CREDIT AGREEMENT by and among VF INVESTMENTS S.A.R.L., VF EUROPE BVBA and VF INTERNATIONAL S.A.G.L., as Borrowers, V.F. CORPORATION, as Guarantor, J.P. MORGAN EUROPE LIMITED, as Administrative Agent, ABN AMRO BANK N.V., as Documentation Agent, HSBC...
Execution Copy
CREDIT AGREEMENT
by and among
VF INVESTMENTS S.A.R.L.,
VF EUROPE BVBA
and
VF INTERNATIONAL S.A.G.L.,
as Borrowers,
V.F. CORPORATION,
as Guarantor,
X.X. XXXXXX EUROPE LIMITED,
as Administrative Agent,
ABN AMRO BANK N.V.,
as Documentation Agent,
HSBC BANK PLC,
as Syndication Agent,
X.X. XXXXXX PLC,
HSBC BANK PLC,
ABN AMRO BANK N.V.,
DRESDNER BANK AG IN FRANKFURT AM MAIN,
ING BANK NV,
INTESA SANPAOLO S.P.A.
and
SANTANDER S.A.,
as Mandated Lead Arrangers,
X.X. XXXXXX PLC,
HSBC BANK PLC
and
ABN AMRO BANK N.V.,
as Bookrunners,
and
THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO FROM TIME TO TIME
as of October 26, 2007
by and among
VF INVESTMENTS S.A.R.L.,
VF EUROPE BVBA
and
VF INTERNATIONAL S.A.G.L.,
as Borrowers,
V.F. CORPORATION,
as Guarantor,
X.X. XXXXXX EUROPE LIMITED,
as Administrative Agent,
ABN AMRO BANK N.V.,
as Documentation Agent,
HSBC BANK PLC,
as Syndication Agent,
X.X. XXXXXX PLC,
HSBC BANK PLC,
ABN AMRO BANK N.V.,
DRESDNER BANK AG IN FRANKFURT AM MAIN,
ING BANK NV,
INTESA SANPAOLO S.P.A.
and
SANTANDER S.A.,
as Mandated Lead Arrangers,
X.X. XXXXXX PLC,
HSBC BANK PLC
and
ABN AMRO BANK N.V.,
as Bookrunners,
and
THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO FROM TIME TO TIME
as of October 26, 2007
Table of Contents
Page | ||||||
ARTICLE I |
||||||
DEFINITIONS AND TERMS |
||||||
1.1. |
Definitions | 2 | ||||
1.2. |
Rules of Interpretation | 16 | ||||
1.3. |
Luxembourg Terms | 17 | ||||
1.4. |
Belgian Terms | 17 | ||||
ARTICLE II |
||||||
THE CREDIT FACILITY |
||||||
2.1. |
Loans | 18 | ||||
2.2. |
Utilization of Alternative Currencies | 21 | ||||
2.3. |
Increase in Total Commitment | 22 | ||||
2.4. |
Use of Proceeds | 23 | ||||
2.5. |
Evidence of Debt | 23 | ||||
2.6. |
Certain Payment Provisions | 23 | ||||
2.7. |
Change of Currency | 24 | ||||
2.8. |
Extension of Stated Termination Date | 25 | ||||
ARTICLE III |
||||||
FUNDING, FEES, AND PAYMENT CONVENTIONS |
||||||
3.1. |
Interest Rate Options | 26 | ||||
3.2. |
Continuations and Elections of Subsequent Interest Periods | 26 | ||||
3.3. |
Payment of Interest | 27 | ||||
3.4. |
Prepayments | 27 | ||||
3.5. |
Manner of Payment | 27 | ||||
3.6. |
Fees | 28 | ||||
3.7. |
Payments to Agent for Lenders | 28 | ||||
3.8. |
Computation of Rates and Fees | 28 | ||||
3.9. |
Deficiency Advances; Failure to Purchase Participations | 29 | ||||
ARTICLE IV |
||||||
CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES |
||||||
4.1. |
Increased Cost and Reduced Return | 29 | ||||
4.2. |
Inability to Determine Interest Rate | 31 | ||||
4.3. |
Illegality | 32 | ||||
4.4. |
Compensation | 32 | ||||
4.5. |
Taxes | 32 | ||||
4.6. |
Change of Lending Office | 34 | ||||
4.7. |
Substitution of Lenders | 34 |
i
Page | ||||||
ARTICLE V |
||||||
CONDITIONS TO MAKING LOANS |
||||||
5.1. |
Conditions of Closing | 35 | ||||
5.2. |
Conditions to Each Loan | 37 | ||||
ARTICLE VI |
||||||
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
||||||
6.1. |
Corporate Existence and Power | 37 | ||||
6.2. |
Corporate and Governmental Authorization; No Contravention | 38 | ||||
6.3. |
Material Subsidiaries | 38 | ||||
6.4. |
Binding Effect | 38 | ||||
6.5. |
Financial Information | 38 | ||||
6.6. |
Litigation | 38 | ||||
6.7. |
Compliance with ERISA | 38 | ||||
6.8. |
Environmental Matters | 39 | ||||
6.9. |
Taxes | 39 | ||||
6.10. |
Margin Stock | 39 | ||||
6.11. |
Investment Company | 40 | ||||
6.12. |
Full Disclosure | 40 | ||||
6.13. |
No Consents, Etc. | 40 | ||||
ARTICLE VII |
||||||
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS |
||||||
7.1. |
Financial Reports, Etc. | 40 | ||||
7.2. |
Payment of Taxes | 43 | ||||
7.3. |
Maintenance of Properties; Insurance | 43 | ||||
7.4. |
Compliance with Laws | 43 | ||||
7.5. |
Books and Records | 44 | ||||
ARTICLE VIII |
||||||
NEGATIVE COVENANTS |
||||||
8.1. |
Consolidated Indebtedness to Consolidated Capitalization | 44 | ||||
8.2. |
Liens | 44 | ||||
8.3. |
Indebtedness of Subsidiaries | 45 | ||||
8.4. |
Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets | 45 | ||||
8.5. |
Change in Control | 46 | ||||
ARTICLE IX |
||||||
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND ACCELERATION |
||||||
9.1. |
Events of Default | 46 | ||||
9.2. |
Agent to Act | 48 | ||||
9.3. |
Cumulative Rights | 48 | ||||
9.4. |
No Waiver | 49 |
ii
Page | ||||||
9.5. |
Allocation of Proceeds | 49 | ||||
ARTICLE X |
||||||
THE AGENT |
||||||
10.1. |
Appointment and Authorization of the Agent | 49 | ||||
10.2. |
Delegation of Duties | 50 | ||||
10.3. |
Liabilities of Agent | 50 | ||||
10.4. |
Reliance by Agent | 50 | ||||
10.5. |
Notice of Default | 51 | ||||
10.6. |
Indemnification of Agent | 51 | ||||
10.7. |
Agent in its Individual Capacity | 51 | ||||
10.8. |
Successor Agents | 52 | ||||
10.9. |
Agent May File Proofs of Claim | 52 | ||||
10.10. |
Other Agents and Arrangers | 53 | ||||
10.11. |
Non-Reliance on the Agent and Other Lenders | 53 | ||||
ARTICLE XI |
||||||
GUARANTEE |
||||||
11.1. |
Guarantee | 53 | ||||
11.2. |
No Subrogation | 54 | ||||
11.3. |
Amendments, etc. with respect to the Obligations | 54 | ||||
11.4. |
Guarantee Absolute and Unconditional | 55 | ||||
11.5. |
Reinstatement | 55 | ||||
11.6. |
Payments | 55 | ||||
11.7. |
Independent Obligations | 56 | ||||
ARTICLE XII |
||||||
MISCELLANEOUS |
||||||
12.1. |
Assignments and Participations | 56 | ||||
12.2. |
Notices | 59 | ||||
12.3. |
Right of Set-off; Adjustments | 62 | ||||
12.4. |
Survival | 63 | ||||
12.5. |
Expenses | 63 | ||||
12.6. |
Amendments and Waivers | 63 | ||||
12.7. |
Counterparts | 64 | ||||
12.8. |
Termination | 64 | ||||
12.9. |
Indemnification; Limitation of Liability | 64 | ||||
12.10. |
Severability | 65 | ||||
12.11. |
Integration | 65 | ||||
12.12. |
Agreement Controls | 65 | ||||
12.13. |
Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial | 66 | ||||
12.14. |
Confidentiality | 67 | ||||
12.15. |
Judgment Currency | 67 | ||||
12.16. |
“Know Your Customer” Checks | 68 | ||||
Schedule 1.01 | 74 |
iii
EXHIBIT A
|
Applicable Commitment Percentages | A-1 | ||
EXHIBIT B
|
Form of Assignment and Assumption | B-1 | ||
EXHIBIT C
|
Notice of Appointment (or Revocation) of Authorized Representative | C-1 | ||
EXHIBIT D
|
Form of Borrowing Notice | D-1 | ||
EXHIBIT E
|
Form of Interest Rate Selection Notice | E-1 | ||
EXHIBIT F
|
Compliance Certificate | G-1 | ||
EXHIBIT G
|
Form of Amendment Agreement | H-1 |
i
THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of October 26, 2007 (the “Agreement”), is made by and
among:
VF INVESTMENTS S.A.R.L., a Luxembourg corporation (“VF Investments”), VF EUROPE BVBA,
a Belgian corporation (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid/société privée à
responsabilité limitée) (“VF Europe”) and VF INTERNATIONAL S.A.G.L., a Swiss corporation
(Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung/Société à responsabilité limitée/Società garanzia
limitata/Limited Liability Company) (“VF International” and, together with VF Investments
and VF Europe, the “Borrowers”),
V.F. CORPORATION, a Pennsylvania corporation having its principal place of business in
Greensboro, North Carolina (the “Guarantor”),
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., in its capacity as a Lender (“JPMCB”), and each other
financial institution executing and delivering a signature page hereto and each other financial
institution which may hereafter become a Lender pursuant to Section 2.3 or execute and deliver an
instrument of assignment with respect to this Agreement pursuant to Section 12.1 (hereinafter such
financial institutions may be referred to individually as a “Lender” or collectively as the
“Lenders”),
X.X. XXXXXX EUROPE LIMITED, in its capacity as Administrative Agent for the Lenders (in such
capacity, and together with any successor agent appointed in accordance with the terms of
Section 10.8, the “Agent”),
HSBC BANK PLC, in its capacity as Syndication Agent, and
ABN AMRO BANK N.V., in its capacity as Documentation Agent;
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Borrowers have requested that the Lenders make available to VF Europe, VF
Investments and VF International a revolving credit facility of up to €250,000,000 (which may be
increased to €300,000,000), the proceeds of which are to be used for general corporate purposes
including, without limitation, acquisitions and which shall include a multi-currency credit
facility in readily available currencies; and
WHEREAS, the Lenders are willing to make such facilities available to the Borrowers upon the
terms and conditions set forth herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Borrowers, the Guarantor, the Lenders and the Agent hereby agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND TERMS
1.1. Definitions. For the purposes of this Agreement, in addition to the definitions
set forth above, the following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below:
“Acquisition” means the acquisition of an equity interest in another Person (including
the purchase of an option, warrant or convertible or similar type security to acquire such a
controlling interest at the time it becomes exercisable by the holder thereof), whether by purchase
of such equity interest or upon exercise of an option or warrant for, or conversion of securities
into such equity interest, made with the intent to hold such equity interest as a strategic
investment and not for speculative purposes.
“Additional Commitment Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 2.8(d).
“Affected Currency” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.2(b).
“Affected Lender” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.7.
“Affiliate” means, as to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly
controlling, controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, such Person. A Person
shall be deemed to be “controlled by” any other Person if such other Person possesses, directly or
indirectly, power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person
whether by contract or otherwise.
“Agent” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.
“Agent-Related Persons” means the Agent (including any successor administrative
agent), together with its Affiliates, and the officers, directors, employees, agents and attorneys-
in-fact of such Persons and Affiliates.
“Agreement Currency” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.15(b).
“Alternative Currency” means Japanese yen, British pounds sterling, Swiss francs,
Dollars and any other freely available currency notified to the Agent upon not less than five
(5) Business Days’ prior written notice that, in the opinion of all Lenders, in their sole
discretion, is at such time freely traded in the offshore interbank foreign exchange markets and is
freely transferable and convertible into Euros in the interbank currency market.
“Alternative Currency Equivalent Amount” means with respect to a specified Alternative
Currency and a specified Euro amount, the amount of such Alternative Currency into which such Euro
amount would be converted, based on the applicable Borrowing Date Exchange Rate.
“Applicable Commitment Percentage” means, for each Lender at any time, a fraction,
with respect to the Facility, the numerator of which shall be such Lender’s Loans then
outstanding and the denominator of which shall be the Outstandings at such time (or, prior to
any termination of the Commitments, the numerator of which shall be such Lender’s Commitment
2
then
in effect and the denominator of which shall be the Total Commitment then in effect), which
Applicable Commitment Percentage for each Lender as of the Closing Date is set forth in Exhibit A.
“Applicable Creditor” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section
12.15(b).
“Applicable Lending Office” means, for each Lender and for each Type of Loan made to
each Borrower, the “Lending Office” of such Lender (or of an affiliate of such Lender) designated
for such Type of Loan on the signature pages hereof or such other office of such Lender (or an
affiliate of such Lender) as such Lender may from time to time specify to the Agent and the
Borrowers by written notice in accordance with the terms hereof as the office by which its Loans of
such Type to such Borrower are to be made and maintained.
“Applicable Margin” means, with respect to the Facility, that percent per annum set
forth below, which shall be based upon the higher Rating of outstanding senior unsecured
Indebtedness of the Guarantor existing at the date of determination as specified in the table
below; provided, however that if there is a split in Ratings of more than one Tier, the
Applicable Margin shall be based upon the Tier that is one tier lower than the higher Rating:
Rating S&P or | Applicable Margin | |||||
Tier | Xxxxx’x | for Loans | ||||
I |
³ A + or ³ A1 | 0.150% | ||||
II |
A or A2 | 0.175% | ||||
III |
A- or A3 | 0.200% | ||||
IV |
BBB+ or Baa1 | 0.275% | ||||
V |
£ BBB or £ Baa2 | 0.400% |
The Applicable Margin shall be established from time to time based upon the Ratings in effect from
time to time. Any change in the Applicable Margin due to a change in any Rating shall be effective
on the date of such change in such Rating.
“Approved Fund” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.1(g).
“Assignment and Assumption” shall mean an Assignment and Assumption in the form of
Exhibit B (with blanks appropriately filled in) delivered to the Agent in connection with an
assignment of a Lender’s interest under this Agreement pursuant to Section 12.1.
“Authorized Representative” means, with respect to the Guarantor or any Borrower, any
of the Chairman of the Board, President, Vice President-Treasurer, any other Vice President or any
member of the Board of Managers or any comparable governing body of the Guarantor or such Borrower,
or any other Person expressly designated by the written authorization of any of the foregoing as an
Authorized Representative of the Guarantor or such Borrower, as set forth from time to time in a
certificate in the form of Exhibit C.
“Benefit Arrangement” means at any time an employee benefit plan within the meaning of
Section 3(3) of ERISA which is not a Plan or a Multiemployer Plan and which is maintained or
otherwise contributed to by any member of the ERISA Group.
3
“Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor
body).
“Borrower’s Account” means, with respect to any Borrower, a demand deposit account
with the bank specified below having the number set forth opposite the name of such Borrower below
or any successor account with such bank or any other bank specified by such Borrower to the Agent:
Borrower | Bank | Account Number | ||
VF Investments, S.a.r.l
|
ABN AMRO Bank | 178756-6001 | ||
(Luxembourg) | ||||
VF Europe BVBA
|
ABN AMRO Bank - Rotterdam | 00-00-00-000 | ||
VF International, S.a.g.l.
|
ABN AMRO Bank | N213661A |
“Borrowers” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.
“Borrowing Date Exchange Rate” means, with respect to a specified Loan in an
Alternative Currency, the Spot Rate of Exchange determined for the date such Loan is originally
made, provided that, if such Loan is Continued for a subsequent Interest Period pursuant to
Section 2.2(c), the Borrowing Date Exchange Rate with respect to such Loan shall be the Spot Rate
of Exchange as of the effective date of such Continuation of such Loan, and the Euro Equivalent
Amount of such Loan shall be adjusted as set forth in Section 2.2.
“Borrowing Notice” means the notice delivered by an Authorized Representative of the
applicable Borrower and the Guarantor in connection with a Loan in the form of Exhibit D.
“Business Day” means, (i) except as expressly provided in clauses (ii) and (iii), any
day which is not a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which banks in the State of New York are authorized
or obligated by law, executive order or governmental decree to be closed, (ii) with respect to the
selection, funding, interest rate, payment, and Interest Period of any Offshore Rate Loan
denominated in Dollars, any day which is a Business Day, as described in clause (i) above, and on
which the relevant international financial markets are open for the transaction of business
contemplated by this Agreement and foreign exchange transactions in London, England and New York,
New York, (iii) with respect to the selection, funding, interest rate, payment and Interest Period
of any Loan denominated in Euros, any day which is a Business Day as described in clause
(ii) above, and on which TARGET (Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross settlement Express
Transfer system) or any successor thereto is scheduled to be open for business, and (iv) with
respect to the selection funding, interest rate, payment and Interest Period for any Offshore Rate
Loan not denominated in Dollars, any day which is a Business Day as described in clause (ii) above,
and on which the relevant Funding Bank is open for the transaction of business contemplated by this
Agreement and on which dealings in the relevant Alternative Currency are carried on in the
applicable offshore foreign exchange interbank market in which disbursement of or payment in such
Alternative Currency will be made or received hereunder.
4
“Capital Leases” means all leases which have been capitalized in accordance with GAAP
as in effect from time to time including Statement No. 13 of the Financial Accounting Standards
Board and any related amendments, interpretations and successors thereof.
“Change of Control” means, at any time:
(i) any person or group of persons (within the meaning of Section 13 or 14 of the
Exchange Act, other than the Trust, shall have acquired beneficial ownership (within the
meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act)), of 35% or more of the outstanding shares of
Voting Securities of the Guarantor;
(ii) as of any date a majority of the Board of Directors of the Guarantor consists of
individuals who were not either (A) directors of the Guarantor as of the corresponding date
of the previous year, (B) selected or nominated to become directors by the Board of
Directors of the Guarantor of which a majority consisted of individuals described in clause
(A), or (C) selected or nominated to become directors by the Board of Directors of the
Guarantor of which a majority consisted of individuals described in clauses (A) and (B).
“Closing Date” means the date as of which this Agreement is executed by the Guarantor,
the Borrowers, the Lenders and the Agent and on which the conditions set forth in Section 5.1 have
been satisfied or waived.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any regulations
promulgated thereunder.
“Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the obligation of such Lender to make
Loans to the Borrowers up to an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding equal to
such Lender’s Applicable Commitment Percentage of the Total Commitment.
“Compensation Period” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.6(b).
“Consistent Basis” in reference to the application of GAAP means the accounting
principles observed in the period referred to are comparable in all material respects to those
applied in the preparation of the audited financial statements of the Guarantor referred to in
Section 6.5(a) (except for those changes concurred in by the Guarantor’s independent public
accountants).
“Consolidated Capitalization” means, as of any date on which the amount thereof is to
be determined, the sum of Consolidated Indebtedness plus Consolidated Net Worth.
“Consolidated Indebtedness” means, as of any date on which the amount thereof is to be
determined, all Funded Indebtedness of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries, all determined on a
consolidated basis.
“Consolidated Net Worth” means, as of any date on which the amount thereof is to be
determined, the consolidated stockholders’ equity of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries, all as
determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP applied on a Consistent Basis.
5
“Continue”, “Continuation”, and “Continued” shall refer to the
continuation pursuant to Section 2.2(c) or 3.2 hereof of a Fixed Rate Loan of one Type as a Fixed
Rate Loan of the same Type from one Interest Period to the next Interest Period.
“Default” means any event or condition which, with the giving or receipt of notice or
lapse of time or both unless cured or waived, would constitute an Event of Default hereunder.
“Default Rate” means with respect to any Loan, fee, or other amount payable in respect
of Obligations, a rate of one percent (1%) above the interest rate otherwise applicable thereto
(or, if no interest rate is otherwise applicable thereto, the rate that would be applicable to a
Euribor Rate Loan with a three-month Interest Period made on the date of the payment default to
which such Default Rate applies).
“Dollars” and the symbol “$” means dollars constituting legal tender for the payment
of public and private debts in the United States of America.
“Eligible Assignee” has the meaning specified in Section 12.1(g).
“EMU Legislation” means (a) the Treaty on European Union (the Treaty of Rome of
March 25, 1957, as amended by the Single Xxxxxxxx Xxx 0000, the Maastricht Treaty of 1992 and the
Amsterdam Treaty of 1998), and (b) legislative measures of the European Council (including without
limitation European Council regulations) for the introduction of, changeover to or operation of the
Euro, in each case as amended or supplemented from time to time.
“Environmental Laws” means any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law,
ordinance, code, rule, regulation, order, decree, permit or license regulating, relating to, or
imposing liability or standards of conduct concerning, any environmental matters or conditions,
environmental protection or conservation, including without limitation, the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended; the Superfund
Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, as amended; the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act,
as amended; the Toxic Substances Control Act, as amended; the Clean Air Act, as amended; the Clean
Water Act, as amended; together with all regulations promulgated thereunder, and any other
“Superfund” or “Superlien” law.
“Equity Interests” means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares, interests,
rights, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of (or other
ownership or profit interests or units in) such Person and all of the warrants, options or other
rights for the purchase, acquisition or exchange from such Person of any of the foregoing
(including through convertible securities).
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from
time to time, and any successor statute and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“ERISA Group” means the Guarantor, any Subsidiary and all members of a controlled
group of corporations and all trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under common
control which, together with the Guarantor or any Subsidiary, are treated as a single employer
under Section 414 of the Code.
6
“Euribor Rate” means (a) for any Interest Period with respect to any Euribor Rate Loan
other than one referred to in subsection (b) of this definition, the sum of (x) the Applicable
Margin, plus (y) the following:
(i) the rate per annum equal to the rate determined by the Agent to be the offered rate
that appears on the page of the Reuters service that displays an average Banking Federation
of the European Union Interest Settlement Rate for deposits in Euros (for delivery on the
first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period,
determined as of approximately 11:00 A.M. (Brussels time) two Business Days prior to the
first day of such Interest Period, or
(ii) in the event the rate referenced in the preceding clause (i) does not appear on
such page or service or such page or service shall cease to be available, the rate per annum
equal to the rate determined by the Agent to be the offered rate on such other page or other
service that displays an average Banking Federation of the European Union Interest
Settlement Rate for deposits in Euros (for delivery on the first day of such Interest
Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period, determined as of approximately
11:00 A.M. (Brussels time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period,
or
(iii) in the event the rates referenced in the preceding subsections (i) and (ii) are
not available, the rate per annum determined by the Agent as the rate of interest at which
deposits in Euros for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period in same day funds in
the approximate amount of the Euribor Rate Loan being made, continued or converted by JPMCB
and with a term equivalent to such Interest Period would be offered by JPMCB’s London Branch
to major banks in the London interbank market for such currency at their request at
approximately 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such
Interest Period; and
(b) for any interest period with respect to any Euribor Rate Loan advanced by a Lender required to
comply with the relevant requirements of the Bank of England and/or the Financial Services
Authority of the United Kingdom or the European Central Bank, the sum of (i) the rate determined in
accordance with subsection (a) of this definition (including the Applicable Margin) and (ii) the
Mandatory Cost for such Interest Period.
“Euribor Rate Loan” means a Loan for which the rate of interest is determined by
reference to the Euribor Rate.
“Euro” and “€” each means the lawful currency of the Participating Member
States introduced in accordance with the EMU Legislation.
“Euro Equivalent Amount” means, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in Euros,
such amount and (b) with respect to a specified Alternative Currency amount, the amount of Euros
into which the Alternative Currency amount would be converted, based on the applicable Borrowing
Date Exchange Rate, provided, however, that, for purposes of any determination of
compliance with Sections 2.1(a), 2.1(b) and 5.2(d), the Euro Equivalent Amount of any amount
7
denominated in an Alternative Currency shall be calculated on the basis of the Spot Rate of
Exchange on the date of such determination.
“Eurocurrency Liabilities” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section
4.1(e).
“Event of Default” means any of the occurrences set forth as such in Section 9.1.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the
regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Extending Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 2.8(e).
“Extension Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.8(a).
“Facility” means the facility described in Section 2.1 providing for Loans to the
Borrowers by the Lenders (including increases pursuant to Section 2.3) in an aggregate principal
amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the Total Commitment.
“Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if
necessary, to the nearest 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 charged to JPMCB on
such day on such transactions as determined by the Agent.
“Final Termination Date” means the earliest of (i) the latest Stated Termination Date
then in effect, (ii) the date of termination of the Lenders’ obligations pursuant to Section 9.1
upon the occurrence of an Event of Default or (iii) the date the Borrowers voluntarily and
permanently terminate the Facility in accordance with Section 2.1(e) hereof.
“Fixed Rate” means either of the Euribor Rate or the Offshore Rate, or both of the
foregoing, as the case may be.
“Fixed Rate Loan” means a Euribor Rate Loan or an Offshore Rate Loan, or both of the
foregoing, as the case may be.
“Fund” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.1(g).
“Funded Indebtedness” means with respect to any Person, without duplication, (a) all
indebtedness in respect of borrowed money, (b) all obligations under Capital Leases, (c) the
deferred purchase price of any property or services that are in the nature of money borrowed, and
(d) indebtedness evidenced by a promissory note, bond, debenture or similar written obligation for
the payment of money (including non-contingent, past-due obligations under reimbursement agreements
and conditional sales or similar title retention agreements), other than (x) trade
8
payables and accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business, and (y)
indebtedness secured by cash deposits subject to a legal right of set-off and not classified as a
liability under GAAP.
“Funding Bank” means any banking institution approved by the Agent located within a
country whose currency is an Alternative Currency.
“GAAP” or “Generally Accepted Accounting Principles” means generally accepted
accounting principles, being those principles of accounting set forth in pronouncements of the
Financial Accounting Standards Board, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, or
which have other substantial authoritative support and are applicable in the circumstances as of
the date of a report.
“Governmental Authority” shall mean any federal, state, municipal, national or other
governmental department, commission, board, bureau, court, agency or instrumentality or political
subdivision thereof or any entity or officer exercising executive, legislative, judicial,
regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to any government or any court, in each
case whether associated with a state of the United States, the United States, or a foreign entity
or government.
“Guarantee” by any Person means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such
Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person and, without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or
otherwise, of such Person (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or
payment of) such Indebtedness (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, by agreement
to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain
financial statement conditions or otherwise) and the purpose of such contracts is to provide credit
support in the nature of a guaranty or (b) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other
manner the holder of such Indebtedness of the payment thereof or to protect such holder against
loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), provided that the term “Guarantee” shall not include
endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The term “Guarantee”
used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.
“Guarantor” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.
“Hazardous Material” means and includes any pollutant, contaminant, or hazardous,
toxic or dangerous waste, substance or material (including without limitation petroleum products,
asbestos-containing materials and lead), the generation, handling, storage, transportation,
disposal, treatment, release, discharge or emission of which is subject to any Environmental Law.
“Indebtedness” means as to any Person, without duplication, (a) all Funded
Indebtedness of such Person, (b) all indebtedness secured by any Lien on any property or asset
owned or held by such Person regardless or whether the indebtedness secured thereby shall have been
assumed by such Person or is non-recourse to the credit of such Person, other than indebtedness
secured by cash deposits subject to a legal right of set-off and not classified as a liability
under GAAP, and (c) all Indebtedness of third parties Guaranteed by such Person.
9
“Indemnified Liabilities” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.9.
“Indemnified Parties” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.9.
“Information” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.14.
“Interest Period” means with respect to any Loan, a period commencing on the date such
Loan is made or Continued and ending, at the Borrower’s option, on the date one, two, three or six
months (and, subject to Section 2.1(c)(iii), nine or twelve months) thereafter as notified to the
Agent by the Authorized Representative of the Borrower of such Loan in accordance with the terms
hereof; provided that,
(i) if any Interest Period would end on a day which is not a Business Day, such
Interest Period shall be extended to the next Business Day (unless such extension would
cause the applicable Interest Period to end in the succeeding calendar month, in which case
such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day);
(ii) any Interest Period which 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 a calendar month; and
(iii) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the latest Stated Termination Date then in
effect.
“Interest Rate Selection Notice” means, with respect to any Loan, the written notice
delivered by an Authorized Representative of the applicable Borrower and the Guarantor in
connection with the election of a subsequent Interest Period for such Loan in the form of
Exhibit E.
“JPMCB” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.
“Judgment Currency” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.15(b).
“Lender” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.
“Lien” means any interest in property securing any obligation owed to, or a claim by,
a Person other than the owner of the property, whether such interest is based on the common law,
statute or contract, and including but not limited to the lien or security interest arising from a
mortgage, encumbrance, pledge, security agreement, conditional sale or trust receipt or a lease,
consignment or bailment for security purposes. For the purposes of this Agreement, the Guarantor
and any Subsidiary shall be deemed to be the owner of any property which it has acquired or holds
subject to a conditional sale agreement, financing lease, or other arrangement pursuant to which
title to the property has been retained by or vested in some other Person for security purposes.
“Loan Documents” means this Agreement and all other instruments and documents
heretofore or hereafter executed or delivered to or in favor of any Lender or the Agent in
10
connection with the Loans made and transactions contemplated under this Agreement, as the same
may be amended, supplemented or replaced from the time to time.
“Loan Party” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.14.
“Loans” means any borrowing in accordance with Section 2.1; each such borrowing may be
a Euribor Rate Loan or an Offshore Rate Loan.
“Luxembourg” means the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
“Luxembourg Companies Act” means the Luxembourg act dated August 10, 1915 on
commercial companies, as amended.
“Mandatory Cost” means the percentage rate per annum calculated by the Agent in
accordance with Schedule 1.01.
“Margin Stock” shall have the meaning of such term within Regulation U of the Board.
“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (i) the business,
financial position or results of operations of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries, taken as a
whole, (ii) the ability of the Guarantor or any Borrower to pay or perform its respective
obligations, liabilities and indebtedness under the Loan Documents as such payment or performance
becomes due in accordance with the terms thereof, or (iii) the rights, powers and remedies of the
Agent or any Lender under any Loan Document or the validity, legality or enforceability thereof.
“Material Plan” means, at any time, a Plan or Plans having aggregate Unfunded
Liabilities in excess of $100,000,000.
“Material Subsidiary” means at any time any Borrower and any Subsidiary which as of
such time meets the definition of a “significant subsidiary” contained as of the date hereof in
Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Moody’s” means Xxxxx’x Investors Service, Inc.
“Multiemployer Plan” means at any time an employee benefit plan within the meaning of
Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which any member of the ERISA Group is then making, or is accruing
an obligation to make, contributions or has within the preceding five plan years made
contributions, including for these purposes any Person which ceased to be a member of the ERISA
Group during such five-year period.
“New Lender” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.3(a).
“Non-Extending Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 2.8(b).
“Notice Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.8(b).
“Obligations” means the unpaid principal of and interest on (including interest
accruing after the maturity of the Loans and interest accruing after the filing of any petition in
bankruptcy,
11
or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or like proceeding, relating to any
Borrower, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such
proceeding) the Loans and all other obligations and liabilities of the Borrowers to the Agent or to
any Lender, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, or now
existing or hereafter incurred, which may arise under or out of this Agreement or any other
document made, delivered or given in connection herewith or therewith, whether on account of
principal, interest, fees, indemnities, costs, expenses (including all fees, charges and
disbursements of counsel to the Agent or to any Lender that are required to be paid by the
Borrowers pursuant hereto) or otherwise.
“Offshore Rate” means (a) for any Interest Period with respect to any Offshore Rate
Loan other than one referred to in subsection (b) of this definition, the sum of (x) the Applicable
Margin, plus (y) the following:
(i) the rate per annum equal to the rate determined by the Agent to be the offered rate
that appears on the page of the Reuters service that displays an average British Bankers
Association Interest Settlement Rate for deposits in the relevant Alternative Currency (for
delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest
Period, determined as of approximately 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Business Days prior to
(or in the case of a Loan denominated in Sterling, on) the first day of such Interest
Period, or
(ii) in the event the rate referenced in the preceding clause (i) does not appear on
such page or service or such page or service shall cease to be available, the rate per annum
equal to the rate determined by the Agent to be the offered rate on such other page or other
service that displays an average British Bankers Association Interest Settlement Rate for
deposits in the relevant Alternative Currency (for delivery on the first day of such
Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period, determined as of
approximately 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Business Days prior to (or in the case of a Loan
denominated in Sterling, on) the first day of such Interest Period, or
(iii) in the event the rates referenced in the preceding subsections (i) and (ii) are
not available, the rate per annum determined by the Agent as the rate of interest at which
deposits in the relevant Alternative Currency for delivery on the first day of such Interest
Period in same day funds in the approximate amount of the Offshore Rate Loan being made or
continued by JPMCB and with a term equivalent to such Interest Period would be offered by
JPMCB’s London Branch to major banks in the London interbank market for such currency at
their request at approximately 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Business Days prior to (or in
the case of a Loan denominated in Sterling, on) the first day of such Interest Period; and
(b) for any Interest Period with respect to any Offshore Rate Loan advanced by a Lender
required to comply with the relevant requirements of the Bank of England and/or the Financial
Services Authority of the United Kingdom or the European Central Bank, the sum of (i) the rate
determined in accordance with subsection (a) of this definition (including the Applicable Margin)
and (ii) the Mandatory Cost for such Interest Period.
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“Offshore Rate Loan” means a Loan in an Alternative Currency that bears interest based
on an Offshore Rate.
“Organizational Documents” means with respect to any corporation, limited liability
company, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership or other legally
authorized incorporated or unincorporated entity, the articles of incorporation, certificate of
incorporation, articles of organization, articles of association, certificate of limited
partnership or other applicable organizational or charter documents relating to the creation of
such entity.
“Other Taxes” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.5(b).
“Outstandings” means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate principal amount
of all Loans then outstanding.
“Overnight Rate” means, for any day, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in
Dollars, the Federal Funds Rate and (b) with respect to any amount denominated in Euros or an
Alternative Currency other than Dollars, the rate of interest per annum at which overnight deposits
in Euros or the applicable Alternative Currency, as the case may be, in an amount approximately
equal to the amount with respect to which such rate is being determined, would be offered for such
day by a branch or Affiliate of the Agent located in the applicable interbank market for such
currency to major banks in such interbank market.
“Participant” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.1(d).
“Participating Member State” means each state so described in any EMU Legislation.
“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and any successor thereto.
“Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company,
limited liability partnership, trust, unincorporated organization, association, joint venture or a
government or agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Plan” means at any time an employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer
Plan) which is covered by Title IV of ERISA or subject to the minimum funding standards under
Section 412 of the Code and either (i) is maintained, or contributed to, by any member of the ERISA
Group for employees of any member of the ERISA Group or (ii) has at any time within the preceding
five years been maintained, or contributed to, by any Person which was at such time a member of the
ERISA Group for employees of any Person which was at such time a member of the ERISA Group.
“Principal Office” means the principal office of the Agent, presently located at 000
Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX, Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxx, or such other office and address as the
Agent may from time to time designate.
“Rate Adjustment Payment” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section
2.2(c).
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“Rating” means the rating of senior unsecured Indebtedness of the Guarantor in effect
at any time such rating is made by either of Moody’s or S&P.
“Register” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 12.1(c).
“Reference Banks” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., or its successor.
“Regulation D” means Regulation D of the Board as the same may be amended or
supplemented from time to time.
“Required Lenders” means, as of any date, the holders of more than 50% of the Total
Commitment then in effect or, if the Commitments have been terminated, the Outstandings.
“Same Day Funds” means (a) with respect to disbursements and payments in Euros,
immediately available funds, and (b) with respect to disbursements and payments in an Alternative
Currency, same day or other funds as may be determined by the Agent to be customary in the place of
disbursement or payment for the settlement of international banking transactions in the relevant
Alternative Currency.
“Significant Subsidiary” means at any time any Borrower or any other Subsidiary,
except Subsidiaries which at such time have been designated by the Guarantor (by notice to the
Agent, which may be amended from time to time, which notices shall be made available by the Agent
to the Lenders upon request) as nonmaterial and which, if aggregated and considered as a single
Subsidiary, would not meet the definition of “significant subsidiary” in Regulation S-X of the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group, a division of XxXxxx-Xxxx.
“Spot Rate of Exchange” means (i) in determining the Euro Equivalent Amount of a
specified Alternative Currency amount as of any date, the spot exchange rate determined by the
Agent in accordance with its usual procedures for the purchase by the Agent of Euros with such
Alternative Currency at approximately 10:00 A.M. (London time) on the Business Day that is two
(2) Business Days prior to such date, and (ii) in determining the Alternative Currency Equivalent
Amount of a specified Euro amount on any date, the spot exchange rate determined by the Agent in
accordance with its usual procedures for the purchase by the Agent of such Alternative Currency
with Euros at approximately 10:00 A.M. (London time) on the Business Day that is two Business Days
prior to such date.
“Stated Termination Date” means October 26, 2012, subject to the extension thereof
pursuant to Section 2.8; provided, however that the Stated Termination Date for any
Lender that is a Non-Extending Lender with respect to any requested extension pursuant to Section
2.8 shall be the Stated Termination Date in effect immediately prior to the applicable Extension
Date for all purposes of this Agreement.
“Subsidiary” means any corporation or other entity in which more than 50% of its
outstanding Voting Securities or more than 50% of all equity interests is owned directly or
indirectly by the Guarantor and/or by one or more of the Guarantor’s Subsidiaries.
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“Substitute Rate” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.2.
“Taxes” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.5(a).
“Termination Date” means, as to any Lender, the earliest of (i) the Stated Termination
Date applicable to such Lender, (ii) the date of termination of the Lenders’ obligations pursuant
to Section 9.1 upon the occurrence of an Event of Default or (iii) the date the Borrowers
voluntarily and permanently terminate the Facility in accordance with Section 2.1(e) hereof.
“Total Available Commitment” means, as to any Lender at any time, an amount equal to
the excess, if any, of (a) such Lender’s Commitment then in effect over (b) the sum of (i) such
Lender’s then outstanding Euribor Rate Loans and (ii) the Euro Equivalent Amount of such Lender’s
then outstanding Offshore Rate Loans.
“Total Commitment” means a principal amount equal to (a) €250,000,000 or (b) at
such time as Exhibit A hereto is amended by the entering into of one or more amendment agreements
pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof, an amount equal to up to €300,000,000, as such amounts are
reduced from time to time in accordance with Section 2.1(e).
“Trust” means the respective trusts established under those certain deeds of trust
dated August 21, 1951 made by Xxxx X. Xxxxxx and under the will of Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, deceased.
“Type” shall mean any type of Loan (i.e., a Euribor Rate Loan or an Offshore Rate
Loan).
“Unfunded Liabilities” means, with respect to any Plan at any time, the amount (if
any) by which (i) the value of all benefit liabilities under such Plan, determined on a plan
termination basis using the assumptions prescribed by the PBGC for purposes of Section 4044 of
ERISA, exceeds (ii) the fair market value of all Plan assets allocable to such liabilities under
Title IV of ERISA (excluding any accrued but unpaid contributions), all determined as of the then
most recent valuation date for such Plan, but only to the extent such excess represents a potential
liability of a member of the ERISA Group to the PBGC or any other Person under Title IV of ERISA.
“VF Europe” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.
“VF International” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble
hereto.
“VF Investments” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.
“Voting Securities” means shares of capital stock issued by a corporation, or
equivalent interests in any other Person, the holders of which are ordinarily, in the absence of
contingencies, entitled to vote for the election of directors (or persons performing similar
functions) of such Person, even if the right so to vote has been suspended by the happening of such
a contingency.
“Wholly Owned Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary all of the shares of capital stock or
other ownership interests of which (except directors’ qualifying shares and, in the case of any
15
Subsidiary organized in a jurisdiction outside of the United States, shares not exceeding 5%
of total shares) are at the time directly or indirectly owned by the Guarantor.
1.2. Rules of Interpretation.
(a) All accounting terms not specifically defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to
such terms and shall be interpreted in accordance with GAAP applied on a Consistent Basis;
provided that, if the Guarantor notifies the Agent that the Guarantor wishes to amend any
covenant in Article VIII to eliminate the effect of any change in GAAP on the operation of such
covenant (or if the Agent notifies the Guarantor that the Required Lenders wish to amend
Article VIII for such purpose), then the Guarantor’s compliance with such covenant shall be
determined on the basis of GAAP in effect immediately before the relevant change in GAAP became
effective, until either such notice is withdrawn or such covenant is amended in a manner
satisfactory to the Guarantor and the Required Lenders.
(b) Each term defined in Articles 1, 8 or 9 of the New York Uniform Commercial Code shall have
the meaning given therein unless otherwise defined herein, except to the extent that the Uniform
Commercial Code of another jurisdiction is controlling, in which case such terms shall have the
meaning given in the Uniform Commercial Code of the applicable jurisdiction.
(c) The headings, subheadings and table of contents used herein or in any other Loan Document
are solely for convenience of reference and shall not constitute a part of any such document or
affect the meaning, construction or effect of any provision thereof.
(d) Except as otherwise expressly provided, references in any Loan Document to articles,
sections, paragraphs, clauses, annexes, appendices, exhibits and schedules are references to
articles, sections, paragraphs, clauses, annexes, appendices, exhibits and schedules in or to such
Loan Document.
(e) All definitions set forth herein or in any other Loan Document shall apply to the singular
as well as the plural form of such defined term, and all references to the masculine gender shall
include reference to the feminine or neuter gender, and vice versa, as the context may require.
(f) When used herein or in any other Loan Document, words such as “hereunder”, “hereto”,
“hereof” and “herein” and other words of like import shall, unless the context clearly indicates to
the contrary, refer to the whole of the applicable document and not to any particular article,
section, subsection, paragraph or clause thereof.
(g) References to “including” means including without limiting the generality of any
description preceding such term, and for purposes hereof the rule of ejusdem generis shall not be
applicable to limit a general statement, followed by or referable to an enumeration of specific
matters, to matters similar to those specifically mentioned.
(h) Except as otherwise expressly provided, all dates and times of day specified herein shall
refer to such dates and times at London, England.
16
(i) Whenever interest rates or fees are established in whole or in part by reference to a
numerical percentage expressed as “%”, such arithmetic expression shall be interpreted in
accordance with the convention that 1% = 100 basis points.
(j) Each of the parties to the Loan Documents and their counsel have reviewed and revised, or
requested (or had the opportunity to request) revisions to, the Loan Documents, and any rule of
construction that ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall be inapplicable
in the construing and interpretation of the Loan Documents and all exhibits, schedules and
appendices thereto.
(k) Any reference to an officer of the Guarantor or any other Person by reference to the title
of such officer shall be deemed to refer to each other officer of such Person, however titled,
exercising the same or substantially similar functions.
(l) All references to any agreement or document as amended, modified or supplemented, or words
of similar effect, shall mean such document or agreement, as the case may be, as amended, modified
or supplemented from time to time only as and to the extent permitted therein and in the Loan
Documents.
(m) For all purposes of this Agreement (but not for purposes of the preparation of any
financial statements delivered pursuant hereto), the equivalent in any Alternative Currency of an
amount in Euros, and the equivalent in Euros of an amount in any Alternative Currency, shall be
determined as set forth in the definitions of Euro Equivalent Amount and Alternative Currency
Equivalent Amount, as applicable.
1.3. Luxembourg Terms. In this Agreement, where it relates to a Luxembourg entity, a
reference to insolvency, reorganization, bankruptcy or liquidation includes, without limitation,
bankruptcy (faillite), insolvency, its voluntary or judicial liquidation (liquidation volontaire ou
judiciaire), composition with creditors (concordat préventif de faillite), reprieve from payment
(sursis de paiement), controlled management (gestion contrôlée), general settlement with creditors,
reorganization or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally. In this Agreement,
where it relates to a Luxembourg entity, a reference to a receiver, intervenor, conservator,
custodian, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator, or similar officer includes, without limitation, a
“commissaire à la gestion contrôlée”, a “liquidateur”, an ”administrateur judiciaire”, a
“curateur”, an “expert en relation avec la procédure de la gestion contrôlée” or any other similar
officer appointed as a consequence of the financial difficulties of such Luxembourg entity.
1.4. Belgian Terms. In this Agreement a reference to:
(a) a liquidator, trustee in bankruptcy, judicial custodian, compulsory manager,
receiver, administrator receiver, administrator or similar officer includes
any curator/curateur, vereffenaar/liquidateur, voorlopig bewindvoerder/administrateur
provisoire, gerechtelijk deskundige/expert judiciaire, mandataris ad hoc/mandataire ad hoc,
commissaris inzake opschorting/commissaire au sursis and sekwester/séquestre;
(b) a Security Interest includes any mortgage (hypotheek/hypothèque), pledge (pand/
nantissement), privilege (voorrecht/privilège), retention right
17
(eigendomsvoorbehoud/droit
de retention), real surety (zakelijke zekerheid/sûreté réelle), mandate (mandaat/mandat) to
grant a mortgage, a pledge or any other real surety, and any transfer by way of security
(overdracht ten titel van zekerheid/transfert à titre de garantie);
(c) a person being unable to pay its debts is that person being in a state of cessation
of payments (staking van betaling/cessation de paiements);
(d) a moratorium, composition, assignment or similar arrangement includes any
gerechtelijk akkoord/concordat judiciaire and any minnelijk akkoord met schuldeisers/ accord
amiable avec tous les créanciers; winding up, administration or dissolution includes any
vereffening/liquidation, ontbinding/dissolution, faillissement/faillite and any sluiting van
een onderneming/fermeture d’enterprise; attachment, sequestration, distress, execution or
analogous events includes any uitvoerend beslag/saisie exécutoire and any bewarend
beslag/saisie conservatoire; an amalgation, demerger, merger, consolidation or
reconstruction includes any overdracht van algemeenheid/transfert d’universalité, overdracht
van bedrijfstak/transfert de branche d’activité, splitsing/scission, fusie/fusion and any
assimilated transaction in accordance with articles 676 and 677 of the Belgian Companies
Code (gelijkgestelde verrichting/operation assimilée); and
(e) a “guarantee” includes any “borgtocht/cautionnement”, “aval” and any “garantie”
which is independent from the debt to which it relates.”
ARTICLE II
THE CREDIT FACILITY
2.1. Loans.
(a) Commitment. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each Lender
severally agrees to make Loans in Euros or an Alternative Currency (as specified in the respective
Borrowing Notice) to the Borrowers from time to time from the Closing Date until the Termination
Date applicable to such Lender on a pro rata basis among the Lenders as to the total borrowing
requested by a Borrower on any Business Day determined by such Lender’s Applicable Commitment
Percentage up to but not exceeding a Euro Equivalent Amount equal to the Commitment of such Lender,
provided, however, that the Lenders will not be required and shall have no
obligation to make any such Loan (i) so long as a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and
is continuing or (ii) if the Agent has accelerated the maturity of any of the
Loans as a result of an Event of Default; provided further, however,
that immediately after giving effect to each such Loan, (x) the Euro Equivalent Amount of the
aggregate principal amount of Outstandings shall not exceed the then applicable Total Commitment,
and (y) the Euro Equivalent Amount of the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Loans to
all Borrowers for each Lender, shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment. Within such limits and
subject to the other terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Borrowers may borrow, repay and
reborrow on any Business Day from the Closing Date until, but (as to borrowings and reborrowings)
not including, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s Termination Date.
18
(b) Amounts. If the Agent notifies the Borrowers at any time that the aggregate unpaid
principal Euro Equivalent Amount of Outstandings exceeds the Total Commitment by more than 5%, then
within two (2) Business Days of receipt of such notice the Borrowers shall make such payments and
prepayments of Loans as shall be necessary to eliminate such excess. Each Loan shall be in an
amount of at least €5,000,000 (or the Euro Equivalent Amount thereof in any Alternative
Currency), and, if greater than €5,000,000, an integral multiple of €1,000,000 (or the Euro
Equivalent Amount thereof in any Alternative Currency).
(c) Loans. (i) An Authorized Representative of a Borrower shall give the Agent at
least three (3) Business Days’ irrevocable telephonic notice of each Loan to such Borrower (or, in
the case of any Loan denominated in any currency determined to be an Alternative Currency after the
date hereof, such greater notice period reasonably determined by the Agent to be necessary),
whether representing an additional borrowing or the Continuation of a borrowing hereunder, prior to
1:00 P.M. (London time).
Each such notice shall be effective upon receipt by the Agent, shall specify the identity of the
Borrower, the amount of the borrowing, the Type of Loan (Euribor Rate if such Loan is requested in
Euros, or Offshore Rate if such Loan is requested in an Alternative Currency), the date of
borrowing (which shall be a Business Day), the Interest Period to be used in the computation of
interest, and if an Offshore Rate Loan, the applicable Alternative Currency. The Authorized
Representative of the applicable Borrower shall provide the Agent written confirmation of each such
telephonic notice in the form of a Borrowing Notice or Interest Rate Selection Notice (as
applicable) with appropriate insertions not later than one (1) Business Day prior to the requested
borrowing day. Notice of receipt of such Borrowing Notice or Interest Rate Selection Notice, as
the case may be, together with a specification of the amount of each Lender’s portion of a Loan
requested thereunder, shall be provided by the Agent to each Lender by telefacsimile transmission
with reasonable promptness, but (provided the Agent shall have received such notice by 1:00 P.M.
(London time)) not later than 2:00 P.M. (London time) on the same day as the Agent’s receipt of
such notice. At approximately 4:00 P.M. (London time) two (2) Business Days preceding the date
specified for a Loan of an Alternative Currency, the Agent shall determine the Borrowing Date
Exchange Rate and the applicable interest rate. Not later than 5:00 P.M. (London time) two
(2) Business Days preceding the date specified for each Loan of an Alternative Currency, the Agent
shall provide the applicable Borrower and each Lender notice by telefacsimile transmission of the
Borrowing Date Exchange Rate applicable to such Loan, and the applicable Alternative Currency
Equivalent Amount of the Loan or Loans required to be made by each Lender on such date, and the
Euro Equivalent Amount of such Loan or Loans and the applicable Offshore Rate.
(ii) (A) In the case of Loans in Euros, not later than 10:00 A.M. (London time) on the date
specified for each borrowing under this Section 2.1, each Lender shall, pursuant to the terms and
subject to the conditions of this Agreement, make the amount of the Loan or Loans to be made by it
on such day available by wire transfer to the Agent in the amount of its pro rata share, determined
according to such Lender’s Applicable Commitment Percentage of the Loan or Loans to be made on such
day. Such wire transfer shall be directed to the Agent at the Principal Office and shall be in the
form of Euros constituting immediately available funds. The amount so received by the Agent shall,
subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, be
19
made available to the applicable Borrower
by delivery no later than 4:00 P.M. (London time) of the proceeds thereof to the applicable
Borrower’s Account or otherwise as shall be directed in the applicable Borrowing Notice by the
Authorized Representative of such Borrower and reasonably acceptable to the Agent.
(B) In the case of Loans in an Alternative Currency, not later than 10:00 A.M. (London
time) on the date specified for each Loan, each Lender shall, pursuant to the terms and
subject to the conditions of this Agreement, make the amount of the Loan or Loans to be made
by it on such day available to the applicable Borrower at the Funding Bank, to the account
of the Agent with the Funding Bank. The amount so received by the Funding Bank shall,
subject to the terms and conditions of the Loan Documents and upon instruction from the
Agent to the Funding Bank on the same day or immediately preceding day but no later than
4:00 P.M. (London time), be made available to the applicable Borrower by delivery of the
Alternative Currency Equivalent Amount to such Borrower’s account with the Funding Bank.
(iii) If requested by the applicable Borrower through the Agent, before 1:00 P.M. (London
time) at least four Business Days before the beginning of any Interest Period applicable to a
Euribor Rate Loan or Offshore Rate Loan, as the case may be, each Lender will advise the Agent
before 10:00 A.M. (London time) three Business Days preceding the beginning of such Interest Period
as to whether, if the Borrower selects an Interest Period of nine or twelve months, such Lender
expects that deposits in Euros or the applicable Alternative Currency, as the case may be, with a
term corresponding to such Interest Period will be available to it two Business Days preceding such
Interest Period in the amount and for the duration required to fund the Euribor Rate Loan or
Offshore Rate Loan, as the case may be, to which such Interest Period would apply. If, but only if,
each Lender confirms that it expects such deposits to be available to it on terms acceptable to
such Lender, in its own discretion, then such Borrower shall be entitled to select a duration of
nine or twelve months for such Interest Period.
(d) Repayment of Loans. The principal amount of each Loan shall be due and payable to
the Agent for the benefit of each Lender in full on the Termination Date applicable to such Lender,
or earlier as specifically provided herein. The principal amount of any Loan may be prepaid without
penalty or premium in whole or in part on any Business Day, upon at least three (3) Business Days’
irrevocable telephonic notice from an Authorized Representative of the applicable Borrower
(effective upon receipt) to the Agent prior to 1:00 P.M. (London time). The Agent shall give the
Lenders prompt notice of all such notices of prepayment. Such Authorized Representative shall
provide the Agent written confirmation of each such telephonic notice not later than one (1)
Business Day prior to the proposed prepayment day. All prepayments of Loans made by a Borrower
shall be in the Euro Equivalent Amount of €5,000,000 or such
greater Euro Equivalent Amount which is an integral multiple of €1,000,000 (provided that
repayments in an Alternative Currency shall be approximately equal to such amounts), or the amount
equal to all Outstandings, or such other amount as necessary to comply with Section 2.1(b). Any
prepayment of a Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest thereon, together with any
additional amounts required pursuant to Section 4.4.
(e) Reductions. The Borrowers shall, by notice from an Authorized Representative, have
the right from time to time, upon not less than three (3) Business Days’
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written notice to the
Agent, effective upon receipt, to reduce the Total Commitment, which reduction shall be applied pro
rata to the Commitments of the Lenders. The Agent shall give each Lender, within one (1) Business
Day of receipt of such notice, telefacsimile notice, or telephonic notice (confirmed in writing),
of such reduction. Each such reduction shall be in the aggregate amount of €5,000,000 or such
greater amount which is in an integral multiple of €1,000,000, or the entire remaining Total
Commitment, and shall permanently reduce the Total Commitment. Each reduction of the Total
Commitment shall be accompanied by payment of the Loans to the extent that the principal amount of
Outstandings exceeds the Total Commitment after giving effect to such reduction, together with
accrued and unpaid interest on the amounts prepaid and any amount required under Section 4.4.
2.2. Utilization of Alternative Currencies. (a) All Loans in Alternative Currencies
shall be Offshore Rate Loans.
(b) Each request for a Loan in an Alternative Currency under a Borrowing Notice shall
constitute the applicable Borrower’s request for a Loan of the Euro Equivalent Amount of the amount
of the Alternative Currency specified in such Borrowing Notice, and for such Loan to be made
available by the Lenders to the applicable Borrower in the Alternative Currency Equivalent Amount
of such Euro Equivalent Amount (determined based on the Borrowing Date Exchange Rate applicable to
such Loan). The principal amount outstanding on any Loan shall be recorded in the Agent’s records
in Euros (in the case of a Loan in an Alternative Currency as if the Loan had initially been made
in Euros), based on the Euro Equivalent Amount of the initial Loan in an Alternative Currency, as
reduced from time to time by the Euro Equivalent Amount (based on the Borrowing Date Exchange Rate
applicable to such Loan) of any principal payments with respect to such Loan. Except to the extent
provided in the proviso to the definition of the term “Euro Equivalent Amount”, for the purposes of
determining the maximum amount of Outstandings hereunder, it is intended by the parties that all
Loans shall be the functional equivalent of Loans made and repaid (based on the applicable
Borrowing Date Exchange Rate for each Loan) in Euros. It is recognized that one or more Lenders may
elect to record Loans in Alternative Currencies. The Agent shall maintain records sufficient to
identify at any time (A) the Borrowing Date Exchange Rate with respect to each Loan and (B) the
portion of the Outstandings attributable to each Loan.
(c) Any Borrower may elect to Continue an Offshore Rate Loan pursuant to the terms of
Section 3.2 and subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 2.2(c). In the event an
Offshore Rate Loan is Continued, such election to Continue the Offshore Rate Loan shall be treated
as a Loan, and the Agent shall notify the applicable Borrower and the applicable Lenders of the
Borrowing Date Exchange Rate, the Interest Period and the rate for such Continued
Offshore Rate Loan. The Lenders shall each be deemed to have made a Loan to the applicable
Borrower of its Applicable Commitment Percentage of each Loan in an Alternative Currency, and the
Agent shall apply the Borrowing Date Exchange Rate for such new Interest Period to such Continued
Alternative Currency Equivalent Amount to determine the new Euro Equivalent Amount of such Loan and
shall adjust its books and the Outstandings. In the event that such adjustment with respect to a
Continued Loan would cause the total Euro Equivalent Amount of Outstandings to exceed the Total
Commitment, the Borrowers shall, immediately on the effective date of such Continuation, repay (a
“Rate Adjustment Payment”) the portion of such Continued Loan (applying the new Borrowing
Date Exchange Rate) necessary to ensure that the Euro
21
Equivalent Amount of all Outstandings does
not exceed the Total Commitment, provided, however, that no Borrower shall be
required to pay any additional compensation pursuant to Section 4.4 with respect to a prepayment of
a Loan required by this sentence if such prepayment is made immediately on the effective date of
the Continuation giving rise to such prepayment and no notice of such prepayment shall be required.
If the Agent does not receive an Interest Rate Selection Notice giving notice of election of the
duration of an Interest Period or Continuation of an Offshore Rate Loan by the time prescribed in
Sections 2.1(c) or 3.2, as applicable, the applicable Borrower shall be deemed to have elected to
Continue such Offshore Rate Loan as a Loan of the same Type in the same Alternative Currency for an
Interest Period of one month. No Borrower shall be entitled to elect to Continue any Offshore Rate
Loan in an Alternative Currency if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing.
2.3. Increase in Total Commitment. (a) The Borrowers, the Agent and any Lender or
any other Person qualifying as an Eligible Assignee but for the absence of an assignment, or any
combination of such Lenders and such Persons (collectively, “New Lenders”), may (in their
sole discretion) enter into one or more amendment agreements substantially in the form of Exhibit G
attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference without further approval of the Lenders (or
any other New Lender) pursuant to which each New Lender agrees to incur or increase, as the case
may be, its Commitment so as to make available to the Borrowers, subject to all conditions herein
set forth, Loans in the maximum aggregate Euro Equivalent Amount (for all New Lenders) of up to
€50,000,000 thereby increasing the Total Commitment to up to the Euro Equivalent Amount of
€300,000,000; provided that
(i) each such increase shall be in an amount at least equal to €10,000,000 or an
integral multiple of €5,000,000 in excess thereof;
(ii) the Borrowers shall execute and deliver to the Agent (A) board resolutions of each
Borrower certified by its secretary or assistant secretary approving and adopting such
Commitment increase and authorizing the execution and delivery of the instruments relating
thereto, and (B) the legal opinions of the General Counsel of the Guarantor and special
counsel to the Borrowers as to the due authorization, execution and delivery of such
instruments, the enforceability thereof and no conflict thereof with the Organizational
Documents, by-laws and material agreements of the Guarantor and the Borrowers or with any
applicable laws, rules or regulations, all in form and substance substantially similar to
such opinions delivered on the Closing Date in satisfaction of Section 5.1(a)(ii); and
(iii) no Default or Event of Default then exists or would arise as a result of any such
increase.
(b) Upon the execution, delivery and acceptance of the documents required by this Section 2.3,
each New Lender shall have all of the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement. The
Agent shall provide the Lenders with notice of the revised Total Commitment and the revised
Applicable Commitment Percentages of the Lenders, including the New Lenders.
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(c) Upon the effectiveness of an increase provided for in this Section 2.3, if any Loans are
outstanding, the Borrowers shall at their option do one of the following:
(i) prepay to certain Lenders such amount of such Loans as may be then outstanding and borrow
from certain other Lenders new Loans as are necessary so that, after giving effect to such
prepayments and borrowings on such date of all or any portion of the relevant increase of the Total
Commitment, the principal balance of all outstanding Loans owing to each Lender is equivalent to
each such Lender’s Applicable Commitment Percentage (after giving effect to any nonratable increase
in the Total Commitment resulting from the exercise of an increase pursuant to this Section 2.3) of
the then Outstandings; or
(ii) borrow from each new Lender an amount in immediately available funds as is necessary so
that, after giving effect to such borrowings on such date of all or any portion of the relevant
increase of the Total Commitment, the principal balance of all outstanding Loans owing to each
Lender is equivalent to each such Lender’s Applicable Commitment Percentage (after giving effect to
any nonratable increase in the Total Commitment resulting from the exercise of an increase pursuant
to this Section 2.3) of the then Outstandings, (x) such new borrowings to be denominated in the
appropriate currencies and allocated on a pro rata basis to each outstanding Interest Period
hereunder (without regard to the requirements and limitations set forth in the definition of
Interest Period) such that the last day of the Interest Periods for the borrowings under this
Section 2.3 coincide with the last day of the Interest Periods applicable to the outstanding Loans
before giving effect to the increase of the Total Commitment and (y) the Euribor Rate or Offshore
Rate, as the case may be, applicable to each such borrowing for the period prior to the end of the
Interest Period to which it is allocated to be as agreed between each new Lender and the Agent.
2.4. Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loans made pursuant to the Facility
hereunder shall be used by the Borrowers for general corporate purposes including without
limitation the making of acquisitions.
2.5. Evidence of Debt. The Loans made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more
accounts or records maintained by such Lender and by the Agent in the ordinary course of business.
The accounts or records maintained by the Agent and each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest
error of
the amount of the Loans made by the Lenders to the Borrowers 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 Borrowers 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 Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and
records of the Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.
2.6. Certain Payment Provisions. Unless the applicable Borrower or any Lender has
notified the Agent, prior to the date any payment is required to be made by it to the Agent
hereunder, that such Borrower or such Lender, as the case may be, will not make such payment, the
Agent may assume that such Borrower or such Lender, as the case may be, has timely made such
payment and may (but shall not be so required to), in reliance thereon, make available a
23
corresponding amount to the Person entitled thereto. If and to the extent that such payment was not
in fact made to the Agent in Same Day Funds, then:
(a) if the applicable Borrower failed to make such payment, each applicable Lender shall
forthwith on demand repay to the Agent the portion of such assumed payment that was made available
to such Lender in Same Day Funds, together with interest thereon in respect of each day from and
including the date such amount was made available by the Agent to such Lender to the date such
amount is repaid to the Agent in Same Day Funds, at the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time
in effect; and
(b) if any Lender failed to make such payment, such Lender shall forthwith on demand pay to
the Agent the amount thereof in Same Day Funds, together with interest thereon for the period from
the date such amount was made available by the Agent to the applicable Borrower to the date such
amount is recovered by the Agent (the “Compensation Period”) at a rate per annum equal to
the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect. If such Lender pays such amount to the
Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan, included in the applicable Loan. If
such Lender does not pay such amount forthwith upon the Agent’s demand therefor, the Agent may make
a demand therefor upon the applicable Borrower, and such Borrower shall pay such amount to the
Agent, together with interest thereon for the Compensation Period at a rate per annum equal to the
rate of interest applicable to the applicable Loan. Nothing herein shall be deemed to relieve any
Lender from its obligation to fulfill its Commitment, or to prejudice any rights which the Agent or
the applicable Borrower may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender
hereunder.
A notice of the Agent to any Lender with respect to any amount owing under this subsection
2.6 shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
2.7. Change of Currency. (a) Each obligation of the Borrowers to make a payment
denominated in the national currency unit of any member state of the European Union that adopts the
Euro as its lawful currency after the date hereof shall be redenominated into Euro at the time of
such adoption (in accordance with the EMU Legislation). If, in relation to the currency of any
such member state,
the basis of accrual of interest expressed in this Agreement in respect of that currency shall
be inconsistent with any convention or practice in the London interbank market for the basis of
accrual of interest in respect of the Euro, such expressed basis shall be replaced by such
convention or practice with effect from the date on which such member state adopts the Euro as its
lawful currency; provided that if any Loan in the currency of such member state is outstanding
immediately prior to such date, such replacement shall take effect, with respect to such Loan, at
the end of the then current Interest Period.
(b) Each provision of this Agreement shall be subject to such reasonable changes of
construction as the Agent may from time to time specify to be appropriate to reflect the adoption
of the Euro by any member state of the European Union and any relevant market conventions or
practices relating to the Euro.
(c) Each provision of this Agreement also shall be subject to such reasonable changes of
construction as the Agent may from time to time specify to be appropriate to reflect a
24
change in currency of any other country and any relevant market conventions or practices
relating to the change in currency.
2.8. Extension of Stated Termination Date.
(a) Requests for Extension. The Borrowers may, by notice to the Agent (who shall
promptly notify the Lenders) not earlier than 60 days and not later than 35 days prior to the first
and/or second anniversary of the Closing Date (each, an “Extension Date”), request that
each Lender extend such Lender’s Stated Termination Date for an additional one year from the Stated
Termination Date applicable to such Lender.
(b) Lender Elections to Extend. Each Lender, acting in its sole and individual
discretion, shall, by notice to the Agent given not earlier than 30 days prior to the applicable
Extension Date and not later than the date (the “Notice Date”) that is 20 days prior to
such Extension Date, advise the Agent whether or not such Lender agrees to such extension. Each
Lender that does not advise the Agent in writing on or before the Notice Date shall be deemed to be
a “Non-Extending Lender”. The election of any Lender to agree to such extension shall not
obligate any other Lender to so agree.
(c) Notification by Agent. The Agent shall notify the Borrowers of each Lender’s
determination under this Section no later than the date 15 days prior to the applicable Extension
Date (or, if such date is not a Business Day, on the next preceding Business Day).
(d) Additional Commitment Lenders. The Borrowers shall have the right to replace each
Non-Extending Lender with, and add as “Lenders” under this Agreement in place thereof, one or more
Eligible Assignees (each, an “Additional Commitment Lender”) as provided in Section 12.1;
provided that each of such Additional Commitment Lenders shall enter into an Assignment and
Assumption pursuant to which such Additional Commitment Lender shall, effective as of the
applicable Extension Date, undertake a Commitment (and, if any such Additional Commitment Lender is
already a Lender, its Commitment shall be in addition to such Lender’s Commitment hereunder on such
date).
(e) Minimum Extension Requirement. If (and only if) the total of the Commitments of
the Lenders that have agreed so to extend their Stated Termination Date (each, an “Extending
Lender”) and the additional Commitments of the Additional Commitment Lenders shall be more than
50% of the Total Commitment in effect immediately prior to the Extension Date, then, effective as
of the Extension Date, the Stated Termination Date of each Extending Lender and of each Additional
Commitment Lender shall be extended to the date falling one year after the Stated Termination Date
then applicable to such Lender (except that, if such date is not a Business Day, such Stated
Termination Date as so extended shall be the next preceding Business Day) and each Additional
Commitment Lender shall thereupon become a “Lender” for all purposes of this Agreement.
(f) Conditions to Effectiveness of Extensions. As a condition precedent to such
extension, the Guarantor shall deliver to the Agent a certificate dated as of the Extension Date
(i) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by the Guarantor and the Borrowers approving
or consenting to such extension and (ii) certifying that, before and after giving effect
25
to such extension, (A) the representations and warranties contained in Article VI are true and
correct on and as of the Extension 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 2.8, the representations and
warranties contained in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 6.5 shall be deemed to refer to the most
recent statements furnished pursuant to subsections (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 7.1, and
(B) no Default or Event of Default exists. In addition, on the Stated Termination Date of each
Non-Extending Lender, the Borrowers shall repay all Loans owing to such Non-Extending Lender and
outstanding on such date (and pay any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 4.4) to the
extent necessary to keep outstanding Loans ratable with any revised Applicable Commitment
Percentages of the respective Lenders effective as of such date.
ARTICLE III
FUNDING, FEES, AND PAYMENT CONVENTIONS
3.1. Interest Rate Options. (a) All Loans in Alternative Currencies shall be
Offshore Rate Loans. All Loans in Euros shall be Euribor Rate Loans.
(b) So long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the
relevant Borrower shall have the option to elect the duration of the initial and any subsequent
Interest Periods applicable to any Loans; provided, however, (x) there shall not be
outstanding at any one time Loans having more than twenty (20) different Interest Periods and (y)
no Loan shall have an Interest Period that extends beyond the latest Stated Termination Date then
in effect. If the Agent does not receive a Borrowing Notice or an Interest Rate Selection Notice
giving notice of election of the duration of an Interest Period or of Continuation of any such Loan
as a Fixed Rate Loan by the time prescribed by Sections 2.1(c) and 3.2, as applicable, Section
2.2(c) shall apply.
3.2. Continuations and Elections of Subsequent Interest Periods. (a) Subject to the
limitations set forth in the definition of “Interest Period,” in Sections 2.1(c)(iii), and 3.1 and
in Article IV, any Borrower may, provided that no Default or Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, upon delivery of telephonic notice to the Agent (which shall be
irrevocable) on or before 1:00 P.M. (London time) three (3) Business Days’ prior to the date of
such Continuation, elect a subsequent Interest Period for any Fixed Rate Loan to begin on the last
day of the then current Interest Period for such Fixed Rate Loan (subject to Section 2.2 with
respect to any Offshore Rate Loan in an Alternative Currency).
(b) Each such notice shall be effective upon receipt by the Agent, shall specify the amount of
the affected Fixed Rate Loan, the Type of Loan, and, if a Continuation as a Fixed Rate Loan, the
Interest Period to be used in the computation of interest. The Authorized Representative of such
Borrower shall provide the Agent written confirmation of each such telephonic notice in the form of
a Borrowing Notice or Interest Rate Selection Notice (as applicable) with appropriate insertions
not later than one (1) Business Day prior to the due date for such notice. Notice of receipt of
such Borrowing Notice or Interest Rate Selection Notice, as the case may be, shall be provided by
the Agent to each affected Lender by telefacsimile transmission with reasonable promptness, but
(provided the Agent shall have received such
26
notice by 1:00 P.M. (London time)) not later than 2:00 P.M. (London time) on the same day as
the Agent’s receipt of such notice. All such Continuations of Loans shall be effected pro rata
based on the Applicable Commitment Percentages of the applicable Lenders.
(c) Subject to Section 2.2(c), failure by any Borrower to elect a Continuation in accordance
with Section 3.2(a) or to provide notice of payment shall result in such Borrower being deemed to
have elected to Continue the applicable Loan as a Loan of the same Type for an Interest Period of
one month.
3.3. Payment of Interest. Each Borrower shall pay to the Agent interest on the
outstanding and unpaid principal amount of each Loan made to such Borrower by each Lender, for the
account of such Lender commencing on the date of such Loan until such Loan shall be repaid, at the
applicable Fixed Rate as designated by such Borrower in the related Borrowing Notice or Interest
Rate Selection Notice or as otherwise provided hereunder. Interest on each Loan shall be paid on
the earlier of (a) the last day of the applicable Interest Period for such Fixed Rate Loan and, if
such Interest Period extends for more than three (3) months, at intervals of three (3) months after
the first day of such Interest Period, and (b) upon payment in full of the related Loan;
provided, however, that any amount payable hereunder (whether of principal,
interest, fees or otherwise), if not paid when due, shall bear interest until such amount is paid
in full at the Default Rate notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary.
3.4. Prepayments. Subject to Section 2.2(c), whenever any payment of principal shall
be made in respect of any Loan hereunder, whether at maturity, on acceleration, by optional or
mandatory prepayment or as otherwise required or permitted hereunder, with the effect that any Loan
shall be prepaid in whole or in part prior to the last day of the Interest Period applicable to
such Loan, such payment of principal shall be accompanied by the additional payment, if any,
required by Section 4.4.
3.5. Manner of Payment. (a) Each payment of principal (including any prepayment) and
payment of interest and fees, and any other amount required to be paid by or on behalf of any
Borrower to the Lenders or the Agent with respect to any Loan, shall be made to the Agent (i) in
Euros at the Principal Office in the case of Loans made in Euros and (ii) in the same Alternative
Currency at the Funding Bank in the case of Loans made in Alternative Currencies, in Same Day Funds
without setoff, recoupment, deduction or counterclaim on the date such payment is due. The
applicable Borrower shall give the Agent not less than one (1) Business Day’s prior written notice
of any prepayment of principal, such notice to be given prior to 2:00 P.M. (London time) and to
specify the date the prepayment will be made and the Loan to which prepayment relates. In the case
of Loans made in Euros or Dollars to any Borrower, the Agent may, but shall not be obligated to,
debit the amount of such payment from any one or more ordinary deposit accounts of such Borrower
with the Agent. Any such payment shall not be deemed to be received until the time such funds
become available. Interest shall continue to accrue at the Default Rate on any principal or fees as
to which no payment is made from the date such amount was due and payable until the date such funds
become available.
(b) In the event that any payment hereunder becomes due and payable on a day other than a
Business Day, then such due date shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless
provided otherwise under the definition of “Interest Period”; provided,
27
however, that interest shall continue to accrue during the period of any such
extension; and provided further, however, that in no event shall any such
due date be extended with respect to amounts due to any Lender beyond the Termination Date
applicable to such Lender.
3.6. Fees.
(a) Commitment Fees. For the period beginning on and including the Closing Date and
ending on (but excluding) the Final Termination Date, the Borrowers agree, jointly and severally,
to pay to the Agent, for the pro rata benefit of the Lenders based on their Applicable Commitment
Percentages, a commitment fee calculated at a rate per annum equal at all times to 30% of the
Applicable Margin with respect to the Facility from time to time in effect multiplied by the Total
Available Commitment in effect from time to time during the period for which payment is made. Such
fees shall be due in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December
commencing December 31, 2007 to and, with respect to each Lender, on the Termination Date
applicable to such Lender. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as any Lender fails to make
available any portion of its Commitment when requested, such Lender shall not be entitled to
receive payment of its pro rata share of such fee until such Lender shall make available such
portion.
(b) Utilization Fee. For the period beginning on and including the Closing Date and
ending on (but excluding) the Final Termination Date, for each day on which the Outstandings exceed
sixty-six and two-thirds percent (662/3%) of the Total Commitment, the Borrowers agree, jointly and
severally, to pay to the Agent, for the pro rata benefit of the Lenders based on their respective
Applicable Commitment Percentages, a utilization fee calculated at a rate per annum equal to .05%
of all Outstandings on such day. Such fees shall be due in arrears on the last Business Day of
each March, June, September and December, commencing on the first of such days to occur after any
utilization fee shall have accrued and become payable to and, with respect to each Lender, on the
Termination Date applicable to such Lender.
(c) Administrative Fees. The Borrowers agree, jointly and severally, to pay to the
Agent, for the Agent’s individual account, an annual administrative fee, such fee to be payable in
such amounts and at such dates as from time to time agreed to by the Guarantor and Agent in
writing.
3.7. Payments to Agent for Lenders. Except as otherwise specified herein, (i) each
payment on account of the principal of and interest on Loans and the fees described in Section 3.6,
shall be made to the Agent for the account of the applicable Lenders pro rata based on their
Applicable Commitment Percentages, and (ii) the Agent will promptly distribute to the applicable
Lenders, in immediately available funds payments received in fully collected, immediately available
funds from the applicable Borrower.
3.8. Computation of Rates and Fees. Except as may be otherwise expressly provided,
interest rates (including each Fixed Rate and the Default Rate) and fees shall be computed on the
basis of a year of 360 days (except in the case of Loans denominated in Sterling, which shall be
computed on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be) and calculated for actual
days elapsed.
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3.9. Deficiency Advances; Failure to Purchase Participations. No Lender shall be
responsible for any default of any other Lender in respect to such other Lender’s obligation to
make any Loan hereunder, nor shall the Commitment of any Lender hereunder be increased as a result
of such default of any other Lender. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event
any Lender shall fail to make any Loan to any Borrower as herein provided, the Agent may in its
discretion, but shall not be obligated to, advance in its favor as a Lender all or any portion of
such Loan (each, a “Deficiency Advance”) and shall thereafter be entitled to payments of
principal of and interest on such Deficiency Advance in the same manner and at the same interest
rate or rates to which such defaulting Lender would have been entitled had it made such Loan;
provided that (i) such defaulting Lender shall not be entitled to receive payments of
principal, interest or fees with respect to such Deficiency Advance until such Deficiency Advance
shall be paid by such defaulting Lender and (ii) upon payment to the Agent from such defaulting
Lender of the entire outstanding amount of each such Deficiency Advance, together with accrued and
unpaid interest thereon, from the most recent date or dates interest was paid to the Agent by a
Borrower on each Loan comprising the Deficiency Advance at the interest rate per annum for
overnight borrowing by the Agent from the Federal Reserve Bank, then such payment shall be credited
against the applicable Loan of the Agent in full payment of such Deficiency Advance and such
Borrower shall be deemed to have borrowed the amount of such Deficiency Advance from such other
Lender as of the most recent date or dates, as the case may be, upon which any payments of interest
were made by such Borrower thereon.
ARTICLE IV
CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES
4.1. Increased Cost and Reduced Return.
(a) If, after the date hereof, the adoption of any applicable law, rule, or regulation, or any
change in any applicable law, rule, or regulation (other than any such adoption or change relating
to Taxes or Other Taxes, the compensation for which is governed by Section 4.5), or any change in
the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority, central bank, or
comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any
Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office) with any request or directive (whether or not having the
force of law) of any such Governmental Authority, central bank, or comparable agency:
(i) shall impose, modify, or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, assessment,
or similar requirement (other than the reserve requirement contemplated by Section 4.1(e))
relating to any extensions of credit or other assets of, or any deposits with or other
liabilities or commitments of, such Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office), including the
Commitment of such Lender hereunder; or
(ii) shall impose on such Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office) or on the London
interbank market any other condition affecting this Agreement or any of such extensions of
credit or liabilities or commitments;
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and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Lender (or its Applicable
Lending Office) of making, Continuing, or maintaining any Fixed Rate Loans or to reduce any sum
received or receivable by such Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office) under this Agreement with
respect to any Fixed Rate Loans, then the applicable Borrower or Borrowers shall pay to such Lender
within 15 days of demand for such amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such
increased cost or reduction. If any Lender requests compensation by any Borrower under this
Section 4.1(a), such Borrower may, by notice to such Lender (with a copy to the Agent), suspend the
obligation of such Lender to make or Continue Loans of the Type with respect to which such
compensation is requested until the event or condition giving rise to such request ceases to be in
effect (in which case the provisions of Section 4.4 shall be applicable); provided that
such suspension shall not affect the right of such Lender to receive the compensation so requested.
(b) If, after the date hereof, any Lender shall have determined that the adoption of any
applicable law, rule, or regulation regarding capital adequacy or any change therein or in the
interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority, central bank, or comparable
agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or any request or directive
regarding capital adequacy (whether or not having the force of law) of any such Governmental
Authority, central bank, or comparable agency, has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of
return on the capital of such Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender as a consequence of
such Lender’s obligations hereunder to a level below that which such Lender or such corporation
could have achieved but for such adoption, change, request, or directive (taking into consideration
its policies with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time within 15 days after demand
by such Lender (with a copy to the Agent) the applicable Borrower or Borrowers shall pay to such
Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such reduction.
(c) Each Lender shall promptly notify the applicable Borrower or Borrowers and the Agent of
any event of which it has knowledge, occurring after the date hereof, which will entitle such
Lender to compensation pursuant to this Section 4.1 and will designate a different Applicable
Lending Office if such designation will avoid the need for, or reduce the amount of, such
compensation and will not, in the judgment of such Lender, be otherwise disadvantageous to it. Any
Lender claiming compensation under this Section 4.1 shall furnish to the applicable Borrower or
Borrowers and the Agent a statement setting forth the additional amount or amounts to be paid to it
hereunder and the calculation thereof in reasonable detail which shall be conclusive in the absence
of manifest error. In determining such amount, such Lender may use any reasonable averaging and
attribution methods.
(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation for any increased costs
or reduction in amounts received or receivable or reduction in return on capital shall not
constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the
applicable Borrower or Borrowers shall not be under any obligation to compensate any Lender under
clauses (a) or (b) above with respect to increased costs or reduction in return on capital with
respect to any period prior to the date that is three months prior to such request if such Lender
knew or could reasonably have been expected to be aware of the circumstances giving rise to such
increased costs or reductions in return on capital and of the fact that such circumstances would in
fact result in a claim for increased compensation by reason
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of such increased costs or reductions in capital; provided further that the
foregoing limitation shall not apply to any increased costs or reductions in return on capital
arising out of the retroactive application of any law, rule, guideline or directive as aforesaid
within such three-month period.
(e) The applicable 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 Euribor Rate Loan and of each Offshore Rate Loan, as
applicable, 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), excluding any
costs included in the definition of Mandatory Costs, which shall be due and payable on each date on
which interest is payable on such Loan, provided such Borrower shall have received at least
15 days’ prior notice (with a copy to the Agent) of such additional interest from such Lender. If a
Lender fails to give notice 15 days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional
interest shall be due and payable 15 days from receipt of such notice.
4.2. Inability to Determine Interest Rate. If on or prior to the first day of any
Interest Period for any Fixed Rate Loan:
(a) the Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive) that by reason of
circumstances affecting the relevant market, adequate and reasonable means do not exist for
ascertaining the Euribor Rate for such Interest Period or the Offshore Rate for one or more
Alternative Currencies for such Interest Period; or
(b) the Required Lenders determine (which determination shall be conclusive) and notify
the Agent that the Euribor Rate or the Offshore Rate for one or more Alternative Currencies
will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to the Lenders of funding or maintaining
Fixed Rate Loans for such Interest Period (any currency affected by the circumstances
described in clause (a) or (b) is referred to as an “Affected Currency”);
then the Agent shall give telecopy or telephonic notice thereof to the applicable Borrower
or Borrowers and the Lenders as soon as practicable thereafter. If such notice is given, and
unless an alternate rate is determined as set forth below, then (i) any such Loans in an Affected
Currency requested to be made on the first day of such Interest Period shall not be made, (ii) any
outstanding Loans in an Affected Currency shall be due and payable on the last day of the
then-current Interest Period with respect thereto, and (iii) until such notice has been withdrawn
by the Agent, no further Loans in an Affected Currency shall be made or Continued as such.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, as promptly as practicable but in no event later than three Business
Days after the giving of the required notice by the Agent with respect to such circumstances, the
Agent (in consultation with the Lenders) shall negotiate with the applicable Borrower or Borrowers
in good faith to ascertain whether a substitute interest rate (a “Substitute Rate”) may be
agreed upon for the maintaining of Loans in the Affected Currency. If a Substitute Rate is agreed
upon by the applicable Borrower or Borrowers and all the Lenders, such Substitute Rate shall apply.
If a Substitute Rate is not so agreed upon by the applicable
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Borrower or Borrowers and all the Lenders within such time, each Lender’s Loans in the Affected
Currency shall thereafter bear interest at a rate equal to the sum of (i) the rate certified by
such Lender to be its costs of funds (from such sources as it may reasonably select out of those
sources then available to it) for such Loans, plus (ii) the Applicable Margin plus (iii) any
Mandatory Cost incurred by such Lender in respect of such Loans from time to time.
4.3. Illegality. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in the event
that it becomes unlawful for any Lender or its Applicable Lending Office to make, maintain, or fund
Euribor Rate Loans or Offshore Rate Loans hereunder, then such Lender shall promptly notify the
applicable Borrower or Borrowers thereof, and such Lender’s obligation to make Euribor Rate Loans
or Offshore Rate Loans, as the case may be, shall be suspended until the circumstances giving rise
to suspension no longer exist, and each such Euribor Rate Loan or Offshore Rate Loan, as the case
may be, then outstanding shall be due and payable on the last day of the then current Interest
Period with respect thereto.
4.4. Compensation. Upon the request of any Lender (with a copy to the Agent), the
applicable Borrower or Borrowers shall promptly pay to such Lender such amount or amounts as shall
be sufficient (in the reasonable opinion of such Lender) to compensate it for any loss, cost, or
expense (excluding loss of anticipated profits) incurred by it as a result of:
(a) any payment or prepayment of a Fixed Rate Loan for any reason (except as set forth
in Section 2.2(c)), including, without limitation, the acceleration of the Loans pursuant to
Section 9.1, on a date other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan; or
(b) any failure by any Borrower for any reason (including, without limitation, the
failure of any condition precedent specified in Article V to be satisfied) to borrow,
Continue, or prepay a Fixed Rate Loan on the date for such borrowing, Continuation, or
prepayment specified in the relevant notice of borrowing, prepayment or Continuation under
this Agreement;
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.
4.5. Taxes. (a) Any and all payments by the Guarantor or any Borrower to or for the
account of any Lender or the Agent hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be made free
and clear of and without deduction for any and all present or future taxes, duties, levies,
imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings, and all liabilities with respect thereto, excluding
(x) in the case of each Lender and the Agent, taxes imposed on its income, and franchise or similar
taxes (including branch profit taxes) imposed on it, by the jurisdiction under the laws of which
such Lender (or its Applicable Lending Office) or the Agent (as the case may be) is organized or
any political subdivision thereof and (y) in the case of each Lender and the Agent, taxes imposed
by reason of any present or former connection between such Lender or the Agent and the jurisdiction
imposing such taxes, other than solely as a result of this Agreement or any transaction
contemplated hereby (all such taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, charges, withholdings,
and liabilities not excluded in (x) and (y) being hereinafter referred to as “Taxes”).
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If the Guarantor or any Borrower shall be required by law to deduct any Taxes from or in
respect of any sum payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to any Lender or the
Agent, (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required
deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 4.5) such
Lender or the Agent receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such
deductions been made, (ii) the Guarantor or such Borrower, as the case may be, shall make such
deductions, (iii) the Guarantor or such Borrower, as the case may be, shall pay the full amount
deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with applicable law,
and (iv) within thirty days after the date of such payment, the Guarantor or such Borrower, as the
case may be, shall furnish to the Agent, at its address referred to in Section 12.2, the original
or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof or, if such receipt is not legally
available, any other document evidencing payment thereof that is reasonably satisfactory to such
Lender.
(b) In addition, the Guarantor and the Borrowers agree, jointly and severally, to pay any and
all present or future stamp or documentary taxes and any other excise or property taxes or charges
or similar levies which arise from any payment made under this Agreement or any other Loan Document
or from the execution or delivery of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other
Loan Document (hereinafter referred to as “Other Taxes”).
(c) The Guarantor and the Borrowers agree, jointly and severally, to indemnify each Lender and
the Agent for the full amount of Taxes and Other Taxes (including, without limitation, any Taxes or
Other Taxes imposed or asserted by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this Section 4.5) paid
by such Lender or the Agent (as the case may be) and any liability (including penalties, interest,
and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto. Indemnification shall be made within
15 days of the date of demand therefor.
(d) Each Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under
the law of the jurisdiction in which the Lender is located, or any treaty to which such
jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments under this Agreement shall, at the reasonable
request of the applicable Borrower or Borrowers, deliver to the applicable Borrower or Borrowers
(with a copy to the Agent), at such time or times prescribed by applicable law, such properly
completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law as will permit such payments to
be made without withholding or at a reduced rate. Each Lender, on the date of its execution and
delivery of this Agreement in the case of each such Lender listed on the signature pages hereof and
on the date on which it becomes a Lender in the case of each such other Lender, represents and
warrants to the Agent, each Borrower and the Guarantor that as of such date payments to its
Applicable Lending Offices under this Agreement are exempt from withholding tax under the law of
the jurisdiction or jurisdictions in which such Lender or its Applicable Lending Offices is or are
located or any treaty to which any such jurisdiction is a party. Upon the request of any Lender,
the Borrowers will make such factual representations as may be reasonably required by such Lender
in order to enable such Lender to make such representation and warranty.
(e) For any period with respect to which a Lender has failed to provide the applicable
Borrower or Borrowers and the Agent with the appropriate form pursuant to Section 4.5(d) (unless
such failure is due to a change in treaty, law, or regulation occurring
33
subsequent to the date on which a form originally was required to be provided), such Lender
shall not be entitled to indemnification under Section 4.5(a) or 4.5(c) with respect to Taxes;
provided, however, that should a Lender, which is otherwise exempt from or subject
to a reduced rate of withholding tax, become subject to Taxes because of its failure to deliver a
form required hereunder, such Borrower or Borrowers shall take such steps as such Lender shall
reasonably request to assist such Lender to recover such Taxes.
(f) Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of the Borrowers hereunder, the
agreements and obligations of the Borrowers contained in this Section 4.5 shall survive the
termination of the Commitments and the payment in full of the Loans.
(g) If any Lender receives a refund or credit from a taxation authority (such credit to
include any increase in any foreign tax credit) in respect of any Taxes or Other Taxes for which it
has been indemnified by a Borrower or with respect to which a Borrower has paid additional amounts
hereunder, it shall within 30 days from the date of such receipt pay over the amount of such
refund, credit or other reduction (including any interest paid or credited by the relevant taxing
authority or Governmental Authority with respect to such refund, credit or other reduction) to such
Borrower (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by such
Borrower with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund or credit), net of all
reasonable out-of-pocket third party expenses of such Lender related to claiming such refund or
credit and without interest (other than interest paid by the relevant taxation authority with
respect to such refund or credit); provided, however, that such Borrower agrees to
repay, upon the request of such Lender, the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus penalties,
interest or other charges) to such Lender in the event such Lender is required to repay such refund
or credit to such taxation authority.
4.6. Change of Lending Office. Each Lender agrees that, upon the occurrence of any
event giving rise to the operation of Section 4.1, 4.2(b), 4.3 or 4.5 with respect to such Lender,
it will, if requested by the applicable Borrower, use reasonable efforts (subject to overall policy
considerations of such Lender) to designate another lending office for any Loans affected by such
event with the object of avoiding the consequences of such event; provided, that such
designation is made on terms that, in the sole judgment of such Lender, cause such Lender and its
lending office(s) to suffer no economic, legal or regulatory disadvantage, and provided, further,
that nothing in this Section 4.6 shall affect or postpone any of the obligations of such Borrower
or the rights of any Lender pursuant to Section 4.1, 4.2(b), 4.3 or 4.5.
4.7. Substitution of Lenders. Upon the receipt by a Borrower or Borrowers from any
Lender (an “Affected Lender”) of a claim under Section 4.1, 4.2(b), 4.3 or 4.5 or a request
for payment of Mandatory Costs, such Borrower or Borrowers may: (a) request one or more of the
other Lenders to acquire and assume all or part of such Affected Lender’s Loans and Commitment; or
(b) replace such Affected Lender by designating another Lender or a financial institution that is
willing to acquire such Loans and assume such Commitments; provided that (i) such
replacement does not conflict with any requirement of law, (ii) no Default or Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such replacement, (iii) such Borrower or
Borrowers shall repay (or the replacement bank or financial institution shall purchase, at par) all
Loans, accrued interest and other amounts owing to such replaced Lender prior to the date of
replacement, (iv) such Borrower or Borrowers shall be liable to such replaced
34
Lender under Section 4.4 if any Fixed Rate Loan owing to such replaced Lender shall be prepaid
(or purchased) other than on the last day of the Interest Period relating thereto, (v) the
replacement bank or institution, if not already a Lender, shall otherwise qualify as an Eligible
Assignee, (vi) the replaced Lender shall be obligated to make such replacement in accordance with
the provisions of Section 12.1 (provided that such Borrower or Borrowers or replacement Lender
shall be obligated to pay the registration and processing fee) and (vii) such Borrower or Borrowers
shall pay all additional amounts (if any) required pursuant to Section 4.1, 4.2(b), 4.3 or 4.5, as
the case may be, and all Mandatory Costs to the extent such additional amounts and Mandatory Costs
of such Affected Lender were incurred on or prior to the consummation of such replacement.
ARTICLE V
CONDITIONS TO MAKING LOANS
5.1. Conditions of Closing. The obligation of the Lenders to make the initial Loans
requested to be made by it is subject to the conditions precedent that:
(a) the Agent shall have received on the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to
the Agent, the following:
(i) executed originals of each of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, together
with all schedules and exhibits thereto;
(ii) the favorable written opinion or opinions with respect to the Loan Documents and
the transactions contemplated thereby of (i) Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Vice President & General
Counsel of the Guarantor, (ii) Xxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx, special counsel to the Guarantor,
(iii) Loyens Xxxxxxx, local counsel to VF Investments, (iv) Xxxxx & XxXxxxxx CVBA/SCRL,
local counsel to VF Europe and (v) Xxxxx & XxXxxxxx Zurich, local counsel to VF
International, in each case, dated the Closing Date, addressed to the Agent and the Lenders
and satisfactory to the Agent and to Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP, special counsel to the
Agent;
(iii) resolutions of the board of directors or other appropriate governing body (or of
the appropriate committee thereof) of the Guarantor and of each Borrower certified by such
entity’s secretary or assistant secretary or any Authorized Representative of such entity as
of the Closing Date, approving and adopting the Loan Documents to be executed by the
Guarantor and each Borrower, as applicable, and authorizing the execution and delivery
thereof;
(iv) specimen signatures of officers or other appropriate representatives executing the
Loan Documents on behalf of the Guarantor and each Borrower, certified by the secretary or
assistant secretary or any Authorized Representative of the Guarantor and each Borrower, as
applicable;
(v) the Organizational Documents of the Guarantor and each Borrower certified as of a
recent date by the Secretary of State or other appropriate Governmental
35
Authority of the jurisdiction of its organization or by an Authorized Representative of
the Guarantor or such Borrower, as the case may be;
(vi) the by-laws or articles of association of the Guarantor and each Borrower
certified as of the Closing Date as true and correct by such entity’s secretary or assistant
secretary or any Authorized Representative of such entity;
(vii) to the extent applicable and available in the relevant jurisdiction, a
certificate issued as of a recent date by the Secretary of State or other appropriate
Governmental Authority of the jurisdiction of formation of the Guarantor and each Borrower
as to the due existence and good standing of the Guarantor and each Borrower, as applicable;
(viii) notice of appointment of the initial Authorized Representative of the Guarantor
and each Borrower;
(ix) a certificate of an Authorized Representative of the Guarantor dated the Closing
Date demonstrating compliance with the covenants contained in Sections 8.1, 8.2(i) and
8.3(e) as of the end of the fiscal quarter for which financial statements are publicly
available most recently ended prior to the Closing Date, substantially in the form of
Exhibit F;
(x) evidence that all fees payable by the Guarantor and the Borrowers on the Closing
Date to the Agent and the Lenders have been paid in full;
(xi) unless waived by the Agent, the Borrowers shall have paid all fees, charges and
disbursements of counsel to the Agent (directly to such counsel if requested by the Agent)
to the extent invoiced prior to or on the Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of such
fees, charges and disbursements as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such 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 Borrowers and the Agent);
(xii) a certificate of the Guarantor certifying that (A) as of the Closing Date, each
of the representations and warranties set forth in Article VI is true and correct, (B) after
giving effect to the Closing Date and all Loans to be made on the Closing Date, there will
be no Default or Event of Default under this Agreement, and (C) except as disclosed in any
reports or financial statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission prior to
October 3, 2007, as of the Closing Date there shall not have occurred a material adverse
change since December 30, 2006 in the business, financial position or results of operations
of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(xiii) evidence that the Credit Agreement dated as of October 27, 2005 among the
Borrowers, VF Asia Ltd., the lenders parties thereto and ABN AMRO Bank N.V., as
administrative agent, has been or concurrently with the Closing Date is being terminated
(and each of the Lenders that is a party to such Credit Agreement hereby waives any
requirement under such Credit Agreement of prior notice for such termination and for the
repayment of any borrowings thereunder); and
36
(xiv) such other documents, instruments, certificates and opinions as the Agent or the
Required Lenders may reasonably request on or prior to the Closing Date in connection with
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
Without limiting the generality of the provisions of the last sentence of Section
10.3, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section
5.1, 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 Agent shall have
received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection
thereto.
5.2. Conditions to Each Loan. The obligations of the Lenders to make any Loan on or
subsequent to the Closing Date are subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:
(a) the Agent shall have received a Borrowing Notice;
(b) the representations and warranties of the Guarantor set forth in Article VI and in each of
the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date
of such Loan, with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on
and as of such date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties expressly relate
to an earlier date and except that the financial statements referred to in Section 6.5 shall be
deemed to be those financial statements most recently delivered to the Agent and the Lenders
pursuant to Section 7.1 from the date financial statements are delivered to the Agent and the
Lenders in accordance with such Section;
(c) at the time of (and after giving effect to) each Loan, no Default or Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing; and
(d) immediately after giving effect to a Loan, the aggregate Euro Equivalent Amount of the
principal balance of all outstanding Loans for each Lender shall not exceed such Lender’s
Commitment.
ARTICLE VI
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
The Guarantor represents and warrants with respect to itself and to its Subsidiaries (which
representations and warranties shall survive the delivery of the documents mentioned herein and the
making of Loans), that:
6.1. Corporate Existence and Power. The Guarantor and each Borrower is a corporation
duly incorporated, validly existing and, to the extent applicable in the relevant jurisdiction, in
good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, and has all corporate powers
and all material governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals required to carry on
its business as now conducted.
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6.2. Corporate and Governmental Authorization; No Contravention. The execution,
delivery and performance by the Guarantor and each Borrower, as applicable, of this Agreement are
within such entity’s corporate powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action,
require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or official
and do not contravene, or constitute a default under, any provision of applicable law or regulation
or of the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the Guarantor or any Borrower or of any
agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon the Guarantor or
any of its Subsidiaries or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the
Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries.
6.3. Material Subsidiaries. Each of the Guarantor’s Material Subsidiaries is a
corporation, limited liability company or partnership, as the case may be, duly organized and
validly existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, and has the requisite powers
and all material governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals required to carry on
its business as now conducted.
6.4. Binding Effect. This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the
Guarantor and each Borrower when executed and delivered in accordance with this Agreement, will
constitute a valid and binding obligation of the relevant Borrower, in each case enforceable in
accordance with its terms.
6.5. Financial Information. (a) The consolidated balance sheet of the Guarantor and
its Subsidiaries as of December 30, 2006 and the related consolidated statements of income,
retained earnings and cash flow for the fiscal year then ended, reported on by
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and set forth in the Guarantor’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year then
ending, a copy of which has been delivered to each of the Lenders, fairly present, in conformity
with GAAP, the consolidated financial position of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries as of such
date and their consolidated results of operations and cash flows for such fiscal year.
(b) The unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries as of June
30, 2007 and the related unaudited consolidated statements of income and cash flows for the six
months then ended, set forth in the Guarantor’s quarterly report for the fiscal quarter ended June
30, 2007 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 10-Q, a copy of which has
been delivered to each of the Lenders, fairly present, in conformity with GAAP applied on a
Consistent Basis, the consolidated financial position of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries as of
such date and their consolidated results of operations and cash flows for such six-month period
(subject to normal year-end adjustments).
6.6. Litigation. There is no action, suit or proceeding pending against, or to the
knowledge of the Guarantor threatened against or affecting, the Guarantor or any of its
Subsidiaries before any court or arbitrator or any governmental body, agency or official which
could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or which in any manner draws into
question the validity of this Agreement.
6.7. Compliance with ERISA. Each member of the ERISA Group has fulfilled its
obligations under the minimum funding standards of ERISA and the Code with respect to each Plan and
is in compliance in all material respects with the presently applicable provisions of
38
ERISA and the Code with respect to each Plan. No member of the ERISA Group has (i) sought a
waiver of the minimum funding standard under Section 412 of the Code in respect of any Plan or
Multiemployer Plan, (ii) failed to make any contribution or payment to any Plan or Multiemployer
Plan or in respect of any Benefit Arrangement, or made any amendment to any Plan or Benefit
Arrangement, which has resulted or could result in the imposition of a Lien or the posting of a
bond or other security under ERISA or the Code or (iii) incurred any liability under Title IV of
ERISA other than a liability to the PBGC for premiums under Section 4007 of ERISA, in each case
that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.8. Environmental Matters. In the ordinary course of its business, the Guarantor
conducts periodic reviews, which it considers prudent and reasonable in light of the nature of the
business, of the effect of Environmental Laws on the business, operations and properties of the
Guarantor and its Subsidiaries, in the course of which it identifies and evaluates associated
liabilities and costs (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures
required for clean-up or closure of properties presently or previously owned, any capital or
operating expenditures required to achieve or maintain compliance with environmental protection
standards imposed by law or as a condition of any license, permit or contract, any related
constraints on operating activities, including any periodic or permanent shutdown of any facility
or reduction in the level of or change in the nature of operations conducted thereat and any actual
or potential liabilities to third parties, including employees, and any related costs and
expenses). On the basis of this review, the Guarantor has reasonably concluded that Environmental
Laws are unlikely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.9. Taxes. The Guarantor and its Significant Subsidiaries have filed all United
States Federal income tax returns and all other material tax returns which are required to be filed
by them and have paid all taxes due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received
by the Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary, except for such amounts as may be contested in good
faith by appropriate proceedings, so long as collection thereof is effectively stayed. The charges,
accruals and reserves on the books of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries in respect of taxes or
other governmental charges are, in the reasonable opinion of the Guarantor, adequate.
6.10. Margin Stock. The proceeds of the borrowings made hereunder will be used by the
Borrowers only for the purposes expressly authorized herein. None of such proceeds will be used,
directly or indirectly, for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any Margin Stock or for the
purpose of reducing or retiring any Indebtedness which was originally incurred to purchase or carry
Margin Stock or for any other purpose which might constitute any of the Loans under this Agreement
a “purpose” credit within the meaning of Regulation U or Regulation X (12 C.F.R. Part 221) of the
Board; provided, however that the Guarantor or any Borrower may purchase (i) its
own stock and (ii) Margin Stock in connection with an Acquisition so long as, following the
application of the proceeds of each borrowing hereunder, not more than twenty-five percent (25%) of
the value of the assets of the Guarantor or such Borrower, as the case may be, and its Subsidiaries
on a consolidated basis will be Margin Stock. Neither the Guarantor or any Borrower nor any agent
acting in its behalf has taken or will take any action which might cause this Agreement or any of
the documents or instruments delivered pursuant hereto to violate any regulation of the Board or to
violate the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
or any state securities laws, in each case as in effect on the date hereof.
39
6.11. Investment Company. Neither the Guarantor nor any Borrower is an “investment
company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
6.12. Full Disclosure. All information heretofore furnished by the Guarantor, or
furnished by any Borrower and confirmed by the Guarantor, to the Agent or any Lender for purposes
of or in connection with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby is, and all such
information hereafter furnished by the Guarantor, or furnished by any Borrower and confirmed by the
Guarantor, to the Agent or any Lender will be, true and accurate in every material respect or based
on reasonable estimates on the date as of which such information is stated or certified. The
Guarantor has disclosed to the Lenders in writing any and all facts which materially and adversely
affect or may affect (to the extent the Guarantor can now reasonably foresee), the business,
properties, operations or condition, financial or otherwise, of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries,
considered as a whole, or the ability of the Guarantor or any Borrower to perform its respective
obligations under this Agreement.
6.13. No Consents, Etc. Neither the respective businesses or properties of the
Guarantor or any Subsidiary, nor any relationship among the Guarantor or any Subsidiary and any
other Person, nor any circumstance in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of
the Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby, is such as to require a consent,
approval or authorization of, or filing, registration or qualification with, any Governmental
Authority or any other Person on the part of the Guarantor or any Borrower as a condition to the
execution, delivery and performance of, or consummation of the transactions contemplated by the
Loan Documents, which, if not obtained or effected, would be reasonably likely to have a Material
Adverse Effect, or if so, such consent, approval, authorization, filing, registration or
qualification has been duly obtained or effected, as the case may be, except that the registration
in Luxembourg of the Loan Documents (and/or any document in connection therewith) with the
Administration de l’Enregistrement et des Domaines may be required in the case of legal proceedings
before Luxembourg courts (if competent) or, in the case that the Loan Documents (and/or any
document in connection therewith) must be produced before an official Luxembourg authority, in
which case either a nominal registration duty or an ad valorem duty (or, for instance, 0.24 (zero
point twenty four) per cent of the amount of the payment obligation mentioned in the document so
registered) will be payable depending on the nature of the document to be registered.
ARTICLE VII
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
As long as any Commitment remains in effect or any Loan or other amount is owing to any Lender
or the Agent hereunder, unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing:
7.1. Financial Reports, Etc. The Guarantor will deliver to each of the Lenders:
(a) as soon as available and in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of
the Guarantor, a consolidated balance sheet of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries as of the end of
such fiscal year and the related consolidated statements of income, retained
40
earnings and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form
the figures for the previous fiscal year, all prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a
Consistent Basis and containing opinions of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, or other such independent
certified public accountants of nationally recognized standing, which are unqualified as to the
scope of the audit performed and as to the “going concern” status of the Guarantor;
(b) as soon as available and in any event within 45 days after the end of each of the first
three quarters of each fiscal year of the Guarantor, a consolidated balance sheet of the Guarantor
and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such quarter and the related consolidated statements of
income for such quarter and of income and cash flows for the portion of the Guarantor’s fiscal year
ended at the end of such quarter, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for
the corresponding quarter and the corresponding portion of the Guarantor’s previous fiscal year,
all certified (subject to normal year-end adjustments) as to fairness of presentation, generally
accepted accounting principles and consistency by an Authorized Representative of the Guarantor;
(c) simultaneously with the delivery of each set of financial statements referred to in
clauses (a) and (b) above, a certificate of an Authorized Representative of the Guarantor
(i) setting forth in reasonable detail the calculations required to establish whether the Guarantor
was in compliance with the requirements of Sections 8.1, 8.2(i) and 8.3(e) on the date of such
financial statements and (ii) stating whether there exists on the date of such certificate any
Default or Event of Default and, if any Default or Event of Default then exists, setting forth the
details thereof and the action which the Guarantor is taking or proposes to take with respect
thereto;
(d) simultaneously with the delivery of each set of financial statements referred to in clause
(a) above, a statement of the firm of independent public accountants which reported on such
statements (i) advising whether anything has come to their attention to cause then to believe that
there existed on the date of such statements any Default or Event of Default and (ii) confirming
the calculations set forth in the officer’s certificate delivered simultaneously therewith pursuant
to clause (c) above, provided that such statement need not be provided if it is the general
practice and policy of such firm not to provide such statements;
(e) forthwith upon the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, a certificate of an
Authorized Representative of the Guarantor setting forth the details thereof and the action which
the Guarantor is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto;
(f) promptly upon the mailing thereof to the shareholders of the Guarantor generally, copies
of all financial statements, reports and proxy statements so mailed;
(g) promptly upon the filing thereof, copies of all registration statements (other than the
exhibits thereto and any registration statements on Form S-8 or its equivalent) and reports on
Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K (or their equivalents) which the Guarantor shall have filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission;
41
(h) if and when any member of the ERISA Group (i) gives or is required to give notice to the
PBGC of any “reportable event” (as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA) with respect to any Plan which
might constitute grounds for a termination of such Plan under Title IV of ERISA, or knows that the
plan administrator of any Plan has given or is required to give notice of any such reportable
event, a copy of the notice of such reportable event given or required to be given to the PBGC;
(ii) receives notice that it has incurred complete or partial withdrawal liability under Title IV
of ERISA or notice that any Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization, is insolvent or has been
terminated, a copy of such notice; (iii) receives notice from the PBGC under Title IV of ERISA of
an intent to terminate, impose liability (other than for premiums under Section 4007 of ERISA) in
respect of, or appoint a trustee to administer, any Plan, a copy of such notice; (iv) applies for a
waiver of the minimum funding standard under Section 412 of the Code, a copy of such application;
(v) gives notice of intent to terminate any Plan under Section 404l(c) of ERISA, a copy of such
notice and other information filed with the PBGC; (vi) gives notice of withdrawal from any Plan
pursuant to Section 4063 of ERISA, a copy of such notice; or (vii) fails to make any payment or
contribution to any Plan or Multiemployer Plan or in respect of any Benefit Arrangement or makes
any amendment to any Plan or Benefit Arrangement which has resulted or could result in the
imposition of a Lien or the posting of a bond or other security, a certificate of an Authorized
Representative of the Guarantor setting forth details as to such occurrence and the action, if any,
which the Guarantor or applicable member of the ERISA Group is required or proposes to take with
respect thereto; provided that no such delivery referred to in clauses (i) through (vii)
above shall be required unless the event described in the applicable clause could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and
(i) from time to time such additional information regarding the financial position or business
of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries as the Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.
Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7.1(a), (b), (f) or (g) may be
delivered electronically and, if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date
on which such documents are posted (or a link thereto is provided) on the Guarantor’s website on
the Internet at xxx.xxx.xxx, at xxx.xxx.xxx/xxxxx/xxxxxxxxxxx/xxxxxxxx.xxx (the Central Index Key
as of the date of this Agreement for the Guarantor being 0000103379), or on IntraLinks/IntraAgency
or another relevant website, if any, to which each Lender and the Agent have access (whether a
commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Agent), in each case so long as such
documents are generally available without charge to the Agent and each of the Lenders at such
locations; provided that: (x) the Guarantor shall deliver paper copies of such documents to
the Agent or any Lender that requests the Guarantor to deliver such paper copies until a written
request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Agent or such Lender and (y) the Guarantor
shall notify (which may be by facsimile or electronic mail) the Agent and each Lender of the
posting of any such documents and provide to the Agent by electronic mail electronic versions
(i.e., soft copies) of such documents. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in every instance
the Guarantor shall be required to provide paper copies of the certificates required by
Section 7.1(c) to the Agent. Except for such certificates required by Section 7.1(c), the 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 Guarantor with
any such request for delivery, and each Lender
42
shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such
documents.
The Guarantor hereby acknowledges that (a) the Agent will make available to the Lenders
materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Guarantor hereunder (collectively,
“Guarantor Materials”) by posting the Guarantor Materials on IntraLinks or another similar
electronic system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders (each, a “Public
Lender”) may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with
respect to the Guarantor or its Affiliates, or the respective securities of any of the foregoing,
and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such
Persons’ securities. The Guarantor hereby agrees that so long as the Guarantor is the issuer of
any outstanding debt or equity securities that are registered or issued pursuant to a private
offering, (w) all Guarantor 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 Guarantor Materials “PUBLIC,”
the Guarantor shall be deemed to have authorized the Agent and the Lenders to treat such Guarantor
Materials as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the Guarantor or
its securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws (provided,
however, that to the extent such Guarantor Materials constitute Information, they shall be
treated as set forth in Section 12.14); (y) all Guarantor Materials marked “PUBLIC” are
permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Investor;” and
(z) the Agent shall be entitled to treat any Guarantor 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 Guarantor shall be under no obligation to xxxx any Guarantor
Materials “PUBLIC”.
7.2. Payment of Taxes. The Guarantor will pay, and will cause each Significant
Subsidiary to pay, all their respective tax liabilities, except where the same may be contested in
good faith by appropriate proceedings, and will maintain, and will cause each Significant
Subsidiary to maintain, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, appropriate
reserves for the accrual of the same.
7.3. Maintenance of Properties; Insurance. The Guarantor will keep, and will cause
each Significant Subsidiary to keep, all material property useful and necessary in its business in
good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted; will maintain, and will cause
each Significant Subsidiary to maintain (either in the name of the Guarantor or in such Significant
Subsidiary’s own name) with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance on all
their property in at least such amounts and against at least such risks as are usually insured
against in the same general area by companies of established repute engaged in the same or a
similar business; provided that the Guarantor shall have the right to self-insure or use a
captive insurer in order to meet such insurance requirements so long as the Guarantor or such
captive insurer provides the Lenders with reasonable proof of financial responsibility. The
Guarantor will furnish to the Lenders, upon written request from the Agent, full information as to
the insurance carried.
7.4. Compliance with Laws. The Guarantor will comply, and cause each Subsidiary to
comply, in all material respects with all applicable laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, and
43
requirements of governmental authorities (including, without limitation, Environmental Laws
and ERISA and the rules and regulations thereunder) except where (i) the necessity of compliance
therewith is contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or (ii) appropriate steps are being
taken to correct any failure to comply therewith and such failure does not have a Material Adverse
Effect.
7.5. Books and Records. The Guarantor will, and will cause each Significant Subsidiary
to, (a) 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 Guarantor or such Significant Subsidiary, as the case may
be; and (b) maintain such books of record and account in material conformity with all applicable
requirements of any Governmental Authority having regulatory jurisdiction over the Guarantor or
such Significant Subsidiary, as the case may be.
ARTICLE VIII
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
As long as any Commitment remains in effect or any Loan or other amount is owing to any Lender
or the Agent hereunder, unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing, the
Guarantor will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to:
8.1. Consolidated Indebtedness to Consolidated Capitalization. Permit the ratio of
Consolidated Indebtedness to Consolidated Capitalization to be greater than 0.60 to 1.00 at any
time.
8.2. Liens. Incur, create or permit to exist any Lien, charge or other encumbrance of
any nature whatsoever with respect to any property or assets now owned or hereafter acquired by the
Guarantor or any Subsidiary, other than
(a) Liens existing on the date of this Agreement securing Indebtedness outstanding on the date
of this Agreement in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $50,000,000;
(b) any Lien existing on any asset of any corporation at the time such corporation becomes a
Subsidiary and not created in contemplation of such event;
(c) any Lien on any asset of any corporation existing at the time such corporation is merged
or consolidated with or into the Guarantor or a Subsidiary and not created in contemplation of such
event;
(d) any Lien existing on any asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Guarantor or a
Subsidiary and not created in contemplation of such acquisition;
(e) any Lien on any asset securing Indebtedness incurred or assumed for the purpose of
financing all or any part of the cost of acquiring such asset, provided that such Lien attaches to
such asset concurrently with or within 90 days after the acquisition thereof;
44
(f) any Lien arising out of the refinancing, extension, renewal or refunding of any
Indebtedness secured by any Lien permitted by clauses (a) through (e) above provided that such
Indebtedness is not increased and is not secured by any additional assets;
(g) Liens arising in the ordinary course of business which (i) do not secure Indebtedness,
(ii) do not secure any obligation in an amount exceeding $50,000,000 and (iii) do not in the
aggregate materially detract from the value of its assets or materially impair the use thereof in
the operations of its business;
(h) Liens on assets of a Subsidiary securing Indebtedness owed to the Guarantor or a Wholly
Owned Subsidiary; and
(i) Liens not otherwise permitted by the foregoing clauses securing Indebtedness in an
aggregate principal amount at any time not to exceed 15% of Consolidated Net Worth;
provided that the sum of the principal amount of Indebtedness permitted to be secured by
this clause (i) plus the principal amount of Indebtedness incurred in accordance with Section
8.3(e) at any time shall not exceed 20% of Consolidated Net Worth.
8.3. Indebtedness of Subsidiaries. Incur, create, assume or permit to exist any
Indebtedness of any Subsidiary of the Guarantor, howsoever evidenced, except:
(a) Indebtedness of any corporation outstanding at the time such corporation becomes a
Subsidiary and not created in contemplation of such event;
(b) Indebtedness of any corporation outstanding at the time such corporation is merged or
consolidated with or into a Subsidiary and not created in contemplation of such event;
(c) Indebtedness secured by a Lien permitted by Section 8.2 hereof;
(d) Indebtedness owing to the Guarantor or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary; and
(e) Indebtedness not otherwise permitted by the foregoing clauses of this Section in an
aggregate outstanding principal amount for all Subsidiaries at no time exceeding 15% of
Consolidated Net Worth; provided that the sum of the principal amount of Indebtedness
incurred in accordance with this clause (e) plus the principal amount of Indebtedness permitted to
be secured in accordance with Section 8.2(i) at any time shall not exceed 20% of Consolidated Net
Worth.
The foregoing is subject to the further limitations that (i) for purposes of this Section, any
preferred stock of a Subsidiary held by a Person other than the Guarantor or a Wholly Owned
Subsidiary shall be included, at the higher of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation value, in
the Indebtedness of such Subsidiary and (ii) Indebtedness permitted by this Section does not
include a refunding, renewal or extension of such Indebtedness so that any such new Indebtedness
must fall independently within one of the above exceptions.
8.4. Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets. The Guarantor will not (i)
consolidate or merge with or into any other Person; provided that the Guarantor may merge
with
45
another Person if (A) the Guarantor is the corporation surviving such merger and is not a
subsidiary of another person and (B) immediately after giving effect to such merger, no Default or
Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; or (ii) sell, lease or otherwise transfer,
directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of its assets to any other Person, except for
sales, leases and other transfers to a Wholly Owned Subsidiary; provided that nothing in
this Section 8.4 shall be construed to prohibit or limit the ability of the Guarantor or any
Subsidiary to dispose of Margin Stock for fair market value.
8.5. Change in Control. Cause, suffer or permit to exist or occur any Change of
Control.
ARTICLE IX
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND ACCELERATION
9.1. Events of Default. If any one or more of the following events (herein called
“Events of Default”) shall occur for any reason whatsoever (and whether such occurrence
shall be voluntary or involuntary or come about or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to
or in compliance with any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation
of any Governmental Authority), that is to say:
(a) if default shall be made in the due and punctual payment of the principal of any Loan,
when and as the same shall be due and payable whether pursuant to any provision of Article II or
Article III, at maturity, by acceleration or otherwise; or
(b) if default shall be made in the due and punctual payment of any amount of interest on any
Loan or other Obligation or of any fees or other amounts payable to any of the Lenders or the Agent
within five days of the date on which the same shall be due and payable; or
(c) if default shall be made in the performance or observance of any covenant set forth in
Article VIII; or
(d) if a default shall be made in the performance or observance of, or shall occur under, any
covenant, agreement or provision contained in this Agreement (other than as described in clauses
(a), (b) or (c) above) and such default shall continue for 30 or more days after the earlier of (i)
receipt of notice of such default by an Authorized Representative of the Guarantor from the Agent
and (ii) the date on which an officer or Authorized Representative of the Guarantor becomes aware
of such default, or if without the written consent of the Lenders, this Agreement or any Loan shall
be disaffirmed or shall terminate, be terminable or be terminated or become void or unenforceable
for any reason whatsoever (other than as expressly provided for hereunder or thereunder); or
(e) if there shall occur (i) a default, which is not waived or cured within any applicable
grace periods, in the payment of any principal, interest, premium or other amount with respect to
any Indebtedness (other than the Loans and other Obligations and other than Indebtedness owed to
the Guarantor or any Subsidiary) of the Guarantor or any Subsidiary in an amount not less than
$100,000,000 in the aggregate outstanding, or (ii) any event of default as
46
specified in any agreement or instrument under or pursuant to which any such Indebtedness in
excess of $100,000,000 may have been issued, created, assumed, guaranteed or secured by the
Guarantor or any Subsidiary, and such default or event of default shall continue for more than the
period of grace, if any, therein specified, and such default or event of default shall permit the
holder of any such Indebtedness (or any agent or trustee acting on behalf of one or more holders)
to accelerate the maturity thereof; or
(f) if any representation, warranty or other statement of fact contained in any Loan Document
or in any writing, certificate, report or statement at any time furnished to the Agent or any
Lender by or on behalf of the Guarantor or any Subsidiary pursuant to or in connection with any
Loan Document, or otherwise, shall be false or misleading in any material respect when given; or
(g) if the Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary shall be unable to pay its debts generally
as they become due; file a petition to take advantage of any insolvency statute; make an assignment
for the benefit of its creditors; commence a proceeding for the appointment of a receiver, trustee,
liquidator or conservator of itself or of the whole or any substantial part of its property; file a
petition or answer seeking liquidation, reorganization or arrangement or similar relief under the
federal bankruptcy laws or any other applicable law or statute, domestic or foreign; or
(h) if a court of competent jurisdiction shall enter an order, judgment or decree appointing a
custodian, receiver, trustee, liquidator or conservator of the Guarantor or any Significant
Subsidiary or of the whole or any substantial part of its properties and such order, judgment or
decree continues unstayed and in effect for a period of sixty (60) days, or approve a petition
filed against the Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary seeking liquidation, reorganization or
arrangement or similar relief under the federal bankruptcy laws or any other applicable law or
statute of the United States of America or any state thereof or any other jurisdiction, domestic or
foreign, which petition is not dismissed within sixty (60) days; or if, under the provisions of any
other law for the relief or aid of debtors, a court of competent jurisdiction shall assume custody
or control of the Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary or of the whole or any substantial part
of its properties, which control is not relinquished within sixty (60) days; or if there is
commenced against the Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary any proceeding or petition seeking
reorganization, arrangement or similar relief under the federal bankruptcy laws or any other
applicable law or statute of the United States of America or any state thereof or any other
jurisdiction, domestic or foreign which proceeding or petition remains undismissed for a period of
sixty (60) days; or if the Guarantor or any Significant Subsidiary takes any action to indicate its
consent to or approval of any such proceeding or petition; or
(i) if (i) any judgment or order where the amount not covered by insurance (or the amount as
to which the insurer denies liability) is in excess of $100,000,000 is rendered against the
Guarantor or any Subsidiary, or (ii) there is any attachment, injunction or execution against any
of the Guarantor’s or Subsidiaries’ properties for any amount in excess of $100,000,000; and such
judgment, attachment, injunction or execution remains unpaid, unstayed, undischarged, unbonded or
undismissed for a period of thirty (30) days; or
47
(j) any member of the ERISA Group shall fail to pay when due an amount or amounts aggregating
in excess of $100,000,000 which it shall have become liable to pay under Title IV of ERISA; or
notice of intent to terminate a Material Plan shall be filed under Title IV or ERISA by any member
of the ERISA Group, any plan administrator or any combination of the foregoing; or the PBGC shall
institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate, to impose liability (other than for
premiums under Section 4007 of ERISA) in respect of, or to cause a trustee to be appointed to
administer any Material Plan; or a condition shall exist by reason of which the PBGC would be
entitled to obtain a decree adjudicating that any Material Plan must be terminated; or there shall
occur a complete or partial withdrawal from, or a default, within the meaning of Section 4219(c)(5)
of ERISA, with respect to, one or more Multiemployer Plans which could reasonably be expected to
cause one or more members of the ERISA Group to incur a payment obligation in excess of
$100,000,000;
then, and in any such event and at any time thereafter, if such Event of Default or any other Event
of Default shall have not been waived,
(A) either or both of the following actions may be taken: (i) the Agent may,
and at the direction of the Required Lenders shall, declare any obligation of the
Lenders to make further Loans terminated, whereupon the obligation of each Lender to
make further Loans hereunder shall terminate immediately, and (ii) the Agent shall
at the direction of the Required Lenders, at their option, declare by notice to the
Guarantor any or all of the Obligations to be immediately due and payable, and the
same, including all interest accrued thereon and all other obligations of the
Guarantor and the Borrowers to the Agent and the Lenders, shall forthwith become
immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest, notice or other
formality of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived, anything contained
herein or in any instrument evidencing the Obligations to the contrary
notwithstanding; provided, however, that notwithstanding the above, if there shall
occur an Event of Default under clause (g) or (h) above, then the obligation of the
Lenders to make Loans hereunder shall automatically terminate and any and all of the
Obligations shall be immediately due and payable without the necessity of any action
by the Agent or the Required Lenders or notice to the Agent or the Lenders; and
(B) the Agent and each of the Lenders shall have all of the rights and remedies
available under the Loan Documents or under any applicable law.
9.2. Agent to Act. In case any one or more Events of Default shall occur and not have
been waived, the Agent may, and at the direction of the Required Lenders shall, proceed to protect
and enforce their rights or remedies either by suit in equity or by action at law, or both, whether
for the specific performance of any covenant, agreement or other provision contained herein or in
any other Loan Document, or to enforce the payment of the Obligations or any other legal or
equitable right or remedy.
9.3. Cumulative Rights. No right or remedy herein conferred upon the Lenders or the
Agent is intended to be exclusive of any other rights or remedies contained herein or in any other
Loan Document, and every such right or remedy shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to
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every other such right or remedy contained herein and therein or now or hereafter existing at
law or in equity or by statute, or otherwise.
9.4. No Waiver. No course of dealing between the Guarantor or any Borrower, on the
one hand, and any Lender or the Agent, on the other hand, or any failure or delay on the part of
any Lender or the Agent in exercising any rights or remedies under any Loan Document or otherwise
available to it shall operate as a waiver of any rights or remedies and no single or partial
exercise of any rights or remedies shall operate as a waiver or preclude the exercise of any other
rights or remedies hereunder or of the same right or remedy on a future occasion.
9.5. Allocation of Proceeds. If an Event of Default has occurred and not been waived,
and the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated pursuant to Article IX hereof, all payments
received by the Agent hereunder, in respect of any principal of or interest on the Obligations or
any other amounts payable by the Guarantor or any Borrower hereunder, shall be applied by the Agent
in the following order:
(a) amounts due to the Lenders pursuant to Sections 3.6(a) and 12.5;
(b) amounts due to the Agent pursuant to Section 3.6(b);
(c) payments of interest on Loans to be applied for the ratable benefit of the Lenders;
(d) payments of principal of Loans, to be applied for the ratable benefit of the Lenders;
(e) amounts due to the Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Section 12.9;
(f) payments of all other amounts due under any of the Loan Documents, if any, to be applied
for the ratable benefit of the Lenders;
(g) any surplus remaining after application as provided for herein, to the Borrowers or
otherwise as may be required by applicable law.
ARTICLE X
THE AGENT
10.1. Appointment and Authorization of the Agent. Each Lender hereby irrevocably
appoints, designates and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action on its behalf
under the provisions of this Agreement and each other Loan Document and to exercise such powers and
perform such duties as are expressly delegated to it by the terms of this Agreement or any other
Loan Document, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Notwithstanding any
provision to the contrary contained elsewhere herein or in any other Loan Document, the Agent shall
have no duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein, nor shall the Agent
have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender or participant, and no implied
covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this
Agreement or any other Loan Document or otherwise exist
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against the Agent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the use of the
term “agent” herein and in the other Loan Documents with reference to any Agent is not intended to
connote any fiduciary or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of
any applicable Law. Instead, such term is used merely as a matter of market custom, and is
intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between independent contracting
parties.
10.2. Delegation of Duties. The Agent may execute any of its duties under this
Agreement or any other Loan Document by or through agents, employees or attorneys-in-fact including
for the purpose of any Borrowings or payments in Alternative Currencies, such sub-agents as shall
be deemed necessary by the Agent and shall be entitled to advice of counsel and other consultants
or experts concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. The Agent shall not be responsible
for the negligence or misconduct of any agent or sub-agent or attorney-in-fact that it selects in
the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct.
10.3. Liabilities of Agent. No Agent-Related Person shall (a) be liable for any
action taken or omitted to be taken by any of them under or in connection with this Agreement or
any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby (except for its own gross
negligence or willful misconduct in connection with its duties expressly set forth herein), or (b)
be responsible in any manner to any Lender or participant for any recital, statement,
representation or warranty made by any Loan Party or any officer thereof, contained herein or in
any other Loan Document, or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or
provided for in, or received by the Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other
Loan Document, or the validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this
Agreement or any other Loan Document or for any failure of any Loan Party or any other party to any
Loan Document to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder. No Agent-Related Person shall be
under any obligation to any Lender or participant to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance
or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Agreement or any other
Loan Document, or to inspect the properties, books or records of any Loan Party or any
Affiliate thereof.
10.4. Reliance by Agent. The Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully
protected in relying, upon any writing, communication, signature, resolution, representation,
notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram, facsimile, telex or telephone message,
electronic mail message, statement or other document or conversation believed by it to be genuine
and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice
and statements of legal counsel (including counsel to any Loan Party), independent accountants and
other experts selected by such Agent. The Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to
take any action under any Loan Document unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of
the Required Lenders as it deems appropriate and, if it so requests, it shall first be indemnified
to its satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred
by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. Each Agent shall in all cases be
fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement or any other Loan
Document in accordance with a request or consent of the Required Lenders (or such greater number of
Lenders as may be expressly required hereby in any instance) and such request and any action taken
or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all the Lenders.
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10.5. Notice of Default. The Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of
the occurrence of any Default, except with respect to defaults in the payment of principal,
interest and fees required to be paid to the Agent for the account of the Lenders, unless the
Administrative Agent shall have received written notice from a Lender, the Guarantor or any
Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing such Default and stating that such notice is a
“notice of default.” The Agent will notify the Lenders of its receipt of any such notice. The
Agent shall take such action with respect to any Event of Default as may be directed by the
Required Lenders in accordance with Article IX; provided that unless and until the Agent
has received any such direction, the Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or
refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Event of Default as it shall deem advisable
or in the best interest of the Lenders.
10.6. Indemnification of Agent. Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby
are consummated, the Lenders shall indemnify upon demand each Agent-Related Person (to the extent
not reimbursed by or on behalf of any Loan Party and without limiting the obligation of any Loan
Party to do so), pro rata, and hold harmless each Agent-Related Person from and against any and all
Indemnified Liabilities incurred by it; provided that no Lender shall be liable for the
payment to any Agent-Related Person of any portion of such Indemnified Liabilities resulting from
such Agent-Related Person’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct; provided that no
action taken in accordance with the directions of the Required Lenders shall be deemed to
constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct for purposes of this Section 10.6. In the case
of any investigation, litigation or proceeding giving rise to any Indemnified Liabilities, this
Section 10.6 applies whether any such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by any
Lender or any other Person. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender shall reimburse the
Agent upon demand for its ratable share of any costs or out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the
Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification,
amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or
legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement, any other Loan
Document, or any document contemplated by or referred to herein, to the extent that the Agent is
not reimbursed for such expenses by or on behalf of the Borrowers. The undertaking in this Section
10.6 shall survive termination of the Commitments, the payment of all other Obligations and the
resignation of the Agent.
10.7. Agent in its Individual Capacity. X.X. Xxxxxx Europe Limited and its Affiliates
may make loans to, issue letters of credit for the account of, accept deposits from, acquire Equity
Interests in and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust, financial advisory, underwriting
or other business with each of the Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates as though X.X.
Xxxxxx Europe Limited were not the Agent hereunder and without notice to or consent of the Lenders.
The Lenders acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, X.X. Xxxxxx Europe Limited or its
Affiliates may receive information regarding any Loan Party or its Affiliates (including
information that may be subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of such Loan Party or such
Affiliate) and acknowledge that the Agent shall be under no obligation to provide such information
to them. With respect to its Loans, X.X. Xxxxxx Europe Limited shall have the same rights and
powers under this Agreement as any other Lender and may exercise such rights and powers as though
it were not the Agent, and the terms “Lender” and “Lenders” include X.X. Xxxxxx Europe Limited in
its individual capacity.
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10.8. Successor Agents. The Agent may resign as the Agent upon thirty (30) days’
notice to the Lenders. If the Agent resigns under this Agreement, the Required Lenders shall
appoint from among the Lenders a successor agent for the Lenders, subject to the consent of the
Guarantor (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). Upon the acceptance of
its appointment as successor agent hereunder, the Person acting as such successor agent shall
succeed to all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring Agent and the term “Agent,” shall mean
such successor administrative agent and/or supplemental administrative agent, as the case may be,
and the retiring Agent’s appointment, powers and duties as the Administrative Agent shall be
terminated. After the retiring Agent’s resignation hereunder as the Administrative Agent, the
provisions of this Article X and Sections 12.5 and 12.9 shall inure to its benefit as to any
actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was the Agent under this Agreement. If no
successor agent has accepted appointment as the Agent by the date which is thirty (30) days
following the retiring Agent’s notice of resignation, the retiring Agent’s resignation shall
nevertheless thereupon become effective and the Lenders shall perform all of the duties of the
Agent hereunder until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor agent as
provided for above. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as the Agent hereunder by a successor,
the Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, discretion,
privileges, and duties of the retiring Agent, and the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its
duties and obligations under the Loan Documents. After the retiring Agent’s resignation hereunder
as the Agent, the provisions of this Article X shall continue in effect for its benefit in respect
of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was acting as the Agent.
10.9. Agent May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any receivership,
insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other
judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the 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 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 Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Agent and their respective agents and
counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Agent under Sections 3.6 and 12.5)
allowed in such judicial proceeding; and
(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
Agent and, in the event that the Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the
Lenders, to pay to the Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Agents and their respective agents and counsel, and any other
amounts due the Agent under Sections 3.6 and 12.5.
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Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the 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 Agent to vote
in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.
10.10. Other Agents and Arrangers. None of the Lenders or other Persons identified on
the facing page or signature pages of this Agreement as a “syndication agent,” “documentation
agent”, “bookrunner,” or “mandated lead arranger” shall have any right, power, obligation,
liability, responsibility or duty under this Agreement other than those applicable to all Lenders
as such. Without limiting the foregoing, none of the Lenders or other Persons so identified shall
have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender. Each Lender acknowledges
that it has not relied, and will not rely, on any of the Lenders or other Persons so identified in
deciding to enter into this Agreement or in taking or not taking action hereunder.
10.11. Non-Reliance on the Agent and Other Lenders. Each Lender expressly
acknowledges that neither the Agent nor any of its respective officers, directors, employees,
agents, advisors, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates have made any representations or warranties to it
and that no act by the Agent hereafter taken, including any review of the affairs of a Loan Party
or any affiliate of a Loan Party, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by
the Agent to any Lender. Each Lender represents to the Agent that it has, independently and
without reliance upon the Agent or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as
it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of and investigation into the business,
operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Loan Parties and
their affiliates and made its own decision to make its Loans hereunder and enter into this
Agreement. Each Lender also represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon the
Agent or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate
at the time, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not
taking action under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and to make such investigation as
it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, operations, property, financial and other
condition and creditworthiness of the Loan Parties and their affiliates. Except for notices,
reports and other documents expressly required to be furnished to the Lenders by the Agent
hereunder, the Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any
credit or other information concerning the business, operations, property, condition (financial or
otherwise), prospects or creditworthiness of any Loan Party or any affiliate of a Loan Party that
may come into the possession of the Agent or any of its officers, directors, employees, agents,
advisors, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates.
ARTICLE XI
GUARANTEE
11.1. Guarantee. (a) To induce the Lenders to execute and deliver this Agreement and
to make the Loans, and in consideration thereof, the Guarantor hereby unconditionally and
irrevocably guarantees to the Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Lenders and their respective
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successors, indorsees and assigns, the prompt and complete payment and performance when due
(whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of the Obligations.
(b) Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the maximum liability of the Guarantor
hereunder shall in no event exceed the amount which can be guaranteed by the Guarantor under
applicable federal and state laws relating to the insolvency of debtors.
(c) The guarantee contained in this Article XI shall remain in full force and effect and be
binding in accordance with and to the extent of its terms upon the Guarantor and the successors and
assigns thereof, and shall inure to the benefit of the Lenders and their successors and permitted
assigns, until all the Obligations shall have been satisfied by payment in full and the Commitments
shall be terminated, notwithstanding that from time to time during the term of this Agreement the
Borrowers may be free from any Obligations.
11.2. No Subrogation. Notwithstanding any payment made by the Guarantor hereunder or
any set-off or application of funds of the Guarantor by the Agent or any Lender, the Guarantor
shall not be entitled to be subrogated to any of the rights of the Agent or any Lender against any
Borrower or any collateral security or guarantee or right of offset held by the Agent or any Lender
for the payment of the Obligations, nor shall the Guarantor seek or be entitled to seek any
contribution or reimbursement from any Borrower in respect of payments made by the Guarantor
hereunder, until all amounts owing to the Agent and the Lenders by any Borrower on account of the
Obligations are paid in full and the Commitments are terminated. If any amount shall be paid to
the Guarantor on account of such subrogation rights at any time when all of the Obligations shall
not have been paid in full or the Commitments shall not have been terminated, such amount shall be
held by the Guarantor in trust for the Agent and the Lenders and shall, forthwith upon receipt by
the Guarantor, be turned over to the Agent in the exact form received by the Guarantor (duly
indorsed by the Guarantor to the Agent, if required), to be applied against the Obligations,
whether matured or unmatured, in such order as the Agent may determine.
11.3. Amendments, etc. with respect to the Obligations. The Guarantor shall remain
obligated hereunder notwithstanding that, without any reservation of rights against the Guarantor
and without notice to or further assent by the Guarantor, any demand for payment of any of the
Obligations made by the Agent or any Lender may be rescinded by the Agent or such Lender and any of
the Obligations continued, and the Obligations, or the liability of any other Person upon or for
any part thereof, or any collateral security or guarantee therefor or right of offset with respect
thereto, may, from time to time, in whole or in part, be renewed, extended, amended, modified,
accelerated, compromised, waived, surrendered or released by the Agent or any Lender, and this
Agreement and any other documents executed and delivered in connection therewith may be amended,
modified, supplemented or terminated, in whole or in part, including with respect to any condition
precedent, as the Agent (or the Required Lenders or all Lenders, as the case may be) may deem
advisable from time to time, and any collateral security, guarantee or right of offset at any time
held by the Agent or any Lender for the payment of the Obligations may be sold, exchanged, waived,
surrendered or released. Neither the Agent nor any Lender shall have any obligation to protect,
secure, perfect or insure any Lien at any time held by it as security for the Obligations or for
the guarantee contained in this Article XI or any property subject thereto.
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11.4. Guarantee Absolute and Unconditional. Except as otherwise required by this
Agreement, the Guarantor waives any and all notice of the creation, renewal, extension or accrual
of any of the Obligations and notice of or proof of reliance by the Agent or any Lender upon the
guarantee contained in this Article XI or acceptance of the guarantee contained in this Article XI;
the Obligations, and any of them, shall conclusively be deemed to have been created, contracted or
incurred, or renewed, extended, amended or waived, in reliance upon the guarantee contained in this
Article XI; and all dealings between the Borrowers and the Guarantor, on the one hand, and the
Agent and the Lenders, on the other hand, likewise shall be conclusively presumed to have been had
or consummated in reliance upon the guarantee contained in this Article XI. To the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law, the Guarantor waives diligence, presentment, protest, demand for
payment and notice of default or nonpayment to or upon any Borrower or the Guarantor with respect
to the Obligations. The Guarantor understands and agrees that the guarantee contained in this
Article XI shall be construed as a continuing, absolute and unconditional guarantee of payment
without regard to (a) the validity or enforceability of the obligations of the Borrowers under this
Agreement, any of the Obligations or any other collateral security therefor or guarantee or right
of offset with respect thereto at any time or from time to time held by the Agent or any Lender,
(b) any defense, set-off or counterclaim (other than a defense of payment or performance) which may
at any time be available to or be asserted by any Borrower or any other Person against the Agent or
any Lender, or (c) any other circumstance whatsoever (with or without notice to or knowledge of the
Borrowers or the Guarantor) which constitutes, or might be construed to constitute, an equitable or
legal discharge of the Borrowers for the Obligations, or of the Guarantor under the guarantee
contained in this Article XI, in bankruptcy or in any other instance. When making any demand
hereunder or otherwise pursuing its rights and remedies hereunder against the Guarantor the Agent
or any Lender may, but shall be under no obligation to, make a similar demand on or otherwise
pursue such rights and remedies as it may have against any Borrower, or any other Person or against
any collateral security or guarantee for the Obligations or any right of offset with respect
thereto, and any failure by the Agent or any Lender to make any such demand, to pursue such other
rights or remedies or to collect any payments from the Borrowers, or any other Person or to realize
upon any such collateral security or guarantee or to exercise any such right of offset, or any
release of any Borrower, or any other Person or any such collateral security, guarantee or right of
offset, shall not relieve the Guarantor of any obligation or liability hereunder, and shall not
impair or affect the rights and remedies, whether express, implied or available as a matter of law,
of the Agent or any Lender against the Guarantor. For the purposes hereof “demand” shall include
the commencement and continuance of any legal proceedings.
11.5. Reinstatement. The guarantee contained in this Article XI shall continue to be
effective, or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of
any of the Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Agent or any
Lender upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of any Borrower
or the Guarantor, or upon or as a result of the appointment of a receiver, intervenor or
conservator of, or trustee or similar officer for, any Borrower or the Guarantor or any substantial
part of its property, or otherwise, all as though such payments had not been made.
11.6. Payments. The Guarantor hereby guarantees that payments hereunder will be paid
to the Agent without set-off or counterclaim in the applicable currency at the Principal Office.
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11.7. Independent Obligations. The obligations of the Guarantor under the guarantee
contained in this Article XI are independent of the obligations of the Borrowers, and a separate
action or actions may be brought and prosecuted against the Guarantor whether or not any Borrower
is joined in any such action or actions. The Guarantor waives, to the fullest extent permitted by
law, the benefit of any statute of limitations affecting its liability hereunder or the enforcement
thereof.
ARTICLE XII
MISCELLANEOUS
12.1. Assignments and Participations.
(a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that neither
the Guarantor nor any Borrower may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations
hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender, and no Lender may assign or otherwise
transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an Eligible 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, or (iii) by way of pledge or
assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (f) 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 Indemnified Parties) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under
or by reason of this Agreement.
(b) Subject to Section 12.1(h), any Lender may at any time assign to one or more Eligible
Assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a
portion of its Commitment or Commitments and the Loan or Loans at the time owing to it);
provided that (i) except in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the
assigning Lender’s Commitment and Loans at the time owing to it or in the case of an assignment to
a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund (as defined in subsection (g) of this
Section) with respect to a Lender, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose
includes Loans outstanding thereunder) subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date
the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the 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 (or its equivalent) or an integral multiple of €5,000,000 (or its equivalent)
in excess thereof, unless each of the Agent and, so long as no Event of Default under
Section 9.1(a), (b), (g) or (h) has occurred and is continuing, the Guarantor otherwise consents
(each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); (ii) 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 and the Commitment assigned; (iii) any
assignment of a Commitment must be approved (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed) by the Agent unless the Person that is the proposed assignee is itself a Lender (whether
or not the proposed assignee
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would otherwise qualify as an Eligible Assignee); and (iv) the parties to each assignment
shall execute and deliver to the Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and
recordation fee of $3,500. Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Agent pursuant to
subsection (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and
Assumption, the Eligible 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 4.1, 4.4, 4.5, 12.5 and 12.9 with respect to
facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment). 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.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) the Agent shall not be obligated to consent to an assignment
hereunder until it is satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other
similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations in relation to the assignment to such
assignee Lender and (y) an assignment will only be effective after performance by the Agent of all
“know your customer” or other checks relating to any person that it is required to carry out in
relation to such assignment to an assignee Lender, the completion of which the Agent shall promptly
notify to the assigning Lender and the assignee Lender.
(c) The Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrowers, shall maintain at
the Agent’s Applicable Lending 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 Guarantor,
the Borrowers, the 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
Guarantor, the Borrowers and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon
reasonable prior notice.
(d) Subject to Section 12.1(h), any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or (except
as set forth below in this subsection (d)) notice to, the Guarantor, any Borrower or the Agent,
sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person or the Guarantor or any of the
Guarantor’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 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 Guarantor, the
Borrowers, the 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. Each Lender
selling a participation shall notify the Guarantor and the Borrowers of the identity of the
participant and the amount of the participation, provided that the failure of any
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Lender to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such sale or the rights of the
participant hereunder. 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 12.6 that directly affects such Participant. Subject to subsection
(e) of this Section, the Borrowers agree that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of
Sections 4.1 and 4.4 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 12.3(a) as though it were a Lender,
provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 12.3(b) as though it were a
Lender.
(e) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 4.1 or
4.5 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 Guarantor’s prior written consent. No Participant shall be entitled to the benefits
of Section 4.5 unless the Guarantor is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and
such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Guarantor, to provide such forms, certificates or
other evidence, if any, with respect to withholding tax matters as required under Section 4.5(d).
(f) Subject to Section 12.1(h), any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security
interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such
Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank;
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) As used herein, the following terms have the following meanings:
“Eligible Assignee” means (a) a Lender; (b) an Affiliate of a Lender; (c) an Approved
Fund; and (d) any other Person (other than a natural person) approved by (i) the Agent (which
approval shall be subject to the last sentence of Section 12.1(b) and shall not be unreasonably
withheld) and (ii) unless an Event of Default under Section 9.1(a), (b), (g) or (h) has occurred
and is continuing, the Guarantor (each such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed);
provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, “Eligible Assignee” shall not include the
Guarantor or any of the Guarantor’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries.
“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.
“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.
58
(h) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 12.1, a Lender may not assign,
sell participations in or pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion or its rights
and obligations under this Agreement (each such action, a “Transfer”), if as a result
thereof:
(i) the total number of creditors (other than Qualifying Banks (as defined below)) of
VF International under this Agreement would at any time exceed 10, in each case in
accordance with the meaning of the Guidelines (as defined below); or
(ii) the total number of creditors (other than Qualifying Banks) in relation to all
outstanding loans or written debt acknowledgements (including Loans) of VF International
would at any time exceed 20, in each case in accordance with the meaning of the Guidelines.
For purposes of this Section 12.1(h), “Guidelines” means the guidelines in relation to
bonds of April 1999 as issued by the Swiss Federal Tax Administration (Merkblatt “Obligationen” vom
April 1999 der Eidgenössischen Steuerverwaltung), and “Qualifying Bank” means (i) a bank as
defined in the Swiss Federal Law of 8 November 1934 relating to banks and savings institutions, or
(ii) any other person that is a bank according to the banking legislation in effect in its
jurisdiction of organization.
Upon the reasonable request of any Lender in connection with any such proposed Transfer, VF
International and (in the case of clause (x) below only) the Agent will notify such Lender of the
total number of creditors (other than Qualifying Banks) of VF International of which it is aware
(x) under this Agreement and (y) in relation to all outstanding loans or written debt
acknowledgements (including Loans), in each case in accordance with the meaning of the Guidelines.
No Transfer shall be valid for any purpose unless the Lender proposing to make such transfer has
notified VF International thereof and VF International has confirmed to such Lender in writing that
such transfer will not violate this Section 12.1(h). VF International agrees to respond to any
such notification promptly following its receipt thereof.
Each Lender hereby represents and warrants that, on the date hereof, it is a Qualifying Bank.
VF International hereby represents and warrants that, on the date hereof, to the best of its
knowledge, the total number of its creditors (other than Qualifying Banks) in relation to all
outstanding loans or written debt acknowledgements (including Loans) does not exceed 20. VF
International hereby covenants and agrees that, so long as any Loans are outstanding to it, it will
not permit the total number of its creditors (other than Qualifying Banks) in relation to all
outstanding loans or written debt acknowledgements (including Loans) to exceed 20.
12.2. Notices. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly
permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (g) 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:
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(a) if to the Guarantor:
V.F. Corporation
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, III, Vice President-Treasurer
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telefacsimile: (000) 000-0000
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, III, Vice President-Treasurer
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telefacsimile: (000) 000-0000
(b) if to VF Investments:
VF Investments S.a.r.l.
0, xxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
X-0000 Xxxxxxxxxx
Attention: Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx — Administrator
Phone: 000 000 000000000
Fax: 000 000 000000
e-mail: xxxxx@xx.xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
0, xxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
X-0000 Xxxxxxxxxx
Attention: Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx — Administrator
Phone: 000 000 000000000
Fax: 000 000 000000
e-mail: xxxxx@xx.xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
with a copy to:
V.F. Corporation
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, III, Vice President-Treasurer
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telefacsimile: (000) 000-0000
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, III, Vice President-Treasurer
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telefacsimile: (000) 000-0000
(c) if to VF Europe:
VF Europe BVBA
Fountain Business Park
X. Xxx Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, 000
Xxxx. 0/0
X-0000 Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxx- Chief Financial Officer
Phone: 000.00.0000.0000
Fax: 000.00.0000.0000
e-mail: xxxx_xxxxxx@xxx.xxx
Fountain Business Park
X. Xxx Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, 000
Xxxx. 0/0
X-0000 Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxx- Chief Financial Officer
Phone: 000.00.0000.0000
Fax: 000.00.0000.0000
e-mail: xxxx_xxxxxx@xxx.xxx
with a copy to:
V.F. Corporation
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, III, Vice President-Treasurer
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, III, Vice President-Treasurer
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Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telefacsimile: (000) 000-0000
Telefacsimile: (000) 000-0000
(d) if to VF International:
VF International S.a.g.l.
Xxx Xxxxxx, 00/x
Xxxxxx Open Xxxxx 00, Xxxxxxx X
0000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Attention: Xxxxx Xxx — Chief Financial Officer
Phone: 000.00.00.000.00.00
Fax: 000.00.00.000.00.00
e-mail: xxxxx_xxx@xxx.xxx
Xxx Xxxxxx, 00/x
Xxxxxx Open Xxxxx 00, Xxxxxxx X
0000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx
Attention: Xxxxx Xxx — Chief Financial Officer
Phone: 000.00.00.000.00.00
Fax: 000.00.00.000.00.00
e-mail: xxxxx_xxx@xxx.xxx
with a copy to:
V.F. Corporation
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, III, Vice President-Treasurer
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telefacsimile: (000) 000-0000
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, III, Vice President-Treasurer
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telefacsimile: (000) 000-0000
(e) if to the Agent:
X.X. Xxxxxx Europe Limited
000 Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Telephone: + 00 (0) 000 000 0000
Telefacsimile: + 00 (0) 000 000 0000
000 Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Telephone: + 00 (0) 000 000 0000
Telefacsimile: + 00 (0) 000 000 0000
(f) if to the Lenders:
At the addresses set forth in an administrative questionnaire
delivered to the Agent.
delivered to the Agent.
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, where the proper transmission of such notice is either acknowledged by
the recipient or electronically confirmed by the transmitting device (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 (g) below, shall be effective as provided in
such subsection (g).
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(g) 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 Agent, provided that the
foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender pursuant to Article II if such Lender
has notified the Agent that it is incapable of receiving or unwilling to receive notices under such
Article by electronic communication. The Agent, the Guarantor or the Borrowers may, in their
discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to them hereunder by electronic
communications pursuant to procedures approved by them, provided that approval of such
procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.
Unless the 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.
12.3. Right of Set-off; Adjustments. (a) Upon the occurrence and during the
continuance of any Event of Default, each Lender (and each of its affiliates) is hereby authorized
at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any
and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and
other indebtedness at any time owing by such Lender (or any of its affiliates) to or for the credit
or the account of the Guarantor or any Borrower against any and all of the obligations of the
Guarantor or such Borrower, as the case may be, now or hereafter existing under this Agreement
irrespective of whether such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement and although
such obligations may be unmatured. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Guarantor or relevant
Borrower, as the case may be, after any such set-off and application made by such Lender;
provided, however, that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the
validity of such set-off and application. The rights of each Lender under this Section 12.3 are in
addition to other rights and remedies (including, without limitation, other rights of set-off) that
such Lender may have.
(b) Except to the extent that this Agreement expressly provides for payments to be allocated
to a particular Lender or Lenders, if any Lender (a “Benefited Lender”) shall at any time
receive any payment of all or part of the Loans owing to it, or interest thereon, or receive any
collateral in respect thereof (whether voluntarily or involuntarily, by set-off, or otherwise), in
a greater proportion than any such payment to or collateral received by any other Lender, if any,
in respect of such other Lender’s Loans owing to it, or interest thereon, such Benefited Lender
shall purchase for cash from the other Lenders a participating interest in such portion of each
such other Lender’s Loans owing to it, or shall provide such other Lenders with the benefits of any
such collateral, or the proceeds thereof, as shall be necessary to cause such Benefited Lender to
share the excess payment or benefits of such collateral or proceeds ratably with each of the
Lenders; provided, however, that if all or any portion of such excess payment or
62
benefits is thereafter recovered from such Benefited Lender, such purchase shall be rescinded,
and the purchase price and benefits returned, to the extent of such recovery, but without interest.
The Guarantor and the Borrowers agree that any Lender so purchasing a participation from a Lender
pursuant to this Section 12.3 may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all of its
rights of payment (including the right of set-off) with respect to such participation as fully as
if such Person were the direct creditor of the Guarantor or the relevant Borrower in the amount of
such participation.
12.4. Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made herein
shall survive the making by the Lenders of the Loans and the execution and delivery to the Lenders
of this Agreement and shall continue in full force and effect so long as any of Obligations remain
outstanding or any Lender has any Commitment hereunder or the Guarantor or any Borrower has
continuing obligations hereunder unless otherwise provided herein.
12.5. Expenses. The Borrowers jointly and severally agree to pay on demand all
reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Agent in connection with the syndication,
preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, and amendment of this Agreement,
the other Loan Documents, and the other documents to be delivered hereunder, including, without
limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Agent with respect thereto and with
respect to advising the Agent as to its rights and responsibilities under the Loan Documents. If an
Event of Default occurs, the Borrowers further jointly and severally agree to pay on demand all
reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Agent and the Lenders, if any (including,
without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses), in connection with the enforcement
(whether through negotiations, legal proceedings, or otherwise) of the Loan Documents and the other
documents to be delivered hereunder.
12.6. Amendments and Waivers. Except as set forth in Sections 2.3 and 2.7(b), any
provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document may be amended or waived if, but only if,
such amendment or waiver is in writing and is signed by the Guarantor, the Borrowers and either the
Required Lenders or (as to Loan Documents other than the Credit Agreement) the Agent at the
direction of and on behalf of the Required Lenders; provided that no such amendment or
waiver shall, unless signed by all the Lenders affected thereby, (i) increase the Commitments of
the Lenders or the Total Commitment (except as provided in Section 2.3), (ii) reduce the principal
of or rate or amount of interest on any Loan or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder,
(iii) except as and to the extent set forth in Section 2.8, postpone any date fixed for the payment
of any scheduled installment of principal of or interest on any Loan or any fees or other amounts
payable hereunder or for termination of any Commitment, (iv) change the percentage of the
applicable Commitments or of the unpaid principal amount of the Loans, or the number of Lenders,
which shall be required for the Lenders or any of them to take any action under this Section 12.6
or any other provision of this Agreement, (v) change Section 9.5, Section 2.1(e) or Section 12.3
in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments or the pro rata reduction of any of
the Commitments required thereby, (v) amend this Section 12.6 or (vi) release the Guarantor from
its obligations under Article XI; and, provided further, that no amendment, waiver
or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Agent in addition to the Lenders required
above, affect the rights or duties of the Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no defaulting Lender shall have any right to
approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder,
63
except that the Commitment of such Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent
of such Lender.
No notice to or demand on the Guarantor or any Borrower in any case shall entitle the
Guarantor or any Borrower to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other
circumstances, except as otherwise expressly provided herein. No delay or omission on any Lender’s
or the Agent’s part in exercising any right, remedy or option shall operate as a waiver of such or
any other right, remedy or option or of any Default or Event of Default.
12.7. Counterparts. This Agreement and any Loan Document may be executed in any
number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an original,
and it shall not be necessary in making proof of this Agreement or any Loan Document to produce or
account for more than one such fully- executed counterpart. Delivery of an executed signature page
of this Agreement or any Loan Document by facsimile transmission shall be effective as delivery of
a manually executed counterpart thereof.
12.8. Termination. The termination of this Agreement shall not affect any rights of
the Guarantor, the Borrowers, the Lenders or the Agent or any obligation of the Guarantor, the
Borrowers, the Lenders or the Agent, arising prior to the effective date of such termination, and
the provisions hereof shall continue to be fully operative until all transactions entered into or
rights created or obligations incurred prior to such termination have been fully disposed of,
concluded or liquidated and the Obligations arising prior to or after such termination have been
irrevocably paid in full. The rights granted to the Agent for the benefit of the Lenders under the
Loan Documents shall continue in full force and effect, notwithstanding the termination of this
Agreement, until all of the Obligations have been paid in full after the termination hereof (other
than Obligations in the nature of continuing indemnities or expense reimbursement obligations not
yet due and payable, which shall continue) or the Guarantor or the Borrowers have furnished the
Lenders and the Agent with an indemnification satisfactory to the Agent and each Lender with
respect thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if after receipt of any payment of all or any part
of the Obligations, any Lender is for any reason compelled to surrender such payment to any Person
because such payment is determined to be void or voidable as a preference, impermissible setoff, a
diversion of trust funds or for any other reason, this Agreement shall continue in full force, and
the Borrowers shall be liable to, and shall jointly and severally indemnify and hold the Agent or
such Lender harmless for, the amount of such payment surrendered until the Agent or such Lender
shall have been finally and irrevocably paid in full. The provisions of the foregoing sentence
shall be and remain effective notwithstanding any contrary action which may have been taken by the
Agent or the Lenders in reliance upon such payment, and any such contrary action so taken shall be
without prejudice to the Agent or the Lenders’ rights under this Agreement and shall be deemed to
have been conditioned upon such payment having become final and irrevocable.
12.9. Indemnification; Limitation of Liability. (a) The Borrowers, to the maximum
extent permitted by applicable law, jointly and severally agree to indemnify and hold harmless the
Agent and each Lender and each of their affiliates and their respective officers, directors,
employees, agents, and advisors (each, an “Indemnified Party”) from and against any and all
claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including, without limitation,
reasonable attorneys’ fees) that may be incurred by or asserted or awarded against any Indemnified
Party, in
64
each case arising out of or in connection with or by reason of (including, without limitation,
in connection with any investigation, litigation, or proceeding or preparation of defense in
connection therewith) the Loan Documents, any of the transactions contemplated herein or the actual
or proposed use of the proceeds of the Loans (collectively, “Indemnified Liabilities”),
except to the extent such claim, damage, loss, liability, cost, or expense is found in a final,
non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such Indemnified
Party’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. In the case of an investigation, litigation or
other proceeding to which the indemnity in this Section 12.9 applies, such indemnity shall be
effective whether or not such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by the Guarantor,
any Borrower or any of their respective directors, shareholders or creditors or an Indemnified
Party or any other Person or any Indemnified Party is otherwise a party thereto and whether or not
the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated. The Borrowers agree that no Indemnified Party
shall have any liability (whether direct or indirect, in contract or tort or otherwise) to it, any
of its Subsidiaries, any guarantor, or any security holders or creditors thereof arising out of,
related to or in connection with the transactions contemplated herein, except to the extent that
such liability is found in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to
have directly resulted from such Indemnified Party’s gross negligence or willful misconduct. The
Guarantor and the Borrowers agree not to assert any claim against the Agent, any Lender, any of
their affiliates, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, attorneys, agents, and
advisers, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential, or punitive damages
arising out of or otherwise relating to the Loan Documents, any of the transactions contemplated
herein or the actual or proposed use of the proceeds of the Loans.
(b) Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of the Borrowers hereunder, the
agreements and obligations of the Borrowers contained in this Section 12.9 shall survive the
payment in full of the Loans and all other amounts payable under this Agreement.
12.10. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents
shall be determined to be illegal or invalid as to one or more of the parties hereto, then such
provision shall remain in effect with respect to all parties, if any, as to whom such provision is
neither illegal nor invalid, and in any event all other provisions hereof shall remain effective
and binding on the parties hereto.
12.11. Integration. This Agreement, together with the other Loan Documents, comprises
the complete and integrated agreement of the parties on the subject matter hereof and thereof and
supersedes all prior agreements, written or oral, on such subject matter. In the event of any
conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and those of any other Loan Document, the
provisions of this Agreement shall control; provided that the inclusion of supplemental
rights or remedies in favor of the Agent or the Lenders in any other Loan Document executed on or
after the date of this Agreement shall not be deemed a conflict with this Agreement. Each Loan
Document was drafted with the joint participation of the respective parties thereto and shall be
construed neither against nor in favor of any party, but rather in accordance with the fair meaning
thereof.
12.12. Agreement Controls. In the event that any term of any of the Loan Documents
other than this Agreement conflicts with any express term of this Agreement, the terms and
provisions of this Agreement shall control to the extent of such conflict.
65
12.13. Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial.
(a) THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS EXECUTED, AND TO BE
FULLY PERFORMED, IN SUCH STATE.
(b) THE GUARANTOR AND EACH BORROWER HEREBY EXPRESSLY AND IRREVOCABLY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT
ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED HEREIN MAY BE INSTITUTED IN ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT SITTING IN XXX XXXX XXXX, XXXXX
XX XXX XXXX, XXXXXX XXXXXX OF AMERICA AND, BY THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE
GUARANTOR AND EACH BORROWER EXPRESSLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW,
ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE IN, OR TO THE EXERCISE OF
JURISDICTION OVER IT AND ITS PROPERTY BY, ANY SUCH COURT IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING,
AND THE GUARANTOR AND EACH BORROWER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY TO THE
NON EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY SUCH COURT IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING.
(c) THE GUARANTOR AND EACH BORROWER AGREES THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS MAY BE MADE BY PERSONAL
SERVICE OF A COPY OF THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT OR OTHER LEGAL PROCESS IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR
PROCEEDING, OR BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL (POSTAGE PREPAID) TO THE ADDRESS OF THE GUARANTOR
OR, AS THE CASE MAY BE, TO THE RELEVANT BORROWER IN CARE OF THE GUARANTOR AT THE GUARANTOR’S
ADDRESS PROVIDED IN SECTION 12.2, OR BY ANY OTHER METHOD OF SERVICE PROVIDED FOR UNDER THE
APPLICABLE LAWS IN EFFECT IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
(d) IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING TO ENFORCE OR DEFEND ANY RIGHTS OR REMEDIES UNDER OR RELATED
TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR ANY AMENDMENT, INSTRUMENT, DOCUMENT OR AGREEMENT DELIVERED OR THAT MAY IN
THE FUTURE BE DELIVERED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, THE GUARANTOR, THE BORROWERS, THE AGENT AND THE
LENDERS HEREBY AGREE, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THAT ANY SUCH ACTION, SUIT
OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE TRIED BEFORE A COURT AND NOT BEFORE A JURY AND HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE, TO
THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT SUCH PERSON MAY HAVE TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUCH
ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING.
(e) THE GUARANTOR AND EACH BORROWER HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED
BY APPLICABLE
66
LAW, ANY OBJECTION IT MAY HAVE THAT ANY COURT TO WHOSE JURISDICTION IT HAS SUBMITTED PURSUANT
TO THE TERMS HEREOF IS AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.
12.14. Confidentiality. Each of the Agent and the Lenders agrees to maintain the
confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a)
to its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal
counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made
will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such
Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority (including any
self-regulatory authority), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any
subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the
exercise of any remedies hereunder or under or any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding
relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Documents or the enforcement of rights hereunder or
thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of
this Section, to any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant
in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement, (g) with the consent of the Guarantor,
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 Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential
basis from a source other than the Guarantor or any Borrower. For the purposes of this Section,
“Information” means all information received from the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries
(each, a “Loan Party”) relating to any Loan Party or any of their respective businesses,
other than any such information that is available to the Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential
basis prior to disclosure by any Loan Party. 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.
12.15. Judgment Currency. (a) If, for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any
court, it is necessary to convert a sum owing hereunder in one currency into another currency, each
party hereto agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so, that the rate of exchange
used shall be that at which, in accordance with normal banking procedures in the relevant
jurisdiction, the first currency could be purchased with such other currency on the Business Day
immediately preceding the day on which final judgment is given.
(b) The obligations of each Borrower in respect of any sum due to any party hereto or any
holder of the obligations owing hereunder (the “Applicable Creditor”) shall,
notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the “Judgment Currency”) other than the
currency in which such sum is stated to be due hereunder (the “Agreement Currency”), be
discharged only to the extent that, on the Business Day following receipt by the Applicable
Creditor of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Applicable Creditor may in
accordance with normal banking procedures in the relevant jurisdiction purchase the Agreement
Currency with the Judgment Currency; if the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is less
than the sum originally due to the Applicable Creditor in the Agreement Currency, the relevant
Borrower as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, agrees to indemnify the
Applicable Creditor against such loss. The obligations of each Borrower contained in this
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Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of all other amounts
owing hereunder.
12.16. “Know Your Customer” Checks. (a) If:
(i) the introduction of or any change in (or in the interpretation, administration or
application of) any law or regulation made after the date of this Agreement;
(ii) any change in the status of a Loan Party after the date of this Agreement; or
(iii) a proposed assignment or transfer by a Lender of any of its rights and/or
obligations under this Agreement to a party that is not a Lender prior to such assignment or
transfer,
obliges the Agent or any Lender (or, in the case of paragraph (iii) above, any prospective new
Lender) to comply with “know your customer” or similar identification procedures in circumstances
where the necessary information is not already available to it, each Loan Party shall promptly upon
the request of the Agent or any Lender supply, or procure the supply of, such documentation and
other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Agent (for itself or on behalf of any Lender) or
any Lender (for itself or, in the case of the event described in paragraph (iii) above, on behalf
of any prospective new Lender) in order for the Agent, such Lender or, in the case of the event
described in paragraph (iii) above, any prospective new Lender to carry out and be satisfied it has
complied with all necessary “know your customer” or other similar checks under all applicable laws
and regulations pursuant to the transactions contemplated in the Loan Documents.
(b) Each Lender shall promptly upon the request of the Agent supply, or procure the supply of,
such documentation and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Agent (for itself) in order
for the Agent to carry out and be satisfied it has complied with all necessary “know your customer”
or other similar checks under all applicable laws and regulations pursuant to the transactions
contemplated in the Loan Documents.
(c) Each Lender that is subject to the Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Agent (for itself
and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrowers 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
Borrowers, which information includes the name and address of the Borrowers and other information
that will allow such Lender or the Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrowers in accordance
with the Act.
[Signatures on following pages]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be made, executed and
delivered outside the territory of the Kingdom of Belgium by their duly authorized officers as of
the day and year first above written.
V.F. CORPORATION | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: Xxxxxx X. XxXxxxxx Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |
||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx III Title: Vice President – Treasurer |
||||||
VF INVESTMENTS S.A.R.L. | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: | ||||||
VF EUROPE BVBA | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: | ||||||
VF INTERNATIONAL S.A.G.L. | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: |
X.X. XXXXXX EUROPE LIMITED, as Agent for the Lenders |
||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: | ||||||
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JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Lender | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: | ||||||
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HSBC Bank plc, as Lender | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: | ||||||
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ABN AMRO BANK N.V., as Lender | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: | ||||||
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Schedule 1.01
MANDATORY COST FORMULAE
1. | The Mandatory Cost is an addition to the interest rate to compensate Lenders for the cost of compliance with (a) the requirements of the Bank of England and/or the Financial Services Authority (or, in either case, any other authority which replaces all or any of its functions) or (b) the requirements of the European Central Bank. | |
2. | On the first day of each Interest Period (or as soon as possible thereafter) the Agent shall calculate, as a percentage rate, a rate (the “Additional Cost Rate”) for each Lender, in accordance with the paragraphs set out below. The Mandatory Cost will be calculated by the Agent as a weighted average of the Lenders’ Additional Cost Rates (weighted in proportion to the percentage participation of each Lender in the relevant Loan) and will be expressed as a percentage rate per annum. | |
3. | The Additional Cost Rate for any Lender lending from an Applicable Lending Office in a Participating Member State will be the percentage notified by that Lender to the Agent. This percentage will be certified by that Lender in its notice to the Agent to be its reasonable determination of the cost (expressed as a percentage of that Lender’s participation in all Loans made from that Applicable Lending Office) of complying with the minimum reserve requirements of the European Central Bank in respect of loans made from that Applicable Lending Office. | |
4. | The Additional Cost Rate for any Lender lending from an Applicable Lending Office in the United Kingdom will be calculated by the Agent as follows: |
(a) | in relation to a sterling Loan: |
AB + C(B-D) + E x 0.01
|
per cent. per annum |
(b) | in relation to a Loan in any currency other than sterling: |
E x 0.01
|
per cent. per annum. |
Where:
A | is the percentage of Eligible Liabilities (assuming these to be in excess of any stated minimum) which that Lender is from time to time required to maintain as an interest free cash ratio deposit with the Bank of England to comply with cash ratio requirements. | ||
B | is the percentage rate of interest (excluding the Applicable Margin, the Mandatory Cost and the Default Rate, if applicable) payable for the relevant Interest Period of the Loan. |
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C | is the percentage (if any) of Eligible Liabilities which that Lender is required from time to time to maintain as interest bearing Special Deposits with the Bank of England. | ||
D | is the percentage rate per annum payable by the Bank of England to the Agent on interest bearing Special Deposits. | ||
E | is designed to compensate Lenders for amounts payable under the Fees Rules and is calculated by the Agent as being the average of the most recent rates of charge supplied by the Reference Banks to the Agent pursuant to paragraph 7 below and expressed in pounds per £1,000,000. |
5. | For the purposes of this Schedule: |
(a) | “Eligible Liabilities” and “Special Deposits” have the meanings given to them from time to time under or pursuant to the Bank of England Act 1998 or (as may be appropriate) by the Bank of England; | ||
(b) | “Fees Rules” means the rules on periodic fees contained in the FSA Supervision Manual or such other law or regulation as may be in force from time to time in respect of the payment of fees for the acceptance of deposits; | ||
(c) | “Fee Tariffs” means the fee tariffs specified in the Fees Rules under the activity group A.1 Deposit acceptors (ignoring any minimum fee or zero rated fee required pursuant to the Fees Rules but taking into account any applicable discount rate); and | ||
(d) | “Tariff Base” has the meaning given to it in, and will be calculated in accordance with, the Fees Rules. |
6. | In application of the above formulae, A, B, C and D will be included in the formulae as percentages (i.e. 5 per cent. will be included in the formula as 5 and not as 0.05). A negative result obtained by subtracting D from B shall be taken as zero. The resulting figures shall be rounded to four decimal places. | |
7. | If requested by the Agent, each Reference Bank shall, as soon as practicable after publication by the Financial Services Authority, supply to the Agent, the rate of charge payable by that Reference Bank to the Financial Services Authority pursuant to the Fees Rules in respect of the relevant financial year of the Financial Services Authority (calculated for this purpose by that Reference Bank as being the average of the Fee Tariffs applicable to that Reference Bank for that financial year) and expressed in pounds per £1,000,000 of the Tariff Base of that Reference Bank. | |
8. | Each Lender shall supply any information required by the Agent for the purpose of calculating its Additional Cost Rate. In particular, but without limitation, each Lender shall supply the following information on or prior to the date on which it becomes a Lender: |
(a) | the jurisdiction of its Applicable Lending Office; and | ||
(b) | any other information that the Agent may reasonably require for such purpose. |
Each Lender shall promptly notify the Agent of any change to the information provided by it
pursuant to this paragraph.
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9. | The percentages of each Lender for the purpose of A and C above and the rates of charge of each Reference Bank for the purpose of E above shall be determined by the Agent based upon the information supplied to it pursuant to paragraphs 7 and 8 above and on the assumption that, unless a Lender notifies the Agent to the contrary, each Lender’s obligations in relation to cash ratio deposits and Special Deposits are the same as those of a typical bank from its jurisdiction of incorporation with an Applicable Lending Office in the same jurisdiction as its Applicable Lending Office. | |
10. | The Agent shall have no liability to any Person if such determination results in an Additional Cost Rate which over or under compensates any Lender and shall be entitled to assume that the information provided by any Lender or Reference Bank pursuant to paragraphs 3, 7 and 8 above is true and correct in all respects. | |
11. | The Agent shall distribute the additional amounts received as a result of the Mandatory Cost to the Lenders on the basis of the Additional Cost Rate for each Lender based on the information provided by each Lender and each Reference Bank pursuant to paragraphs 3, 7 and 8 above. | |
12. | Any determination by the Agent pursuant to this Schedule in relation to a formula, the Mandatory Cost, an Additional Cost Rate or any amount payable to a Lender shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on all parties to the Agreement. | |
13. | The Agent may from time to time, after consultation with the Guarantor, the Borrowers and the Lenders, determine and notify to all parties to the Agreement any amendments which are required to be made to this Schedule in order to comply with any change in law, regulation or any requirements from time to time imposed by the Bank of England, the Financial Services Authority or the European Central Bank (or, in any case, any other authority which replaces all or any of its functions) and any such determination shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding on all parties to the Agreement. |
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