FIVE YEAR CREDIT AGREEMENT Dated as of December 3, 2001 Among MANPOWER INC. as Borrower and THE INITIAL LENDERS NAMED HEREIN as Initial Lenders and CITIBANK, N.A. as Agent SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC. as Sole Lead Arranger and Book Manager
Exhibit 10.3
EXECUTION COPY
U.S. $450,000,000
FIVE YEAR CREDIT AGREEMENT
Dated as of December 3, 2001
Among
MANPOWER INC.
as Borrower
and
THE INITIAL LENDERS NAMED HEREIN
as Initial Lenders
and
CITIBANK, N.A.
as Agent
XXXXXXX XXXXX XXXXXX INC.
as Sole Lead Arranger and Book Manager
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page |
||
ARTICLE I |
||
SECTION 1.01. |
Certain Defined Terms |
1 |
SECTION 1.02. |
Computation of Time Periods |
14 |
SECTION 1.03. |
Accounting Terms |
14 |
ARTICLE II |
||
SECTION 2.01. |
The Revolving Credit Advances and the Letters of Credit |
14 |
SECTION 2.02. |
Making the Revolving Credit Advances |
15 |
SECTION 2.03. |
The Competitive Bid Advances |
16 |
SECTION 2.04. |
Issuance of and Drawings and Reimbursement Under Letters of Credit |
19 |
SECTION 2.05. |
Fees |
20 |
SECTION 2.06. |
Optional Termination or Reduction of the Commitments |
21 |
SECTION 2.07. |
Repayment of Revolving Credit Advances and Letters of Credit |
21 |
SECTION 2.08. |
Interest on Revolving Credit Advances |
22 |
SECTION 2.09. |
Interest Rate Determination |
22 |
SECTION 2.10. |
Optional Conversion of Revolving Credit Advances |
24 |
SECTION 2.11. |
Prepayments of Revolving Credit Advances and Letter of Credit Advances |
24 |
SECTION 2.12. |
Increased Costs |
25 |
SECTION 2.13. |
Illegality |
25 |
SECTION 2.14. |
Payments and Computations |
26 |
SECTION 2.15. |
Taxes |
27 |
SECTION 2.16. |
Sharing of Payments, Etc. |
28 |
SECTION 2.17. |
Evidence of Debt |
29 |
SECTION 2.18. |
Use of Proceeds |
29 |
SECTION 2.19. |
Increase in the Aggregate Commitments |
29 |
ARTICLE III |
||
SECTION 3.01. |
Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness of Sections 2.01 and 2.03 |
30 |
SECTION 3.02. |
Conditions Precedent to Each Revolving Credit Borrowing, Each Issuance of Letters of Credit and Commitment Increase. |
32 |
SECTION 3.03. |
Conditions Precedent to Each Competitive Bid Borrowing |
32 |
SECTION 3.04. |
Determinations Under Section 3.01 |
33 |
ARTICLE IV |
||
SECTION 4.01. |
Representations and Warranties of the Borrower |
33 |
ARTICLE V |
||
SECTION 5.01. |
Affirmative Covenants |
35 |
SECTION 5.02. |
Negative Covenants |
37 |
SECTION 5.03. |
Financial Covenants |
38 |
ARTICLE VI |
||
SECTION 6.01. |
Events of Default |
39 |
SECTION 6.02. |
Actions in Respect of the Letters of Credit upon Default |
41 |
ARTICLE VII |
||
SECTION 7.01. |
Authorization and Action |
41 |
SECTION 7.02. |
Agent's Reliance, Etc. |
41 |
SECTION 7.03. |
Citibank and Affiliates |
42 |
SECTION 7.04. |
Lender Credit Decision |
42 |
SECTION 7.05. |
Indemnification |
42 |
SECTION 7.06. |
Successor Agent |
43 |
SECTION 7.07. |
Other Agents. |
43 |
ARTICLE VIII |
||
SECTION 8.01. |
Amendments, Etc. |
43 |
SECTION 8.02. |
Notices, Etc. |
44 |
SECTION 8.03. |
No Waiver; Remedies |
44 |
SECTION 8.04. |
Costs and Expenses |
44 |
SECTION 8.05. |
Right of Set-off |
45 |
SECTION 8.06. |
Binding Effect |
45 |
SECTION 8.07. |
Assignments, Designations and Participations |
45 |
SECTION 8.08. |
Confidentiality |
48 |
SECTION 8.09. |
Governing Law |
48 |
SECTION 8.10. |
Execution in Counterparts |
48 |
SECTION 8.11. |
Judgment |
48 |
SECTION 8.12. |
Jurisdiction, Etc. |
49 |
SECTION 8.13. |
Substitution of Currency |
49 |
SECTION 8.14. |
No Liability of the Lenders as Letter of Credit Issuers |
49 |
SECTION 8.15. |
Waiver of Jury Trial |
50 |
Schedules |
||
Schedule I |
- List of Applicable Lending Offices |
|
Schedule 5.02(a) |
- Existing Liens |
|
Exhibits |
||
Exhibit A-1 |
- Form of Revolving Credit Note |
|
Exhibit A-2 |
- Form of Competitive Bid Note |
|
Exhibit B-1 |
- Form of Notice of Revolving Credit Borrowing |
|
Exhibit B-2 |
- Form of Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing |
|
Exhibit C |
- Form of Assignment and Acceptance |
|
Exhibit D |
- Form of Designation Agreement |
|
Exhibit E |
- Form of Opinion of Counsel for the Borrower |
FIVE YEAR CREDIT AGREEMENT
Dated as of December 3, 2001
MANPOWER INC., a Wisconsin corporation (the "Borrower"), the banks, financial institutions and other institutional lenders (the "Initial Lenders") listed on the signature pages hereof as lenders, CREDIT LYONNAIS CHICAGO BRANCH (the "Initial Issuing Bank", and together with the Initial Lenders, the "Initial Lender Parties") and CITIBANK, N.A. ("Citibank"), as agent (the "Agent") for the Lender Parties (as hereinafter defined), agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
SECTION 1.01. Certain Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings (such meanings to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):
"Advance" means a Revolving Credit Advance, a Competitive Bid Advance or a Letter of Credit Advance.
"Affiliate" means, as to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such Person or is a director or officer of such Person. For purposes of this definition, the term "control" (including the terms "controlling", "controlled by" and "under common control with") of a Person means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to vote 5% or more of the Voting Stock of such Person or to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of Voting Stock, by contract or otherwise.
"Agent's Account" means (a) in the case of Advances denominated in Dollars, the account of the Agent maintained by the Agent at Citibank at its office at 000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Account No. 00000000, Attention: , or (b) any such other account of the Agent as is designated in writing from time to time by the Agent to the Borrower and the Lenders for such purpose.
"Applicable Lending Office" means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender's Domestic Lending Office in the case of a Base Rate Advance and such Lender's Eurocurrency Lending Office in the case of a Eurocurrency Rate Advance and, in the case of a Competitive Bid Advance, the office of such Lender notified by such Lender to the Agent as its Applicable Lending Office with respect to such Competitive Bid Advance.
"Applicable Margin" means (a) for Base Rate Advances, 0% per annum and (b) for Eurocurrency Rate Advances, as of any date, a percentage per annum determined by reference to the Public Debt Rating in effect on such date as set forth below:
Public Debt Rating |
Applicable Margin for |
Level 1 |
|
Xxxxx 0 |
|
Xxxxx 0 |
|
Xxxxx 0 |
|
Xxxxx 0 |
|
"Applicable Percentage" means, as of any date a percentage per annum determined by reference to the Public Debt Rating in effect on such date as set forth below:
Public Debt Rating |
Applicable |
Level 1 |
|
Xxxxx 0 |
|
Xxxxx 0 |
|
Xxxxx 0 |
|
Xxxxx 0 |
|
"Applicable Utilization Fee" means, as of any calendar month following a calendar month (the "preceding month") in which the average aggregate principal amount of Advances outstanding during such preceding month exceeds 50% of the aggregate Commitments during such preceding month, a percentage per annum determined by reference to the Public Debt Rating in effect on such date as set forth below:
Public Debt Rating |
Applicable |
Level 1 |
|
Xxxxx 0 |
|
Xxxxx 0 |
|
Xxxxx 0 |
|
Xxxxx 0 |
|
"Assignment and Acceptance" means an assignment and acceptance entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee, and accepted by the Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto.
"Assuming Lender" has the meaning specified in Section 2.19(d).
"Assumption Agreement" has the meaning specified in Section 2.19(d)(ii).
"Available Amount" of any Letter of Credit means, at any time, the maximum amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit at such time as set forth in Section 2.01(b) (assuming compliance at such time with all conditions to drawing).
"Base Rate" means a fluctuating interest rate per annum in effect from time to time, which rate per annum shall at all times be equal to the highest of:
(a) the rate of interest announced publicly by Citibank in New York, New York, from time to time, as Citibank's base rate;
(b) the sum (adjusted to the nearest 1/16 of 1% or, if there is no nearest 1/16 of 1%, to the next higher 1/16 of 1%) of (i) 1/2 of 1% per annum, plus (ii) the rate obtained by dividing (A) the latest three-week moving average of secondary market morning offering rates in the United States for three-month certificates of deposit of major United States money market banks, such three-week moving average (adjusted to the basis of a year of 360 days) being determined weekly on each Monday (or, if such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day) for the three-week period ending on the previous Friday by Citibank on the basis of such rates reported by certificate of deposit dealers to and published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or, if such publication shall be suspended or terminated, on the basis of quotations for such rates received by Citibank from three New York certificate of deposit dealers of recognized standing selected by Citibank, by (B) a percentage equal to 100% minus the average of the daily percentages specified during such three-week period by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including, but not limited to, any emergency, supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement) for Citibank with respect to liabilities consisting of or including (among other liabilities) three-month U.S. dollar non-personal time deposits in the United States, plus (iii) the average during such three-week period of the annual assessment rates estimated by Citibank for determining the then current annual assessment payable by Citibank to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (or any successor) for insuring U.S. dollar deposits of Citibank in the United States; and
(c) 1/2 of one percent per annum above the Federal Funds Rate.
"Base Rate Advance" means a Revolving Credit Advance or a Letter of Credit Advance denominated in Dollars that bears interest as provided in Section 2.08(a)(i).
"Borrowing" means a Revolving Credit Borrowing or a Competitive Bid Borrowing.
"Business Day" means a day of the year on which banks are not required or authorized by law to close in New York City and, if the applicable Business Day relates to any Eurocurrency Rate Advances or LIBO Rate Advances, on which dealings are carried on in the London interbank market and banks are open for business in London and in the country of issue of the currency of such Eurocurrency Rate Advance or LIBO Rate Advance (or, in the case of an Advance denominated in Euro, on which the Trans-European Automated Real-Time Gross Settlement Express Transfer (TARGET) System is open) and, if the applicable Business Day relates to any Local Rate Advances on which banks are open for business in the country of issue of the currency of such Local Rate Advance.
"Capitalized Lease" means any lease that is or should be capitalized on the balance sheet of the lessee in accordance with GAAP.
"Commitment" means a Revolving Commitment or a Letter of Credit Commitment.
"Commitment Date" has the meaning specified in Section 2.19(b)(iii).
"Commitment Increase" has the meaning specified in Section 2.19(a).
"Committed Currencies" means lawful currency of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, lawful currency of Canada, lawful currency of Japan and Euros.
"Competitive Bid Advance" means an advance by a Lender to the Borrower as part of a Competitive Bid Borrowing resulting from the competitive bidding procedure described in Section 2.03 and refers to a Fixed Rate Advance, a LIBO Rate Advance or a Local Rate Advance.
"Competitive Bid Borrowing" means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Competitive Bid Advances from each of the Lenders whose offer to make one or more Competitive Bid Advances as part of such borrowing has been accepted under the competitive bidding procedure described in Section 2.03.
"Competitive Bid Note" means a promissory note of the Borrower payable to the order of any Lender, in substantially the form of Exhibit A-2 hereto, evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from a Competitive Bid Advance made by such Lender.
"Confidential Information" means information that the Borrower furnishes to the Agent or any Lender in a writing designated as confidential, but does not include any such information that is or becomes generally available to the public or that is or becomes available to the Agent or such Lender from a source other than the Borrower.
"Consolidated" refers to the consolidation of accounts in accordance with GAAP.
"Consolidated Adjusted Debt" means the computation of (a) all Debt of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries that, in accordance with GAAP, would be classified as indebtedness on a Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower, plus (b) the aggregate outstanding investment or claims held at any time by purchasers, assignees or other transferees of (or of interests in) Receivables under Receivables Purchase Agreements plus (c) to the extent not included in (a) and (b) above Debt of the types described in clause (h) of the definition of Debt in Section 1.01 hereof.
"Consolidated EBITDA" means, for any period, the sum of the amounts for such period of (i) Consolidated Operating Profit of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period, determined in accordance with GAAP, plus (ii) the sum of the following amounts for such period, in each case to the extent the same shall have been deducted in the calculation of such Consolidated Operating Profit for such period: (A) amortization, (B) depreciation, and (C) any non-cash restructuring charge reported by the Borrower in respect of, or otherwise allocated to, such period, minus (iii) to the extent the same shall have been included in the calculation of Consolidated Operating Profit for such period, any extraordinary, or unusual and non-recurring gains (or plus any extraordinary, or unusual and non-recurring, losses) calculated pursuant to GAAP for such period.
"Consolidated Interest Expense" means, for any period, total interest expense, whether paid or accrued (including the interest component of Capitalized Leases), of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis, including, without limitation, all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and net costs under any agreements providing interest rate protection, but excluding however, amortization of discount, interest paid in property other than cash or any other interest expense not payable in cash, all as determined in conformity with GAAP.
"Consolidated Operating Profit" means, for any period, revenue less the sum of (A) direct costs, and (b) selling and administrative expenses on a consolidated income statement of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period, all as determined in accordance with GAAP.
"Consolidated Rental Expense" means, for any period, total rental expense, whether paid or accrued, of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis, all as determined in conformity with GAAP.
"Consolidated Subsidiary" means, at any date with respect to any Person, any Subsidiary thereof the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of such Person in its consolidated financial statements at such date in accordance with GAAP.
"Consolidated Tangible Assets" means, with respect to any Person at any time of determination, total assets of such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as set forth on the balance sheets most recently delivered to the Lenders pursuant to Section 5.01(h), excluding all Intangible Assets of such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries.
"Convert", "Conversion" and "Converted" each refers to a conversion of Revolving Credit Advances of one Type into Revolving Credit Advances of the other Type pursuant to Section 2.09 or 2.10.
"Debt" of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person for the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of such Person's business), (c) all obligations of such Person evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or other similar instruments, (d) all obligations of such Person created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to property acquired by such Person (even though the rights and remedies of the seller or lender under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such property), (e) all obligations of such Person as lessee under leases that have been or should be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capital leases, (f) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of acceptances, letters of credit or similar extensions of credit, (g) all obligations of such Person in respect of Hedge Agreements, (h) all Debt of others referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above or clause (i) below and other payment obligations guaranteed directly or indirectly in any manner by such Person, or in effect guaranteed directly or indirectly by such Person through an agreement (1) to pay or purchase such Debt or to advance or supply funds for the payment or purchase of such Debt, (2) to purchase, sell or lease (as lessee or lessor) property, or to purchase or sell services, primarily for the purpose of enabling the debtor to make payment of such Debt or to assure the holder of such Debt against loss, (3) to supply funds to or in any other manner invest in the debtor (including any agreement to pay for property or services irrespective of whether such property is received or such services are rendered) or (4) otherwise to assure a creditor against loss, and (i) all Debt referred to in clauses (a) through (h) above secured by (or for which the holder of such Debt has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property (including, without limitation, accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person, even though such Person has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such Debt.
"Default" means any Event of Default or any event that would constitute an Event of Default but for the requirement that notice be given or time elapse or both.
"Designated Bidder" means (a) an Eligible Assignee or (b) a special purpose corporation that is engaged in making, purchasing or otherwise investing in commercial loans in the ordinary course of its business and that issues (or the parent of which issues) commercial paper rated at least "Prime-1" (or the then equivalent grade) by Xxxxx'x or "A-1" (or the then equivalent grade) by S&P that, in the case of either clause (a) or (b), (i) is organized under the laws of the United States or any State thereof, (ii) shall have become a party hereto pursuant to Section 8.07(d), (e) and (f) and (iii) is not otherwise a Lender.
"Designation Agreement " means a designation agreement entered into by a Lender (other than a Designated Bidder) and a Designated Bidder, and accepted by the Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit D hereto.
"Dollars" and the "$" sign each means lawful currency of the United States of America.
"Domestic Lending Office" means, with respect to any Lender, the office of such Lender specified as its "Domestic Lending Office" opposite its name on Schedule I hereto or in the Assumption Agreement or the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender, or such other office of such Lender as such Lender may from time to time specify to the Borrower and the Agent.
"EBITDA" means, for any period, net income (or net loss) plus the sum of (a) interest expense, (b) income tax expense, (c) depreciation expense and (d) amortization expense, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP for such period.
"Effective Date" has the meaning specified in Section 3.01.
"Eligible Assignee" means (i) a Lender, (ii) an Affiliate of a Lender, and (iii) any other Person; provided, however, that such Assignee shall be approved by the Agent and, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time any assignment is effected in accordance with Section 8.07, the Borrower, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed; provided, however, that neither the Borrower nor an Affiliate of the Borrower shall qualify as an Eligible Assignee.
"Environmental Action" means any action, suit, demand, demand letter, claim, notice of non-compliance or violation, notice of liability or potential liability, investigation, proceeding, consent order or consent agreement relating in any way to any Environmental Law, Environmental Permit or Hazardous Materials or arising from alleged injury or threat of injury to health, safety or the environment, including, without limitation, (a) by any governmental or regulatory authority for enforcement, cleanup, removal, response, remedial or other actions or damages and (b) by any governmental or regulatory authority or any third party for damages, contribution, indemnification, cost recovery, compensation or injunctive relief.
"Environmental Law" means any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, ordinance, rule, regulation, code, order, judgment, decree or judicial or agency interpretation, policy or guidance relating to pollution or protection of the environment, health, safety or natural resources, including, without limitation, those relating to the use, handling, transportation, treatment, storage, disposal, release or discharge of Hazardous Materials.
"Environmental Permit" means any permit, approval, identification number, license or other authorization required under any Environmental Law.
"Equivalent" in Dollars of any Foreign Currency on any date means the equivalent in Dollars of such Foreign Currency determined by using the quoted spot rate at which the Agent's principal office in London offers to exchange Dollars for such Foreign Currency in London prior to 4:00 P.M. (London time) (unless otherwise indicated by the terms of this Agreement) on such date as is required pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and the "Equivalent" in any Foreign Currency of Dollars means the equivalent in such Foreign Currency of Dollars determined by using the quoted spot rate at which the Agent's principal office in London offers to exchange such Foreign Currency for Dollars in London prior to 4:00 P.M. (London time) (unless otherwise indicated by the terms of this Agreement) on such date as is required pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.
"ERISA Affiliate" means any Person that for purposes of Title IV of ERISA is a member of the Borrower's controlled group, or under common control with the Borrower, within the meaning of Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code.
"ERISA Event" means (a) (i) the occurrence of a reportable event, within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA, with respect to any Plan unless the 30-day notice requirement with respect to such event has been waived by the PBGC, or (ii) the requirements of subsection (1) of Section 4043(b) of ERISA (without regard to subsection (2) of such Section) are met with respect to a contributing sponsor, as defined in Section 4001(a)(13) of ERISA, of a Plan, and an event described in paragraph (9), (10), (11), (12) or (13) of Section 4043(c) of ERISA is reasonably expected to occur with respect to such Plan within the following 30 days; (b) the application for a minimum funding waiver with respect to a Plan; (c) the provision by the administrator of any Plan of a notice of intent to terminate such Plan pursuant to Section 4041(a)(2) of ERISA (including any such notice with respect to a plan amendment referred to in Section 4041(e) of ERISA); (d) the cessation of operations at a facility of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate in the circumstances described in Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (e) the withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiple Employer Plan during a plan year for which it was a substantial employer, as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA; (f) the conditions for the imposition of a lien under Section 302(f) of ERISA shall have been met with respect to any Plan; (g) the adoption of an amendment to a Plan requiring the provision of security to such Plan pursuant to Section 307 of ERISA; or (h) the institution by the PBGC of proceedings to terminate a Plan pursuant to Section 4042 of ERISA, or the occurrence of any event or condition described in Section 4042 of ERISA that constitutes grounds for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, a Plan.
"EURIBO Rate" means the rate appearing on Page 248 of the Telerate Service (or on any successor or substitute page of such Service, or any successor to or substitute for such Service, providing rate quotations comparable to those currently provided on such page of such Service, as determined by the Agent from time to time for purposes of providing quotations of interest rates applicable to deposits in Euro by reference to the Banking Federation of the European Union Settlement Rates for deposits in Euro) at approximately 10:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, as the rate for deposits in Euro with a maturity comparable to such Interest Period or, if for any reason such rate is not available, the average (rounded upward to the nearest whole multiple of 1/100 of 1% per annum, if such average is not such a multiple) of the respective rates per annum at which deposits in Euros are offered by the principal office of each of the Reference Banks in London, England to prime banks in the London interbank market at 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period in an amount substantially equal (x) in the case of Revolving Credit Borrowings, to such Reference Bank's Eurocurrency Rate Advance comprising part of such Revolving Credit Borrowing to be outstanding during such Interest Period and for a period equal to such Interest Period (subject, however, to the provisions of Section 2.09) or (y) in the case of Competitive Bid Borrowings, to the amount that would be the Reference Banks' respective ratable shares of such Borrowing if such Borrowing were to be a Revolving Credit Borrowing to be outstanding during such Interest Period and for a period equal to such Interest Period (subject, however, to the provisions of Section 2.09.
"Euro" means the lawful currency of the European Union as constituted by the Treaty of Rome which established the European Community, as such treaty may be amended from time to time and as referred to in the EMU legislation.
"Eurocurrency Lending Office" means, with respect to any Lender, the office of such Lender specified as its "Eurocurrency Lending Office" opposite its name on Schedule I hereto or in the Assumption Agreement or the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender (or, if no such office is specified, its Domestic Lending Office), or such other office of such Lender as such Lender may from time to time specify to the Borrower and the Agent.
"Eurocurrency Liabilities" has the meaning assigned to that term in Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as in effect from time to time.
"Eurocurrency Rate" means, for any Interest Period for each Eurocurrency Rate Advance comprising part of the same Revolving Credit Borrowing, an interest rate per annum equal to the rate per annum obtained by dividing (a)(i) in the case of any Revolving Credit Advance denominated in Dollars or any Committed Currency other than Euro, the rate per annum (rounded upward to the nearest whole multiple of 1/100 of 1% per annum) appearing on Telerate Markets Page 3750 (or any successor page) as the London interbank offered rate for deposits in Dollars or the applicable Committed Currency at approximately 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period for a term comparable to such Interest Period or, if for any reason such rate is not available, the average (rounded upward to the nearest whole multiple of 1/100 of 1% per annum, if such average is not such a multiple) of the rate per annum at which deposits in Dollars or the applicable Committed Currency is offered by the principal office of each of the Reference Banks in London, England to prime banks in the London interbank market at 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period in an amount substantially equal to such Reference Bank's Eurocurrency Rate Advance comprising part of such Revolving Credit Borrowing to be outstanding during such Interest Period and for a period equal to such Interest Period or, (ii) in the case of any Revolving Credit Advance denominated in Euros, the EURIBO Rate by (b) a percentage equal to 100% minus the Eurocurrency Rate Reserve Percentage for such Interest Period. If the Telerate Markets Page 3750 (or any successor page) is unavailable, the Eurocurrency Rate for any Interest Period for each Eurocurrency Rate Advance comprising part of the same Revolving Credit Borrowing shall be determined by the Agent on the basis of applicable rates furnished to and received by the Agent from the Reference Banks two Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period, subject, however, to the provisions of Section 2.09.
"Eurocurrency Rate Advance" means a Revolving Credit Advance denominated in Dollars or a Committed Currency that bears interest as provided in Section 2.08(a)(ii).
"Eurocurrency Rate Reserve Percentage" for any Interest Period for all Eurocurrency Rate Advances or LIBO Rate Advances comprising part of the same Borrowing means the reserve percentage applicable two Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period under regulations issued from time to time by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including, without limitation, any emergency, supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement) for a member bank of the Federal Reserve System in New York City with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency Liabilities (or with respect to any other category of liabilities that includes deposits by reference to which the interest rate on Eurocurrency Rate Advances or LIBO Rate Advances is determined) having a term equal to such Interest Period.
"Events of Default" has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.
"Existing Letters of Credit" has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(f).
"Federal Funds Rate" means, for any period, a fluctuating interest rate per annum equal for each day during such period to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published for such day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, for the next preceding Business Day) by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for such day on such transactions received by the Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.
"Fixed Rate Advances" has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(a)(i), which Advances shall be denominated in Dollars or in any Foreign Currency.
"Foreign Currency" means any Committed Currency and any other lawful currency (other than Dollars) that is freely transferable or convertible into Dollars.
"GAAP" has the meaning specified in Section 1.03.
"Hazardous Materials" means (a) petroleum and petroleum products, byproducts or breakdown products, radioactive materials, asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls and radon gas and (b) any other chemicals, materials or substances designated, classified or regulated as hazardous or toxic or as a pollutant or contaminant under any Environmental Law.
"Hedge Agreements" means interest rate swap, cap or collar agreements, interest rate future or option contracts, currency swap agreements, currency future or option contracts and other similar agreements.
"Increase Date" has the meaning specified in Section 2.19(a).
"Increasing Lender" has the meaning specified in Section 2.19(b).
"Information Memorandum" means the information memorandum dated October 23, 2001 used by the Agent in connection with the syndication of the Commitments.
"Initial Issuing Bank", "Initial Lender Parties" and "Initial Lenders" each has the meaning specified in the recital of parties to this Agreement.
"Intangible Assets" means, with respect to any Person at any time of determination, (i) goodwill, organizational expenses, research and development expenses, trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, patents, patent applications, licenses and rights in any thereof, (ii) all reserves carried and not deducted from assets, (iii) treasury stock, (iv) securities which are not readily marketable, (v) cash held in a sinking or other analogous fund for the purpose of redemption, retirement or prepayment of capital stock or indebtedness, (vi) any write-up in the book value of any asset resulting from a reevaluation thereof subsequent to December 31, 2000, and (vii) any items not included in items (i)-(vi) above which are treated as intangibles in accordance with GAAP.
"Interest Period" means, for each Eurocurrency Rate Advance comprising part of the same Revolving Credit Borrowing and each LIBO Rate Advance comprising part of the same Competitive Bid Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Eurocurrency Rate Advance or LIBO Rate Advance or the date of the Conversion of any Base Rate Advance into such Eurocurrency Rate Advance and ending on the last day of the period selected by the Borrower pursuant to the provisions below and, thereafter, with respect to Eurocurrency Rate Advances, each subsequent period commencing on the last day of the immediately preceding Interest Period and ending on the last day of the period selected by the Borrower pursuant to the provisions below. The duration of each such Interest Period shall be one, two, three or six months, as the Borrower may, upon notice received by the Agent not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the first day of such Interest Period, select; provided, however, that:
(a) the Borrower may not select any Interest Period that ends after the Termination Date;
(b) Interest Periods commencing on the same date for Eurocurrency Rate Advances comprising part of the same Revolving Credit Borrowing or for LIBO Rate Advances comprising part of the same Competitive Bid Borrowing shall be of the same duration;
(c) whenever the last day of any Interest Period would otherwise occur on a day other than a Business Day, the last day of such Interest Period shall be extended to occur on the next succeeding Business Day, provided, however, that, if such extension would cause the last day of such Interest Period to occur in the next following calendar month, the last day of such Interest Period shall occur on the next preceding Business Day; and
(d) whenever the first day of any Interest Period occurs on a day of an initial calendar month for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that succeeds such initial calendar month by the number of months equal to the number of months in such Interest Period, such Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day of such succeeding calendar month.
"Internal Revenue Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.
"Issuing Bank" means the Initial Issuing Bank or any Eligible Assignee to which a portion of the Letter of Credit Commitment hereunder have been assigned pursuant to Section 8.07 so long as such Eligible Assignee expressly agrees to perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations that by the terms of this Agreement are required to be performed by it as an Issuing Bank and notifies the Agent of its Applicable Lending Office (which information shall be recorded by the Agent in the Register), for so long as the Initial Issuing Bank or Eligible Assignee, as the case may be, shall have a Letter of Credit Commitment.
"L/C Cash Collateral Account" means an interest bearing cash collateral account to be established and maintained by the Agent, over which the Agent shall have sole dominion and control, upon terms as may be satisfactory to the Agent.
"L/C Related Documents" has the meaning specified in Section 2.07(b)(ii)(A).
"Lender Party" means any Lender or Issuing Bank.
"Lenders" means the Initial Lenders, each Assuming Lender that shall become a party hereto pursuant to Section 2.19 and each Person that shall become a party hereto pursuant to Section 8.07 (a), (b) and (c) and, except when used in reference to a Revolving Credit Advance, a Revolving Credit Borrowing, a Revolving Credit Note, a Commitment or a related term, each Designated Bidder.
"Letter of Credit Advance" means an advance made by an Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.04(c).
"Letter of Credit Agreement" has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(a).
"Letter of Credit Commitment" means, with respect to the Initial Issuing Bank, the amount set forth opposite the Initial Issuing Bank's name on the signature pages hereto under the caption "Letter of Credit Commitment" or, if the Initial Issuing Bank has entered into one or more Assignment and Acceptances, the amount set forth for such Issuing Bank in the Register maintained by the Agent pursuant to Section 8.07(d) as such Issuing Bank's "Letter of Credit Commitment", as such amount may be reduced at or prior to such time pursuant to Section 2.06.
"Letter of Credit Facility" means, at any time, an amount equal to the lesser of (a) the amount of the Issuing Banks Letter of Credit Commitments at such time and (b) $100,000,000, as such amount may be reduced at or prior to such time pursuant to Section 2.06.
"Letters of Credit" has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(b).
"LIBO Rate" means, for any Interest Period for all LIBO Rate Advances comprising part of the same Competitive Bid Borrowing, an interest rate per annum equal to the rate per annum obtained by dividing (a)(i) in the case of any Competitive Bid Borrowing denominated in Dollars or any Foreign Currency other than Euros, the rate per annum (rounded upward to the nearest whole multiple of 1/100 of 1% per annum) appearing on Telerate Markets Page 3750 (or any successor page) as the London interbank offered rate for deposits in Dollars or the applicable Committed Currency at approximately 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period for a term comparable to such Interest Period or, if for any reason such rate is not available, the average (rounded upward to the nearest whole multiple of 1/100 of 1% per annum, if such average is not such a multiple) of the rate per annum at which deposits in Dollars or the applicable Foreign Currency is offered by the principal office of each of the Reference Banks in London, England to prime banks in the London interbank market at 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period in an amount substantially equal to the amount that would be the Reference Banks' respective ratable shares of such Borrowing if such Borrowing were to be a Revolving Credit Borrowing to be outstanding during such Interest Period and for a period equal to such Interest Period or (ii) in the case of any Competitive Bid Borrowing denominated in Euros, the EURIBO Rate by (b) a percentage equal to 100% minus the Eurocurrency Rate Reserve Percentage for such Interest Period. If the Telerate Markets Page 3750 (or any successor page) is unavailable, the LIBO Rate for any Interest Period for each LIBO Rate Advance comprising part of the same Competitive Bid Borrowing shall be determined by the Agent on the basis of applicable rates furnished to and received by the Agent from the Reference Banks two Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period, subject, however, to the provisions of Section 2.09.
"LIBO Rate Advances" means a Competitive Bid Advance denominated in Dollars or in any Foreign Currency and bearing interest based on the LIBO Rate.
"Lien" means any lien, security interest or other charge or encumbrance of any kind, or any other type of preferential arrangement, including, without limitation, the lien or retained security title of a conditional vendor and any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to real property.
"Local Rate Advance" means a Competitive Bid Advance denominated in any Foreign Currency sourced from the jurisdiction of issuance of such Foreign Currency and bearing interest at a fixed rate.
"Material Adverse Change" means any material adverse change in the business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, performance, properties or prospects of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
"Material Adverse Effect" means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, performance, properties or prospects of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the rights and remedies of the Agent or any Lender under this Agreement or any Note or (c) the ability of the Borrower to perform its obligations under this Agreement or any Note.
"Material Subsidiary" means, at any time, (i) any Subsidiary of the Borrower which shall have contributed in excess of 5% of the Consolidated Net Earnings during the fiscal year then most recently ended and (ii) in the case of any other Subsidiary created, restructured in any material respect or acquired since the end of such fiscal year, such Subsidiary if it is reasonably projected to contribute in excess of 5% of the Consolidated Net Earnings of the Borrower during the then current fiscal year.
"Moody's" means Xxxxx'x Investors Service, Inc.
"Multiemployer Plan" means a multiemployer plan, as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is making or accruing an obligation to make contributions, or has within any of the preceding five plan years made or accrued an obligation to make contributions.
"Multiple Employer Plan" means a single employer plan, as defined in Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA, that (a) is maintained for employees of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate and at least one Person other than the Borrower and the ERISA Affiliates or (b) was so maintained and in respect of which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate could have liability under Section 4064 or 4069 of ERISA in the event such plan has been or were to be terminated.
"Non-Consenting Lender" has the meaning specified in Section 2.19(b).
"Note" means a Revolving Credit Note or a Competitive Bid Note.
"Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing" has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(a).
"Notice of Issuance" has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(a).
"Notice of Revolving Credit Borrowing" has the meaning specified in Section 2.02(a).
"Payment Office" means, for any Foreign Currency, such office of Citibank as shall be from time to time selected by the Agent and notified by the Agent to the Borrower and the Lenders.
"PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (or any successor).
"Permitted Liens" means such of the following as to which no enforcement, collection, execution, levy or foreclosure proceeding shall have been commenced: (a) Liens for taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies to the extent not required to be paid under Section 5.01(b) hereof; (b) Liens imposed by law, such as materialmen's, mechanics', carriers', workmen's and repairmen's Liens and other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business securing obligations that are not yet due or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves are being maintained; (c) pledges or deposits to secure obligations under workers' compensation, unemployment insurance or other social security laws or similar legislation or to secure public or statutory obligations, the performance of tenders, surety and appeal bonds, bids, leases, government contracts, performance and return of money bonds (but not securing Debt) and similar obligations; and (d) easements, rights of way and other encumbrances on title to real property that do not render title to the property encumbered thereby unmarketable or materially adversely affect the use of such property for its present purposes.
"Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation (including a business trust), joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity, or a government or any political subdivision or agency thereof.
"Plan" means a Single Employer Plan or a Multiple Employer Plan.
"Pro Rata Share" of any amount means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the product of such amount times a fraction the numerator of which is the amount of such Lender's Revolving Commitment at such time (or, if the Revolving Commitments shall have been terminated pursuant to Section 2.06 or 6.01, such Lender's Revolving Commitment as in effect immediately prior to such termination) and the denominator of which is the aggregate amount of all Revolving Commitments at such time (or, if the Revolving Commitments shall have been terminated pursuant to Section 2.06 or 6.01, the aggregate amount of all Revolving Commitments as in effect immediately prior to such termination).
"Public Debt Rating" means, as of any date, the rating that has been most recently announced by either S&P or Moody's, as the case may be, for any class of non-credit enhanced long-term senior unsecured debt issued by the Borrower or, if either such rating agency shall have issued more than one such rating, the lowest such rating issued by such rating agency. For purposes of the foregoing, (a) if only one of S&P and Moody's shall have in effect a Public Debt Rating, the Applicable Margin, the Applicable Percentage and the Applicable Utilization Fee shall be determined by reference to the available rating; (b) if neither S&P nor Moody's shall have in effect a Public Debt Rating, the Applicable Margin, the Applicable Percentage and the Applicable Utilization Fee will be set in accordance with Level 4 under the definition of "Applicable Margin", "Applicable Percentage" or "Applicable Utilization Fee", as the case may be; (c) if the ratings established by S&P and Moody's shall fall within different levels, the Applicable Margin, the Applicable Percentage and Applicable Utilization Fee shall be based upon the higher rating, unless the ratings shall fall within levels that are separated by two or more levels, in which case the Applicable Margin, the Applicable Percentage and Applicable Utilization Fee shall be based upon the rating that is one level above the lower rating; (d) if any rating established by S&P or Moody's shall be changed, such change shall be effective as of the date on which such change is first announced publicly by the rating agency making such change; and (e) if S&P or Moody's shall change the basis on which ratings are established, each reference to the Public Debt Rating announced by S&P or Moody's, as the case may be, shall refer to the then equivalent rating by S&P or Moody's, as the case may be.
"Reference Banks" means Citibank, , and .
"Register" has the meaning specified in Section 8.07(g).
"Required Lenders" means at any time Lenders owed more than 50% of (a) the then aggregate unpaid principal amount (based on the Equivalent in Dollars at such time) of the Revolving Credit Advances outstanding at such time, (b) the then aggregate unpaid principal amount (based on the Equivalent in Dollars at such time) of the Competitive Bid Advances outstanding at such time and (c) the aggregate unpaid principal amount of Letter of Credit Advances outstanding at such time, or, if no principal amount is outstanding from Competitive Bid Advances or Letter of Credit Advances at such time, Lenders having more than 50% of the Revolving Commitments.
"Revolving Commitment" means, with respect to any Lender at any time, the amount set forth opposite such Lender's name on the signature pages hereto under the caption "Revolving Commitment" or, if such Lender has entered into one or more Assignment and Acceptances, set forth for such Lender in the Register maintained by the Agent pursuant to Section 8.07(d) as such Lender's "Revolving Commitment", as such amount may be reduced at or prior to such time pursuant to Section 2.06.
"Revolving Credit Advance" means an advance by a Lender to the Borrower as part of a Revolving Credit Borrowing and refers to a Base Rate Advance or a Eurocurrency Rate Advance (each of which shall be a "Type" of Revolving Credit Advance).
"Revolving Credit Borrowing" means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Revolving Credit Advances of the same Type made by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01.
"Revolving Credit Borrowing Minimum" means, in respect of Revolving Credit Advances denominated in Dollars, $5,000,000, in respect of Revolving Credit Advances denominated in Sterling, £5,000,000, in respect of Revolving Credit Advances denominated in Yen, ¥ , in respect of Canadian dollars, CN$5,000,000 and, in respect of Revolving Credit Advances denominated in Euros, 10,000,000.
"Revolving Credit Borrowing Multiple" means, in respect of Revolving Credit Advances denominated in Dollars, $1,000,000 in respect of Revolving Credit Advances denominated in Sterling, £1,000,000, in respect of Revolving Credit Advances denominated in Yen, ¥ , in respect of Canadian dollars, CN$1,000,000 and, in respect of Revolving Credit Advances denominated in Euros, 1,000,000.
"Revolving Credit Facility" means, at any time, the aggregate of the Revolving Commitments at such time.
"Revolving Credit Note" means a promissory note of the Borrower payable to the order of any Lender, delivered pursuant to a request made under Section 2.17 in substantially the form of Exhibit A-1 hereto, evidencing the aggregate indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from the Revolving Credit Advances or Letter of Credit Advances made by such Lender.
"S&P" means Standard & Poor's Rating Services, a division of The XxXxxx-Xxxx Companies, Inc.
"Single Employer Plan" means a single employer plan, as defined in Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA, that (a) is maintained for employees of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate and no Person other than the Borrower and the ERISA Affiliates or (b) was so maintained and in respect of which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate could have liability under Section 4069 of ERISA in the event such plan has been or were to be terminated.
"Subsidiary" of any Person means any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust or estate of which (or in which) more than 50% of (a) the issued and outstanding capital stock having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the Board of Directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether at the time capital stock of any other class or classes of such corporation shall or might have voting power upon the occurrence of any contingency), (b) the interest in the capital or profits of such limited liability company, partnership or joint venture or (c) the beneficial interest in such trust or estate is at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person, by such Person and one or more of its other Subsidiaries or by one or more of such Person's other Subsidiaries.
"Termination Date" means the earlier of (a) December 3, 2006, and (b) the date of termination in whole of the Revolving Commitments and Letter of Credit Commitments pursuant to Section 2.06 or 6.01.
"Unused Commitment" means, with respect to each Lender at any time, (a) such Lender's Revolving Commitment at such time minus (b) the sum of (i) the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Credit Advances and Letter of Credit Advances made by such Lender (in its capacity as a Lender) and outstanding at such time, plus (ii) such Lender's Pro Rata Share of (A) the aggregate Available Amount of all the Letters of Credit outstanding at such time, (B) the aggregate principal amount of all Letter of Credit Advances made by each Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.04(c) and outstanding at such time and (C) the aggregate principal amount of Competitive Bid Advances then outstanding.
"Usage" means, at any time the sum of the aggregate principal amount of the Advances then outstanding plus the Available Amount of the outstanding Letters of Credit.
"Voting Stock" means 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.
SECTION 1.02. Computation of Time Periods. In this Agreement in the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word "from" means "from and including" and the words "to" and "until" each mean "to but excluding".
SECTION 1.03. Accounting Terms. All accounting terms not specifically defined herein shall be construed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistent with those applied in the preparation of the financial statements referred to in Section 4.01(e) ("GAAP").
ARTICLE II
AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF THE ADVANCES
SECTION 2.01. The Revolving Credit Advances and the Letters of Credit. (a) The Revolving Credit Advances. Each Lender severally agrees, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, to make Revolving Credit Advances to the Borrower from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Effective Date until the Termination Date in an amount (based in respect of any Revolving Credit Advances to be denominated in a Committed Currency by reference to the Equivalent thereof in Dollars determined on the date of delivery of the applicable Notice of Revolving Credit Borrowing) not to exceed at any time such Lender's Unused Commitment at such time. Each Revolving Credit Borrowing shall be in an amount not less than the Revolving Credit Borrowing Minimum or the Revolving Credit Borrowing Multiple in excess thereof and shall consist of Revolving Credit Advances of the same Type and in the same currency made on the same day by the Lenders ratably according to their respective Revolving Commitments. Within the limits of this Section 2.01(a), the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01(a), prepay pursuant to Section 2.11 and reborrow under this Section 2.01(a).
(b) Letters of Credit. Each Issuing Bank agrees, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, to issue letters of credit (each, a "Letter of Credit") for the account of the Borrower from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Effective Date until 30 days before the Termination Date in an aggregate Available Amount (i) for all Letters of Credit issued by each Issuing Bank not to exceed at any time the lesser of (x) the Letter of Credit Facility at such time and (y) each Issuing Bank's Letter of Credit Commitment at such time and (ii) for each such Letter of Credit not to exceed an amount equal to the Unused Commitments of the Lenders at such time. No Letter of Credit shall have an expiration date (including all rights of the Borrower or the beneficiary to require renewal) later than 10 Business Days before the Termination Date. Within the limits referred to above, the Borrower may request the issuance of Letters of Credit under this Section 2.01(b), repay any Letter of Credit Advances resulting from drawings thereunder pursuant to Section 2.04(c) and request the issuance of additional Letters of Credit under this Section 2.01(b).
SECTION 2.02. Making the Revolving Credit Advances. (a) Each Revolving Credit Borrowing shall be made on notice, given not later than (x) 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Revolving Credit Borrowing in the case of a Revolving Credit Borrowing consisting of Eurocurrency Rate Advances denominated in Dollars, (y) 9:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Revolving Credit Borrowing in the case of a Revolving Credit Borrowing consisting of Eurocurrency Rate Advances denominated in any Committed Currency, or (z) 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the date of the proposed Revolving Credit Borrowing in the case of a Revolving Credit Borrowing consisting of Base Rate Advances, by the Borrower to the Agent which shall give to each Lender prompt notice thereof by telecopier or telex. Each such notice of a Revolving Credit Borrowing (a "Notice of Revolving Credit Borrowing") shall be by telephone, confirmed immediately in writing, or telecopier or telex in substantially the form of Exhibit B-1 hereto, specifying therein the requested (i) date of such Revolving Credit Borrowing, (ii) Type of Advances comprising such Revolving Credit Borrowing, (iii) aggregate amount of such Revolving Credit Borrowing, and (iv) in the case of a Revolving Credit Borrowing consisting of Eurocurrency Rate Advances, initial Interest Period and currency for each such Revolving Credit Advance. Each Lender shall, before 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the date of such Revolving Credit Borrowing, in the case of a Revolving Credit Borrowing consisting of Advances denominated in Dollars, and before 11:00 A.M. (London time) on the date of such Revolving Credit Borrowing, in the case of a Revolving Credit Borrowing consisting of Eurocurrency Rate Advances denominated in any Committed Currency, make available for the account of its Applicable Lending Office to the Agent at the applicable Agent's Account, in same day funds, such Lender's ratable portion of such Revolving Credit Borrowing in the denominated Committed Currency. After the Agent's receipt of such funds and upon fulfillment of the applicable conditions set forth in Article III, the Agent will make such funds available to the Borrower at the Agent's address referred to in Section 8.02; provided, however, that the Agent shall first make a portion of such funds equal to the aggregate principal amount of any Letter of Credit Advances outstanding on the date of such Revolving Credit Borrowing, plus interest accrued and unpaid thereon to and as of such date, available to the Lenders for repayment of such Letter of Credit Advances.
(b) Anything in subsection (a) above to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower may not select Eurocurrency Rate Advances for any Revolving Credit Borrowing if the aggregate amount of such Revolving Credit Borrowing is less than the Revolving Credit Borrowing Minimum or if the obligation of the Lenders to make Eurocurrency Rate Advances shall then be suspended pursuant to Section 2.09 or 2.13.
(c) Each Notice of Revolving Credit Borrowing shall be irrevocable and binding on the Borrower. In the case of any Revolving Credit Borrowing that the related Notice of Revolving Credit Borrowing specifies is to be comprised of Eurocurrency Rate Advances, the Borrower shall indemnify each Lender against any loss, cost or expense incurred by such Lender as a result of any failure to fulfill on or before the date specified in such Notice of Revolving Credit Borrowing for such Revolving Credit Borrowing the applicable conditions set forth in Article III, including, without limitation, any loss (including loss of anticipated profits), cost or expense incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by such Lender to fund the Revolving Credit Advance to be made by such Lender as part of such Revolving Credit Borrowing when such Revolving Credit Advance, as a result of such failure, is not made on such date.
(d) Unless the Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the date of any Revolving Credit Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Agent such Lender's ratable portion of such Revolving Credit Borrowing, the Agent may assume that such Lender has made such portion available to the Agent on the date of such Revolving Credit Borrowing in accordance with subsection (a) of this Section 2.02 and the Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower on such date a corresponding amount. If and to the extent that such Lender shall not have so made such ratable portion available to the Agent, such Lender and the Borrower severally agree to repay to the Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is made available to the Borrower until the date such amount is repaid to the Agent, at (i) in the case of the Borrower, the higher of (A) the interest rate applicable at the time to Revolving Credit Advances comprising such Revolving Credit Borrowing and (B) the cost of funds incurred by the Agent in respect of such amount and (ii) in the case of such Lender, (A) the Federal Funds Rate in the case of Advances denominated in Dollars or (B) the cost of funds incurred by the Agent in respect of such amount in the case of Advances denominated in Committed Currencies. If such Lender shall repay to the Agent such corresponding amount, such amount so repaid shall constitute such Lender's Revolving Credit Advance as part of such Revolving Credit Borrowing for purposes of this Agreement.
(e) The failure of any Lender to make the Revolving Credit Advance to be made by it as part of any Revolving Credit Borrowing shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation, if any, hereunder to make its Revolving Credit Advance on the date of such Revolving Credit Borrowing, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make the Revolving Credit Advance to be made by such other Lender on the date of any Revolving Credit Borrowing.
SECTION 2.03. The Competitive Bid Advances. (a) Each Lender severally agrees that the Borrower may make Competitive Bid Borrowings under this Section 2.03 from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the date hereof until the date occurring 30 days prior to the Termination Date in the manner set forth below; provided that, following the making of each Competitive Bid Borrowing, the Usage based in respect of any Advance denominated in a Foreign Currency on the Equivalent in Dollars at the time such Competitive Bid Borrowing is requested shall not exceed the aggregate amount of the Revolving Commitments of the Lenders.
(i) The Borrower may request a Competitive Bid Borrowing under this Section 2.03 by delivering to the Agent by telecopier or telex, a notice of a Competitive Bid Borrowing (a "Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing"), in substantially the form of Exhibit B-2 hereto, specifying therein the requested (A) date of such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing, (B) aggregate amount of such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing, (C) interest rate basis and day count convention to be offered by the Lenders, (D) currency of such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing, (E) in the case of a Competitive Bid Borrowing consisting of LIBO Rate Advances, Interest Period, or in the case of a Competitive Bid Borrowing consisting of Fixed Rate Advances or Local Rate Advances, maturity date for repayment of each Fixed Rate Advance or Local Rate Advance to be made as part of such Competitive Bid Borrowing (which maturity date may not be earlier than the date occurring seven days after the date of such Competitive Bid Borrowing or later than the earlier of (I) 180 days after the date of such Competitive Bid Borrowing and (II) the Termination Date), (F) interest payment date or dates relating thereto, (G) location of the Borrower's account to which funds are to be advanced and (H) other terms (if any) to be applicable to such Competitive Bid Borrowing, not later than (w) 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) at least one Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing, if the Borrower shall specify in the Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing that the rates of interest to be offered by the Lenders shall be fixed rates per annum (the Advances comprising any such Competitive Bid Borrowing being referred to herein as "Fixed Rate Advances") and that the Advances comprising such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing shall be denominated in Dollars, (x) 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) at least four Business Days prior to the date of the proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing, if the Borrower shall specify in the Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing that the Advances comprising such Competitive Bid Borrowing shall be LIBO Rate Advances denominated in Dollars, (y) 9:00 A.M. (New York City time) at least two Business Days prior to the date of the proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing, if the Borrower shall specify in the Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing that the Advances comprising such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing shall be either Fixed Rate Advances denominated in any Foreign Currency or Local Rate Advances denominated in any Foreign Currency and (z) 9:00 A.M. (New York City time) at least four Business Days prior to the date of the proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing, if the Borrower shall instead specify in the Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing that the Advances comprising such Competitive Bid Borrowing shall be LIBO Rate Advances denominated in any Foreign Currency. Each Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing shall be irrevocable and binding on the Borrower. The Agent shall in turn promptly notify each Lender of each request for a Competitive Bid Borrowing received by it from the Borrower by sending such Lender a copy of the related Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing.
(ii) Each Lender may, if, in its sole discretion, it elects to do so, irrevocably offer to make one or more Competitive Bid Advances to the Borrower as part of such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing at a rate or rates of interest specified by such Lender in its sole discretion, by notifying the Agent (and the Agent shall give prompt notice thereof to the Borrower), (A) before 9:30 A.M. (New York City time) on the date of such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing, in the case of a Competitive Bid Borrowing consisting of Fixed Rate Advances denominated in Dollars, (B) before 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) three Business Days before the date of such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing, in the case of a Competitive Bid Borrowing consisting of LIBO Rate Advances, denominated in Dollars, (C) before 12:00 noon (London time) on the Business Day prior to the date of such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing, in the case of a Competitive Bid Borrowing consisting of either Fixed Rate Advances denominated in any Foreign Currency or Local Rate Advances denominated in any Foreign Currency and (D) before 12:00 noon (London time) on the third Business Day prior to the date of such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing, in the case of a Competitive Bid Borrowing consisting of LIBO Rate Advances denominated in any Foreign Currency, of the minimum amount and maximum amount of each Competitive Bid Advance which such Lender would be willing to make as part of Borrowing (which amounts or the Equivalent thereof in Dollars, as the case may be, of such proposed Competitive Bid may, subject to the proviso to the first sentence of this Section 2.03(a), exceed such Lender's Revolving Commitment, if any), the rate or rates of interest therefor and such Lender's Applicable Lending Office with respect to such Competitive Bid Advance; provided that if the Agent in its capacity as a Lender shall, in its sole discretion, elect to make any such offer, it shall notify the Borrower of such offer at least 30 minutes before the time and on the date on which notice of such election is to be given to the Agent by the other Lenders. If any Lender shall elect not to make such an offer, such Lender shall so notify the Agent before 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the date on which notice of such election is to be given to the Agent by the other Lenders, and such Lender shall not be obligated to, and shall not, make any Competitive Bid Advance as part of such Competitive Bid Borrowing; provided that the failure by any Lender to give such notice shall not cause such Lender to be obligated to make any Competitive Bid Advance as part of such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing.
(iii) The Borrower shall, in turn, (A) before 10:30 A.M. (New York City time) on the date of such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing, in the case of a Competitive Bid Borrowing consisting of Fixed Rate Advances denominated in Dollars, (B) before 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) three Business Days before the date of such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing, in the case of a Competitive Bid Borrowing consisting of LIBO Rate Advances denominated in Dollars, (C) before 3:00 P.M. (London time) on the Business Day prior to the date of such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing, in the case of a Competitive Bid Borrowing consisting of either Fixed Rate Advances denominated in any Foreign Currency or Local Rate Advances denominated in any Foreign Currency and (D) before 3:00 P.M. (London time) on the third Business Day prior to the date of such Competitive Bid Borrowing, in the case of a Competitive Bid Borrowing consisting of LIBO Rate Advances denominated in any Foreign Currency, either:
(x) cancel such Competitive Bid Borrowing by giving the Agent notice to that effect, or
(y) accept one or more of the offers made by any Lender or Lenders pursuant to paragraph (ii) above, in its sole discretion, by giving notice to the Agent of the amount of each Competitive Bid Advance (which amount shall be equal to or greater than the minimum amount, and equal to or less than the maximum amount, notified to the Borrower by the on behalf of such Lender for such Competitive Bid Advance pursuant to paragraph (ii) above) to be made by each Lender as part of such Competitive Bid Borrowing, and reject any remaining offers made by Lenders pursuant to paragraph (ii) above by giving the Agent notice to that effect. The Borrower shall accept the offers made by any Lender or Lenders to make Competitive Bid Advances in order of the lowest to the highest rates of interest offered by such Lenders. If two or more Lenders have offered the same interest rate, the amount to be borrowed at such interest rate will be allocated among such Lenders in proportion to the amount that each such Lender offered at such interest rate.
(iv) If the Borrower notifies the Agent that such Competitive Bid Borrowing is cancelled pursuant to paragraph (iii)(x) above, the Agent shall give prompt notice thereof to the Lenders and such Competitive Bid Borrowing shall not be made.
(v) If the Borrower accepts one or more of the offers made by any Lender or Lenders pursuant to paragraph (iii)(y) above, the Agent shall in turn promptly notify (A) each Lender that has made an offer as described in paragraph (ii) above, of the date and aggregate amount of such Competitive Bid Borrowing and whether or not any offer or offers made by such Lender pursuant to paragraph (ii) above have been accepted by the Borrower, (B) each Lender that is to make a Competitive Bid Advance as part of such Competitive Bid Borrowing, of the amount of each Competitive Bid Advance to be made by such Lender as part of such Competitive Bid Borrowing, and (C) each Lender that is to make a Competitive Bid Advance as part of such Competitive Bid Borrowing, upon receipt, that the Agent has received forms of documents appearing to fulfill the applicable conditions set forth in Article III. Each Lender that is to make a Competitive Bid Advance as part of such Competitive Bid Borrowing shall, before 12:00 noon (New York City time), in the case of Competitive Bid Advances to be denominated in Dollars or 11:00 A.M. (London time), in the case of Competitive Bid Advances to be denominated in any Foreign Currency, on the date of such Competitive Bid Borrowing specified in the notice received from the Agent pursuant to clause (A) of the preceding sentence or any later time when such Lender shall have received notice from the Agent pursuant to clause (C) of the preceding sentence, make available for the account of its Applicable Lending Office to the Agent (x) in the case of a Competitive Bid Borrowing denominated in Dollars, at its address referred to in Section 8.02, in same day funds, such Lender's portion of such Competitive Bid Borrowing in Dollars and (y) in the case of a Competitive Bid Borrowing in a Foreign Currency, at the Payment Office for such Foreign Currency as shall have been notified by the Agent to the Lenders prior thereto, in same day funds, such Lender's portion of such Competitive Bid Borrowing in such Foreign Currency. Upon fulfillment of the applicable conditions set forth in Article III and after receipt by the Agent of such funds, the Agent will make such funds available to the Borrower at the location specified by the Borrower in its Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing. Promptly after each Competitive Bid Borrowing the Agent will notify each Lender of the amount of the Competitive Bid Borrowing and the dates upon which such Competitive Bid Borrowings commenced and will terminate.
(vi) If the Borrower notifies the Agent that it accepts one or more of the offers made by any Lender or Lenders pursuant to paragraph (iii)(y) above, such notice of acceptance shall be irrevocable and binding on the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify each Lender against any loss, cost or expense incurred by such Lender as a result of any failure to fulfill on or before the date specified in the related Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing for such Competitive Bid Borrowing the applicable conditions set forth in Article III, including, without limitation, any loss (including loss of anticipated profits), cost or expense incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by such Lender to fund the Competitive Bid Advance to be made by such Lender as part of such Competitive Bid Borrowing when such Competitive Bid Advance, as a result of such failure, is not made on such date.
(b) Each Competitive Bid Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount of $5,000,000 (or the Equivalent thereof in any Foreign Currency, determined as of the time of the applicable Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing) or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 (or the Equivalent thereof in any Foreign Currency, determined as of the time of the applicable Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing) in excess thereof and, following the making of each Competitive Bid Borrowing, the Borrower shall be in compliance with the limitation set forth in the proviso to the first sentence of subsection (a) above.
(c) Within the limits and on the conditions set forth in this Section 2.03, the Borrower may from time to time borrow under this Section 2.03, repay or prepay pursuant to subsection (d) below, and reborrow under this Section 2.03, provided that a Competitive Bid Borrowing shall not be made within three Business Days of the date of any other Competitive Bid Borrowing.
(d) The Borrower shall repay to the Agent for the account of each Lender that has made a Competitive Bid Advance, on the maturity date of each Competitive Bid Advance (such maturity date being that specified by the Borrower for repayment of such Competitive Bid Advance in the related Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing delivered pursuant to subsection (a)(i) above and provided in the Competitive Bid Note evidencing such Competitive Bid Advance), the then unpaid principal amount of such Competitive Bid Advance. The Borrower shall have no right to prepay any principal amount of any Competitive Bid Advance unless, and then only on the terms, specified by the Borrower for such Competitive Bid Advance in the related Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing delivered pursuant to subsection (a)(i) above and set forth in the Competitive Bid Note evidencing such Competitive Bid Advance.
(e) The Borrower shall pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Competitive Bid Advance from the date of such Competitive Bid Advance to the date the principal amount of such Competitive Bid Advance is repaid in full, at the rate of interest for such Competitive Bid Advance specified by the Lender making such Competitive Bid Advance in its notice with respect thereto delivered pursuant to subsection (a)(ii) above, payable on the interest payment date or dates specified by the Borrower for such Competitive Bid Advance in the related Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing delivered pursuant to subsection (a)(i) above, as provided in the Competitive Bid Note evidencing such Competitive Bid Advance. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Borrower shall pay interest on the amount of unpaid principal of and interest on each Competitive Bid Advance owing to a Lender, payable in arrears on the date or dates interest is payable thereon, at a rate per annum equal at all times to 2% per annum above the rate per annum required to be paid on such Competitive Bid Advance under the terms of the Competitive Bid Note evidencing such Competitive Bid Advance unless otherwise agreed in such Competitive Bid Note.
(f) The indebtedness of the Borrower resulting from each Competitive Bid Advance made to the Borrower as part of a Competitive Bid Borrowing shall be evidenced by a separate Competitive Bid Note of the Borrower payable to the order of the Lender making such Competitive Bid Advance.
SECTION 2.04. Issuance of and Drawings and Reimbursement Under Letters of Credit. (a) Request for Issuance. (i) Each Letter of Credit shall be issued upon notice, given not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the fifth Business Day prior to the date of the proposed issuance of such Letter of Credit, by the Borrower to any Issuing Bank, and such Issuing Bank shall give the Agent, prompt notice thereof by telex, telecopier or cable, and the Agent shall, within one Business Day of receipt of such notice, confirm the availability of the Letter of Credit Commitment to such Issuing Bank. Each such notice of issuance of a Letter of Credit (a "Notice of Issuance") shall be by telex, telecopier or cable, confirmed immediately in writing, specifying therein the requested (A) date of such issuance (which shall be a Business Day), (B) Available Amount of such Letter of Credit, (C) expiration date of such Letter of Credit, (D) name and address of the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit and (E) form of such Letter of Credit, and shall be accompanied by such application and agreement for letter of credit as such Issuing Bank may reasonably specify to the Borrower for use in connection with such requested Letter of Credit (a "Letter of Credit Agreement"). If the requested form of such Letter of Credit is reasonably acceptable to such Issuing Bank, such Issuing Bank will, upon fulfillment of the applicable conditions set forth in Article III, make such Letter of Credit available to the Borrower at its office referred to in Section 8.02 or as otherwise agreed with the Borrower in connection with such issuance. In the event and to the extent that the provisions of any Letter of Credit Agreement shall conflict with this Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall govern.
(b) Participations. By the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing the amount thereof) and without any further action on the part of the applicable Issuing Bank or the Lenders, such Issuing Bank hereby grants to each Lender, and each Lender hereby acquires from such Issuing Bank, a participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such Lender's Pro Rata Share of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. The Borrower hereby agrees to each such participation. In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the Agent, for the account of such Issuing Bank, such Lender's Pro Rata Share of each Letter of Credit Advance made by such Issuing Bank and not reimbursed by the Borrower on the date made, or of any reimbursement payment required to be refunded to the Borrower for any reason. Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations pursuant to this paragraph in respect of Letters of Credit is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including any amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Revolving Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.
(c) Drawing and Reimbursement. The payment by an Issuing Bank of a draft drawn under any Letter of Credit shall constitute for all purposes of this Agreement the making by any such Issuing Bank of a Letter of Credit Advance, which shall be a Base Rate Advance, in the amount of such draft. Upon written demand by such Issuing Bank, with a copy of such demand to the Agent, each Lender shall pay to the Agent such Lender's Pro Rata Share of such outstanding Letter of Credit Advance, by making available for the account of its Applicable Lending Office to the Agent for the account of such Issuing Bank, by deposit to the Agent's Account, in same day funds, an amount equal to the portion of the outstanding principal amount of such Letter of Credit Advance to be funded by such Lender. Promptly after receipt thereof, the Agent shall transfer such funds to such Issuing Bank. Each Lender agrees to fund its Pro Rata Share of an outstanding Letter of Credit Advance on (i) the Business Day on which demand therefor is made by such Issuing Bank, provided that notice of such demand is given not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on such Business Day, or (ii) the first Business Day next succeeding such demand if notice of such demand is given after such time. If and to the extent that any Lender shall not have so made the amount of such Letter of Credit Advance available to the Agent, such Lender agrees to pay to the Agent forthwith on demand such amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date of demand by any such Issuing Bank until the date such amount is paid to the Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate for its account or the account of such Issuing Bank, as applicable. If such Lender shall pay to the Agent such amount for the account of any such Issuing Bank on any Business Day, such amount so paid in respect of principal shall constitute a Letter of Credit Advance made by such Lender on such Business Day for purposes of this Agreement, and the outstanding principal amount of the Letter of Credit Advance made by such Issuing Bank shall be reduced by such amount on such Business Day.
(d) Letter of Credit Reports. An Issuing Bank shall furnish (A) to the Agent on the first Business Day of each week a written report summarizing issuance and expiration dates of Letters of Credit issued during the previous week and drawings during such week under all Letters of Credit, (B) to each Lender on the first Business Day of each month a written report summarizing issuance and expiration dates of Letters of Credit during the preceding month and drawings during such month under all Letters of Credit and (C) to the Agent and each Lender on the first Business Day of each calendar quarter a written report setting forth the average daily aggregate Available Amount during the preceding calendar quarter of all Letters of Credit.
(e) Failure to Make Letter of Credit Advances. The failure of any Lender to make the Letter of Credit Advance to be made by it on the date specified in Section 2.04(c) shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation hereunder to make its Letter of Credit Advance on such date, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make the Letter of Credit Advance to be made by such other Lender on such date.
(f) Existing Letters of Credit. Effective as of the Effective Date (i) the letters of credit issued for the account of the Borrower prior to such date by Persons who are Issuing Banks hereunder and set forth on Schedule 2.04(f) hereto (such letters of credit being the "Existing Letters of Credit") in an aggregate face amount not exceeding the total amount set forth on such Schedule 2.04(f) will be deemed to have been issued as, and be, Letters of Credit hereunder and (ii) the Existing Letters of Credit and the reimbursement obligations in respect thereof shall be obligations of the Borrower hereunder and shall no longer be obligations under the documents pursuant to which such Existing Letters of Credit were initially issued.
SECTION 2.05. Fees. (a) Facility Fee. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Agent for the account of each Lender (other than the Designated Bidders) a facility fee on the aggregate amount of such Lender's Revolving Commitment from the Effective Date in the case of each Initial Lender and from the effective date specified in the Assumption Agreement or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender in the case of each other Lender until the Termination Date at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Percentage in effect from time to time, payable in arrears quarterly on the last day of each March, June, September and December, commencing December 31, 2001, and on the Termination Date.
(b) Letter of Credit Fees The Borrower shall pay to the Agent for the account of each Lender a commission on such Lender's Pro Rata Share of the average daily aggregate Available Amount of all Letters of Credit outstanding from time to time at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Margin for Eurocurrency Rate Advances in effect from time to time plus the Applicable Utilization Fee, if any, payable in arrears quarterly on the last day of each March, June, September and December, commencing December 31, 2001, and on the Termination Date.
(c) Agent's Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Agent for its own account such fees as may from time to time be agreed between the Borrower and the Agent.
SECTION 2.06. Optional Termination or Reduction of the Commitments. The Borrower shall have the right, upon at least three Business Days' notice to the Agent, to terminate in whole or permanently reduce ratably in part the Unused Commitments of the Lender Parties, provided that each partial reduction shall be in the aggregate amount of $5,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof.
SECTION 2.07. Repayment of Revolving Credit Advances and Letters of Credit. (a) Revolving Credit Advances. The Borrower shall repay to the Agent for the ratable account of the Lenders on the Termination Date the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Credit Advances then outstanding.
(b) Letter of Credit Advances. (i) The Borrower shall repay the outstanding principal amount of each Letter of Credit Advance made by each Lender Party that has made a Letter of Credit Advance to the Agent for the ratable account of each such Lender Party on the earlier of demand and the Termination Date.
(ii) The obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement, any Letter of Credit Agreement and any other agreement or instrument relating to any Letter of Credit shall be unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such Letter of Credit Agreement and such other agreement or instrument under all circumstances, including, without limitation, the following circumstances (it being understood that any such payment by the Borrower is without prejudice to, and does not constitute a waiver of, any rights the Borrower might have or might acquire as a result of the payment by any Lender of any draft or the reimbursement by the Borrower thereof):
(A) any lack of validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any Note, any Letter of Credit Agreement, any Letter of Credit or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto (all of the foregoing being, collectively, the "L/C Related Documents");
(B) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the obligations of the Borrower in respect of any L/C Related Document or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from all or any of the L/C Related Documents;
(C) the existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other right that the Borrower may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of a Letter of Credit (or any Persons for which any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), any Issuing Bank, any Agent, any Lender or any other Person, whether in connection with the transactions contemplated by the L/C Related Documents or any unrelated transaction;
(D) any statement or any other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect;
(E) payment by any Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit;
(F) any exchange, release or non-perfection of any collateral, or any release or amendment or waiver of or consent to departure from any guarantee, for all or any of the obligations of the Borrower in respect of the L/C Related Documents; or
(G) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, including, without limitation, any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Borrower or a guarantor.
SECTION 2.08. Interest on Revolving Credit Advances. (a) Scheduled Interest. The Borrower shall pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Advance (other than a Competitive Bid Advance) owing to each Lender from the date of such Revolving Credit Advance until such principal amount shall be paid in full, at the following rates per annum:
(i) Base Rate Advances. During such periods as such Revolving Credit Advance is a Base Rate Advance, a rate per annum equal at all times to the sum of (x) the Base Rate in effect from time to time plus (y) the Applicable Margin in effect from time to time plus (z) the Applicable Utilization Fee, if any, in effect from time to time, payable in arrears quarterly on the last day of each March, June, September and December during such periods and on the date such Base Rate Advance shall be Converted or paid in full.
(ii) Eurocurrency Rate Advances. During such periods as such Revolving Credit Advance is a Eurocurrency Rate Advance, a rate per annum equal at all times during each Interest Period for such Revolving Credit Advance to the sum of (x) the Eurocurrency Rate for such Interest Period for such Revolving Credit Advance plus (y) the Applicable Margin in effect from time to time plus (z) the Applicable Utilization Fee, if any, in effect from time to time, payable in arrears on the last day of such Interest Period and, if such Interest Period has a duration of more than three months, on each day that occurs during such Interest Period every three months from the first day of such Interest Period and on the date such Eurocurrency Rate Advance shall be Converted or paid in full.
(b) Default Interest. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Agent may, and upon the request of the Required Lenders shall, require the Borrower to pay interest ("Default Interest") on (i) the unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Credit Advance and each Letter of Credit Advance owing to each Lender Party, payable in arrears on the dates referred to in Section 2.08(a)(i) or 2.08(a)(ii) above, at a rate per annum equal at all times to 2% per annum above the rate per annum required to be paid on such Advance pursuant to Section 2.08(a)(i) or 2.08(a)(ii) above and (ii) to the fullest extent permitted by law, the amount of any interest, fee or other amount payable hereunder that is not paid when due, from the date such amount shall be due until such amount shall be paid in full, payable in arrears on the date such amount shall be paid in full and on demand, at a rate per annum equal at all times to 2% per annum above the rate per annum required to be paid on Base Rate Advances pursuant to Section 2.08 (a)(i) above, provided, however, that following acceleration of the Advances pursuant to Section 6.01, Default Interest shall accrue and be payable hereunder whether or not previously required by the Agent.
SECTION 2.09. Interest Rate Determination. (a) Each Reference Bank agrees to furnish to the Agent timely information for the purpose of determining each Eurocurrency Rate and each LIBO Rate if the Telerate Markets page in unavailable. If any one or more of the Reference Banks shall not furnish such timely information to the Agent for the purpose of determining any such interest rate, the Agent shall determine such interest rate on the basis of timely information furnished by the remaining Reference Banks. The Agent shall give prompt notice to the Borrower and the Lenders of the applicable interest rate determined by the Agent for purposes of Section 2.08(a)(i) or (ii), and the rate, if any, furnished by each Reference Bank for the purpose of determining the interest rate under Section 2.08(a)(ii).
(b) If, with respect to any Eurocurrency Rate Advances, the Required Lenders notify the Agent that (i) they are unable to obtain matching deposits in the London inter-bank market at or about 9:00 A.M. (New York time) on the second Business Day before the making of a Borrowing in sufficient amounts to fund their respective Revolving Credit Advances as a part of such Borrowing during its Interest Period or (ii) the Eurocurrency Rate for any Interest Period for such Advances will not adequately reflect the cost to such Required Lenders of making, funding or maintaining their respective Eurocurrency Rate Advances for such Interest Period, the Agent shall forthwith so notify the Borrower and the Lenders, whereupon (A) the Borrower will, on the last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, (1) if such Eurocurrency Rate Advances are denominated in Dollars, either (x) prepay such Advances or (y) Convert such Advances into Base Rate Advances and (2) if such Eurocurrency Rate Advances are denominated in any Committed Currency, either (x) prepay such Advances or (y) exchange such Advances into an Equivalent amount of Dollars and Convert such Advances into Base Rate Advances and (B) the obligation of the Lenders to make, or to Convert Revolving Credit Advances into, Eurocurrency Rate Advances shall be suspended until the Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist; provided that, if the circumstances set forth in clause (ii) above are applicable, the Borrower may elect, by notice to the Agent and the Lenders, to continue such Advances in such Committed Currency for Interest Periods of not longer than one month, which Advances shall thereafter bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Margin plus, for each Lender, the cost to such Lender (expressed as a rate per annum) of funding its Eurocurrency Rate Advances by whatever means it reasonably determines to be appropriate. Each Lender shall certify its cost of funds for each Interest Period to the Agent and the Borrower as soon as practicable (but in any event not later than ten Business Days after the first day of such Interest Period).
(c) If the Borrower shall fail to select the duration of any Interest Period for any Eurocurrency Rate Advances in accordance with the provisions contained in the definition of "Interest Period" in Section 1.01, the Agent will forthwith so notify the Borrower and the Lenders and such Advances will (to the extent such Eurocurrency Rate Advances remain outstanding on such day) automatically, on the last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, (i) if such Eurocurrency Rate Advances are denominated in Dollars, Convert into Base Rate Advances and (ii) if such Eurocurrency Rate Advances are denominated in a Committed Currency, be exchanged for an Equivalent amount of Dollars and Convert into Base Rate Advances.
(d) On the date on which the aggregate unpaid principal amount of Eurocurrency Rate Advances comprising any Borrowing shall be reduced, by payment or prepayment or otherwise, to less than the Revolving Credit Borrowing Minimum, such Advances shall automatically Convert into Base Rate Advances.
(e) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, (i) each Eurocurrency Rate Advance will automatically, on the last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, (A) if such Eurocurrency Rate Advances are denominated in Dollars, be Converted into Base Rate Advances and (B) if such Eurocurrency Rate Advances are denominated in any Committed Currency, be exchanged for an Equivalent amount of Dollars and be Converted into Base Rate Advances and (ii) the obligation of the Lenders to make, or to Convert Advances into, Eurocurrency Rate Advances shall be suspended; provided that Borrower may elect, by notice to the Agent and the Lenders within one Business Day of such Event of Default, to continue such Advances in such Committed Currency, whereupon the Agent may require that each Interest Period relating to such Eurocurrency Rate Advances shall bear interest at the Overnight Eurocurrency Rate for a period of three Business Days and thereafter, each such Interest Period shall have a duration of not longer than one month. "Overnight Eurocurrency Rate" means the rate per annum applicable to an overnight period beginning on one Business Day and ending on the next Business Day equal to the sum of 1%, the Applicable Interest Rate Margin and the average, rounded upward to the nearest whole multiple of 1/16 of 1%, if such average is not such a multiple, of the respective rates per annum quoted by each Reference Bank to the Agent on request as the rate at which it is offering overnight deposits in the relevant currency in amounts comparable to such Reference Bank's Eurocurrency Rate Advances.
(f) If Telerate Markets Page 3750 is unavailable and fewer than two Reference Banks furnish timely information to the Agent for determining the Eurocurrency Rate or LIBO Rate for any Eurocurrency Rate Advances or LIBO Rate Advances, as the case may be,
(i) the Agent shall forthwith notify the Borrower and the Lenders that the interest rate cannot be determined for such Eurocurrency Rate Advances or LIBO Rate Advances, as the case may be,
(ii) with respect to Eurocurrency Rate Advances, each such Advance will automatically, on the last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, (A) if such Eurocurrency Rate Advance is denominated in Dollars, Convert into a Base Rate Advance and (B) if such Eurocurrency Rate Advance is denominated in any Committed Currency, be prepaid by the Borrower or be automatically exchanged for an Equivalent amount of Dollars and be Converted into a Base Rate Advance (or if such Advance is then a Base Rate Advance, will continue as a Base Rate Advance), and
(iii) the obligation of the Lenders to make Eurodollar Rate Advances or LIBO Rate Advances or to Convert Revolving Credit Advances into Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be suspended until the Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist.
SECTION 2.10. Optional Conversion of Revolving Credit Advances. The Borrower may on any Business Day, upon notice given to the Agent not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Conversion and subject to the provisions of Sections 2.09 and 2.13, Convert all Revolving Credit Advances denominated in Dollars of one Type comprising the same Borrowing into Revolving Credit Advances denominated in Dollars of the other Type; provided, however, that any Conversion of Eurocurrency Rate Advances into Base Rate Advances shall be made only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurocurrency Rate Advances, any Conversion of Base Rate Advances into Eurocurrency Rate Advances shall be in an amount not less than the minimum amount specified in Section 2.02(b) and no Conversion of any Revolving Credit Advances shall result in more separate Revolving Credit Borrowings than permitted under Section 2.02(b). Each such notice of a Conversion shall, within the restrictions specified above, specify (i) the date of such Conversion, (ii) the Dollar denominated Revolving Credit Advances to be Converted, and (iii) if such Conversion is into Eurocurrency Rate Advances, the duration of the initial Interest Period for each such Advance. Each notice of Conversion shall be irrevocable and binding on the Borrower.
SECTION 2.11. Prepayments of Revolving Credit Advances and Letter of Credit Advances. (a) Optional. The Borrower may, upon notice at least two Business Days' prior to the date of such prepayment, in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Advances, and not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the date of such prepayment, in the case of Base Rate Advances, to the Agent stating the proposed date and aggregate principal amount of the prepayment, and if such notice is given the Borrower shall, prepay the outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Credit Advances comprising part of the same Revolving Credit Borrowing or Letter of Credit Advances in whole or ratably in part, together with accrued interest to the date of such prepayment on the principal amount prepaid; provided, however, that (x) each partial prepayment shall be in an aggregate principal amount of not less than the Revolving Credit Borrowing Minimum or a Revolving Credit Borrowing Multiple in excess thereof or the Equivalent thereof in a Committed Currency (determined on the date notice of prepayment is given) and (y) in the event of any such prepayment of a Eurocurrency Rate Advance, the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the Lenders in respect thereof pursuant to Section 8.04(c).
(b) Mandatory. (i) If, on any date, the Agent notifies the Borrower that, on any interest payment date, the sum of (A) the aggregate principal amount of all Advances denominated in Dollars then outstanding plus (B) the Equivalent in Dollars (determined on the third Business Day prior to such interest payment date) of the aggregate principal amount of all Advances denominated in Foreign Currencies then outstanding exceeds 105% of the aggregate Commitments of the Lenders on such date, the Borrower shall, as soon as practicable and in any event within two Business Days after receipt of such notice, subject to the proviso to this sentence set forth below, prepay the outstanding principal amount of any Advances owing by the Borrower in an aggregate amount sufficient to reduce such sum to an amount not to exceed 100% of the aggregate Commitments of the Lenders on such date together with any interest accrued to the date of such prepayment on the aggregate principal amount of Advances prepaid; provided that if the aggregate principal amount of Base Rate Advances outstanding at the time of such required prepayment is less than the amount of such required prepayment, the portion of such required prepayment in excess of the aggregate principal amount of Base Rate Advances then outstanding shall be deferred until the earliest to occur of the last day of the Interest Period of the outstanding Eurocurrency Rate Advances or the outstanding LIBO Rate Advances and/or the maturity date of the outstanding Fixed Rate Advances, as the case may be, in an aggregate amount equal to the excess of such required prepayment. The Agent shall give prompt notice of any prepayment required under this Section 2.11(b) to the Borrower and the Lenders, and shall provide prompt notice to the Borrower of any such notice of required prepayment received by it from any Lender.
(ii) Each prepayment made pursuant to this Section 2.11(b) shall be made together with any interest accrued to the date of such prepayment on the principal amounts prepaid and, in the case of any prepayment of a Eurocurrency Rate Advance, a LIBO Rate Advance or a Local Rate Advance on a date other than the last day of an Interest Period or at its maturity, any additional amounts which the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse to the Lenders in respect thereof pursuant to Section 8.04(b). The Agent shall give prompt notice of any prepayment required under this Section 2.11(b) to the Borrower and the Lenders.
SECTION 2.12. Increased Costs. (a) If, due to either (i) the introduction of or any change in or in the interpretation of any law or regulation or (ii) the compliance with any guideline or request from any central bank or other governmental authority including, without limitation, any agency of the European Union or similar monetary or multinational authority (whether or not having the force of law), there shall be any increase in the cost to any Lender Party of agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining Eurocurrency Rate Advances or LIBO Rate Advances or of agreeing to issue or of issuing or maintaining or participating in Letters of Credit or of agreeing to make or of making or maintaining Letters of Credit Advances (excluding for purposes of this Section 2.12 any such increased costs resulting from (i) Taxes or Other Taxes (as to which Section 2.15 shall govern) and (ii) changes in the basis of taxation of overall net income or overall gross income by the United States or by the foreign jurisdiction or state under the laws of which such Lender Party is organized or has its Applicable Lending Office or any political subdivision thereof), then the Borrower shall from time to time, upon demand by such Lender Party (with a copy of such demand to the Agent), pay to the Agent for the account of such Lender Party additional amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender Party for such increased cost; provided, however, that before making any such demand, each Lender agrees to use reasonable efforts (consistent with its internal policy and legal and regulatory restrictions) to designate a different Applicable Lending Office if the making of such a designation would avoid the need for, or reduce the amount of, such increased cost and would not, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender Party, be otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender Party. A certificate as to the amount of such increased cost, submitted to the Borrower and the Agent by such Lender Party, shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
(b) If any Lender Party determines that compliance with any law or regulation or any guideline or request from any central bank or other governmental authority (whether or not having the force of law) affects or would affect the amount of capital required or expected to be maintained by such Lender Party or any corporation controlling such Lender Party and that the amount of such capital is increased by or based upon the existence of such Lender Party's commitment to lend hereunder and other commitments of this type, then, upon demand by such Lender Party (with a copy of such demand to the Agent), the Borrower shall pay to the Agent for the account of such Lender Party, from time to time as specified by such Lender Party, additional amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender Party or such corporation in the light of such circumstances, to the extent that such Lender Party reasonably determines such increase in capital to be allocable to the existence of such Lender Party's commitment to lend hereunder. A certificate as to such amounts submitted to the Borrower and the Agent by such Lender Party shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
SECTION 2.13. Illegality. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any Lender Party shall notify the Agent that the introduction of or any change in or in the interpretation of any law or regulation makes it unlawful, or any central bank or other governmental authority asserts that it is unlawful, for any Lender Party or its Eurocurrency Lending Office to perform its obligations hereunder to make Eurocurrency Rate Advances or LIBO Rate Advances in Dollars or any Committed Currency or LIBO Rate Advances in Dollars or any Foreign Currency or to fund or maintain Eurocurrency Rate Advances in Dollars or any Committed Currency or LIBO Rate Advances in Dollars or any Foreign Currency hereunder, (a) each Eurocurrency Rate Advance or LIBO Rate Advance, as the case may be, will automatically, upon such demand, Convert into a Base Rate Advance or an Advance that bears interest at the rate set forth in Section 2.08(a)(i), as the case may be, (i) if such Eurocurrency Rate Advance or LIBO Rate Advance is denominated in Dollars, be Converted into a Base Rate Advance or an Advance that bears interest at the rate set forth in Section 2.08(a)(i), as the case may be, and (ii) if such Eurocurrency Rate Advance or LIBO Rate Advance is denominated in any Foreign Currency, be exchanged into an Equivalent amount of Dollars and be Converted into a Base Rate Advance or an Advance that bears interest at the rate set forth in Section 2.08(a)(i), as the case may be, and (b) the obligation of the Lender Parties to make Eurocurrency Rate Advances or LIBO Rate Advances or to Convert Revolving Credit Advances into Eurocurrency Rate Advances shall be suspended until the Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lender Parties that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist; provided, however, that before making any such demand, each Lender agrees to use reasonable efforts (consistent with its internal policy and legal and regulatory restrictions) to designate a different Eurodollar Lending Office if the making of such a designation would allow such Lender or its Eurodollar Lending Office to continue to perform its obligations to make Eurodollar Rate Advances or to continue to fund or maintain Eurodollar Rate Advances and would not, in the judgment of such Lender, be otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender.
SECTION 2.14. Payments and Computations. (a) The Borrower shall make each payment hereunder, irrespective of any right of counterclaim or set-off except with respect to principal of, interest on, and other amounts relating to, Advances denominated in a Foreign Currency, not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the day when due in U.S. Dollars to the Agent at the applicable Agent's Account in same day funds. The Borrower shall make each payment, irrespective of any right of counterclaim or set-off hereunder with respect to principal of, interest on, and other amounts relating to, Advances denominated in a Foreign Currency, not later than 11:00 A.M. (at the Payment Office for such Foreign Currency) on the day when due in such Foreign Currency to the Agent, by deposit of such funds to the applicable Agent's Account in same day funds. The Agent will promptly thereafter cause to be distributed like funds relating to the payment of principal or interest or facility fees ratably (other than amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.03, 2.12, 2.15 or 8.04(c)) to the Lender Parties for the account of their respective Applicable Lending Offices, and like funds relating to the payment of any other amount payable to any Lender Party to such Lender Party for the account of its Applicable Lending Office, in each case to be applied in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Upon any Assuming Lender becoming a Lender Party hereunder as a result of a Commitment Increase pursuant to Section 2.19, and upon the Agent's receipt of such Lender's Assumption Agreement and recording of the information contained therein in the Register, from and after the applicable Increase Date, as the case may be, the Agent shall make all payments hereunder and under any Notes issued in connection therewith in respect of the interest assumed thereby to the Assuming Lender. Upon its acceptance of an Assignment and Acceptance and recording of the information contained therein in the Register pursuant to Section 8.07(c), from and after the effective date specified in such Assignment and Acceptance, the Agent shall make all payments hereunder and under the Notes in respect of the interest assigned thereby to the Lender Party assignee thereunder, and the parties to such Assignment and Acceptance shall make all appropriate adjustments in such payments for periods prior to such effective date directly between themselves.
(b) All computations of interest based on the Base Rate shall be made by the Agent on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, all computations of interest based on the Eurocurrency Rate or the Federal Funds Rate and of fees or Letter of Credit commissions shall be made by the Agent on the basis of a year of 360 days and computations in respect of Competitive Bid Advances shall be made by the Agent as specified in the applicable Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing (or, in each case of Advances denominated in Foreign Currencies where market practice differs, in accordance with market practice), in each case for the actual number of days (including the first day but excluding the last day) occurring in the period for which such interest fees or commissions are payable. Each determination by the Agent of an interest rate hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
(c) Whenever any payment hereunder or under the Notes shall be stated to be due on a day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and such extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of payment of interest or facility fee, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if such extension would cause payment of interest on or principal of Eurocurrency Rate Advances or LIBO Rate Advances to be made in the next following calendar month, such payment shall be made on the next preceding Business Day.
(d) Unless the Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to any Lender Party hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment in full, the Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment in full to the Agent on such date and the Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, cause to be distributed to each Lender Party on such due date an amount equal to the amount then due such Lender Party. If and to the extent the Borrower shall not have so made such payment in full to the Agent, each Lender Party shall repay to the Agent forthwith on demand such amount distributed to such Lender Party together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is distributed to such Lender Party until the date such Lender Party repays such amount to the Agent, at (i) the Federal Funds Rate in the case of Advances denominated in Dollars or (ii) the cost of funds incurred by the Agent in respect of such amount in the case of Advances denominated in Foreign Currencies.
(e) To the extent that the Agent receives funds for application to the amounts owing by the Borrower under or in respect of this Agreement or any Note in currencies other than the currency or currencies required to enable the Agent to distribute funds to the Lender Parties in accordance with the terms of this Section 2.14, the Agent shall be entitled to convert or exchange such funds into Dollars or into a Foreign Currency or from Dollars to a Foreign Currency or from a Foreign Currency to Dollars, as the case may be, to the extent necessary to enable the Agent to distribute such funds in accordance with the terms of this Section 2.14; provided that the Borrower and each of the Lender Parties hereby agree that the Agent shall not be liable or responsible for any loss, cost or expense suffered by the Borrower or such Lender Party as a result of any conversion or exchange of currencies affected pursuant to this Section 2.14(f) or as a result of the failure of the Agent to effect any such conversion or exchange, other than any loss, cost or expense applicable to the Agent's gross negligence or willful misconduct; and provided further that the Borrower agrees to indemnify the Agent and each Lender Party, and hold the Agent and each Lender Party harmless, for any and all losses, costs and expenses incurred by the Agent or any Lender Party for any conversion or exchange of currencies (or the failure to convert or exchange any currencies) in accordance with this Section 2.14(f), other than any loss, cost or expense applicable to the Agent's gross negligence or willful misconduct.
SECTION 2.15. Taxes. (a) Any and all payments by the Borrower to or for the account of any Lender or the Agent hereunder or under the Notes or any other documents to be delivered hereunder shall be made, in accordance with Section 2.14 or the applicable provisions of such other documents, free and clear of and without deduction for any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings, and all liabilities with respect thereto, excluding, in the case of each Lender Party and the Agent, taxes imposed on its overall net income, and franchise taxes imposed on it in lieu of net income taxes, by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such Lender Party or the Agent (as the case may be) is organized or any political subdivision thereof and, in the case of each Lender Party, taxes imposed on its overall net income, and franchise taxes imposed on it in lieu of net income taxes, by the jurisdiction of such Lender Party's Applicable Lending Office or any political subdivision thereof (all such non-excluded taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges, withholdings and liabilities in respect of payments hereunder or under the Notes being hereinafter referred to as "Taxes"). If the Borrower shall be required by law to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable hereunder or under any Note or any other documents to be delivered hereunder to any Lender Party or the Agent, (i) the sum payable shall be increased as may be necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.15) such Lender Party or the Agent (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with applicable law.
(b) In addition, the Borrower shall pay any present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies that arise from any payment made hereunder or under the Notes or any other documents to be delivered hereunder or from the execution, delivery or registration of, performing under, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or the Notes or any other documents to be delivered hereunder (hereinafter referred to as "Other Taxes").
(c) The Borrower shall indemnify each Lender and the Agent for and hold it harmless against the full amount of Taxes or Other Taxes (including, without limitation, taxes of any kind imposed or asserted by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this Section 2.15) imposed on or paid by such Lender Party or the Agent (as the case may be) and any liability (including penalties, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto. This indemnification shall be made within 30 days from the date such Lender Party or the Agent (as the case may be) makes written demand therefor.
(d) Within 30 days after the date of any payment of Taxes, the Borrower shall furnish to the Agent, at its address referred to in Section 8.02, the original or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing such payment to the extent such a receipt is issued therefor, or other written proof of payment thereof that is reasonably satisfactory to the Agent. In the case of any payment hereunder or under the Notes or any other documents to be delivered hereunder by or on behalf of the Borrower through an account or branch outside the United States or by or on behalf of the Borrower by a payor that is not a United States person, if the Borrower determines that no Taxes are payable in respect thereof, the Borrower shall furnish, or shall cause such payor to furnish, to the Agent, at such address, an opinion of counsel acceptable to the Agent stating that such payment is exempt from Taxes. For purposes of this subsection (d) and subsection (e), the terms "United States" and "United States person" shall have the meanings specified in Section 7701 of the Internal Revenue Code.
(e) Each Lender Party organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States, on or prior to the date of its execution and delivery of this Agreement in the case of each Initial Lender Party and on the date of the Assumption Agreement or the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it becomes a Lender Party in the case of each other Lender Party, and from time to time thereafter as reasonably requested in writing by the Borrower (but only so long as such Lender Party remains lawfully able to do so), shall provide each of the Agent and the Borrower with two original Internal Revenue Service forms W-8BEN or W-8ECI, as appropriate, or any successor or other form prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service, certifying that such Lender Party is exempt from or entitled to a reduced rate of United States withholding tax on payments pursuant to this Agreement or the Notes. If the form provided by a Lender Party at the time such Lender Party first becomes a party to this Agreement indicates a United States interest withholding tax rate in excess of zero, withholding tax at such rate shall be considered excluded from Taxes unless and until such Lender Party provides the appropriate forms certifying that a lesser rate applies, whereupon withholding tax at such lesser rate only shall be considered excluded from Taxes for periods governed by such form; provided, however, that, if at the date of the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which a Lender Party assignee becomes a party to this Agreement, the Lender Party assignor was entitled to payments under subsection (a) in respect of United States withholding tax with respect to interest paid at such date, then, to such extent, the term Taxes shall include (in addition to withholding taxes that may be imposed in the future or other amounts otherwise includable in Taxes) United States withholding tax, if any, applicable with respect to the Lender Party assignee on such date. If any form or document referred to in this subsection (e) requires the disclosure of information, other than information necessary to compute the tax payable and information required on the date hereof by Internal Revenue Service form W-8BEN or W-8ECI, that the Lender Party reasonably considers to be confidential, the Lender shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and shall not be obligated to include in such form or document such confidential information.
(f) For any period with respect to which a Lender Party has failed to provide the Borrower with the appropriate form, certificate or other document described in Section 2.15(e) (other than if such failure is due to a change in law, or in the interpretation or application thereof, occurring subsequent to the date on which a form, certificate or other document originally was required to be provided, or if such form, certificate or other document otherwise is not required under subsection (e) above), such Lender Party shall not be entitled to indemnification under Section 2.15(a) or (c) with respect to Taxes imposed by the United States by reason of such failure; provided, however, that should a Lender Party become subject to Taxes because of its failure to deliver a form, certificate or other document required hereunder, the Borrower shall take such steps as the Lender Party shall reasonably request to assist the Lender Party to recover such Taxes.
(g) Any Lender Party claiming any additional amounts payable pursuant to this Section 2.15 agrees to use reasonable efforts (consistent with its internal policy and legal and regulatory restrictions) to change the jurisdiction of its Eurodollar Lending Office if the making of such a change would avoid the need for, or reduce the amount of, any such additional amounts that may thereafter accrue and would not, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender Party, be otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender Party.
(h) If any Lender Party determines, in its sole discretion, that it has actually and finally realized, by reason of a refund, deduction or credit of any Taxes paid or reimbursed by the Borrower pursuant to subjection (a) or (c) above in respect of payments under the Credit Agreement or the Notes, a current monetary benefit that it would otherwise not have obtained, and that would result in the total payments under this Section 2.15 exceeding the amount needed to make such Lender Party whole, such Lender Party shall pay to the Borrower, with reasonable promptness following the date on which it actually realizes such benefit, an amount equal to the lesser of the amount of such benefit or the amount of such excess, in each case net of all out-of-pocket expenses in securing such refund, deduction or credit; provided, however, that nothing herein shall be construed to require any Lender to disclose confidential information regarding its tax affairs.
SECTION 2.16. Sharing of Payments, Etc. If any Lender Party shall obtain any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of set-off, or otherwise) on account of the Revolving Credit Advances or Letter of Credit Advances owing to it (other than pursuant to Section 2.12, 2.15 or 8.04(c)) in excess of its ratable share of payments on account of the Revolving Credit Advances and Letter of Credit Advances obtained by all the Lender Parties, such Lender Party shall forthwith purchase from the other Lender Parties such participations in the Revolving Credit Advances and Letter of Credit owing to them as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender Party to share the excess payment ratably with each of them; provided, however, that if all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from such purchasing Lender Party, such purchase from each Lender Party shall be rescinded and such Lender Party shall repay to the purchasing Lender Party the purchase price to the extent of such recovery together with an amount equal to such Lender Party's ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such Lender Party's required repayment to (ii) the total amount so recovered from the purchasing Lender Party) of any interest or other amount paid or payable by the purchasing Lender Party in respect of the total amount so recovered. The Borrower agrees that any Lender Party so purchasing a participation from another Lender Party pursuant to this Section 2.16 may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all its rights of payment (including the right of set-off) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender Party were the direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.
SECTION 2.17. Evidence of Debt. (a) Each Lender Party shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender Party resulting from each Revolving Credit Advance owing to such Lender Party from time to time, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender Party from time to time hereunder in respect of Revolving Credit Advances. The Borrower agrees that upon notice by any Lender Party to the Borrower (with a copy of such notice to the Agent) to the effect that a Revolving Credit Note is required or appropriate in order for such Lender Party to evidence (whether for purposes of pledge, enforcement or otherwise) the Revolving Credit Advances owing to, or to be made by, such Lender Party, the Borrower shall promptly execute and deliver to such Lender Party a Revolving Credit Note payable to the order of such Lender Party in a principal amount up to the Commitment of such Lender Party.
(b) The Register maintained by the Agent pursuant to Section 8.07(g) shall include a control account, and a subsidiary account for each Lender Party, in which accounts (taken together) shall be recorded (i) the date and amount of each Borrowing made hereunder, the Type of Advances comprising such Borrowing and, if appropriate, the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the terms of each Assumption Agreement and each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to and accepted by it, (iii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender Party hereunder and (iv) the amount of any sum received by the Agent from the Borrower hereunder and each Lender Party's share thereof.
(c) Entries made in good faith by the Agent in the Register pursuant to subsection (b) above, and by each Lender Party in its account or accounts pursuant to subsection (a) above, shall be prima facie evidence of the amount of principal and interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to, in the case of the Register, each Lender and, in the case of such account or accounts, such Lender Party, under this Agreement, absent manifest error; provided, however, that the failure of the Agent or such Lender Party to make an entry, or any finding that an entry is incorrect, in the Register or such account or accounts shall not limit or otherwise affect the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement.
SECTION 2.18. Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Advances and issuances of Letters of Credit shall be available (and the Borrower agrees that it shall use such proceeds) solely for general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including, without limitation, acquisitions.
SECTION 2.19. Increase in the Aggregate Commitments. (a) The Borrower may, at any time but in any event not more than once in any calendar year prior to the Termination Date, by notice to the Agent, request that the aggregate amount of the Commitment be increased by an amount of $10,000,000 or an integral multiple of $10,000,000 in excess thereof (each a "Commitment Increase") to be effective as of a date that is at least 90 days prior to the scheduled Termination Date then in effect (the "Increase Date") as specified in the related notice to the Agent; provided, however that (i) in no event shall the aggregate amount of the Commitments at any time exceed $500,000,000 and (ii) on the date of any request by the Borrower for a Commitment Increase and on the related Increase Date, the applicable conditions set forth in Article III shall be satisfied.
(b) The Agent shall promptly notify the Lender Parties of a request by the Borrower for a Commitment Increase, which notice shall include (i) the proposed amount of such requested Commitment Increase, (ii) the proposed Increase Date and (iii) the date by which Lender Parties wishing to participate in the Commitment Increase must commit to an increase in the amount of their respective Commitments (the "Commitment Date"). Each Lender Party that is willing to participate in such requested Commitment Increase (each an "Increasing Lender") shall, in its sole discretion, give written notice to the Agent on or prior to the Commitment Date of the amount by which it is willing to increase its Commitment. If the Lender Parties notify the Agent that they are willing to increase the amount of their respective Commitments by an aggregate amount that exceeds the amount of the requested Commitment Increase, the requested Commitment Increase shall be allocated among the Lender Parties willing to participate therein in such proportion as the Agent and the Borrower may agree.
(c) Promptly following each Commitment Date, the Agent shall notify the Borrower as to the amount, if any, by which the Lender Parties are willing to participate in the requested Commitment Increase. If the aggregate amount by which the Lender Parties are willing to participate in any requested Commitment Increase on any such Commitment Date is less than the requested Commitment Increase, then the Borrower may extend offers to one or more Eligible Assignees to participate in any portion of the requested Commitment Increase that has not been committed to by the Lender Parties as of the applicable Commitment Date; provided, however, that the Commitment of each such Eligible Assignee shall be in an amount of not less than $10,000,000.
(d) On each Increase Date, each Eligible Assignee that accepts an offer to participate in a requested Commitment Increase in accordance with Section 2.19(b) (each such Eligible Assignee, an "Assuming Lender") shall become a Lender Party to this Agreement as of such Increase Date and the Commitment of each Increasing Lender Party for such requested Commitment Increase shall be so increased by such amount (or by the amount allocated to such Lender Party pursuant to the last sentence of Section 2.19(b)) as of such Increase Date; provided, however, that the Agent shall have received on or before such Increase Date the following, each dated such date:
(i) (A) certified copies of resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Borrower or the Executive Committee of such Board approving the Commitment Increase and the corresponding modifications to this Agreement and (B) an opinion of counsel for the Borrower (which may be in-house counsel), in substantially the form of Exhibit E hereto;
(ii) an assumption agreement from each Assuming Lender, if any, in form and substance satisfactory to the Borrower and the Agent (each an "Assumption Agreement"), duly executed by such Eligible Assignee, the Agent and the Borrower; and
(iii) confirmation from each Increasing Lender of the increase in the amount of its Commitment in a writing satisfactory to the Borrower and the Agent.
On each Increase Date, upon fulfillment of the conditions set forth in the immediately preceding sentence of this Section 2.19(d), the Agent shall notify the Lender Parties (including, without limitation, each Assuming Lender) and the Borrower, on or before 1:00 P.M. (New York City time), by telecopier or telex, of the occurrence of the Commitment Increase to be effected on such Increase Date and shall record in the Register the relevant information with respect to each Increasing Lender and each Assuming Lender on such date.
ARTICLE III
CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVENESS AND LENDING
SECTION 3.01. Conditions Precedent to Effectiveness of Sections 2.01 and 2.03. Sections 2.01 and 2.03 of this Agreement shall become effective on and as of the first date (the "Effective Date") on which the following conditions precedent have been satisfied:
(a) There shall have occurred no Material Adverse Change since December 31, 2000.
(b) There shall exist no action, suit, investigation, litigation or proceeding affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened before any court, governmental agency or arbitrator that (i) is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) purports to affect the legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any Note or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
(c) Nothing shall have come to the attention of the Lender Parties during the course of their due diligence investigation to lead them to believe that the Information Memorandum was or has become misleading, incorrect or incomplete in any material respect; without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Lender Parties shall have been given such access to the management, records, books of account, contracts and properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as they shall have requested.
(d) All governmental and third party consents and approvals necessary in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been obtained (without the imposition of any conditions that are not acceptable to the Lender Parties) and shall remain in effect, and no law or regulation shall be applicable in the reasonable judgment of the Lender Parties that restrains, prevents or imposes materially adverse conditions upon the transactions contemplated hereby.
(e) The Borrower shall have notified each Lender Party and the Agent in writing as to the proposed Effective Date.
(f) The Borrower shall have paid all accrued fees and expenses of the Agent and the Lenders (including the accrued fees and expenses of counsel to the Agent).
(g) On the Effective Date, the following statements shall be true and the Agent shall have received for the account of each Lender Party a certificate signed by a duly authorized officer of the Borrower, dated the Effective Date, stating that:
(i) The representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01 are correct on and as of the Effective Date, and
(ii) No event has occurred and is continuing that constitutes a Default.
(h) The Agent shall have received on or before the Effective Date the following, each dated such day, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and (except for the Revolving Credit Notes) in sufficient copies for each Lender:
(i) The Revolving Credit Notes to the order of the Lenders to the extent requested by any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17.
(ii) Certified copies of the resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Borrower approving this Agreement and the Notes, and of all documents evidencing other necessary corporate action and governmental approvals, if any, with respect to this Agreement and the Notes.
(iii) A certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Borrower certifying the names and true signatures of the officers of the Borrower authorized to sign this Agreement and the Notes and the other documents to be delivered hereunder.
(iv) A favorable opinion of Xxxxxxx & Xxxx, S.C., counsel for the Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto and as to such other matters as any Lender Party through the Agent may reasonably request.
(v) A favorable opinion of Shearman & Sterling, counsel for the Agent, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent.
(vi) The Borrower shall have terminated the commitments, and paid in full all Debt, interest, fees and other amounts outstanding, under the Five Year Credit Agreement dated as November 25, 1997, as amended, among the Borrower, the lender parties thereto and Citibank, as agent, and each of the Lenders that is a party to such credit facility hereby waives, upon execution of this Agreement, the three Business Days' notice required by Section 2.04 of said Credit Agreement relating to the termination of commitments thereunder.
SECTION 3.02. Conditions Precedent to Each Revolving Credit Borrowing, Each Issuance of Letters of Credit and Commitment Increase. The obligation of each Lender to make a Revolving Credit Advance on the occasion of each Revolving Credit Borrowing, and the obligation of the Issuing Banks to issue a Letter of Credit and each Commitment Increase shall be subject to the conditions precedent that the Effective Date shall have occurred and on the date of such Revolving Credit Borrowing, issuance of Letter of Credit or the applicable Increase Date (a) the following statements shall be true (and each of the giving of the applicable Notice of Revolving Credit Borrowing request for Commitment Increase request for Commitment Extension and the acceptance by the Borrower of the proceeds of such Revolving Credit Borrowing shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower that on the date of such Borrowing, such issuance of Letter of Credit or such Increase Date such statements are true):
(i) the representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01 (except, in the case of Revolving Credit Borrowings and issuance of Letters of Credit, the representations set forth in the last sentence of subsection (e) thereof and in subsection (f)(i) thereof) are correct on and as of such date, before and after giving effect to such Revolving Credit Borrowing, such issuance of Letter of Credit or such Commitment Increase and to the application of the proceeds therefrom, as though made on and as of such date, and
(ii) no event has occurred and is continuing, or would result from such Revolving Credit Borrowing, such issuance of Letter of Credit or such Commitment Increase or from the application of the proceeds therefrom, that constitutes a Default;
and (b) the Agent shall have received such other approvals, opinions or documents as any Lender Party through the Agent may reasonably request to confirm the foregoing.
SECTION 3.03. Conditions Precedent to Each Competitive Bid Borrowing. The obligation of each Lender that is to make a Competitive Bid Advance on the occasion of a Competitive Bid Borrowing to make such Competitive Bid Advance as part of such Competitive Bid Borrowing is subject to the conditions precedent that (i) the Agent shall have received the written confirmatory Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing with respect thereto, (ii) on or before the date of such Competitive Bid Borrowing, but prior to such Competitive Bid Borrowing, the Agent shall have received a Competitive Bid Note payable to the order of such Lender for each of the one or more Competitive Bid Advances to be made by such Lender as part of such Competitive Bid Borrowing, in a principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Competitive Bid Advance to be evidenced thereby and otherwise on such terms as were agreed to for such Competitive Bid Advance in accordance with Section 2.03, and (iii) on the date of such Competitive Bid Borrowing the following statements shall be true (and each of the giving of the applicable Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing and the acceptance by the Borrower of the proceeds of such Competitive Bid Borrowing shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower that on the date of such Competitive Bid Borrowing such statements are true):
(a) the representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01 (except the representations and warranties set forth in the last sentence of subsection (e) thereof and in subsection (f)(i) thereof) are correct on and as of the date of such Competitive Bid Borrowing, before and after giving effect to such Competitive Bid Borrowing and to the application of the proceeds therefrom, as though made on and as of such date,
(b) no event has occurred and is continuing, or would result from such Competitive Bid Borrowing or from the application of the proceeds therefrom, that constitutes a Default, and
(c) no event has occurred and no circumstance exists as a result of which the information concerning the Borrower that has been provided to the Agent and each Lender Party by the Borrower in connection herewith would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact or any fact necessary to make the statements contained therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
SECTION 3.04. Determinations Under Section 3.01. For purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in Section 3.01, each Lender Party 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 the Lender Parties unless an officer of the Agent responsible for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have received notice from such Lender Party prior to the date that the Borrower, by notice to the Lender Parties, designates as the proposed Effective Date, specifying its objection thereto. The Agent shall promptly notify the Lender Parties of the occurrence of the Effective Date.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
SECTION 4.01. Representations and Warranties of the Borrower. The Borrower represents and warrants as follows:
(a) The Borrower is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Wisconsin.
(b) The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement and the Notes to be delivered by it, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, are within the Borrower's corporate powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, and do not contravene (i) the Borrower's charter or by-laws or (ii) law or any contractual restriction binding on or affecting the Borrower.
(c) No authorization or approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body or any other third party is required for the due execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement or the Notes to be delivered by it.
(d) This Agreement has been, and each of the Notes to be delivered by it when delivered hereunder will have been, duly executed and delivered by the Borrower. This Agreement is, and each of the Notes when delivered hereunder will be, the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with their respective terms.
(e) The Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at December 31, 2000, and the related Consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year then ended, accompanied by an opinion of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, LLP, independent public accountants, and the Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at September 30, 2001, and the related Consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the nine months then ended, duly certified by the chief financial officer of the Borrower, copies of which have been furnished to each Lender Party, fairly present, subject, in the case of said balance sheet as at September 30, 2001, and said statements of income and cash flows for the nine months then ended, to year-end audit adjustments, the Consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at such dates and the Consolidated results of the operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the periods ended on such dates, all in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied. Since December 31, 2000, there has been no Material Adverse Change.
(f) There is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened action, suit, investigation, litigation or proceeding, including, without limitation, any Environmental Action, affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries before any court, governmental agency or arbitrator that (i) is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) purports to affect the legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any Note or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
(g) The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have filed all United States Federal income tax returns and all other material tax returns which are required to be filed by them and have paid all taxes due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries except such taxes or assessments, if any, as are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in respect of taxes are, in the opinion of the Borrower, adequate.
(h) No proceeds of any Advance will be used to acquire any equity security of a class which is registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 if the Borrower has reason to know that the board of directors of the issuer of such equity security opposes or will oppose such acquisition.
(i) The Borrower is not engaged in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), and no proceeds of any Advance will be used to purchase or carry any margin stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin stock.
(j) The operations of the Borrower and each of its Domestic Subsidiaries comply in all material respects with all applicable ERISA, environmental, health and safety requirements of law the failure to comply with which would have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) the operations of each Foreign Subsidiary of the Borrower comply in all material respects with all applicable environmental, health and safety requirements of law, the failure to comply with which would have a Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) prior to the date hereof, the Borrower shall have inspected, and shall have caused each of its Subsidiaries to have inspected, its property owned in fee and, with respect to each building in which asbestos shall have been found, the Borrower shall have caused such building to be in compliance with applicable rules and regulations under local law relating to asbestos containment, maintenance and removal. The term "Domestic Subsidiary" means a Subsidiary organized under the laws of, or having its principal place of business within, a jurisdiction located in the United States and the term "Foreign Subsidiary" means any other Subsidiary.
(k) The Borrower is not an "investment company", or a company "controlled" by an "investment company", within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(l) All information furnished to the Agent or any Bank by or at the direction of the Borrower in connection with this Agreement was, on the date furnished, true and correct in all material respects and did not fail to state any fact the omission of which rendered the information provided materially misleading in any material respect.
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS OF THE BORROWER
SECTION 5.01. Affirmative Covenants. So long as any Advance shall remain unpaid, any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder or any Letter of Credit shall be outstanding, the Borrower will:
(a) Compliance with Laws, Etc. Comply, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to comply, in all material respects, with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders, such compliance to include, without limitation, compliance with ERISA and Environmental Laws.
(b) Payment of Taxes, Etc. Pay and discharge, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay and discharge, before the same shall become delinquent, (i) all taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed upon it or upon its property and (ii) all lawful claims that, if unpaid, might by law become a Lien upon its property; provided, however, that neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to pay or discharge any such tax, assessment, charge or claim that is being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and as to which appropriate reserves are being maintained, unless and until any Lien resulting therefrom attaches to its property and becomes enforceable against its other creditors (unless such Lien would be permitted in accordance with Section 5.02(a)).
(c) Maintenance of Insurance. Maintain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain, insurance with responsible and reputable insurance companies or associations in such amounts and covering such risks as is usually carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in the same general areas in which the Borrower or such Subsidiary operates.
(d) Preservation of Corporate Existence, Etc. Preserve and maintain, and cause each of its Material Subsidiaries to preserve and maintain, its corporate existence, and its material rights (charter and statutory) and franchises; provided, however, that the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may consummate any merger or consolidation permitted under Section 5.02(b), and provided further that neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to preserve any right or franchise if the Board of Directors of the Borrower or such Subsidiary shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, and that the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Borrower, such Subsidiary or the Lenders.
(e) Visitation Rights. At any reasonable time and from time to time, permit the Agent or any of the Lender Parties or any agents or representatives thereof, to examine and make copies of and abstracts from the records and books of account of, and visit the properties of, the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries, and to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries with any of their officers or directors and with their independent certified public accountants.
(f) Keeping of Books. Keep, and cause each of its Consolidated Subsidiaries to keep, proper books of record and account, in which full and correct entries shall be made of all financial transactions and the assets and business of the Borrower and each such Subsidiary in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in effect from time to time.
(g) Maintenance of Properties, Etc. Maintain and preserve, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain and preserve, all of its properties that are used or useful in the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted.
(h) Reporting Requirements. Furnish to the Lender Parties:
(i) as soon as available and in any event within 50 days after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, the Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such quarter and Consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the period commencing at the end of the previous fiscal year and ending with the end of such quarter, duly certified (subject to year-end audit adjustments) by the chief financial officer, chief accounting officer, treasurer or Vice President - Finance of the Borrower as having been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and certificates of the chief financial officer of the Borrower as to compliance with the terms of this Agreement and setting forth in reasonable detail the calculations necessary to demonstrate compliance with Section 5.03, provided that in the event of any change in generally accepted accounting principles used in the preparation of such financial statements, the Borrower shall also provide, if necessary for the determination of compliance with Section 5.03, a statement of reconciliation conforming such financial statements to GAAP;
(ii) as soon as available and in any event within 105 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a copy of the annual audit report for such year for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, containing the Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal year and Consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such fiscal year, in each case accompanied by an opinion by independent public accountants of nationally recognized standing, provided that in the event of any change in generally accepted accounting principles used in the preparation of such financial statements, the Borrower shall also provide, if necessary for the determination of compliance with Section 5.03, a statement of reconciliation conforming such financial statements to GAAP;
(iii) as soon as possible and in any event within five days after the occurrence of each Default continuing on the date of such statement, a statement of the chief financial officer, chief accounting officer, treasurer or Vice President - Finance of the Borrower setting forth details of such Default and the action that the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto;
(iv) promptly after the sending or filing thereof, copies of all quarterly and annual reports or any proxy solicitations that the Borrower sends to its securityholders generally, and copies of all reports on Form 8-K and registration statements for the public offering (other than pursuant to employee Plans) of securities that the Borrower or any Subsidiary files with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any national securities exchange;
(v) promptly after the commencement thereof, notice of all actions and proceedings before any court, governmental agency or arbitrator affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of the type described in Section 4.01(f);
(vi) promptly following any change in any credit rating (whether publicly announced or shadow) by either S&P or Xxxxx'x in respect of any debt of the Borrower, notice thereof; and
(vii) such other information respecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries as any Lender Party through the Agent may from time to time reasonably request.
Reports and financial statements required to be delivered by the Borrower pursuant to paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iv) of this Section 5.02 shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date on which it posts such reports, or reports containing such financial statements, on its website on the Internet at [xxx.xxxxxxxx.xxx] and when such reports, or reports containing such financial statements are posted on the SEC's website at xxx.xxx.xxx; provided that it shall deliver paper copies of the reports and financial statements referred to in paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iv) of this Section 5.02 to the Agent or any Lender who requests it to deliver such paper copies until written notice to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Agent or such Lender; and provided further that in every instance it shall provide paper copies of the certificate required by subsections (i) and (ii) to the Agent and the Agent shall, in turn, provide a copy to each of the Lender Parties until such time as the Agent shall provide it written notice otherwise.
SECTION 5.02. Negative Covenants. So long as any Advance shall remain unpaid or any Lender Party shall have any Commitment hereunder or any Letter of Credit shall be outstanding, the Borrower will not:
(a) Liens, Etc. Create or suffer to exist, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to create or suffer to exist, any Lien on or with respect to any of its properties, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or assign, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to assign, any right to receive income, other than:
(i) Permitted Liens,
(ii) (A) Purchase money liens or purchase money security interests upon or in any property acquired or held by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business to secure the purchase of such property or to secure indebtedness incurred solely for the purpose of financing the acquisition of such property, (B) liens consisting of the interests of lessors under Capitalized Leases and (C) liens not otherwise described above in this Section 5.02(a); provided, that the aggregate capitalized amount of Debt incurred pursuant to such Capitalized Leases, plus the aggregate principal amount of the indebtedness or other obligations secured by any of the liens described in this clause (ii) (or, if greater, the book value of the assets that are subject to such liens) shall not exceed $75,000,000 at any time outstanding; and
(iii) the Liens existing on the Effective Date and described on Schedule 5.02(a) hereto,
(iv) Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged into or consolidated with the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower or becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower or the property is acquired by the Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided that such Liens were not created in contemplation of such merger, consolidation or acquisition and do not extend to any assets other than those of the Person so merged into or consolidated with the Borrower or such Subsidiary or acquired by the Borrower or such Subsidiary,
(v) Liens permitted by Section 5.02(d); and
(vi) the replacement, extension or renewal of any Lien permitted by clause (ii), (iii) or (iv) above upon or in the same property theretofore subject thereto or the replacement, extension or renewal (without increase in the amount or change in any direct or contingent obligor) of the Debt secured thereby.
(b) Mergers, Etc. Merge or consolidate with or into, or convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to, or acquire all or substantially all of the assets of, any Person, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to do so, other than:
(i) the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower may, in the ordinary course of its business, acquire all or any portion of the stock of any Person conducting business primarily in the staffing or workforce management services industry or acquire all or substantially all of the assets used in the conduct by any Person of a staffing or workforce management services business (and assume the liabilities related to such assets);
(ii) any Subsidiary of the Borrower or the Borrower may merge into or consolidate with, or transfer assets to or acquire the assets of any other Subsidiary of the Borrower or the Borrower; provided that in the case of any such transaction to which the Borrower is a party, the Borrower shall be the surviving corporation; provided that, in each such case, immediately after giving effect to such proposed transaction, no Default shall exist; and
(iii) sales permitted pursuant to Section 5.02(c)
(c) Sales, Etc. of Assets. Sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of, or permit any of its Material Subsidiaries to sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of, any material portion of its assets, including (without limitation) assets constituting any investment in any Subsidiary thereof or substantially all of the assets constituting the business of any division, branch or other unit operation thereof, except (i) in a transaction or a series of related transactions where the aggregate amount of the fair market value of all assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries sold, leased, assigned, transferred or otherwise disposed of in such transaction or transactions (as such fair market value is determined by the Board of Directors of the Borrower at the time of such transaction or transactions) does not exceed 15% of the Borrower's Consolidated Tangible Assets, and the consideration received by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in each such transaction shall constitute fair market value, or (ii) in connection with a transaction permitted by Section 5.02(b) or Section 5.02(d).
(d) Securitization Facilities. At any time sell, assign or otherwise dispose of all or any material portion of the Borrower's or any Subsidiary's accounts receivable, lease receivables or other rights to receive payment or income (any of the foregoing being a "Receivable"); provided that notwithstanding anything contained in Section 5.02 to the contrary, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries may enter into one or more agreements contemplating the sale, assignment or other transfer of its Receivables, whether constituting a "true sale" or secured financing for accounting, tax or any other purpose (each, a "Receivables Purchase Agreement"), so long as (i) the aggregate outstanding investment or claims held at any time by purchasers, assignees or other transferees of (or of interests in) Receivables under Receivables Purchase Agreements shall not exceed an amount equal to $500,000,000 and (ii) each sale, assignment or other transfer effected under or in connection with a Receivables Purchase Agreement shall be effected on a non-recourse or limited recourse basis.
(e) Accounting Changes. Make or permit, or permit any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries to make or permit, any change in accounting policies or reporting practices, except as required or permitted by generally accepted accounting principles.
(f) Subsidiary Debt. Permit any of its Subsidiaries to create or suffer to exist, any Debt other than:
(i) Debt owed to the Borrower or to a Subsidiary of the Borrower,
(ii) other Debt aggregating for all of the Borrower's Subsidiaries not more than $75,000,000 at any one time outstanding,
(iii) indorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection or similar transactions in the ordinary course of business, and
(iv) Debt which is, or would be permitted to be, secured by a Lien permitted under Section 5.02(a).
(g) Change in Nature of Business. Make, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to make, any material change in the nature of its business as carried on at the date hereof.
SECTION 5.03. Financial Covenants. So long as any Advance shall remain unpaid or any Lender Party shall have any Commitment hereunder or any Letter of Credit shall be outstanding, the Borrower will:
(a) Leverage Ratio. Maintain a ratio of Consolidated Adjusted Debt to Consolidated EBITDA as of the end of each fiscal quarter, in respect of the four-quarter period then ended, of not greater than 3.75 to 1 through the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2002, and not greater than 3.25 to 1 for each fiscal quarter thereafter.
(b) Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. Maintain a ratio of (i) the sum of Consolidated EBITDA plus Consolidated Rental Expense to (ii) the sum of Consolidated Interest Expense and Consolidated Rental Expense as of the end of each fiscal quarter, in respect of the four-quarter period then ended, of not less than 2.0 to 1.
ARTICLE VI
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
SECTION 6.01. Events of Default. If any of the following events ("Events of Default") shall occur and be continuing:
(a) The Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Advance when the same becomes due and payable; or the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Advance or make any other payment of fees or other amounts payable under this Agreement or any Note within three days after the same becomes due and payable; or
(b) Any representation or warranty made by the Borrower herein or by the Borrower (or any of its officers) in connection with this Agreement shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made; or
(c) (i) The Borrower shall fail to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in Section 5.01(d), (e) or (h)(iii), 5.02 or 5.03, or (ii) the Borrower shall fail to perform or observe any other term, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement on its part to be performed or observed if such failure shall remain unremedied for 30 days after written notice thereof shall have been given to the Borrower by the Agent or any Lender Party; or
(d) The Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall fail to pay any principal of or premium or interest on any Debt that is outstanding in a principal or notional amount of at least $25,000,000 in the aggregate (but excluding Debt outstanding hereunder) of the Borrower or such Subsidiary (as the case may be), when the same becomes due and payable (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise), and such failure shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in the agreement or instrument relating to such Debt; or any other event shall occur or condition shall exist under any agreement or instrument relating to any such Debt and shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in such agreement or instrument, if the effect of such event or condition is to accelerate, or to permit the acceleration of, the maturity of such Debt; or any such Debt shall be declared to be due and payable, or required to be prepaid or redeemed (other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment or redemption), purchased or defeased, or an offer to prepay, redeem, purchase or defease such Debt shall be required to be made, in each case prior to the stated maturity thereof, provided, however, that, for purposes of this Section 6.01(d), in the case of (x) Debt of any Person (other than the Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries) which the Borrower or a Subsidiary has guaranteed and (y) Debt of Persons (other than the Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries) the payment of which is secured by a Lien on property of the Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries, such Debt shall be deemed to have not been paid when due or the have been declared to be due and payable only when the Borrower or its Subsidiary, as the case may be, shall have failed to pay when due any amount which it shall be obligated to pay with respect to such Debt; or
(e) The Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall generally not pay its debts as such debts become due, or shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally, or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or any proceeding shall be instituted by or against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection, relief, or composition of it or its debts under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors, or seeking the entry of an order for relief or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for any substantial part of its property and, in the case of any such proceeding instituted against it (but not instituted by it), either such proceeding shall remain undismissed or unstayed for a period of 30 days, or any of the actions sought in such proceeding (including, without limitation, the entry of an order for relief against, or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for, it or for any substantial part of its property) shall occur; or the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall take any corporate action to authorize any of the actions set forth above in this subsection (e); or
(f) Judgments or orders for the payment of money in excess of $25,000,000 in the aggregate shall be rendered against and remain unpaid by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and enforcement proceedings shall have been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order and there shall be any period of 10 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect; or
(g) Any non-monetary judgment or order shall be rendered against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that is reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and enforcement proceedings shall have been commenced by any Person upon such judgment or order and there shall be any period of 10 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect; or
(h) (i) Any Person or two or more Persons acting in concert shall have acquired beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), directly or indirectly, of Voting Stock of the Borrower (or other securities convertible into such Voting Stock) representing 25% or more of the combined voting power of all Voting Stock of the Borrower; or (ii) during any period of up to 24 consecutive months, commencing before or after the date of this Agreement, individuals who at the beginning of such 24-month period were directors of the Borrower shall cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the board of directors of the Borrower (except to the extent that individuals who at the beginning of such 24-month period were replaced by individuals (x) elected by 66-2/3% of the remaining members of the board of directors of the Borrower or (y) nominated for election by a majority of the remaining members of the board of directors of the Borrower and thereafter elected as directors by the shareholders of the Borrower) ; or (iii) any Person or two or more Persons acting in concert shall have acquired by contract or otherwise, or shall have entered into a contract or arrangement that, upon consummation, will result in its or their acquisition of the power to exercise, directly or indirectly, a controlling influence over the management or policies of the Borrower; or
(i) The Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates shall incur, or shall be reasonably likely to incur liability in excess of $25,000,000 in the aggregate as a result of one or more of the following: (i) the occurrence of any ERISA Event; (ii) the partial or complete withdrawal of the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates from a Multiemployer Plan; or (iii) the reorganization or termination of a Multiemployer Plan;
then, and in any such event, the Agent (i) shall at the request, or may with the consent, of the Required Lenders, by notice to the Borrower, declare the obligation of each Lender Party to make Advances (other than Letter of Credit Advances by an Issuing Bank or a Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(c)) and of any Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit to be terminated, whereupon the same shall forthwith terminate, and (ii) shall at the request, or may with the consent, of the Required Lenders, by notice to the Borrower, declare the Advances, all interest thereon and all other amounts payable under this Agreement to be forthwith due and payable, whereupon the Advances, all such interest and all such amounts shall become and be forthwith due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or further notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower; provided, however, that in the event of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Federal Bankruptcy Code, (A) the obligation of each Lender Party to make Advances (other than Letter of Credit Advances by any Issuing Bank or a Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(c)) and of the Issuing Banks to issue Letters of Credit shall automatically be terminated and (B) the Advances, all such interest and all such amounts shall automatically become and be due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or any notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower.
SECTION 6.02. Actions in Respect of the Letters of Credit upon Default. If any Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Agent may with the consent, or shall at the request, of the Required Lenders, irrespective of whether it is taking any of the actions described in Section 6.01 or otherwise, make demand upon the Borrower to, and forthwith upon such demand the Borrower will, (a) pay to the Agent on behalf of the Lender Parties in same day funds at the Agent's office designated in such demand, for deposit in the L/C Cash Collateral Account, an amount equal to the aggregate Available Amount of all Letters of Credit then outstanding or (b) make such other arrangements in respect of the outstanding Letters of Credit as shall be acceptable to the Required Lenders. If at any time the Agent determines that any funds held in the L/C Cash Collateral Account are subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Agent and the Lender Parties or that the total amount of such funds is less than the aggregate Available Amount of all Letters of Credit, the Borrower will, forthwith upon demand by the Agent, pay to the Agent, as additional funds to be deposited and held in the L/C Cash Collateral Account, an amount equal to the excess of (a) such aggregate Available Amount over (b) the total amount of funds, if any, then held in the L/C Cash Collateral Account that the Agent determines to be free and clear of any such right and claim. Upon the drawing of any Letter of Credit, to the extent funds are on deposit in the L/C Cash Collateral Account, such funds shall be applied to reimburse the Issuing Banks to the extent permitted by applicable law.
ARTICLE VII
THE AGENT
SECTION 7.01. Authorization and Action. Each Lender Party (in its capacities as a Lender and Issuing Bank (as applicable)) hereby appoints and authorizes the Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers and discretion under this Agreement as are delegated to the Agent by the terms hereof, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto. As to any matters not expressly provided for by this Agreement (including, without limitation, enforcement or collection of the Notes), the Agent shall not be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the instructions of the Required Lenders, and such instructions shall be binding upon all Lender Parties and all holders of Notes; provided, however, that the Agent shall not be required to take any action that exposes the Agent to personal liability or that is contrary to this Agreement or applicable law. The Agent agrees to give to each Lender Party prompt notice of each notice given to it by the Borrower pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
SECTION 7.02. Agent's Reliance, Etc. Neither the Agent nor any of its directors, officers, agents or employees shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it or them under or in connection with this Agreement, except for its or their own gross negligence or willful misconduct. Without limitation of the generality of the foregoing, the Agent: (i) may treat the Lender that made any Advance as the holder of the Debt resulting therefrom until the Agent receives and accepts an Assumption Agreement entered into by an Assuming Lender as provided in Section 2.19 or an Assignment and Acceptance entered into by such Lender, as assignor, and an Eligible Assignee, as assignee, as provided in Section 8.07; (ii) may consult with legal counsel (including counsel for the Borrower), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts; (iii) makes no warranty or representation to any Lender and shall not be responsible to any Lender for any statements, warranties or representations (whether written or oral) made in or in connection with this Agreement; (iv) shall not have any duty to ascertain or to inquire as to the performance, observance or satisfaction of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of this Agreement on the part of the Borrower or the existence at any time of any Default or to inspect the property (including the books and records) of the Borrower; (v) shall not be responsible to any Lender for the due execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; and (vi) shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement by acting upon any notice, consent, certificate or other instrument or writing (which may be by telecopier, telegram or telex) believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent by the proper party or parties.
SECTION 7.03. Citibank and Affiliates. With respect to its Commitment, the Advances made by it and the Note issued to it, Citibank shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any other Lender Party and may exercise the same as though it were not the Agent; and the term "Lender Party" or "Lender Parties" shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated, include Citibank in its individual capacity. Citibank and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as trustee under indentures of, accept investment banking engagements from and generally engage in any kind of business with, the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries and any Person who may do business with or own securities of the Borrower or any such Subsidiary, all as if Citibank were not the Agent and without any duty to account therefor to the Lender Parties. The Agent shall have no duty to disclose information obtained or received by it or any of its Affiliates relating to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries to the extent such information was obtained or received in any capacity other than as Agent.
SECTION 7.04. Lender Party Credit Decision. Each Lender Party acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Agent or any other Lender Party and based on the financial statements referred to in Section 4.01 and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender Party also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Agent or any other Lender Party and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement.
SECTION 7.05. Indemnification. (a) Each Lender Party (other than the Designated Bidders) severally agrees to indemnify the Agent (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower), ratably according to the respective principal amounts of the Revolving Credit Advances and Letter of Credit Advances owed to each of them (or if no Revolving Credit Advances and Letter of Credit Advances are at the time outstanding, ratably according to the respective amounts of their Commitments), from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever that may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against the Agent in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any action taken or omitted by the Agent under this Agreement (collectively, the "Indemnified Costs"); provided that no Lender Party shall be liable for any portion of the Indemnified Costs resulting from the Agent's gross negligence or willful misconduct. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender Party (other than the Designated Bidders) agrees to reimburse the Agent promptly upon demand for its ratable share of any out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable counsel fees) 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, to the extent that the Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by the Borrower. In the case of any investigation, litigation or proceeding giving rise to any Indemnified Costs, this Section 7.05 applies whether any such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by the Agent, any Lender Party or a third party.
(b) Each Lender Party (other than the Designated Bidders) severally agrees to indemnify the Issuing Banks (to the extent not promptly reimbursed by the Borrower) from and against such Lender Party's ratable share (determined as provided below) of any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever that may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against any such Issuing Bank in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any action taken or omitted by such Issuing Bank hereunder or in connection herewith; provided, however, that no Lender Party shall be liable for any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting from such Issuing Bank's gross negligence or willful misconduct as found in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender Party agrees to reimburse any such Issuing Bank promptly upon demand for its ratable share of any costs and expenses (including, without limitation, fees and expenses of counsel) payable by the Borrower under Section 8.04, to the extent that such Issuing Bank is not promptly reimbursed for such costs and expenses by the Borrower.
(c) For purposes of this Section 7.05, the Lender Parties' respective ratable shares of any amount shall be determined, at any time, according to the sum of (i) the aggregate principal amount of the Advances (other than Competitive Bid Advances) outstanding at such time and owing to the respective Lender Parties, (ii) their respective Pro Rata Shares of the aggregate Available Amount of all Letters of Credit outstanding at such time and (iii) their respective Unused Commitments at such time; provided that the aggregate principal amount of Letter of Credit Advances owing to the Issuing Banks shall be considered to be owed to the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Revolving Commitments. The failure of any Lender Party to reimburse the Agent or any such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, promptly upon demand for its ratable share of any amount required to be paid by the Lender Parties to such Agent or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, as provided herein shall not relieve any other Lender Party of its obligation hereunder to reimburse such Agent or Issuing Bank, as the case may be, for its ratable share of such amount, but no Lender Party shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender Party to reimburse the Agent or any such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, for such other Lender Party's ratable share of such amount. Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of any Lender Party hereunder, the agreement and obligations of each Lender Party contained in this Section 7.05 shall survive the payment in full of principal, interest and all other amounts payable hereunder and under the Notes.
SECTION 7.06. Successor Agent. The Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Lender Parties and the Borrower and may be removed at any time with or without cause by the Required Lenders. Upon any such resignation or removal, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Agent with, so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing, the consent of the Borrower, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. If no successor Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders, and shall have accepted such appointment, within 30 days after the retiring Agent's giving of notice of resignation or the Required Lenders' removal of the retiring Agent, then the retiring Agent may, on behalf of the Lender Parties, appoint a successor Agent, which shall be a commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or of any State thereof and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $500,000,000. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Agent hereunder by a successor Agent, such successor 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 this Agreement. After any retiring Agent's resignation or removal hereunder as Agent, the provisions of this Article VII shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Agent under this Agreement.
SECTION 7.07. Other Agents. Each Lender Party hereby acknowledges that neither the documentation agent nor any other Lender designated as any "Agent" on the signature pages hereof (other than the Agent) has any liability hereunder other than in its capacity as a Lender.
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 8.01. Amendments, Etc. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or the Revolving Credit Notes, nor consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Required Lenders, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by all the Lenders (other than the Designated Bidders), do any of the following: (a) waive any of the conditions specified in Section 3.01, (b) increase the Commitments of the Lenders, (c) reduce the principal of, or interest on, the Revolving Credit Advances or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder, (d) postpone any date fixed for any payment of principal of, or interest on, the Revolving Credit Advances or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder, (e) change the percentage of the Commitments, the aggregate Available Amount of outstanding Letters of Credit or of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Revolving Credit Advances, or the number of Lender Parties, that shall be required for the Lenders or any of them to take any action hereunder or (f) amend this Section 8.01; 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 to take such action, affect the rights or duties of the Agent under this Agreement or any Note; and provided further that no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Issuing Banks in addition to the Lenders required above to take such action, affect the rights or obligation of the Issuing Banks under this Agreement.
SECTION 8.02. Notices, Etc. All notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing (including telecopier, telegraphic or telex communication) and mailed, telecopied, telegraphed, telexed or delivered, if to the Borrower, at its address at 0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000, Attention: Vice President - Finance; if to any Initial Lender Party, at its Domestic Lending Office specified opposite its name on Schedule I hereto; if to any other Lender Party, at its Domestic Lending Office specified in the Assumption Agreement or the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender Party; and if to the Agent, at its address at Xxx Xxxxx Xxx, Xxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, Attention: Bank Loan Syndications Department; or, as to the Borrower or the Agent, at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to the other parties and, as to each other party, at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to the Borrower and the Agent. All such notices and communications shall, when mailed, telecopied, telegraphed or telexed, be effective when deposited in the mails, telecopied, delivered to the telegraph company or confirmed by telex answerback, respectively, except that notices and communications to the Agent pursuant to Article II, III or VII shall not be effective until received by the Agent. Delivery by telecopier of an executed counterpart of any amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or the Notes or of any Exhibit hereto to be executed and delivered hereunder shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart thereof.
SECTION 8.03. No Waiver; Remedies. No failure on the part of any Lender Party or the Agent to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right hereunder or under any Note shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right. The remedies herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.
SECTION 8.04. Costs and Expenses. (a) The Borrower agrees to pay on demand all costs and expenses of the Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification and amendment of this Agreement, the Notes and the other documents to be delivered hereunder, including, without limitation, (A) all due diligence, syndication (including printing, distribution and bank meetings), transportation, computer, duplication, appraisal, consultant, and audit expenses and (B) 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 this Agreement. The Borrower further agrees to pay on demand all costs and expenses of the Agent and the Lender Parties, if any (including, without limitation, reasonable counsel fees and expenses), in connection with the enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of this Agreement, the Notes and the other documents to be delivered hereunder, including, without limitation, reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Agent and each Lender Party in connection with the enforcement of rights under this Section 8.04(a).
(b) The Borrower agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Agent and each Lender and each of their Affiliates and their officers, directors, employees, agents and advisors (each, an "Indemnified Party") from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) incurred by or asserted or awarded against any Indemnified Party, in 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 a defense in connection therewith) the Notes, this Agreement, any of the transactions contemplated herein or the actual or proposed use of the proceeds of the Advances, except to the extent such claim, damage, loss, liability 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 8.04(b) applies, such indemnity shall be effective whether or not such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by the Borrower, its directors, equityholders or creditors or an Indemnified Party or any other Person, whether or not any Indemnified Party is otherwise a party thereto and whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated. The Borrower also agrees not to assert any claim for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages against the Agent, any Lender Party, any of their Affiliates, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, attorneys and agents, on any theory of liability, arising out of or otherwise relating to the Notes, this Agreement, any of the transactions contemplated herein or the actual or proposed use of the proceeds of the Advances.
(c) If any payment of principal of, or Conversion of, any Eurocurrency Rate Advance, LIBO Rate Advance or Local Rate Advance is made by the Borrower to or for the account of a Lender (i) other than on the last day of the Interest Period for such Advance, as a result of a payment or Conversion pursuant to Section 2.09, 2.11 or 2.13, acceleration of the maturity of the Notes pursuant to Section 6.01 or for any other reason, or by an Eligible Assignee to a Lender Party other than on the last day of the Interest Period for such Advance upon an assignment of rights and obligations under this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.07 as a result of a demand by the Borrower pursuant to Section 8.07(a) or (ii) as a result of a payment or Conversion pursuant to Section 2.09, 2.11 or 2.13, the Borrower shall, upon demand by such Lender Party (with a copy of such demand to the Agent), pay to the Agent for the account of such Lender Party any amounts required to compensate such Lender Party for any additional losses, costs or expenses that it may reasonably incur as a result of such payment or Conversion, including, without limitation, any loss (including loss of anticipated profits), cost or expense incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by any Lender Party to fund or maintain such Advance. If the amount of the Committed Currency purchased by any Lender Party in the case of a Conversion or redenomination of Advances in the case of Section 2.09 or 2.13 exceeds the sum required to satisfy such Lender Party's liability in respect of such Advances, such Lender agrees to remit to the Company such excess.
(d) Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of the Borrower hereunder, the agreements and obligations of the Borrower contained in Sections 2.12, 2.15 and 8.04 shall survive the payment in full of principal, interest and all other amounts payable hereunder and under the Notes.
SECTION 8.05. Right of Set-off. Upon (i) the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default and (ii) the making of the request or the granting of the consent specified by Section 6.01 to authorize the Agent to declare the Notes due and payable pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.01, each Lender Party 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 Party or such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement and the Note held by such Lender Party, whether or not such Lender Party shall have made any demand under this Agreement or such Note and although such obligations may be unmatured. Each Lender Party agrees promptly to notify the Borrower after any such set-off and application; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application. The rights of each Lender Party and its Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including, without limitation, other rights of set-off) that such Lender Party and its Affiliates may have.
SECTION 8.06. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall become effective (other than Sections 2.01 and 2.03, which shall only become effective upon satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 3.01) when it shall have been executed by the Borrower and the Agent and when the Agent shall have been notified by each Initial Lender that such Initial Lender has executed it and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrower, the Agent and each Lender and their respective successors and assigns, except that the Borrower shall not have the right to assign its rights hereunder or any interest herein without the prior written consent of the Lenders.
SECTION 8.07. Assignments, Designations and Participations. (a) Each Lender (other than the Designated Bidders) may and, if demanded by the Borrower (if payments are owed to such Lender pursuant to Section 2.12 or 2.15 or following notice by such Lender pursuant to Section 2.13) upon at least five Business Days' notice to such Lender Party and the Agent, will assign to one or more Persons all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation, all or a portion of its Commitment, the Revolving Credit Advances owing to it and the Revolving Credit Note or Notes held by it); provided, however, that (i) each such assignment shall be of a constant, and not a varying, percentage of all rights and obligations under this Agreement (other than any right to make Competitive Bid Advances, Competitive Bid Advances owing to it and Competitive Bid Notes), (ii) except in the case of an assignment to a Person that, immediately prior to such assignment, was a Lender Party or an assignment of all of a Lender Party's rights and obligations under this Agreement, the amount of the Commitment of the assigning Lender Party being assigned pursuant to each such assignment (determined as of the date of the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment) shall in no event be less than $10,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof unless the Borrower and the Agent otherwise agree, (iii) each such assignment shall be to an Eligible Assignee, (iv) each such assignment made as a result of a demand by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 8.07(a) shall be arranged by the Borrower after consultation with the Agent and shall be either an assignment of all of the rights and obligations of the assigning Lender Party under this Agreement or an assignment of a portion of such rights and obligations made concurrently with another such assignment or other such assignments that together cover all of the rights and obligations of the assigning Lender Party under this Agreement, (v) no Lender Party shall be obligated to make any such assignment as a result of a demand by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 8.07(a) unless and until such Lender Party shall have received one or more payments from either the Borrower or one or more Eligible Assignees in an aggregate amount at least equal to the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Advances owing to such Lender Party, together with accrued interest thereon to the date of payment of such principal amount and all other amounts payable to such Lender Party under this Agreement, and (vi) the parties to each such assignment shall execute and deliver to the Agent, for its acceptance and recording in the Register, an Assignment and Acceptance, together with any Revolving Credit Note subject to such assignment and a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 payable by the parties to each such assignment; provided, however, that in the case of each assignment made as a result of a demand by the Borrower, such recordation fee shall be payable by the Borrower except that no such recordation fee shall be payable in the case of an assignment made at the request of the Borrower to an Eligible Assignee that is an existing Lender Party, and (vii) any Lender Party may, without the approval of the Borrower and the Agent, assign all or a portion of its rights to any of its Affiliates. Upon such execution, delivery, acceptance and recording, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance, (x) the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned to it pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender Party hereunder and (y) the Lender Party assignor thereunder shall, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned by it pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance, relinquish its rights (other than its rights under Section 2.12, 2.15 and 8.04 to the extent any claim thereunder relates to an event arising prior such assignment) and be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all or the remaining portion of an assigning Lender Party's rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender Party shall cease to be a party hereto).
(b) By executing and delivering an Assignment and Acceptance, the Lender Party assignor thereunder and the assignee thereunder confirm to and agree with each other and the other parties hereto as follows: (i) other than as provided in such Assignment and Acceptance, such assigning Lender Party makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with this Agreement or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; (ii) such assigning Lender Party makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to the financial condition of the Borrower or the performance or observance by the Borrower of any of its obligations under this Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; (iii) such assignee confirms that it has received a copy of this Agreement, together with copies of the financial statements referred to in Section 4.01 and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance; (iv) such assignee will, independently and without reliance upon the Agent, such assigning Lender Party or any other Lender Party and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement; (v) such assignee confirms that it is an Eligible Assignee; (vi) such assignee appoints and authorizes the Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers and discretion under this Agreement as are delegated to the Agent by the terms hereof, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto; and (vii) such assignee agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations that by the terms of this Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender Party or as an Issuing Bank, as the case may be.
(c) Upon its receipt of an Assignment and Acceptance executed by an assigning Lender Party and an assignee representing that it is an Eligible Assignee, together with any Revolving Credit Note or Notes subject to such assignment, the Agent shall, if such Assignment and Acceptance has been completed and is in substantially the form of Exhibit C hereto, (i) accept such Assignment and Acceptance, (ii) record the information contained therein in the Register and (iii) give prompt notice thereof to the Borrower.
(d) Each Lender Party (other than the Designated Bidders) may designate one or more banks or other entities to have a right to make Competitive Bid Advances as a Lender pursuant to Section 2.03; provided, however, that (i) no such Lender shall be entitled to make more than two such designations, (ii) each such Lender Party making one or more of such designations shall retain the right to make Competitive Bid Advances as a Lender Party pursuant to Section 2.03, (iii) each such designation shall be to a Designated Bidder and (iv) the parties to each such designation shall execute and deliver to the Agent, for its acceptance and recording in the Register, a Designation Agreement. Upon such execution, delivery, acceptance and recording, from and after the effective date specified in each Designation Agreement, the designee thereunder shall be a party hereto with a right to make Competitive Bid Advances as a Lender pursuant to Section 2.03 and the obligations related thereto.
(e) By executing and delivering a Designation Agreement, the Lender Party making the designation thereunder and its designee thereunder confirm and agree with each other and the other parties hereto as follows: (i) such Lender Party makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with this Agreement or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; (ii) such Lender Party makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to the financial condition of the Borrower or the performance or observance by the Borrower of any of its obligations under this Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; (iii) such designee confirms that it has received a copy of this Agreement, together with copies of the financial statements referred to in Section 4.01 and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into such Designation Agreement; (iv) such designee will, independently and without reliance upon the Agent, such designating Lender Party or any other Lender Party and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement; (v) such designee confirms that it is a Designated Bidder; (vi) such designee appoints and authorizes the Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers and discretion under this Agreement as are delegated to the Agent by the terms hereof, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto; and (vii) such designee agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of this Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender Party.
(f) Upon its receipt of a Designation Agreement executed by a designating Lender Party and a designee representing that it is a Designated Bidder, the Agent shall, if such Designation Agreement has been completed and is substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto, (i) accept such Designation Agreement, (ii) record the information contained therein in the Register and (iii) give prompt notice thereof to the Borrower.
(g) The Agent shall maintain at its address referred to in Section 8.02 a copy of each Assumption Agreement and each Assignment and Acceptance and each Designation Agreement delivered to and accepted by it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lender Parties and, with respect to Lender Parties other than Designated Bidders, the Commitment of, and principal amount of the Advances owing to, each Lender Party from time to time (the "Register"). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Agent and the Lender Parties may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register as a Lender Party hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower or any Lender Party at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
(h) Each Lender Party may sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (other than the Borrower or any of its Affiliates) in or to all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation, all or a portion of its Commitment, the Advances owing to it and any Note or Notes held by it); provided, however, that (i) such Lender Party's obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation, its Commitment to the Borrower hereunder) shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender Party shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations, (iii) such Lender Party shall remain the holder of any such Note for all purposes of this Agreement, (iv) the Borrower, the Agent and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender Party in connection with such Lender Party's rights and obligations under this Agreement and (v) no participant under any such participation shall have any right to approve any amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any Note, or any consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom, except to the extent that such amendment, waiver or consent would reduce the principal of, or interest on, the Notes or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder, in each case to the extent subject to such participation, or postpone any date fixed for any payment of principal of, or interest on, the Notes or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder, in each case to the extent subject to such participation.
(i) Any Lender Party may, in connection with any assignment, designation or participation or proposed assignment, designation or participation pursuant to this Section 8.07, disclose to the assignee, designee or participant or proposed assignee, designee or participant, any information relating to the Borrower furnished to such Lender Party by or on behalf of the Borrower; provided that, prior to any such disclosure, the assignee, designee or participant or proposed assignee, designee or participant shall agree to preserve the confidentiality of any Confidential Information relating to the Borrower received by it from such Lender Party.
(j) The Issuing Bank may assign to an Eligible Assignee its rights and obligations or any portion of the undrawn Letter of Credit Commitment at any time; provided, however, that (i) the amount of the Letter of Credit Commitment of the assigning Issuing Bank being assigned pursuant to each such assignment (determined as of the date of the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment) shall in no event be less than $1,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, and (ii) the parties to each such assignment shall execute and deliver to the Agent, for its acceptance and recording in the Register, an Assignment and Acceptance, together with a processing and recordation fee of $[3,500].
(k) Notwithstanding any other provision set forth in this Agreement, any Lender Party may at any time create a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including, without limitation, the Advances owing to it and any Note or Notes held by it) in favor of any Federal Reserve Bank in accordance with Regulation A of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
SECTION 8.08. Confidentiality. Neither the Agent nor any Lender Party shall disclose any Confidential Information to any other Person without the consent of the Borrower, other than (a) to the Agent's or such Lender's Affiliates and their officers, directors, employees, agents and advisors and, as contemplated by Section 8.07(i), to actual or prospective assignees and participants, and then only on a confidential basis, (b) as required by any law, rule or regulation or judicial process, (c) to any rating agency when required by it, provided that, prior to any such disclosure, such rating agency shall undertake to preserve the confidentiality of any Confidential Information relating to the Borrower received by it from such Lender Party and (d) as requested or required by any state, federal or foreign authority or examiner regulating banks or banking.
SECTION 8.09. Governing Law. This Agreement and the Notes shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
SECTION 8.10. Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by telecopier shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
SECTION 8.11. Judgment. (a) If for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert a sum due hereunder in Dollars into another currency, the parties hereto agree, to the fullest extent that they may effectively do so, that the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Agent could purchase Dollars with such other currency at Citibank's principal office in London at 11:00 A.M. (London time) on the Business Day preceding that on which final judgment is given.
(b) If for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert a sum due hereunder in a Foreign Currency into Dollars, the parties agree to the fullest extent that they may effectively do so, that the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Agent could purchase such Foreign Currency with Dollars at Citibank's principal office in London at 11:00 A.M. (London time) on the Business Day preceding that on which final judgment is given.
(c) The obligation of the Borrower in respect of any sum due from it in any currency (the "Primary Currency") to any Lender Party or the Agent hereunder shall, notwithstanding any judgment in any other currency, be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by such Lender Party or the Agent (as the case may be), of any sum adjudged to be so due in such other currency, such Lender Party or the Agent (as the case may be) may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase the applicable Primary Currency with such other currency; if the amount of the applicable Primary Currency so purchased is less than such sum due to such Lender Party or the Agent (as the case may be) in the applicable Primary Currency, the Borrower agrees, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify such Lender Party or the Agent (as the case may be) against such loss, and if the amount of the applicable Primary Currency so purchased exceeds such sum due to any Lender Party or the Agent (as the case may be) in the applicable Primary Currency, such Lender Party or the Agent (as the case may be) agrees to remit to the Borrower such excess.
SECTION 8.12. Jurisdiction, Etc. (a) Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any New York State court or federal court of the United States of America sitting in New York City, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Notes, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in any such New York State court or, to the extent permitted by law, in such federal court. The Borrower hereby further irrevocably consents to the service of process in any action or proceeding in such courts by the mailing thereof by any parties hereto by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to the Borrower at its address specified pursuant to Section 8.02. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that any party may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the Notes in the courts of any jurisdiction.
(b) Each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Notes in any New York State or federal court. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.
SECTION 8.13. Substitution of Currency. If a change in any Foreign Currency occurs pursuant to any applicable law, rule or regulation of any governmental, monetary or multi-national authority, this Agreement (including, without limitation, the definitions of Eurocurrency Rate and LIBO Rate) will be amended to the extent determined by the Agent (acting reasonably and in consultation with the Borrower) to be necessary to reflect the change in currency and to put the Lender Parties and the Borrower in the same position, so far as possible, that they would have been in if no change in such Foreign Currency had occurred.
SECTION 8.14. No Liability of the Issuing Banks. The Borrower assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee of any Letter of Credit with respect to its use of such Letter of Credit. Neither an Issuing Bank nor any of its officers or directors shall be liable or responsible for: (a) the use that may be made of any Letter of Credit or any acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee in connection therewith; (b) the validity, sufficiency or genuineness of documents, or of any endorsement thereon, even if such documents should prove to be in any or all respects invalid, insufficient, fraudulent or forged; (c) payment by such Issuing Bank against presentation of documents that do not comply with the terms of a Letter of Credit, including failure of any documents to bear any reference or adequate reference to the Letter of Credit; or (d) any other circumstances whatsoever in making or failing to make payment under any Letter of Credit, except that the Borrower shall have a claim against such Issuing Bank, and such Issuing Bank shall be liable to the Borrower, to the extent of any direct, but not consequential, damages suffered by the Borrower that the Borrower proves were caused by (i) such Issuing Bank's willful misconduct or gross negligence as determined in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction in determining whether documents presented under any Letter of Credit comply with the terms of the Letter of Credit or (ii) such Issuing Bank's willful failure to make lawful payment under a Letter of Credit after the presentation to it of a draft and certificates strictly complying with the terms and conditions of the Letter of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, such Issuing Bank may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary.
SECTION 8.15. Waiver of Jury Trial. Each of the Borrower, the Agent and the Lender Parties hereby irrevocably waives all right to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim (whether based on contract, tort or otherwise) arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Notes or the actions of the Agent or any Lender Party in the negotiation, administration, performance or enforcement thereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the date first above written.
MANPOWER INC. |
||
By /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx |
||
CITIBANK, N.A., |
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By /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx |
||
Revolving Commitment |
Administrative Agent |
|
$48,000,000 |
CITIBANK, N.A. |
|
By /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx |
||
Co-Syndication Agents |
||
$45,000,000 |
BNP PARIBAS |
|
By /s/ Jo Xxxxx Xxxxxx |
||
By /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx |
||
$45,000,000 |
FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK |
|
By /s/ [signature] |
||
Managing Agents |
||
$30,000,000 |
ABN AMRO BANK N.V. |
|
By /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxx |
||
By /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx |
||
$30,000,000 |
BANK ONE N.A. |
|
By /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx |
||
$30,000,000 |
CREDIT LYONNAIS |
|
By /s/ [signature] |
||
$30,000,000 |
DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH |
|
By /s/ Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx |
||
By /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx |
||
$30,000,000 |
FLEET NATIONAL BANK |
|
By /s/ [signature] |
||
$30,000,000 |
THE DAI ICHI KANGYO BANK, LTD. |
|
By /s/ [signature] |
||
$30,000,000 |
THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC |
|
By /s/ [signature] |
||
Lenders |
||
$18,000,000 |
BANCA NAZIONALE DEL LAVORO S.p.A. |
|
By /s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx |
||
By /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxx |
||
$18,000,000 |
BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI, LTD. |
|
By /s/ Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx |
||
$18,000,000 |
FIRSTAR BANK, N.A. |
|
By /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx |
||
$18,000,000 |
M&I XXXXXXXX AND XXXXXX BANK |
|
By /s/ [signature] |
||
$18,000,000 |
XXXXX FARGO BANK |
|
By /s/ [signature] |
||
By /s/ [signature] |
||
$12,000,000 |
UNICREDITO ITALIANO |
|
By /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx |
||
By /s/ [signature] |
||
$450,000,000 Total of the Commitments |
||
Letter of Credit Commitment |
CREDIT LYONNAIS, CHICAGO BRANCH |
|
By /s/ [signature] |
SCHEDULE I
MANPOWER INC.
364-DAY CREDIT AGREEMENT
APPLICABLE LENDING OFFICES
SCHEDULE I
APPLICABLE LENDING OFFICES
Name of Initial Lender |
Commitment |
Domestic Lending Office |
Eurodollar Lending Office |
ABN AMRO BANK N.V. |
$30,000,000 |
000 Xxxxx XxXxxxx Xxxxxx, |
000 Xxxxx XxXxxxx Xxxxxx |
Banca Nazionale del Lavoro S.p.A. |
$18,000,000 |
Banca Nazionale del Lavoro |
Banca Nazionale del Lavoro |
Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, LTD., Chicago Branch |
$18,000,000 |
000 X. Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, |
000 X. Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, |
Bank One N.A. |
$30,000,000 |
0 Xxxx Xxx Xxxxx |
0 Xxxx Xxx Xxxxx |
BNP Paribas |
$45,000,000 |
000 X. XxXxxxx, Xxxxx 000 |
000 X. XxXxxxx, Xxxxx 000 |
Citibank, N.A. |
$48,000,000 |
||
Credit Lyonnais |
$30,000,000 |
000 X. Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, |
000 X. Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, |
The Dai Ichi Kangyo Bank, Ltd. |
$30,000,000 |
00 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx |
00 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx |
Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch |
$30,000,000 |
00 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx |
00 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx |
Firstar Bank, N.A. |
$18,000,000 |
000 X. Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx |
000 X. Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx |
Fleet National Bank |
$30,000,000 |
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx MADE |
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx XXXX |
M&I Xxxxxxxx and Ilsley Bank |
$18,000,000 |
000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx |
000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx |
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc |
$30,000,000 |
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx |
00 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx |
UniCredito Italiano |
$12,000,000 |
UniCredito Italiano New York |
UniCredito Italiano |
First Union National Bank |
$45,000,000 |
Wachovia Securities |
Wachovia Securities |
Xxxxx Fargo Bank |
$18,000,000 |
Commercial Banking Loan |
Commercial Banking Loan |
EXHIBIT A-1 - FORM OF
REVOLVING CREDIT
PROMISSORY NOTE
U.S.$ |
Dated: , 200 |
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, MANPOWER INC., a Wisconsin corporation (the "Borrower"), HEREBY PROMISES TO PAY to the order of (the "Lender") for the account of its Applicable Lending Office on the Termination Date (each as defined in the Credit Agreement referred to below) the principal sum of U.S.$[amount of the Lender's Commitment in figures] or, if less, the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Credit Advances made by the Lender to the Borrower pursuant to the Five Year Credit Agreement dated as of November , 2001 among the Borrower, the Lender and certain other lenders parties thereto, and Citibank, N.A. as Agent for the Lender and such other lenders (as amended or modified from time to time, the "Credit Agreement"; the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined) outstanding on the Termination Date.
The Borrower promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Credit Advance from the date of such Revolving Credit Advance until such principal amount is paid in full, at such interest rates, and payable at such times, as are specified in the Credit Agreement.
Both principal and interest in respect of each Revolving Credit Advance (i) in Dollars are payable in lawful money of the United States of America to the Agent at its account maintained at 000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, in same day funds and (ii) in any Committed Currency are payable in such currency at the applicable Payment Office in same day funds. Each Revolving Credit Advance owing to the Lender by the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement, and all payments made on account of principal thereof, shall be recorded by the Lender and, prior to any transfer hereof, endorsed on the grid attached hereto which is part of this Promissory Note.
This Promissory Note is one of the Revolving Credit Notes referred to in, and is entitled to the benefits of, the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement, among other things, (i) provides for the making of Revolving Credit Advances by the Lender to the Borrower from time to time in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the Dollar amount first above mentioned, the indebtedness of the Borrower resulting from each such Revolving Credit Advance being evidenced by this Promissory Note, (ii) contains provisions for determining the Dollar Equivalent of Revolving Credit Advances denominated in Committed Currencies and (iii) contains provisions for acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the happening of certain stated events and also for prepayments on account of principal hereof prior to the maturity hereof upon the terms and conditions therein specified.
MANPOWER INC. |
|
By |
ADVANCES AND PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL
|
|
Amount of |
|
|
EXHIBIT A-2 - FORM OF
COMPETITIVE BID
PROMISSORY NOTE
U.S.$ |
Dated: , 200 |
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, MANPOWER INC., a Wisconsin corporation (the "Borrower"), HEREBY PROMISES TO PAY to the order of (the "Lender") for the account of its Applicable Lending Office (as defined in the Five Year Credit Agreement dated as of November , 2001, among the Borrower, the Lender and certain other lenders parties thereto, and Citibank, N.A., as Agent for the Lender and such other lenders (as amended or modified from time to time, the "Credit Agreement"; the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined)), on , 200 , the principal amount of [U.S.$ ] [for a Competitive Bid Advance in a Foreign Currency, list currency and amount of such Advance].
The Borrower promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount hereof from the date hereof until such principal amount is paid in full, at the interest rate and payable on the interest payment date or dates provided below:
Interest Rate: % per annum (calculated on the basis of a year of days for the actual number of days elapsed). |
Both principal and interest are payable in lawful money of to Citibank, as agent, for the account of the Lender at the office of Citibank, at in same day funds.
This Promissory Note is one of the Competitive Bid Notes referred to in, and is entitled to the benefits of, the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement, among other things, contains provisions for acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the happening of certain stated events.
The Borrower hereby waives presentment, demand, protest and notice of any kind. No failure to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any rights hereunder on the part of the holder hereof shall operate as a waiver of such rights.
This Promissory Note shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
MANPOWER INC. |
|
By |
EXHIBIT B-1 - FORM OF NOTICE OF
REVOLVING CREDIT BORROWING
Citibank, N.A., as Agent
for the Lender Parties party
to the Credit Agreement
referred to below
Xxx Xxxxx Xxx
Xxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
[Date]
Attention: Bank Loan Syndications Department
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned, Manpower Inc., refers to the Five Year Credit Agreement, dated as of November , 2001 (as amended or modified from time to time, the "Credit Agreement", the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among the undersigned, certain Lender Parties thereto and Citibank, N.A., as Agent for said Lenders, and hereby gives you notice, irrevocably, pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Credit Agreement that the undersigned hereby requests a Revolving Credit Borrowing under the Credit Agreement, and in that connection sets forth below the information relating to such Revolving Credit Borrowing (the "Proposed Revolving Credit Borrowing") as required by Section 2.02(a) of the Credit Agreement:
(i) The Business Day of the Proposed Revolving Credit Borrowing is , 200 .
(ii) The Type of Advances comprising the Proposed Revolving Credit Borrowing is [Base Rate Advances] [Eurocurrency Rate Advances].
(iii) The aggregate amount of the Proposed Revolving Credit Borrowing is [$ ][for a Revolving Credit Borrowing in a Committed Currency, list currency and amount of Revolving Credit Borrowing].
[(iv) The initial Interest Period for each Eurocurrency Rate Advance made as part of the Proposed Revolving Credit Borrowing is month[s].]
The undersigned hereby certifies that the following statements are true on the date hereof, and will be true on the date of the Proposed Revolving Credit Borrowing:
(A) the representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01 of the Credit Agreement (except the representations set forth in the last sentence of subsection (e) thereof and in subsection (f)(i) thereof) are correct, before and after giving effect to the Proposed Revolving Credit Borrowing and to the application of the proceeds therefrom, as though made on and as of such date; and
(B) no event has occurred and is continuing, or would result from such Proposed Revolving Credit Borrowing or from the application of the proceeds therefrom, that constitutes a Default.
Very truly yours, |
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MANPOWER INC. |
|
By |
EXHIBIT B-2 - FORM OF NOTICE OF
COMPETITIVE BID BORROWING
Citibank, N.A., as Agent
for the Lender Parties party
to the Credit Agreement
referred to below
Xxx Xxxxx Xxx
Xxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
[Date]
Attention: Bank Loan Syndications Department
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned, Manpower Inc., refers to the Five Year Credit Agreement, dated as of November , 2001 (as amended or modified from time to time, the "Credit Agreement", the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among the undersigned, certain Lenders parties thereto and Citibank, N.A., as Agent for said Lenders, and hereby gives you notice, irrevocably, pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Credit Agreement that the undersigned hereby requests a Competitive Bid Borrowing under the Credit Agreement, and in that connection sets forth the terms on which such Competitive Bid Borrowing (the "Proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing") is requested to be made:
(A) |
Date of Competitive Bid Borrowing |
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|
(B) |
Amount of Competitive Bid Borrowing |
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|
(C) |
[Maturity Date] [Interest Period] |
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|
(D) |
Interest Rate Basis |
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(E) |
Day Count Convention |
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(F) |
Interest Payment Date(s) |
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|
(G) |
Currency |
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(H) |
Borrower's Account Location |
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(I) |
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The undersigned hereby certifies that the following statements are true on the date hereof, and will be true on the date of the Proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing:
(a) the representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01 of the Credit Agreement (except the representations set forth in the last sentence of subsection (e) thereof and in subsection (f)(i) thereof) are correct, before and after giving effect to the Proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing and to the application of the proceeds therefrom, as though made on and as of such date;
(b) no event has occurred and is continuing, or would result from the Proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing or from the application of the proceeds therefrom, that constitutes a Default;
(c) no event has occurred and no circumstance exists as a result of which the information concerning the undersigned that has been provided to the Agent and each Lender by the undersigned in connection with the Credit Agreement would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact or any fact necessary to make the statements contained therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and
(d) the aggregate amount of the Proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing and all other Borrowings to be made on the same day under the Credit Agreement is within the aggregate amount of the unused Commitments of the Lenders.
The undersigned hereby confirms that the Proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing is to be made available to it in accordance with Section 2.03(a)(v) of the Credit Agreement.
Very truly yours, |
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MANPOWER INC. |
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By |
EXHIBIT C - FORM OF
ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE
Reference is made to the Five Year Credit Agreement dated as of November , 2001 (as amended or modified from time to time, the "Credit Agreement") among Manpower Inc., a Wisconsin corporation (the "Borrower"), the Lender Parties (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and Citibank, N.A., as agent for the Lender Parties (the "Agent"). Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein with the same meaning.
The "Assignor" and the "Assignee" referred to on Schedule I hereto agree as follows:
1. The Assignor hereby sells and assigns to the Assignee, and the Assignee hereby purchases and assumes from the Assignor, an interest in and to the Assignor's rights and obligations under the Credit Agreement as of the date hereof (other than in respect of Competitive Bid Advances and Competitive Bid Notes) equal to the percentage interest specified on Schedule 1 hereto of all outstanding rights and obligations under the Credit Agreement (other than in respect of Competitive Bid Advances and Competitive Bid Notes) together with participations in Letters of Credit and Letter of Credit Advances held by the Assignor on the date hereof. After giving effect to such sale and assignment, the Assignee's Commitment and the amount of the Revolving Credit Advances and Letter of Credit Advances owing to the Assignee will be as set forth on Schedule 1 hereto.
2. The Assignor (i) represents and warrants that it is the legal and beneficial owner of the interest being assigned by it hereunder and that such interest is free and clear of any adverse claim; (ii) makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Credit Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto; (iii) makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to the financial condition of the Borrower or the performance or observance by the Borrower of any of its obligations under the Credit Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto; and (iv) attaches the Revolving Credit Note[, if any] held by the Assignor [and requests that the Agent exchange such Revolving Credit Note for a new Revolving Credit Note payable to the order of [the Assignee in an amount equal to the Commitment assumed by the Assignee pursuant hereto or new Revolving Credit Notes payable to the order of the Assignee in an amount equal to the Commitment assumed by the Assignee pursuant hereto and] the Assignor in an amount equal to the Commitment retained by the Assignor under the Credit Agreement, [respectively,] as specified on Schedule 1 hereto.
3. The Assignee (i) confirms that it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the financial statements referred to in Section 4.01 thereof and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Acceptance; (ii) agrees that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender Party and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Credit Agreement; (iii) confirms that it is an Eligible Assignee; (iv) appoints and authorizes the Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers and discretion under the Credit Agreement as are delegated to the Agent by the terms thereof, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto; (v) agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations that by the terms of the Credit Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender Party; and (vi) attaches any U.S. Internal Revenue Service forms required under Section 2.15 of the Credit Agreement.
4. Following the execution of this Assignment and Acceptance, it will be delivered to the Agent for acceptance and recording by the Agent. The effective date for this Assignment and Acceptance (the "Effective Date") shall be the date of acceptance hereof by the Agent, unless otherwise specified on Schedule 1 hereto.
5. Upon such acceptance and recording by the Agent, as of the Effective Date, (i) the Assignee shall be a party to the Credit Agreement and, to the extent provided in this Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender Party thereunder and (ii) the Assignor shall, to the extent provided in this Assignment and Acceptance, relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations under the Credit Agreement.
6. Upon such acceptance and recording by the Agent, from and after the Effective Date, the Agent shall make all payments under the Credit Agreement and the Revolving Credit Notes in respect of the interest assigned hereby (including, without limitation, all payments of principal, interest and facility fees with respect thereto) to the Assignee. The Assignor and Assignee shall make all appropriate adjustments in payments under the Credit Agreement and the Revolving Credit Notes for periods prior to the Effective Date directly between themselves.
7. This Assignment and Acceptance shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
8. This Assignment and Acceptance may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of Schedule 1 to this Assignment and Acceptance by telecopier shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Acceptance.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Assignor and the Assignee have caused Schedule 1 to this Assignment and Acceptance to be executed by their officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date specified thereon.
Schedule 1
to
Assignment and Acceptance
Percentage interest assigned: |
% |
|
Assignee's Commitment: |
$ |
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Aggregate outstanding principal amount of Revolving Credit Advances assigned: |
$ |
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Principal amount of Revolving Credit Note payable to Assignee: |
$ |
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Principal amount of Revolving Credit Note payable to Assignor: |
$ |
|
Effective Date*: , 200 |
[NAME OF ASSIGNOR], as Assignor |
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By |
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Dated: , 200 |
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[NAME OF ASSIGNEE], as Assignee |
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By |
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Dated: , 200 |
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Domestic Lending Office: |
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Eurocurrency Lending Office: |
* |
This date should be no earlier than five Business Days after the delivery of this Assignment and Acceptance to the Agent. |
Accepted [and Approved]** this
day of , 200
CITIBANK, N.A., as Agent
By
Title:
[Approved this day
of , 200
MANPOWER INC.
By
Title:
** |
Required if the Assignee is an Eligible Assignee solely by reason of clause (iii) of the definition of "Eligible Assignee." |
* |
Required if the Assignee is an Eligible Assignee solely by reason of clause (iii) of the definition of "Eligible Assignee." |
EXHIBIT D - FORM OF
DESIGNATION AGREEMENT
Dated , 200
Reference is made to the Five Year Credit Agreement dated as of November , 2001 (as amended or modified from time to time, the "Credit Agreement") among Manpower Inc., a Wisconsin corporation (the "Borrower"), the Lender Parties (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and Citibank, N.A., as agent for the Lender Parties (the "Agent"). Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein with the same meaning.
(the "Designor") and (the "Designee") agree as follows:
1. The Designor hereby designates the Designee, and the Designee hereby accepts such designation, to have a right to make Competitive Bid Advances pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Credit Agreement.
2. The Designor makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Credit Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto and (ii) the financial condition of the Borrower or the performance or observance by the Borrower of any of its obligations under the Credit Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto.
3. The Designee (i) confirms that it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the financial statements referred to in Section 4.01 thereof and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Designation Agreement; (ii) agrees that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Agent, the Designor 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 decisions in taking or not taking action under the Credit Agreement; (iii) confirms that it is a Designated Bidder; (iv) appoints and authorizes the Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers and discretion under the Credit Agreement as are delegated to the Agent by the terms thereof, together with such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto; and (v) agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Credit Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender Party.
4. Following the execution of this Designation Agreement by the Designor and its Designee, it will be delivered to the Agent for acceptance and recording by the Agent. The effective date for this Designation Agreement (the "Effective Date") shall be the date of acceptance hereof by the Agent, unless otherwise specified on the signature page hereto.
5. Upon such acceptance and recording by the Agent, as of the Effective Date, the Designee shall be a party to the Credit Agreement with a right to make Competitive Bid Advances as a Lender Party pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Credit Agreement and the rights and obligations of a Lender Party related thereto.
6. This Designation Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
7. This Designation Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Designation Agreement by telecopier shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Designation Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Designor and the Designee have caused this Designation Agreement to be executed by their officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above written.
Effective Date*: |
, 200 |
[NAME OF DESIGNOR], |
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By |
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[NAME OF DESIGNEE], |
|
By |
|
Applicable Lending Office (and address for notices): |
|
Accepted this day |
|
CITIBANK, N.A., as Agent |
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By |
* |
This date should be no earlier than five Business Days after the delivery of this Designation Agreement to the Agent. |
EXHIBIT E - FORM OF
OPINION OF COUNSEL
FOR THE BORROWER
[Effective Date]
To each of the Lender Parties party
to the Credit Agreement dated
as of November __, 2001
among Manpower Inc.,
said Lenders and Citibank, N.A.,
as Agent for said Lenders, and
to Citibank, N.A., as Agent
Manpower Inc.
Ladies and Gentlemen: