments, restatements,
modifications, renewals, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings
of those agreements; provided
that the amendments, restatements, modifications, renewals, supplements,
refundings, replacements or refinancings are not materially more restrictive,
taken as a whole, with respect to such dividend and other payment restrictions
than those contained in those agreements on the Closing Date (as determined in
good faith by Borrower);
(2) this
Agreement, the Loan Documents, the Senior Secured Notes, the Senior Secured Note
Documents and the Senior Secured Note Guarantees;
(3) applicable
law, rule, regulation or order;
(4) any
agreement of a person acquired by Borrower or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
as in effect at the time of such acquisition (except to the extent such
Indebtedness or Capital Stock was incurred in connection with or in
contemplation of such acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not
applicable to any person, or the properties or assets of any person, other than
the person, or the property or assets of the person, so acquired; provided that, in the case of
Indebtedness, such Indebtedness was permitted by the terms of this Agreement to
be incurred;
(5) customary
non-assignment provisions in contracts, leases and licenses entered into in the
ordinary course of business;
(6) purchase
money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business and
Capital Lease Obligations that impose restrictions on the property purchased or
leased of the nature described in clause (3) of Section 6.09(a);
(7) any
agreement for the sale or other disposition of a Restricted Subsidiary that
restricts distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary pending the sale or other
disposition;
(8) Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness; provided that the
restrictions contained in the agreements governing such Permitted Refinancing
Indebtedness are not materially more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those
contained in the agreements governing the Indebtedness being refinanced (as
determined in good faith by the Company);
97
(9) Liens,
including real estate mortgages, permitted to be incurred under the provisions
of Section 6.02 hereof that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the
assets subject to such Liens;
(10) provisions
limiting the disposition or distribution of assets or property in joint venture
agreements, asset sale agreements, sale-leaseback agreements, stock sale
agreements and other similar agreements, which limitation is applicable only to
the assets that are the subject of such agreements; and
(11) restrictions
on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts
entered into in the ordinary course of business.
Section 6.10
Limitation
on Issuances and Sales of Equity Interests in Wholly Owned
Subsidiaries. Borrower will not, and will not permit any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries to, transfer, convey, sell, lease or otherwise
dispose of any Equity Interests in any Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of
Borrower to any Person (other than Borrower or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of
Borrower), unless:
(i) such
transfer, conveyance, sale, lease or other disposition is of all the Equity
Interests in such Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary; and
(ii) the
Net Cash Proceeds from such transfer, conveyance, sale, lease or other
disposition are applied in accordance with Section 2.10(c) hereof.
Borrower
will not permit any Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of Borrower to issue any
of its Equity Interests (other than, if necessary, shares of its Capital Stock
constituting directors’ qualifying shares) to any Person other than to Borrower
or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of Borrower.
Section 6.11
Business
Activities. Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries to, engage in any business other than Permitted
Businesses, except to such extent as would not be material to Borrower and its
Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
Section 6.12
Limitation
on Accounting Changes. Make or permit, any material change in
accounting policies or reporting practices, without the consent of the Required
Lenders, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, except changes that
are required by GAAP (subject in each case to the provisions of Section 1.04).
Section 6.13
Fiscal
Periods. Change its fiscal year-end (a 52- or 53- week fiscal
year) and fiscal quarter-ends to dates other than the last Wednesday of the
applicable fiscal year or quarter end.
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Section 6.14
No
Further Negative Pledge. Borrower shall not, and it will not
permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, enter into any agreement
prohibiting the creation or assumption of any Lien upon any of its properties or
assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, to secure the Obligations,
except the following: (a) specific property encumbered to secure payment of
particular Indebtedness or to be sold pursuant to an executed agreement with
respect to a permitted Asset Sale; (b) any prohibition or limitation that (i)
exists pursuant to applicable Legal Requirements, or (ii) consists of customary
restrictions and conditions contained in any agreement relating to the sale of
any property pending the consummation of such sale; provided that (1) such
restrictions apply only to the property to be sold and such sale is permitted
hereunder, and (2) such sale is permitted hereunder, or (iii) restricts
subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest of Borrower
or one of its Subsidiaries; (c) exists in any agreement in effect at the time
such Subsidiary becomes a Subsidiary of a Borrower, so long as such agreement
was not entered into in contemplation of such person becoming a Subsidiary; (d)
customary non-assignment provisions in customer contracts and licenses of (or
any other grants of rights to use) Intellectual Property, in each case entered
into in the ordinary course of business; (e) licenses or sublicenses of
Intellectual Property by Borrower or their Subsidiaries in the ordinary course
of business (in which case, any prohibition or limitation shall only be
effective against the Intellectual Property subject thereto); (f) customary
provisions in joint venture agreements with respect to permitted joint ventures;
(g) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the Holdco Notes or the
Borrower’s 11.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2013 and (h) is imposed by any
amendments that are otherwise permitted by the Loan Documents of the contracts,
instruments or obligations referred to in this Section 6.14; provided that such
amendments are no more restrictive with respect to the prohibitions and
limitations in such contracts, instruments or obligations as in effect prior to
any such amendment.
Section 6.15
Anti-Terrorism
Law; Anti-Money Laundering. (a) Directly or
indirectly, (i) knowingly conduct any business or engage in making or receiving
any contribution of funds, goods or services to or for the benefit of any person
described in Section 3.22,
(ii) knowingly deal in, or otherwise engage in any transaction relating to, any
property or interests in property blocked pursuant to the Executive Order or any
other Anti-Terrorism Law, or (iii) knowingly engage in or conspire to engage in
any transaction that evades or avoids, or has the purpose of evading or
avoiding, or attempts to violate, any of the prohibitions set forth in any
Anti-Terrorism Law (and the Loan Parties shall deliver to the Lenders any
certification or other evidence requested from time to time by any Lender in its
reasonable discretion, confirming the Companies’ compliance with this Section 6.15).
(b) Cause
or permit any of the funds of such Loan Party that are used to repay the Credit
Extensions to be derived from any unlawful activity with the result that the
making of the Credit Extensions would be in violation of Legal
Requirements.
Section 6.16
Embargoed
Person. Cause or permit (a) any of the funds or properties of
the Loan Parties that are used to repay the Loans or other Credit Extensions to
constitute property of, or be beneficially owned directly or indirectly by, any
person subject to sanctions or trade restrictions under United States law
(“Embargoed Person” or
“Embargoed Persons”)
that is identified on (1) the “List of Specially Designated Nationals and
Blocked Persons” maintained by OFAC and/or on any other similar list maintained
by OFAC pursuant to any authorizing statute including the International
Emergency Economic Powers Act, as amended, 50 U.S.C. §§ 1701 et seq., The Trading with the
Enemy Act, as amended, 50 U.S.C. App. 1 et seq., and any Executive
Order or regulation promulgated thereunder, with the result that the investment
in the Loan Parties (whether directly or indirectly) is prohibited by applicable
Legal Requirements, or the Loans or other Credit Extensions made by the Lenders
and the Issuing Bank would be in violation of Legal Requirements, or (2) the
Executive Order, any related enabling legislation or any other similar executive
orders, or (b) any Embargoed Person to have any direct or indirect interest, of
any nature whatsoever in the Loan Parties, with the result that the investment
in the Loan Parties (whether directly or indirectly) is prohibited by applicable
Legal Requirements or the Credit Extensions are in violation of applicable Legal
Requirements.
Section
6.17 Intentionally
Omitted.
Section
6.18 Designation of Restricted
and Unrestricted Subsidiaries.
(a) The
Board of Directors of Borrower may designate any Restricted Subsidiary to be an
Unrestricted Subsidiary if that designation would not cause a Default or Event
of Default. If a Restricted Subsidiary is designated as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary, the aggregate Fair Market Value of all outstanding
Investments owned by Borrower and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the Subsidiary
designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be deemed to be an Investment made
as of the time of the designation and will reduce the amount available for
Restricted Payments under Section 6.05 hereof or under one or more clauses of
the definition of Permitted Investments, as determined by
Borrower. That designation will only be permitted if the Investment
would be permitted at that time and if the Restricted Subsidiary otherwise meets
the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
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(b) Any
designation of a Subsidiary of Borrower as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be
evidenced to the Administrative Agent by filing with the Administrative Agent a
certified copy of a resolution of the Board of Directors giving effect to such
designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation
complied with the preceding conditions and was permitted by Section 6.05
hereof. If, at any time, any Unrestricted Subsidiary would fail to
meet the preceding requirements as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, it will
thereafter cease to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of this Agreement
and any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary will be deemed to be incurred by a
Restricted Subsidiary of Borrower as of such date and, if such Indebtedness is
not permitted to be incurred as of such date by Section 6.01 hereof, Borrower
will be in default of such covenant. The Board of Directors of
Borrower may at any time designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a
Restricted Subsidiary of Borrower; provided that such
designation will be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted
Subsidiary of Borrower of any outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted
Subsidiary and such designation will only be permitted if (1) such Indebtedness
is permitted by Section 6.01 hereof, calculated on a pro forma basis as if such
designation had occurred at the beginning of the four-quarter reference period;
and (2) no Default or Event of Default would be in existence following such
designation.
Section 6.19
Permitted
Activities of Holdings. Holdings shall not (a) incur, directly
or indirectly, any Indebtedness or any other obligation or liability whatsoever
other than the Indebtedness and obligations under this Agreement, the other Loan
Documents, the Holdco Notes, the Senior Secured Notes and other
obligations incidental to the foregoing; (b) create or suffer to exist any Lien
upon any property or assets now owned or hereafter acquired, leased or licensed
by it other than the Liens created under the Security Documents to which it is a
party, the Liens that secure the Senior Secured Notes and non-consensual Liens
imposed by operation of law and not for borrowed money; (c) engage in any
business or activity or own any assets other than (i) holding 100% of the Equity
Interests of Borrower, (ii) performing its obligations and activities incidental
thereto under the Loan Documents, and to the extent not inconsistent therewith,
the Holdco Notes and the Senior Secured Notes, (iii) the maintenance of its
corporate existence in compliance with applicable law, (iv) legal, tax and
accounting matters in connection with any of the foregoing or following
activities, (v) the entering into, and performing its obligations under the
Management Agreement, (vi) the issuance, sale or repurchase of its Capital Stock
not prohibited by the Loan Documents, (vii) dividends or distributions on its
Equity Interests; (viii) the performance of obligations under and compliance
with its certificate of incorporation and by-laws, or any applicable law,
ordinance, regulation, rule, order, judgment, decree or permit, including as a
result of or in connection with the activities of its Subsidiaries, (ix) the
incurrence and payment of any taxes for which it may be liable; (d) consolidate
with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer, lease or license all or
substantially all its assets to, any Person; (e) sell or otherwise dispose of
any Equity Interests of any of its Subsidiaries; (f) create or acquire any
Subsidiary or make or own any Investment in any Person other than Borrower; or
(g) fail to hold itself out to the public as a legal entity separate and
distinct from all other Persons.
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ARTICLE
VII
GUARANTEE
Section 7.01
The
Guarantee. The Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally,
guarantee, as primary obligors and not as sureties, to each Secured Party and
their respective successors and assigns, the prompt payment and performance in
full when due (whether at stated maturity, by required prepayment, declaration,
demand, by acceleration or otherwise) of the principal of and interest
(including any interest, fees, costs or charges that would accrue but for the
provisions of the Title 11 of the United States Code after any bankruptcy or
insolvency petition under Title 11 of the United States Code) on the Loans made
by the Lenders to, and the Notes held by each Lender of, Borrower, and all other
Secured Obligations from time to time owing to the Secured Parties by any Loan
Party in each case strictly in accordance with the terms thereof (such
obligations being herein collectively called the “Guaranteed
Obligations”). The Guarantors hereby jointly and severally
agree that if Borrower or other Guarantor(s) shall fail to pay in full when due
(whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) any of the Guaranteed
Obligations, the Guarantors will promptly pay the same in cash, without any
demand or notice whatsoever, and that in the case of any extension of time of
payment or renewal of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, the same will be
promptly paid in full when due (whether at extended maturity, by acceleration or
otherwise) in accordance with the terms of such extension or
renewal.
Section 7.02
Obligations
Unconditional. The obligations of the Guarantors under Section 7.01
shall constitute a guaranty of payment and performance and not of collection and
to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Legal Requirements, are absolute,
irrevocable and unconditional, joint and several, irrespective of the value,
genuineness, validity, regularity or enforceability of the Guaranteed
Obligations under this Agreement, the Notes, if any, or any other agreement or
instrument referred to herein or therein, or any substitution, release or
exchange of any other guarantee of or security for any of the Guaranteed
Obligations, and, irrespective of any other circumstance whatsoever that might
otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or
Guarantor (except for payment in full of the Guaranteed
Obligations). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is
agreed that the occurrence of any one or more of the following shall not alter
or impair the liability of the Guarantors hereunder which shall remain absolute,
irrevocable and unconditional under any and all circumstances as described
above:
(a) at
any time or from time to time, without notice to the Guarantors, the time for
any performance of or compliance with any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be
extended, or such performance or compliance shall be waived;
(b) any
of the acts mentioned in any of the provisions of this Agreement or the Notes,
if any, or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or therein shall
be done or omitted;
(c) the
maturity of any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be accelerated, or any of
the Guaranteed Obligations shall be amended in any respect, or any right under
the Loan Documents or any other agreement or instrument referred to herein or
therein shall be amended or waived in any respect or any other guarantee of any
of the Guaranteed Obligations or any security therefor shall be released or
exchanged in whole or in part or otherwise dealt with;
(d) any
Lien or security interest granted to, or in favor of, any Secured Party as
security for any of the Guaranteed Obligations shall fail to be valid, perfected
or to have the priority required under the Loan Documents; or
(e) the
release of any other Guarantor pursuant to Section 7.09.
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The
Guarantors hereby expressly waive diligence, presentment, demand of payment,
protest and all notices whatsoever, and any requirement that any Secured Party
exhaust any right, power or remedy or proceed against Borrower or any Guarantor
under this Agreement or the Notes, if any, or any other agreement or instrument
referred to herein or therein, or against any other person under any other
guarantee of, or security for, any of the Guaranteed Obligations. The
Guarantors waive any and all notice of the creation, renewal, extension, waiver,
termination or accrual of any of the Guaranteed Obligations and notice of or
proof of reliance by any Secured Party upon this Guarantee or acceptance of this
Guarantee, and the Guaranteed Obligations, and any of them, shall conclusively
be deemed to have been created, contracted or incurred in reliance upon this
Guarantee, and all dealings between Borrower and the Secured Parties shall
likewise be conclusively presumed to have been had or consummated in reliance
upon this Guarantee. This Guarantee shall be construed as a
continuing, absolute, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of payment and
performance without regard to any right of offset with respect to the Guaranteed
Obligations at any time or from time to time held by the Secured Parties, and
the obligations and liabilities of the Guarantors hereunder shall not be
conditioned or contingent upon the pursuit by the Secured Parties or any other
person at any time of any right or remedy against Borrower or against any other
person which may be or become liable in respect of all or any part of the
Guaranteed Obligations or against any collateral security or guarantee therefor
or right of offset with respect thereto. This Guarantee shall remain
in full force and effect and be binding in accordance with and to the extent of
its terms upon the Guarantors and their respective successors and assigns, and
shall inure to the benefit of the Secured Parties, and their respective
successors and assigns, notwithstanding that from time to time during the term
of this Agreement there may be no Guaranteed Obligations
outstanding.
Section 7.03
Reinstatement. The
obligations of the Guarantors under this Article VII shall be
automatically reinstated if and to the extent that for any reason any payment by
or on behalf of Borrower or other Loan Party in respect of the Guaranteed
Obligations is rescinded or must be otherwise restored by any holder of any of
the Guaranteed Obligations, whether as a result of any proceedings in bankruptcy
or reorganization or otherwise.
Section 7.04
Subrogation;
Subordination. Each Guarantor hereby agrees that until the
indefeasible payment and satisfaction in full in cash of all Guaranteed
Obligations and the expiration and termination of the Commitments of the Lenders
under this Agreement it shall waive any claim and shall not exercise any right
or remedy, direct or indirect, arising by reason of any performance by it of its
guarantee in Section 7.01,
whether by subrogation or otherwise, against Borrower or any other Guarantor of
any of the Guaranteed Obligations or any security for any of the Guaranteed
Obligations. Any Indebtedness of any Loan Party permitted pursuant to
clause (6) of the definition of “Permitted Debt” shall be subordinated to such
Loan Party’s Secured Obligations in the manner set forth in the Intercompany
Note evidencing such Indebtedness.
Section 7.05
Remedies. The
Guarantors jointly and severally agree that, as between the Guarantors and the
Lenders, the obligations of Borrower under this Agreement and other Loan
Documents may be declared to be forthwith due and payable as provided in Article VIII (and
shall be deemed to have become automatically due and payable in the
circumstances provided in Article VIII) for
purposes of Section 7.01,
notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such
declaration (or such obligations from becoming automatically due and payable) as
against Borrower and that, in the event of such declaration (or such obligations
being deemed to have become automatically due and payable), such obligations
(whether or not due and payable by Borrower) shall forthwith become due and
payable by the Guarantors for purposes of Section 7.01.
Section 7.06
Instrument
for the Payment of Money. Each Guarantor hereby acknowledges
that the guarantee in this Article VII
constitutes an instrument for the payment of money, and consents and agrees that
any Lender or Agent, at its sole option, in the event of a dispute by such
Guarantor in the payment of any moneys due hereunder, shall have the right to
bring a motion-action under New York CPLR Section 3213.
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Section 7.07
Continuing
Guarantee. The guarantee in this Article VII is a
continuing guarantee of payment and performance, and shall apply to all
Guaranteed Obligations whenever arising.
Section 7.08
General
Limitation on Guarantee Obligations. In any action or
proceeding involving any state corporate limited partnership or limited
liability company law, or any applicable state, federal or foreign bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization or other Legal Requirement affecting the rights of
creditors generally, if the obligations of any Guarantor under Section 7.01
would otherwise be held or determined to be void, voidable, invalid or
unenforceable, or subordinated to the claims of any other creditors, on account
of the amount of its liability under Section 7.01,
then, notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, the amount of such
liability shall, without any further action by such Guarantor, any Loan Party or
any other person, be automatically limited and reduced to the highest amount
(after giving effect to the rights of subrogation and contribution established
in Sections
7.04 and 7.10, respectively)
that is valid and enforceable, not void or voidable and not subordinated to the
claims of other creditors as determined in such action or
proceeding.
Section 7.09
Release
of Guarantors. If, in compliance with the terms and provisions
of the Loan Documents, (i) all of the Equity Interests or (ii) all or
substantially all of the property of any Guarantor are sold or otherwise
transferred (a “Transferred
Guarantor”) to a person or persons (other than any Company or any
Affiliate thereof), such Transferred Guarantor shall, upon the consummation of
such sale or transfer, be automatically released from its obligations under this
Agreement (including under Section 11.03)
and its obligations to pledge and grant any Collateral owned by it pursuant to
any Security Document and, in the case of the sale of all of the Equity
Interests of the Transferred Guarantor, the pledge of such Equity Interests to
the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Security Documents shall be released, and,
so long as Borrower shall have previously provided the Collateral Agent and the
Administrative Agent such certifications or documents the Collateral Agent
and/or the Administrative Agent as shall reasonably request, the Collateral
Agent shall take such actions as are necessary to effect each release described
in this Section 7.09 in
accordance with the relevant provisions of the Security Documents.
Section 7.10
Right of
Contribution. Each Guarantor hereby agrees that to the extent
that a Guarantor shall have paid more than its proportionate share of any
payment made hereunder, such Guarantor shall be entitled to seek and receive
contribution from and against any other Guarantor hereunder which has not paid
its proportionate share of such payment. Each Guarantor’s right of
contribution shall be subject to the terms and conditions of Section
7.04. The provisions of this Section 7.10 shall in
no respect limit the obligations and liabilities of any Guarantor to the
Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders, and each Guarantor shall
remain liable to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders for
the full amount guaranteed by such Guarantor hereunder.
ARTICLE
VIII
EVENTS
OF DEFAULT
Section 8.01
Events of
Default. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any
of the following events (each, an “Event of
Default”):
(a) default
shall be made in the payment of any principal of any Loan or any Reimbursement
Obligation when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due
date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment (whether voluntary or
mandatory) thereof or by acceleration thereof or otherwise;
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(b) default
shall be made in the payment of any interest on any Credit Extension or any Fee
or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in paragraph (a) above)
due under any Loan Document, when and as the same shall become due and payable,
whether at the due date thereof (including an Interest Payment Date) or at a
date fixed for prepayment (whether voluntary or mandatory) or by acceleration or
demand thereof or otherwise, and such default shall continue unremedied for a
period of three Business Days after the occurrence thereof;
(c) any
representation or warranty made or deemed made in or in connection with any Loan
Document or the borrowings of Loans or issuances of Letters of Credit hereunder,
or any representation, warranty, statement or information contained in any
report, certificate, financial statement or other instrument furnished in
connection with or pursuant to any Loan Document, shall prove to have been false
or misleading in any material respect when so made, deemed made or
furnished;
(d) default
shall be made in the due observance or performance by any Company of any
covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 5.02
(other than clause (a) thereof), 5.03(a), 5.08, 5.11, or 5.16 or in Article VI;
(e) default
shall be made in the due observance or performance by any Company of any
covenant, condition or agreement contained in any Loan Document (other than
those specified in paragraphs (a), (b) or (d) immediately above) and such
default shall continue unremedied or shall not be waived for a period of 30 days
(or ten Business Days in the case of the Fee Letter) after the occurrence
thereof;
(f) any
Company shall (i) fail to pay any principal or interest, regardless of amount,
due in respect of any Indebtedness (other than the Obligations), when and as the
same shall become due and payable beyond any applicable grace period, or (ii)
fail to observe or perform any other term, covenant, condition or agreement
contained in any agreement or instrument evidencing or governing any such
Indebtedness beyond the period of grace, if any, provided in the instrument or
agreement under which such Indebtedness was created if the effect of any failure
referred to in this clause (ii) is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders
of such Indebtedness or a trustee or other representative on its or their behalf
(with or without the giving of notice, the lapse of time or both) to cause, such
Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity or become subject to a
mandatory offer to purchase by the obligor; provided that it shall not
constitute an Event of Default pursuant to this paragraph (f) unless the
aggregate amount of all such Indebtedness referred to in clauses (i) and (ii)
exceeds $3,500,000 at any one time (provided that, in the case of
any Hedging Obligations, the amount counted for this purpose shall be the
applicable Hedging Termination Value);
(g) an
Insolvency Proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be
filed in a court of competent jurisdiction seeking (i) relief in respect of any
Company or of a substantial part of the property of any Company, under Title 11
of the United States Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or any other
federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar Legal
Requirement, (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian,
sequestrator, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar official for any
Company or for a substantial part of the property of any Company, or (iii) the
winding-up or liquidation of any Company; and such proceeding or petition shall
continue undismissed for 60 days or an Order approving or ordering any of the
foregoing shall be entered;
(h) any
Company shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition
seeking relief under Title 11 of the United States Code, as now constituted or
hereafter amended, or any other federal, state or foreign bankruptcy,
insolvency, receivership or similar Legal Requirement, (ii) consent to the
institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any
Insolvency Proceeding or the filing of any petition described in clause (g)
above, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee,
custodian, sequestrator, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar
official for any Company or for a substantial part of the property of any
Company, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition
filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the
benefit of creditors, (vi) become unable, admit in writing its inability or fail
generally to pay its debts as they become due, (vii) wind up or liquidate,
or (viii) take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the
foregoing;
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(i) one
or more Orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of
$3,500,000 (that are not covered by insurance from an unaffiliated insurance
company with an A.M. Best financial strength rating of at least A-, it being
understood that even if such amounts are covered by insurance from such an
insurance company, such amounts shall count against such basket if
responsibility for such amounts has been denied by such insurance company or
such insurance company has not been promptly notified of such amounts or such
insurance company is not participating in the defense thereof with customary
diligence (as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent)) shall be
rendered against any Company or any combination thereof and the same shall
remain unpaid, undischarged, unvacated or unbonded for a period of 30
consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed, or any
action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to levy upon properties of
any Company to enforce any such Order;
(j) one
or more ERISA Events shall have occurred that, when taken together with all
other such ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to
result in liability of any Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates in an
aggregate amount exceeding $3,500,000; (ii) the ERISA Event described in (ii) of
the definition thereof shall have occurred; or (iii) the imposition of a Lien or
other security interest on any properties of a Company under Section 430(k) of
the Code or under Section 303(k) of ERISA or a violation of Section 436 of the
Code;
(k) except
to the extent directly and solely resulting from the gross negligence of willful
misconduct of the Collateral Agent, any security interest and Lien purported to
be created by any Security Document shall cease to be in full force and effect,
or shall cease to give the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured
Parties, the Liens, rights, powers and privileges purported to be created and
granted under such Security Documents (including a valid, enforceable, perfected
first priority security interest in and Lien on, all of the Collateral
thereunder (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or such
Security Document)) in favor of the Collateral Agent, or shall be asserted by or
on behalf of any Company not to be, a valid, enforceable, perfected, first
priority (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or such
Security Document) security interest in or Lien on the Collateral covered
thereby; provided that
it shall not be an Event of Default under this paragraph (k) if the Collateral
Agent shall not have, or shall cease to have, a valid, enforceable and perfected
first priority security interest in or Lien on any Collateral purported to be
covered by the Security Documents that (i) has a Fair Market Value, individually
or in the aggregate, of less than $500,000 and (ii) is not material to the
operations or the businesses of the Companies, taken as a whole, in each case as
determined by the Collateral Agent in its reasonable discretion;
(l)
any Loan Document or any material provisions thereof shall at any time and for
any reason be declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be null and void,
or a proceeding shall be commenced by or on behalf of any Loan Party or any
other person, or by any Governmental Authority, seeking to establish the
invalidity or unenforceability thereof (exclusive of questions of interpretation
of any provision thereof), or any Company (directly or indirectly) shall
repudiate, revoke, terminate or rescind (or purport to do any of the foregoing)
or deny any portion of its liability or obligation for the Obligations;
or
105
(m) any
Company shall be prohibited or otherwise restrained from conducting the business
theretofore conducted by it in any manner that has, or could reasonably be
expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect by virtue of any determination,
ruling, decision or Order of any court or Governmental Authority of competent
jurisdiction; or
(n) El
Pollo Loco, Inc. shall have its right to offer or sell El Pollo Loco franchises
suspended, revoked, or terminated in California or Arizona and such event shall
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(o) a
determination that any El Pollo Loco franchisee has the right to rescind its
franchise agreement and such event shall reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect;
(p) any
Event of Default (as defined in the Senior Secured Note Documents) shall have
occurred under the Senior Secured Note Documents;
then, and
in every such event (other than an event with respect to Holdings or Borrower
described in paragraph (g) or (h) above), and at any time thereafter during the
continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of
the Required Lenders shall, by notice to Borrower, take either or both of the
following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate
forthwith the Commitments; (ii) declare the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations
then outstanding to be forthwith due and payable in whole or in part, whereupon
the principal of the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations so declared to be due
and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and any unpaid accrued Fees
and all other liabilities of the Loan Parties accrued hereunder and under any
other Loan Document, shall become forthwith due and payable, without
presentment, demand, protest or any other notice of any kind, all of which are
hereby expressly waived by the Loan Parties, anything contained herein or in any
other Loan Document or otherwise to the contrary notwithstanding and (iii)
exercise any and all of its other rights and remedies under applicable law,
hereunder and under the other Loan Documents; and in any event with respect to
Holdings or Borrower described in paragraph (g) or (h) above, the Commitments
shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans and Reimbursement
Obligations then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and any
unpaid accrued Fees and all other liabilities of the Loan Parties accrued
hereunder and under any other Loan Document, shall automatically become due and
payable, without presentment, demand, protest or any other notice of any kind,
all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Loan Parties, anything contained
herein or in any other Loan Document or otherwise to the contrary
notwithstanding.
Section 8.02
Rescission. If
at any time after termination of the Commitments or acceleration of the maturity
of the Loans, the Loan Parties shall pay all arrears of interest and all
payments on account of principal of the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations
owing by them that shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with
interest on principal and, to the extent permitted by law, on overdue interest,
at the rates specified herein) and all Defaults (other than non-payment of
principal of and accrued interest on the Loans due and payable solely by virtue
of acceleration) shall be remedied or waived pursuant to Section 11.02, then
upon the written consent of the Required Lenders (which may be given or withheld
in their sole discretion) and written notice to Borrower, the termination of the
Commitments or the acceleration and their consequences may be rescinded and
annulled; but such action shall not affect any subsequent Default or impair any
right or remedy consequent thereon. The provisions of the preceding
sentence are intended merely to bind the Lenders, the Issuing Bank and the other
Secured Parties to a decision that may be made at the election of the Required
Lenders, and such provisions are not intended to benefit Borrower and the other
Loan Parties and do not give Borrower and/or any of the Loan Parties the right
to require the Lenders to rescind or annul any acceleration hereunder, even if
the conditions set forth herein are met.
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ARTICLE
IX
COLLATERAL
ACCOUNT; APPLICATION OF COLLATERAL PROCEEDS
Section 9.01
Collateral
Account. (a) The Collateral Agent is hereby
authorized to establish and maintain at its office (or, at the Collateral
Agent’s discretion, at the office of its designee from time to time) at 000
Xxxxxxx Xxx. Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, in the name of the Collateral Agent and
pursuant to one or more Control Agreements, one or more restricted deposit
accounts designated “El Pollo Loco, Inc. Collateral Account” (or such other
substantially similar designation as shall be determined by the Collateral Agent
in its discretion from time to time). Each Loan Party shall deposit
into the Collateral Account from time to time any cash that such Loan Party is
required to pledge as additional collateral security hereunder pursuant to the
Loan Documents.
(b) The
balance from time to time in the Collateral Account shall constitute part of the
Collateral and shall not constitute payment of the Secured Obligations until
applied as hereinafter provided. So long as no Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing or will result therefrom, the Collateral Agent shall
within ten Business Days of receiving a request from the applicable Loan Party
for release of cash proceeds with respect to the LC Sub Account, remit such Net
Cash Proceeds on deposit in the LC Sub Account to or upon the order of such Loan
Party (x) at such time as all Letters of Credit shall have been terminated and
all of the liabilities in respect of the Letters of Credit have been paid in
full or (y) otherwise in accordance with Section 2.18(i). At
any time following the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of
Default, the Collateral Agent may (and, if instructed by the Required Lenders as
specified herein, shall) in its (or their) discretion apply or cause to be
applied (subject to collection) the balance from time to time outstanding in
such restricted deposit account to the credit of the Collateral Account to the
payment of the Secured Obligations in the manner specified in Section 9.02
subject, however, in the case of amounts deposited in the LC Sub-Account, to the
provisions of Section 2.18(i). The
Loan Parties shall have no right to withdraw, transfer or otherwise receive any
funds deposited in the Collateral Account except to the extent specifically
provided herein.
(c) Amounts
on deposit in the Collateral Account shall be invested and reinvested from time
to time in Cash Equivalents as the applicable Loan Party (or, after the
occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Collateral
Agent) shall determine, by written instruction to the Collateral Agent, or if no
such instructions are given, then as the Collateral Agent, in its sole
discretion, shall determine, which Cash Equivalents shall be held in the name
and be under the control of the Collateral Agent (or any sub-agent); provided that at any time
after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the
Collateral Agent may (and, if instructed by the Required Lenders as specified
herein, shall) in its (or their) discretion at any time and from time to time
elect to liquidate any such Cash Equivalents and to apply or cause to be applied
the proceeds thereof to the payment of the Secured Obligations in the manner
specified in Section
9.02 subject, however, in the case of amounts deposited in the LC
Sub-Account, to the provisions of Section
2.18(i).
(d) Amounts
deposited into the Collateral Account as cover for liabilities in respect of
Letters of Credit under any provision of this Agreement requiring such cover
shall be held by the Administrative Agent in a separate sub-account designated
as the “LC Sub-Account” (the “LC Sub-Account”) and, subject
to Section 2.18(i),
all amounts held in the LC Sub-Account shall constitute collateral security to
be initially applied in accordance with Section 2.18(i).
Section 9.02
Application
of Proceeds. The proceeds received by the Collateral Agent in
respect of any sale of, collection from or other realization upon all or any
part of the Collateral pursuant to the exercise by the Collateral Agent of its
remedies after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default
shall be applied, in full or in part, together with any other sums then held by
the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document,
promptly by the Collateral Agent as follows (subject to the terms of the
Intercreditor Agreement):
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(a) First, to the payment in full
in cash of all costs and expenses, fees, commissions and taxes of such sale,
collection or other realization (including compensation to the Collateral Agent
and its agents and counsel, and all expenses, liabilities and advances made or
incurred by the Collateral Agent in connection therewith and all amounts for
which the Collateral Agent is entitled to indemnification pursuant to the
provisions of any Loan Document), together with interest on each such amount at
the highest rate then in effect under this Agreement from and after the date
such amount is due, owing or unpaid until paid in full;
(b) Second, to the payment in
full in cash of all other reasonable costs and expenses of such sale, collection
or other realization (including compensation to the other Secured Parties and
their agents and counsel and all costs, liabilities and advances made or
incurred by the other Secured Parties in connection therewith), together with
interest on each such amount at the highest rate then in effect under this
Agreement from and after the date such amount is due, owing or unpaid until paid
in full;
(c) Third, without duplication of
amounts applied pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) above, to the payment in full in
cash, pro rata, of
interest and other amounts constituting Obligations (other than principal,
Reimbursement Obligations and obligations to Cash Collateralize Letters of
Credit) in each case equally and ratably in accordance with the respective
amounts thereof then due and owing (it being agreed that, for purposes of
applying this clause (c), all interest and all other amounts described herein
will be deemed payable in accordance with this Agreement regardless of whether
such claims are allowed in any proceeding described in Section 8.01(g) or
(h));
(d) Fourth, to the payment in
full in cash, pro rata,
of the principal amount of the Obligations (including Reimbursement Obligations
and obligations to Cash Collateralize Letters of Credit);
(e) Fifth, to the payment in full
in cash of Secured Obligations of the type specified in clause (b) of the
definition of Secured Obligations then due and owing, pro rata;
(f) Sixth, to the payment in full
in cash of the remaining Secured Obligations then due and owing, pro rata; and
(g) Seventh, the balance, if any,
to the person lawfully entitled thereto (including the applicable Loan Party or
its successors or assigns) or as a court of competent jurisdiction may
direct.
In the
event that any such proceeds are insufficient to pay in full the items described
in clauses (a) through (f) of this Section 9.02,
the Loan Parties shall remain liable, jointly and severally, for any
deficiency.
ARTICLE
X
THE
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Section 10.01
Appointment. (a) Each
Lender and the Issuing Bank hereby irrevocably designates and appoints each of
the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent as an agent of such Lender
under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the Administrative Agent
and the Collateral Agent hereby accept such appointments. Each Lender
irrevocably authorizes each Agent, in such capacity, through its agents or
employees, to take such actions on its behalf under the provisions of this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents and to exercise such powers and perform
such duties as are delegated to such Agent by the terms of this Agreement and
the other Loan Documents, together with such actions and powers as are
reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article X are solely for the
benefit of the Agents, the Lenders and the Issuing Bank, and no Loan Party shall
have rights as a third party beneficiary of any such
provisions.
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(b) Each
Lender irrevocably appoints each other Lender as its agent and bailee for the
purpose of perfecting Liens (whether pursuant to Section 8-301(a)(2) of the UCC
or otherwise), for the benefit of the Secured Parties, in assets in which, in
accordance with the UCC or any other applicable Legal Requirement a security
interest can be perfected by possession or control. Should any Lender
(other than the Collateral Agent) obtain possession or control of any such
Collateral, such Lender shall notify the Collateral Agent thereof, and, promptly
following the Collateral Agent’s request therefor, shall deliver such Collateral
to the Collateral Agent or otherwise deal with such Collateral in accordance
with the Collateral Agent’s instructions.
Section 10.02
Agent in
Its Individual Capacity. Each person serving as an Agent
hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as
any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not an Agent, and
such person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as
financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for, and generally engage in
any kind of business with, any Company or Affiliate thereof as if it were not an
Agent hereunder and without duty to account therefor to the Lenders or the
Issuing Bank.
Section 10.03
Exculpatory
Provisions. No Agent shall have any duties or obligations
except those expressly set forth in the Loan Documents. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) no Agent shall be subject to any
fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred
and is continuing, (b) no Agent shall have any duty to take any discretionary
action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and
powers expressly contemplated by the Loan Documents that such Agent is required
to exercise in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or
percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as
provided in Section 11.02);
provided that no Agent
shall be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its
counsel, may expose such Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan
Document or applicable Legal Requirements, and (c) except as expressly set forth
in the Loan Documents, no Agent shall have any duty to disclose or shall be
liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to any Company or
any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the person serving
as such Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. No Agent
shall be liable for any action taken or not taken by it with the consent or at
the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the
Lenders as shall be necessary, or as any Agent shall believe in good faith shall
be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Section 11.02). No
Agent shall be deemed to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written
notice thereof is given to such Agent by Borrower, a Lender, or the Issuing
Bank, and no Agent shall be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or
inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in
connection with any Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report
or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or
therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants,
agreements or other terms or conditions set forth in any Loan Document or the
occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or
genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document
or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or
elsewhere in any Loan Document. Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, the use of the term “agent” in this Agreement with reference to
the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent is not intended to connote any
fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency
doctrine of any applicable law. Instead, such term is used merely as
a matter of market custom and is intended to create or reflect only an
administrative relationship between independent contracting
parties. Each party to this Agreement acknowledges and agrees that
the Administrative Agent may from time to time use one or more outside service
providers for the tracking of all UCC financing statements (and/or other
collateral related filings and registrations from time to time) required to be
filed or recorded pursuant to the Loan Documents and the notification to the
Administrative Agent, of, among other things, the upcoming lapse or expiration
thereof, and that each of such service providers will be deemed to be acting at
the request and on behalf of Borrower and the other Loan Parties. No
Agent shall be liable for any action taken or not taken by any such service
provider.
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Section 10.04 Reliance
by Agent. Each Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall
not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate,
consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any
electronic message, internet or intranet website posting or other distribution)
believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent, or otherwise
authenticated by a proper person. Each Agent also may rely upon any
statement made to it orally and believed by it to be made by a proper person,
and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining
compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance
of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction
of a Lender or the Issuing Bank, each Agent may presume that such condition is
satisfactory to such Lender or the Issuing Bank unless each Agent shall have
received written notice to the contrary from such Lender or the Issuing Bank
prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of
Credit. Each Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel
for Borrower), independent accountants and other advisors selected by it, and
shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with
the advice of any such counsel, accountants or advisors.
Section 10.05 Delegation
of Duties. Each Agent may perform any and all of its duties
and exercise its rights and powers by or through, or delegate any and all such
rights and powers to, any one or more sub-agents appointed by such
Agent. Each Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of
its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective
Affiliates. The exculpatory provisions of the preceding paragraphs
shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Affiliates of each Agent and any
such sub-agent, and shall apply, without limiting the foregoing, to their
respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit
facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Agent.
Section 10.06 Successor
Agent. Each Agent may resign as such at any time upon at least
10 days’ prior notice to the Lenders, the Issuing Bank and
Borrower. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have
the right, in consultation with Borrower, to appoint a successor Agent from
among the Lenders. If no successor shall have been so appointed by
the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 10 days
after the retiring Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring
Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Bank, appoint a successor
Agent, which successor shall be (i) a commercial banking institution organized
under the laws of the United States (or any State thereof) or a United States
branch or agency of a commercial banking institution, in each case, having
combined capital and surplus of at least $500,000,000 or (ii) another entity
satisfactory to the Required Lenders; provided that if such
retiring Agent is unable to find a commercial banking institution that is
willing to accept such appointment and which meets the qualifications set forth
above, the retiring Agent’s resignation shall nevertheless thereupon become
effective and the retiring (or retired) Agent shall be discharged from its
duties and obligations under the Loan Documents, and the Lenders shall assume
and perform all of the duties of the Agent under the Loan Documents until such
time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Agent.
Upon the
acceptance of its appointment as an Agent hereunder by a successor, such
successor shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers,
privileges and duties of the retiring Agent, and the retiring (or retired) Agent
shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under the Loan
Documents. The fees payable by Borrower to a successor Agent shall be
the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between
Borrower and such successor. After an Agent’s resignation hereunder,
the provisions of this Article X, Section 11.03
and Sections
11.08 to 11.10 shall continue
in effect for the benefit of such retiring Agent, its sub-agents and their
respective Affiliates in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by
any of them while it was acting as Agent.
110
Section 10.07 Non-Reliance
on Agent and Other Lenders. Each Lender and the Issuing Bank
acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon any Agent or
any other Lender or any of their respective Affiliates and based on such
documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit
analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender
further represents and warrants that it has reviewed the Preliminary Information
Memorandum and each other document made available to it on the Platform in
connection with this Agreement and has acknowledged and accepted the terms and
conditions applicable to the recipients thereof (including any such terms and
conditions set forth, or otherwise maintained, on the Platform with respect
thereto). Each Lender and the Issuing Bank also acknowledges that it
will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent or any other Lender or
any of their respective Affiliates and based on such documents and information
as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own
decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any
other Loan Document or related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or
thereunder.
Section 10.08 Name
Agents. The parties hereto acknowledge that the Documentation
Agent and the Syndication Agent hold such titles in name only, and that such
titles confer no additional rights or obligations relative to those conferred on
any Lender or the Issuing Bank hereunder.
Section 10.09 Indemnification. The
Lenders severally agree to indemnify each Agent in its capacity as such and each
of its Related Persons (to the extent not reimbursed by Borrower or the
Guarantors and without limiting the obligation of Borrower or the Guarantors to
do so), ratably according to their respective outstanding Loans and Commitments
in effect on the date on which indemnification is sought under this Section 10.09
(or, if indemnification is sought after the date upon which all Commitments
shall have terminated and the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations shall have
been paid in full, ratably in accordance with such outstanding Loans and
Commitments as in effect immediately prior to such date), from and against any
and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, fines, penalties, actions,
claims, suits, litigations, investigations, inquiries or proceedings, costs,
expenses or disbursements of any kind whatsoever that may at any time (whether
before or after the payment of the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations) be
imposed on, incurred by or asserted against such Agent or Related Person in any
way relating to or arising out of, the Commitments, this Agreement, any of the
other Loan Documents or any documents contemplated by or referred to herein or
therein, the Transactions or any of the other transactions contemplated hereby
or thereby or any action taken or omitted by such Agent or Related Person under
or in connection with any of the foregoing (IN ALL CASES, WHETHER OR NOT CAUSED
OR ARISING, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, OUT OF THE COMPARATIVE, CONTRIBUTORY OR SOLE
NEGLIGENCE OF ANY AGENT OR RELATED PERSON); provided that no Lender shall
be liable for the payment of any portion of such liabilities, obligations,
losses, damages, penalties, actions, claims, suits, litigations, investigations,
inquiries or proceedings, costs, expenses or disbursements that are found by a
final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to have
directly resulted solely and directly from such Agent’s or Related Person’s, as
the case may be, gross negligence or willful misconduct. The
agreements in this Section 10.09 shall
survive the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable
hereunder.
111
ARTICLE
XI
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 11.01 Notices. (a) Generally. Notices
and other communications provided for herein shall, except as provided in Section 11.01(b),
be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service,
mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopy, as
follows:
(i) if
to any Loan Party, to Borrower at:
0000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxx
000
Xxxxx
Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn:
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Attn:
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
With a
copy to:
Skadden,
Arps, Slate, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP
0 Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx
Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
(ii) if
to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, to it at:
Jefferies
Finance LLC
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Account
Officer – El Pollo Loco, Inc.
Telecopy
No.: (000) 000-0000;
(iii) if
to a Lender, to it at its address (or telecopy number) set forth on Annex I or in the
Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender shall have become a
party hereto; and
(iv) if
to the Issuing Bank, to it at:
Jefferies
Finance LLC
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Account
Officer – El Pollo Loco, Inc.
Telecopy
No.: (000) 000-0000
All
notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with
the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date
of receipt if delivered by hand or overnight courier service or sent by telecopy
or by certified or registered mail, in each case delivered, sent or mailed
(properly addressed) to such party as provided in this Section 11.01(a)
or in accordance with the latest unrevoked direction from such party given in
accordance with this Section 11.01(a),
and failure to deliver courtesy copies of notices and other communications shall
in no event affect the validity or effectiveness of such notices and other
communications.
112
Notices
delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in Section 11.01(b)
below, shall be effective as provided in Section 11.01(b).
(b) Electronic
Communications. Notices and other communications to the
Lenders and the Issuing Bank hereunder may (subject to Section 11.01(d)) be
delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and
Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the
Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing
shall not apply to notices to any Lender or the Issuing Bank pursuant to Article II if such
Lender or the Issuing Bank, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent
(in a manner set forth in Section 11.01(a))
that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic
communication. The Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or
Borrower may, in their respective sole discretion, agree to accept notices and
other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to
procedures, respectively, approved by it (including as set forth in Section 11.01(d));
provided that approval
of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or
communications.
Unless
the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other
communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the
sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (including by
the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other
written acknowledgement); provided that if such notice
or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the
recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the
opening of business on the next business day for the recipient, and (ii) notices
or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed
received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address
as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or
communication is available and identifying the website address
therefor.
(c) Change of Address,
etc. Any party hereto may change its address, telecopier
number or e-mail address for notices and other communications hereunder by
notice to the other parties hereto.
(d) Posting. Each
Loan Party will provide to the Administrative Agent all information, documents
and other materials that it is obligated to furnish to the Administrative Agent
pursuant to this Agreement and any other Loan Document, including all notices,
requests, financial statements, financial and other reports, certificates and
other information materials, but excluding any such communication that (i)
relates to a request for a new, or a conversion of an existing, Borrowing or
other extension of credit (including any election of an interest rate or
interest period relating thereto), (ii) relates to the payment of any principal
or other amount due under this Agreement prior to the scheduled date therefor,
(iii) provides notice of any Default under this Agreement or (iv) is required to
be delivered to satisfy any condition precedent to the effectiveness of this
Agreement and/or any borrowing or other extension of credit hereunder (all such
non-excluded communications, collectively, the “Communications”), by
transmitting the Communications in an electronic/soft medium in a format
reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent at e-mail address(es) provided
to Borrower by the Administrative Agent from time to time or in such other form,
including hard copy delivery thereof, as the Administrative Agent shall
require. In addition, each Loan Party agrees to continue to provide
the Communications to the Administrative Agent in the manner specified in this
Agreement or any other Loan Document or in such other form, including hard copy
delivery thereof, as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably
require. Nothing in this Section 11.01 shall
prejudice the right of the Agents, any Lender, the Issuing Bank or any Loan
Party to give any notice or other communication pursuant to this Agreement or
any other Loan Document in any other manner specified in this Agreement or any
other Loan Document or as any such Agent shall reasonably
require.
113
To the
extent consented to by the Administrative Agent in writing from time to time,
the Administrative Agent agrees that receipt of the Communications by the
Administrative Agent at its e-mail address(es) set forth above shall constitute
effective delivery of the Communications to the Administrative Agent for
purposes of the Loan Documents; provided that Borrower shall
also deliver to the Administrative Agent an executed original of each Compliance
Certificate required to be delivered hereunder.
Each Loan
Party further agrees that the Administrative Agent may make the Communications
available to the other Agents, the Lenders or the Issuing Bank by posting the
Communications on IntraLinks, SyndTrak or a substantially similar electronic
transmission system (the “Platform”). The
Platform is provided “as is” and “as available.” The Agents do not
warrant the accuracy or completeness of the Communications, or the adequacy of
the Platform and expressly disclaim liability for errors or omissions in the
communications. No warranty of any kind, express, implied or
statutory, including, without limitation, any warranty of merchantability,
fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement of third party rights or
freedom from viruses or other code defects, is made by any Agent in connection
with the Communications or the Platform.
Section 11.02 Waivers;
Amendment. (a) No failure or delay by any Agent,
the Issuing Bank or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder or
under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any
single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or
discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or
further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or
power. The rights and remedies of each Agent, the Issuing Bank and
the Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are
not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise
have. No waiver of any provision of any Loan Document or consent to
any departure by any Loan Party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless
the same shall be permitted by Section 11.02(b), and
then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and
for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, the making of a Loan or issuance of a Letter of Credit shall not
be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether any Agent, any
Lender or the Issuing Bank may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at
the time. No notice or demand on Borrower or any other Loan Party in
any case shall entitle Borrower or any other Loan Party to any other or further
notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.
(b) Subject
to Section
11.02(c), this Agreement nor any other Loan Document nor any provision
hereof or thereof may be waived, amended, supplemented or modified except, in
the case of this Agreement, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing
entered into by Borrower and the Required Lenders or, in the case of any other
Loan Document, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by
the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent (in the case of any Security
Document) and the Loan Party or Loan Parties that are parties thereto, in each
case with the written consent of the Required Lenders; provided that no such
agreement shall:
(i) increase
the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender (it
being understood that no amendment, modification, termination, waiver or consent
with respect to any condition precedent, covenant or Default (or any definition
used, respectively, therein) shall constitute an increase in the Commitment of
any Lender for purposes of this clause (i));
(ii) reduce
the principal amount or premium, if any, of any Loan or LC Disbursement or
reduce the rate of interest thereon (other than interest pursuant to Section 2.06(c))
, or reduce any Fees payable hereunder, or change the form or currency of
payment of any Obligation, without the written consent of each Lender directly
affected thereby (it being understood that any amendment or modification to the
financial definitions in this Agreement shall not constitute a reduction in the
rate of interest for purposes of this clause (ii));
114
(iii) postpone
or extend the maturity of any Loan, or the required date of payment of any
Reimbursement Obligation, or any date for the payment of any interest or fees
payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment
(other than a waiver of any increase in the interest rate pursuant to Section 2.06(c)),
or postpone the scheduled date of expiration of any Commitment or postpone the
scheduled date of expiration of any Letter of Credit beyond the Letter of Credit
Expiration Date, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected
thereby;
(iv) change
Section 2.14(b)
or (c) or Section 9.02 in a
manner that would alter the order of or the pro rata sharing of payments
or setoffs required thereby, without the written consent of each
Lender;
(v) change
the percentage set forth in the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other
provision of any Loan Document (including this Section 11.02)
specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or
modify any rights thereunder or make any determination or grant any consent
thereunder, without the written consent of each Lender;
(vi) release
all or substantially all of the Guarantors from their respective Guarantees
(except as expressly provided in Article VII), or
limit their liability in respect of such Guarantees, without the written consent
of each Lender;
(vii) except
as expressly permitted in this Agreement or any Security Document, release all
or substantially all of the Collateral from the Liens of the Security Documents
or alter the relative priorities of the Secured Obligations entitled to the
Liens of the Security Documents (except in connection with securing additional
Secured Obligations equally and ratably with the other Secured Obligations), in
each case without the written consent of each Lender; or
(viii) change
Section 11.04(b)
in a manner which further restricts assignments thereunder without the written
consent of each Lender;
provided, further, that no
such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of
the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or the Issuing Bank without the
prior written consent of the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank, as the
case may be. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any provision of this
Agreement may be amended by an agreement in writing entered into by Borrower,
the Required Lenders and the Administrative Agent (and, if their rights or
obligations are affected thereby, the Issuing Bank) if (x) by the terms of such
agreement the Commitment of each Lender not consenting to the amendment provided
for therein shall terminate upon the effectiveness of such amendment, (y) at the
time such amendment becomes effective, each Lender not consenting thereto
receives payment in full of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest
accrued on each Loan made by it and all other amounts owing to it or accrued for
its account under this Agreement, and (z) Section 2.16(b) is
complied with.
(c) Without
the consent of any other person, the applicable Loan Party or Loan Parties and
the Administrative Agent and/or Collateral Agent may (in its or their respective
sole discretion, or shall, to the extent required by any Loan Document) enter
into any amendment or waiver of any Loan Document, or enter into any new
agreement or instrument, to effect the granting, perfection, protection,
expansion or enhancement of any security interest in any Collateral or
additional property to become Collateral for the benefit of the Secured Parties,
or as required by applicable Legal Requirements to give effect to, or protect
any security interest for the benefit of the Secured Parties, in any property or
assets so that the security interests therein comply with applicable Legal
Requirements.
115
(d) Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Administrative Agent may, with the consent of Borrower only,
(i) amend, modify or supplement this Agreement to cure any ambiguity, omission,
defect or inconsistency as result of conforming Article VI (and related
definitions) to the corresponding provisions in the Senior Secured Notes and
(ii) amend, modify or supplement this Agreement to cure any ambiguity, omission,
defect or inconsistency, so long as such amendment, modification or supplement
does not adversely affect the rights of any Lender or Issuing Bank.
Section 11.03 Expenses;
Indemnity; Damage Waiver. (a) The Loan Parties
agree, jointly and severally, to pay, promptly upon demand:
(i)
all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses
incurred by the Arranger, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and the
Issuing Bank, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of
Advisors for the Arranger, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and
the Issuing Bank, in connection with the syndication of the Loans and
Commitments, the preparation, negotiation, execution and delivery of the Loan
Documents, the administration of the Credit Extensions and Commitments, the
perfection and maintenance of the Liens securing the Collateral and any actual
or proposed amendment, supplement or waiver of any of the Loan Documents
(whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be
consummated); provided
that the fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent
and the Collateral Agent shall (except, in all events, in the case of any
conflict of interest (as reasonably determined by either the Administrative
Agent or Collateral Agent)) be limited to the fees, charges and disbursements of
one lead counsel to such persons, taken as a whole, together with one regulatory
counsel and one local counsel in any relevant jurisdiction;
(ii) all
documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent
or the Collateral Agent, including the fees, charges and disbursements of
Advisors for the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, in connection
with any action, claim, suit, litigation, investigation, inquiry or proceeding
affecting the Collateral or any part thereof, in which action, claim, suit,
litigation, investigation, inquiry or proceeding the Administrative Agent or the
Collateral Agent is made a party or participates or in which the right to use
the Collateral or any part thereof is threatened, or in which it becomes
necessary in the judgment of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent to
defend or uphold the Liens granted by the Security Documents (including any
action, claim, suit, litigation, investigation, inquiry or proceeding to
establish or uphold the compliance of the Collateral with any Legal
Requirements); provided
that the fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent
and the Collateral Agent shall (except, in all events, in the case of any
conflict of interest (as reasonably determined by either the Administrative
Agent or Collateral Agent)) be limited to the fees, charges and disbursements of
one lead counsel to such persons, taken as a whole, together with one regulatory
counsel and one local counsel in any relevant jurisdiction;
(iii) all
documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Arranger, the
Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, any other Agent, the Issuing Bank or
any Lender, including the fees, charges and disbursements of Advisors for any of
the foregoing, incurred in connection with the enforcement or protection of its
rights under the Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section 11.03(a),
or in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder and
the collection of the Secured Obligations, including all such costs and expenses
incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of the
Secured Obligations; and
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(iv) all
Other Taxes in respect of the Loan Documents.
(b) The
Loan Parties agree, jointly and severally, to indemnify the Agents, each Lender
and the Issuing Bank and each of their respective Related Persons (each such
person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and to
hold each Indemnitee harmless from, all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and any
and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, fees, fines, penalties, actions,
judgments, suits and related expenses, including reasonable Advisors fees,
charges and disbursements (collectively, “Claims”), incurred by, imposed
on or asserted against any Indemnitee, directly or indirectly, arising out of,
in any way connected with, or as a result of (i) the execution, delivery,
performance, administration or enforcement of the Loan Documents or any
agreement or instrument contemplated thereby or the performance by the parties
thereto of their respective obligations thereunder, (ii) any actual or proposed
use of the proceeds of the Loans or issuance of Letters of Credit, (iii) any
claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing,
whether or not any Indemnitee is a party thereto, (iv) any actual or alleged
presence or Release or threatened Release of Hazardous Materials, on, at, under
or from any property owned, leased or operated by any Company at any time, or
any Environmental Claim or threatened Environmental Claim related in any way to
any Company, (v) any past, present or future non-compliance with, or violation
of, Environmental Laws or Environmental Permits applicable to any
Company, or any Company’s business, or any property presently or formerly owned,
leased, or operated by any Company or their predecessors in interest, (vi) the
environmental condition of any property owned, leased, or operated by any
Company at any time, or the applicability of any Legal Requirements relating to
such property, whether or not occasioned wholly or in part by any condition,
accident or event caused by any act or omission of any Company, (vii) the
imposition of any environmental Lien encumbering any Real Property, (viii) the
consummation of the Transactions and the other transactions contemplated hereby
(including the syndication of the Credit Facilities) or (ix) any actual or
prospective action, claim, suit, litigation, investigation, inquiry or
proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or
any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by any Loan Party or
otherwise, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity
shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses are determined by a court of
competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have directly
resulted solely from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such
Indemnitee or its Related Persons.
(c) The
Loan Parties agree, jointly and severally, that, without the prior written
consent of the Administrative Agent and any affected Lender, which consent(s)
will not be unreasonably withheld, the Loan Parties will not enter into any
settlement of a Claim in respect of the subject matter of clauses (i) through
(ix) of Section
11.03(b) unless such settlement includes an explicit and unconditional
release from the party bringing such Claim of all Indemnitees.
(d) The
provisions of this Section 11.03
shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of the expiration
of the term of this Agreement, the consummation of the Transactions and the
other transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans,
Reimbursement Obligations and any other Secured Obligations, the release of any
Guarantor or of all or any portion of the Collateral, the expiration of the
Commitments, the expiration of any Letter of Credit, the invalidity or
unenforceability of any term or provision of this Agreement or any other Loan
Document, or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Agents, the Issuing
Bank or any Lender. All amounts due under this Section 11.03
shall be accompanied by reasonable documentation with respect to any
reimbursement, indemnification or other amount requested.
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(e) To
the extent that the Loan Parties fail to pay any amount required to be paid by
them to the Agents or the Issuing Bank under Sections 11.03(a) or
(b) in
accordance with Section 11.03(g),
each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Agents or the Issuing Bank, as the
case may be, such Lender’s pro
rata share (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed
expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount (such indemnity
shall be effective whether or not the related losses, claims, damages,
liabilities and related expenses are incurred or asserted by any party hereto or
any third party); provided that the
unreimbursed Claim was incurred by or asserted against any of the Agents or the
Issuing Bank in its capacity as such. For purposes of this Section 11.03(e), a
Lender’s “pro rata
share” shall be determined based upon its share of the sum of the total Exposure
and unused Commitments at the time.
(f) To
the fullest extent permitted by applicable Legal Requirements, no Loan Party
shall assert, and each Loan Party hereby waives, any claim against any
Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, exemplary,
consequential, or punitive damages (including any loss of profits, business or
anticipated savings) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, any
Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the
Transactions, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds
thereof. No Indemnitee shall be liable for any damages arising from
the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials
distributed by it through telecommunications, electronic or other information
transmission systems in connection with the Loan Documents or the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby.
(g) All
amounts due under this Section 11.03 shall
be payable not later than 10 days after demand therefor.
(h) This
Section 11.03 shall not apply to any Taxes other than Other Taxes.
Section 11.04 Successors
and Assigns. (a) The provisions of this Agreement
shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of
the Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), except that the Loan Parties
may not assign or otherwise transfer any of their respective rights or
obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative
Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Issuing Bank and each Lender, which consent may
be withheld in their respective sole discretion (and any attempted assignment or
transfer by any Loan Party without such consent shall be null and
void). Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, express
or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any person (other than the parties
hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any
Affiliate of the Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), Participants to
the extent expressly provided in Section 11.04(e) and,
to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the other Indemnitees) any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement or any
other Loan Document.
(b) Any
Lender shall have the right at any time to assign to one or more assignees
(other than any Company or any Affiliate thereof or a natural person) all or a
portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a
portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it); provided that notwithstanding
anything to the contrary herein, the holders of Parity Lien Debt (as defined in
the Intercreditor Agreement) shall have the right to exercise the purchase
option as set forth in Section 6.4 of the Intercreditor Agreement, and provided, further, that:
(i) except
in the case of (A) an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an
Approved Fund, (B) any assignment made in connection with the syndication of the
Commitments and Loans by the Arranger or (C) an assignment of the entire
remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment or Loans, of the assigning
Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment
and Acceptance with respect to such assignment is delivered to the
Administrative Agent) shall not be less than $1,000,000;
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(ii) each
partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all
of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this
Agreement;
(iii) the
parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent
an Assignment and Acceptance, together with a processing and recordation fee of
$3,500; provided that
such fee shall not be payable in the case of (A) an assignment by any Lender to
an Approved Fund of such Lender, (B) any assignment made in connection with the
primary syndication of the Commitments and Loans by the Arranger or (C) an
assignment settled through the Administrative Agent;
(iv) the
assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent
an Administrative Questionnaire;
(v) in
the case of an assignment of all or a portion of a Commitment or any Lender’s
obligations in respect of its LC Exposure, the Issuing Bank must give its prior
written consent to such assignment (which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld, delayed or conditioned); and
(vi) in
the case of an assignment of all or a portion of a Commitment, a Loan or any
Lender’s obligations in respect of its LC Exposure (except in the case of (A) an
assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, or (B) any
assignment made by Jefferies Finance LLC within 60 days of the Closing Date),
Borrower must give its prior written consent to such assignment (which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned).
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (i) any
consent of Borrower otherwise required under this paragraph shall not be
required, and (ii) any consent of the Issuing Bank required under this Section 11.04(b) may
be withheld by such person in its sole discretion. Subject to
acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to Section 11.04(d),
from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance
the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the
interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and
obligations of a Lender under this Agreement (provided that any liability
of Borrower to such assignee under Section 2.12,
2.13 or 2.15 shall be limited
to the amount, if any, that would have been payable thereunder by Borrower in
the absence of such assignment, except to the extent any such amounts are
attributable to a Change in Law occurring after the date of such assignment),
and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest
assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, be released from its obligations
under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering
all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such
Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the
benefits of Sections 2.12,
2.13, 2.15 and 11.03).
(c) The
Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an agent of Borrower, shall
maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance
delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of
the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amount of the Loans and LC
Disbursements owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to
time (the “Register”). The
entries in the Register shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error,
and Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders may
treat each person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms
hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding
notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for
inspection by Borrower, the Issuing Bank, the Collateral Agent and any Lender
(with respect to its own interest only), at any reasonable time and from time to
time upon reasonable prior notice.
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(d) Upon
its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Acceptance executed by an
assigning Lender and an assignee, the assignee’s completed Administrative
Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the
processing and recordation fee referred to in Section 11.04(b) and
any written consent to such assignment required by Section 11.04(b), the
Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Acceptance and record the
information contained therein in the Register. No assignment shall be
effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the
Register as provided in this Section
11.04(b). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or
obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with the requirements of
this Section 11.04
shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a
participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with Section 11.04(e).
(e) Any
Lender shall have the right at any time, without the consent of, or notice to
Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any other person to sell
participations to any person (other than any Company or any Affiliate thereof or
a natural person) (a “Participant”) in all or a
portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including
all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such
Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such
Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the
performance of such obligations and (iii) Borrower, the Administrative Agent,
the Collateral Agent, the Issuing Bank and the other Lenders shall continue to
deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s
rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or
instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide
that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce the Loan Documents and
to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of the Loan
Documents; provided
that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without
the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver
that (1) is described in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) of the proviso to Section 11.02(b) and
(2) directly affects such Participant. Subject to Section 11.04(f),
each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.12,
2.13 and 2.15 to the same
extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment
pursuant to Section
11.04(b). To the extent permitted by Legal Requirements, each
Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 11.08 as
though it were a Lender; provided that such
Participant agrees in writing to be subject to Section 2.14(c)
as though it were a Lender. Each Lender shall maintain at one of its
offices a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of its
Participants, and the amount and terms of its participations; provided that no Lender shall
be required to disclose or share the information contained in such register with
Borrower or any other person, except as required by applicable Legal
Requirements.
(f) A
Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 2.12,
2.13 or 2.15 than the
applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the
participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to
such Participant is made with the prior written consent of Borrower (which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or
conditioned). A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were
a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.15
unless Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and
such Participant agrees, for the benefit of Borrower, to comply with Section 2.15(e)
as though it were a Lender.
(g) Any
Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any
portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender,
including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve
Bank, and this Section
11.04(g) shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security
interest; provided that
no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from
any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for
such Lender as a party hereto. Without limiting the foregoing, in the
case of any Lender that is a fund that invests in bank loans or similar
extensions of credit, such Lender may, without the consent of Borrower, the
Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent or any other person, collaterally assign
or pledge all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement, including the
Loans and Notes or any other instrument evidencing its rights as a Lender under
this Agreement, to any holder of, trustee for, or any other representative of
holders of, obligations owed or securities issued, by such fund, as security for
such obligations or securities.
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(h) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a “Granting Lender”) may grant to
a special purpose funding vehicle (an “SPC”), identified as such in
writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and
Borrower, the option to provide to Borrower all or any part of any Loan that
such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make to such Borrower
pursuant to this Agreement; provided that (i) nothing
herein shall constitute a commitment by any SPC to make any Loan and (ii) if an
SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to provide all or any
part of such Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Loan
pursuant to the terms hereof; provided further that nothing herein
shall make the SPC a “Lender” for the purposes of this Agreement, obligate
Borrower or any other Loan Party or the Administrative Agent to deal with such
SPC directly, obligate Borrower or any other Loan Party in any manner to any
greater extent than they were obligated to the Granting Lender, or increase
costs or expenses of Borrower. The Loan Parties and the
Administrative Agent shall be entitled to deal solely with, and obtain good
discharge from, the Granting Lender and shall not be required to investigate or
otherwise seek the consent or approval of any SPC, including for the approval of
any amendment, waiver or other modification of any provision of any Loan
Document. The making of a Loan by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the
Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Loan were
made by such Granting Lender. Each party hereto hereby agrees that no
SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this
Agreement (all liability for which shall remain with the Granting
Lender). In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby
agrees (which agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement) that,
prior to the date that is one year and one day after the payment in full of all
outstanding commercial paper or other senior indebtedness of any SPC, it will
not institute against, or join any other person in instituting against, such SPC
any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation
proceedings under the laws of the United States of America or any state
thereof. In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained in this Section 11.04(h),
any SPC may (i) with notice to, but without the prior written consent of,
Borrower and the Administrative Agent and without paying any processing fee
therefor, assign all or a portion of its interests in any Loans to the Granting
Lender or to any financial institutions (consented to by Borrower and the
Administrative Agent) providing liquidity and/or credit support to or for the
account of such SPC to support the funding or maintenance of Loans and (ii)
disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information relating to its
Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety,
guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC.
(i)
The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of
like import in any Assignment and Acceptance shall be deemed to include
electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of
which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a
manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as
the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable Legal
Requirement, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National
Commerce Act, as amended, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records
Act, as amended, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic
Transactions Act, as amended.
Section 11.05 Survival
of Agreement. All covenants, agreements, representations and
warranties made by the Loan Parties in the Loan Documents and in the reports,
certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to
this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been
relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and
delivery of the Loan Documents and the making of any Loans and issuance of any
Letters of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party
or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Agents, the Issuing Bank or any
Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect
representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and
shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Obligation (other than
contingent indemnification obligations not then payable) or any Letter of Credit
is outstanding (or Cash Collateralized) and so long as the Commitments have not
expired or terminated. The provisions of Article X and
Sections 2.12 to
2.15, 10.06, 11.03 and 11.08 to 11.10 shall survive
and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the
Transactions and the other transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of
the Loans, the payment of the Reimbursement Obligations, the expiration or
termination of the Letters of Credit and the Commitments or the termination of
this Agreement or any provision hereof.
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Section 11.06 Counterparts;
Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in
counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each
of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together
shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and the other Loan
Documents, and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to
the Administrative Agent and/or the Arranger, constitute the entire contract
among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and
all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the
subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01,
this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the
Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received
counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of
the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and
assigns. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of
this Agreement by telecopy or other electronic transmission shall be effective
as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
Section 11.07 Severability. Any
provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of
such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity,
legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the
invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not
invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.
Section 11.08 Right of
Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, each Lender, the Issuing Bank and each of their respective
Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable Legal Requirements, to set off and apply
any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final,
in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever
currency) at any time owing by such Lender, the Issuing Bank or any such
Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of any Loan Party against any and
all of the obligations of any Loan Party now or hereafter existing under this
Agreement or any other Loan Documents held by such Lender or the Issuing Bank,
irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this
Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations may be
contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender or the
Issuing Bank different from the branch or office holding such deposit or
obligated on such indebtedness. The rights of each Lender under this
Section 11.08
are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff)
which such Lender may have. Each Lender and the Issuing Bank agrees
to notify Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff
and application; provided,
however, that in no event shall the failure to give such notice effect
the validity or enforceability of any such setoffs.
Section 11.09 Governing
Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of
Process. (a) This Agreement shall be construed in
accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York, without regard
to conflicts of law principles that would require the application of the laws of
another jurisdiction.
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(b) Each
Loan Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its
property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of
New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court of
the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in
any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to any Loan Document, or for
recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto
hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any
such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State
court or, to the extent permitted by applicable Legal Requirements, in such
federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final
judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be
enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner
provided by applicable Legal Requirements. Nothing in this Agreement
or any other Loan Document or otherwise shall affect any right that the
Administrative Agent, any other Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender may
otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or
any other Loan Document against any Loan Party or its properties in the courts
of any jurisdiction.
(c) Each
Loan Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable Legal Requirements, any objection which it may now or
hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising
out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any court
referred to in Section
11.09(b). Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably
waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Legal Requirements, the
defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding
in any such court.
(d) Each
party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in any action
or proceeding arising out of or relating to any Loan Document, in the manner
provided for notices (other than telecopy or email) in Section 11.01. Nothing
in this Agreement or any other Loan Document will affect the right of any party
to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by applicable
Legal Requirements.
Section
11.10 Waiver of Jury
Trial. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable Legal Requirements, any right it may have
to a trial by jury in any legal proceeding directly or indirectly arising out of
or relating to any Loan Document, the Transactions or the other transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby (whether based on contract, tort or any other
theory). Each party hereto (a) certifies that no representative,
agent or attorney of any other party has represented, expressly or otherwise,
that such other party would not, in the event of litigation, seek to enforce the
foregoing waiver and (b) acknowledges that it and the other parties hereto have
been induced to enter into this Agreement by, among other things, the mutual
waivers and certifications in this Section
11.10.
Section 11.11 Headings;
No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements. Article and
Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of
reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the
construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this
Agreement. This Agreement may not be used to interpret any other loan
or debt agreement or instrument of any Company or of any other
person. Any such loan or debt agreement or instrument may not be used
to interpret this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
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Section 11.12 Confidentiality. Each
of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders agrees to maintain
the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that
Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates’ and Approved Funds’
directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors and other representatives,
including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood
that the persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the
confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information
confidential pursuant to the terms hereof), (b) to the extent requested by any
regulatory authority or any quasi-regulatory authority (such as the National
Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by
applicable Legal Requirements or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d)
to any other party to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any
remedies under the Loan Documents or any suit, action or proceeding relating to
this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder
or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially
the same as those of this Section 11.12,
to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or
Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement, (ii) any
actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative
transaction relating to Borrower and its obligations, (iii) any actual or
prospective investor in an SPC or (iv) any rating agency for the purpose of
obtaining a credit rating applicable to any Loan or Loan Party, (g) with the
consent of Borrower or (h) to the extent such Information (i) is publicly
available at the time of disclosure or becomes publicly available other than as
a result of a breach of this Section 11.12 or (ii)
becomes available to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender on
a nonconfidential basis from a source other than Borrower or any
Subsidiary. In addition, the Agents, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders
may disclose the existence of the Loan Documents and information about the Loan
Documents to market data collectors, similar service providers to the financing
community, and service providers to the Agents, the Issuing Bank and the
Lenders. For the purposes of this Section 11.12, “Information” shall mean all
information received from Borrower relating to Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries or its business that is clearly identified at the time of delivery
as confidential, other than any such information that is available to the
Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis
prior to disclosure by Borrower. Any person required to maintain the
confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section 11.12 shall
be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such person has
exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such
Information as such person would accord to its own confidential
information.
Section 11.13 Interest
Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the
contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan, together with
all fees, charges and other amounts which are treated as interest on such Loan
under applicable law (collectively, the “Charges”), shall exceed the
maximum lawful rate (the “Maximum Rate”) which may be
contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender holding such
Loan in accordance with applicable Legal Requirements, the rate of interest
payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all Charges payable in
respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful,
the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan
but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section 11.13 shall
be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in respect of
other Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate
therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the
Federal Funds Effective Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received
by such Lender.
Section 11.14 Assignment
and Acceptance. Each Lender to become a party to this
Agreement (other than the Administrative Agent and any other Lender that is a
signatory hereto) shall do so by delivering to the Administrative Agent an
Assignment and Acceptance duly executed by such Lender, Borrower (if Borrower
consent to such assignment is required hereunder) and the Administrative
Agent.
Section 11.15 Obligations
Absolute. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law,
all obligations of the Loan Parties hereunder shall be absolute and
unconditional irrespective of:
(a) any
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, readjustment, composition,
liquidation or the like of any Loan Party;
124
(b) any
lack of validity or enforceability of any Loan Document or any other agreement
or instrument relating thereto against any Loan Party;
(c) any
change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all
or any of the Secured Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of or any
consent to any departure from any Loan Document or any other agreement or
instrument relating thereto;
(d) any
exchange, release or non-perfection or loss of priority of any Liens on any or
all of the Collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent to
any departure from any guarantee, for all or any of the Secured
Obligations;
(e) any
exercise or non-exercise, or any waiver of any right, remedy, power or privilege
under or in respect hereof or any Loan Document; or
(f) any
other circumstances which might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or
a discharge of, the Loan Parties.
Section 11.16 Waiver of
Defenses; Absence of Fiduciary Duties. (a) Each of
the Loan Parties hereby waives any and all suretyship defenses available to it
as a Guarantor arising out of the joint and several nature of its respective
duties and obligations hereunder (including any defense contained in Article
VII).
(b) Each
of the Loan Parties agrees that in connection with all aspects of the
transactions contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents and any
communications in connection therewith, the Loan Parties and their respective
Affiliates, on the one hand, and each Lender, SPC and Agent, on the other hand,
will have a business relationship that does not create, by implication or
otherwise, any fiduciary duty on the part of any Lender, SPC or any Agent or any
of their respective Affiliates, and no such duty will be deemed to have arisen
in connection with any such transactions or communications.
Section 11.17 USA
Patriot Act. Each Lender hereby notifies each Loan Party that
pursuant to the requirements of the Patriot Act, it is required to obtain,
verify and record information that identifies the Loan Parties, which
information includes the name, address and taxpayer identification
number of each Loan Party and other information that will allow such Lender to
identify such Loan Party in accordance with the Patriot Act.
(Signature
Pages Follow)
125
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Credit Agreement to be duly
executed by their respective authorized officers or other authorized signatories
as of the day and year first above written.
EPL INTERMEDIATE, INC.,
as Holdings
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx | ||
Name:
|
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx | ||
Title:
|
Chief Financial Officer |
EL POLLO LOCO, INC., as
Borrower
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx | ||
Name:
|
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx | ||
Title:
|
Chief Financial Officer |
JEFFERIES
FINANCE LLC,
as
Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, Arranger, Book Manager and
Documentation Agent
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ X. X. Xxxx | ||
Name:
|
X. X. Xxxx | ||
Title:
|
Managing Director |
JEFFERIES
FINANCE LLC,
as
Syndication Agent
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ X. X. Xxxx | ||
Name:
|
X. X. Xxxx | ||
Title:
|
Managing Director |
126
JEFFERIES
FINANCE LLC,
as
a Lender
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ X. X. Xxxx | ||
Name:
|
X. X. Xxxx | ||
Title:
|
Managing Director |
JEFFERIES FINANCE
LLC,
as
Issuing Bank
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ X. X. Xxxx | ||
Name:
|
X. X. Xxxx | ||
Title:
|
Managing Director |
127
Annex I
Initial
Lenders and Commitments
Lender
|
Address for Notices
|
Amount of Commitment
|
||||
Jefferies
Finance LLC
|
Jefferies
Finance LLC
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Account
Officer – El Pollo Loco, Inc.
Telecopy
No.: (000) 000-0000;
|
$
|
12,500,000
|
Annex
I-1