AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT Dated as of May 3, 2006 among SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY, as the Borrower, BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent and Swing Line Lender and The Other Lenders Party Hereto BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC and...
EXHIBIT 10
Published CUSIP Number: 00000XXX0
AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
Dated as of May 3, 2006
among
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY,
as the Borrower,
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent and Swing Line Lender
as Administrative Agent and Swing Line Lender
and
The Other Lenders Party Hereto
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
and
WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC,
as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Book Managers
as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Book Managers
WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Syndication Agent
as Syndication Agent
and
BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ TRUST COMPANY,
DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.
and
SUNTRUST BANK
as Co-Documentation Agents
as Co-Documentation Agents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section | Page | |||||
|
||||||
ARTICLE I.
|
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS | 1 | ||||
1.01
|
Defined Terms. | 1 | ||||
1.02
|
Other Interpretive Provisions. | 17 | ||||
1.03
|
Accounting Terms. | 18 | ||||
1.04
|
Rounding. | 18 | ||||
1.05
|
Times of Day. | 19 | ||||
ARTICLE II.
|
THE COMMITMENTS AND BORROWINGS | 19 | ||||
2.01
|
Committed Loans. | 19 | ||||
2.02
|
Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans. | 19 | ||||
2.03
|
Bid Loans. | 21 | ||||
2.04
|
Swing Line Loans. | 24 | ||||
2.05
|
Prepayments. | 26 | ||||
2.06
|
Termination or Reduction of Commitments. | 27 | ||||
2.07
|
Repayment of Loans. | 28 | ||||
2.08
|
Interest. | 28 | ||||
2.09
|
Fees. | 29 | ||||
2.10
|
Computation of Interest and Fees. | 29 | ||||
2.11
|
Evidence of Debt. | 30 | ||||
2.12
|
Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback. | 30 | ||||
2.13
|
Sharing of Payments by Lenders. | 32 | ||||
2.14
|
Increase in Aggregate Commitments. | 33 | ||||
ARTICLE III.
|
TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY | 34 | ||||
3.01
|
Taxes. | 34 | ||||
3.02
|
Illegality. | 36 | ||||
3.03
|
Inability to Determine Rates. | 36 | ||||
3.04
|
Increased Costs; Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans. | 36 | ||||
3.05
|
Funding Losses. | 38 | ||||
3.06
|
Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders. | 38 | ||||
3.07
|
Survival. | 39 | ||||
ARTICLE IV.
|
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO BORROWINGS | 39 | ||||
4.01
|
Conditions of Initial Borrowing. | 39 | ||||
4.02
|
Conditions to all Borrowings. | 41 | ||||
ARTICLE V.
|
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES | 42 | ||||
5.01
|
Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws. | 42 | ||||
5.02
|
Authorization; No Contravention. | 42 | ||||
5.03
|
Governmental Authorization; Other Consents. | 42 | ||||
5.04
|
Binding Effect. | 42 | ||||
5.05
|
Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect; No Internal Control Event. | 43 | ||||
5.06
|
Litigation. | 43 | ||||
5.07
|
No Default. | 43 | ||||
5.08
|
Ownership of Property; Liens. | 43 | ||||
5.09
|
Environmental Compliance. | 44 | ||||
5.10
|
Insurance. | 44 | ||||
5.11
|
Taxes. | 44 |
i
5.12
|
ERISA Compliance. | 44 | ||||
5.13
|
Subsidiaries. | 45 | ||||
5.14
|
Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act; Public Utility Holding Company Act. | 45 | ||||
5.15
|
Disclosure. | 45 | ||||
5.16
|
Compliance with Laws. | 46 | ||||
5.17
|
Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc. | 46 | ||||
5.18
|
Taxpayer Identification Number. | 46 | ||||
ARTICLE VI.
|
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS | 46 | ||||
6.01
|
Financial Statements. | 46 | ||||
6.02
|
Certificates; Other Information. | 47 | ||||
6.03
|
Notices. | 49 | ||||
6.04
|
Payment of Obligations. | 50 | ||||
6.05
|
Preservation of Existence, Etc. | 50 | ||||
6.06
|
Maintenance of Properties. | 50 | ||||
6.07
|
Maintenance of Insurance. | 50 | ||||
6.08
|
Compliance with Laws. | 51 | ||||
6.09
|
Books and Records. | 51 | ||||
6.10
|
Inspection Rights. | 51 | ||||
6.11
|
Use of Proceeds. | 51 | ||||
ARTICLE VII.
|
NEGATIVE COVENANTS | 51 | ||||
7.01
|
Liens. | 51 | ||||
7.02
|
Indebtedness. | 53 | ||||
7.03
|
Fundamental Changes. | 54 | ||||
7.04
|
Dispositions. | 54 | ||||
7.05
|
Transactions with Affiliates. | 54 | ||||
7.06
|
Use of Proceeds. | 54 | ||||
7.07
|
Minimum Book Net Worth. | 55 | ||||
ARTICLE VIII.
|
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES | 55 | ||||
8.01
|
Events of Default. | 55 | ||||
8.02
|
Remedies Upon Event of Default. | 57 | ||||
8.03
|
Application of Funds. | 57 | ||||
ARTICLE IX.
|
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT | 58 | ||||
9.01
|
Appointment and Authority. | 58 | ||||
9.02
|
Rights as a Lender. | 58 | ||||
9.03
|
Exculpatory Provisions. | 59 | ||||
9.04
|
Reliance by Administrative Agent. | 60 | ||||
9.05
|
Delegation of Duties. | 60 | ||||
9.06
|
Resignation of Administrative Agent. | 60 | ||||
9.07
|
Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders. | 61 | ||||
9.08
|
No Other Duties, Etc. | 61 | ||||
9.09
|
Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim. | 61 | ||||
ARTICLE X.
|
MISCELLANEOUS | 62 | ||||
10.01
|
Amendments, Etc. | 62 | ||||
10.02
|
Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication. | 63 | ||||
10.03
|
No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. | 65 | ||||
10.04
|
Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver. | 65 | ||||
10.05
|
Payments Set Aside. | 67 |
ii
10.06
|
Successors and Assigns. | 67 | ||||
10.07
|
Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality. | 71 | ||||
10.08
|
Right of Setoff. | 72 | ||||
10.09
|
Interest Rate Limitation. | 73 | ||||
10.10
|
Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. | 73 | ||||
10.11
|
Survival of Representations and Warranties. | 73 | ||||
10.12
|
Severability. | 74 | ||||
10.13
|
Replacement of Lenders. | 74 | ||||
10.14
|
Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc. | 75 | ||||
10.15
|
Waiver of Jury Trial. | 75 | ||||
10.16
|
USA PATRIOT Act Notice. | 76 | ||||
10.17
|
No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. | 76 | ||||
SIGNATURES. | S-1 |
iii
SCHEDULES |
||||||
2.01
|
Commitments and Applicable Percentages | |||||
5.13
|
Subsidiaries | |||||
7.01
|
Existing Liens | |||||
10.02
|
Administrative Agent’s Office, Certain Addresses for Notices | |||||
10.06
|
Processing and Recordation Fees | |||||
EXHIBITS |
||||||
Form of | ||||||
A
|
Committed Loan Notice | |||||
B-1
|
Bid Request | |||||
B-2
|
Competitive Bid | |||||
C
|
Swing Line Loan Notice | |||||
D
|
Note | |||||
E
|
Compliance Certificate | |||||
F
|
Assignment and Assumption |
iv
AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
This AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is entered into as of May 3,
2006, among Sonoco Products Company, a South Carolina corporation (the “Borrower”), each
lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and individually, a
“Lender”), and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent and Swing Line Lender.
WHEREAS, the Borrower, the Lenders, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and
certain other Persons are party to a Credit Agreement dated as of July 7, 2004 (as amended prior to
the date hereof, the “Existing Credit Agreement”);
WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Lenders extend the maturity of the revolving loan
facility and make certain other changes to the terms available to the Borrower under the Existing
Credit Agreement, as more particularly described herein;
WHEREAS, the Lenders have agreed to make such changes to the existing credit facilities and to
amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;
WHEREAS, concurrently with the effectiveness of such amendment and restatement of the Existing
Credit Agreement, the Existing Credit Agreement will be amended and restated in its entirety, the
financial institutions party thereto will have no further obligations thereunder and will cease to
be parties to such agreement and the Borrower (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) will
have no further obligations thereunder, except for those obligations that by their terms survive
termination of the Existing Credit Agreement.
In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto
covenant and agree as follows:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
1.01 Defined Terms.
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
“Absolute Rate” means a fixed rate of interest expressed in multiples of
1/100th of one basis point.
“Absolute Rate Loan” means a Bid Loan that bears interest at a rate determined with
reference to an Absolute Rate.
“Administrative Agent” means Bank of America in its capacity as administrative agent
under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent.
“Administrative Agent’s Office” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as
appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02, or such other address or account as
the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Lenders.
“Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form
supplied by the Administrative Agent.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, another Person that directly, or
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common
Control with the Person specified.
“Aggregate Commitments” means the Commitments of all the Lenders, as such amount may
be reduced or increased as set forth herein. The Aggregate Commitments as of the Closing Date
shall be $350,000,000.
“Agreement” means this Credit Agreement.
“Applicable Percentage” means with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage
(carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Aggregate Commitments represented by such Lender’s
Commitment at such time. If the commitment of each Lender to make Loans has been terminated
pursuant to Section 2.06 or Section 8.02 or if the Aggregate Commitments have
expired, then the Applicable Percentage of each Lender shall be determined based on the Applicable
Percentage of such Lender most recently in effect, giving effect to any subsequent assignments.
The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on
Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a
party hereto, as applicable.
“Applicable Rate” means, from time to time, the following percentages per annum, based
upon the Debt Rating as set forth below:
Applicable Rate | ||||||||||||||
Alternate | AID | |||||||||||||
Pricing | Debt | Facility | LIBOR | Base Rate | All-In | Utilization | w/usage | |||||||
Level | Ratings | Fee | Margin | Margin | Drawn | Fee | (>50%) | |||||||
I II III IV V VI |
³A+/A1 X/X0 X-/X0 BBB+/Baa1 BBB/Baa2 £BBB-/Baa3 |
.050% ..060% ..070% ..080% ..100% ..125% |
.150% ..190% ..230% ..295% ..400% ..500% |
0 0 0 0 0 0 |
.200% ..250% ..300% ..375% ..500% ..625% |
.050% ..050% ..050% ..075% ..125% ..125% |
.250% ..300% ..350% ..450% ..625% ..750% |
|||||||
“Debt Rating” means, as of any date of determination, the rating as
determined by either S&P or Xxxxx’x (collectively, the “Debt Ratings”) of the
Borrower’s non-credit-enhanced, senior unsecured long-term debt; provided that if a
Debt Rating is issued by each of the foregoing rating agencies, then the higher of such Debt
Ratings shall apply (with the Debt Rating for Pricing Level I being the highest and the Debt
Rating for Pricing Level VI being the lowest), unless there is a split in Debt Ratings of
more than one level, in which case the Pricing Level that is one level higher than the
Pricing Level of the lower Debt Rating shall apply.
2
Initially, the Applicable Rate shall be determined based upon the Debt Rating specified in the
certificate delivered pursuant to Section 4.01(a)(vii). Thereafter, each change in the
Applicable Rate resulting from a publicly announced change in the Debt Rating shall be effective,
in the case of an upgrade, during the period commencing on the date of delivery by the Borrower to
the Administrative Agent of notice thereof pursuant to Section 6.03(d) and ending on the
date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change and, in the case of a
downgrade, during the period commencing on the date of the public announcement thereof and ending
on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change. For purposes of the
foregoing, (a) if no Debt Rating shall be available, such rating agencies shall be deemed to have
established a Debt Rating which is one rating grade higher than the subordinated debt rating grade
of the Borrower, (b) if no Debt Rating or subordinated debt rating grade shall be available, the
Applicable Rate shall be as set forth in Pricing Level VI.
“Approved Fund” means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an
Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a
Lender.
“Arrangers” means Banc of America Securities LLC and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC,
each in its capacity as joint lead arranger and joint book manager.
“Assignee Group” means two or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one
another or two or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.
“Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a
Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section
10.06(b)), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit
F or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
“Attributable Indebtedness” means, on any date, (a) in respect of any capital lease of
any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person
prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP, and (b) in respect of any Synthetic Lease
Obligation, the capitalized amount of the remaining lease payments under the relevant lease that
would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP if
such lease were accounted for as a capital lease.
“Audited Financial Statements” means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, and the related
consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such
fiscal year of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including the notes thereto.
“Availability Period” means the period from and including the Closing Date to the
earliest of (a) the Maturity Date, (b) the date of termination of the Aggregate Commitments
pursuant to Section 2.06, and (c) the date of termination of the commitment of each Lender
to make Loans pursuant to Section 8.02.
“Bank of America” means Bank of America, N.A. and its successors.
3
“Bankruptcy Code” means the Bankruptcy Code in Title 11 of the United States Code, as
amended, modified, succeeded or replaced from time to time.
“BAS” means Banc of America Securities, LLC in its capacity as joint lead arranger.
“Base Rate” means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the
higher of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1% and (b) the rate of interest in effect for such
day as publicly announced from time to time by Bank of America as its “prime rate.” The “prime
rate” is a rate set by Bank of America based upon various factors including Bank of America’s costs
and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point
for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in
such rate announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day
specified in the public announcement of such change.
“Base Rate Committed Loan” means a Committed Loan that is a Base Rate Loan.
“Base Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.
“Bid Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Bid Loans of the same
Type from each of the Lenders whose offer to make one or more Bid Loans as part of such borrowing
has been accepted under the auction bidding procedures described in Section 2.03.
“Bid Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(a).
“Bid Loan Lender” means, in respect of any Bid Loan, the Lender making such Bid Loan
to the Borrower.
“Bid Request” means a written request for one or more Bid Loans substantially in the
form of Exhibit B-1.
“Book Net Worth” means, at any time, the sum of the following for the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis: (i) common and preferred Equity Interests, (ii) capital in
excess of stated value (paid in capital) and (iii) retained earnings, as determined in accordance
with GAAP; provided, that the effect of any changes to GAAP related to Pension Plans shall
be eliminated.
“Borrower” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.
“Borrower Materials” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.
“Borrowing” means a Committed Borrowing, a Bid Borrowing or a Swing Line Borrowing, as
the context may require.
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which
commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state
where the Administrative Agent’s Office is located and, if such day relates to any Eurodollar Rate
Loan, means any such day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in
the London interbank eurodollar market.
4
“Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the
following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change
in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation or application
thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, guideline or
directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority.
“Change of Control” means, with respect to any Person, an event or series of events by
which:
(a) any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or
its subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other
fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in
Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except that a person or
group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all securities that such person or
group has the right to acquire (such right, an “option right”), whether such right
is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of
35% or more of the equity securities of such Person entitled to vote for members of the
board of directors or equivalent governing body of such Person on a fully-diluted basis (and
taking into account all such securities that such person or group has the right to acquire
pursuant to any option right); or
(b) during any period of 24 consecutive months, a majority of the members of the board
of directors or other equivalent governing body of such Person cease to be composed of
individuals (i) who were members of that board or equivalent governing body on the first day
of such period, (ii) whose election or nomination to that board or equivalent governing body
was approved by individuals referred to in clause (i) above constituting at the time of such
election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body or
(iii) whose election or nomination to that board or other equivalent governing body was
approved by individuals referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above constituting at the time
of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing
body (excluding, in the case of both clause (ii) and clause (iii), any individual whose
initial nomination for, or assumption of office as, a member of that board or equivalent
governing body occurs as a result of an actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or
consents for the election or removal of one or more directors by any person or group other
than a solicitation for the election of one or more directors by or on behalf of the board
of directors).
“Closing Date” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section
4.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 4.01 (or, in the case of
Section 4.01(b), waived by the Person entitled to receive the applicable payment).
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
“Commitment” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to (a) make Committed Loans to
the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01 and (b) purchase participations in Swing Line Loans,
in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth
5
opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption
pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted
from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.
“Committed Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Committed Loans of
the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans, having the same Interest Period
made by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01.
“Committed Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.
“Committed Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Committed Borrowing, (b) a conversion
of Committed Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Committed
Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the
form of Exhibit A.
“Competitive Bid” means a written offer by a Lender to make one or more Bid Loans,
substantially in the form of Exhibit B-2, duly completed and signed by a Lender.
“Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit
E.
“Consolidated Parties” means a collective reference to the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, and “Consolidated Party” means any one of them.
“Contractual Obligation” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued
by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party
or by which it or any of its property is bound.
“Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or
cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to
exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled”
have meanings correlative thereto.
“Debt Rating” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Applicable Rate.”
“Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other
liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium,
rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the
United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the
rights of creditors generally.
“Default” means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that,
with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.
“Default Rate” means an interest rate equal to (a) the Base Rate plus (b) the
Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (c) 2% per annum;
provided, however, that with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the Default Rate
shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise
applicable to such Loan plus 2% per annum.
6
“Defaulting Lender” means any Lender that (a) has failed to fund any portion of the
Committed Loans or participations in Swing Line Loans required to be funded by it hereunder within
one Business Day of the date required to be funded by it hereunder unless such failure has been
cured, (b) has otherwise failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any
other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within one Business Day of the date when due,
unless the subject of a good faith dispute or unless such failure has been cured, or (c) has been
deemed insolvent or become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding.
“Dollar” and “$” mean lawful money of the United States.
“Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of any
political subdivision of the United States.
“Eligible Assignee” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee
under Section 10.06(b)(iii), (v) and (vi) (subject to such consents, if
any, as may be required under Section 10.06(b)(iii)).
“Environmental Laws” means any and all Federal, state, local, and foreign statutes,
laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants,
franchises, licenses, agreements or governmental restrictions relating to pollution and the
protection of the environment or the release of any materials into the environment, including those
related to hazardous substances or wastes, air emissions and discharges to waste or public systems.
“Equity Interests” means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares of capital
stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or
other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or
other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or
exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person
or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of such shares (or
such other interests), and all of the other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including
partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not
such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are outstanding on any date of
determination.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
“ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under
common control with the Borrower within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and
Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the
Code).
“ERISA Event” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a
withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of
ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2)
of ERISA) or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e)
of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a
Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (d) the filing
of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Plan amendment
7
as a termination under Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by
the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (e) an event or condition which
constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a
trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (f) the imposition of any
liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under
Section 4007 of ERISA, upon the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate.
“Eurodollar Bid Margin” means the margin above or below the Eurodollar Rate to be
added to or subtracted from the Eurodollar Rate, which margin shall be expressed in multiples of
1/100th of one basis point.
“Eurodollar Margin Bid Loan” means a Bid Loan that bears interest at a rate based upon
the Eurodollar Rate.
“Eurodollar Rate” means, for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurodollar Rate
Loan, the rate per annum equal to the British Bankers Association LIBOR Rate (“BBA LIBOR”),
as published by Reuters (or other commercially available source providing quotations of BBA LIBOR
as designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London
time, two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, for Dollar deposits
(for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest
Period. If such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the “Eurodollar Rate” for
such Interest Period shall be the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the
rate at which deposits in Dollars for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period in same day
funds in the approximate amount of the Eurodollar Rate Loan being made, continued or converted by
Bank of America and with a term equivalent to such Interest Period would be offered by Bank of
America’s London Branch to major banks in the London interbank eurodollar market at their request
at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such
Interest Period.
“Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan” means a Committed Loan that bears interest at a rate
based on the Eurodollar Rate.
“Eurodollar Rate Loan” means a Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan or a Eurodollar Margin
Bid Loan.
“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.
“Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any
other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower
hereunder, (a) taxes imposed on or measured by its overall net income (however denominated), and
franchise taxes imposed on it (in lieu of net income taxes), by the jurisdiction (or any political
subdivision thereof) under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal
office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable Lending Office is located,
(b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States or any similar tax imposed by any other
jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located and (c) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than
an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 10.14), any withholding tax
that is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at the time such
8
Foreign Lender becomes a party hereto (or designates a new Lending Office) or is attributable
to such Foreign Lender’s failure or inability (other than as a result of a Change in Law) to comply
with Section 3.01(e), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if
any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment), to receive
additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section
3.01(a).
“Existing Credit Agreement” means that certain Credit Agreement dated as of July 7,
2004 among the Borrower, Bank of America, as administrative agent, and a syndicate of lenders.
“Federal Funds Rate”means, for any day, the rate per annum (rounded
upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) equal to the weighted average of the
rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged
by Federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank on the Business Day
next succeeding such day; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal
Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day
as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is so published on
such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate
(rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) charged to Bank of America on
such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent.
“Fee Letter” means the letter agreement, dated March 23, 2006, among the Borrower, the
Administrative Agent and BAS.
“Foreign Lender” means any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction
other than that in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes. For purposes of this
definition, the United States, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to
constitute a single jurisdiction.
“FRB” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.
“Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in
making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of
credit in the ordinary course of its business.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth
in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting
Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the
accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date
of determination, consistently applied.
“Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States or any other
nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority,
instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive,
legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to
government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central
Bank).
9
“Granting Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(h).
“Guarantee” means, as to any Person, any (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise,
of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other
obligation payable or performable by another Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether
directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to
purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or
other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of
assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or
performance of such Indebtedness or other obligation, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity
capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of
the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other
obligation, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in
respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to
protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any
assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person, whether or
not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or
otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness to obtain any such Lien). The amount of any
Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related
primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not
stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as
determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith. The term “Guarantee” as a verb has a
corresponding meaning.
“Indebtedness” means, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all
of the following, whether or not included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance with GAAP:
(a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money and all obligations of such
Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments;
(b) all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising under letters of credit
(including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and
similar instruments;
(c) net obligations of such Person under any Swap Contract;
(d) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or
services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business);
(e) indebtedness (excluding prepaid interest thereon) secured by a Lien on property
owned or being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness arising under conditional
sales or other title retention agreements), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been
assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse;
(f) capital leases and Synthetic Lease Obligations; and
10
(g) all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing.
For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any
partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited
liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, unless such
Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person. The amount of any net obligation under
any Swap Contract on any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value thereof as of such
date. The amount of any capital lease or Synthetic Lease Obligation as of any date shall be deemed
to be the amount of Attributable Indebtedness in respect thereof as of such date.
“Indemnified Taxes” means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.
“Indemnitees” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.05.
“Information” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07.
“Interest Payment Date” means, (a) as to any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan, the
last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date; provided,
however, that if any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate Loan exceeds three months, the
respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall
also be Interest Payment Dates; and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan (including a Swing Line Loan), the
last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date.
“Interest Period” means (a) as to each Eurodollar Rate Loan, the period commencing on
the date such Eurodollar Rate Loan is disbursed or (in the case of any Eurodollar Rate Committed
Loan) converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Rate Loan and ending on the date one, two, three or
six months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Committed Loan Notice or Bid Request, as
the case may be, and (b) as to each Absolute Rate Loan, a period of not less than 7 days and not
more than 180 days as selected by the Borrower in its Bid Request; provided that:
(i) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day
shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless, in the case of a Eurodollar
Rate Loan, such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest
Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;
(ii) any Interest Period pertaining to a Eurodollar Rate Loan that begins on the last
Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically
corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the
last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and
(iii) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date.
“Internal Control Event” means a material weakness in, or fraud that involves
management or other employees who have a significant role in, the Borrower’s internal controls over
financial reporting, in each case as described in the Securities Laws that has resulted in or could
reasonably be expected to result in a misstatement in any material respect, in any financial
information delivered or to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, of (i)
11
covenant compliance calculations provided hereunder or (ii) the assets, liabilities, financial
condition or results of operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis
that has not been (x) disclosed to the Administrative Agent, who in turn discloses such material
weaknesses to the Lenders, and (y) remedied or otherwise diligently addressed (or is in the process
of being diligently addressed) by the Borrower in accordance with recommendations made by the
Borrower’s auditors in consultation with the Borrower.
“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.
“Laws” means, collectively, all international, foreign, Federal, state and local
statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or
judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any
Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and
all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and
permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case whether or not having the
force of law.
“Lender” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto and, as the
context requires, includes the Swing Line Lender.
“Lending Office” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender
described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as
a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement,
encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge, or preference, priority or other security interest
or preferential arrangement in the nature of a security interest of any kind or nature whatsoever
(including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any easement, right of way or
other encumbrance on title to real property, and any financing lease having substantially the same
economic effect as any of the foregoing).
“Loan” means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrower under Article
II in the form of a Committed Loan, a Bid Loan or a Swing Line Loan.
“Loan Documents” means this Agreement, each Note and the Fee Letter.
“Material Adverse Effect” means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material
adverse effect upon, the operations, business, properties, liabilities (actual or contingent),
condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Borrower or the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of the Borrower to perform
its obligations under any Loan Document to which it is a party; or (c) a material adverse effect
upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against the Borrower of any Loan
Document to which it is a party.
“Maturity Date” means May 3, 2011.
“Moody’s” means Xxxxx’x Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.
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“Multiemployer Plan” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section
4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make
contributions, or during the preceding five plan years, has made or been obligated to make
contributions.
“Note” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of a Lender evidencing
Loans made by such Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit D.
“Obligations” means all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants
and duties of, the Borrower arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan,
whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or
to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after
the commencement by or against the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof of any proceeding under any
Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such
interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding.
“Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities” means, with respect to any Person as of any date of
determination thereof, without duplication and to the extent not included as a liability on the
consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP: (a) with
respect to any asset securitization transaction (including any accounts receivable purchase
facility) (i) the unrecovered investment of purchasers or transferees of assets so transferred and
(ii) any other payment, recourse, repurchase, hold harmless, indemnity or similar obligation of
such Person or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of assets transferred or payments made in respect
thereof, other than limited recourse provisions that are customary for transactions of such type
and that neither (x) have the effect of limiting the loss or credit risk of such purchasers or
transferees with respect to payment or performance by the obligors of the assets so transferred nor
(y) impair the characterization of the transaction as a true sale under applicable Laws (including
Debtor Relief Laws); (b) the monetary obligations under any financing lease or so-called
“synthetic,” tax retention or off-balance sheet lease transaction which, upon the application of
any Debtor Relief Law to such Person or any of its Subsidiaries, would be characterized as
indebtedness; (c) the monetary obligations under any sale and leaseback transaction which does not
create a liability on the consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Subsidiaries; and (d)
any other monetary obligation arising with respect to any other transaction which (i) upon the
application of any Debtor Relief Law to such Person or any of its Subsidiaries, would be
characterized as indebtedness for tax purposes but not for accounting purposes in accordance with
GAAP or (ii) is the functional equivalent of or takes the place of borrowing but which does not
constitute a liability on the consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Subsidiaries (for
purposes of this clause (d), any transaction structured to provide tax deductibility as interest
expense of any dividend, coupon or other periodic payment will be deemed to be the functional
equivalent of a borrowing).
“Organization Documents” means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate
or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents
with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the
certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect
to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint
venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement,
13
instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or
organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or
organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such
entity.
“Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other
excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or
under any other Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with
respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
“Outstanding Amount” means with respect to Committed Loans, Bid Loans, and Swing Line
Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any
borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Committed Loans, Bid Loans, and Swing Line Loans, as
the case may be, occurring on such date.
“Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(d).
“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
“PCAOB” means the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.
“Pension Plan” means any “employee pension benefit plan” (as such term is defined in
Section 3(2) of ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA and
is sponsored or maintained by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or to which the Borrower or any
ERISA Affiliate contributes or has an obligation to contribute, or in the case of a multiple
employer or other plan described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA, has made contributions at any time
during the immediately preceding five plan years.
“Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust,
joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.
“Plan” means any “employee benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of
ERISA) established by the Borrower or, with respect to any such plan that is subject to Section 412
of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, any ERISA Affiliate.
“Platform” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.
“Related Parties” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the
partners, directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and of such Person’s
Affiliates.
“Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.07(c).
“Registered Public Accounting Firm” has the meaning specified by the Securities Laws
and shall be independent of the Borrower as prescribed by the Securities Laws.
“Reportable Event” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA,
other than events for which the 30 day notice period has been waived.
14
“Request for Borrowing” means (a) with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or
continuation of Committed Loans, a Committed Loan Notice, (b) with respect to a Bid Loan, a Bid
Request, and (c) with respect to a Swing Line Loan, a Swing Line Loan Notice.
“Required Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having more than
50% of the Aggregate Commitments or, if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans has been
terminated pursuant to Section 8.02, Lenders holding in the aggregate more than 50% of the
Total Outstandings, excluding Bid Loans (with the aggregate amount of each Lender’s risk
participation and funded participation in Swing Line Loans being deemed “held” by such Lender for
purposes of this definition); provided that the Commitment of, and the portion of the Total
Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making
a determination of Required Lenders.
“Responsible Officer” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial
officer, treasurer or assistant treasurer of the Borrower. Any document delivered hereunder that
is signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower shall be conclusively presumed to have been
authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of the Borrower
and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of the
Borrower.
“Restricted Payment” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash,
securities or other property) with respect to any capital stock or other Equity Interest of the
Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property),
including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement,
acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such capital stock or other Equity Interest, or on
account of any return of capital to the Borrower’s stockholders, partners or members (or the
equivalent Person thereof).
“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The XxXxxx-Xxxx
Companies, Inc. and any successor thereto.
“Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx” means the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority
succeeding to any of its principal functions.
“Securities Laws” means the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx and the applicable accounting and auditing principles, rules, standards and
practices promulgated, approved or incorporated by the SEC or the PCOAB.
“SPC” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07(h).
“Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited
liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of securities or other
interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other
than securities or interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency)
are at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly,
or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise
15
specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a
Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.
“Swap Contract” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit
derivative transactions, forward interest or exchange 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, cap transactions, floor
transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap
transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any
combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing),
whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any
and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and
conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps
and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any
other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a
“Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master
Agreement.
“Swap Termination Value” means, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts, after
taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap
Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts have been closed out and
termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any
date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the xxxx-to-market
value(s) (i.e. the current fair market value) for such Swap Contracts, as determined based upon one
or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such
Swap Contracts (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).
“Swing Line” means the revolving credit facility made available by the Swing Line
Lender pursuant to Section 2.04.
“Swing Line Borrowing” means a borrowing of a Swing Line Loan pursuant to Section
2.04.
“Swing Line Lender” means Bank of America in its capacity as provider of Swing Line
Loans, or any successor swing line lender hereunder.
“Swing Line Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(a).
“Swing Line Loan Notice” means a notice of a Swing Line Borrowing pursuant to
Section 2.04(b), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit
C.
“Swing Line Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $15,000,000 and (b)
the Aggregate Commitments. The Swing Line Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the
Aggregate Commitments.
“Synthetic Lease Obligation” means the monetary obligation of a Person under (a) a
so-called synthetic, off-balance sheet or tax retention lease, or (b) an agreement for the use or
16
possession of property creating obligations that do not appear on the balance sheet of such
Person but which, upon the insolvency or bankruptcy of such Person, would be characterized as the
indebtedness of such Person (without regard to accounting treatment).
“Taxes” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions,
withholdings, assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including
any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
“Threshold Amount” means $50,000,000.
“Total Assets” means at any time, all items which would, in accordance with GAAP, be
classified as assets (other than intangible assets) on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries.
“Total Outstandings” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans.
“Type” means (a) with respect to a Committed Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan
or a Eurodollar Rate Loan, and (b) with respect to a Bid Loan, its character as an Absolute Rate
Loan or a Eurodollar Margin Bid Loan.
“Unfunded Pension Liability” means the excess of the present value of all vested and
non-vested benefit liabilities of a Pension Plan (determined in accordance with then current
funding assumptions) over the market value of that Pension Plan’s assets.
“United States” and “U.S.” mean the United States of America.
1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions.
With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified
herein or in such other Loan Document:
(a) The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of
the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding
masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,” “includes” and
“including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” The word
“will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.”
Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement,
instrument or other document (including any Organization Document) shall be construed as referring
to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or
otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications
set forth herein or in any other Loan Document), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be
construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (iii) the words “herein,”
“hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import when used in any Loan
Document, shall be construed to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not to any
particular provision thereof, (iv) all references in a Loan Document to Articles, Sections,
Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and
Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall
include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending replacing or
17
interpreting such law and any reference to any law or regulation shall, unless otherwise
specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time,
and (vi) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same
meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties,
including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.
(b) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the
word “from” means “from and including;” the words “to” and “until”
each mean “to but excluding;” and the word “through” means “to and
including.”
(c) Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of
reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan
Document.
1.03 Accounting Terms.
(a) Generally. All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein
shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other
financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in
conformity with, GAAP applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time, applied in a
manner consistent with that used in preparing the Audited Financial Statements, except as
otherwise specifically prescribed herein.
(b) Changes in GAAP. If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation
of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Borrower or
the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall
negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof
in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided
that, until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in
accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this
Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations
of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP;
provided, further, that, for purposes of Section 7.07, the effect of any changes to
GAAP related to pension plans shall be eliminated without the need for an amendment as referenced
above, and such calculations shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such
change therein.
1.04 Rounding.
Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement
shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the
result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and
rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest
number).
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1.05 Times of Day.
Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to
Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).
ARTICLE II.
THE COMMITMENTS AND BORROWINGS
THE COMMITMENTS AND BORROWINGS
2.01 Committed Loans.
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make
loans (each such loan, a “Committed Loan”) to the Borrower from time to time, on any
Business Day during the Availability Period, in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time
outstanding the amount of such Lender’s Commitment; provided, however, that after
giving effect to any Committed Borrowing, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate
Commitments, and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Committed Loans of any Lender
plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans
shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment. Within the limits of each Lender’s Commitment, and
subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section
2.01, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.01.
Committed Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein.
2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Committed Loans.
(a) Each Committed Borrowing, each conversion of Committed Loans from one Type to the other,
and each continuation of Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s
irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone (provided that such
telephonic notice complies with the information requirements of the form of Committed Loan Notice
attached hereto as Exhibit A). Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not
later than 1:00 p.m. (i) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of,
conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans or of any conversion of Eurodollar
Rate Committed Loans to Base Rate Committed Loans, and (ii) on the requested date of any Borrowing
of Base Rate Committed Loans. Not later than 11:00 a.m., three Business Days before the requested
date of such Borrowing, conversion or continuation, the Administrative Agent shall notify the
Borrower (which notice may be by telephone) whether or not the requested Interest Period has been
consented to by all the Lenders. Each telephonic notice by the Borrower pursuant to this
Section 2.02(b) must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a
written Committed Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the
Borrower. Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans
shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof.
Except as provided in Section 2.04(c), each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate
Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in
excess thereof. Each Committed Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i)
whether the Borrower is requesting a Committed Borrowing, a conversion of Committed Loans from one
Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans, (ii) the requested date of
the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business
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Day), (iii) the principal amount of Committed Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued,
(iv) the Type of Committed Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Committed Loans are to be
converted, and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto. If the
Borrower fails to specify a Type of Committed Loan in a Committed Loan Notice or if the Borrower
fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable
Committed Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans. Any such automatic conversion
to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with
respect to the applicable Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans. If the Borrower requests a Borrowing
of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans in any such Committed Loan
Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest
Period of one month. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all Borrowings made on the Closing Date shall
be made as Base Rate Loans unless the Administrative Agent shall have received an appropriate
funding indemnity letter executed by the Borrower and reasonably acceptable to the Administrative
Agent at least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date.
(b) Following receipt of a Committed Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly
notify each Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Committed Loans,
and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the
Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base
Rate Loans described in the preceding subsection. In the case of a Committed Borrowing, each
Lender shall make the amount of its Committed Loan available to the Administrative Agent in
immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 3:00 p.m. on the
Business Day specified in the applicable Committed Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the
applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (and, if such Borrowing is the initial
Borrowing, Section 4.01), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received
available to the Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i)
crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of Bank of America with the amount of such funds
or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and
reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Borrower; provided,
however, that if, on the date the Committed Loan Notice with respect to such Borrowing is
given by the Borrower, there are Swing Line Loans outstanding, then the proceeds of such Borrowing,
first, shall be applied, to the payment in full of any such Swing Line Loans, and second,
shall be made available to the Borrower as provided above.
(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan may be continued or
converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan.
During the existence of a Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as
Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans without the consent of the Required Lenders.
(d) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the
interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans upon
determination of such interest rate. At any time that Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the
Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of any change in Bank of America’s
prime rate used in determining the Base Rate promptly following the public announcement of such
change.
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(e) After giving effect to all Committed Borrowings, all conversions of Committed Loans from
one Type to the other, and all continuations of Committed Loans as the same Type, there shall not
be more than ten Interest Periods in effect with respect to Committed Loans.
2.03 Bid Loans.
(a) General. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender agrees
that the Borrower may from time to time request the Lenders to submit offers to make loans (each
such loan, a “Bid Loan”) to the Borrower prior to the Maturity Date pursuant to this
Section 2.03; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Bid
Borrowing, the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments. There shall not be
more than three different Interest Periods in effect with respect to Bid Loans at any time.
(b) Requesting Competitive Bids. The Borrower may request the submission of
Competitive Bids by delivering a Bid Request to the Administrative Agent not later than 2:00 p.m.
(i) one Business Day prior to the requested date of any Bid Borrowing that is to consist of
Absolute Rate Loans, or (ii) four Business Days prior to the requested date of any Bid Borrowing
that is to consist of Eurodollar Margin Bid Loans. Each Bid Request shall (x) specify (i) the
requested date of the Bid Borrowing (which shall be a Business Day), (ii) the aggregate principal
amount of Bid Loans requested (which must be $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $2,000,000 in excess
thereof), (iii) the Type of Bid Loans requested, and (iv) the duration of the Interest Period with
respect thereto, and shall be signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower and (y) be
accompanied by the Bid Request fee specified in Section 2.03(k). No Bid Request shall
contain a request for (i) more than one Type of Bid Loan or (ii) Bid Loans having more than three
different Interest Periods. Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise agrees in its sole and
absolute discretion, the Borrower may not submit a Bid Request if it has submitted another Bid
Request within the prior five Business Days.
(c) Submitting Competitive Bids.
(i) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of each Bid Request
received by it from the Borrower and the contents of such Bid Request.
(ii) Each Lender may (but shall have no obligation to) submit a Competitive Bid
containing an offer to make one or more Bid Loans in response to such Bid Request. Such
Competitive Bid must be delivered to the Administrative Agent not later than 10:30 a.m. (A)
on the requested date of any Bid Borrowing that is to consist of Absolute Rate Loans, and
(B) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Bid Borrowing that is to consist
of Eurodollar Margin Bid Loans; provided, however, that any Competitive Bid
submitted by Bank of America in its capacity as a Lender in response to any Bid Request must
be submitted to the Administrative Agent not later than 10:15 a.m. on the date on which
Competitive Bids are required to be delivered by the other Lenders in response to such Bid
Request. Each Competitive Bid shall specify (A) the proposed date of the Bid Borrowing; (B)
the principal amount of each Bid Loan for which such Competitive Bid is being made, which
principal amount (x) may be equal to, greater than or less than the Commitment of the
bidding Lender, (y) must be $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $2,000,000 in excess thereof,
and (z) may not exceed the principal amount of
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Bid Loans for which Competitive Bids were requested; (C) if the proposed Bid Borrowing
is to consist of Absolute Rate Bid Loans, the Absolute Rate offered for each such Bid Loan
and the Interest Period applicable thereto; (D) if the proposed Bid Borrowing is to consist
of Eurodollar Margin Bid Loans, the Eurodollar Bid Margin with respect to each such
Eurodollar Margin Bid Loan and the Interest Period applicable thereto; and (E) the identity
of the bidding Lender.
(iii) Any Competitive Bid shall be disregarded if it (A) is received after the
applicable time specified in clause (ii) above, (B) is not substantially in the form of a
Competitive Bid as specified herein, (C) contains qualifying, conditional or similar
language, (D) proposes terms other than or in addition to those set forth in the applicable
Bid Request, or (E) is otherwise not responsive to such Bid Request. Any Lender may correct
a Competitive Bid containing a manifest error by submitting a corrected Competitive Bid
(identified as such) not later than the applicable time required for submission of
Competitive Bids. Any such submission of a corrected Competitive Bid shall constitute a
revocation of the Competitive Bid that contained the manifest error. The Administrative
Agent may, but shall not be required to, notify any Lender of any manifest error it detects
in such Lender’s Competitive Bid.
(iv) Subject only to the provisions of Sections 3.02, 3.03 and
4.02 and clause (iii) above, each Competitive Bid shall be irrevocable.
(d) Notice to Borrower of Competitive Bids. Not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) on the
requested date of any Bid Borrowing that is to consist of Absolute Rate Loans, or (ii) three
Business Days prior to the requested date of any Bid Borrowing that is to consist of Eurodollar
Margin Bid Loans, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower of the identity of each Lender
that has submitted a Competitive Bid that complies with Section 2.03(c) and of the terms of
the offers contained in each such Competitive Bid.
(e) Acceptance of Competitive Bids. Not later than 11:30 a.m. (i) on the requested
date of any Bid Borrowing that is to consist of Absolute Rate Loans, and (ii) three Business Days
prior to the requested date of any Bid Borrowing that is to consist of Eurodollar Margin Bid Loans,
the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of its acceptance or rejection of the offers
notified to it pursuant to Section 2.03(d). The Borrower shall be under no obligation to
accept any Competitive Bid and may choose to reject all Competitive Bids. In the case of
acceptance, such notice shall specify the aggregate principal amount of Competitive Bids for each
Interest Period that is accepted. The Borrower may accept any Competitive Bid in whole or in part;
provided that:
(i) the aggregate principal amount of each Bid Borrowing may not exceed the applicable
amount set forth in the related Bid Request;
(ii) the principal amount of each Bid Loan must be $5,000,000 or in integral multiples
of $2,000,000 in excess thereof;
(iii) the acceptance of offers may be made only on the basis of ascending Absolute
Rates or Eurodollar Bid Margins within each Interest Period; and
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(iv) the Borrower may not accept any offer that is described in Section
2.03(c)(iii) or that otherwise fails to comply with the requirements hereof.
(f) Procedure for Identical Bids. If two or more Lenders have submitted Competitive
Bids at the same Absolute Rate or Eurodollar Bid Margin, as the case may be, for the same Interest
Period, and the result of accepting all of such Competitive Bids in whole (together with any other
Competitive Bids at lower Absolute Rates or Eurodollar Bid Margins, as the case may be, accepted
for such Interest Period in conformity with the requirements of Section 2.03(e)(iii)) would
be to cause the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the applicable Bid Borrowing to exceed
the amount specified therefor in the related Bid Request, then, unless otherwise agreed by the
Borrower, the Administrative Agent and such Lenders, such Competitive Bids shall be accepted as
nearly as possible in proportion to the amount offered by each such Lender in respect of such
Interest Period, with such accepted amounts being rounded to the nearest whole multiple of
$1,000,000.
(g) Notice to Lenders of Acceptance or Rejection of Bids. The Administrative Agent
shall promptly notify each Lender having submitted a Competitive Bid whether or not its offer has
been accepted and, if its offer has been accepted, of the amount of the Bid Loan or Bid Loans to be
made by it on the date of the applicable Bid Borrowing. Any Competitive Bid or portion thereof
that is not accepted by the Borrower by the applicable time specified in Section 2.03(e)
shall be deemed rejected.
(h) Notice of Eurodollar Rate. If any Bid Borrowing is to consist of Eurodollar
Margin Loans, the Administrative Agent shall determine the Eurodollar Rate for the relevant
Interest Period, and promptly after making such determination, shall notify the Borrower and the
Lenders that will be participating in such Bid Borrowing of such Eurodollar Rate.
(i) Funding of Bid Loans. Each Lender that has received notice pursuant to
Section 2.03(g) that all or a portion of its Competitive Bid has been accepted by the
Borrower shall make the amount of its Bid Loan(s) available to the Administrative Agent in
immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the
date of the requested Bid Borrowing. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in
Section 4.02, the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the
Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent.
(j) Notice of Range of Bids. After each Competitive Bid auction pursuant to this
Section 2.03, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender that submitted a
Competitive Bid in such auction of the ranges of bids submitted (without the bidder’s name) and
accepted for each Bid Loan and the aggregate amount of each Bid Borrowing.
(k) Bid Request Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for each Bid
Request an administration fee in the amount set forth in the Fee Letter concurrently with delivery
of any Bid Request (whether or not any Competitive Bid is offered by a Lender or accepted by the
Borrower and whether or not any Bid Loan is extended by any Lender in connection with such Bid
Request).
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2.04 Swing Line Loans.
(a) The Swing Line. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swing
Line Lender agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Lenders set forth in this
Section 2.04, to make loans (each such loan, a “Swing Line Loan”) to the
Borrower from time to time on any Business Day during the Availability Period in an aggregate
amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of the Swing Line Sublimit, notwithstanding
the fact that such Swing Line Loans, when aggregated with the Applicable Percentage of the
Outstanding Amount of Committed Loans of the Lender acting as Swing Line Lender, may exceed the
amount of such Lender’s Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to
any Swing Line Loan, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and
(ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Committed Loans of any Lender plus such
Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed
such Lender’s Commitment, and provided, further, that the Borrower shall not use
the proceeds of any Swing Line Loan to refinance any outstanding Swing Line Loan. Within the
foregoing limits, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow
under this Section 2.04, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this
Section 2.04. Each Swing Line Loan shall be a Base Rate Loan. Immediately upon the making
of a Swing Line Loan, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally
agrees to, purchase from the Swing Line Lender a risk participation in such Swing Line Loan in an
amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage times the amount of such
Swing Line Loan.
(b) Borrowing Procedures. Each Swing Line Borrowing shall be made upon the Borrower’s
irrevocable notice to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent, which may be given by
telephone (provided that such telephonic notice complies with the informational requirements of the
form of Swing Line Loan Notice attached hereto as Exhibit C). Each such notice must be received by
the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 2:00 p.m. on the requested
borrowing date, and shall specify (i) the amount to be borrowed, which shall be a minimum of
$500,000, and (ii) the requested borrowing date, which shall be a Business Day. Each such
telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Swing Line Lender and the
Administrative Agent of a written Swing Line Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a
Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Promptly after receipt by the Swing Line Lender of any
telephonic Swing Line Loan Notice, the Swing Line Lender will confirm with the Administrative Agent
(by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has also received such Swing Line Loan
Notice and, if not, the Swing Line Lender will notify the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in
writing) of the contents thereof. Unless the Swing Line Lender has received notice (by telephone
or in writing) from the Administrative Agent (including at the request of any Lender) prior to 5:00
p.m. on the date of the proposed Swing Line Borrowing (A) directing the Swing Line Lender not to
make such Swing Line Loan as a result of the limitations set forth in the proviso to the first
sentence of Section 2.04(a), or (B) that one or more of the applicable conditions specified
in Article IV is not then satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the
Swing Line Lender will, not later than 6:00 p.m. on the borrowing date specified in such Swing Line
Loan Notice, make the amount of its Swing Line Loan available to the Borrower at its office by
crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of the Swing Line Lender in immediately
available funds.
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(c) Refinancing of Swing Line Loans.
(i) The Swing Line Lender at any time in its sole and absolute discretion may request,
on behalf of the Borrower (which hereby irrevocably authorizes the Swing Line Lender to so
request on its behalf), that each Lender make a Base Rate Committed Loan in an amount equal
to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the amount of Swing Line Loans then outstanding.
Such request shall be made in writing (which written request shall be deemed to be a
Committed Loan Notice for purposes hereof) and in accordance with the requirements of
Section 2.02, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified therein for the
principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the unutilized portion of the Aggregate
Commitments and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02. The Swing Line Lender
shall furnish the Borrower with a copy of the applicable Committed Loan Notice promptly
after delivering such notice to the Administrative Agent. Each Lender shall make an amount
equal to its Applicable Percentage of the amount specified in such Committed Loan Notice
available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds for the account of the
Swing Line Lender at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the day
specified in such Committed Loan Notice, whereupon, subject to Section 2.04(c)(ii),
each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Committed
Loan to the Borrower in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so
received to the Swing Line Lender.
(ii) If for any reason any Swing Line Loan cannot be refinanced by such a Committed
Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.04(c)(i), the request for Base Rate Committed
Loans submitted by the Swing Line Lender as set forth herein shall be deemed to be a request
by the Swing Line Lender that each of the Lenders fund its risk participation in the
relevant Swing Line Loan and each Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the
account of the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(c)(i) shall be deemed
payment in respect of such participation.
(iii) If any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account
of the Swing Line Lender any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the
foregoing provisions of this Section 2.04(c) by the time specified in Section
2.04(c)(i), the Swing Line Lender shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting
through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the
period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is
immediately available to the Swing Line Lender at a rate per annum equal to the greater of
the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Swing Line Lender in accordance with
banking rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees
customarily charged by the Swing Line Lender in connection with the foregoing. If such
Lender pays such amount (with interest and fees as aforesaid), the amount so paid shall
constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan included in the relevant Committed Borrowing or
funded participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan, as the case may be. A certificate of
the Swing Line Lender submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with
respect to any amounts owing under this clause (iii) shall be conclusive absent manifest
error.
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(iv) Each Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans or to purchase and fund risk
participations in Swing Line Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) shall be
absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any
set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against
the Swing Line Lender, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the
occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition,
whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided, however, that each
Lender’s obligation to make Committed Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) is
subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02. No such funding of risk
participations shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to repay
Swing Line Loans, together with interest as provided herein.
(d) Repayment of Participations.
(i) At any time after any Lender has purchased and funded a risk participation in a
Swing Line Loan, if the Swing Line Lender receives any payment on account of such Swing Line
Loan, the Swing Line Lender will distribute to such Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof
in the same funds as those received by the Swing Line Lender.
(ii) If any payment received by the Swing Line Lender in respect of principal or
interest on any Swing Line Loan is required to be returned by the Swing Line Lender under
any of the circumstances described in Section 10.06 (including pursuant to any
settlement entered into by the Swing Line Lender in its discretion), each Lender shall pay
to the Swing Line Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative
Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is
returned, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate. The Administrative Agent
will make such demand upon the request of the Swing Line Lender. The obligations of the
Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the
termination of this Agreement.
(e) Interest for Account of Swing Line Lender. The Swing Line Lender shall be
responsible for invoicing the Borrower for interest on the Swing Line Loans. Until each Lender
funds its Base Rate Committed Loan or risk participation pursuant to this Section 2.04 to
refinance such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of any Swing Line Loan, interest in respect of such
Applicable Percentage shall be solely for the account of the Swing Line Lender.
(f) Payments Directly to Swing Line Lender. The Borrower shall make all payments of
principal and interest in respect of the Swing Line Loans directly to the Swing Line Lender.
2.05 Prepayments.
(a) The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to
time voluntarily prepay Committed Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty;
provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than
1:00 p.m. (A) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Committed
Loans and (B) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Committed Loans; (ii) any prepayment of
Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or
26
a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof; and (iii) any prepayment of Base Rate
Committed Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in
excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding.
Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Committed
Loans to be prepaid and if Eurodollar Rate Loans are to be prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such
Loans. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such
notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such prepayment. If such
notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount
specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein. Any prepayment of
a Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together
with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. Each such prepayment shall
be applied to the Committed Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable
Percentages.
(b) No Bid Loan may be prepaid without the prior consent of the applicable Bid Loan Lender.
(c) The Borrower may, upon notice to the Swing Line Lender (with a copy to the Administrative
Agent), at any time or from time to time, voluntarily prepay Swing Line Loans in whole or in part
without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Swing
Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on the date of the prepayment,
and (ii) any such prepayment shall be in a minimum principal amount of $500,000. Each such notice
shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrower, the
Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due
and payable on the date specified therein.
(d) If for any reason the Total Outstandings at any time exceed the Aggregate Commitments then
in effect, the Borrower shall immediately prepay Loans in an aggregate amount equal to such excess.
2.06 Termination or Reduction of Commitments.
The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the Aggregate
Commitments, or from time to time permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitments; provided
that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m.
five Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction, (ii) any such partial reduction
shall be in an aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess
thereof, (iii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Aggregate Commitments if, after
giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Total Outstandings would
exceed the Aggregate Commitments and (iv) if, after giving effect to any reduction of the Aggregate
Commitments, the Swing Line Sublimit exceeds the amount of the Aggregate Commitments, such Sublimit
shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess. The Administrative Agent will
promptly notify the Lenders of any such notice of termination or reduction of the Aggregate
Commitments. Any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments shall be applied to the Commitment of each
Lender according to its Applicable Percentage. All fees accrued until the effective date of any
termination of the Aggregate Commitments shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.
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2.07 Repayment of Loans.
(a) The Borrower shall repay to the Lenders on the Maturity Date the aggregate principal
amount of Committed Loans outstanding on such date.
(b) The Borrower shall repay each Bid Loan on the earlier to occur of (i) the maturity date
agreed to by the Bid Loan Lender (which maturity date shall not be (A) less than 7 days from
advance thereof or (B) more than 180 days from advance thereof) and (ii) the last day of the
Interest Period in respect thereof.
(c) The Borrower shall repay each Swing Line Loan on the earlier to occur of (i) the maturity
date agreed to by the Swing Line Lender and the Borrower with respect to such Loan (which maturity
date shall not be a date more than thirteen (13) days from the date of advance thereof) and (ii)
the Maturity Date.
2.08 Interest.
(a) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) below, (i) each Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan
shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate
per annum equal to the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate;
(ii) each Base Rate Committed Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof
from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the
Applicable Rate; (iii) each Bid Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount
thereof for the Interest Period therefor at a rate per annum equal to the Eurodollar Rate for such
Interest Period plus (or minus) the Eurodollar Bid Margin, or at the Absolute Rate for such
Interest Period, as the case may be; and (iv) each Swing Line Loan shall bear interest on the
outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal
to (x) the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate or (y) a quoted rate mutually agreeable to
the Swing Line Lender and the Borrower.
(b) If any amount payable by the Borrower under any Loan Document is not paid when due
(without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or
otherwise, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at
all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
Furthermore, upon the request of the Required Lenders, while any Event of Default exists, the
Borrower shall pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding Obligations hereunder at a
fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable Laws. Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest
on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.
(c) Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date
applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein. Interest hereunder shall be
due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after
the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.
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2.09 Fees.
(a) Facility Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account
of each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, a facility fee equal to the Applicable
Rate times the actual daily amount of the Aggregate Commitments (or, if the Aggregate
Commitments have terminated, on the Outstanding Amount of all Committed Loans and Swing Line
Loans), regardless of usage. The facility fee shall accrue at all times during the Availability
Period (and thereafter so long as any Committed Loans or Swing Line Loans remain outstanding),
including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met,
and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June,
September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and on
the last day of the Availability Period (and, if applicable, thereafter on demand). The facility
fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and if there is any change in the Applicable Rate
during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate
separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect.
(b) Utilization Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the
account of each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, a utilization fee equal to the
Applicable Rate times the Total Outstandings on each day that the Total Outstandings exceed
50% of the actual daily amount of the Aggregate Commitments (and, if applicable, on each day after
termination of the Aggregate Commitments). The utilization fee shall be due and payable quarterly
in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with
the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and on the last day of the Availability Period
(and, if applicable, thereafter on demand). The utilization fee shall be calculated quarterly in
arrears, and if there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the daily amount
shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate for each period during which such
Applicable Rate was in effect. The utilization fee shall accrue at all times, including at any
time during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met.
(c) Other Fees. The Borrower shall pay to BAS and the Administrative Agent for their
own respective accounts fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Fee Letter. Such
fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever. The
Borrower’s obligation to pay to the Administrative Agent the administrative agency fee pursuant to
the Fee Letter shall terminate at such time as the Aggregate Commitments have been terminated and
the aggregate amount of outstanding Loans, including principal, interest, fees and expenses, has
been repaid in full.
2.10 Computation of Interest and Fees.
All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans when the Base Rate is determined by Bank of
America’s “prime rate” shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be,
and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of
a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable,
being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year). Interest shall accrue on each Loan
for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for
the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid, provided that any Loan that is
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repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.12(a), bear
interest for one day. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee
hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
2.11 Evidence of Debt.
(a) The Borrowings made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records
maintained by such Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course of business. The
accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be conclusive
absent manifest error of the amount of the Borrowings made by the Lenders to the Borrower and the
interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not,
however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing
with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records
maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of
such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of
manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower
shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note, which shall
evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach
schedules to its Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount and maturity of
its Loans and payments with respect thereto.
(b) In addition to the accounts and records referred to in subsection (a), each Lender and the
Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records
evidencing the purchases and sales by such Lender of participations in Swing Line Loans. In the
event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by the Administrative Agent and
the accounts and records of any Lender in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the
Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.
2.12 Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback.
(a) All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition or deduction for
any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all
payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of
the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in
Dollars and in immediately available funds not later than 4:00 p.m. on the date specified herein.
The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Applicable Percentage (or
other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire
transfer to such Lender’s Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after
such time shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest
or fee shall continue to accrue.
(b) (i) Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent. Unless the
Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any
Committed Borrowing of Eurodollar Rate Loans (or, in the case of any Committed Borrowing of Base
Rate Loans, prior to 12:00 noon on the date of such Committed Borrowing) that such Lender will not
make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such
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Committed Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share
available on such date in accordance with Section 2.02 (or, in the case of a Committed
Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, that such Lender has made such share available in accordance with and
at the time required by Section 2.02) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make
available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made
its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the
applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on
demand such corresponding amount in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day
from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date
of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender,
the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in
accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative,
processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the
foregoing, and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate
applicable to such Committed Borrowing. If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to
the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall
promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period.
If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Committed Borrowing to the Administrative Agent,
then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Committed Loan included in such Committed
Borrowing. Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may
have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.
(ii) Payments by Borrower; Presumptions by Administrative Agent. Unless the
Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any
payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders hereunder that the
Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made
such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption,
distribute to the Lenders, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has
not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders, as the case may be, severally agrees to
repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender, in
immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such
amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at
the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in
accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.
A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower with respect to any amount
owing under this subsection (b) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
(c) Failure to Satisfy Conditions Precedent. If any Lender makes available to the
Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing
provisions of this Article II, and such funds are not made available to the Borrower by the
Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Borrowing set forth in Article
IV are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent
shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without
interest.
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(d) Obligations of Lenders Several. The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make
Committed Loans and to fund participations in Swing Line Loans and to make payments pursuant to
Section 10.04(c) are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any
Committed Loan, to fund any such participation or to make any payment under Section
10.04(c) on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding
obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other
Lender to so make its Committed Loan, to purchase its participation or to make its payment under
Section 10.04(c).
(e) Funding Source. Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain
the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any
Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or
manner.
2.13 Sharing of Payments by Lenders.
If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain
payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of the Committed Loans made by it, or the
participations in Swing Line Loans held by it resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a
proportion of the aggregate amount of such Committed Loans or participations and accrued interest
thereon greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender
receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b)
purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Committed Loans and subparticipations in
Swing Line Loans of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so
that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the
aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Committed Loans and other
amounts owing them, provided that:
(i) if any such participations or subparticipations are purchased and all or any
portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations or
subparticipations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such
recovery, without interest; and
(ii) the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment
made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement
or (y) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a
participation in any of its Committed Loans or subparticipations in Swing Line Loans to any
assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which
the provisions of this Section shall apply).
The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so
under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing
arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to
such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount
of such participation.
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2.14 Increase in Aggregate Commitments.
(a) Provided there exists no Default, upon notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall
promptly notify the Lenders), the Borrower may from time to time, request an increase in the
Aggregate Commitments; provided, however, that (i) the maximum amount of the
Aggregate Commitments after giving effect to any such increase shall not exceed $500,000,000 and
(ii) the Borrower may make a maximum of three such requests. The aggregate amount of any
individual increase hereunder shall be in a minimum amount of $5,000,000 (and in integral multiples
of $1,000,000 in excess thereof). To achieve the full amount of a requested increase, the Borrower
may solicit increased commitments from existing Lenders and also invite additional Eligible
Assignees to become Lenders; provided, however, that no existing Lender shall be
obligated and/or required to accept an increase in its Commitment pursuant to this Section
2.14 unless it specifically consents to such increase in writing. Any Lender or Eligible
Assignee agreeing to increase its Commitment or provide a new Commitment pursuant to this
Section 2.14 shall, in connection therewith, deliver to the Administrative Agent a new
commitment agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its
counsel.
(b) If the Aggregate Commitments are increased in accordance with this Section, the
Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall determine the effective date (the “Increase
Effective Date”) and the final allocation of such increase. The Administrative Agent shall
promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the final allocation of such increase and the
Increase Effective Date and Schedule 2.01 hereto shall be deemed amended to reflect such
increase and final allocation. As a condition precedent to such increase, in addition to any
deliveries pursuant to subsection (a) above, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent
each of the following in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent: (1) a
certificate of the Borrower dated as of the Increase Effective Date (in sufficient copies for each
Lender) signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower (i) certifying and attaching the
resolutions adopted by the Borrower approving or consenting to such increase, and (ii) certifying
that, before and after giving effect to such increase, (A) the representations and warranties
contained in Article V and the other Loan Documents are true and correct on and as of the
Increase Effective Date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically
refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct as of such earlier date, and
except that for purposes of this Section 2.14, the representations and warranties contained
in (x) subsections (a), (b) and (c) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to refer to the most
recent statements furnished pursuant to subsections (a) and (b), respectively, of Section
6.01 and (y) subsection (c) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to refer to “through the
Increase Effective Date” rather than “through the Closing Date”, and (B) no Default exists; (2) a
statement of reaffirmation from the Borrower pursuant to which the Borrower ratifies this Agreement
and the other Loan Documents and acknowledges and reaffirms that, after giving effect to such
increase, it is bound by all terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents; and (3) if the
increase is being provided by a new Lender, a Note in favor of such Lender if so requested by such
Lender. The Borrower shall prepay any Committed Loans outstanding on the Increase Effective Date
(and pay any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05) to the extent necessary
to keep the outstanding Committed Loans ratable with any revised Applicable Percentages arising
from any nonratable increase in the Commitments under this Section.
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(c) This Section shall supersede any provisions in Sections 2.12 or 10.01 to
the contrary.
ARTICLE III.
TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
3.01 Taxes.
(a) Payments Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation
of the Borrower hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and
without reduction or withholding for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, provided that if
the Borrower shall be required by applicable law to deduct any Indemnified Taxes (including any
Other Taxes) from such payments, then (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that
after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable
under this Section) the Administrative Agent or Lender, as the case may be, receives an amount
equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall
make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower shall timely pay the full amount deducted to the
relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.
(b) Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower. Without limiting the provisions of
subsection (a) above, the Borrower shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental
Authority in accordance with applicable law.
(c) Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative
Agent and each Lender, within 10 days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified
Taxes or Other Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or
attributable to amounts payable under this Section) paid by the Administrative Agent or such
Lender, as the case may be, and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom
or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or
legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount
of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to the
Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender,
shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(d) Evidence of Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified
Taxes or Other Taxes by the Borrower to a Governmental Authority, the Borrower shall deliver to the
Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental
Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of
such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(e) Status of Lenders. Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or
reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrower is resident
for tax purposes, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments
hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the
Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by
the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed
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documentation prescribed by applicable law as will permit such payments to be made without
withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if requested by the
Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by
applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable
the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to
backup withholding or information reporting requirements.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower is resident
for tax purposes in the United States, any Foreign Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior
to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to
time thereafter upon the request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, but only if such
Foreign Lender is legally entitled to do so), whichever of the following is applicable:
(i) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN claiming eligibility
for benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party,
(ii) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI,
(iii) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for
portfolio interest under section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate to the effect that
such Foreign Lender is not (A) a “bank” within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(A) of the
Code, (B) a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of section
881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or (C) a “controlled foreign corporation” described in section
881(c)(3)(C) of the Code and (y) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form
W-8BEN, or
(iv) any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from
or a reduction in United States Federal withholding tax duly completed together with such
supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Borrower to
determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.
(f) Treatment of Certain Refunds. If the Administrative Agent or any Lender
determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to
which it has been indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid
additional amounts pursuant to this Section, it shall pay to the Borrower an amount equal to such
refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the
Borrower under this Section with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund),
net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be,
and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with
respect to such refund), provided that the Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative
Agent or such Lender, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus any penalties,
interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative
Agent or such Lender in the event the Administrative Agent or such Lender is required to repay such
refund to such Governmental Authority. This subsection shall not be construed to require
35
the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its tax returns (or any other
information relating to its taxes that it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other Person.
3.02 Illegality.
If any Lender determines that the adoption of or change in any Law or in the interpretation or
application thereof occurring after the Closing Date has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental
Authority has asserted that it is unlawful as a result of any such adoption or change, for any
Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Eurodollar Rate Loans, or to
determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate, or any Governmental Authority
has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take
deposits of, Dollars in the London interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the
Borrower through the Administrative Agent, any obligation of such Lender to make or continue
Eurodollar Rate Loans or to convert Base Rate Committed Loans to Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans
shall be suspended until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the
circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, the
Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or,
if applicable, convert all Eurodollar Rate Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans, either on the
last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such
Eurodollar Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to
maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall
also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.
3.03 Inability to Determine Rates.
If the Required Lenders determine that for any reason in connection with any request for a
Eurodollar Rate Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof that (a) Dollar deposits are not
being offered to banks in the London interbank eurodollar market for the applicable amount and
Interest Period of such Eurodollar Rate Loan, or (b) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for
determining the Eurodollar Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed
Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan, or that the Eurodollar Rate for any requested Interest Period with
respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the
cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the
Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurodollar
Rate Loans shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of the Required
Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending
request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans or,
failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Committed
Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein.
3.04 Increased Costs; Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans.
(a) Increased Costs Generally. If any Change in Law shall:
(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan,
insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with
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or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any
reserve requirement contemplated by Section 3.04(e));
(ii) subject any Lender to any tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to this
Agreement or any Eurodollar Loan made by it, or change the basis of taxation of payments to
such Lender in respect thereof (except for Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes covered by
Section 3.01 and the imposition of, or any change in the rate of, any Excluded Tax
payable by such Lender); or
(iii) impose on any Lender or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or
expense affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Loans made by such Lender;
and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or
maintaining any Eurodollar Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to
reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender hereunder (whether of principal,
interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender, the Borrower will pay to such
Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such additional costs
incurred or reduction suffered.
(b) Capital Requirements. If any Lender determines that any Change in Law affecting
such Lender or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s holding company, if any,
regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such
Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of
this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by such Lender, to a level below
that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in
Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding
company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such
Lender, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or
such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.
(c) Certificates for Reimbursement. A certificate of a Lender setting forth the
amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as the case may be,
as specified in subsection (a) or (b) of this Section and delivered to the Borrower shall be
conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on
any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.
(d) Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand
compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section shall not constitute a waiver of
such Lender’s right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrower shall not be
required to compensate a Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section for any
increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than nine months prior to the date that such
Lender notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions
and of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law
giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the nine-
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month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect
thereof).
(e) Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans. The Borrower shall pay to each Lender, as long
as such Lender shall be required to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets
consisting of or including Eurocurrency funds or deposits (currently known as “Eurocurrency
liabilities”), additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Eurodollar Rate Loan
equal to the actual costs of such reserves allocated to such Loan by such Lender (as determined by
such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive), which shall be due and payable
on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided the Borrower shall have
received at least 10 days’ prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such
additional interest from such Lender. If a Lender fails to give notice 10 days prior to the
relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional interest shall be due and payable 10 days from
receipt of such notice.
3.05 Funding Losses.
Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the
Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss,
cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:
(a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Loan other than a Base Rate
Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan (whether voluntary,
mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise);
(b) any failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a
Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on the date or in
the amount notified by the Borrower; or
(c) any assignment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest
Period therefor as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 10.16;
including any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it
to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were
obtained. The Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in
connection with the foregoing.
For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this Section
3.05, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan made by it
at the Eurodollar Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the London
interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not
such Eurodollar Rate Committed Loan was in fact so funded.
3.06 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.
(a) Designation of a Different Lending Office. If any Lender requests compensation
under Section 3.04, or the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender
or
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any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, or
if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, then, upon the Borrower’s request
with respect to matters under Section 3.01 and 3.04 only, such Lender shall use
reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans
hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or
affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate
or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04, as the case may be, in
the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02, as applicable,
and (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would
not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable
costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.
(b) Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section
3.04, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any
Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, the Borrower
may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 10.14.
3.07 Survival.
All of the Borrower’s obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of
the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.
ARTICLE IV.
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO BORROWINGS
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO BORROWINGS
4.01 Conditions of Initial Borrowing.
The occurrence of the Closing Date, the effectiveness of this Agreement and the obligation of
each Lender to make its initial Loan hereunder is subject to satisfaction of the following
conditions precedent:
(a) The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or
telecopies (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a
Responsible Officer of the Borrower, each dated the Closing Date (or, in the case of certificates
of governmental officials, a recent date before the Closing Date) and each in form and substance
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its legal counsel:
(i) executed counterparts of this Agreement, in the number requested by the
Administrative Agent or its legal counsel;
(ii) a Note executed by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting a Note;
(iii) such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or
other certificates of Responsible Officers of the Borrower as the Administrative Agent may
require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof
authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other
Loan Documents to which the Borrower is a party;
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(iv) such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably
require to evidence that the Borrower is duly organized or formed, and that the Borrower is
validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in (A) the
jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization and (B) each other jurisdiction where its
ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such
qualification, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(v) a favorable opinion of Haynsworth Xxxxxxx Xxxx, P.A., counsel to the Borrower,
addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, covering enforceability of the Loan
Documents and such other matters to be agreed upon;
(vi) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower either (A) attaching copies
of all consents, licenses and approvals required in connection with the execution, delivery
and performance by the Borrower and the validity against the Borrower of the Loan Documents
to which it is a party, and certifying that such consents, licenses and approvals are in
full force and effect, or (B) stating that no such consents, licenses or approvals are so
required;
(vii) a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying (A) that
the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied,
(B) that there has been no event or circumstance since the date of the Audited Financial
Statements that has had or could be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in
the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; and (C) the current Debt Ratings;
(viii) evidence that all obligations under the Existing Credit Agreement have been, or
concurrently with the Closing Date are being, paid and fully satisfied and any and all Liens
securing obligations under the Existing Credit Agreement have been or concurrently with the
Closing Date are being released; and
(ix) such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as the
Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender or the Required Lenders reasonably may require.
(b) Any fees required to be paid on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid.
(c) Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall have paid all fees, charges
and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent (directly to such counsel if requested by
the Administrative Agent) to the extent invoiced prior to or on the Closing Date, plus such
additional amounts of fees, charges and disbursements as shall constitute its reasonable estimate
of fees, charges and disbursements incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing proceedings
(provided that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent).
(d) The representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in Article V and in any other
Loan Document, and those which are contained in any other document furnished at any time under or
in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date.
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(e) No Default shall exist and be continuing as of the Closing Date.
(f) The Closing Date shall have occurred on or before May 15, 2006.
Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Section 9.04, for purposes of
determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01, each Lender that
has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be
satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by
or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received
notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.
4.02 Conditions to all Borrowings.
The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Borrowing (other than a Committed Loan
Notice requesting only a conversion of Committed Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of
Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans) is subject to the following conditions precedent:
(a) The representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in Article V (other
than, solely with respect to Loans the proceeds of which will be used to pay maturing commercial
paper of the Borrower, the representations and warranties in Section 5.06 and Section
5.09) or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time
under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct on and as of the date of
such Borrowing, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to
an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct as of such earlier date, and except
that for purposes of this Section 4.02, the representations and warranties contained in
subsection (a) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements
furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01, and, in the case
of financial statements furnished pursuant to clause (b) of Section 6.01, subject to the absence of
footnotes and to normal year-end audit adjustments.
(b) No Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Borrowing or from the
application of the proceeds thereof.
(c) The Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the Swing Line Lender shall have received a
Request for Borrowing in accordance with the requirements hereof.
Each Request for Borrowing (other than a Committed Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of
Committed Loans to the other Type or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Committed Loans) submitted
by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified
in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied on and as of the date of the
applicable Borrowing.
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ARTICLE V.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
The Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:
5.01 Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws.
Each Consolidated Party (a) is a corporation duly organized or formed, validly existing and in
good standing 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 (i) own its assets and carry on its business and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its
obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, (c) is duly qualified and is licensed
and in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of
properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification or license, and (d) is in
compliance with all Laws; except in each case referred to in clause (b)(i), (c) or (d), to the
extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.02 Authorization; No Contravention.
The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of each Loan Document have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not and will not (a)
contravene the terms of any of the Borrower’s Organization Documents; (b) conflict with or result
in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under (i) any Contractual Obligation
to which the Borrower is a party or (ii) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental
Authority or any arbitral award to which the Borrower or its property is subject; or (c) violate
any Law, except in each case referred to in clause (b)(i),(b)(ii) or (c), to the extent that
failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.03 Governmental Authorization; Other Consents.
No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing
with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary or required in connection with
the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, the Borrower of this Agreement
or any other Loan Document.
5.04 Binding Effect.
This Agreement has been, and each other Loan Document, when delivered hereunder, will have
been, duly executed and delivered by the Borrower. This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan
Document when so delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower,
enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its terms.
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5.05 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect; No Internal Control Event.
(a) The Audited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently
applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; (ii)
fairly present the financial condition of the Consolidated Parties as of the date thereof and their
results of operations for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied
throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (iii) show
all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Consolidated Parties
as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness.
(b) From the date of the Audited Financial Statements through the Closing Date, (i) no
Consolidated Party has incurred any material Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities and (ii) there has been
no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) To the best knowledge of the Borrower, no Internal Control Event exists or has occurred
since the date of the Audited Financial Statements through the Closing Date.
5.06 Litigation.
There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of
the Borrower after due and diligent investigation, threatened or contemplated, at law, in equity,
in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against any Consolidated Party or
against any of their properties or revenues that (a) purport to affect or pertain to this Agreement
or any other Loan Document, or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, or (b) either
individually or in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.07 No Default.
No Consolidated Party is in default under or with respect to any Contractual Obligation that
could, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect. No Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
5.08 Ownership of Property; Liens.
Each Consolidated Party has good record and marketable title in fee simple to, or valid
leasehold interests in, all real property necessary or used in the ordinary conduct of its
business, except for such defects in title as could not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The property of the Consolidated Parties
is subject to no Liens, other than Liens permitted by Section 7.01.
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5.09 Environmental Compliance.
The Borrower and its Subsidiaries conduct in the ordinary course of business a review of the
effect of existing Environmental Laws and claims alleging potential liability or responsibility for
violation of any Environmental Law on their respective businesses, operations and properties, and
as a result thereof the Borrower has reasonably concluded that such Environmental Laws and claims
could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
5.10 Insurance.
The properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are insured with financially sound and
reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Borrower, in such amounts (after giving effect
to any self-insurance compatible with the following standards), with such deductibles and covering
such risks as are customarily carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar
properties in localities where the Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary operates.
5.11 Taxes.
The Consolidated Parties have filed all Federal, state and other material tax returns and
reports required to be filed, and have paid all Federal, state and other material taxes,
assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or imposed upon them or their properties,
income or assets otherwise due and payable, except those which are being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves have been provided in
accordance with GAAP. There is no proposed tax assessment against any Consolidated Party that
would, if made, have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.12 ERISA Compliance.
(a) Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of
ERISA, the Code and other Federal or state Laws. Each Plan that is intended to qualify under
Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS or an
application for such a letter is currently being processed by the IRS with respect thereto and, to
the best knowledge of the Borrower, nothing has occurred which would prevent, or cause the loss of,
such qualification. The Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate have made all required contributions to
each Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code, and no application for a funding waiver or an
extension of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Code has been made with respect
to any Plan.
(b) There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, threatened claims, actions
or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that could be
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There has been no prohibited transaction
or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan that has resulted or
could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) (i) No ERISA Event has occurred; (ii) no Pension Plan has any Unfunded Pension Liability
(except with respect to certain non-qualified Pension Plans where the estimated
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amount of such Unfunded Pension Liability is reflected on the consolidated balance sheet of
the Consolidated Parties); (iii) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any
liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan (other than premiums due and not
delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA); (iv) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has
incurred any liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice under Section
4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Section 4201 or 4243 of ERISA with respect to
a Multiemployer Plan; and (v) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a
transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA; except in each case referred
to above, to the extent that such occurrence could not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
5.13 Subsidiaries.
As of the Closing Date, except as set forth on Schedule 5.13, the Borrower has no
material equity investments in any Subsidiary or other corporation or entity other than those
specifically disclosed in Exhibit 21 to Borrower’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2005.
5.14 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act; Public Utility Holding Company Act.
(a) The Borrower is not engaged and will not engage, principally or as one of its important
activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of
Regulation U issued by the FRB), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying
margin stock.
(b) None of the Borrower, any Person Controlling the Borrower, or any Subsidiary (i) is a
“holding company,” or a “subsidiary company” of a “holding company,” or an “affiliate” of a
“holding company” or of a “subsidiary company” of a “holding company,” within the meaning of the
Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, or (ii) is or is required to be registered as an
“investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
5.15 Disclosure.
As of the Closing Date, the Borrower has disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
all matters known to it, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect. No report, financial statement, certificate or other
information furnished (whether in writing or orally) by or on behalf of the Borrower to the
Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the
negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder (as modified or supplemented by other
information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material
fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information,
the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon
assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time.
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5.16 Compliance with Laws.
Each Consolidated Party is in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of all
Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its properties, except
in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is
being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted or (b) the failure to
comply therewith, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect.
5.17 Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.
Each Consolidated Party owns, or possesses the right to use, all of the trademarks, service
marks, trade names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, franchises, licenses and other intellectual
property rights that are reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses,
without conflict with the rights of any other Person except for those rights, the loss of which
could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the best knowledge of the
Borrower, no slogan or other advertising device, product, process, method, substance, part or other
material now employed, or now contemplated to be employed, by the Borrower or any Subsidiary
infringes upon any rights held by any other Person. No claim or litigation regarding any of the
foregoing is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, threatened, which, either
individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.18 Taxpayer Identification Number.
The Borrower’s true and correct U.S. taxpayer identification number is set forth on
Schedule 10.02.
ARTICLE VI.
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation
hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, the Borrower shall, and shall (except in the case of
the covenants set forth in Sections 6.01, 6.02, 6.03 and 6.11)
cause each Subsidiary to:
6.01 Financial Statements.
Deliver to the Administrative Agent, which in turn will make them available to the Lenders, in
form and detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:
(a) as soon as available, but in any event within the earlier of (i) the 90th day
after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower and (ii) the day that is three (3) Business Days
after the date the Borrower’s annual report on Form 10-K is required to be filed with the SEC
(commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2006), a consolidated balance sheet of the
Consolidated Parties as at the end of such fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of
income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in
46
each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable
detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, audited and accompanied by (i) a report and opinion of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or another independent certified public accountant of nationally
recognized standing reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders, which report and opinion shall
be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to
any “going concern” or like qualification, exception, assumption or explanatory language or any
qualification, exception, assumption or explanatory language as to the scope of such audit or with
respect to the absence of any material misstatement and (ii) an opinion of such Registered Public
Accounting Firm independently assessing the Borrower’s internal controls over financial reporting
in accordance with Item 308 of SEC Regulation S-K, PCAOB Auditing Standard Xx. 0, xxx Xxxxxxx 000
xx Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx expressing a conclusion that contains no statement that there is a material
weakness in such internal controls, except for such material weaknesses that have been (x)
disclosed to the Administrative Agent, who in turn discloses such material weaknesses to the
Lenders, and (y) remedied or otherwise diligently addressed (or is in the process of being
diligently addressed) by the Borrower in accordance with recommendations made by the Borrower’s
auditors in consultation with the Borrower.
(b) as soon as available, but in any event within the earlier of (i) the 45th day
after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower and
(ii) the day that is three (3) Business Days after the date the Borrower’s quarterly report on Form
10-Q is required to be filed with the SEC (commencing with the fiscal quarter ending on or about
June 30, 2006), a consolidated balance sheet of the Consolidated Parties as at the end of such
fiscal quarter, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’
equity and cash flows for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the Borrower’s fiscal year
then ended, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding fiscal
quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all
in reasonable detail and certified by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower as fairly presenting
the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and
the absence of footnotes.
As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section 6.02(d), the
Borrower shall not be separately required to furnish such information under clause (a) or (b)
above, but the foregoing shall not be in derogation of the obligation of the Borrower to furnish
the information and materials described in subsections (a) and (b) above at the times specified
therein.
6.02 Certificates; Other Information.
Deliver to the Administrative Agent, which in turn will make them available to the Lenders, in
form and detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:
(a) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Section
6.01(a), a certificate of the Registered Public Accounting Firm certifying such financial
statements and stating that in making the examination necessary therefor no knowledge was obtained
of any Default under the financial covenants set forth herein or, if any such Default shall exist,
stating the nature and status of such event;
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(b) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections
6.01(a) and (b), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by a Responsible
Officer of the Borrower;
(c) promptly after any written request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, copies of
any detailed audit reports, management letters or recommendations submitted to the board of
directors (or the audit committee of the board of directors) of the Borrower by independent
accountants in connection with the accounts or books of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any
audit of any of them;
(d) promptly after the same are available, copies of each annual report, proxy or financial
statement or other report or communication sent to the stockholders of the Borrower, and copies of
all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Borrower
may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, and not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant
hereto; and
(e) promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial or corporate
affairs of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as
the Administrative Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request.
Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) or
Section 6.02(d) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed
with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been
delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on
the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 10.02; or
(ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on IntraLinks/IntraAgency or
another relevant website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access
(whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent);
provided that: (i) the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the
Administrative Agent or any Lender that requests the Borrower to deliver such paper copies until a
written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent or such
Lender and (ii) the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender (by telecopier
or electronic mail) of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by
electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. Notwithstanding
anything contained herein, in every instance the Borrower, if it initially provides for electronic
delivery of the Compliance Certificates required pursuant to Section 6.02(b), must,
contemporaneously therewith, provide to the Administrative Agent a signed copy of such Compliance
Certificates via facsimile and shall, within ten Business Days thereafter, provide paper copies of
such Compliance Certificates to the Administrative Agent. Except for such Compliance Certificates,
the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery or to maintain copies of
the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor
compliance by the Borrower with any such request for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely
responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.
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The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Arranger will
make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower
hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks or
another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders may be
“public-side” Lenders (i.e., Lenders that do not wish to receive material non-public information
with respect to the Borrower or its securities) (each, a “Public Lender”). The Borrower hereby
agrees that so long as the Borrower is the issuer of any outstanding debt or equity securities that
are registered or issued pursuant to a private offering or is actively contemplating issuing any
such securities (w) all Borrower Materials that are to be made available to Public Lenders shall be
clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC”
shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the
Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and the Lenders
to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information with respect
to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws
(provided, however, that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall
be treated as set forth in Section 10.07); (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are
permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Investor;” and
(z) the Administrative Agent and the Arranger shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials
that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not
designated “Public Investor.” Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall be under no
obligation to xxxx any Borrower Materials “PUBLIC.”
6.03 Notices.
Promptly notify the Administrative Agent, which in turn will notify the Lenders:
(a) of the occurrence of any Default;
(b) of any matter that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect, including (i) breach or non-performance of, or any default under, a Contractual
Obligation of the Borrower or any Subsidiary; (ii) any dispute, litigation, investigation,
proceeding or suspension between the Borrower or any Subsidiary and any Governmental Authority;
(iii) the commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting
the Borrower or any Subsidiary, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws; or (iv)
the occurrence of any ERISA Event;
(c) of any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by the
Borrower or any Subsidiary;
(d) of the determination by the Registered Public Accounting Firm providing the opinion
required under Section 6.01(a)(ii) (in connection with its preparation of such opinion) or
the Borrower’s determination at any time of the occurrence or existence of any Internal Control
Event; and
(e) of any announcement by Xxxxx’x or S&P of any change or possible change in a Debt Rating.
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Each notice pursuant to this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible
Officer of the Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating
what action the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto. Each notice pursuant
to Section 6.03(a) shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this
Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached.
6.04 Payment of Obligations.
Pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable, all its obligations and
liabilities, including (a) all tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon
it or its properties or assets; (b) all lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien
upon its property; and (c) all Indebtedness, as and when due and payable, but subject to any
subordination provisions contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness;
unless the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted
and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Borrower or such
Subsidiary.
6.05 Preservation of Existence, Etc.
(a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and good
standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted
by Section 7.03 or 7.04; (b) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights,
privileges, permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its
business, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect; and (c) preserve or renew all of its registered patents, trademarks, trade
names and service marks, the non-preservation of which could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
6.06 Maintenance of Properties.
(a) Maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment necessary in
the operation of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted;
and (b) make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof except where the
failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.07 Maintenance of Insurance.
Maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the
Borrower, insurance with respect to its properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds
customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business, of such types and
in such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance compatible with the following standards)
as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons.
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6.08 Compliance with Laws.
Comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs,
injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except in such instances
in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, write, injunction or decree is being contested in
good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; or (b) the failure to comply therewith
could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.09 Books and Records.
Maintain proper books of record and account, in which full, true and correct entries in
conformity with GAAP consistently applied shall be made of all financial transactions and matters
involving the assets and business of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be.
6.10 Inspection Rights.
Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent or the Required
Lenders to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its corporate, financial and
operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs,
finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants, all at such
reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon
reasonable advance notice to the Borrower; provided, however, that when an Event of
Default exists the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives
or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower at any time
during normal business hours and without advance notice.
6.11 Use of Proceeds.
Use the proceeds of the Borrowings for (i) commercial paper backup, (ii) working capital,
(iii) capital expenditures and (iv) general corporate purposes, in each case not in contravention
of any Law or of any Loan Document.
ARTICLE VII.
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder or any Loan or other Obligation
hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any
Subsidiary (or in the case of Section 7.01 only, any Domestic Subsidiary) to, directly or
indirectly:
7.01 Liens.
Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or
revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired; provided, however, that the
foregoing restriction shall not apply to:
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(a) Liens on any assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiaries existing on the date hereof and
set forth on Schedule 7.01;
(b) Liens on any assets of any corporation existing at the time such corporation becomes a
Domestic Subsidiary (and not incurred in contemplation thereof);
(c) Liens on any assets existing at the time of acquisition of such assets by the Borrower or
a Domestic Subsidiary, or Liens to secure the payment of all or any part of the purchase price of
such assets upon the acquisition of such assets by the Borrower or a Domestic Subsidiary or to
secure any Indebtedness incurred, assumed or guaranteed by the Borrower or a Domestic Subsidiary
prior to, at the time of, or within 180 days after such acquisition (or in the case of real
property, the completion of construction (including any improvements on an existing asset) or
commencement of full operation of such asset, whichever is later) which Indebtedness is incurred,
assumed or guaranteed for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price thereof
or, in the case of real property, construction or improvements thereon; provided,
however, that in the case of any such acquisition, construction or improvement, the Lien
shall not apply to any assets theretofore owned by the Borrower or a Domestic Subsidiary, other
than, in the case of any such construction or improvement, any real property on which the property
so constructed, or the improvement, is located;
(d) Liens on any assets to secure Indebtedness of a Subsidiary to the Borrower or to any
wholly owned Domestic Subsidiary;
(e) Liens on any assets of a corporation existing at the time such corporation is merged into
or consolidated with the Borrower or a Domestic Subsidiary or at the time of a purchase, lease or
other acquisition of the assets of a corporation or firm as an entirety or substantially as an
entirety by the Borrower or a Domestic Subsidiary (and not incurred in contemplation thereof);
(f) Liens on any assets of the Borrower or a Domestic Subsidiary in favor of the United States
of America or any State thereof, or any department, agency or instrumentality or political
subdivision of the United States of America or any State thereof, or in favor of any other country,
or any political subdivision thereof, to secure partial, progress, advance or other payments
pursuant to any contract or statute or to secure any Indebtedness incurred or guaranteed for the
purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price (or, in the case of real property, the
cost of construction) of the assets subject to such Liens (including, but not limited to, Liens
incurred in connection with pollution control, industrial revenue or similar financings);
(g) any extension, renewal or replacement (or successive extensions, renewals or replacements)
in whole or in part of any Lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (a) to (f), inclusive;
provided, however, that the principal amount of Indebtedness secured thereby shall
not exceed the principal amount of Indebtedness so secured at the time of such extension, renewal
or replacement, and that such extension, renewal or replacement shall be limited to all or a part
of the assets which secured the Lien so extended, renewed or replaced (plus improvements and
construction on real property);
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(h) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances affecting real
property which, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount, and which do not in any case
materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or materially interfere with the
ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable Person; and
(i) Liens not permitted by clauses (a) through (h) above if at the time of, and after giving
effect to, the creation or assumption of any such Lien, the aggregate amount of all Indebtedness of
the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries secured by all such Liens not so permitted by clauses
(a) through (h) above does not exceed 10% of Total Assets.
7.02 Indebtedness.
As to the Subsidiaries only, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness,
except:
(a) Indebtedness of the Subsidiaries existing as of the Closing Date as referenced in the
financial statements referred to in Section 5.05 and renewals, refinancings or extensions
thereof in a principal amount not in excess of that outstanding as of the date of such renewal,
refinancing or extension;
(b) Indebtedness of the Subsidiaries incurred after the Closing Date consisting of capital
leases or Indebtedness incurred to provide all or a portion of the purchase price or cost of
construction of an asset provided that (i) such Indebtedness when incurred shall not exceed the
purchase price or cost of construction of such asset; (ii) no such Indebtedness shall be refinanced
for a principal amount in excess of the principal balance outstanding thereon at the time of such
refinancing; and (iii) the total amount of all such Indebtedness shall not exceed $50,000,000 at
any time outstanding;
(c) unsecured intercompany Indebtedness among the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;
(d) Indebtedness and obligations owing under any Swap Contracts, provided that (i)
such obligations are (or were) entered into by such Person in the ordinary course of business for
the purpose of directly mitigating risks associated with liabilities, commitments, investments,
assets, or property held or reasonably anticipated by such Person, or changes in the value of
securities issued by such Person, and not for purposes of speculation or taking a “market view;”
and (ii) such Swap Contract does not contain any provision exonerating the non-defaulting party
from its obligation to make payments on outstanding transactions to the defaulting party;
(e) Indebtedness and obligations of the Subsidiaries owing under documentary letters of credit
for the purchase of goods or other merchandise (but not under standby, direct pay or other letters
of credit) generally;
(f) Indebtedness of the Subsidiaries incurred in connection with acquisitions (including
Indebtedness of Subsidiaries incurred or assumed in connection with joint ventures)
provided that (i) such Indebtedness when incurred shall not exceed the purchase price for
such acquisition (or the total capital (equity and debt) of a joint venture) and (ii) if the
aggregate amount of any such Indebtedness (whether anticipated to be funded at one time or over a
series of fundings) exceeds $100,000,000, then (A) the Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent
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prior written notice of such Indebtedness and (B) prior to the incurrence of any such Indebtedness
the Borrower shall have provided to the Administrative Agent such evidence as the Administrative
Agent may reasonably request demonstrating pro forma covenant compliance and the maintenance of an
investment grade Debt Rating from S&P and Xxxxx’x (defined for purposes hereof as BBB- or better by
S&P and Baa3 or better by Xxxxx’x); and
(g) other non-acquisition-related Indebtedness of the Subsidiaries which does not exceed 5% of
Total Assets in the aggregate at any time outstanding (it being understood that delivery of a
Compliance Certificate shall only required as of each fiscal quarter end of the Borrower pursuant
to Section 6.02(b).
7.03 Fundamental Changes.
As to the Borrower only, merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person,
or dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all
of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person.
7.04 Dispositions.
Sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties and assets (including without
limitation any capital stock in any of its Subsidiaries) except:
(a) sales or leases in the ordinary course of business; and
(b) other non-ordinary course of business sales, provided that (i) the aggregate net
book value of the assets sold by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in all such transactions
after the Closing Date does not exceed 25% of Total Assets as of the Closing Date and (ii) no
Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of any such sale or shall result upon
giving effect thereto.
7.05 Transactions with Affiliates.
Except (i) as otherwise specifically permitted in this Agreement, (ii) in regards to
intercompany transactions among Subsidiaries and (iii) in regards to intercompany transactions
between the Borrower and any Subsidiary (to the extent, in the case of this clause (iii), the
Borrower is advantaged), enter into any transactions or series of transactions, whether or not in
the ordinary course of business, with any officer, director, shareholder or Affiliate other than on
terms and conditions substantially as favorable as would be obtainable in a comparable arm’s length
transaction with a Person other than an officer, director, shareholder or Affiliate.
7.06 Use of Proceeds.
Use the proceeds of any Borrowing, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately,
incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U
of the FRB) or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock or
to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose.
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7.07 Minimum Book Net Worth.
Permit Book Net Worth to be less than $1,164,248,000 (which represents approximately 85% of
Book Net Worth as of December 31, 2005) as of the last day of any fiscal quarter (commencing with
the fiscal quarter ending on or about June 30, 2006); provided, however, (i) such
amount shall be increased at the end of each fiscal quarter (commencing with the fiscal quarter
ending March 31, 2006) by an amount equal to 25% of the Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ net income
for the fiscal quarter then ending (computed on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP and
with no deduction for a net loss in any such fiscal quarter), such increases to be cumulative; and
(ii) such amount shall be decreased Dollar for Dollar by the aggregate cumulative amount of all
payments made by the Borrower on and after the Closing Date for the redemption, retirement or other
repurchase of any shares of the capital stock of the Borrower so long as the Borrower’s Debt Rating
is BBB+ or higher by S&P and Baa1 or higher by Xxxxx’x at the time of such payments. With respect
to clause (ii) of the proviso in the immediately preceding sentence, if, as a result of the
payments made by the Borrower for such redemption, retirement or other repurchase of any shares of
the capital stock of the Borrower, the Debt Rating of the Borrower is lowered by either S&P or
Xxxxx’x below the applicable level set forth in the preceding sentence within forty-five (45) days
of the last of such payments, then any reduction in the minimum Book Net Worth amount previously
made pursuant to clause (ii) of this Section 7.07 in connection with such payments shall be
reversed.
ARTICLE VIII.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
8.01 Events of Default.
Any of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:
(a) Non-Payment. The Borrower fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid
herein, any amount of principal of any Loan, or (ii) within three days after the same becomes due,
any interest on any Loan, or any facility, utilization or other fee due hereunder, or (iii) within
five days after the same becomes due, any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan
Document; or
(b) Specific Covenants. The Borrower fails to perform or observe any term, covenant
or agreement contained in any of Sections 6.03, 6.11, 7.02 or 7.07;
or
(c) Other Defaults. The Borrower fails to perform or observe any other covenant or
agreement (not specified in subsection (a) or (b) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part
to be performed or observed and such failure continues for 30 days after written notice thereof
being received from the Administrative Agent or any Lender; or
(d) Representations and Warranties. Any representation, warranty, certification or
statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower herein, in any other Loan
Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect or
misleading in any material respect when made or deemed made; or
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(e) Payment Cross-Default. The Borrower or any Subsidiary fails to make any payment
when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise)
in respect of any Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than Indebtedness hereunder and Indebtedness
under Swap Contracts) having an aggregate principal amount (including undrawn committed or
available amounts and including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated
credit arrangement) of more than the Threshold Amount, and such failure shall continue for more
than the period of grace, if any, applicable thereto and shall not have been waived;
provided, however, the occurrence of any of the foregoing events with respect to
any Subsidiary of the Borrower shall not constitute an Event of Default unless such occurrence
could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or
(f) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc. The Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries institutes
or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an
assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any
receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or
for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator,
liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of
such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for 60 calendar days; or any
proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part
of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or
unstayed for 60 calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding;
provided, however, the occurrence of any of the foregoing events with respect to
any Subsidiary of the Borrower shall not constitute an Event of Default unless such occurrence
could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or
(g) Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment. (i) The Borrower or any Subsidiary becomes
unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due,
or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied
against all or any material part of the property of any such Person and is not released, vacated or
fully bonded within 30 days after its issue or levy; provided, however, the
occurrence of any of the foregoing events with respect to any Subsidiary of the Borrower shall not
constitute an Event of Default unless such occurrence could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect; or
(h) Judgments. There is entered against the Borrower or any Subsidiary (i) a final
judgment or order for the payment of money in an aggregate amount exceeding the Threshold Amount
(to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer does not
dispute coverage), or (ii) any one or more non-monetary final judgments that have, or could
reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and, in
either case, (A) enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order,
or (B) there is a period of 60 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such
judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; provided,
however, the occurrence of any of the foregoing events with respect to any Subsidiary of
the Borrower shall not constitute an Event of Default unless such occurrence could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or
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(i) ERISA. (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer
Plan which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower
under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount
in excess of the Threshold Amount, or (ii) the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when
due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to
its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate
amount in excess of the Threshold Amount; or
(j) Invalidity of Loan Documents. Any Loan Document, at any time after its execution
and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder or
satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect; or the Borrower
or any other Person acting by or on behalf of the Borrower contests in any manner the validity or
enforceability of any Loan Document; or the Borrower denies that it has any or further liability or
obligation under any Loan Document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any Loan Document;
or
(k) Change of Control. There occurs any Change of Control with respect to the
Borrower.
8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default.
If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the
request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following
actions:
(a) declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans to be terminated, whereupon such
commitments and obligation shall be terminated;
(b) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and
unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document
to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any
kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower; and
(c) exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it and
the Lenders under the Loan Documents;
provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an
order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the
obligation of each Lender to make Loans shall automatically terminate and the unpaid principal
amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically
become due and payable, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.
8.03 Application of Funds.
After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have
automatically become immediately due and payable as set forth in the proviso to Section
8.02),
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any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall be applied by the Administrative Agent in
the following order:
First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities,
expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the
Administrative Agent and amounts payable under Article III) payable to the Administrative
Agent in its capacity as such;
Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities
and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Lenders (including Attorney
Costs and amounts payable under Article III), ratably among them in proportion to the
amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;
Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid
interest on the Loans, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described
in this clause Third payable to them;
Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of
the Loans and Swap Contracts between the Borrower and any Lender or Affiliate of any Lender,
ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause
Fourth held by them; and
Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in
full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.
ARTICLE IX.
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
9.01 Appointment and Authority.
Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints Bank of America to act on its behalf as the
Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative
Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the
Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are
reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and the Borrower shall not have rights as a third party
beneficiary of any of such provisions.
9.02 Rights as a Lender.
The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers
in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the
Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated
or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent
hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from,
lend money to, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally
engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or
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other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and
without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.
9.03 Exculpatory Provisions.
The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set
forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
the Administrative Agent:
(a) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a
Default has occurred and is continuing;
(b) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary
powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan
Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the
Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided
for herein or in the other Loan Documents), provided that the Administrative Agent shall
not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose
the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law;
and
(c) shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any
duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to
the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as
the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.
The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with
the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the
Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be
necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 10.01 and 8.02) or (ii)
in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall
be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is
given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or a Lender.
The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire
into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or
any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered
hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance
of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the
occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this
Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the
satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to
confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.
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9.04 Reliance by Administrative Agent.
The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for
relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other
writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other
distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated
by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally
or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any
liability for relying thereon. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the
making of a Loan that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender, the
Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless the
Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender prior to the
making of such Loan. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel
for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be
liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel,
accountants or experts.
9.05 Delegation of Duties.
The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and
powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents
appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform
any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related
Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the
Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their
respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for
herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.
9.06 Resignation of Administrative Agent.
The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders and the
Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the
right, in consultation with the Borrower, to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an
office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States.
If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted
such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its
resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a
successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided that if
the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has
accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance
with such notice and (1) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and
obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and (2) all payments, communications and
determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made
by or to each Lender directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor
Administrative Agent as provided for above in this Section. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s
appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested
with all of the rights, powers, privileges and
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duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative
Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan
Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section). The fees
payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to
its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the
retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the
provisions of this Article and Section 10.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of
such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect
of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent
was acting as Administrative Agent.
9.07 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders.
Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the
Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such
documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision
to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and
without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties
and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate,
continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this
Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or
thereunder.
9.08 No Other Duties, Etc.
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Book Managers, Arrangers, or
Syndication Agent listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities
under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as
the Administrative Agent or a Lender hereunder.
9.09 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim.
In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial
proceeding relative to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the
principal of any Loan shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or
otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the
Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise
(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and
unpaid in respect of the Loans and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such
other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders and the
Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements
and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel
and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and
10.04) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and
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(b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such
claims and to distribute the same;
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official
in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make such payments to the
Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of
such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the
reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its
agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09
and 10.04.
Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or
consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender any plan of reorganization, arrangement,
adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or to authorize the
Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.
ARTICLE X.
MISCELLANEOUS
MISCELLANEOUS
10.01 Amendments, Etc.
No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no
consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by
the Required Lenders and the Borrower and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such
waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for
which given; provided, however, that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:
(a) waive any condition set forth in Section 4.01(a) without the written consent of
each Lender;
(b) except pursuant to Section 2.14, extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender
(or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 8.02) without the written
consent of such Lender;
(c) postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment of
principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) or any mandatory
reduction of the Aggregate Commitments hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the
written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;
(d) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan, or
(subject to clause (iii) of the second proviso to this Section 10.01) any fees or other
amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each
Lender directly affected thereby; provided, however, that only the consent of the
Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any
obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate;
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(e) change Section 2.13 or Section 8.03 in a manner that would alter the pro
rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender;
(f) change any provision of this Section or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other
provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to amend, waive or
otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder,
without the written consent of each Lender; or
(g) modify the pro rata distribution of payments, proceeds, or fees payable to Lenders under
this Agreement without the written consent of each Lender;
and, provided further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in
writing and signed by the Swing Line Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the
rights or duties of the Swing Line Lender under this Agreement; (ii) no amendment, waiver or
consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders
required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any
other Loan Document; and (iii) the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder
waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment,
waiver or consent hereunder, except that (x) the Commitment of such Lender may not be increased or
extended and (y) Section 2.13 and Section 8.03 may not be changed in a manner that
would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, in each case without the consent of
such Lender.
10.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.
(a) Notices Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications
expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b) below), all
notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by
hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopier as
follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by
telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:
(i) if to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or the Swing Line Lender, to the
address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such
Person on Schedule 10.02; and
(ii) if to any other Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address
or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire.
Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall
be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by telecopier shall be deemed to have been
given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be
deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient).
Notices delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b) below,
shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b).
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(b) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders
hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet
or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided
that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender pursuant to Article II if such
Lender has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such
Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its
discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic
communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such
procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.
Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications
sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement
from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available,
return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if such notice or other
communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or
communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day
for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website
shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as
described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is
available and identifying the website address therefor.
(c) The Platform. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” THE AGENT
PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR
THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE
BORROWER MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY
OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR
FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE
BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its
Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to the Borrower, any
Lender or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind
(whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s or the Administrative
Agent’s transmission of Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent
jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or
willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided, however, that in no event shall
any Agent Party have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for indirect,
special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).
(d) Change of Address, Etc. Each of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the
Swing Line Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other
communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its
address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to
the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Swing Line Lender.
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(e) Reliance by Administrative Agent and Lenders. The Administrative Agent and the
Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Committed Loan
Notices and Swing Line Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i)
such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or
followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by
the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The Borrower shall indemnify each
Agent-Related Person and each Lender from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting
from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower.
All telephonic notices to and other communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by
the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.
10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies.
No failure by any Lender or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such
Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver
thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege
hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right,
remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are
cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.
10.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.
(a) Costs and Expenses. The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including the reasonable fees,
charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent), in connection with the
syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution,
delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments,
modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), and (ii) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred
by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any
counsel for the Administrative Agent or any Lender), in connection with the enforcement or
protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents,
including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with the Loans made hereunder,
including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or
negotiations in respect of such Loans.
(b) Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative
Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing
Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless
from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the fees,
charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), incurred by any Indemnitee or
asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower arising out of, in connection
with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or
any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto
of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder, the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby, or, in the case
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of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the
administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (ii) any Loan or the use or proposed
use of the proceeds therefrom, (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous
Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or
any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv)
any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the
foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or
by the Borrower, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that
such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available (A) to the extent that such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent
jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or
willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (y) result from a claim brought by the Borrower against an
Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other
Loan Document, if the Borrower has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such
claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction and (B) with respect to a dispute among
two or more Indemnitees which does not arise as a result of the action or inaction of the Borrower.
(c) Reimbursement by Lenders. To the extent that the Borrower for any reason fails to
indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section to be paid by it
to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof) or any Related Party of any of the
foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent)
or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (determined as of
the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid
amount, provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or
related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent
(or any such sub-agent) in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the
foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) in connection with such
capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c) are subject to the provisions
of Section 2.12(d).
(d) Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee,
on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to
direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement,
any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee
referred to in subsection (b) above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by
unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed by it through
telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this
Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby. Nothing
contained in this Section 10.04 shall be deemed to restrict the Borrower’s right to pursue
any and all legal remedies available to the Borrower for breach of any representation, covenant,
warranty or other agreement set forth in any Loan Document.
(e) Payments. All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than ten
Business Days after demand therefor.
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(f) Survival. The agreements in this Section shall survive the resignation of the
Administrative Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments
and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.
10.05 Payments Set Aside.
To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to the Administrative
Agent or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent or any Lender exercises its right of set-off, and
such payment or the proceeds of such set-off or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated,
declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any
settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid
to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor
Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof
originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if
such payment had not been made or such set-off had not occurred, and (b) each Lender severally
agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of
any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the
date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds
Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders under clause (b) of the preceding
sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this
Agreement.
10.06 Successors and Assigns.
(a) Successors and Assigns Generally. The provisions of this Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and
assigns permitted hereby, except that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its
rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and
each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations
hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this
Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this
Section, (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of
subsection (f) of this Section, or (iv) to an SPC in accordance with the provisions of subsection
(h) of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be
null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon
any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted
hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d) of this Section and, to the extent
expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
(b) Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more
assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a
portion of its Commitment and the Loans (including for purposes of this subsection (b), Swing Line
Loans) at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the
following conditions:
(i) Minimum Amounts.
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(A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the
assigning Lender’s Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it or in the case
of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund (as
defined in subsection (g) of this Section) no minimum amount need be assigned; and
(B) in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A) of this Section, the
aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans
outstanding thereunder) or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the principal
outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such
assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to
such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is
specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less
than $5,000,000 unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such
consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided,
however, that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and
concurrent assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single assignee (or to
an assignee and members of its Assignee Group) will be treated as a single
assignment for purposes of determining whether such minimum amount has been met;
(ii) Proportionate Amounts. Each partial assignment shall be made as an
assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations
under this Agreement with respect to the Loans or the Commitment assigned, except that this
clause (ii) shall not apply to the Swing Line Lender’s rights and obligations in respect of
Bid Loans or Swing Line Loans;
(iii) Required Consents. No consent shall be required for any assignment
except to the extent required by subsection (b)(i)(B) of this Section and, in addition:
(A) the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld
or delayed) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an
Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund;
(B) the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be
unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for assignments in respect of
any Commitment if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate
of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender; and
(C) the consent of the Swing Line Lender (such consent not to be unreasonably
withheld or delayed) shall be required for assignments in respect of any Commitment
if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender
or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender; and
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(iv) Assignment and Assumption. The parties to each assignment shall execute
and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a
processing and recordation fee in the amount, if any, required as set forth in Schedule
10.06; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole
discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment.
The assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an
Administrative Questionnaire.
(v) No Assignment to Borrower. No such assignment shall be made to the
Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries.
(vi) No Assignment to Natural Persons. No such assignment shall be made to a
natural person.
Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to
subsection (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each
Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and,
to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights
and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall,
to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from
its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption
covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such
Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of
Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05, 10.04 and 10.05 with
respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such
assignment). Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note
to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations
under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes
of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations
in accordance with subsection (d) of this Section.
(c) Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of
the Borrower, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and
Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the
Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant
to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall
be conclusive, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person
whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all
purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be
available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to
time upon reasonable prior notice.
(d) Participations. Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to,
the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural
person or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a
“Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this
Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans (including such Lender’s
Swing
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Line Loans) owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this
Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other
parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative
Agent and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in
connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or
instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender
shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or
waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may
provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment,
waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 10.01 that directly
affects such Participant. Subject to subsection (e) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each
Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and
3.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment
pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also
shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.09 as though it were a Lender,
provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a
Lender.
(e) Limitations upon Participant Rights. A Participant shall not be entitled to
receive any greater payment under Section 3.01 or 3.04 than the applicable Lender
would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant,
unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written
consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to
the benefits of Section 3.01 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to
such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with
Section 10.15 as though it were a Lender.
(f) Certain Pledges. Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest
in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note, if any) to
secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a
Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender
from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as
a party hereto.
(g) Electronic Execution of Assignments. The words “execution,” “signed,”
“signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption shall be deemed to include
electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the
same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a
paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any
applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act,
the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on
the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.
(h) Special Purpose Funding Vehicles. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein, any Lender (a “Granting Lender”) may grant to a special purpose funding
vehicle identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the
Administrative Agent and the Borrower (an “SPC”) the option to provide all or any part of
any Committed Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make pursuant to
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this Agreement; provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any
SPC to fund any Committed Loan, and (ii) if an SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise
fails to make all or any part of such Committed Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to
make such Committed Loan pursuant to the terms hereof. Each party hereto hereby agrees that (i)
neither the grant to any SPC nor the exercise by any SPC of such option shall increase the costs or
expenses or otherwise increase or change the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement
(including its obligations under Section 3.04), (ii) no SPC shall be liable for any
indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement for which a Lender would be liable,
and (iii) the Granting Lender shall for all purposes, including the approval of any amendment,
waiver or other modification of any provision of any Loan Document, remain the lender of record
hereunder. The making of a Committed Loan by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the
Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Committed Loan were made by such 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 debt 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 proceeding under the laws of
the United States or any State thereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein,
any SPC may (i) with notice to, but without prior consent of the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent and with the payment of a processing fee in the amount of $2,500 (unless waived by the
Administrative Agent), assign all or any portion of its right to receive payment with respect to
any Committed Loan to the Granting Lender and (ii) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public
information relating to its funding of Committed Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper
dealer or provider of any surety or Guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC.
(i) Resignation as Swing Line Lender after Assignment. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary contained herein, if at any time Bank of America assigns all of its Commitment and
Loans pursuant to subsection (b) above, Bank of America may, upon 5 Business Days’ notice to the
Borrower and the Lenders, resign as Swing Line Lender. In the event of any such resignation as
Swing Line Lender, the Borrower shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor
Swing Line Lender hereunder; provided, however, that no failure by the Borrower to
appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of Bank of America as Swing Line Lender, as
the case may be. If Bank of America resigns as Swing Line Lender, it shall retain all the rights
of the Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Swing Line Loans made by it and
outstanding as of the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the
Lenders to make Base Rate Committed Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line
Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(c). Upon the appointment of a successor Swing Line Lender,
such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and
duties of the retiring Swing Line Lender, as the case may be.
10.07 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality.
Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the
Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and
to its and its Affiliates’ respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors
and representatives (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is
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made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep
such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting
to have jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National
Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or
regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in
connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any
action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of
rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the
same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective
assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any
actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating
to the Borrower and its obligations, (g) with the consent of the Borrower or (h) to the extent such
Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or
(y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates
on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower.
For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the
Borrower or any Subsidiary relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their respective
businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent or any
Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any Subsidiary,
provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary
after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as
confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in
this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has
exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such
Person would accord to its own confidential information.
Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders acknowledges that (a) the Information may
include material non-public information concerning the Borrower or a Subsidiary, as the case may
be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information
and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable Law,
including Federal and state securities Laws.
10.08 Right of Setoff.
If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each of their
respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or
demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in
whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or
the account of the Borrower against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter
existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender, irrespective of whether or
not such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and
although such obligations of the Borrower may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or
office of such Lender different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such
indebtedness. The rights of each Lender and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in
addition to other rights and
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remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender or their respective Affiliates
may have. Each Lender agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after
any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not
affect the validity of such setoff and application.
10.09 Interest Rate Limitation.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or
agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious
interest permitted by applicable Law (the “Maximum Rate”). If the Administrative Agent or
any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest
shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to
the Borrower. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the
Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted
by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or
premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c)
amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest
throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.
10.10 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.
(a) This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in
different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken
together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents
constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and
supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the
subject matter hereof. 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 that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of
the other parties hereto. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this
Agreement by telecopy or electronic mail shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed
counterpart of this Agreement.
(b) The Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereby agree that at such time as
this Agreement shall have become effective pursuant to the terms of Section 10.10(a), (i) the
Existing Credit Agreement automatically shall be deemed amended and restated in its entirety by
this Agreement and (ii) all of the promissory notes executed in connection with the Existing Credit
Agreement automatically shall be deemed substituted and replaced by the promissory notes executed
in connection with this Agreement, and the lenders under the Existing Credit Agreement holding such
notes hereby agree to promptly return such prior notes to the Borrower marked “cancelled”.
10.11 Survival of Representations and Warranties.
All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other
document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive
the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and warranties have
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been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any
investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding
that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the
time of any Borrowing, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other
Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied.
10.12 Severability.
If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid
or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the
parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable
provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of
the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular
jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
10.13 Replacement of Lenders.
If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or if the Borrower is required
to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any
Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, then the Borrower
may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent,
require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the
restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 10.06), all of its interests,
rights and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an assignee that
shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such
assignment), provided that:
(a) the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee specified in
Section 10.06(b);
(b) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of
its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and
under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.05) from the assignee
(to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the
case of all other amounts);
(c) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under
Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01, such
assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter; and
(d) such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws.
A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as
a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to
require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.
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10.14 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.
(a) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
(b) SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. THE BORROWER IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS,
FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK SITTING IN XXX XXXX XXXX XXX XX XXX XXXXXX XXXXXX DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF
SUCH STATE, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR
RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY
JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN
RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT
OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES
HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE
ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.
NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO
THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST THE BORROWER OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF
ANY JURISDICTION.
(c) WAIVER OF VENUE. THE BORROWER IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE
FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE
LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY
OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION. EACH OF THE PARTIES
HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF
AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.
(d) SERVICE OF PROCESS. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS
IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 10.02. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT
THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.
10.15 Waiver of Jury Trial.
EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE
LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY
ARISING OUT
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OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED
HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A)
CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY
OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE
FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO
ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS
AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
10.16 USA PATRIOT Act Notice.
Each Lender that is subject to the Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent
(for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the
requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26,
2001)) (the “Act”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies
the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information
that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in
accordance with the Act.
10.17 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.
In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby, the Borrower
acknowledges and agrees that: (i) the credit facility provided for hereunder and any related
arranging or other services in connection therewith (including in connection with any amendment,
waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document) are an arm’s-length commercial
transaction between the Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent
and the Arrangers, on the other hand, and the Borrower is capable of evaluating and understanding
and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby
and by the other Loan Documents (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or
thereof); (ii) in connection with the process leading to such transaction, the Administrative Agent
and each Arranger is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the financial advisor,
agent or fiduciary, for the Borrower or any of its Affiliates, stockholders, creditors or employees
or any other Person; (iii) neither the Administrative Agent nor either Arranger has assumed or will
assume an advisory, agency or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Borrower with respect to any
of the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto, including with respect to
any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document (irrespective of
whether the Administrative Agent or either Arranger has advised or is currently advising the
Borrower or any of its Affiliates on other matters) and neither the Administrative Agent nor either
Arranger has any obligation to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates with respect to the
transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the
other Loan Documents; (iv) the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers and their respective
Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from
those of the Borrower and its Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent nor either Arranger
has any obligation to disclose any of such interests by virtue of any advisory, agency or fiduciary
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relationship arising out of the transactions contemplated hereby; and (v) the Administrative
Agent and Arrangers have not provided and will not provide any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax
advice with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby (including any amendment, waiver
or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document) and the Borrower has consulted its own
legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate. The
Borrower hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that it may
have against the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers with respect to any breach or alleged
breach of agency or fiduciary duty arising out of the transactions contemplated hereby.
[The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of
the date first above written.
the date first above written.
[Signatures omitted]
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