FIVE YEAR REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT Dated as of August 3, 2006, among SOUTH JERSEY GAS COMPANY as Borrower and THE SEVERAL LENDERS FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO and WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent and CITIZENS BANK OF...
FIVE
YEAR
Dated
as of August 3, 2006,
among
SOUTH
JERSEY GAS COMPANY
as
Borrower
and
THE
SEVERAL LENDERS
FROM
TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO
and
WACHOVIA
BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as
Administrative Agent
and
CITIZENS
BANK OF PENNSYLVANIA,
JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, N.A.,
and
PNC
BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
As
Co-Syndication Agents
Arranged
by:
WACHOVIA
CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC,
Sole
Lead Arranger and Sole Book Manager
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
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Page
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ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
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1
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SECTION
1.01
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Certain
Defined Terms.
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1
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SECTION
1.02
|
Computation
of Time Periods.
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16
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SECTION
1.03
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Accounting
Terms.
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16
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SECTION
1.04
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Internal
References.
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16
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ARTICLE
II LOANS
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18
|
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SECTION
2.01
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Revolving
Loans.
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18
|
SECTION
2.02
|
Swingline
Loans.
|
18
|
SECTION
2.03
|
Procedure
for Advances of Loans.
|
20
|
SECTION
2.04
|
Competitive
Bid Loans.
|
22
|
SECTION
2.05
|
Fees.
|
25
|
SECTION
2.06
|
Reduction
of Commitments.
|
25
|
SECTION
2.07
|
Prepayment
of Loans.
|
26
|
SECTION
2.08
|
Increase
in Commitment.
|
27
|
SECTION
2.09
|
Evidence
of Debt; Notes.
|
28
|
SECTION
2.10
|
Interest
Rates.
|
29
|
SECTION
2.11
|
Additional
Interest on LIBOR Rate Loans.
|
31
|
SECTION
2.12
|
Interest
Rate Determination.
|
31
|
SECTION
2.13
|
Voluntary
Conversion of Loans.
|
32
|
SECTION
2.14
|
Increased
Costs.
|
32
|
SECTION
2.15
|
Illegality.
|
33
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SECTION
2.16
|
Nature
of Obligations of Lenders Regarding Extensions of Credit; Assumption
by
the Administrative Agent.
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33
|
SECTION
2.17
|
Net
of Taxes, Etc.
|
34
|
ARTICLE
III LETTER
OF CREDIT FACILITY
|
38
|
|
SECTION
3.01
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L/C
Commitment.
|
38
|
SECTION
3.02
|
Procedure
for Issuance of Letters of Credit.
|
38
|
SECTION
3.03
|
Commissions
and Other Charges.
|
39
|
SECTION
3.04
|
L/C
Participations.
|
39
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SECTION
3.05
|
Reimbursement
Obligation of the Borrower.
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40
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SECTION
3.06
|
Obligations
Absolute.
|
41
|
ARTICLE
IV CONDITONS
PRECEDENT
|
42
|
|
SECTION
4.01
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Conditions
Precedent to the Execution and Delivery of this Agreement.
|
42
|
SECTION
4.02
|
Additional
Conditions Precedent.
|
44
|
SECTION
4.03
|
Reliance
on Certificates.
|
45
|
ARTICLE
V REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
|
46
|
|
SECTION
5.01
|
Representations
and Warranties of the Borrower.
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46
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i
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ARTICLE
VI COVENANTS
OF THE COMPANY
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50
|
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SECTION
6.01
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Affirmative
Covenants.
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50
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SECTION
6.02
|
Negative
Covenants.
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52
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SECTION
6.03
|
Reporting
Requirements.
|
53
|
SECTION
6.04
|
Financial
Covenants.
|
55
|
ARTICLE
VII EVENTS
OF DEFAULT
|
56
|
|
SECTION
7.01
|
Events
of Default
|
56
|
SECTION
7.02
|
Upon
an Event of Default.
|
58
|
SECTION
7.03
|
Rights
and Remedies Cumulative; Non-Waiver; Etc.
|
58
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ARTICLE
VIII THE
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
|
60
|
|
SECTION
8.01
|
Appointment
|
60
|
SECTION
8.02
|
Delegation
of Duties.
|
60
|
SECTION
8.03
|
Exculpatory
Provisions.
|
60
|
SECTION
8.04
|
Reliance
by Administrative Agent
|
61
|
SECTION
8.05
|
Notice
of Default.
|
61
|
SECTION
8.06
|
Non-Reliance
on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders.
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61
|
SECTION
8.07
|
Indemnification.
|
62
|
SECTION
8.08
|
Administrative
Agent in Its Individual Capacity.
|
62
|
SECTION
8.09
|
Successor
Administrative Agent.
|
62
|
SECTION
8.10
|
Issuing
Lender.
|
63
|
SECTION
8.11
|
Notices;
Actions Under Loan Documents.
|
63
|
ARTICLE
IX MISCELLANEOUS
|
64
|
|
SECTION
9.01
|
Amendments,
Etc.
|
64
|
SECTION
9.02
|
Notices,
Etc.
|
64
|
SECTION
9.03
|
No
Waiver; Remedies.
|
65
|
SECTION
9.04
|
Set-off.
|
65
|
SECTION
9.05
|
Indemnification.
|
66
|
SECTION
9.06
|
Liability
of the Lenders.
|
67
|
SECTION
9.07
|
Costs,
Expenses and Taxes.
|
67
|
SECTION
9.08
|
Binding
Effect
|
68
|
SECTION
9.09
|
Assignments
and Participation.
|
68
|
SECTION
9.10
|
Severability.
|
72
|
SECTION
9.11
|
Governing
Law.
|
72
|
SECTION
9.12
|
Headings.
|
72
|
SECTION
9.13
|
Submission
To Jurisdiction; Waivers.
|
72
|
SECTION
9.14
|
Acknowledgments.
|
72
|
SECTION
9.15
|
Waivers
of Jury Trial.
|
73
|
SECTION
9.16
|
Confidentiality.
|
73
|
SECTION
9.17
|
Execution
in Counterparts.
|
74
|
ii
EXHIBITS
|
|
Exhibit
A-1
|
Form
of Revolving Loan Note
|
Exhibit
A-2
|
Form
of Swingline Note
|
Exhibit
A-3
|
Form
of Competitive Bid Note
|
Exhibit
B-1
|
Form
of Competitive Bid Request
|
Exhibit
B-2
|
Form
of Competitive Bid
|
Exhibit
C
|
Form
of Notice of Borrowing
|
Exhibit
D
|
Form
of Notice of Swingline Borrowing
|
Exhibit
E
|
Form
of Notice of Account Designation
|
Exhibit
F
|
Form
of Notice of Conversion
|
Exhibit
G
|
Form
of Opinion of Counsel to the Borrower
|
Exhibit
H
|
Form
of Assignment and Acceptance
|
Exhibit
I
|
Form
of Compliance Certificate
|
Exhibit
J
|
Form
of Extension Letter
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SCHEDULES
|
|
Schedule
I
|
Lenders,
Applicable Lending Offices, Commitments and Initial Commitment
Percentages
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Schedule
II
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Ownership
|
Schedule
III
|
Existing
Letters of Credit
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Schedule
IV
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First
Mortgage Notes
|
iii
FIVE
YEAR
This
FIVE YEAR REVOLVING
CREDIT AGREEMENT (as
it
may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified in accordance with the
terms
hereof at any time and from time to time, this “Agreement”)
dated
as of August 3, 2006, is among SOUTH
JERSEY GAS COMPANY,
a New
Jersey corporation (the “Borrower”),
the
several banks and other financial institutions from time to time parties
to this
Agreement (each a “Lender”
and
collectively, the “Lenders”),
and
WACHOVIA
BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
a
national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the
United
States of America (“Wachovia”),
as
administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder (in such capacity, together
with
its successors and permitted assigns in such capacity, the “Administrative
Agent”).
PRELIMINARY
STATEMENTS
WHEREAS,
the Borrower has requested that the Lenders make
revolving credit loans to the Borrower and issue or participate in letters
of
credit for the account of the
Borrower, for the refinance of existing Indebtedness and for working capital
and
general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, in an aggregate
principal amount of up to $100,000,000 at any one time outstanding, which
may be
increased to $150,000,000 pursuant to the terms of this Agreement;
and
WHEREAS,
the Lenders are willing, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in
this Agreement, to extend credit under this Agreement as more particularly
hereinafter set forth.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements, provisions and covenants
contained herein, the parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
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):
“Additional
Commitment Lender”
has
meaning assigned to that term in Section
2.18(d)(iii).
“Administrative
Agent”
has
the
meaning assigned to that term in the preamble hereto.
“AML
and Anti-Terrorist Acts”
has
the
meaning assigned to that term in Section
6.01(k).
1
“Affiliate”
means,
with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling
(including but not limited to all directors and officers of such Person),
controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with such Person.
A
Person shall be deemed to control another entity if such Person possesses,
directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the
management and policies of such entity, whether through the ownership of
voting
securities, by contract, or otherwise.
“Agreement”
means
this Five Year Revolving Credit Agreement, as it may be amended, supplemented
or
otherwise modified in accordance with the terms hereof at any time and from
time
to time.
“Anniversary
Date”
has
the
meaning assigned to that term in Section
2.18(a).
“Applicable
Law” means
all
applicable laws, statutes, treaties, rules, codes, ordinances, regulations,
permits, certificates, orders, interpretations, licenses, and permits of
any
Governmental Authority and judgments, decrees, injunctions, writs, orders
or
like action of any court, arbitrator or other judicial or quasi-judicial
tribunal (including, without limitation, those pertaining to health, safety,
the
environment or otherwise).
“Applicable
Lending Office” means,
with respect to any Lender, the office of such Lender specified as such opposite
its name on Schedule
I
hereto
or in 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 Administrative Agent.
“Applicable
Margin”
means,
for Loans made to, and Utilization Fees and Letter of Credit Commissions
payable
by, the Borrower on any date, the rate per annum as set forth below, determined
by reference to the Senior Debt Ratings:
Level
|
Debt
Rating
|
Facility
Fee
|
Applicable
Base
Rate Margin
|
Applicable
LIBOR
Margin
|
Utilization
Fee
|
I
|
Greater
than or equal to
A-/A3
|
0.080%
|
0.000%
|
0.220%
|
0.050%
|
II
|
BBB+/Baa1
|
0.090%
|
0.000%
|
0.260%
|
0.050%
|
III
|
BBB/Baa2
|
0.100%
|
0.000%
|
0.350%
|
0.050%
|
IV
|
BBB-/Baa3
|
0.125%
|
0.000%
|
0.500%
|
0.050%
|
V
|
Less
than BBB-/Baa3 or no rating
|
0.175%
|
0.000%
|
0.575%
|
0.050%
|
Any
change in the Applicable Margin will be effective as of the date on which
the
applicable Selected Rating Agency, as the case may be, announces the applicable
change in the Senior Debt Ratings. The Borrower shall notify the Administrative
Agent in writing promptly after becoming aware of any change in the Senior
Debt
Ratings.
2
For
purposes of the foregoing, (i) if the Senior Debt Ratings established or
deemed
to have been established by the Selected Rating Agencies shall fall within
different “Levels” and the ratings differential is one level, the higher rating
will apply; (ii) if the Senior Debt Ratings established or deemed to have
been
established by the Selected Rating Agencies shall fall within different “Levels”
and the ratings differential is two levels or more, the level one below the
higher of the two ratings will apply; (iii) if only one of the Selected Rating
Agencies maintains Senior Debt Ratings, then, notwithstanding anything herein
to
the contrary, the rating of such single rating agency will apply until such
time
as the second Selected Rating Agency maintains Senior Debt Ratings; and (iv)
if
the rating system of Xxxxx’x, S&P or Fitch shall change, or if Xxxxx’x,
S&P or Fitch shall cease to be in the business of rating corporate debt
obligations, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall
negotiate in good faith to amend this definition to reflect such changed
rating
system or the unavailability of ratings from Xxxxx’x, S&P or Fitch, and,
pending the effectiveness of any such amendment, the Senior Debt Ratings
shall
be determined by reference to the Senior Debt Ratings most recently in effect
prior to such change or cessation.
“Applicable
Rate”
means:
(a) in
the
case of each Base Rate Loan, a rate per annum equal at all times to the sum
of
the Base Rate plus
the
Applicable Base Rate Margin in effect from time to time;
(b) in
the
case of each LIBOR Rate Loan comprising part of the same Loan, a rate per
annum
during each Interest Period equal at all times to the sum of the LIBOR Base
Rate
for such Interest Period plus
the
Applicable LIBOR Margin in effect from time to time during such Interest
Period;
(c) in
the
case of each Swingline Loan, a rate per annum equal for each day that any
such
Swingline Loan is outstanding to either (i) the daily LIBOR rate (as determined
by the Administrative Agent) for each such day plus the Applicable LIBOR
Margin
or (ii) the Prime Rate, as selected by the Borrower in accordance with
Section
2.03(a)(ii)
hereof;
and
(d) in
the
case of each Competitive Bid Loan, a rate per annum as determined in accordance
with Section
2.04.
“Application”
means
an application, in the form specified by the Issuing Lender from time to
time,
requesting the Issuing Lender to issue a Letter of Credit.
“Assignment
and Acceptance”
means
an Assignment and Acceptance executed in accordance with Section
9.09
in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit
H.
“Bankruptcy
Code”
means
Title 11 of the United States Code, as now constituted or hereafter
amended.
“Base
Rate”
means,
for any period, a fluctuating interest rate per annum as shall be in effect
from
time to time, which rate per annum shall at all times be equal to the higher
of
(i) the rate of interest announced publicly by Administrative Agent in Charlotte, North Carolina, from time to time, as Administrative Agent’s Prime Rate; and (ii) 1/2 of one percent per annum above the Federal Funds Rate in effect from time to time.
3
(i) the rate of interest announced publicly by Administrative Agent in Charlotte, North Carolina, from time to time, as Administrative Agent’s Prime Rate; and (ii) 1/2 of one percent per annum above the Federal Funds Rate in effect from time to time.
“Base
Rate Loan”
has
the
meaning assigned to that term in Section
2.10(a)
and
shall include Revolving Loans bearing interest at the Base Rate.
“Benefited Lender”
has
the
meaning assigned to that term in Section
9.04(b).
“Borrower”
has
the
meaning assigned to that term in the preamble hereto.
“Business
Day”
means
a
day of the year on which (i) banks are not required or authorized to close
in
Charlotte, North Carolina, (ii) the New York Stock Exchange is not closed,
and
(iii) with respect to any borrowing, payment or rate selection of a LIBOR
Rate
Loan, banks are not required or authorized to close in Charlotte, North Carolina
and on which dealings in Dollars are carried out in the London interbank
market.
“Capital
Lease”
means
any lease which is required to be capitalized on a balance sheet of the lessee
in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied.
“Capital
Stock”
means,
with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase,
warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in
(however designated) equity of such Person, including any preferred interest,
any limited or general partnership interest and any limited liability company
membership interest.
“Change
in Control” means
(a)
the Parent shall cease at any time to own at least 100% of the Capital Stock
having voting rights of the Borrower, or (b) the occurrence of either of
the
following: (i) any entity, person (within the meaning of Section 14(d) of
the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange
Act”)
or
group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange
Act)
which theretofore was beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the
Exchange Act) of less than 20% of the Parent’s then outstanding common stock
either (x) acquires shares of common stock of the Parent in a transaction
or
series of transactions that results in such entity, person or group directly
or
indirectly owning beneficially 20% or more of the outstanding common stock
of
the Parent, or (y) acquires, by proxy or otherwise, the right to vote for
the
election of directors, for any merger, combination or consolidation of the
Parent or any of its direct or indirect Subsidiaries, or, for any other matter
or question, more than 20% of the then outstanding voting securities of the
Parent; or (ii) 20% or more of the directors of the board of directors of
the
Parent fail to consist of Continuing Directors.
“Closing
Date”
means
August 3, 2006.
“Code”
means
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the
regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.
“Commitment” means
(i)
with respect to the Lenders, the aggregate amount of the Commitments of
the
Lenders as set forth on Schedule
I,
and
(ii) with respect to a Lender, the amount of the Commitment of such Lender
as
set forth on Schedule
I,
as such
amounts may be otherwise reduced in accordance with Section
2.06
or
increased pursuant to Section
2.08
or
otherwise modified in accordance with Section
9.09.
“Commitments”
means
the total of the Lenders’ Commitments.
4
“Commitment
Percentage” means
for
each Lender, a fraction (expressed as a decimal) the numerator of which is
the
Commitment of such Lender at such time and the denominator of which are the
Commitments of all of the Lenders at such time. The initial Commitment
Percentage of each Lender is set out on Schedule
I.
“Competitive
Bid”
means
an offer by a Lender to make a Competitive Bid Loan to the Borrower pursuant
to
the terms of Section
2.04
hereof.
“Competitive
Bid Loan”
means
a
loan made by a Lender to the Borrower in its discretion pursuant to the
provisions of Section
2.04
hereof.
“Competitive
Bid Loan Notes”
means
the promissory notes of the Borrower in favor of each Lender evidencing the
Competitive Bid Loans made to the Borrower and substantially in the form
of
Exhibit
A-3,
as such
promissory notes may be amended, modified, supplemented or replaced from
time to
time.
“Competitive
Bid Rate”
means,
as to any Competitive Bid made by a Lender to the Borrower in accordance
with
the provisions of Section
2.04
hereof,
the rate of interest offered by the Lender making the Competitive
Bid.
“Competitive
Bid Request”
means
a
request by the Borrower for Competitive Bids in the form of Exhibit
B-1.
“Competitive
Bid Request Fee”
means
$3,500 for each Competitive Bid Request made by the Borrower, payable to
the
Administrative Agent for its account.
“Compliance
Certificate”
means
a
certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit I.
“Consenting
Lender”
has
the
meaning assigned to that term in Section
2.18(d).
“Consolidated”
means,
when used with reference to any accounting term, the amount described by
such
accounting term, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP,
after elimination of intercompany items.
“Consolidated
Total Capitalization”
means
the sum of (i) Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries,
plus (ii)
the
sum of the Capital Stock (excluding treasury stock and capital stock subscribed
for and unissued) and surplus (including earned surplus, capital surplus,
translation adjustment and the balance of the current profit and loss account
not transferred to surplus) accounts of the Borrower and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries appearing on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower
and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries, in each case prepared as of the date of determination
in accordance with GAAP consistent with those applied in the preparation
of the
financial statements referred to in Section
4.01(f),
after
eliminating all intercompany transactions and all amounts properly attributable
to minority interests, if any, in the stock and surplus of
Subsidiaries.
5
“Continuing
Director”
means,
with respect to any Person as of any date of determination, any member of
the
board of directors of such Person who (a) was a member of such board of
directors on the Closing Date, or (b) was nominated for election or elected
to
such board of directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing
Directors who were members of such board at the time of such nomination or
election.
“Convert”,
“Conversion”
and
“Converted”
each
refers to a conversion of a Loan of one Type into a Loan of another Type
pursuant to Section
2.13
or the
selection of a new, or the renewal of the same, Interest Period for a LIBOR
Rate
Loan pursuant to Section
2.13.
“Current
Stated Termination Date”
has
the
meaning assigned to that term in Section
2.18(c).
“Default” means
any
event or condition that would constitute an Event of Default but for the
requirement that notice be given or time elapse or both.
“Default
Rate”
means
a
per annum rate equal to 2% greater than the Base Rate.
“Disclosure
Documents” means
the
Borrower’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, its
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006, and any
Current Report on Form 8-K delivered to the Lenders at least three (3) Business
Days prior to the date of this Agreement.
“Dollar”
or
“$”
means
dollars in lawful currency of the United States of America.
“Election
Date”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section
2.18(b).
“Eligible
Assignee”
means,
with respect to any assignment of the rights, interest and obligations
of a
Lender hereunder, a Person that is at the time of such assignment (a) a
commercial bank organized or licensed under the laws of the United States
or any
state thereof, having combined capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000,
(b) a commercial bank organized under the laws of any other country that
is a
member of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development, or
a
political subdivision of any such country, having combined capital and
surplus
in excess of $500,000,000, (c) a finance company, insurance company or
other
financial institution which in the ordinary course of business extends
credit of
the type extended hereunder and that has total assets in excess of
$1,000,000,000, (d) a Lender hereunder (whether as an original party to
this
Agreement or as the assignee of another Lender), (e) an Affiliate or Subsidiary
of a Lender (whether as an original party to this Agreement or as the assignee
of another Lender) hereunder that does not otherwise qualify as an Eligible
Assignee provided such Lender continues to be obligated under this Agreement,
(f) the successor (whether by transfer of assets, merger or otherwise)
to all or
substantially all of the commercial lending business of the assigning Lender,
or
(g) any other Person that has been approved in writing as an Eligible Assignee
by the Administrative Agent and, if no Default or Event of Default exists
and is
continuing, by the Borrower.
6
“Environmental
Laws” means
any
federal, state or local laws, ordinances or codes, rules, orders, or regulations
relating to pollution or protection of the environment, including, without
limitation, laws relating to hazardous substances, laws relating to reclamation
of land and waterways and laws relating to emissions, discharges, releases
or
threatened releases of pollutants, contaminants, chemicals, or industrial,
toxic
or hazardous substances or wastes into the environment (including, without
limitation, ambient air, surface water, ground water, land surface or subsurface
strata) or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution,
use,
treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of pollution, contaminants,
chemicals, or industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or wastes.
“ERISA” means
the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to
time.
“ERISA
Affiliate”
means
any Person which 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 Code, and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued
thereunder.
“ERISA
Event”
means
(i) the occurrence of a reportable event, within the meaning of Section
4043 of
ERISA, unless the 30-day notice requirement with respect thereto has been
waived
by the PBGC; (ii) 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 404l(e) of ERISA); (iii) the cessation of operations at a facility
in
the circumstances described in Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (iv) the withdrawal
by
the Borrower or an ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan during a plan
year
for which it was a “substantial employer” as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of
ERISA; (v) the failure by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate to make a
payment
to a Plan required under Section 302 of ERISA, which results in a lien
pursuant
to Section 302(f) of ERISA; (vi) the adoption of an amendment to a Plan
requiring the provision of security to such Plan, pursuant to Section 307
of
ERISA; or (vii) 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
which might reasonably constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for
the
termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, a Plan by
the
PBGC.
“Eurocurrency
Liabilities”
has
the
meaning specified in Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System, as in effect from time to time.
“Event
of Default” has
the
meaning assigned to that term in Section
7.01.
“Existing
Letters of Credit” shall
mean those letters of credit issued by the Issuing Lender under the Existing
Wachovia Credit Facility, which shall remain in existence and be deemed
to have
been issued under this Agreement pursuant to the terms of Section
3.01(a),
as
described on Schedule
III
attached
hereto.
“Existing
Wachovia Credit Facility”
means
that certain Three Year Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of August
21, 2003,
among the Borrower, the Lenders referred to therein and Wachovia Bank,
National
Association, as administrative agent, evidencing a revolving credit facility
in
an aggregate principal amount of $100,000,000.
7
“Extension”
has
the
meaning assigned to that term in Section
2.18(a).
“Extension
Condition”
has
the
meaning assigned to that term in Section
2.18(a).
“Extension
Letter”
has
the
meaning assigned to that term in Section
2.18(a).
“Extensions
of Credit”
means,
as to any Lender at any time, an amount equal to the sum of (a) such Lender’s
Commitment Percentage multiplied by the aggregate principal amount of all
Revolving Loans then outstanding, (b) such Lender’s Commitment Percentage
multiplied by the aggregate principal amount of all Competitive Bid Loans
then
outstanding, (c) such Lender’s Commitment Percentage multiplied by the L/C
Obligations then outstanding, and (d) such Lender’s Commitment Percentage
multiplied by the aggregate principal amount of all Swingline Loans then
outstanding.
“Facility
Fee”
has
the
meaning assigned to that term in Section
2.05(a).
“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 Lender of New
York,
or, if such rate is not so published for any day which is a Business Day,
the
average of the quotations for such day on such transactions received by
the
Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing
selected by it.
“Final
Fee Payment Date”
means
the date all Commitments have been terminated and all Loans have been paid
in
full.
“First
Mortgage Notes”
means
those First Mortgage Notes identified on Schedule
IV
attached
hereto, and subsequent promissory notes or other evidences of indebtedness
of
the Borrower in each case secured by first mortgages on real property owned
by
the Borrower or its Subsidiaries.
“Fitch”
means
Fitch Ratings, Inc.
“Fronting
Fee” has
the
meaning assigned to that term in Section
3.03(b).
“GAAP”
means
generally accepted accounting principles, as recognized by the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Financial Accounting
Standards
Board, consistently applied and maintained on a consistent basis for the
Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries throughout the period indicated
and
consistent with the prior financial practice of the Borrower and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries.
“Governmental
Action”
means
all authorizations, consents, approvals, waivers, exceptions, variances,
orders,
licenses, exemptions, publications, filings, notices to and declarations
of or
with any Governmental Authority, other than routine reporting requirements
the
failure to comply with which will not affect the validity or enforceability
of
this Agreement or any other Loan Document or have a material adverse effect
on
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan
Document.
8
“Governmental
Authority” means
any
nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof and
any
entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative
functions of or pertaining to government.
“Hazardous
Materials”
means
any petrochemical or petroleum products, any flammable materials, explosives,
radioactive materials, hazardous materials, hazardous wastes, hazardous or
toxic
substances, or related or similar materials, asbestos or any material containing
asbestos, or any other substance or material as so defined and regulated
by any
Federal, state or local environmental law, ordinance, rule, or regulation
including, without limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (42 U.S.C. Sections 9601,
et
seq.), the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, as amended (49 U.S.C.
Sections 1801, et seq.), and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act,
as
amended (42 U.S.C. Sections 6901, et seq.), and the regulations adopted and
publications promulgated pursuant thereto.
“Hedging
Obligations”
means,
with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under any interest
rate or currency swap agreement, interest rate or currency future agreement,
interest rate collar agreement, swap agreement (as defined in 11 U.S.C.
§ 101),
interest rate or currency hedge agreement, and any put, call or other agreement
or arrangement designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in
interest
rates or currency exchange rates.
“Indebtedness”
means,
for any Person, all obligations of such Person which in accordance with
GAAP
should be classified on a balance sheet of such Person as liabilities of
such
Person, and in any event shall include, without duplication, all (i)
indebtedness for borrowed money, (ii) obligations evidenced by bonds,
debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (iii) obligations to pay
the
deferred purchase price of property or services, (iv) obligations as lessee
under leases which shall have been or should be, in accordance with GAAP,
recorded as capital leases, (v) obligations as lessee under operating leases
which have been recorded as off-balance sheet liabilities, (vi) obligations
under Hedging Obligations, (vii) reimbursement obligations (contingent
or
otherwise) in respect of outstanding letters of credit, (viii) indebtedness
of
the type referred to in clauses (i) through (vi) above secured by (or for
which
the holder of such indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise,
to be secured by) any lien or encumbrance on, or security interest in,
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 indebtedness, and (ix) obligations under direct or indirect guaranties
in respect of, and obligations (contingent or otherwise) to purchase or
otherwise acquire, or otherwise to assure a creditor against loss in respect
of,
indebtedness or obligations of others of the kinds referred to in clauses
(i)
through (vii) above. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth
above,
Capital Stock, including Capital Stock having a preferred interest, shall
not
constitute Indebtedness for purposes of this Agreement.
“Information”
has
the
meaning assigned to that term in Section
9.16(b).
9
“Interest
Period”
has
the
meaning assigned to that term in Section
2.10(b).
“ISP
98”
means
the International Standby Practices (1998 Revision, effective
January 1, 1999), International Chamber of Commerce Publication No.
590.
“Issuing
Lender”
means
Wachovia, in its capacity as issuer of any Letter of Credit, or any successor
thereto.
“L/C
Facility” means
the
letter of credit facility established pursuant to Article
III.
“L/C
Obligations”
means
at any time, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn and
unexpired amount of the then outstanding Letters of Credit and (b) the aggregate
amount of drawings under Letters of Credit which have not then been reimbursed
pursuant to Section
3.05.
“L/C
Participants” means
the
collective reference to all the Lenders other than the Issuing
Lender.
“Lenders”
has
the
meaning assigned to that term in the preamble hereto, and, in each case,
includes their respective successors and permitted assigns, and, with respect
to
Swingline Loans, the Swingline Lender.
“Letters
of Credit” has
the
meaning assigned to that term in Section
3.01(a).
“LIBOR
Lending Office”
means,
with respect to any Lender, the office of such Lender specified as such
opposite
its name on Schedule
I
hereto
or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender
(or, if
no such office is specified, its Applicable Lending Office), or such other
office of such Lender as such Lender may from time to time specify to the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
“LIBOR
Base Rate”
means
with respect to each day during each Interest Period pertaining to a LIBOR
Rate
Loan or Competitive Bid Loan, the rate (rounded
upwards, if necessary, to the next higher 1/100th of 1%) appearing
on Page 3750 of the Dow Xxxxx Markets 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 Administrative Agent from time to time
for
purposes of providing quotations of interest rates applicable to Dollar
deposits
in the London interbank market) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time,
two
Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, as the
rate for
Dollar deposits with a maturity comparable to such Interest Period. In
the event
that such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the
“LIBOR
Base Rate”
with
respect to such LIBOR Rate Loan or Competitive Bid Loan for such Interest
Period
shall be the rate per annum equal to the rate at which the principal London
office of the Administrative Agent offers to place Dollar deposits at or
about
11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the beginning of such
Interest Period with first-class banks in the London interbank market for
delivery on the first day of such Interest Period for the number of days
comprised therein and in an amount comparable to the amount of its LIBOR
Rate
Loan or Competitive Bid Loan to be outstanding during such Interest
Period.
10
“LIBOR
Rate”
means,
with respect to a LIBOR Rate Loan for the relevant Interest Period, the sum
of
(i) the LIBOR Base Rate (rounded
upwards, if necessary, to the next higher 1/100th of 1%) applicable
to such Interest Period, plus
(ii) the
Applicable LIBOR Margin, to the extent permitted by applicable law.
“LIBOR
Rate Loan”
has
the
meaning assigned to that term in Section
2.10(a)
and
shall include Revolving Loans that bear interest at the LIBOR Rate.
“LIBOR
Rate Reserve Percentage”
of
any
Lender for each Interest Period for each LIBOR Rate Loan and Competitive
Bid
Loan means the reserve percentage contemplated in Section
2.11
applicable to such Lender during such Interest Period (or if more than one
such
percentage shall be so applicable, the daily average of such percentages
for
those days in such Interest Period during which any such percentage shall
be so
applicable) under Regulation D or other 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) then applicable
to such Lender with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including
Eurocurrency Liabilities having a term equal to such Interest
Period.
“Lien” means,
with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest
or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset. For the purposes of
this
Agreement, a Person or any of its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to own, subject
to a Lien, any asset that it has acquired or holds subject to the interest
of a
vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or other
title retention agreement relating to such asset.
“Loan
Documents” means
this Agreement, the Notes and any other document evidencing, relating to
or
securing any Extension of Credit, and any other document or instrument delivered
from time to time in connection with this Agreement, the Notes or the Extensions
of Credit, as such documents and instruments may be amended or supplemented
from
time to time.
“Loans” means
the
loans made by the Lenders pursuant to this Agreement including Swingline
Loans,
Revolving Loans and Competitive Bid Loans.
“Material
Adverse Change”
means
(a) a materially adverse change in the business, assets, liabilities (actual
or
contingent), operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects
of (i)
the Borrower or (ii) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole,
(b)
any material impairment of the ability of the Borrower to perform any of
its
Obligations under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or (c) any material
impairment of the rights of, or benefits available to, the Administrative
Agent,
the Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender or the Lenders under this Agreement
or
any other Loan Document.
“Moody’s” means
Xxxxx’x Investors Service, Inc., or any successor thereto.
“Multiemployer
Plan”
means
a
multiemployer plan, as defined in Section
4001(a)(3)
of
ERISA, which is subject to Title IV of ERISA and 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, such plan being maintained pursuant to one or more
collective bargaining agreements.
11
“Multiple
Employer Plan”
means
a
single employer plan, as defined in Section
4001(a)(15)
of
ERISA, which is subject to Title IV of ERISA and which (i) is maintained
for
employees of the Borrower or an ERISA Affiliate and at least one Person other
than the Borrower and its ERISA Affiliates or (ii) was so maintained and
in
respect of which the Borrower or an 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”
shall
have the meaning assigned to that term in Section
2.18(d).
“Note” means
the
collective reference to the Revolving Loan Notes, the Swingline Note and
the
Competitive Bid Loan Notes.
“Notice
of Borrowing”
has
the
meaning assigned to that term in Section
2.03(a)(i)(A)
“Notice
of Conversion”
has
the
meaning assigned to that term in Section
2.13.
“Notice
of Swingline Borrowing”
has
the
meaning assigned to that term in Section
2.03(a)(ii).
“Obligations”
means,
in
each case, whether now in existence or hereafter arising: (a) the principal
of
and interest on (including interest accruing after the filing of any bankruptcy
or similar petition) the Loans, (b) the L/C Obligations, (c) all payment
and
other obligations owing by the Borrower to any Lender or the Administrative
Agent under any other agreement to which a Lender is a party (or any Affiliate
of a Lender) which is related to and permitted under this Agreement or any
of
the other Loan Documents, and (d) all other fees and commissions (including
attorney’s fees), charges, indebtedness, loans, liabilities, financial
accommodations, obligations, covenants and duties owing by the Borrower to
the
Lenders, the Issuing Lender, or the Administrative Agent, in each case under
or
in respect of this Agreement, any Note, any Letter of Credit or any of the
other
Loan Documents of every kind, nature and description, direct or indirect,
absolute or contingent, due or to become due, contractual or tortious,
liquidated or unliquidated, and whether or not evidenced by any note, and
whether or not for the payment of money under or in respect of this Agreement,
any Note, any Letter of Credit or any of the other Loan Documents.
“OFAC”
has
the
meaning assigned to that term in Section
5.01(u).
“Parent”
means
South Jersey Industries, Inc.
“Participant”
has
the
meaning assigned to that term in Section
9.09(e).
“PBGC”
means
the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any successor thereto.
12
“Permitted
Indebtedness”
means
any of the following:
(1) Indebtedness
under this Agreement;
(2) Indebtedness
of the Borrower under the First Mortgage Notes existing as of the Closing
Date
and as identified on Schedule
IV
attached
hereto, and subsequent First Mortgage Notes, so long as before and immediately
after the incurrence of such Indebtedness, the Borrower is in compliance
with
Section
6.04;
(3) Any
Indebtedness of the Borrower so long as before and immediately after the
incurrence of such Indebtedness, the Borrower is in compliance with Section
6.04;
(4) Indebtedness
of the Borrower under Hedging Obligations covering a notional amount not
to
exceed the face amount of outstanding Indebtedness.
“Permitted
Investments”
means
(1) noncallable,
direct general obligations of, or obligations the payment of the principal
of
and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States
of
America;
(2)
bonds, participation certificates or other obligations of Federal National
Mortgage Association, Government National Mortgage Association and Federal
Home
Loan Mortgage Corporation; (3) certificates of deposit, bankers’ acceptances or
other obligations issued by commercial banks which are fully insured by the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or certificates of deposit, bankers’
acceptances or other deposit obligations issued by commercial banks whose
unsecured obligations are rated in one of the two highest rating categories
by
Moody’s or Standard S&P; (4) obligations issued or guaranteed by a state or
political subdivision of a state rated in one of the two highest rating
categories by Moody’s or S&P; or (5) any other investments permitted under
this Agreement and which the Administrative Agent has approved in
writing.
“Permitted
Liens” means,
with respect to any Person, any of the following:
(1) Liens
for
taxes, assessments or governmental charges not delinquent or being contested
in
good faith and by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves
in
accordance with GAAP are maintained on such Person’s books;
(2) Liens
arising out of deposits in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment
insurance, old age pensions or other social security or retirement benefits
legislation;
(3) Deposits
or pledges to secure bids, tenders, contracts (other than contracts for the
payment of money), leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds,
and
other obligations of like nature arising in the ordinary course of such Person’s
business;
(4) Liens
imposed by law, such as mechanics’, workers’, materialmen’s, carriers’ or other
like liens arising in the ordinary course of such Person’s business which secure
the payment of obligations which are not past due or which are being diligently
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate
reserves in accordance with GAAP are maintained on such Person’s books;
13
(5) Rights
of
way, zoning restrictions, easements and similar encumbrances affecting such
Person’s real property which do not materially interfere with the use of such
property;
(6) Liens
securing Permitted Indebtedness of the type described in clause (2) of
“Permitted
Indebtedness”;
(7) Liens
securing Permitted Indebtedness, described in clause (3) of the definition
of
“Permitted Indebtedness,” not in excess of $12,500,000 in the aggregate; and
(8) Purchase
money security interests for the purchase of equipment to be used in the
Borrower’s business, encumbering only the equipment so purchased, and which
secures only the purchase-money Indebtedness incurred to acquire the equipment
so purchased, which Indebtedness qualifies as Permitted
Indebtedness.
“Person”
means
an individual, partnership, corporation (including, without limitation, a
business trust), joint stock company, limited liability company, trust,
unincorporated association, joint venture or other entity, or a government
or
any political subdivision or agency thereof.
“Plan”
means
a
Single Employer Plan or a Multiple Employer Plan.
“Prime
Rate”
means
a
rate per annum equal to the Administrative Agent’s index or base rate of
interest announced from time to time by the Administrative Agent (which is
not
necessarily the lowest rate charged to any customer), changing when and as
such
base rate changes.
“Register”
has
the
meaning assigned to that term in Section
9.09(c).
“Required
Lenders”
means
Lenders whose aggregate Commitment Percentages total more than 50%.
“Revolving
Loans” means
those Base Rate Loans and LIBOR Rate Loans, made pursuant to Section
2.01.
“Revolving
Loan Notes”
means
the promissory notes of the Borrower in favor of each Lender evidencing the
Revolving Loans made to the Borrower and substantially in the form of
Exhibit
A-1,
as such
promissory notes may be amended, modified, supplemented or replaced from
time to
time.
“S&P”
means
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of the XxXxxx-Xxxx Companies,
Inc., or any successor thereto.
“Selected
Rating Agencies”
means
any two of Xxxxx’x, S&P, Fitch or any other nationally recognized rating
agency selected by the Borrower from time to time; provided that for any
such
selection to be valid, the Borrower shall have notified the Administrative
Agent
of such selection prior to such selection taking effect and if the Borrower
has
not notified the
Administrative Agent of any such selection, then the Borrower shall be deemed
to
have selected Moody’s and S&P.
14
“Senior
Debt Ratings”
means
the ratings assigned to the senior unsecured, non-credit enhanced debt of
the
Borrower by the Selected Rating Agencies.
“Significant
Subsidiary” means,
with respect to any Person, a Subsidiary which meets any of the following
conditions:
(a) such
Person’s and its other Subsidiaries’ investments in and advances to the
Subsidiary exceed 10% of the total assets of such Person and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal quarter;
(b) such
Person’s and its other Subsidiaries’ proportionate share (as determined by
ownership interests) of the total assets (after intercompany eliminations)
of
the Subsidiary exceeds 10% of the total assets of such Person and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal
quarter; or
(c) such
Person’s and its other Subsidiaries’ proportionate share (as determined by
ownership interests) in the income from continuing operations before income
taxes, extraordinary items and cumulative effect of changes in accounting
principles of the Subsidiary exceeds 10% of such income of such Person and
its
Consolidated Subsidiaries for the most recently completed fiscal
quarter.
“Single
Employer Plan”
means
a
single employer plan, as defined in Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA, which is
subject to Title IV of ERISA and which (i) is maintained for employees of
the
Borrower or an ERISA Affiliate and no Person other than the Borrower and
its
ERISA Affiliates or (ii) was so maintained and in respect of which the Borrower
or an ERISA Affiliate could have liability under Section 4069 of ERISA in
the
event such plan has been or were to be terminated.
“Solvent”
means,
with respect to any Person, that such Person (a) has capital sufficient to
carry
on its business and transactions and all business and transactions in which
it
is about to engage and is able to pay its debts as they mature, (b) owns
property having a value, both at fair valuation and at present fair saleable
value, greater than the amount required to pay its probable liabilities
(including contingencies), and (c) does not believe that it will incur debts
or
liabilities beyond its ability to pay such debts or liabilities as they
mature.
“Stated
Termination Date”
means
August 3, 2011, or such later date to which the Stated Termination Date may
be
extended pursuant to Section
2.18.
“Subsidiary”
means,
with respect to any Person, any corporation or unincorporated entity of which
more than 50% of the outstanding capital stock (or comparable interest) having
ordinary voting power (irrespective of whether at the time capital stock
(or
comparable interest) of any other class or classes of such corporation or
entity
shall or might have voting power upon the occurrence of any contingency)
is at
the time directly or indirectly owned by said Person (whether directly or
through one of more other Subsidiaries). In the case of
an
unincorporated entity, a Person shall be deemed to have more than 50% of
interests having ordinary voting power only if such Person’s vote in respect of
such interests comprises more than 50% of the total voting power of all such
interests in the unincorporated entity.
15
“Swingline
Borrowing”
means
a
borrowing hereunder consisting of Swingline Loans made to the
Borrower.
“Swingline
Commitment” means
Fifteen Million and No/100 Dollars ($15,000,000).
“Swingline
Facility” means
the
swingline loan facility established pursuant to Section
2.02.
“Swingline
Lender” means
Wachovia, in its capacity as swingline lender hereunder, together with its
successors and permitted assigns in such capacity.
“Swingline
Loan” means
the
swingline loans made by the Swingline Lender to the Borrower pursuant to
Section
2.02,
and all
such loans collectively as the context requires.
“Swingline
Note” means
the
promissory note of the Borrower in favor of the Swingline Lender evidencing
the
Swingline Loans made to the Borrower and substantially in the form of
Exhibit
A-2,
as such
promissory note may be amended, modified, supplemented or replaced from time
to
time.
“Taxes”
has
the
meaning assigned to that term in Section
2.17.
“Termination
Date”
means
the earliest of (a) the Stated Termination Date, (b)
the
date of termination by the Borrower of the Commitments in full pursuant to
Section
2.06,
and (c)
the date of termination of the Commitments pursuant to Section
7.02(a).
“Type”
means
a
type of Loan, being either a LIBOR Rate Loan or a Base Rate Loan, as
applicable.
“Utilization
Amount”
has
the
meaning assigned to that term in Section
2.05(b).
“Utilization
Fee”
has
the
meaning assigned to that term in Section
2.05(b).
“Wachovia”
has
the
meaning assigned to that term in the preamble hereto.
SECTION 1.02 Computation
of Time Periods. In
this
Agreement, in the computation of a period 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 means “to but excluding”.
SECTION
1.03 Accounting
Terms. All
accounting terms not specifically defined herein shall be construed in
accordance with GAAP, except as otherwise stated herein.
SECTION
1.04 Internal
References. The
words
“herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in
this Agreement, shall refer to this
16
Agreement
as a whole and not to any provision of this Agreement, and “Article”, “Section”,
“subsection”, “paragraph”, “Exhibit”, “Schedule” and respective references are
to this Agreement unless otherwise specified. References herein or in any
Loan
Document to any agreement or other document shall, unless otherwise specified
herein or therein, be deemed to be references to such agreement or document
as
it may be amended, modified or supplemented after the date hereof from
time to
time in accordance with the terms hereof or of such Loan Document, as the
case
may be.
[End
of
Article I]
17
ARTICLE
II
LOANS
SECTION
2.01 Revolving
Loans.
(a) Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and in reliance upon the
representations and warranties set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees
to
make its Commitment Percentage of Revolving Loans to the Borrower from time
to
time from the Closing Date to, but not including, the Termination Date, as
requested by the Borrower in accordance with the terms of Sections
2.03(a)(i);
provided,
that
(i) the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Extensions of Credit
(after giving effect to any amount requested and the application of the proceeds
thereof) shall not exceed the Commitments of the Lenders; and (ii) the principal
amount of outstanding Revolving Loans from any Lender to the Borrower shall
not
at any time exceed such Lender’s Commitment less such Lender’s Commitment
Percentage multiplied by the sum of the: (A) L/C Obligations then outstanding,
(B) aggregate principal amount of all Swingline Loans then outstanding, and
(C)
aggregate principal amount of all Competitive Bid Loans then outstanding.
Each
Revolving Loan by a Lender shall be in a principal amount equal to such Lender’s
Commitment Percentage multiplied by the aggregate principal amount of Revolving
Loans requested on such occasion.
(b) Subject
to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow
Revolving Loans prior to the Termination Date. In addition, the Borrower
will
repay, by means of a reborrowing hereunder or otherwise, each Base Rate Loan
within 365 days of when it was made.
(c) Revolving
Loans shall be disbursed in accordance with Section
2.03(d)(i).
SECTION
2.02 Swingline
Loans.
(a) Availability.
(i) Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and in reliance upon the
representations and warranties set forth herein, the Swingline Lender agrees
to
make Swingline Loans to the Borrower from time to time from the Closing Date
through, but not including, the Termination Date, as requested by the Borrower
in accordance with the terms of Section
2.03(a)(ii);
provided,
that
(i) the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Extensions of Credit
(after giving effect to any amount requested and the application of the proceeds
thereof) shall not exceed the Commitments of the Lenders; and (ii) the aggregate
principal amount of all Swingline Loans then outstanding shall not exceed
the
Swingline Commitment. Each Lender acknowledges that the aggregate principal
amount of all outstanding Swingline Loans made by the Swingline Lender, when
taken together with the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Revolving
Loans made by the Swingline Lender, may exceed the Swingline Lender’s
Commitment. Upon and during the continuance of a Default or an Event of Default,
the Borrower shall no longer have the option of requesting Swingline Loans
and
the Swingline Lender shall not be obligated to make Swingline Loans. No more
than one (1) Swingline Loan may be made on the same Business Day.
18
(ii) Each
Swingline Loan shall be in the aggregate principal amount of $500,000 or
any
multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof, or such lesser amount as shall be
equal
to the aggregate amount of the unborrowed Swingline Commitment on such date.
(iii) Subject
to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow
Swingline Loans prior to the Termination Date.
(iv) Swingline
Loans shall be disbursed in accordance with Section
2.03(d)(ii).
(b) Maturity.
If the
Borrower, in accordance with Section
2.03(a)(ii),
chooses
that any Swingline Loan bear interest at a rate per annum for each day that
such
Swingline Loan is outstanding equal to the daily LIBOR rate (as determined
by
the Administrative Agent) for each such day plus the Applicable LIBOR Margin,
then any such Swingline Loan shall remain outstanding no more than fourteen
(14)
days from the date such Swingline Loan was made.
(c) Refunding.
(i) Swingline
Loans (including accrued and unpaid interest thereon) shall be reimbursed
fully
by the Lenders on demand by the Swingline Lender. Such reimbursements shall
be
made by the Lenders in accordance with their respective Commitment Percentages
and shall thereafter be reflected as Revolving Loans of the Lenders on the
books
and records of the Administrative Agent; provided,
that no
Lender shall be required to reimburse any Swingline Loan if, after giving
effect
to such reimbursement, the aggregate principal amount of such Lender’s
Extensions of Credit (other than such Lender’s outstanding Competitive Bid Loans
to the Borrower) outstanding would exceed such Lender’s Commitment. Each Lender
shall fund its respective Commitment Percentage of Revolving Loans as required
to repay Swingline Loans outstanding to the Swingline Lender upon demand
by the
Swingline Lender but in no event later than 2:00 p.m. (Charlotte,
North Carolina time)
on the
next succeeding Business Day after such demand is made. No Lender’s obligation
to fund its respective Commitment Percentage of a Swingline Loan shall be
affected by any other Lender’s failure to fund its Commitment Percentage of a
Swingline Loan, nor shall any Lender’s Commitment Percentage be increased as a
result of any such failure of any other Lender to fund its Commitment Percentage
of a Swingline Loan.
(ii) The
Borrower shall pay to the Swingline Lender on demand the amount of such
Swingline Loans (including accrued and unpaid interest thereon) to the
extent
amounts received from the Lenders are not sufficient to repay in full the
outstanding Swingline Loans requested or required to be refunded. In addition,
the Borrower hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent and the Swingline
Lender
to charge any account maintained by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the
Borrower with the Swingline Lender (up to the amount available therein)
in order
to immediately pay the Swingline Lender the amount of such Swingline Loans
to
the extent amounts received from the Lenders are not sufficient to repay
in full
the outstanding Swingline Loans requested or required to be refunded. If
any
portion of any such amount paid to the Swingline Lender shall be recovered
by or
on behalf of the Borrower from the Swingline Lender in bankruptcy or otherwise,
the loss of the amount so recovered shall be ratably shared among all the
Lenders in accordance with their respective Commitment
Percentages.
19
(iii) Each
Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to refund Swingline Loans
(including accrued and unpaid interest thereon) in accordance with the terms
of
this Section
2.02(c)
is
absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance
whatsoever, including, without limitation, the existence of a Default or
an
Event of Default other than a Default or Event of Default that the Swingline
Lender had actual knowledge of at the time such Swingline Loan was made.
Further, each Lender agrees and acknowledges that if prior to the refunding
of
any outstanding Swingline Loans pursuant to this Section
2.02(c),
one of
the events described in Section
7.01(e)
shall
have occurred, each Lender will, subject to Section
2.02(c)(i),
on the
next Business Day, purchase an undivided participating interest in the Swingline
Loan in an amount equal to its Commitment Percentage multiplied by the aggregate
amount of such Swingline Loan. Each Lender will immediately transfer to the
Swingline Lender, in immediately available funds, the amount of its
participation and upon receipt thereof the Swingline Lender will deliver
to such
Lender a certificate evidencing such participation dated the date of receipt
of
such funds and for such amount. Whenever, at any time after the Swingline
Lender
has received from any Lender such Lender’s participating interest in a Swingline
Loan, the Swingline Lender receives any payment on account thereof, the
Swingline Lender will distribute to such Lender its participating interest
in
such amount (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to
reflect the period of time during which such Lender’s participating interest was
outstanding and funded).
(d) The
Swingline Lender may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof
to the
Lenders and the Borrower, with any such resignation to become effective only
upon the appointment of a successor Swingline Lender pursuant to this
Section
2.03(d).
Upon
any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint
a
successor Swingline Lender, which shall be a Lender or an Eligible Assignee
acceptable to the Borrower. If no successor Swingline Lender shall have been
so
appointed by the Required Lenders, and shall have accepted such appointment,
within 30 days after the retiring Swingline Lender’s giving of notice of
resignation, then the retiring Swingline Lender may, on behalf of the Lenders,
appoint a successor Swingline Lender, which shall be a Lender or an Eligible
Assignee. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Swingline Lender hereunder
by a successor Swingline Lender, such successor Swingline Lender shall thereupon
succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and
duties
of the retiring Swingline Lender.
SECTION
2.03 Procedure
for Advances of Loans.
(a) Requests
for Borrowing.
(i) Revolving
Loans.
(A) Base
Rate Loans.
By no
later than 11:00 a.m. (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on the Business
Day prior
to the date of the Borrower’s request for a borrowing of a Base Rate Loan, the
Borrower shall submit to the Administrative Agent a written notice in the
form
attached hereto as Exhibit
C
(a
“Notice
of Borrowing”)
and
otherwise complying in all respects with Section
4.02
hereof,
which such Notice of Borrowing shall set forth (A) the amount requested
and (B)
the desire to have such Loans accrue interest at the Base Rate. A Notice
of
Borrowing received after 11:00 a.m. (Charlotte,
North Carolina time)
shall be
deemed received on the next Business Day. The Administrative Agent shall
promptly notify the Lenders of each Notice of Borrowing.
20
(B) LIBOR
Rate Loans.
By no
later than 11:00 a.m. (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on the third Business
Day
prior to the date of the Borrower’s request for a borrowing, the Borrower shall
submit a Notice of Borrowing of a LIBOR Rate Loan to the Administrative Agent,
which such Notice of Borrowing shall otherwise comply in all respects with
Section
4.02
hereof
and shall set forth (A) the amount requested, (B) the desire to have such
Loans
accrue interest at the LIBOR Rate and (C) the Interest Period applicable
thereto. A Notice of Borrowing received after 11:00 a.m. (Charlotte,
North Carolina time)
shall be
deemed received on the next Business Day. The Administrative Agent shall
promptly notify the Lenders of each Notice of Borrowing.
(ii) Swingline
Loans.
By no
later than 1:00 p.m. (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on the Business Day
of the
proposed Swingline Loan, the Borrower shall submit to the Administrative
Agent a
written notice in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
D
(a
“Notice
of Swingline Borrowing”)
and
otherwise complying in all respects with Section
4.02
hereof,
which such Notice of Swingline Borrowing shall specify (A) the date of such
borrowing, which shall be a Business Day, (B) the aggregate amount of such
borrowing, and (C) whether such proposed Swingline Loan will bear interest
at a
rate per annum for each day that such Swingline Loan is outstanding at either
(I) the daily LIBOR rate (as determined by the Administrative Agent) for
each
such day plus the Applicable LIBOR Margin or (II) the Prime Rate for each
such
day. A Notice of Swingline Borrowing received after 1:00 p.m. (Charlotte,
North Carolina time)
shall be
deemed received on the next Business Day. The Administrative Agent shall
promptly notify the Lenders of each Notice of Swingline Borrowing received
by
the Administrative Agent.
(iii) Competitive
Bid Loans.
Competitive Bid Loans shall be requested in the manner provided for in
Section
2.04(b).
(b) Each
Notice of Borrowing and Notice of Swingline Borrowing shall be irrevocable
and
binding on the Borrower. In the case of any Borrowing that the related Notice
of
Borrowing specifies is to comprise LIBOR Rate Loans, the Borrower shall
indemnify the applicable Lender against any loss, cost or expense incurred
by
such Lender as a result of any failure of the Borrower to fulfill on or before
the date specified in such Notice of Borrowing for such Loans, the applicable
conditions set forth in Article
IV,
including, without limitation, any loss (including loss of anticipated profits),
cost or expense incurred by reason of the liquidation or redeployment of
deposits or other funds acquired by such Lender as part of such
Borrowing.
(c) Each
Revolving Loan shall be in an aggregate principal amount of $5,000,000
or any
multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof (except that any such Revolving
Loan
may
be in the aggregate amount of the unborrowed Commitments on such
date).
21
(d) Disbursement
of Loans.
(i) Revolving
Loans.
Not
later than 2:00 p.m. (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on the proposed borrowing
date, (i) each Lender will make available to the Administrative Agent, for
the
account of the Borrower, at the office of the Administrative Agent in funds
immediately available to the Administrative Agent, as applicable, such Lender’s
Commitment Percentage multiplied by the Revolving Loans to be made on such
borrowing date. The Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes the Administrative
Agent to disburse the proceeds of each borrowing requested pursuant to this
Section
2.03(d)(i)
in
immediately available funds by crediting or wiring such proceeds to the deposit
account of the Borrower identified in the most recent notice substantially
in
the form of Exhibit
E
hereto
(a “Notice
of Account Designation”)
delivered by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or such other account
as
may be designated in writing by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent
from
time to time. Subject to Section
2.16,
the
Administrative Agent shall not be obligated to disburse the portion of the
proceeds of any Revolving Loan requested pursuant to Sections
2.03(a)(i)
and
(ii)
to the
extent that any Lender has not made available to the Administrative Agent
its
applicable Commitment Percentage of such Revolving Loan. Revolving Loans
to be
made for the purpose of refunding Swingline Loans shall be made by the Lenders
as provided in Section
2.02(c).
(ii) Swingline
Loans.
The
Swingline Lender shall, before 2:00 p.m. (Charlotte, North Carolina time)
on the
date of such Swingline Borrowing, make available to the Administrative Agent
for
the account of the Borrower in same day funds, the proceeds of such Swingline
Borrowing. The Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes the Administrative
Agent
to disburse the proceeds of each Swingline Borrowing requested pursuant to
this
Section
2.03(d)(ii)
in
immediately available funds by crediting or wiring such proceeds to the deposit
account of the Borrower identified in the most recent Notice of Account
Designation or such other account as may be designated in writing by the
Borrower to the Administrative Agent from time to time. The Swingline Loans
shall be included in the Commitments of the Lenders, and each Swingline
Borrowing will reduce correspondingly the amount of the available Commitment
of
each Lender on a pro rata basis based on each Lender’s Commitment
Percentage.
(iii) Competitive
Bid Loans.
Competitive Bid Loans shall be disbursed in the manner provided for in
Section
2.04(e).
SECTION
2.04 Competitive
Bid Loans.
(a) Competitive
Bid Loans.
Subject
to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may, from time
to
time, during the period from the Closing Date until the date occurring
seven
days prior to the Termination Date, request and each Lender may, in its
sole
discretion, agree to make Competitive Bid Loans to the Borrower; provided,
that (i)
the sum of the aggregate principal amount of the Lenders’ Extensions of Credit
(including the amount set forth in the Competitive Bid Request) outstanding
shall not exceed the Commitments of the Lenders, (ii) the sum of the aggregate
principal amount of Competitive Bid Loans outstanding (including the amount
set
forth in the Competitive Bid Request) to the Borrower shall not exceed
50% of
the Commitments of the Lenders, and (iii) if a Lender makes a Competitive
Bid
Loan, such Lender’s obligation to make its Commitment Percentage of any
Swingline Loan, L/C Obligation or Revolving Loan shall not be reduced thereby.
No Competitive Bid Loan shall be outstanding for a period in excess of
6
months.
22
(b) Competitive
Bid Requests.
The
Borrower may solicit Competitive Bids by delivery of a Competitive Bid Request
to the Administrative Agent by 10:00 a.m. (Charlotte, North Carolina time),
on a
Business Day one Business Day prior to the date of a requested Competitive
Bid
Loan. A Competitive Bid Request must be substantially in the form of
Exhibit
B-1,
shall
be accompanied by the Competitive Bid Request Fee and shall specify (I) the
date
of the requested Competitive Bid Loan (which shall be a Business Day), (II)
the
amount of the requested Competitive Bid Loan and (III) the applicable Interest
Period or Interest Periods requested. The Administrative Agent shall notify
the
Lenders of its receipt of a Competitive Bid Request and the contents thereof
and
invite the Lenders to submit Competitive Bids in response thereto. The Borrower
may not request a Competitive Bid Loan more frequently than three times every
calendar month.
(c) Competitive
Bid Procedure.
Each
Lender may, in its sole discretion, make one or more Competitive Bids to
the
Borrower in response to a Competitive Bid Request in the form of Exhibit
B-2.
Each
Competitive Bid must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than
10:00 a.m. (Charlotte, North Carolina time) three Business Days prior to
the
date of the requested Competitive Bid Loan; provided,
that
should the Administrative Agent, in its capacity as a Lender, desire to submit
a
Competitive Bid it shall notify the Borrower of its Competitive Bid and the
terms thereof not later than 15 minutes prior to the time the other Lenders
are
required to submit their Competitive Bids. A Lender may offer to make all
or
part of the requested Competitive Bid Loan and may submit multiple Competitive
Bids in response to a Competitive Bid Request. Any Competitive Bid must specify
(I) the particular Competitive Bid Request as to which the Competitive Bid
is
submitted, (II) the minimum (which shall be not less than $5,000,000 and
integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof) and maximum principal
amounts of the requested Competitive Bid Loan or Loans which the Lender is
willing to make, (III) the maturity date of the requested Competitive Bid
Loan
or Loans which the Lender is willing to make and which shall not exceed the
Termination Date and (IV) the applicable interest rate or rates and Interest
Period or Interest Periods therefor. A Competitive Bid submitted by a Lender
in
accordance with the provisions hereof shall be irrevocable. The Administrative
Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower of all Competitive Bids made and
the
terms thereof. The
Administrative Agent shall send a copy of each of the Competitive Bids to
the
Borrower and each of the Lenders for their respective records as soon as
practicable.
(d) Acceptance
of Competitive Bids.
The
Borrower may, in its sole discretion, subject only to the provisions of this
subsection (d), accept or refuse any Competitive Bid offered to it. To accept
a
Competitive Bid, the Borrower shall give oral notification of its acceptance
of
any or all such Competitive Bids (which shall be promptly confirmed in writing)
to the Administrative Agent by 12:00 p.m. (Charlotte, North Carolina time)
three
Business Days prior to the date of the requested Competitive Bid Loan;
provided,
that
(I)
the failure by the Borrower to give timely notice of its acceptance of a
Competitive Bid shall be deemed to be a refusal thereof, (II) to the extent
Competitive Bids are for comparable Interest Periods, the Borrower may accept
Competitive Bids only in ascending order of rates, (III) the aggregate amount
of
Competitive Bids accepted by the Borrower shall not exceed
the principal amount specified in the Competitive Bid Request, (IV) if the
Borrower shall accept a bid or bids made at a particular Competitive Bid
Rate,
but the amount of such bid or bids shall cause the total amount of bids to
be
accepted by the Borrower to be in excess of the amount specified in the
Competitive Bid Request, then the Borrower shall accept a portion of such
bid or
bids in an amount equal to the amount specified in the Competitive Bid Request
less the amount of all other Competitive Bids accepted with respect to such
Competitive Bid Request, which acceptance in the case of multiple bids at
such
Competitive Bid Rate, shall be made pro rata in accordance with the amount
of
each such bid at such Competitive Bid Rate and (V) no bid shall be accepted
for
a Competitive Bid Loan unless such Competitive Bid Loan is in a minimum
principal amount of $5,000,000 and integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess
thereof, except that where a portion of a Competitive Bid is accepted in
accordance with the provisions of clause (IV) of this subsection (d), then
in a
minimum principal amount of $500,000 and integral multiples of $100,000 (but
not
in any event less than the minimum amount specified in the Competitive Bid),
and
in calculating the pro rata allocation of acceptances of portions of multiple
bids at a particular Competitive Bid Rate pursuant to clause (IV) of this
subsection (d), the amounts shall be rounded to integral multiples of $100,000
in a manner which shall be in the discretion of the Borrower. A notice of
acceptance of a Competitive Bid given by the Borrower in accordance with
the
provisions hereof shall be irrevocable. The Administrative Agent shall, not
later than 1:00 p.m. (Charlotte, North Carolina time) three Business Days
prior
to the date of such Competitive Bid Loan, notify each bidding Lender whether
or
not its Competitive Bid has been accepted (and if so, in what amount and
at what
Competitive Bid Rate), and each successful bidder will thereupon become bound,
subject to the other applicable conditions hereof, to make the Competitive
Bid
Loan in respect of which its bid has been accepted.
23
(e) Funding
of Competitive Bid Loans.
Each
Lender which is to make a Competitive Bid Loan shall, before 2:00 P.M.
(Charlotte, North Carolina time) on the date specified in the Competitive
Bid
Request, make available to the Administrative Agent, by deposit of immediately
available funds at the office of the Administrative Agent, for the account
of
the Borrower in same day funds, the proceeds of such Competitive Bid Loan.
The
Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent to disburse
the
proceeds of each Competitive Bid Loan requested pursuant to Section
2.04(b)
in
immediately available funds by crediting or wiring such proceeds to the deposit
account of the Borrower identified in the most recent Notice of Account
Designation or such other account as may be designated in writing by the
Borrower to the Administrative Agent from time to time.
(f) Maturity
of Competitive Bid Loans.
Each
Competitive Bid Loan shall mature and be due and payable in full on the last
day
of the Interest Period, selected in accordance with Section
2.10(b),
which
date shall not be less than 7 days nor more than the lesser of (i) 6 months
duration, and (ii) the number of days remaining until the Termination Date,
applicable thereto. Unless the Borrower shall give notice to the Administrative
Agent otherwise (or repays such Competitive Bid Loan), or a Default or Event
of
Default exists and is continuing, the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested
Revolving Loans from all of the Lenders (in the amount of the maturing
Competitive Bid Loan and accruing interest at the Base Rate), the proceeds
of
which will be used to repay such Competitive Bid Loan.
24
SECTION
2.05 Fees.
(a) The
Borrower hereby agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable
account of each Lender, a facility fee (the “Facility
Fee”)
equal
to such Lender’s Commitment multiplied
by
a rate
per annum equal to the “Facility Fee” under the definition of Applicable Margin
from the date hereof to the Final Fee Payment Date, payable quarterly in
arrears
on the last day of each March, June, September and December, commencing
September 30, 2006, and on the Final Fee Payment Date.
(b) The
Borrower hereby agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable
account of each Lender, a utilization fee (the “Utilization
Fee”),
if
the aggregate amount of the outstanding Lenders’ Extensions of Credit is equal
to or greater than fifty percent (50%) of the Commitments of the Lenders,
calculated daily (the calculation of which is known as the “Utilization
Amount”),
which
Utilization Fee shall be equal to the aggregate amount of the Utilization
Amount
multiplied
by
a rate
per annum equal to the “Utilization Fee” under the definition of Applicable
Margin from the date hereof to the Final Fee Payment Date, payable quarterly
in
arrears on the last day of each March, June, September and December, and
on the
Final Fee Payment Date.
(c) The
Borrower hereby agrees to pay such other fees as are specified in that certain
Fee Letter Agreement dated July 11, 2006, among the Borrower, the Administrative
Agent and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company.
SECTION
2.06 Reduction
of Commitments.
(a) Voluntary.
(i) Subject
to Section
2.07(b)(i)
and
(ii),
upon at
least three Business Days’ notice, the Borrower shall have the right to
permanently terminate or reduce the aggregate unused amount of the Commitments
at any time or from time to time; provided,
that
(a) each partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount at least equal
to
$10,000,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, and
(b)
no reduction shall be made which would reduce the Commitment to an amount
less
than the sum of the then outstanding Extensions of Credit. Any reduction
in (or
termination of) the Commitments shall be permanent and may not be
reinstated.
(ii) Subject
to Section
2.07(b)(iii),
upon at
least three Business Days’ notice, the Borrower shall have the right to
permanently terminate or reduce the aggregate unused amount of the Swingline
Commitment at any time or from time to time; provided,
that
(a) each partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount at least equal
to
$1,000,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, and
(b) no
reduction shall be made which would reduce the Swingline Commitment to an
amount
less than the sum of the then outstanding Swingline Loans. Any reduction
in (or
termination of) the Swingline Commitment shall be permanent and may not be
reinstated.
25
(b) Mandatory.
(i) On
the
Termination Date, the Commitments shall automatically and permanently be
reduced
to zero.
(ii) On
the
Current Stated Termination Date, the Commitments of Non-Consenting Lenders
shall
automatically and permanently be reduced to zero.
SECTION
2.07 Prepayment
of Loans.
(a) Voluntary
Prepayments.
The
Borrower shall have the right to prepay Loans (other than Competitive Bid
Loans)
made to it in whole or in part from time to time without premium or penalty
upon
one Business Days’ prior written notice to the Administrative Agent;
provided,
that
(i)
LIBOR Rate Loans may only be prepaid on three Business Days’ prior written
notice to the Administrative Agent and any prepayment of LIBOR Rate Loans
will
be subject to Section
9.07(b),
(ii)
each such partial prepayment of Loans (other than Swingline Loans) shall
be in
the minimum principal amount of $10,000,000, and (iii) each such partial
prepayment of Swingline Loans shall be in a minimum principal amount of $500,000
(or such lesser amount that may be outstanding at any such time). Amounts
prepaid hereunder shall be applied first to Swingline Loans until paid in
full,
second to Base Rate Loans until paid in full, and third to LIBOR Rate Loans
until paid in full, in direct order of Interest Period maturities, pro rata
among all Lenders holding same. The Borrower may not prepay Competitive Bid
Loans.
(b) Mandatory
Prepayments.
(i) If
at any
time the amount of the Extensions of Credit exceed the Commitments, the
Borrower
shall immediately make a principal payment to the Administrative Agent
for the
ratable accounts of the Lenders in an amount necessary together with (i)
accrued
interest to the date of such prepayment on the principal amount repaid
or
prepaid and (ii) in the case of prepayments of LIBOR Rate Loans, any amount
payable to the Lenders pursuant to Section
9.07(b),
so that
the Extensions of Credit do not exceed the Commitments. Any payments made
under
this Section
2.07(b)(i)
shall be
applied first to Swingline Loans until paid in full, second to Base Rate
Loans
until paid in full, third to LIBOR Rate Loans in direct order of Interest
Period
maturities until paid in full and fourth to Competitive Bid Loans, pro
rata
among all Lenders holding same.
(ii) On
each
date on which the Commitment is decreased pursuant to Section
2.06,
the
Borrower shall pay or prepay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable
accounts of the Lenders such principal amount of the outstanding Loans
as shall
be necessary, together with (i) accrued interest to the date of such prepayment
on the principal amount repaid or prepaid and (ii) in the case of prepayments
of
LIBOR Rate Loans, any amount payable to the Lenders pursuant to Section
9.07(b),
so that
the aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Extensions of Credit does not exceed the
Commitments. Any payments made under this Section
2.07(b)(ii)
shall be
applied first to Swingline Loans until paid in full, second to Base Rate
Loans
until paid in full, third to LIBOR Rate Loans in direct order of Interest
Period
maturities until paid in full and fourth to Competitive Bid Loans, pro
rata
among all Lenders holding same.
26
(iii) On
each
date on which the Swingline Commitment is reduced pursuant to Section
2.06(b),
the
Borrower shall pay or prepay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable
accounts of the Lenders or prepay such principal amount outstanding of Swingline
Loans, together with accrued interest to the date of such prepayment on the
principal amount repaid or prepaid, if any, as may be necessary so that after
such payment the aggregate unpaid principal amount of Swingline Loans does
not
exceed the amount of the Swingline Commitment as then reduced.
(iv) On
the
Termination Date, the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for
the
ratable accounts of the Lenders, the principal amount of all Loans then
outstanding, together with (i) accrued interest to the date of such payment
on
the principal amount repaid and (ii) in the case of prepayments of LIBOR
Rate
Loans, any amount payable to the Lenders pursuant to Section
9.07(b).
SECTION
2.08 Increase
in
Commitment.
(a) The
Borrower may increase the aggregate amount of the Commitments by an amount
not
greater than $50,000,000 (any such increase, a “Commitment
Increase”)
by
designating either one or more of the existing Lenders (each of which, in
its
sole discretion, may determine whether and to what degree to participate
in such
Commitment Increase) or one or more Eligible Assignees reasonably acceptable
to
the Administrative Agent that at the time agree, in the case of any existing
Lender to increase its Commitment (an “Increasing
Lender”)
and,
in the case of any other Eligible Assignee (an “Additional
Lender”),
to
become a party to this Agreement. The sum of the increases in the Commitments
of
the Increasing Lenders pursuant to this Section
2.08
plus the
Commitments of the Additional Lenders upon giving effect to the Commitment
Increase shall not in the aggregate exceed the amount of the Commitment Increase
or be less than $10,000,000 in the aggregate and integral multiples of
$5,000,000 in excess thereof. The Borrower shall provide prompt notice of
any
proposed Commitment Increase pursuant to this Section
2.08
the
Administrative Agent, which shall promptly provide a copy of such notice
to the
Lenders.
(b) Any
Commitment Increase shall become effective upon (A) the receipt by the
Administrative Agent of (i) an agreement in form and substance satisfactory
to
the Administrative Agent signed by the Borrower, each Increasing Lender and
each
Additional Lender, setting forth the new commitments and Commitment Percentage
of each such Lender and setting forth the agreement of each Additional Lender
to
become a party to this Agreement and to be bound by all the terms and provisions
hereof binding upon each Lender, and (ii) such evidence of appropriate corporate
authorization on the part of the Borrower with respect to the Commitment
Increase and such opinions of counsel for the Borrower with respect to the
Commitment Increase as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, (B)
the
funding by each Increasing Lender and Additional Lender of the Loan(s) to
be
made by each such Lender described in paragraph (c) below, (C) receipt by
the
Administrative Agent of the reasonable fees and expenses of the Administrative
Agent and Lenders associated with such Commitment Increase, and (D) receipt
by
the Administrative Agent of a certificate (the statements contained in which
shall be true) of a duly authorized officer of the Borrower stating that
both
before and after giving effect to such Commitment Increase (i) no Default
or
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and (ii) all representations
and warranties made by the Borrower in this Agreement are true and correct
in
all material respects as of the date of the Commitment Increase.
27
(c) If
any
Loans are outstanding upon the effective date of any Commitment Increase,
each
Increasing Lender and each Additional Lender shall provide funds to the
Administrative Agent in the manner described in Section
2.03(d)
in an
amount equal to the product of (x) the aggregate outstanding principal amount
of
such Loans (other than Competitive Bid Loans and Swingline Loans), expressed
as
a percentage of the aggregate Commitments (calculated, in each case, immediately
after such Commitment Increase) and (y) in the case of an Increasing Lender,
such Increasing Lender’s Commitment Increase and, in the case of an Additional
Lender, such Additional Lender’s Commitment. The funds so provided by any such
Lender shall be deemed to be a Loan or Loans made by such Lender on the date
of
such Commitment Increase, with such Loan(s) being in (A) in an amount equal
to
the product of (x) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of each Loan
(other than Competitive Bid Loans and Swingline Loans) expressed as a percentage
of the aggregate Commitments (calculated, in each case, immediately prior
to
such Commitment Increase) and (y) in the case of an Increasing Lender, such
Increasing Lender’s Commitment Increase and, in the case of an Additional
Lender, such Additional Lender’s Commitment and (B) of the same Type(s) and
having the same Interest Periods(s) as each Loan described in the preceding
clause (A), such that after giving effect to such Commitment Increase and
the
Loan made on the date of such Commitment Increase, each Loan outstanding
hereunder shall consist of Loans made ratably by all of the Lenders (after
giving effect to such Commitment Increase). The Borrower shall pay to the
Administrative Agent any amounts payable pursuant to Section
9.07(b)
in
connection with such Commitment Increase.
(d) Notwithstanding
any provision contained herein to the contrary, from and after the date of
any
Commitment Increase and the making of any Loans on such date pursuant to
paragraph (c) above, all calculations and payments of Facility Fees, Utilization
Fees and of interest on the Loans comprising any Loan shall take into account
the actual Commitment of each Lender (including the Additional Lender) and
the
principal amount outstanding of each Loan made by each such Lender during
the
relevant period of time.
SECTION
2.09 Evidence
of Debt; Notes.
(a) Evidence
of Debt.
The
date, amount, type, interest rate and duration of Interest Period (if
applicable) of each Loan made by each Lender to the Borrower, and each payment
made on account of the principal thereof, shall be recorded by such Lender
on
its books; provided,
that the
failure of such Lender to make any such recordation or endorsement shall
not
affect the obligations of the Borrower to make a payment when due of any
amount
owing hereunder or under any Note with respect of the Loans to be evidenced
by
such Note, and each such recordation or endorsement shall be conclusive and
binding absent manifest error. In any legal action or proceeding in respect
of
this Agreement, the entries made in such account or accounts shall, in the
absence of manifest error, be conclusive evidence of the existence and amounts
of the Obligations of the Borrower therein recorded.
28
(b) Revolving
Loan Notes.
The
Revolving Loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower shall be evidenced,
upon
request by any Lender, by the Revolving Loan Notes in a principal amount
equal
to the amount of such Lender’s Commitment Percentage multiplied by the
Commitment as originally in effect.
(c) Swingline
Note.
The
Swingline Loans made by the Swingline Lender to the Borrower shall be evidenced,
upon request by the Swingline Lender, by a Swingline Note in a principal
amount
equal to the Swingline Commitment.
(d) Competitive
Bid Loan Notes.
The
Competitive Bid Loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower shall be evidenced,
upon request by the Lender or Lenders making such Competitive Bid Loan, by
a
Competitive Bid Loan Notes in a principal amount equal to the Competitive
Bid
Loan advanced under such Competitive Bid Request.
SECTION
2.10 Interest
Rates.
(a) Interest
Rate Options.
Subject
to the provisions of this Section
2.10,
at the
election of the Borrower, the aggregate unpaid principal balance of each
Loan
shall bear interest at the Applicable Rate. Each Revolving Loan or portion
thereof bearing interest based on the Base Rate shall be a “Base
Rate Loan”,
and
each Loan or portion thereof bearing interest based on the LIBOR Rate, and,
solely for purposes of this Section
2.10,
Competitive Bid Loans, shall be a “LIBOR
Rate Loan.”
Any
Loan or any portion thereof as to which the Borrower has not duly specified
an
interest rate as provided herein shall be deemed a Base Rate Loan. The Swingline
Loan shall bear interest based on the Base Rate.
(b) Interest
Periods.
In
connection with each LIBOR Rate Loan, the Borrower, by giving notice at the
times described in Section
2.03(a)(i)(B),
shall
elect an interest period (each, an “Interest
Period”)
to be
applicable to such LIBOR Rate Loan, which Interest Period shall be a period
of
fourteen (14) days, one (1) month, two (2) months, three (3) months, or six
(6)
months; provided, that:
(i) the
Interest Period shall commence on the date of advance of or conversion to
any
LIBOR Rate Loan and, in the case of immediately successive Interest Periods,
each successive Interest Period shall commence on the date on which the next
preceding Interest Period expires;
(ii) the
Borrower may not select any Interest Period that ends after the Termination
Date;
(iii) Interest
Periods commencing on the same date for LIBOR Rate Loans comprising part
of the
same Loan shall be of the same duration;
(iv) 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,
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;
(v) with
respect to LIBOR Rate Loans, if any Interest Period begins on a day for which
there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end
of
such Interest Period, such Interest Period shall end on the last Business
Day of
such calendar month; and
29
(vi) no
more
than eight (8) Interest Periods may be in effect at any time.
(c) Default
Rate.
Subject
to Section
7.02,
upon
the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, (i) the
Borrower shall no longer have the option to request LIBOR Rate Loans, (ii)
all
outstanding LIBOR Rate Loans shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal
to
the Default Rate, (iii) all outstanding Base Rate Loans and Swingline Loans
shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Default Rate, and (iv)
all
outstanding Competitive Bid Loans shall bear interest at a rate per annum
equal
to the Default Rate. Interest shall continue to accrue on the Notes after
the
filing by or against the Borrower of any petition seeking any relief in
bankruptcy or under any act or law pertaining to insolvency or debtor relief,
whether state, federal or foreign.
(d) Interest
Payment and Computation.
(A)
Interest on each Base Rate Loan and Swingline Loan shall be payable in arrears
on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter commencing September 30,
2006;
and (B) interest on each LIBOR Rate Loan shall be payable on the last day
of
each Interest Period applicable thereto, and if such Interest Period extends
over three (3) months, at the end of each three (3) month interval during
such
Interest Period. All interest rates, fees and commissions provided hereunder
shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and assessed for the actual
number of days elapsed; provided,
that
interest on each Base Rate Loan and Swingline Loan that is based on the Prime
Rate shall be computed on the basis of a 365-day or 366-day year, as applicable,
and assessed for the actual number of days elapsed.
(e) Payments.
The
Borrower shall make each payment hereunder not later than 12:00 noon (Charlotte,
North Carolina time) on the day when due in lawful money of the United States
of
America to the Administrative Agent at its address referred to in Section
9.02
in same
day funds.
(f) Maximum
Rate.
In no
contingency or event whatsoever shall the aggregate amount of all amounts
deemed
interest hereunder or under any of the Notes charged or collected pursuant
to
the terms of this Agreement or pursuant to any of the Notes exceed the highest
rate permissible under any Applicable Law which a court of competent
jurisdiction shall, in a final determination, deem applicable hereto. In
the
event that such a court determines that the Lenders have charged or received
interest hereunder in excess of the highest applicable rate, the rate in
effect
hereunder shall automatically be reduced to the maximum rate permitted by
Applicable Law and the Lenders shall at the Administrative Agent’s option
promptly refund to the Borrower any interest received by Lenders in excess
of
the maximum lawful rate or shall apply such excess to the principal balance
of
the Obligations. It is the intent hereof that the Borrower not pay or contract
to pay, and that neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender receive
or
contract to receive, directly or indirectly in any manner whatsoever, interest
in excess of that which may be paid by the Borrower under Applicable
Law.
30
SECTION
2.11 Additional
Interest on LIBOR Rate Loans. The
Borrower shall pay to each Lender, so long as such Lender shall be required
under regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
to
maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or
including Eurocurrency Liabilities and which are not required on the date
of
this Agreement, additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each
LIBOR
Rate Loan and Competitive Bid Loan of such Lender, from the date of such
LIBOR
Rate Loan and Competitive Bid Loan until such principal amount is paid in
full,
at an interest rate per annum equal at all times to the remainder obtained
by
subtracting (i) the LIBOR Rate for the Interest Period for such LIBOR Rate
Loan
or Competitive Bid Loan, from (ii) the rate obtained by dividing such LIBOR
Rate
by a percentage equal to 100% minus the LIBOR Rate Reserve Percentage of
such
Lender for such Interest Period, payable on each date on which interest is
payable on such LIBOR Rate Loan or Competitive Bid Loan. Such additional
interest shall be determined by such Lender and notified to the Borrower
through
the Administrative Agent.
SECTION
2.12 Interest
Rate Determination.
(a) The
Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice to the Borrower and the Lenders
of
the applicable interest rate determined by the Administrative Agent for purposes
of Section
2.10.
(b) If,
with
respect to any LIBOR Rate Loans and Competitive Bid Loan, (i) the Required
Lenders notify the Administrative Agent that the LIBOR Rate for any Interest
Period for such LIBOR Rate Loans or Competitive Bid Loan will not adequately
reflect the cost to such Required Lenders of making, funding or maintaining
their respective LIBOR Rate Loans or Competitive Bid Loan for such Interest
Period or (ii) the Required Lenders notify the Administrative Agent or the
Administrative Agent determines that adequate and fair means do not exist
for
ascertaining the applicable interest rate on the basis provided for in the
definition of LIBOR Rate, the Administrative Agent shall forthwith so notify
the
Borrower and the Lenders, whereupon:
(i) each
LIBOR Rate Loan or Competitive Bid Loan will automatically, on the last day
of
the then existing Interest Period therefor, Convert into a Base Rate Loan,
and
(ii) the
obligation of the Lenders to make, or to Convert Base Rate Loans into, LIBOR
Rate Loans shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent (based on notice
from the Required Lenders) shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that
the
circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist.
31
(c) If
the
Borrower shall fail to (i) select the duration of any Interest Period for
any
LIBOR Rate Loans in accordance with the provisions of Section
2.10(b),
(ii)
provide a Notice of Conversion with respect to any LIBOR Rate Loans on or
prior
to 11:00 a.m., Charlotte, North Carolina time, on the third Business Day
prior
to the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, in the case of
a
Conversion to or in respect of LIBOR Rate Loans or (iii) satisfy the conditions
set forth in Section
2.13
with
respect to a Conversion, the Administrative Agent will forthwith so notify
the
Borrower and the Lenders and such LIBOR Rate Loans will automatically, on
the
last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, Convert into Base
Rate
Loans.
SECTION
2.13 Voluntary
Conversion of Loans. The
Borrower may on any Business Day, by delivering an irrevocable Notice of
Conversion (a “Notice
of Conversion”)
in the
form of Exhibit
F
hereto
to the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m., Charlotte, North Carolina
time, on the third Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Conversion,
and subject to the provisions of Sections
2.10, 2.15 and 4.03,
Convert
all Loans of one Type made simultaneously into Loans of the other Type;
provided,
that
any
Conversion of any LIBOR Rate Loans into Base Rate Loans shall be made on,
and
only on, the last day of an Interest Period for such LIBOR Rate
Loans.
SECTION
2.14 Increased
Costs.
(a) If,
due
to either (i) the introduction of or any change (other than any change by
way of
imposition or increase of reserve requirements, in the case of LIBOR Rate
Loans
or Competitive Bid Loans, included in the LIBOR Rate Reserve Percentage)
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
(whether or not having the force of law), in any case, promulgated, implemented
or occurring on or after the date hereof, there shall be any increase in
the
cost to any Lender of agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining
LIBOR
Rate Loans or Competitive Bid Loans, then the Borrower shall from time to
time,
upon demand by such Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative
Agent), pay to such Lender additional amounts sufficient to compensate such
Lender for such increased cost. Each Lender agrees to notify the Borrower
of any
such increased costs as soon as reasonably practicable after determining
that
such increased cost is applicable to LIBOR Rate Loans or Competitive Bid
Loans
hereunder. A certificate as to the amount of such increased cost, submitted
to
the Borrower and the Administrative Agent by such Lender, shall be conclusive
and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
(b) If any Lender 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), in any case
promulgated, implemented or occurring on or after the date hereof, affects
or
would affect the amount of capital required or expected to be maintained
by any
such Lender or any corporation controlling any such Lender and that the amount
of such capital is increased by or based upon the existence of such Lender’s
Commitment hereunder and other Commitments of this Type, then, upon demand
by
any such Lender, as the case may be (with a copy of such demand to the
Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall immediately pay to such Lender,
as the
case may be, from time to time as specified by such Lender, additional amounts
sufficient to compensate such Lender, or such corporation in the light of
such
circumstances, for any difference in the rate of return of any such Lender
to
the extent that such Lender, as the case may be, reasonably determines such
increase in capital to be allocable to the existence of such Lender’s Commitment
hereunder, as the case may be. Each Lender agrees to notify the Borrower
of any
such additional amount as soon as reasonably practicable after the any Lender
makes such determination. A certificate as to such amounts submitted to the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent by such Lender shall be conclusive
and
binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
32
SECTION
2.15 Illegality. Notwithstanding
any
other provision of this Agreement, if any Lender shall notify the Administrative
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 or its LIBOR Lending
Office to perform its obligations hereunder to make LIBOR Rate Loans or
Competitive Bid Loans, or to fund or maintain LIBOR Rate Loans or Competitive
Bid Loans hereunder, (i) the obligation of the Lenders to make Competitive
Bid
Loans, (ii) the obligation of the Lenders to make, or to Convert Base Rate
Loans
into, LIBOR Rate Loans shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent
(based
on notice from the affected Lender) shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders
that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist, and (iii)
the
Borrower shall pay (x) on the last day of the applicable Interest Period,
or (y)
if the failure to prepay immediately would cause any Lender to be in violation
of such law or regulation, immediately, in full all LIBOR Rate Loans and
Competitive Bid Loans of all Lenders then outstanding, together with interest
accrued thereon and amounts payable pursuant to Section
9.07(b),
unless,
in either case, the Borrower, within five Business Days of notice from the
Administrative Agent (or such shorter, maximum period of time, specified
by the
Administrative Agent, as may be legally allowable), Converts all LIBOR Rate
Loans or Competitive Bid Loans of all Lenders then outstanding into Base
Rate
Loans in accordance with Section
2.13.
SECTION
2.16 Nature of
Obligations of Lenders Regarding Extensions of Credit; Assumption by the
Administrative Agent. The
obligations of the Lenders under this Agreement to make the Loans and issue
or
participate in Letters of Credit are several and are not joint or joint and
several. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from
a
Lender prior to a proposed borrowing date that such Lender will not make
available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s ratable portion of the
amount to be borrowed on such date (which notice shall not release such Lender
of its obligations hereunder), the Administrative Agent may assume that such
Lender has made such portion available to the Administrative Agent on the
proposed borrowing date in accordance with this Agreement and the Administrative
Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower
on
such date a corresponding amount. If such amount is made available to the
Administrative Agent on a date after such borrowing date, such Lender shall
pay
to the Administrative Agent on demand an amount, until paid, equal to the
product of (a) the amount not made available by such Lender in accordance
with
the terms hereof, times
(b) the
daily average Federal Funds Rate (or, if such amount is not made available
for a
period of three (3) Business Days after the borrowing date, the Base Rate)
during such period as determined by the Administrative Agent, times
(c) a
fraction the numerator of which is the number of days that elapse from and
including such borrowing date to the date on which such amount not made
available by such Lender in accordance with the terms hereof shall have become
immediately available to the Administrative Agent and the denominator of
which
is 360. A certificate of the Administrative Agent with respect to any amounts
owing under this Section
2.16
shall be
conclusive, absent manifest error. If such Lender’s Commitment Percentage of
such borrowing is not made available to the Administrative Agent by such
Lender
within three (3) Business Days of such borrowing date, the Administrative
Agent
shall be entitled to recover such amount made available by the Administrative
Agent with interest thereon at the rate per annum applicable to the Loan
hereunder, on demand, from the Borrower. The failure of any Lender to make
available its Commitment Percentage of any Loan requested by the Borrower
shall
not relieve it or any other Lender of its obligation, if any, hereunder to
make
its Commitment Percentage of such Loan available on such borrowing date,
but no
Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make its
Commitment Percentage of such Loan available on the borrowing date.
33
SECTION
2.17 Net
of
Taxes, Etc.
(a) All
payments made by the Borrower under this Agreement shall be made free and
clear
of, and without deduction or withholding for or on account of, any present
or
future income, stamp or other taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees,
deductions or withholdings, now or hereafter imposed, levied, collected,
withheld or assessed by any Governmental Authority, excluding,
in the
case of the Administrative Agent and each Lender, taxes imposed on its overall
net income, and franchise taxes imposed on it by the jurisdiction under the
laws
of which the Administrative Agent or such Lender (as the case may be) is
organized or any political subdivision thereof and, in the case of each Lender,
taxes imposed on its overall net income, and franchise taxes imposed on it
by
the jurisdiction of such Lender’s Applicable Lending Office or any political
subdivision thereof (all such non-excluded taxes, levies, imposts, deductions,
charges, withholdings and liabilities being hereinafter referred to as
“Taxes”).
If
any Taxes are required to be withheld from any amounts payable to the
Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder, the amounts so payable to the
Administrative Agent or such Lender shall be increased to the extent necessary
to yield to the Administrative Agent or such Lender (after payment of all
Taxes)
interest or any such other amounts payable hereunder at the rates or in the
amounts specified in this Agreement. Whenever any Taxes are payable by the
Borrower, as promptly as possible thereafter the Borrower shall send to the
Administrative Agent for its own account or for the account of such Lender,
a
certified copy of an original official receipt received by the Borrower showing
payment thereof. If the Borrower fails to pay any Taxes when due to the
appropriate taxing authority or fails to remit to the Administrative Agent
the
required receipts or other required documentary evidence, the Borrower shall
indemnify the Administrative Agent and the Lenders for any incremental taxes,
interest or penalties that may become payable by the Administrative Agent
or any
Lender as a result of any such failure. The agreements in this Section shall
survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the obligations
hereunder and all other amounts payable hereunder.
(b) Each
Lender that is not incorporated under the laws of the United States of America
or a state thereof agrees that it will deliver to the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent on or before the latter of the date hereof and the date
such Lender becomes a Lender (i) two duly completed copies of United States
Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8ECI or successor applicable form,
as
the case may be. Each such Lender also agrees to deliver to the Borrower
and the
Administrative Agent two further copies of said Form W-8BEN or W-8ECI, or
successor applicable forms or other manner of certification, as the case
may be,
on or before the date that any such form previously delivered expires or
becomes
obsolete or after the occurrence of any event requiring a change in the most
recent form previously delivered by it to the Borrower, and such extensions
or
renewals thereof as may reasonably be requested by the Borrower or the
Administrative Agent, unless in any such case an event (including, without
limitation, any change in treaty, law or regulation) has occurred prior to
the
date on which any such delivery would otherwise be required which renders
all
such forms inapplicable or which would prevent such Lender from duly completing
and delivering any such form with respect to it and such Lender so advises
the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent. Such
Lender shall certify that it is entitled to receive payments under this
Agreement without deduction or withholding of any United States federal income
taxes and that it is entitled to an exemption from United States backup
withholding tax.
34
(c) If
any
Lender shall request compensation for costs pursuant to this Section
2.17,
(i)
such Lender shall make reasonable efforts (which shall not require such Lender
to incur a loss or unreimbursed cost or otherwise suffer any disadvantage
deemed
by it to be significant) to make within thirty (30) days an assignment of
its
rights and delegation and transfer of its obligations hereunder to another
of
its offices, branches or affiliates, if such assignment would reduce such
costs
in the future, (ii) the Borrower may with the consent of the Required Lenders,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, secure a substitute bank
to
replace such Lender which substitute bank shall, upon execution of a counterpart
of this Agreement and payment to such Lender of any and all amounts due under
this Agreement, be deemed to be a Lender hereunder (any such substitution
referred to in clause (ii) shall be accompanied by an amount equal to any
loss
or reasonable expense incurred by such Lender as a result of such substitution);
provided,
that
this Section
2.17(c)
shall
not be construed as limiting the liability of the Borrower to indemnify or
reimburse such Lender for any costs or expenses the Borrower is required
hereunder to indemnify or reimburse.
SECTION
2.18 Extension
of
Stated Termination Date.
(a) The
Borrower may, by sending written request in substantially the form of Exhibit
J
(an “Extension
Letter”)
to the
Administrative Agent (in which case the Administrative Agent shall promptly
deliver a copy to each of the Lenders), no earlier than seventy-five (75)
days
and no later than twenty (20) days prior to any annual anniversary of
the Closing Date (each an “Anniversary
Date”),
request that the Lenders extend the Stated Termination Date to the day that
is
one year after the then existing Stated Termination Date (each such request
being referred to herein as an “Extension”);
provided, that such Extension shall only take effect if Lenders holding at
least
51% of the aggregate Commitments as of the applicable Election Date advise
the
Administrative Agent as required herein of their agreement to participate
in
such Extension (the “Extension
Condition”).
The Stated Termination Date may be extended pursuant to this Section
2.18
on up to
two occasions; provided that, in no event shall the Stated Termination Date
extend beyond August 3, 2013.
(b) Each
Lender, acting in its sole discretion, shall, by notice to the Administrative
Agent given no later than fifteen (15) days after the receipt of any
applicable Extension Letter by the Administrative Agent (each an “Election
Date”),
advise the Administrative Agent in writing whether or not such Lender agrees
to such Extension. The election of any Lender to agree to any
Extension shall not obligate any other Lender to so agree. The failure of
any Lender to respond to a request for an Extension prior to the applicable
Election Date shall be deemed to be a decision by such Lender not to extend
the
Stated Termination Date.
35
(c) If
the
Extension Condition shall not have been satisfied as of the applicable Election
Date, then the Commitments shall terminate on the then existing Stated
Termination Date (the Stated Termination Date in effect immediately after
the
receipt by the Administrative Agent of an Extension Letter but prior
to the Extension so requested in such Extension Letter taking effect
shall be referred to herein as the "Current
Stated Termination Date")
and
all Loans then outstanding (together with accrued interest thereon and any
other
amounts owing under the Loan Documents) shall be due and payable on
the Current Stated Termination Date, subject to any additional requested
Extension permitted pursuant to this Section
2.18.
(d) If
the
Extension Condition shall have been satisfied as of any
applicable Election Date, then the Borrower shall notify the Administrative
Agent within two (2) Business Days of such Election Date as to whether (i)
the Extension will take effect as of such Election Date or (ii) despite
satisfaction of the Extension Condition, such Extension will not take
effect, in which case the Commitments shall terminate on the Current Stated
Termination Date and all Loans then outstanding (together with accrued interest
thereon and any other amounts owing under the Loan Documents) shall be due
and
payable on the Current Stated Termination Date. If the Borrower fails
to notify the Administrative Agent within two (2) Business Days as required
by
the immediately preceding sentence, then the Borrower shall be deemed to
have
elected for such Extension to take effect as of the applicable
Election Date. If an Extension takes effect pursuant to either of the
first two sentences of this Section
2.18(d),
such
Extension shall be deemed to have taken effect solely as to those Lenders
(each,
a “Consenting
Lender”)
that
shall have agreed to the requested Extension on or prior to the
applicable Election Date and, as to such Consenting Lenders, the Stated
Termination Date shall be the date that is one year after the Current Stated
Termination Date, subject to any additional Extension agreed upon pursuant
to
this Section
2.18.
If an Extension becomes effective as to some and not all of the Lenders
(each Lender who shall not have agreed to the Extension as of the Election
Date,
a “Non-Consenting
Lender”),
then:
(i) subject
to clause (ii) of this Section
2.18(d),
the
Commitment of each Non-Consenting Lender shall terminate on the Stated
Termination Date in effect prior to such Extension taking effect, and all
Loans
and other amounts payable hereunder to such Non-Consenting Lender shall become
due and payable on the Stated Termination Date in effect prior to such Extension
taking effect and, on the Stated Termination Date in effect prior to such
Extension taking effect, the aggregate Commitments of the Lenders hereunder
shall be reduced by the aggregate Commitments of the Non-Consenting Lenders
so
terminated on such Stated Termination Date;
36
(ii) the
Borrower may, at its own expense, on or prior to the Stated Termination Date
in
effect prior to such Extension taking effect, require any Non-Consenting
Lender
to transfer and assign without recourse or representation (except as to title
and the absence of Liens created by it) (in accordance with and subject to
the
restrictions contained in Section
9.09)
all of
such Non-Consenting Lender’s interests, rights and obligations under the Loan
Documents (including with respect to any L/C Obligations) to one or more
banks
or other financial institutions (which may include any Lender) (each, an
“Additional
Commitment Lender”),
provided, that (A) such Additional Commitment Lender, if not already a Lender
hereunder, shall be subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent (not
to
be unreasonably withheld or delayed), (B) such assignment shall become effective
no later than the Stated Termination Date in effect prior to such Extension
taking effect and (C) the Additional Commitment Lender shall pay to such
Non-Consenting Lender in immediately available funds on the effective date
of
such assignment the principal of and interest accrued to the date of payment
on
the Loans made by such Non-Consenting Lender hereunder and all other amounts
accrued for such Non-Consenting Lender's account or owed to it hereunder;
and
(iii)
in all
cases, each Non-Consenting Lender shall be required to maintain its original
Commitment up to the Stated Termination Date in effect prior to such Extension
taking effect.
(e) Notwithstanding
the foregoing, no extension of the Stated Termination Date shall become
effective unless, on the Anniversary Date, the conditions set forth in
Section
4.02
shall be
satisfied and the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate
to that
effect dated the Anniversary Date and executed by the chief executive officer
or
chief financial officer of the Borrower.
[End
of
Article II]
37
ARTICLE
III
LETTER
OF CREDIT FACILITY
SECTION
3.01 L/C
Commitment.
(a) Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Issuing Lender, in reliance
on the agreements of the other Lenders set forth in Section
3.04(a),
agrees
to issue letters of credit (“Letters
of Credit”) for
the
account of the Borrower on any Business Day from the Closing Date to, but
not
including, the date that is ninety (90) days prior to the Termination Date
in
such form as may be approved from time to time by the Issuing Lender;
provided,
that
the Issuing Lender shall have no obligation to issue any Letter of Credit
if,
after giving effect to such issuance, the aggregate principal amount of
outstanding Extensions of Credit would exceed the Commitments. The Existing
Letters of Credit shall be deemed to have been issued pursuant hereto, and
from
and after the Closing Date shall be subject to, and governed by, the terms
and
conditions hereof.
(b) Each
Letter of Credit shall (i) be denominated in Dollars in a minimum amount
of
$500,000, (ii) be a letter of credit issued to support obligations of the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, contingent or otherwise, incurred in
the
ordinary course of business, (iii) (A) expire on a date not later than five
(5)
Business Days prior to the Termination Date, (B) have a term not exceeding
one
year, (C) and otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Issuing Lender, and
(iv)
be subject to the Uniform Customs and/or ISP 98, as set forth in the Application
or as determined by the Issuing Lender and, to the extent not inconsistent
therewith, the laws of the State of New York. The Issuing Lender shall not
at
any time be obligated to issue any Letter of Credit hereunder if such issuance
would conflict with, or cause the Issuing Lender or any L/C Participant to
exceed any limits imposed by, any Applicable Law. References herein to “issue”
and derivations thereof with respect to Letters of Credit shall also include
extensions or modifications of any existing Letters of Credit, unless the
context otherwise requires.
SECTION
3.02 Procedure
for Issuance of Letters of Credit. The
Borrower may from time to time request that the Issuing Lender issue a Letter
of
Credit by delivering to the Issuing Lender at the Administrative Agent’s Office
an Application therefor, completed to the reasonable satisfaction of the
Issuing
Lender, and such other certificates, documents and other papers and information
as the Issuing Lender may reasonably request. Upon receipt of any Application,
the Issuing Lender shall process such Application and the certificates,
documents and other papers and information delivered to it in connection
therewith in accordance with its customary procedures and shall, subject
to
Section
3.01
and
Article
IV,
promptly issue the Letter of Credit requested thereby (but in no event shall
the
Issuing Lender be required to issue any Letter of Credit earlier than two
(2)
Business Days after its receipt of the Application therefor and all such
other
certificates, documents and other papers and information relating thereto)
by
issuing the original of such Letter of Credit to the beneficiary thereof
or as
otherwise may be agreed by the Issuing Lender and the Borrower. The Issuing
Lender shall promptly furnish to the Borrower a copy of such Letter of Credit
and promptly notify each Lender of the issuance and upon request by any Lender,
furnish to such Lender a copy of such Letter of Credit and the amount of
such
Lender’s L/C Participation therein.
38
SECTION
3.03 Commissions
and Other Charges.
(a) The
Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Issuing
Lender and the L/C Participants, a letter of credit commission with respect
to
each Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of (i) the average
daily
maximum amount available to be drawn during the relevant quarter under such
Letter of Credit and (ii) the Applicable LIBOR Margin (determined on a per
annum
basis). Such commission shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the last
Business Day of each calendar quarter and on the Termination Date commencing
on
the last Business Day of the calendar quarter in which such Letter of Credit
is
issued. The Administrative Agent shall, promptly following its receipt thereof,
distribute to the Issuing Lender and the L/C Participants all commissions
received pursuant to this Section
3.03(a)
in
accordance with their respective Commitment Percentages.
(b) In
addition to the foregoing commission, the Borrower shall pay to the
Administrative Agent, for the account of the Issuing Lender, a fronting fee
with
respect to each Letter of Credit issued on or after the Closing Date in an
amount equal to the product of (i) the face amount of such Letter of Credit
and
(ii) 10 basis points (0.100%) (the “Fronting
Fee”).
Such
Fronting Fee shall be payable in arrears on the last Business Day of each
calendar quarter and on the Termination Date for each day such Letter of
Credit
is issued and outstanding.
(c) In
addition to the foregoing fees and commissions, the Borrower shall pay or
reimburse the Issuing Lender for such normal and customary costs and expenses
as
are incurred or charged by the Issuing Lender in issuing, effecting payment
under, amending or otherwise administering any Letter of Credit.
SECTION
3.04 L/C
Participations.
(a) The
Issuing Lender irrevocably agrees to grant and hereby grants to each L/C
Participant, and, to induce the Issuing Lender to issue Letters of Credit
hereunder, each L/C Participant irrevocably agrees to accept and purchase
and
hereby accepts and purchases from the Issuing Lender, on the terms and
conditions hereinafter stated, for such L/C Participant’s own account and risk
an undivided interest equal to such L/C Participant’s Commitment Percentage in
the Issuing Lender’s obligations and rights under and in respect of each Letter
of Credit issued (or deemed issued) hereunder and the amount of each draft
paid
by the Issuing Lender thereunder. Each L/C Participant unconditionally and
irrevocably agrees with the Issuing Lender that, if a draft is paid under
any
Letter of Credit for which the Issuing Lender is not reimbursed in full by
the
Borrower through a Revolving Loan or otherwise in accordance with the terms
of
this Agreement, such L/C Participant shall pay to the Issuing Lender upon
demand
at the Issuing Lender’s address for notices specified herein an amount equal to
such L/C Participant’s Commitment Percentage multiplied by the amount of such
draft, or any part thereof, which is not so reimbursed.
39
(b) Upon
becoming aware of any amount required to be paid by any L/C Participant to
the
Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 3.04(a)
in
respect of any unreimbursed portion of any payment made by the Issuing Lender
under any Letter of Credit, the Issuing Lender shall notify each L/C Participant
of the amount and due date of such required payment and such L/C Participant
shall pay to the Issuing Lender the amount specified on the applicable due
date.
If any such amount is paid to the Issuing Lender after the date such payment
is
due, such L/C Participant shall pay to the Issuing Lender on demand, in addition
to such amount, the product of (i) such amount, times
(ii) the
daily average Federal Funds Rate (or Base Rate, if such amount is not paid
within three Business Days of demand) as determined by the Administrative
Agent
during the period from and including the date such payment is due to the
date on
which such payment is immediately available to the Issuing Lender, times
(iii) a
fraction the numerator of which is the number of days that elapse during
such
period and the denominator of which is 360. A certificate of the Issuing
Lender
with respect to any amounts owing under this Section
3.04(b)
shall be
conclusive in the absence of manifest error. With respect to payment to the
Issuing Lender of the unreimbursed amounts described in this Section
3.04(b),
if the
L/C Participants receive notice that any such payment is due (A) prior to
1:00
p.m. (Charlotte, North Carolina time) on any Business Day, such payment shall
be
due that Business Day, and (B) after 1:00 p.m. (Charlotte, North Carolina
time)
on any Business Day, such payment shall be due on the following Business
Day.
(c) Whenever,
at any time after the Issuing Lender has made payment under any Letter of
Credit
and has received from any L/C Participant its Commitment Percentage of such
payment in accordance with this Section
3.04,
the
Issuing Lender receives any payment related to such Letter of Credit (whether
directly from the Borrower or otherwise) or any payment of interest on account
thereof, the Issuing Lender will distribute to such L/C Participant its
pro
rata share
thereof; provided,
that in
the event that any such payment received by the Issuing Lender shall be required
to be returned by the Issuing Lender, such L/C Participant shall return to
the
Issuing Lender the portion thereof previously distributed by the Issuing
Lender
to it.
SECTION
3.05 Reimbursement
Obligation of the Borrower. In
the
event of any drawing under any Letter of Credit, the Borrower agrees to
reimburse (either with the proceeds of a Revolving Loan as provided for in
this
Section
3.05
or with
funds from other sources), in same day funds, the Issuing Lender on each
date on
which the Issuing Lender notifies the Borrower of the date and amount of
a draft
paid under any Letter of Credit for the amount of (a) such draft so paid
and (b)
any amounts referred to in Section
3.03(c)
incurred
by the Issuing Lender in connection with such payment. Unless the Borrower
shall
immediately notify the Issuing Lender that the Borrower intends to reimburse
the
Issuing Lender for such drawing from other sources or funds, the Borrower
shall
be deemed to have timely given a Notice of Borrowing to the Administrative
Agent
requesting that the Lenders make a Revolving Loan bearing interest at the
Base
Rate on such date in the amount of (a) such draft so paid and (b) any amounts
referred to in Section
3.03(c)
incurred by the Issuing Lender in connection with such payment, and the Lenders
shall make a Revolving Loan bearing interest at the Base Rate in such amount,
the proceeds of which shall be applied to reimburse the Issuing Lender for
the
amount of the related drawing and costs and expenses. Each Lender
acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to fund a Revolving Loan in
40
accordance
with this Section
3.05
to
reimburse the Issuing Lender for any draft paid under a Letter of Credit
is
absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance
whatsoever, including, without limitation, the existence of a Default or
an
Event of Default other than a Default or Event of Default that the Issuing
Lender had actual knowledge of at the time of the issuance of such Letter
of
Credit. If the Borrower has elected to pay the amount of such drawing with
funds
from other sources and shall fail to reimburse the Issuing Lender as provided
above, the unreimbursed amount of such drawing shall bear interest in the
rate
which would be payable on any outstanding Base Rate Loans which were then
overdue from the date such amounts become payable (whether at stated maturity,
by acceleration or otherwise) until payment in full.
SECTION
3.06 Obligations
Absolute. The
Borrower’s obligations under this Article
III
(including, without limitation, the Obligations) shall be absolute and
unconditional under any and all circumstances and irrespective of any set-off,
counterclaim or defense to payment which the Borrower may have or have had
against the Issuing Lender or any beneficiary of a Letter of Credit or any
other
Person. The Borrower also agrees that the Issuing Lender and the L/C
Participants shall not be responsible for, and the Borrower’s reimbursement
obligation under Section
3.05
shall
not be affected by, among other things, the validity or genuineness of documents
or of any endorsements thereon, even though such documents shall in fact
prove
to be invalid, fraudulent or forged, or any dispute between or among the
Borrower and any beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or any other party to
which
such Letter of Credit may be transferred or any claims whatsoever of the
Borrower against any beneficiary of such Letter of Credit or any such
transferee, except for such matters caused by the Issuing Lender’s gross
negligence or willful misconduct. The Issuing Lender shall not be liable
for any
error, omission, interruption or delay in transmission, dispatch or delivery
of
any message or advice, however transmitted, in connection with any Letter
of
Credit, except for errors or omissions caused by the Issuing Lender’s gross
negligence or willful misconduct. The Borrower agrees that any action taken
or
omitted by the Issuing Lender under or in connection with any Letter of Credit
or the related drafts or documents, if done in the absence of gross negligence
or willful misconduct and in accordance with the standards of care specified
in
ISP 98 or the Uniform Customs, as the case may be, and, to the extent not
inconsistent therewith, the UCC, shall be binding on the Borrower and shall
not
result in any liability of the Issuing Lender or Lenders.
[End
of
Article III]
41
ARTICLE
IV
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT
SECTION
4.01 Conditions
Precedent to the Execution and Delivery of this
Agreement. The
obligation of the Lenders to execute and deliver this Agreement and to make
Extensions of Credit is subject to the conditions precedent that the
Administrative Agent (and the Lenders, if applicable) shall have received
on or
before the Closing Date, the following, each dated such date, in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders,
with copies for each Lender:
(a) Agreement.
Receipt
by the Administrative Agent of counterparts of this Agreement, duly executed
by
the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender and the
Lenders;
(b) Secretary’s
Certificate.
Receipt
by the Administrative Agent of (A) a certificate of the secretary or assistant
secretary of the Borrower, as applicable, dated the Closing Date and certifying
(1) that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of the certificate
of
incorporation and all amendments thereto of the Borrower, certified as of
a
recent date by the appropriate Governmental Authority in its jurisdiction
of
organization, (2) that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of the
by-laws of the Borrower in effect on the Closing Date and at all times since
a
date prior to the date of the resolutions described in clause (3) below,
(3)
that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of resolutions or consents,
as
applicable, duly adopted by the board of directors of the Borrower authorizing,
as applicable, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
and
that such resolutions have not been modified, rescinded or amended and are
in
full force and effect, (4) that the organizational documents of the Borrower
have not been amended since the date of the last amendment thereto shown
on the
certificate of good standing attached thereto, and (5) as to the incumbency
and
specimen signature of each officer of the Borrower executing this Agreement
and
any other document delivered in connection herewith on its behalf; and (B)
a
certificate of another officer as to the incumbency and specimen signature
of
such secretary or assistant secretary executing the certificate pursuant
to (A)
above;
(c) Officer’s
Certificate.
Receipt
by the Administrative Agent of a certificate from the chief executive officer
or
chief financial officer of the Borrower, as applicable, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, to the effect that,
as of
the Closing Date, all representations and warranties of the Borrower contained
in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents are true, correct and complete;
that the Borrower is not in violation or aware of any event that would cause
a
Material Adverse Change in the business or operation as reflected in the
Disclosure Documents; that the Borrower is not in violation of any of the
covenants contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents; that,
after
giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, no Default
or
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; and that the Borrower has
satisfied each of the conditions precedent set forth in this Section
4.01;
42
(d) Consents.
Receipt
by the Administrative Agent of a written representation from the Borrower
that
(i) all governmental, shareholder, member, partner and third party consents
and
approvals necessary or, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent,
desirable, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby have been
received and are in full force and effect and (ii) no condition or requirement
of law exists which could reasonably be likely to restrain, prevent or impose
any material adverse condition on the transactions contemplated
hereby;
(e) Proceedings.
Receipt
by the Administrative Agent of a certificate from the Borrower certifying
that
no action, proceeding, investigation, regulation or legislation has been
instituted, or, to the Borrower’s knowledge, threatened or proposed before any
court, government agency or legislative body to enjoin, restrain or prohibit,
or
to obtain damages in respect of, or which is related to or arises out of
this
Agreement or any other Loan Documents or the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby or which, in the Administrative Agent’s
reasonable determination, would prohibit
the extension of Letters of Credit or could reasonably be expected to result
in
any such prohibition or a Material Adverse Change;
(f) Financial
Statements.
Receipt
by the Administrative Agent of the Disclosure Documents and financial statements
required pursuant to Section
6.03,
which
demonstrate, in the Administrative Agent’s reasonable judgment, together with
all other information then available to the Administrative Agent, that the
Borrower can repay its debts and satisfy its other obligations as and when
they
become due, and can comply with the financial covenants contained in this
Agreement;
(g) Good
Standing Certificate.
Receipt
by the Administrative Agent of a certificate of good standing for the Borrower,
dated on or immediately prior to the Closing Date, from the Secretary of
State
of the state of organization of the Borrower and from all states in which
the
Borrower is required to obtain a certificate of good standing or like
certificate due to the nature of its operations in such state;
(h) Fees.
Receipt
by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders of the fees set forth or referenced
in this Agreement and any other accrued and unpaid fees, expenses or commissions
due hereunder (including, without limitation, legal fees and expenses of
counsel
to the Administrative Agent), and to any other Person such amount as may
be due
thereto in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including
all
taxes, fees and other charges related to the Loan Documents;
(i) Notice
required by Section 4.02.
Receipt
by the Administrative Agent of the notice required under Section
4.02;
(j) Note.
If
requested by any Lender, a Note, payable to the order of such Lender, duly
completed and executed by the Borrower;
(k) Opinions.
Opinions of Cozen X’Xxxxxx, counsel to the Borrower, in substantially the form
of Exhibit
G
hereto,
and as to such other matters as the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
may
reasonably request, addressed to the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders;
43
(l) Existing
Wachovia Credit Facility.
Receipt
by the Administrative Agent of confirmation acceptable to the Administrative
Agent that all Indebtedness under the Existing Wachovia Credit Facility
(except for the Existing Letters of Credit), has been, or will be
simultaneously, terminated and indefeasibly paid in full; and
(m) Other.
Receipt
by the Administrative Agent of all other opinions, certificates and instruments
in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement satisfactory
in form and substance to the Required Lenders.
SECTION
4.02 Additional
Conditions Precedent. The
obligation of the Lenders and the Issuing Lender to (i) make each Extension
of
Credit, including the Extensions of Credit on the Closing Date, (ii) Convert
a
Base Rate Loan into a LIBOR Rate Loan or from a LIBOR Rate Loan into another
LIBOR Rate Loan, (iii) issue the Letters of Credit upon Application therefor,
or
(iv) extend the Stated Termination Date, shall be subject to the further
conditions precedent that on the date of such Extension of Credit, Conversion,
issuance or Extension of the Stated Termination Date, as the case may
be:
(a) The
Administrative Agent shall have received a Notice of Borrowing, Application
or
Extension Letter, as the case may be, signed by duly authorized officer of
the
Borrower, dated such date, stating that:
(i) The
representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in Section
5.01
of this
Agreement are true and correct on and as of the date of such Extension of
Credit, Conversion, issuance of the Letter of Credit, or Extension of the
Stated
Termination Date, as applicable, as though made, Converted, issued or extended,
as applicable, on and as of such date, both before and after giving effect
to
such Extension of Credit, Conversion, issuance of the Letter of Credit or
Extension of the Stated Termination Date, as applicable, and to the application
of the proceeds thereof;
(ii) Since
December 31, 2005, there has been no Material Adverse Change, provided, however,
that this clause (ii) shall not be applicable to any Extension of Credit,
Conversion, issuance of the Letter of Credit or Extension of the Stated
Termination Date occurring on a date after the Closing Date; and
(iii) No
event
has occurred and is continuing, or would result from the Extension of Credit,
Conversion, issuance of the Letter of Credit or Extension of the Stated
Termination Date, as applicable, or the application of the proceeds thereof,
as
the case may be, which constitutes a Default or an Event of
Default.
(b) The
Administrative Agent shall have received such other approvals, opinions or
documents as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.
44
Unless
the Borrower shall have previously advised the Administrative Agent in writing
that one or more of the statements contained in clauses
(a)(i)
through
(a)(iii)
above
are not true and correct, the Borrower shall be deemed to have represented
and
warranted that, on the date of any Extension of Credit, Conversion, issuance
of
the Letter of Credit or Extension of the Stated Termination Date, as applicable,
the above statements are true.
SECTION 4.03 Reliance
on Certificates. Each
of the
Lenders, the Issuing Lender and the Administrative Agent shall be entitled
to
rely conclusively upon the certificates delivered from time to time by officers
of the Borrower as to the names, incumbency, authority and signatures of
the
respective Persons named therein until such time as the Administrative Agent
may
receive a replacement certificate, in form acceptable to the Administrative
Agent, from an officer of the Borrower identified to the Administrative Agent
as
having authority to deliver such certificate, setting forth the names and
true
signatures of the officers and other representatives of the Borrower thereafter
authorized to act on its behalf.
[End
of
Article IV]
45
ARTICLE
V
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
SECTION
5.01 Representations
and Warranties of the Borrower. The
Borrower
hereby represents and warrants as follows:
(a) Each
of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is an entity duly organized, validly existing
and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation
or
organization, as applicable and is duly qualified to do business in, and
is in
good standing in, all other jurisdictions where the nature of its business
or
the nature of property owned or used by it makes such qualification necessary,
except where such failure would not result in a Material Adverse Change.
Each of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has all requisite corporate (or other
applicable) powers and authority to own or lease and operate its properties
and
to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be
conducted.
(b) The
execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement and
each
Loan Document to which it is a party are within the Borrower’s corporate (or
other applicable) powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate
(or other applicable) action, do not contravene (i) the Borrower’s certificate
of incorporation, (ii) any law, rule or regulation applicable to the Borrower
or
(iii) any contractual or legal restriction binding on or affecting the Borrower,
and will not result in or require the imposition of any lien or encumbrance
on,
or security interest in, any property (including, without limitation, accounts
or contract rights) of the Borrower, except as provided in this Agreement
and
any other the Loan Document.
(c) No
Governmental Action is required for the execution or delivery by the Borrower
of
this Agreement or any other Loan Document to which it is a party or for the
performance by the Borrower of its obligations under this Agreement or any
other
Loan Document other than those which have previously been duly obtained,
are in
full force and effect, are not subject to any pending or, to the knowledge
of
the Borrower, threatened appeal or other proceeding seeking reconsideration
and
as to which all applicable periods of time for review, rehearing or appeal
with
respect thereto have expired.
(d) This
Agreement and each Loan Document to which the Borrower is a party is a legal,
valid and binding obligation of the Borrower party thereto, enforceable against
the Borrower in accordance with its terms subject to the effect of bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium and other similar
laws of general application affecting rights and remedies of creditors
generally.
(e) Except
as
disclosed in the Disclosure Documents, there is no pending or, to the Borrower’s
knowledge, threatened action or proceeding (including, without limitation,
any
proceeding relating to or arising out of Environmental Laws) affecting the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries before any court, governmental agency
or
arbitrator that has a reasonable possibility of resulting in a Material Adverse
Change.
46
(f) The
audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries, as at December 31, 2005, and the related consolidated statements
of income, retained earnings and cash flows of the Borrower and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries for the fiscal year then ended, and the unaudited consolidated
balance sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as at June
30,
2006, and the related consolidated statements of income, retained earnings
and
cash flows of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for the six
(6)
months then ended, copies of which have been furnished to the Administrative
Agent and each Lender, fairly present in all material respects the financial
condition of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as at such dates
and
the results of the operations of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries
for the periods ended on such dates, all in accordance with GAAP consistently
applied, subject, solely in the case of unaudited consolidated balance sheets,
to normal year end adjustments. Since December 31, 2005, there has been no
Material Adverse Change, or material adverse change in the facts and information
regarding such entities as represented to the Closing Date.
(g) The
issuance of, and the existence of, the Letters of Credit, the Extensions
of
Credit and the use of the proceeds thereof will comply with all provisions
of
applicable law and regulation in all material respects.
(h) Neither
the Borrower nor any Subsidiary of the Borrower is an “investment company” or a
company “controlled” by an “investment company”, within the meaning of the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(i) Intentionally
Deleted.
(j) Neither
the Borrower nor its Subsidiaries is engaged in the business of extending
credit
for the purpose of buying 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 drawing on the Letters of Credit or the Extensions
of
Credit will be used to buy or carry any margin stock or to extend credit
to
others for the purpose of buying or carrying any margin stock.
(k) No
ERISA
Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any
Plan
which reasonably could be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
Since
the actuarial valuation date specified in the most recent Schedule B (Actuarial
Information) to the annual report of Plans maintained by the Borrower (Form
5500
Series), if any, (i) there has been no Material Adverse Change in the funding
status of the Plans referred to therein and (ii) no “prohibited transaction” has
occurred with respect thereto. Neither the Borrower nor any of its respective
ERISA Affiliates has incurred nor reasonably expects to incur any material
withdrawal liability under ERISA to any Multiemployer Plan.
47
(l) Except
as
set forth in the Disclosure Documents, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
are in
compliance in all material respects with all applicable Federal, state and
local
statutes, rules, regulations, orders and other provisions of law relating
to
Hazardous Materials, air emissions, water discharge, noise emission and liquid
disposal, and other environmental, health and safety matters, other than
those
the non-compliance with which would not result in a Material Adverse Change
(taking into consideration all fines, penalties and sanctions that may be
imposed because of such non-compliance) or on the ability of the Borrower
to
perform its obligations under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to
which
the Borrower is a party. Except as set forth in the Disclosure Documents,
neither the Borrower nor any of its respective Subsidiaries has received
from
any Governmental Authority any notice of any material violation of any such
statute, rule, regulation, order or provision.
(m) The
Borrower and its Subsidiaries have filed all tax returns (Federal, state
and
local) required to be filed and paid all taxes shown thereon to be due,
including interest and penalties, except to the extent that the Borrower
or any
such Subsidiary is diligently contesting any such taxes in good faith and
by
appropriate proceedings, and for which adequate reserves for payment thereof
have been established.
(n) No
event
has occurred or is continuing which constitutes a Default or an Event of
Default, or which constitutes, or which with the passage of time or giving
of
notice or both would constitute, a default or event of default by the Borrower
or Subsidiary thereof under any material agreement or contract, judgment,
decree
or order by which the Borrower or any of its respective properties may be
bound
or which would require the Borrower or Subsidiary thereof to make any payment
thereunder prior to the scheduled maturity date therefore, where such default
could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Change.
(o) As
of the
Closing Date, the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries will be
Solvent.
(p) The
capitalization of the Borrower and each Significant Subsidiary of the Borrower
consists of the Capital Stock, authorized, issued and outstanding, of such
classes and series, with or without par value, described on Schedule
II
hereto.
All such outstanding Capital Stock has been duly authorized and validly issued
and are fully paid and nonassessable. Except as set forth in the Disclosure
Documents, there are no outstanding warrants, subscriptions, options,
securities, instruments or other rights of any type or nature whatsoever,
which
are convertible into, exchangeable for or otherwise provide for or permit
the
issuance of, Capital Stock of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower
or
are otherwise exercisable by any Person.
(q) The
Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Borrower has good and marketable title
to
all assets and other property purported to be owned by it.
(r) None
of
the properties or assets of the Borrower is subject to any Lien, except
Permitted Liens.
48
(s) All
written information, reports and other papers and data produced by or on
behalf
of the Borrower and furnished to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
were,
at the time the same were so furnished, complete and correct in all material
respects. No document furnished or written statement made to the Administrative
Agent or the Lenders by the Borrower in connection with the negotiation,
preparation or execution of this Agreement or any other Loan Documents contains
or will contain any untrue statement of a fact material to the creditworthiness
of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or omits or will omit to state a fact
necessary in order to make the statements contained therein not
misleading.
(t) Intentionally
Deleted.
(u) The
Borrower is not listed on the specially Designated Nationals and Blocked
Persons
List maintained by the Office of Foreign Asset Control, Department of the
Treasury (“OFAC”)
pursuant to Executive Order No. 13224, 66 Fed. Reg. 49079 (Sept. 25, 2001),
and/or any other list maintained pursuant to any of the rules and regulations
of
OFAC or pursuant to any other applicable Executive Orders or otherwise subject
to sanction under an OFAC implemented regulation.
[End
of
Article V]
49
ARTICLE
VI
COVENANTS
OF THE COMPANY
SECTION
6.01 Affirmative
Covenants. Until
the
Obligations have been finally and indefeasibly paid and satisfied in full
and
the Commitments terminated, the Borrower will, and will cause each of its
Subsidiaries, unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing,
to:
(a) Preservation
of Existence, Etc.
Preserve and maintain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to preserve and
maintain, its corporate or company, as applicable, existence, material rights
(statutory and otherwise) and franchises, and take such other action as may
be
necessary or advisable to preserve and maintain its right to conduct its
business in the states where it shall be conducting its business, except
where
failure to do so does not result in, or could not reasonably be expected
to
have, a Material Adverse Change.
(b) Maintenance
of Properties, Etc.
Maintain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain, good and marketable
title to all of its properties which are used or useful in the conduct of
its
business, and preserve, maintain, develop and operate, and cause each of
its
Subsidiaries to preserve, maintain, develop and operate, in substantial
conformity with all laws and material contractual obligations, all such
properties in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted,
except where such failure would not result in a Material Adverse
Change.
(c) Ownership.
Cause
the Parent to own, at all times, 100% of the Capital Stock having voting
rights
of Borrower.
(d) Compliance
with Material Contractual Obligations, Laws, Etc.
Comply,
and cause each of its Subsidiaries to comply, with the requirements of all
material contractual obligations and all applicable laws, rules, regulations
and
orders, the failure to comply with which could reasonably be expected to
result
in a Material Adverse Change, such compliance to include, without limitation,
paying before the same become delinquent all taxes, assessments and governmental
charges imposed upon it or upon its property except to the extent diligently
contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate
reserves for the payment thereof have been established, and complying with
the
requirements of all applicable Federal, state and local statutes, rules,
regulations, orders and other provisions of law relating to Hazardous Materials,
air emissions, water discharge, noise emission and liquid disposal, and other
environmental, health and safety matters.
(e) Insurance.
Maintain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain, insurance with
financially sound and reputable insurance companies or associations in such
amounts and covering such risks as are usually carried by companies engaged
in
the same or similar businesses and similarly situated.
50
(f) Visitation
Rights; Keeping of Books.
At any
reasonable time and from time to time, upon reasonable advance notice, permit
the Administrative Agent or any of the Lenders 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 respective officers or directors
and with their respective independent certified public accountants and keep
proper books of record and account, in which full and correct entries shall
be
made of all financial transactions and the assets and liabilities of the
Borrower in accordance with GAAP, consistent with the procedures applied
in the
preparation of the financial statements referred to in Section
5.01(f)
hereof.
(g) Transactions
with Affiliates.
Conduct,
and cause each of its Subsidiaries to conduct, all transactions otherwise
permitted under this Agreement with any of its Affiliates on terms that are
fair
and reasonable and no less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary than
it
would obtain in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a Person not an
Affiliate.
(h) Use
of
Proceeds.
Use the
proceeds of any Extension of Credit solely for the following purposes: (i)
on
the Closing Date, the repayment in full of all loans or reimbursement
obligations under the Existing Wachovia Credit Facility; and (ii) on and
after
the Closing Date, general corporate purposes and working capital needs of
the
Borrower.
(i) Loan
Documents.
Perform
and comply in all material respects with each of the provisions of each Loan
Document to which it is a party.
(j) Risk
Management.
Perform
and comply in all material respects, and require its Subsidiaries to perform
and
comply in all material respects, with any risk management policies developed
by
the Borrower, including such policies, if applicable, related to (i) the
retail
and wholesale inventory distribution and trading procedures and (ii) dollar
and
volume limits.
(k) [Intentionally
Deleted.]
(l) OFAC
Compliance.
Comply
with any obligations that it may have under the USA Patriot Act, all laws
and
executive orders administered by OFAC and all regulations promulgated and
executive orders having the force of law issued pursuant thereto, as amended
or
supplemented from time to time (collectively, “AML
and Anti-Terrorist Acts”).
In
the event that the Borrower becomes aware that it is not in compliance with
any
applicable AML and Anti-Terrorist Acts, the Borrower shall notify the
Administrative Agent and diligently take all actions required thereunder
to
become compliant.
51
(m) Further
Assurances.
At the
expense of the Borrower, promptly execute and deliver, or cause to be promptly
executed and delivered, all further instruments and documents, and take and
cause to be taken all further actions, that may be reasonably necessary or
that
the Required Lenders through the Administrative Agent may reasonably request,
to
enable the Lenders and the Administrative Agent to enforce the terms and
provisions of this Agreement and the Loan Documents and to exercise their
rights
and remedies hereunder. In addition, the Borrower will use all reasonable
efforts to duly obtain Governmental Actions required from time to time on
or
prior to such date as the same may become legally required, and thereafter
to
maintain all such Governmental Actions in full force and effect, except where
such failure would not result in a Material Adverse Change.
SECTION
6.02 Negative
Covenants. Until
all of
the Obligations have been finally and indefeasibly paid and satisfied in
full
and the Commitments terminated, the Borrower will not, and will not cause
or
permit any of its Subsidiaries, without the written consent of the Required
Lenders, to:
(a) Liens,
Etc.
Except
as permitted in Section
6.02(c),
create,
incur, assume, or suffer to exist, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to create,
incur, assume, or suffer to exist, any Lien other than Permitted
Liens.
(b) Indebtedness.
Create
or suffer, or permit any Subsidiary to create or suffer, to exist any
Indebtedness except for Permitted Indebtedness.
(c) Obligation
to Ratably Secure.
Except
as permitted by Section
6.02(a),
create
or suffer to exist, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to create or suffer
to
exist, any Lien other than a Permitted Lien, in each case to secure or provide
for the payment of Indebtedness, unless, on or prior to the date thereof,
the
Borrower shall have (i) pursuant to documentation reasonably satisfactory
to the
Administrative Agent and Required Lenders, equally and ratably secured the
Obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement by a Lien acceptable to
the
Administrative Agent and Required Lenders, and (ii) caused the creditor or
creditors, as the case may be, in respect of such Indebtedness to have entered
into an intercreditor agreement in form, scope and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders.
(d) Mergers,
Etc.
Merge
or consolidate with or into any Person, or permit any of its Subsidiaries
to do
so, except that (i) any Subsidiary of the Borrower may merge or consolidate
with
or into, any other Subsidiary of the Borrower and (ii) any Subsidiary of
the
Borrower may merge or consolidate with and into the Borrower; provided,
that
the Borrower is the surviving corporation; provided,
further,
that in
each case, immediately after giving effect to such proposed transaction,
no
Event of Default or Default would exist.
(e) Sale
of Assets, Etc. Sell, transfer, lease, assign or otherwise convey or
dispose, or permit any Subsidiary to sell, transfer, lease, assign or otherwise
convey or dispose, of assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired), in
any
single transaction or series of transactions, whether or not related having
an
aggregate book value in excess of 10% of the Consolidated assets of the Borrower
and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, except for dispositions of capital assets
in
the ordinary course of business as presently conducted.
(f) Restricted
Investments. Other than in the ordinary
course of business (i) make or permit to exist any loans or advances to,
or any
other investment in, any Person except for investments in Permitted Investments,
or (ii) acquire any assets or property of any other Person.
(g)
New
Business. Permit the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries to enter into any business which is not substantially similar
to
that existing on the Closing Date.
52
(h) Distributions.
Pay any
dividends on or make any other distributions in respect of any Capital Stock
or
redeem or otherwise acquire any such Capital Stock without in each instance
obtaining the prior written consent of the Required Lenders; provided,
that
(i) any Subsidiary of the Borrower may pay regularly scheduled dividends
or make
other distributions to the Borrower; (ii) if no Default or Event of Default
exists or would result therefrom, the Borrower may pay distributions or
dividends in either cash or Capital Stock or may redeem or otherwise acquire
Capital Stock,
and
(iii) the Borrower may cause the redemption or acquisition of Capital Stock
having a preferred interest only if (a) such redemption or acquisition is
effected by the proceeds of Capital Stock issued by the Parent, or (b) such
redemption or acquisition is effected with proceeds from Permitted Indebtedness;
provided,
that
before and after such redemption or acquisition as described in (a) and (b)
above, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
(i) Compliance
with ERISA.
(i)
Permit to exist any “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section
412(a)
of the
Code), unless such deficiency exists with respect to a Multiple Employer
Plan or
Multiemployer Plan and the Borrower has no control over the reduction or
elimination of such deficiency, (ii) terminate, or permit any ERISA Affiliate
to
terminate, any Plan of the Borrower or such ERISA Affiliate so as to result
in
any material liability of the Borrower or ERISA Affiliate to the PBGC, or
(iii)
permit to exist any occurrence of any reportable event (within the meaning
of
Section 4043 of ERISA), or any other event or condition, which presents a
material risk of a termination by the PBGC of any Plan of the Borrower or
such
ERISA Affiliate and such a material liability of the Borrower or ERISA Affiliate
to the PBGC.
(j) Constituent
Documents, Etc.
Change
in any material respect the nature of its certificate of incorporation, by-laws,
or other similar documents, or accounting policies or accounting practices
(except as required or permitted by the Financial Accounting Standards Board
or
GAAP).
(k) Fiscal
Year.
Change
its Fiscal Year.
SECTION
6.03 Reporting
Requirements. So
long
as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder or the Borrower shall
have any
obligation to pay any amount to the Administrative Agent or any Lender
hereunder, the Borrower will, unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise
consent in writing, provide to the Administrative Agent:
53
(a) as
soon
as available and in any event within sixty (60) days after the end of each
of
the first three quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a consolidated
and
consolidating balance sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries
as
at the end of such quarter and consolidated and consolidating statements
of
income, retained earnings and cash flows of the Borrower and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries for the period commencing at the end of the previous fiscal
year
and ending with the end of such quarter, all in reasonable detail and duly
certified by the chief financial officer or the treasurer of the Borrower
as
fairly presenting in all material respects the financial condition of the
Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as at such date and the results
of
operations of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for the periods
ended on such date, except for normal year end adjustments, all in accordance
with GAAP consistently applied (for purposes hereof delivery of the Borrower’s
appropriately completed Form 10-Q will be sufficient in lieu of delivery
of such
consolidated balance sheet and consolidated statements of income, retained
earnings and cash flows), together with a Compliance Certificate, in the
form of
Exhibit
I,
of the
chief financial officer or the treasurer of the Borrower (A) demonstrating
and
certifying compliance by the Borrower with the covenants set forth in
Section
6.04
and (B)
stating that no Event of Default or Default has occurred and is continuing
or,
if an Event of Default or Default has occurred and is continuing, a statement
as
to the nature thereof and the action which the Borrower has taken and proposes
to take with respect thereto;
(b) as
soon
as available and in any event within one hundred five (105) days after the
end
of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a copy of the annual report for such
year
for the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, containing consolidated
and
consolidating financial statements for such year certified by, and accompanied
by an unqualified opinion of, independent public accountants reasonably
acceptable to the Administrative Agent (for purposes hereof, delivery of
the
Borrower’s appropriately completed Form 10-K will be sufficient in lieu of
delivery of such financial statements), together with a Compliance Certificate,
in the form of Exhibit
I,
of the
chief financial officer or the treasurer of the Borrower (A) demonstrating
and
certifying compliance by the Borrower with the covenants set forth in
Section
6.04
and (B)
stating that no Event of Default or Default has occurred and is continuing
or,
if an Event of Default or Default has occurred and is continuing, a statement
as
to the nature thereof and the action which the Borrower has taken and proposes
to take with respect thereto;
(c) as
soon
as possible and in any event within five (5) days after the occurrence of
each
Event of Default and each Default known to the Borrower, a statement of the
chief financial officer of the Borrower setting forth details of such Event
of
Default or Default and the action which the Borrower has taken and proposes
to
take with respect thereto;
(d) as
soon
as possible and in any event within five (5) days after receipt thereof
by the
Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates from the PBGC copies of each notice
received by the Borrower or such ERISA Affiliate of the PBGC’s intention to
terminate any Plan of the Borrower or such ERISA Affiliate or to have a
trustee
appointed to administer any such Plan;
(e) as
soon
as possible and in any event within five (5) days after receipt thereof
by the
Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan sponsor, a copy
of
each notice received by the Borrower or such ERISA Affiliate concerning
the
imposition of withdrawal liability in the amount of at least $1,000,000
pursuant
to Section
4202
of ERISA
in respect of which the Borrower or such ERISA Affiliate is reasonably
expected
to be liable;
(f) as
soon
as possible and in any event within five (5) days after the Borrower becomes
aware of the occurrence thereof, notice of all actions, suits, proceedings
or
other events (A) of the type described in Section
5.01(e)
or (B)
for which the Administrative Agent or the Lenders will be entitled to indemnity
under Section
9.05;
54
(g) as
soon
as possible and in any event within five (5) days after the sending or filing
thereof, copies of all material reports that the Borrower sends to any of
its
security holders, and copies of all reports and registration statements which
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries files with the Securities and Exchange
Commission or any national securities exchange;
(h) as
soon
as possible and in any event within five (5) days after requested, such other
information respecting the business, properties, assets, liabilities (actual
or
contingent), results of operations, prospects, condition or operations,
financial or otherwise, of the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof as any
Lender
through the Administrative Agent may from time to time reasonably request;
and
(i) as
soon
as possible and in any event within fifteen (15) days after the occurrence
of
each ERISA Event, a statement of the chief financial officer of the Borrower
setting forth details of such ERISA Event and the action which the Borrower
has
taken and proposes to take with respect thereto.
Information
required to be delivered pursuant to this Section
6.03
shall be
deemed to have been delivered if such information shall have been posted
by the
Agent on an Intralinks or similar site to which the Administrative Agent
has
been granted access or shall be available on the website of the Securities
and
Exchange Commission at xxxx://xxx.xxx.xxx and the Borrower shall have notified
the Administrative Agent of the availability of all Form 10-Q and Form 10-K
reports; provided that, if requested by the Administrative Agent or any Lender,
the Borrower shall deliver a paper copy of such information to the
Administrative Agent or such Lender. Information required to be delivered
pursuant to this Section
6.03
may also
be delivered by electronic communications pursuant to procedures reasonably
approved by the Administrative Agent.
SECTION
6.04 Financial
Covenants. So
long
as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder or the Borrower shall have
any
obligation to pay any amount to the Administrative Agent or any Lender
hereunder, the Borrower will, unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise
consent in writing, maintain at the end of each fiscal quarter a ratio of
Indebtedness to Consolidated Total Capitalization of the Borrower and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries of not more than 0.65 to 1.0.
[End
of
Article VI]
55
ARTICLE
VII
EVENTS
OF DEFAULT
SECTION
7.01 Events
of Default. Each
of the
following events should they occur and be continuing shall constitute an
“Event
of Default”:
(a) The
Borrower shall fail to pay (i) any amount of principal when the same becomes
due
and payable or (ii) any interest, fees or any other amount payable hereunder
within five (5) Business Days of when the same becomes due and payable;
or
(b) Any
representation or warranty made by or on behalf of the Borrower in any Agreement
or Loan Document or by or on behalf of the Borrower (or any of its officers)
in
connection with any Agreement or Loan Document shall prove to have been
incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made; or
(c) (i)
The
Borrower shall fail to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement
contained in Section
6.01(a),
(c),
(e),
(g),
(h),
(i)
or
(j),
Xxxxxxx
0.00(x),
(x),
(x),
(x),
(x),
(x),
(x)
or
(h),
Section
6.03
or
Section
6.04,
or (ii)
the Borrower shall fail to perform or observe any other term, covenant or
agreement contained in this Agreement (other than obligations specifically
set
forth elsewhere in this Section
7.01)
on its
part to be performed or observed if the failure to perform or observe such
other
term, covenant or agreement, shall remain unremedied for thirty (30) days
after
written notice thereof shall have been given to the Borrower by the
Administrative Agent or any Lender; or
(d) The
Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary thereof shall fail to pay any principal
of or premium or interest on any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness incurred
under this Agreement) thereof in the aggregate (for all such Persons) in
excess
of $15,000,000, 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 Indebtedness; or any other event
shall occur or condition shall exist under any agreement or instrument relating
to any such Indebtedness 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 Indebtedness; or any such Indebtedness shall be declared to be due and
payable, or required to be prepaid (other than by a regularly scheduled required
prepayment), prior to the stated maturity thereof; or
56
(e) The
Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary thereof 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 a
Significant Subsidiary thereof 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), such proceeding shall remain undismissed or unstayed for
a
period of forty-five (45) days, 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 a
Significant Subsidiary thereof shall consent to or acquiesce in any such
proceeding; or the Borrower or a Significant Subsidiary thereof shall take
any
corporate action to authorize any of the actions set forth above in this
subsection (e); or
(f) Any
judgment or order for the payment of money in excess of $15,000,000 (in the
aggregate) shall be rendered against the Borrower or any Significant Subsidiary
thereof and either (i) enforcement proceedings shall have been commenced
by any
creditor upon such judgment or order or (ii) there shall be any period of
ten
(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) The
obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement or any other Loan Document
shall become unenforceable, or the Borrower, or any court or governmental
or
regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Borrower, shall so assert in
writing or the Borrower or any of its Affiliates shall contest in any manner
the
validity or enforceability thereof; or
(h) Any
ERISA
Event shall have occurred with respect to a Plan and, thirty (30) days after
notice thereof shall have been given to the Borrower by the Administrative
Agent
or any Lender, (i) such ERISA Event shall still exist and (ii) such ERISA
Event
is reasonably likely to result in a liability or lien in excess of $15,000,000
against the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate; or
(i) The
Borrower or any Affiliate thereof as employer under a Multiemployer Plan
shall
have made a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan and
the
plan sponsor of such Multiemployer Plan shall have notified such withdrawing
employer that such employer has incurred a withdrawal liability in an annual
amount exceeding $5,000,000; or
(j) Any
Governmental Approval shall be rescinded, revoked, otherwise terminated,
or
amended or modified in any manner which is materially adverse to the interests
of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent; or
57
(k) A
Change
in Control shall occur.
SECTION
7.02 Upon
an Event of Default. Upon
the
occurrence of an Event of Default, with the consent of the Required Lenders,
the
Administrative Agent may, or upon the request of the Required Lenders, the
Administrative Agent shall, by notice to the Borrower:
(a) Acceleration;
Termination of Credit Facility.
Declare
the principal of and interest on the Extensions of Credit, the Notes and
the
Obligations (except for Hedging Obligations, which shall be governed by the
terms and conditions of the documents controlling such obligations) at the
time
outstanding, and all other amounts owed to the Lenders and to the Administrative
Agent under this Agreement (including, without limitation, all L/C Obligations,
whether or not the beneficiaries of the then outstanding Letters of Credit
shall
have presented the documents required thereunder), to be forthwith due and
payable, whereupon the same shall immediately become due and payable without
presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are
expressly waived, anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding,
and terminate the Commitment and any right of the Borrower to request Extensions
of Credit or Letters of Credit thereunder; provided,
that
upon the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Section
7.01(e),
the
Commitments shall be automatically terminated and all Obligations (except
for
Hedging Obligations, which shall be governed by the terms and conditions
of the
documents controlling such obligations) shall automatically become due and
payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind,
all of
which are expressly waived, anything in this Agreement or in any other Loan
Document to the contrary notwithstanding.
(b) Letters
of Credit.
With
respect to all Letters of Credit with respect to which presentment for honor
shall not have occurred at the time of an acceleration pursuant to Section
7.02(a),
require
the Borrower at such time to deposit in a cash collateral account with the
Administrative Agent an amount equal to the aggregate then undrawn and unexpired
amount of such Letters of Credit. Amounts held in such cash collateral account
shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to the payment of drafts drawn
under such Letters of Credit, and the unused portion thereof after all such
Letters of Credit shall have expired or been fully drawn upon, if any, shall
be
applied to repay the other Obligations. After all such Letters of Credit
shall
have expired or been fully drawn upon, the Reimbursement Obligation shall
have
been satisfied and all other Obligations shall have been paid in full, the
balance, if any, in such cash collateral account shall be returned to the
Borrower.
SECTION
7.03 Rights
and Remedies Cumulative; Non-Waiver; Etc. The
enumeration of the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders set forth in this Agreement is not intended to be exhaustive, and
the
exercise by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders of any right or remedy
shall not preclude the exercise of any
58
other rights or remedies, all of which shall be cumulative, and shall be in addition to any other right or remedy given hereunder or that may now or hereafter exist in law or in equity or by suit or otherwise. No delay or failure to take action on the part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender in exercising any right, power or privilege shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, power or privilege preclude other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege or shall be construed to be a waiver of any Event of Default. No course of dealing between the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders or their respective agents or employees shall be effective to change, modify or discharge any provision of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or to constitute a waiver of any Event of Default.
[End
of
Article VII]
59
ARTICLE
VIII
THE
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
SECTION
8.01 Appointment. Each
Lender
hereby irrevocably designates and appoints Wachovia as the Administrative
Agent
of such Lender and the Issuing Lender under this Agreement and the other
Loan
Documents, and each such Lender and the Issuing Lender irrevocably authorizes
Wachovia, as the Administrative Agent for such Lender and the Issuing Lender,
to
take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and
the
other Loan Documents and to exercise such powers and perform such duties
as are
expressly delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms of this Agreement
and the other Loan Documents, together with such other powers as are reasonably
incidental thereto. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary elsewhere
in
this Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or
responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein and in the Loan
Documents, or any fiduciary relationship with any Lender, and no implied
covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities
shall
be read into this Agreement or any other Loan Document or otherwise exist
against the Administrative Agent.
SECTION
8.02 Delegation
of Duties. The
Administrative Agent may execute any of its duties under this Agreement,
any
Letter of Credit and the other Loan Documents by or through agents or
attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel concerning all
matters pertaining to such duties. The Administrative Agent shall not be
responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agents or attorneys-in-fact
selected by it with reasonable care.
SECTION
8.03 Exculpatory
Provisions. Neither
the
Administrative Agent nor any of its officers, directors, employees, agents,
attorneys-in-fact or affiliates shall be (i) liable for any action lawfully
taken or omitted to be taken by it or such Person under or in connection
with
this Agreement or any other Loan Document (except in the case of gross
negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent
jurisdiction) or (ii) responsible in any manner to any of the Lenders for
any
recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by the Borrower
or any
officer thereof contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document or
in any
certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided
for in,
or received by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with, this
Agreement or any other Loan Document or for the value, validity, effectiveness,
genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or the Letters
of
Credit or any other Loan Document or for any failure of the Borrower to perform
its obligations hereunder or thereunder. The Administrative Agent shall not
be
under any obligation to any Lender to ascertain or to inquire as to the
observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions
of, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or to inspect the properties,
books or records of the Borrower.
60
SECTION
8.04 Reliance
by Administrative Agent. The
Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected
in
relying, upon any writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit,
letter, cablegram, telegram, telecopy, telex or teletype message, statement,
order or other document or conversation believed by it to be genuine and
correct
and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person or Persons and
upon
advice and statements of legal counsel (including, without limitation, counsel
to the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by the
Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may deem and treat the payee
of
any evidence of indebtedness in respect of any Extension of Credit, or other
indebtedness hereunder as the owner thereof for all purposes unless a written
notice of assignment, negotiation or transfer thereof shall have been filed
with
the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be fully justified
in
failing or refusing to take any action under this Agreement, any Letter of
Credit or any Loan Document unless it shall first receive such advice or
concurrence of the Required Lenders (unless all of the Lenders’ action is
required hereunder) as it deems appropriate or it shall first be indemnified
to
its satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and expense
which
may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such
action.
The Administrative Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting,
or in
refraining from acting, under this Agreement and the Loan Documents in
accordance with a request of the Required Lenders (unless all of the Lenders’
action is required hereunder), and such request and any action taken or failure
to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all the Lenders.
SECTION
8.05 Notice
of Default. The
Administrative Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the
occurrence of any Event of Default hereunder unless the Administrative Agent
has
received notice from a Lender or the Borrower referring to this Agreement,
describing such Event of Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of
default”. In the event that the Administrative Agent receives such a notice, the
Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Lenders. The
Administrative Agent shall take such action with respect to such Event of
Default as shall be reasonably directed by the Required Lenders; provided,
that
unless and until the Administrative Agent shall have received such directions,
the Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action,
or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Event of Default
as it
shall deem advisable in the best interests of the Issuing Lender and the
Lenders.
SECTION
8.06 Non-Reliance
on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders. Each
Lender
expressly acknowledges that neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its
officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates has
made
any representations or warranties to it and that no act by the Administrative
Agent hereinafter taken, including any review of the affairs of the Borrower,
shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by the
Administrative Agent to any Lender. Each Lender represents to the Administrative
Agent that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative
Agent or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as
it has
deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of and investigation into the
business, operations, property, financial and other condition and
creditworthiness of the Borrower and made its own decision to enter into
this
Agreement. Each Lender also represents that it will, independently and without
reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, and based on
such
documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue
to
make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking
action under this Agreement and the Loan Documents and to make such
investigation as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business,
operations, property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness
of the
Borrower. Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly required
to
be furnished to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent hereunder, the
Administrative Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide
any
Lender with any credit or other information concerning the business, operations,
property, condition (financial or otherwise), prospects or creditworthiness
of
the Borrower which may come into the possession of the Administrative Agent
or
any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or
affiliates.
61
SECTION
8.07 Indemnification. The
Lenders
agree to indemnify the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such (to the
extent not reimbursed by the Borrower and without limiting the obligation
of the
Borrower to do so), 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 whatsoever which may at any time (including, without limitation,
at
any time following the termination of the Letters of Credit or Commitment)
be
imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent in any
way
relating to or arising out of this Agreement, the Letters of Credit, any
of the
other Loan Documents or any documents contemplated by or referred to herein
or
therein or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or any action
taken
or omitted by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with any of
the
foregoing; provided,
that no
Lender
shall be liable for the payment of any portion of such liabilities, obligations,
losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or
disbursements resulting from the Administrative Agent’s gross negligence or
willful misconduct. The agreements in this Section shall survive the termination
of this Agreement, the Extensions of Credit, the Letters of Credit and the
payment of all amounts payable hereunder.
SECTION
8.08 Administrative
Agent in Its Individual Capacity. The
Administrative Agent and its affiliates may make loans to, accept deposits
from
and generally engage in any kind of business with, the Borrower as though
the
Administrative Agent was not the Administrative Agent hereunder. With respect
to
its interest on the Extensions of Credit and any other amounts owed to it
hereunder, the Administrative Agent shall have the same rights and powers
under
this Agreement as any Lender and may exercise the same as though it were
not the
Administrative Agent, and the terms “Lender” and “Lenders” shall include the
Administrative Agent in its individual capacity.
SECTION
8.09 Successor
Administrative Agent. The
Administrative Agent may resign as Administrative Agent upon ten (10) days’
notice to the Lenders and the Borrower. If the Administrative Agent shall
resign
as Administrative Agent under this Agreement, then the Required Lenders,
with
the consent of the Borrower, shall appoint from among the Lenders a successor
agent for the Lenders, whereupon such successor agent shall succeed to the
rights, powers and duties of the Administrative Agent, and the term
“Administrative Agent” shall mean such successor agent effective upon its
appointment, and the former Administrative Agent’s rights, powers and duties as
Administrative Agent shall be terminated, without any other or further act
or
deed on the part of such former Administrative Agent or any of the parties
to
this Agreement. After any retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation as
Administrative Agent, the provisions of this Section shall inure to its benefit
as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Administrative
Agent under this Agreement. In the event the Administrative Agent resigns
pursuant to this Section
8.09
the
Administrative Agent shall also resign in its capacity as Issuing Lender
and
Swingline Lender.
62
SECTION
8.10 Issuing
Lender. Each
Lender
hereby acknowledges that the provisions of this Article
VIII
shall
apply to the Issuing Lender in its capacity as such, in the same manner as
such
provisions are expressly stated to apply to the Administrative
Agent.
SECTION
8.11 Notices;
Actions Under Loan Documents. All
notices
received by the Issuing Lender pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan
Document shall be promptly delivered by the receiving party to the
Administrative Agent, for distribution to the Lenders, and any notices, reports
or other documents received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to this
Agreement shall be promptly delivered to the Issuing Lender and the Lenders.
The
Issuing Lender hereby agrees not to amend or waive any provision or consent
to
the amendment or waiver of any Loan Document without the consent of the Required
Lenders (or, to the extent required pursuant to Section
9.01,
all of
the Lenders).
[End
of
Article VIII]
63
ARTICLE
IX
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION
9.01 Amendments,
Etc.
No
amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, 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 the Borrower,
and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance
and for the specific purpose for which given; provided,
that no
such waiver and no such amendment, supplement or modification shall without
the
written consent of all the Lenders (a) extend the Termination Date or the
maturity of any Loan or unreimbursed drawing, or reduce the rate or extend
the
time of payment of interest in respect thereof, or reduce any fee payable
to any
Lender hereunder or extend the time for the payment thereof or change the
amount
of any Lender’s Commitment, in each case without the written consent of all the
Lenders, (b) amend, modify or waive any provision of this Section
9.01
or
Section
9.09(e)
or
reduce the percentage specified in the definition of Required Lenders, or
consent to the assignment or transfer by the Borrower of any of its rights
and
obligations under this Agreement, in each case without the written consent
of
all the Lenders, (c) amend, modify or waive any provision of Article
VIII
without
the written consent of the Administrative Agent, (d) waive, modify or eliminate
any of the conditions precedent specified in Article
IV,
in each
case without the written consent of all the Lenders, (e) forgive principal,
interest, fees or other amounts payable hereunder, or (f) waive any requirement
for the release of collateral.
SECTION
9.02 Notices,
Etc.
All
notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing
(including telegraphic communication) and mailed, telecopied, telegraphed
or
delivered as follows:
The
Borrower:
South
Jersey Gas Company
0
Xxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx,
Xxx Xxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Telecopy
No.: (000) 000-0000
With
a
copy to:
Cozen
X’Xxxxxx
The
Atrium
0000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
Telecopy
No.: (000) 000-0000
64
The
Administrative Agent or the Issuing Lender:
Wachovia
Bank, National Association
000
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
One
Wachovia Center, NC-5562, XX-00
Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention:
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Telecopy
No.: (000) 000-0000
With
a
copy to:
Wachovia
Bank, National Association
000
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention:
Agency Services
Telecopy
No.: (000) 000-0000
With
a
copy to:
Xxxxxx
& Bird LLP
000
Xxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
0000
Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention:
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
Telecopy
No.: (000) 000-0000
and
if to
any Lender, at its address or telecopy number set forth on Schedule
I
hereto;
or, as to each party, at such other address as shall be designated by such
party
in a written notice to the other parties. All such notices and communications
shall, when mailed, be effective three (3) days after being deposited in
the
mails or when sent by telecopy or telex or delivered to the telegraph company,
respectively, addressed as aforesaid.
SECTION
9.03 No
Waiver; Remedies. No
failure on
the part of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender or any Lender to
exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right hereunder shall operate as
a
waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right hereunder
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 9.04 Set-off. (a) Upon
the
occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, the
Administrative Agent and each Lender 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 the Administrative
Agent or such Lender 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, irrespective of whether or not the Administrative Agent or
such
Lender shall have made any demand hereunder and although such obligations
may be
contingent or unmatured.
65
(b) If
any
Lender (a “Benefited Lender”) shall
at
any time receive any payment of all or part of the Extensions of Credit or
other
obligations of the Borrower to it hereunder (such Lender’s “Borrower
Obligations”),
or
interest thereon, or receive any collateral in respect thereof (whether
voluntarily or involuntarily, by set-off, pursuant to events or proceedings
of
the nature referred to in Section
7.01(e),
or
otherwise), in a greater proportion than any such payment to or collateral
received by any other Lender, if any, in respect of such other Lender’s Borrower
Obligations, or interest thereon, such Benefited Lender shall purchase for
cash
from the other Lenders such portion of each such other Lender’s Borrower
Obligations, or shall provide such other Lenders with the benefits of any
such
collateral, or the proceeds thereof, as shall be necessary to cause such
Benefited Lender to share the excess payment or benefits of such collateral
or
proceeds ratably with each of the Lenders; provided,
that if
all or any portion of such excess payment or benefits is thereafter recovered
from such Benefited Lender, such purchase shall be rescinded, and the purchase
price and benefits returned, to the extent of such recovery, but without
interest. The Borrower agrees that each Lender so purchasing a portion of
another Lender’s Borrower Obligations may exercise all rights of payment
(including, without limitation, rights of set-off) with respect to such portion
as fully as if such Lender were the direct holder of such portion.
(c) The
Administrative Agent and each Lender agree promptly to notify the Borrower
after
any such set-off and application referred to in subsection (a) above;
provided,
that
the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off
and application. The rights of the Administrative Agent and each Lender under
this Section
9.04
are in
addition to other rights and remedies (including, without limitation, other
rights of set-off) which the Administrative Agent and each Lender may
have.
SECTION
9.05 Indemnification. The
Borrower
hereby indemnifies and holds the Issuing Lender, the Administrative Agent,
the
Swingline Lender and each Lender harmless from and against any and all claims,
damages, losses, liabilities, costs and expenses which such party may incur
or
which may be claimed against such party by any Person:
(a) by
reason
of any inaccuracy or alleged inaccuracy in any material respect, or any
untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact, or by reason
of the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary
to make
such statements, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made,
not misleading, in each case relating to any of the Loan Documents and
the
transactions contemplated thereby, the Disclosure Documents or in any manner,
whether direct or indirect, related to this Agreement; or
66
(b) by
reason
of or in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of this
Agreement or other Loan Documents, or any transaction contemplated by this
Agreement or other Loan Documents, other than as specified in subsection
(c)
below; or
(c) by
reason
of or in connection with the execution and delivery or transfer of, or payment
or failure to make payment under this Agreement, the Letters of Credit or
any
other Loan Document; provided,
that
the Borrower shall not be required to indemnify any such party pursuant to
this
Section
9.05(c)
for any
claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses to the extent caused
by
(i) the Issuing Lender’s willful misconduct or gross negligence in determining
whether documents presented under the Letters of Credit comply with terms
of the
Letters of Credit or (ii) the Issuing Lender’s willful or grossly negligent
failure to make lawful payment under the Letters of Credit after the
presentation to it of a certificate strictly complying with the terms and
conditions of the Letters of Credit.
Nothing
in this Section
9.05
is
intended to limit the Borrower’s obligations contained in Article
II.
Without
prejudice to the survival of any other obligation of the Borrower hereunder,
the
indemnities and obligations of the Borrower contained in this Section
9.05
shall
survive the payment in full of amounts payable pursuant to Article
II
and
Article
III
and the
termination of the Commitment.
SECTION
9.06 Liability
of the Lenders. The
Borrower
assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of each beneficiary or transferee
of
the Letters of Credit with respect to their use of the Letters of Credit.
None
of the Issuing Lender, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders nor any of their
respective officers or directors shall be liable or responsible for: (a)
the use
which may be made of the Letters of Credit or any acts or omissions of each
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 the Issuing Lender against presentation
of
documents which do not comply with the terms of the Letters of Credit, including
failure of any documents to bear any reference or adequate reference to the
Letters of Credit; or (d) any other circumstances whatsoever in making or
failing to make payment under the Letters of Credit, except that the Borrower
shall have a claim against the Issuing Lender and the Issuing Lender shall
be
liable to the Borrower, to the extent of any direct, as opposed to
consequential, damages suffered by the Borrower which the Borrower proves
were
caused by (i) the Issuing Lender’s willful misconduct or gross negligence in
determining whether documents presented under the Letters of Credit are genuine
or comply with the terms of the Letters of Credit or (ii) the Issuing Lender’s
willful or grossly negligent failure, as determined by a court of competent
jurisdiction, to make lawful payment under the Letters of Credit after the
presentation to it of a certificate strictly complying with the terms and
conditions of the Letters of Credit. In
furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the Issuing Lender may
accept original or facsimile (including telecopy) certificates presented
under
the Letters of Credit that appear on their face to be in order, without
responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or
information to the contrary.
SECTION
9.07 Costs,
Expenses and Taxes. (a) The
Borrower agrees to pay on demand all costs and expenses in connection with
the
preparation, issuance, delivery, filing, recording, and administration
of this
Agreement, the Letters of Credit, the Extensions of Credit and any other
documents which may be delivered in connection with this Agreement, including,
without limitation, the reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of counsel
for the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Lender incurred in connection
with
the preparation and negotiation of this Agreement, the Letters of Credit,
the
Extensions of Credit and any document delivered in connection therewith
and all
costs and expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent (and, in the case
of
clause (iii) or (iv) below, any Lender) (including reasonable fees and
out of
pocket expenses of counsel) in connection with (i) the transfer, drawing
upon,
change in terms, maintenance, renewal or cancellation of this Agreement,
the
Extensions of Credit and the Letters of Credit, (ii) any and all amounts
which
the Administrative Agent or any Lender has paid relative to the Administrative
Agent’s or such Lender’s curing of any Event of Default resulting from the acts
or omissions of the Borrower under this Agreement or any other Loan Document,
(iii) the enforcement of, or protection of rights under, this Agreement
or any
other Loan Document (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or
otherwise), (iv) any action or proceeding relating to a court order, injunction,
or other process or decree restraining or seeking to restrain the Issuing
Lender
from paying any amount under the Letters of Credit or (v) any waivers or
consents or amendments to or in respect of this Agreement, the Extensions
of
Credit or the Letters of Credit requested by the Borrower. In addition,
the
Borrower shall pay any and all stamp and other taxes and fees payable or
determined to be payable in connection with the execution, delivery, filing
and
recording of this Agreement, the Letters of Credit, the Extensions of Credit
or
any of such other documents, and agree to save the Issuing Lender, the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders harmless from and against any and
all
liabilities with respect to or resulting from any delay in paying or omission
to
pay such taxes and fees.
67
(b) If
any
payment of principal of, or Conversion of, any LIBOR Rate Loan is made other
than on the last day of the Interest Period for such LIBOR Rate Loan, as
a
result of a payment or Conversion pursuant to Section
7.02 or
for
any other reason, the Borrower shall, upon demand by any Lender (with a copy
of
such demand to the Administrative Agent), pay to the Administrative Agent
for
the account of such Lender any amounts required to compensate such Lender
for
any additional losses, costs or expenses which 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 to fund or maintain such LIBOR Rate Loan.
SECTION
9.08 Binding
Effect. This
Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed and delivered
by the Borrower and the Issuing Lender, the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders
and thereafter shall (a) be binding upon the Borrower, its successors and
assigns, and (b) inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Lenders
and
each of their respective successors, assigns and permitted transferees;
provided,
that the
Borrower may not assign all or any part of its rights or obligations under
this
Agreement without the prior written consent of the Lenders.
SECTION 9.09 Assignments
and Participation. (a) Each
Lender may assign to one or more Eligible Assignees all or a portion of its
rights and obligations under this Agreement and the Loan Documents (including,
without limitation, all or a portion of its Commitment and the Extensions
of
Credit owing to it); provided,
that
(i) the Borrower (unless a Default or an Event of Default shall have occurred
and be continuing) shall have consented to such assignment (such consent
not to
be unreasonably withheld or delayed) by signing the Assignment and Acceptance
referred to in clause (iii) below, (ii) each such assignment shall be in
a
minimum amount of $5,000,000 (or, if less, the entire amount of such Lender’s
Commitment) and be of a constant, and not a varying, percentage of all of
the
assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement and the Loan
Documents and (iii) the parties to each such assignment shall execute and
deliver to the Administrative Agent, for its acceptance and recording in
the
Register (as defined in Section
9.09(c)),
an
Assignment and Acceptance, together with a processing and recordation fee
of
$3,500, payable by the assigning Lender or the Eligible Assignee, as agreed
upon
by such parties. Upon such execution, delivery, acceptance and recording,
from
and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance,
(x)
the Eligible 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 hereunder
and (y) the Lender 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 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’s rights and obligations under this
Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto). Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, any Lender may at any
time
assign all or any portion of the Extensions of Credit owing to it to any
Affiliate of such Lender. No such assignment referred to in the preceding
sentence, other than to an Affiliate of such Lender consented to by the Borrower
(such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), shall release
the
assigning Lender from its obligations hereunder. Nothing contained in this
Section
9.09
shall be
construed to relieve the Issuing Lender of any of its obligations under the
Letters of Credit.
68
(b) By
executing and delivering an Assignment and Acceptance, the Lender assignor
thereunder and the Eligible 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 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
any other Loan Document or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability,
genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement or any other Loan Document
or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; (ii) such
assigning Lender 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 Loan Document or any other instrument or document
furnished pursuant hereto or thereto; (iii) such Eligible Assignee confirms
that
it has received a copy of this Agreement, together with copies of the financial
statements referred to in Section
5.01(f)
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 Eligible Assignee will, independently and without reliance upon the
Administrative Agent, such assigning Lender 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
this Agreement; (v) such Eligible Assignee appoints and authorizes the
Administrative Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise
such powers under this Agreement as are delegated to it by the terms hereof,
together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto; and (vi)
such
Eligible Assignee 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.
(c) The
Administrative Agent shall maintain at its address referred to in Section
9.02 a
copy of
each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to and accepted by it and a register
for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders and the Commitment
of, and principal amount of the Extensions of Credit owing to, each Lender
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 Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender
and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register
as
a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall
be
available for inspection by the Borrower or any Lender at any reasonable
time
and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
69
(d) Upon
its
receipt of an Assignment and Acceptance executed by an assigning Lender and
an
Eligible Assignee, the Administrative Agent shall, if such Assignment and
Acceptance has been completed and is in substantially the form of Exhibit
H
hereto,
and has been signed by the Borrower (if the Borrower’s consent is required), (i)
accept such Assignment and Acceptance, (ii) record the information contained
therein in the Register and (iii) give prompt notice of such recordation
to the
Borrower.
(e) Each
Lender may sell participations to one or more banks, financial institutions
or
other entities (a “Participant”)
in all
or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and the Loan
Documents (including, without limitation, all or a portion of its Commitment
and
the Extensions of Credit owing to it); provided,
that
(i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement (including, without
limitation, its Commitment to the Borrower hereunder) shall remain unchanged,
(ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto
for
the performance of such obligations, and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative
Agent and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with
such
Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this
Agreement. Any agreement pursuant to which any Lender may grant such a
participating interest shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole
right and responsibility to enforce the obligations of the Borrower hereunder
including, without limitation, the right to approve any amendment, modification
or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided,
that
such participation agreement may provide that such Lender will not agree
to any
modification, amendment or waiver of this Agreement which would (a) waive,
modify or eliminate any of the conditions precedent specified in Article
IV,
(b)
increase or extend the Commitments of the Lenders or subject the Lenders
to any
additional obligations, (c) forgive principal, interest, fees or other amounts
payable hereunder or reduce the rate at which interest or any fee is calculated,
(d) postpone any date fixed for any payment of principal, interest, fees
or
other amounts payable hereunder, (e) change the Commitment Percentage or
the
number of Lenders which shall be required for the Lenders or any of them
to take
any action hereunder, or (f) amend this Section
9.09(e).
70
(f) Any
Lender may, in connection with any assignment or participation or proposed
assignment or participation pursuant to this Section
9.09
and in
accordance with Section
9.16,
disclose to the Eligible Assignee or Participant or proposed Eligible Assignee
or Participant, any Information relating to the Borrower furnished to such
Lender by or on behalf of the Borrower; provided, that
prior to any such disclosure, the Eligible Assignee or Participant or proposed
Eligible Assignee or Participant shall agree to preserve the confidentiality
of
any confidential information relating to the Borrower received by it from
such
Lender and use it only for purposes of this Agreement, the Loan Documents
and
the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, or for any other reason,
directly or indirectly, relating to this Agreement; provided,
further, that
the
Eligible Assignee or Participant or proposed Eligible Assignee or Participant
may
disclose any such information to the extent such disclosure is required by
law
or requested by any regulatory authority.
(g) Anything
in this Section
9.09
to the
contrary notwithstanding, any Lender may assign and pledge all or any portion
of
its Commitment and the Extensions of Credit and other obligations owing to
it to
any Federal Reserve Lender (and its transferees) as collateral security pursuant
to Regulation A of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and
any
Operating Circular issued by such Federal Reserve Lender. No such assignment
shall release the assigning Lender from its obligations hereunder.
(h) If
any
Lender shall make any demand for payment under Section
2.15,
then
within thirty (30) days after any such demand, the Borrower may, with the
approval of the Administrative Agent (which approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld) and provided, that
no
Event of Default or Default shall then have occurred and be continuing, demand
that such Lender assign in accordance with this Section
9.09
to one
or more Eligible Assignees designated by the Borrower all (but not less than
all) of such Lender’s Commitment and the Extensions of Credit and other
obligations owing to it within the period ending on such 30th day. If any
such
Eligible Assignee designated by the Borrower shall fail to consummate such
assignment on terms reasonably acceptable to such Lender, or if the Borrower
shall fail to designate any such Eligible Assignees for all or part of such
Lender’s Commitment or Extensions of Credit, then such demand by the Borrower
shall become ineffective; it being understood for purposes of this subsection
(h) that such assignment shall be conclusively deemed to be on terms reasonably
acceptable to such Lender, and such Lender shall be compelled to consummate
such
assignment to an Eligible Assignee designated by the Borrower, if such Eligible
Assignee (i) shall agree to such assignment by entering into an Assignment
and
Acceptance in substantially the form of Exhibit
H
hereto
with such Lender and (ii) shall offer compensation to such Lender in an amount
equal to all amounts then owing by the Borrower to such Lender hereunder,
whether for principal, interest, fees, costs or expenses (other than the
demanded payment referred to above and payable by the Borrower as a condition
to
the Borrower’s right to demand such assignment), or otherwise.
71
SECTION
9.10 Severability. Any
provision
of this Agreement which is prohibited, unenforceable or not authorized in
any
jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent
of
such prohibition, unenforceability or non-authorization without invalidating
the
remaining provisions hereof or affecting the validity, enforceability or
legality of such provision in any other jurisdiction.
SECTION
9.11 Governing
Law. This agreement
shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the state
of
New York.
SECTION
9.12 Headings. Section
headings in this Agreement are included herein for convenience of reference
only
and shall not constitute a part of this Agreement for any other
purpose.
SECTION
9.13 Submission
To
Jurisdiction; Waivers. The
Borrower
hereby irrevocably and unconditionally:
(a) submits
for itself and its property in any legal action or proceeding relating to
this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party, or for
recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof, to the
non-exclusive general jurisdiction of the Courts of the State of New York,
the
courts of the United States of America for the Southern District of New York,
and appellate courts from any thereof;
(b) consents
that any such action or proceeding may be brought in such courts and waives
any
objection that it may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such action
or
proceeding in any such court or that such action or proceeding was brought
in an
inconvenient court and agrees not to plead or claim the same;
(c) agrees
that service of process in any such action or proceeding may be effected
by
mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any substantially
similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to the Borrower at its address set
forth
in Section
9.02
or at
such other address of which the Administrative Agent shall have been notified
pursuant thereto; and
(d) agrees
that nothing herein shall affect the right to effect service of process in
any
other manner permitted by law or shall limit the right to xxx in any other
jurisdiction.
This
Section
9.13
shall
not be construed to confer a benefit upon, or grant a right or privilege
to, any
Person other than the parties hereto.
SECTION
9.14 Acknowledgments.
The
Borrower hereby acknowledges:
(a) it
has
been advised by counsel in the negotiation, execution and delivery of this
Agreement and other Loan Documents;
(b) neither
the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender nor any Lender has a fiduciary
relationship to the Borrower, and the relationship between the Administrative
Agent, the Issuing Lender and any Lender, on the one hand, and the Borrower
on
the other hand, is solely that of debtor and creditor; and
72
(c) no
joint
venture exists between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the Issuing
Lender or any Lender.
SECTION
9.15 Waivers
of Jury Trial. Each
of
the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender and the Lenders
hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives trial by jury in any legal
action
or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document and for
any
counterclaim therein. This Section
9.15
shall
not be construed to confer a benefit upon, or grant a right or privilege
to, any
person other than the parties hereto.
SECTION
9.16 Confidentiality. (a) Each
of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender and the Lenders agrees to
maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), and use
it
only for purposes of this Agreement, the Loan Documents and the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby, or for any other reason, directly or
indirectly, relating to this Agreement, except that Information may be disclosed
(i) to its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees and agents,
including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood
that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the
confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information
confidential); (ii) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority;
(iii)
to the extent required by Applicable Law; (iv) to any other party to this
Agreement; (v) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder
or any
suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the enforcement
of
rights hereunder; (vi) subject to an agreement containing provisions
substantially the same as those of this Section, to (x) any Eligible Assignee
of
or Participant in,
or
any prospective Eligible Assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights
or
obligations under this Agreement or (y) any direct or indirect contractual
counterparty or prospective counterparty (or such contractual counterparty’s or
prospective counterparty’s professional advisor) to any credit derivative
transaction relating to obligations of the Borrower; (vii) with the written
consent of the Borrower; (viii) to the extent such Information becomes publicly
available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (ix) becomes
available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential
basis
from a source other than the Borrower and such source is not known by the
Administrative Agent or such Lender to be in violation of a duty of
confidentiality; or (x) to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners
or any other similar organization.
(b) The
Administrative Agent and the Lenders may disclose the existence of this
Agreement and information about this Agreement to market data collectors,
similar service providers to the lending industry, and service providers
to the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders in connection with the administration
and
management of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the Commitments,
and the
Extensions of Credit; provided,
however,
that
information disclosed by the Administrative Agent or any Lender to any such
market data collectors or similar service providers shall be of a type generally
provided to such Persons in other transactions. For the purposes of this
Section
9.16,
“Information”
means
all non-public information received from the Borrower relating to the Borrower
or its business. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Information,
for purposes of this Section
9.16,
shall
not include, and the Administrative Agent and each Lender may disclose to
any
and all Persons, without limitation of any kind, any information with respect
to
the U.S. federal income tax treatment and U.S. federal income tax structure
of
the transactions contemplated hereby and all materials of any kind (including
opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to the Administrative Agent
or
such Lender relating to such tax treatment and tax structure.
73
(c) Any
Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided
in
this Section
9.16
shall be
considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has
exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such
Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.
Each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Lender, the Lenders and the
Participants shall promptly notify the Borrower of its receipt of any subpoena
or similar process or authority, unless prohibited therefrom by the issuing
Person.
SECTION 9.17 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.
[SIGNATURE
PAGES FOLLOW]
74
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused his Agreement to be duly
executed and delivered by their respective duly authorized officers as of
the
date first above written.
SOUTH
JERSEY GAS COMPANY
By: /s/
Xxxxx X.
Xxxxxxxx
Name:
Xxxxx X.
Xxxxxxxx
Title:
Senior Vice
President &
Chief Financial
Officer
WACHOVIA
BANK, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION,
as Administrative Agent, as Issuing Lender, as
Swingline Lender and as a Lender
By: /s/
Xxxxxxxx X.
Xxxxxxxx
Name:
Xxxxxxxx X.
Xxxxxxxx
Title:
Director
CITIZENS
BANK
OF PENNSYLVANIA,
as
a
Lender
By:
/s/ Xxxxxxx X.
Xxxxx
Name:
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxx
Title:
Senior
Vice President
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as
a Lender
By:
/s/ Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxxxx, III
Name:
Xxxxxx
X.
Xxxxxxx, III
Title: Vice President
PNC
BANK,
National Association
as a Lender
By: /s/
Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxxx
Name:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title:
Senior Vice President
The
Bank of
New York,
as
a
Lender
By:
/s/
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx,
Xx.
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xx.
Title: Vice President
COMMERCE
BANK,
N.A.
as
a
Lender
By: /s/
Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxx
Name:
Xxxxxx
X.
Xxxxx
Title:
Vice
President
BANK
OF AMERICA,
N.A.,
as
a
Lender
By:
/s/ Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
Name:
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
Title:
Vice
President