Contract
Exhibit
10.1
dated
as of
December
21, 2005
among
THE
DRESS BARN, INC.
The
Lenders Party Hereto
and
JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as
Administrative Agent
___________________________
X.X.
XXXXXX SECURITIES INC.,
as
Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Bookrunner,
BANK
OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as
Syndication Agent
and
THE
BANK OF NEW YORK,
XXXXX
FARGO RETAIL FINANCE, LLC
and
CITIBANK,
N.A.,
as
Co-Documentation Agents
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TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
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Page
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ARTICLE
I
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Definitions
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SECTION
1.01.
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Defined
Terms
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1
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SECTION
1.02.
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Classification
of Loans and Borrowings
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22
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SECTION
1.03.
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Terms
Generally
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22
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SECTION
1.04.
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Accounting
Terms; GAAP
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22
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SECTION
1.05.
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Pro
Forma Calculations
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23
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ARTICLE
II
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The
Credits
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SECTION
2.01.
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Commitments
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23
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SECTION
2.02.
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Loans
and Borrowings
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23
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SECTION
2.03.
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Requests
for Borrowings
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24
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SECTION
2.04.
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Swingline
Loans
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24
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SECTION
2.05.
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Letters
of Credit
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26
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SECTION
2.06.
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Funding
of Borrowings
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31
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SECTION
2.07.
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Interest
Elections
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32
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SECTION
2.08.
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Termination
and Reduction of Commitments;
Increse
of Commitments;
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33
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SECTION
2.09.
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Repayment of
Loans; Evidence of Debt
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35
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SECTION
2.10.
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Prepayment
of Loans
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36
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SECTION
2.11.
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Fees
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37
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SECTION
2.12.
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Interest
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38
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SECTION
2.13.
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Alternate
Rate of Interest
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39
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SECTION
2.14.
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Increased
Costs
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39
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SECTION
2.15.
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Break
Funding Payments
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41
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SECTION
2.16.
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Taxes
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41
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SECTION
2.17.
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Payments
Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs
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43
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SECTION
2.18.
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Mitigation
Obligations; Replacement of Lenders
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45
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ARTICLE
III
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Representations
and Warranties
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SECTION
3.01.
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Organization;
Powers
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3
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SECTION
3.02.
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Authorization;
Enforceability
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3
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SECTION
3.03.
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Governmental
Approvals; No Conflicts
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3
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SECTION
3.04.
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Financial
Condition; No Material Adverse Change
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3
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SECTION
3.05.
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Properties
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3
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SECTION
3.06.
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Litigation
and Environmental Matters
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47
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SECTION
3.07.
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Compliance
with Laws and Agreements
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48
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SECTION
3.08.
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Investment
and Holding Company Status
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48
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SECTION
3.09.
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Taxes
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48
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SECTION
3.10.
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ERISA;
Margin Regulations
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48
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SECTION
3.11.
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Disclosure
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49
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SECTION
3.12.
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Subsidiaries
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49
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SECTION
3.13.
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Insurance
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49
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SECTION
3.14.
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Labor
Matters
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49
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SECTION
3.15.
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Solvency
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50
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SECTION
3.16.
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Collateral
Matters
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50
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SECTION
3.17.
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Use
of Proceeds
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51
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SECTION
3.18.
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Termination
of Guarantees
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51
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ARTICLE
IV
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Conditions
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SECTION
4.01.
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Effective
Date
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51
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SECTION
4.02.
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Each
Credit Event
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53
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ARTICLE
V
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Affirmative
Covenants
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SECTION
5.01.
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Financial
Statements and Other Information
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54
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SECTION
5.02.
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Notices
of Material Events
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56
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SECTION
5.03.
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Information
Regarding Collateral
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56
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SECTION
5.04.
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Existence;
Conduct of Business
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57
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SECTION
5.05.
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Payment
of Obligations
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57
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SECTION
5.06.
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Maintenance
of Properties
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57
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SECTION
5.07.
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Insurance
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57
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SECTION
5.08.
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Casualty
and Condemnation
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57
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SECTION
5.09.
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Books
and Records; Inspection and Audit Rights
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58
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SECTION
5.10.
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Compliance
with Laws
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58
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SECTION
5.11.
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Use
of Proceeds and Letters of Credit
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58
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SECTION
5.12.
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Additional
Subsidiaries
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58
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SECTION
5.13.
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Further
Assurances
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58
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ARTICLE
VI
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Negative
Covenants
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SECTION
6.01.
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Indebtedness;
Certain Equity Securities
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59
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SECTION
6.02.
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Liens
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60
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SECTION
6.03.
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Fundamental
Changes; SPE Restrictions
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61
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SECTION
6.04.
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Investments,
Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions
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62
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SECTION
6.05.
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Asset
Sales
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64
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SECTION
6.06.
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Sale
and Leaseback Transactions
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65
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SECTION
6.07.
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Hedging
Agreements
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65
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SECTION
6.08.
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Restricted
Payments; Certain Payments of Indebtedness
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65
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SECTION
6.09.
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Transactions
with Affiliates
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66
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SECTION
6.10.
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Restrictive
Agreements
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66
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SECTION
6.11.
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Amendment
of Material Documents
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67
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SECTION
6.12.
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Adjusted
Leverage Ratio
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67
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SECTION
6.13.
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Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio
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67
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SECTION
6.14.
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Consolidated
Net Worth
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67
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SECTION
6.15.
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Capital
Expenditures
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68
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SECTION
6.16.
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Total
Tangible Assets
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68
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ARTICLE
VII
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Events
of Default
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ARTICLE
VIII
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The
Administrative Agent
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ARTICLE
IX
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Miscellaneous
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SECTION
9.01.
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Notices
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73
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SECTION
9.02.
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Waivers;
Amendments
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74
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SECTION
9.03.
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Expenses;
Indemnity; Damage Waiver
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75
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SECTION
9.04.
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Successors
and Assigns
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76
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SECTION
9.05.
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Survival
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79
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SECTION
9.06.
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Counterparts;
Integration; Effectiveness
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80
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SECTION
9.07.
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Severability
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80
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SECTION
9.08.
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Right
of Setoff
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80
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SECTION
9.09.
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Governing
Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process
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80
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SECTION
9.10.
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WAIVER
OF JURY TRIAL
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81
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SECTION
9.11.
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Headings
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81
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SECTION
9.12.
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Confidentiality
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81
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SECTION
9.13.
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Patriot
Act
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82
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SECTION
9.14.
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Interest
Rate Limitation
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82
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SECTION
9.15.
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Release
of Collateral
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82
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SCHEDULES:
Schedule
2.01 — Commitments
Schedule 2.05
— Existing Letters of Credit
Schedule 3.05
— Real Properties
Schedule 3.06
— Disclosed Matters
Schedule 3.12
— Subsidiaries
Schedule 3.13
— Insurance
Schedule 3.16
— Mortgaged Properties
Schedule
6.01 — Existing Indebtedness
Schedule
6.02 — Existing Liens
Schedule
6.04 — Existing Investments
Schedule
6.09 — Transactions with Affiliates
Schedule
6.10 — Existing Restrictions and Conditions
EXHIBITS:
Exhibit
A
—
Form of
Assignment and Assumption
Exhibit
B-1 —
Form of
Opinion of Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx XXX
Xxxxxxx
X-0 —
Form of
Opinion of Xxxxxxxxxxx
X. XxXxxxxx,
Esq.
Exhibit
C
—
Form of
Collateral Agreement
Exhibit
D
—
Form of
Perfection Certificate
Exhibit
E
—
Form of
Issuing Bank Agreement
Exhibit
F —
Form of
Note
CREDIT
AGREEMENT dated as of December 21, 2005, among THE DRESS BARN, INC., a
Connecticut corporation, the LENDERS party hereto and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK,
N.A.,
a national banking association, as administrative agent and collateral agent
for
such lenders.
The
parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions
SECTION
1.01. Defined
Terms.
As used
in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified
below:
“ABR”,
when
used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or
the
Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined
by
reference to the Alternate Base Rate.
“Adjusted
Consolidated Debt”
means,
as of any date, the
sum,
without duplication, of (a) Total Indebtedness at such date and (b) an
amount equal to six times Consolidated Rental Expense for the then current
fiscal year of the Borrower, as reflected in the footnotes to the most recent
audited financial statements of the Borrower.
“Adjusted
Leverage Ratio”
means,
on any date, the ratio of (a) Adjusted Consolidated Debt as of such date to
(b)
Consolidated EBITDAR for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of
the
Borrower ended as of such date (or, if such date is not the last day of a fiscal
quarter, ended as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Borrower most
recently ended prior to such date).
“Adjusted
LIBO Rate”
means,
with respect to any Eurocurrency Borrowing for any Interest Period, an interest
rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal
to
(a) the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by (b) the
Statutory Reserve Rate.
“Administrative
Agent”
means
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent and
collateral agent for the Lenders hereunder and under the Loan
Documents.
“Administrative
Questionnaire”
means
an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative
Agent.
“Affiliate”
means,
with respect to a specified Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly
through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under
common Control with the Person specified.
“Agreement”
means
this Credit Agreement, as modified, amended or restated from time to
time.
“Alternate
Base Rate”
means,
for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greater of (a) the Prime
Rate in
effect on such day and (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect
on
such day plus ½ of 1%. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a
change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall be effective
from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate or the
Federal Funds Effective Rate, respectively.
“Applicable
Percentage”
means,
with respect to any Revolving Lender, the percentage of the total Commitments
represented by such Lender’s Commitment. If the Commitments have terminated or
expired, the Applicable Percentages shall be determined based upon the
Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any
assignments.
“Applicable
Rate”
means,
for any day, with respect to any ABR Loan or Eurocurrency Loan that is a
Revolving Loan, or with respect to the commitment fees payable hereunder, or
with respect to any Standby Letters of Credit or Commercial Letters of Credit
issued hereunder, as the case may be, the applicable rate per annum set forth
below under the caption “ABR Spread”, “Eurocurrency Spread”, “Commitment Fee
Rate”, “Standby LC Spread” or “Commercial LC Spread”, as the case may be, based
upon the Adjusted Leverage Ratio as of the most recent determination date;
provided
that
until the first date upon which the consolidated financial statements required
to be delivered to it pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or (b) are delivered
to
the Administrative Agent, the “Applicable Rate” shall be the applicable rate per
annum set forth below in Category 1:
Adjusted
Leverage Ratio:
|
ABR
Spread
|
Eurocurrency
Spread
|
Commitment
Fee Rate
|
Standby
LC Spread
|
Commercial
LC Spread
|
Category
1
greater
than or equal to 4.00 to 1.00
|
0.50%
|
1.50%
|
0.25%
|
1.50%
|
0.25%
|
Category
2
less
than 4.00 to 1.00, but greater than or equal to 3.50 to 1.00
|
0.25%
|
1.25%
|
0.20%
|
1.25%
|
0.20%
|
Category
3
less
than 3.50 to 1.00
|
0.00%
|
1.00%
|
0.20%
|
1.00%
|
0.20%
|
For
purposes of the foregoing, (i) the Adjusted Leverage Ratio shall be determined
as of the end of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower’s fiscal year based upon
the Borrower’s consolidated financial statements delivered pursuant to Section
5.01(a) or (b) and (ii) each change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a
change in the Adjusted Leverage Ratio shall be effective during the period
commencing on and including the date of delivery to the Administrative Agent
of
such consolidated financial statements indicating such change and ending on
the
date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change;
provided
that the
Adjusted Leverage Ratio shall be deemed to be in Category 1 (A) at any time
that
an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or (B) at the option of
the
Administrative Agent or at the request of the Required Lenders if the Borrower
fails to deliver the consolidated financial statements required to be delivered
by it pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or (b), during the period from the expiration
of the time for delivery thereof until such consolidated financial statements
are delivered.
-2-
“Approved
Fund”
has the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04.
“Assignment
and Assumption”
means
an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with
the
consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 9.04), and
accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit A or any
other
form approved by the Administrative Agent.
“Availability
Period”
means
the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the earlier
of
the Maturity Date and the date of termination of the Commitments.
“Board”
means
the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of
America.
“Borrower”
means
The Dress Barn, Inc., a Connecticut corporation.
“Borrowing”
means
(a) Revolving Loans of the same Type, made, converted or continued on the same
date and, in the case of Eurocurrency Loans, as to which a single Interest
Period is in effect, or (b) a Swingline Loan.
“Borrowing
Request”
means a
request by the Borrower for a Borrowing in accordance with Section
2.03.
“Business
Day”
means
any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks
in
New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided
that,
when used in connection with a Eurocurrency Loan, the term “Business
Day”
shall
also exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in dollar deposits
in the London interbank market.
“Capital
Expenditures”
means,
for any period, (a) the additions to property, plant and equipment and other
capital expenditures of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that are (or would
be)
set forth in a consolidated statement of cash flows of the Borrower for such
period prepared in accordance with GAAP and (b) Capital Lease Obligations or
Synthetic Lease Obligations incurred by the Borrower and its consolidated
Subsidiaries during such period.
“Capital
Lease Obligations”
of any
Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under
any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal
property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be
classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person
under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount
thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Change
in Control”
means
(a) the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially
or
of record, by any Person or group (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder
as in effect on the date hereof) other than the Permitted Investors, of Equity
Interests representing more than 30% of the aggregate ordinary voting power
represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Borrower
and
the percentage of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by Equity
Interests owned by such Person or group then exceeds the percentage of the
aggregate ordinary voting power represented by Equity Interests owned by the
Permitted Investors; (b) occupation of a majority of the seats (other
than
vacant seats) on the board of directors of the Borrower by Persons who were
neither (i) nominated by the board of directors of the Borrower nor
(ii) appointed by directors so nominated; or (c) the occurrence of a
“change of control”, as defined in the Convertible Note Documents.
-3-
“Change
in Law”
means
(a) the adoption of any law, rule or regulation after the date of this
Agreement, (b) any change in any law, rule or regulation or in the
interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority after the
date of this Agreement or (c) compliance by any Lender or any Issuing Bank
(or,
for purposes of Section 2.14(b), by any lending office of such Lender or by
such
Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any) with any request,
guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any
Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this
Agreement.
“Class”,
when
used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or
the
Loans comprising such Borrowing, are Revolving Loans or Swingline
Loans.
“Code”
means
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
“Collateral”
means
any and all “Collateral”, as defined in any applicable Security
Document.
“Collateral
Agreement”
means
the Collateral Agreement between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent,
substantially in the form of Exhibit C.
“Collateral
Requirement”
means
the requirement that:
(a)
the
Administrative Agent shall have received a counterpart of the Collateral
Agreement duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Borrower;
(b)
all
outstanding Equity Interests of each Subsidiary directly owned by the Borrower
shall have been pledged pursuant to the Collateral Agreement (except that the
Borrower shall not be required to pledge more than 65% of the outstanding voting
Equity Interests of any Foreign Subsidiary) and the Administrative Agent shall
have received certificates or other instruments representing all such Equity
Interests (to the extent such Equity Interests are evidenced by physical
certificates or other instruments), together with stock powers or other
instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank;
-4-
(c)
all
Indebtedness of each Subsidiary that is owing to the Borrower shall be evidenced
by a promissory note and shall have been pledged pursuant to the Collateral
Agreement and the Administrative Agent shall have received all such promissory
notes, together with instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed
in
blank;
(d)
all
documents and instruments, including Uniform Commercial Code financing
statements, required by law or reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent
to be filed, registered or recorded to create the Liens intended to be created
by the Collateral Agreement and perfect such Liens to the extent required by,
and with the priority required by, the Collateral Agreement, shall have been
filed, registered or recorded or delivered to the Administrative Agent for
filing, registration or recording;
(e)
the
Administrative Agent shall have received (i) counterparts of a Mortgage with
respect to each Mortgaged Property duly executed and delivered by the record
owner of such Mortgaged Property, (ii) a policy or policies of title insurance
issued by a nationally recognized title insurance company insuring the Lien
of
each such Mortgage as a valid first Lien on the Mortgaged Property described
therein, free of any other Liens except as expressly permitted by
Section 6.02, together with such endorsements, coinsurance and reinsurance
as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may reasonably request,
and
(iii) such surveys, abstracts, appraisals, legal opinions and other documents
as
the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may reasonably request with
respect to any such Mortgage or Mortgaged Property; and
(f)
the
Borrower shall have obtained all material consents and approvals required to
be
obtained by it in connection with the execution and delivery of all Security
Documents, the performance of its obligations thereunder and the granting by
it
of the Liens thereunder.
“Commercial
Letter of Credit”
means a
letter of credit that is (a) designated as a Commercial Letter of Credit by
the
Borrower at the time of, or prior to, the issuance thereof, (b) issued to
provide for the payment of the purchase price for goods or services purchased
by
the Borrower or a Subsidiary and (c) intended to be drawn when such purchase
price is due and payable and not merely upon the occurrence of a default or
similar contingency.
“Commitment”
means,
with respect to each Lender, the commitment, if any, of such Lender to make
Revolving Loans and to acquire participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline
Loans hereunder, expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate
amount of such Lender’s Revolving Exposure hereunder, as such commitment may be
(a) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to Section 2.08 and (b)
reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such
Lender pursuant to Section 9.04. The initial amount of each Lender’s Commitment
is set forth on Schedule 2.01, in the documentation pursuant to which an
Increasing Lender that is not a Lender hereunder shall have executed to evidence
its Commitment hereunder pursuant to Section 2.08(d) or in the Assignment and
Assumption pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Commitment,
as
applicable. The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Commitments is
$100,000,000.
-5-
“Company”
means
Maurices Incorporated, a Delaware corporation.
“Consolidated
Cash Interest Expense”
means,
for any period, the excess of (a) the sum of (i) the cash interest expense
(including imputed interest expense in respect of Capital Lease Obligations
and
Synthetic Lease Obligations) of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries for such
period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, (ii) any
interest accrued during such period in respect of Indebtedness of the Borrower
or any Subsidiary that is required to be capitalized rather than included in
consolidated interest expense for such period in accordance with GAAP, plus
(iii) any cash payments made during such period in respect of obligations
referred to in clause (b)(iii) below that were amortized or accrued in a
previous period, minus (b) the sum of (i) interest income of the Borrower and
the Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in
accordance with GAAP, (ii) to the extent included in such consolidated interest
expense for such period, non-cash amounts attributable to amortization of
financing costs paid in a previous period, plus (iii) to the extent included
in
such consolidated interest expense for such period, non-cash amounts
attributable to amortization of debt discounts or accrued interest payable
in
kind for such period.
“Consolidated
EBITDA”
means,
for any period, Consolidated Net Income for such period plus (a) without
duplication and to the extent deducted in determining such Consolidated Net
Income, the sum of (i) consolidated interest expense for such period, (ii)
consolidated income tax expense for such period, (iii) all amounts attributable
to depreciation and amortization for such period, (iv) any extraordinary charges
for such period, (v) any non-cash compensation charges, including arising from
restricted stock and stock-option grants, for such period, (vi) any other
non-cash charges (other than the write-down of current assets) for such period,
(vii) fees and expenses paid in connection with the consummation of the
Transactions in an aggregate amount not to exceed $500,000, (viii) fees and
expenses paid in connection with the consummation of the “Transactions” (as
defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) in an aggregate amount not to exceed
$15,000,000 and (ix) charges attributable to the integration of the business
of
the Company with the business of the Borrower that are paid or otherwise
accounted for prior to January 3, 2007, in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000
in
any period or $2,000,000 in the aggregate, and minus (b) without duplication
(i) to the extent not deducted in determining such Consolidated Net
Income, all cash payments made during such period on account of non-cash charges
added to Consolidated Net Income pursuant to clauses (a)(iv), (a)(v) or (a)(vi)
above in such period or in a previous period and (ii) to the extent
included in determining such Consolidated Net Income, any extraordinary gains
and all non-cash items of income (other than normal accruals in the ordinary
course of business) for such period, all determined on a consolidated basis
in
accordance with GAAP. In the event that the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall
have completed an acquisition (including a Permitted Acquisition) or disposition
of any material Person, division or business unit since the beginning of the
relevant period, Consolidated EBITDA shall be determined for such period on
a
pro forma basis as if such acquisition or disposition, and any related
incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, had occurred at the beginning of such
period.
-6-
“Consolidated
EBITDAR”
means,
for any period, Consolidated
EBITDA for such period plus, without duplication and to the extent deducted
in
determining such Consolidated EBITDA, Consolidated Rental Expense for such
period, all as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with
GAAP.
“Consolidated
Fixed Charges”
means,
for any period, the sum of (a) Consolidated Cash Interest Expense for such
period and (b) Consolidated Rental Expense for such period.
“Consolidated
Net Income”
means,
for any period, the net income or loss of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries
for
such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP;
provided
that
there shall be excluded (a) the income of any Person (other than the Borrower)
in which any other Person (other than the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any
director holding qualifying shares in compliance with applicable law) owns
an
Equity Interest, except to the extent of the amount of dividends or other
distributions actually paid to the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries during
such period, (or, so long as the declaration or payment of dividends or other
distributions by such first Person is not at the time restricted by operation
of
the terms of its charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree,
statute, rule or regulation applicable to such Person, to the extent cash equal
to such income (or the Borrower’s or any Subsidiary’s ratable portion thereof)
is readily procurable by the Borrower or such Subsidiary from such Person by
causing such Person to dividend or otherwise distribute such income (or such
portion) to the Borrower or such Subsidiary) and (b) the income or loss of
any
Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary or is merged into
or
consolidated with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or the date that such Person’s
assets are acquired by the Borrower or any Subsidiary.
“Consolidated
Net Worth”
means,
at any date of determination, the consolidated stockholders’ equity of the
Borrower and the Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis as at such
date in accordance with GAAP.
“Consolidated
Rental Expense”
shall
mean, for any period, the aggregate minimum rental expense of the Borrower
and
the Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in
accordance with GAAP, in respect of all rental obligations under operating
leases.
“Control”
means
the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability
to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling”
and
“Controlled”
have
meanings correlative thereto.
“Convertible
Notes”
means
the Borrower’s 2.50% Convertible Senior Notes due 2024, in an initial aggregate
principal amount of $115,000,000.
-7-
“Convertible
Note Documents”
means
the indenture under which the Convertible Notes are issued and all other
instruments, agreements and other documents evidencing or governing the
Convertible Notes or providing for any other right in respect
thereof.
“Default”
means
any event or condition which constitutes an Event of Default or which upon
notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event
of
Default.
“Disclosed
Matters”
means
the actions, suits and proceedings and the environmental matters disclosed
in
Schedule 3.06.
“Distribution
Center”
means
the distribution and office facility owned by the SPE and located at 00 Xxxxxx
Xxxx and 00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000.
“Disqualified
Stock”
means
any capital stock which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into
which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening
of any event, (a) matures (excluding any maturity as the result of an optional
redemption by the issuer thereof) or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to
a
sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the option of the
holder thereof, in whole or in part, or requires the payment of any cash
dividend or any other scheduled payment constituting a return of capital, in
each case at any time on or prior to the first anniversary of the Maturity
Date,
or (b) is convertible into or exchangeable (unless at the sole option of the
issuer thereof) for (i) debt securities or (ii) any capital stock referred
to in
(a) above, in each case at any time prior to the first anniversary of the
Maturity Date.
“dollars”
or
“$”
refers
to lawful money of the United States of America.
“Effective
Date”
means
the date on which the conditions specified in Section 4.01 are satisfied
(or waived in accordance with Section 9.02).
“Environmental
Laws”
means
all applicable federal, state, and local laws (including common law),
regulations, rules, ordinances, codes, decrees, judgments, directives, orders
(including consent orders), and binding agreements with any Governmental
Authority in each case, relating to pollution or protection of the environment,
natural resources, human health and safety, or the presence, Release of, or
exposure to, Hazardous Materials, or the generation, manufacture, processing,
distribution, use, treatment, storage, transport, recycling or handling of,
or
the arrangement for such activities with respect to, Hazardous
Materials.
“Environmental
Liability”
means
any liability, claim, action, suit, agreement, judgment or order arising under
or relating to any Environmental Law for any damages, injunctive relief, losses,
fines, penalties, fees, expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of
attorneys and consultants) or costs, whether contingent or otherwise, including
those arising from or relating to: (a) compliance or non-compliance
with
any Environmental Law or permit, license or approval issued thereunder,
(b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment
or
disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous
Materials, (d) the Release of any Hazardous Materials or (e) any contract,
agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed
or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.
-8-
“Equity
Interests”
means
shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a
limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity
ownership interests in a Person, and any warrants, options or other rights
entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any such equity
interest.
“Equity
Issuance”
means
the issuance by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any Equity Interests, or
the
receipt by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any capital contribution, other
than (a) any such issuance of Equity Interests to, or receipt of any such
capital contribution from, the Borrower or a Subsidiary, (b) any issuance of
Equity Interests by the Borrower, to the extent the net proceeds thereof are
used to finance a Permitted Acquisition, and (c) sales or issuances of Equity
Interests of the Borrower to management or employees of the Borrower or any
Subsidiary under any employee stock option or stock purchase plan or other
employee benefit plan in existence from time to time.
“ERISA”
means
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to
time.
“ERISA
Affiliate”
means
any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with the
Borrower, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c)
of
the Code or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of
the
Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the
Code.
“ERISA
Event”
means
(a) any “reportable event”, as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the
regulations issued thereunder, with respect to a Plan (other than an event
for
which the 30-day notice period is waived); (b) the existence with respect
to any Plan of an “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in
Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or
not
waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(d) of the Code
or
Section 303(d) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum
funding standard with respect to any Plan; (d) the incurrence by the
Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV
of
ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (e) the receipt by
the
Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any
notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint
a
trustee to administer any Plan; (f) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of
its
ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial
withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the receipt by
the
Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any
Multiemployer Plan from the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice,
concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability (or that could reasonably
be
expected to result in Withdrawal Liability) or a determination that a
Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization,
within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.
-9-
“Eurocurrency”,
when
used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or
the
Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined
by
reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.
“Event
of Default”
has the
meaning assigned to such term in Article VII.
“Excluded
Taxes”
means,
with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, any Issuing Bank or any
other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation
of
the Borrower hereunder, (a) income or franchise taxes imposed on (or measured
by) its net income by the United States of America or by any state or political
subdivision thereof, or by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such
recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the
case of any Lender, in which its applicable lending office is located, (b)
any
branch profits taxes imposed by the United States of America or any similar
tax
imposed by any other jurisdiction described in clause (a) above and (c) in
the
case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the
Borrower under Section 2.18(b)), any withholding tax that (i) is in effect
and
would apply to amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign
Lender becomes a party to this Agreement (or designates a new lending office),
except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was
entitled, at the time of designation of a new lending office (or assignment),
to
receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to any withholding
tax
pursuant to Section 2.16(a), or (ii) is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s
failure to comply with Section 2.16(e).
“Existing
Credit Agreement”
means
the Credit Agreement dated as of January 3, 2005, as amended, among the
Borrower, the lenders party thereto and JPMCB, as administrative agent and
collateral agent for such lenders.
“Existing
Letters of Credit”
means
each letter of credit previously issued for the account of the Borrower pursuant
to the Existing Credit Agreement that is (a) outstanding on the Effective
Date and (b) listed on Schedule 2.05, but shall not include any
renewal or extension of any Existing Letter of Credit unless such Issuing Bank
would otherwise be entitled to issue Letters of Credit hereunder.
“Existing
Mortgage”
means
the Mortgage, Assignment of Leases and Rents and Security Agreement dated as
of
June 24, 2003, given by the SPE, as assignor, to Xxxx Xxxxxxx Life
Insurance Company, as assignee, in the principal amount of $34,000,000, covering
the Distribution Center and securing the Existing Mortgage Loan.
“Existing
Mortgage Loan”
means
the mortgage loan in the initial principal amount of $34,000,000 made by Xxxx
Xxxxxxx Life Insurance Company to the SPE, the proceeds of which were used
by
the SPE to finance the purchase of the Distribution Center, which loan matures
in July 2023.
“Federal
Funds Effective Rate”
means,
for any day, the weighted average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next
1/100 of 1%) of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members
of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published
on
the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York,
or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the
average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the
quotations for such day for such transactions received by the Administrative
Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by
it.
-10-
“Financial
Officer”
means
the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or
controller of the Borrower.
“Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio”
means,
for any period, the ratio of (a) (i) Consolidated EBITDAR for such period minus
(ii) Capital Expenditures for such period, to (b) Consolidated Fixed Charges
for
such period.
“Foreign
Lender”
means
any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that
in
which the Borrower is located. For purposes of this definition, the United
States of America, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be
deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.
“Foreign
Subsidiary”
means
any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than
the
United States of America or any State thereof or the District of
Columbia.
“GAAP”
means
generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of
America.
“Governmental
Authority”
means
the government of the United States of America, any other nation or any
political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency,
authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity
exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or
administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.
“Guarantee”
of or
by any Person (the “guarantor”)
means
any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having
the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person (the
“primary
obligor”)
in any
manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the
guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or
supply
funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or to purchase (or
to
advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment
thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for
the
purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness of the payment thereof,
(c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial
statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the
primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or (d) as an account party in respect
of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such
Indebtedness; provided,
that
the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit
in
the ordinary course of business.
-11-
“Hazardous
Materials”
means
any chemical, material, substance or waste that is prohibited, limited or
regulated by or pursuant to any applicable Environmental Law, including, without
limitation, any petroleum products or byproducts and all other hydrocarbons,
coal ash, radon gas, asbestos-containing materials, urea formaldehyde foam
insulation, polychlorinated biphenyls, chlorofluorocarbons and all other
ozone-depleting substances or mold.
“Hedging
Agreement”
means
any interest rate protection agreement, foreign currency exchange agreement,
commodity price protection agreement or other interest or currency exchange
rate
or commodity price hedging arrangement.
“Indebtedness”
of any
Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person
for
borrowed money or with respect to deposits or advances of any kind, (b) all
obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar
instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person upon which interest
charges
are customarily paid, (d) all obligations of such Person under conditional
sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such
Person, (e) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred
purchase price of property or services (excluding trade accounts payable
incurred in the ordinary course of business), (f) all Indebtedness of
others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing
right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned
or
acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has
been assumed (but only to the extent of the lesser of (x) the amount of such
Indebtedness and (y) the fair market value of such property, if such
Indebtedness has not been assumed), (g) all Guarantees by such Person
of
Indebtedness of others, (h) all Capital Lease Obligations and Synthetic
Lease Obligations of such Person, (i) all obligations, contingent or
otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit
and letters of guaranty and (j) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of
such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances. The Indebtedness of any Person
shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership
in
which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable
therefor by contract, as a matter of law or otherwise as a result of such
Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to
the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable
therefor.
“Indemnified
Taxes”
means
Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.
“Intangible
Assets”
means,
on any date, the intangible assets of the Borrower, as such amount would be
reflected on an unconsolidated balance sheet of the Borrower prepared in
accordance with GAAP.
“Interest
Election Request”
means a
request by the Borrower to convert or continue a Revolving Borrowing in
accordance with Section 2.07.
“Interest
Payment Date”
means
(a) with respect to any ABR Loan (other than a Swingline Loan), the
last
day of each March, June, September and December, (b) with respect to any
Eurocurrency Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the
Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Eurocurrency
Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months’ duration, each day
prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three
months’ duration after the first day of such Interest Period and (c) with
respect to any Swingline Loan, the day that such Loan is required to be
repaid.
-12-
“Interest
Period”
means, with respect to any Eurocurrency Borrowing, the period commencing
on
the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day
in
the calendar month that is one, two, three or six months thereafter
(or
nine or twelve months thereafter if, at the time of the relevant Borrowing,
all
Lenders participating therein agree to make an interest period of such duration
available), as the Borrower may elect; provided,
that
(a) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such
Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless
such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in
which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day
and
(b) any Interest Period that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar
month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the
last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business
Day
of the last calendar month of such Interest Period. For purposes hereof, the
date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is
made
and thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or
continuation of such Borrowing.
“Issuing
Bank”
means
each of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Bank of America, N.A., The Bank of New York
and each other Lender acceptable to the Administrative Agent that has entered
into an Issuing Bank Agreement, in each case in its capacity as an issuer of
Letters of Credit hereunder, and its successors in such capacity as provided
in
Section 2.05(i) and, in respect of the Existing Letters of Credit only,
the
issuers of such Existing Letters of Credit, as set forth in Schedule 2.05;
provided
that no
Person shall at any time become an Issuing Bank if after giving effect thereto
there would at such time be more than four Issuing Banks (computed without
regard to the issuers of Existing Letters of Credit). Each Issuing Bank may,
in
its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by
Affiliates of such Issuing Bank, in which case the term “Issuing Bank” shall
include any such Affiliate with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such
Affiliate.
“Issuing
Bank Agreement”
means
an agreement in the form of Exhibit E, or in any other form reasonably
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, pursuant to which a Lender agrees
to
act as an Issuing Bank.
“LC
Disbursement”
means a
payment made by an Issuing Bank pursuant to a Letter of Credit.
“LC
Exposure”
means,
at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding
Letters of Credit at such time plus (b) the aggregate amount of all LC
Disbursements that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Borrower
at such time. The LC Exposure of any Revolving Lender at any time shall be
its
Applicable Percentage of the total LC Exposure at such time.
“Lenders”
means
the Persons listed on Schedule 2.01 and any other Person that shall
have
become a party hereto pursuant to (a) Section 2.08(d) or (b) an Assignment
and
Assumption, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant
to an Assignment and Assumption. Unless the context otherwise requires, the
term
“Lenders” includes the Swingline Lender.
-13-
“Letter
of Credit”
means
each Existing Letter of Credit and any letter of credit issued pursuant to
this
Agreement.
“LIBO
Rate”
means,
with respect to any Eurocurrency Borrowing for any Interest Period, the rate
appearing on Page 3750 of the Dow Xxxxx Market 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 “LIBO
Rate”
with
respect to such Eurocurrency Borrowing for such Interest Period shall be the
rate at
which
dollar deposits of $5,000,000 and for a maturity comparable to such Interest
Period are offered by the principal London office of the Administrative Agent
in
immediately available funds in the London interbank market at approximately
11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement
of
such Interest Period.
“Lien”
means,
with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge,
hypothecation, encumbrance, charge or security interest in, on or of such asset,
(b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale
agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease
having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating
to such asset and (c) in the case of securities, any purchase option,
call
or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities.
“Loan
Documents”
means
this Agreement, the Collateral Agreement and the other Security
Documents.
“Loans”
means
the loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to this
Agreement.
“Margin
Stock”
shall
have the meaning assigned to such term in Regulation U of the
Board.
“Material
Adverse Effect”
means a
material adverse effect on (a) the business, assets, operations,
properties, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations or
liabilities (including contingent liabilities), of the Borrower and the
Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Borrower to perform
any of its material obligations under any Loan Document or (c) the rights
of or benefits available to the Lenders under any Loan Document (other than,
in
the case of this clause (c) only, a material adverse effect caused by any
improper action or omission of any Lender or the Administrative
Agent).
-14-
“Material
Indebtedness”
means
Indebtedness (other than the Loans and Letters of Credit), or obligations in
respect of one or more Hedging Agreements, of any one or more of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $10,000,000.
For
purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “principal amount” of the
obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of any Hedging
Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect
to
any netting agreements) that the Borrower or such Subsidiary would be required
to pay if such Hedging Agreement were terminated at such time.
“Maturity
Date”
means
December 21, 2010, or if such date is not a Business Day, the next preceding
Business Day.
“Moody’s”
means
Xxxxx’x Investors Service, Inc. (or any successor thereto).
“Mortgage”
means a
mortgage, deed of trust, assignment of leases and rents, leasehold mortgage
or
other security document granting a Lien on any Mortgaged Property to secure
the
Obligations. Each Mortgage shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and
substance to the Administrative Agent.
“Mortgaged
Property”
means,
initially, each parcel of real property and the improvements thereto owned
by
the Borrower and identified on Schedule 3.16, and includes each other
parcel of real property and improvements thereto with respect to which a
Mortgage is granted pursuant to Section 5.13.
“Multiemployer
Plan”
means a
multiemployer plan as defined in Sections 3(37) and 4001(a)(3)
of
ERISA to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is making or is obligated
to
make contributions.
“Net
Proceeds”
means,
with respect to any event (a) the cash proceeds received in respect of such
event including (i) any cash received in respect of any non-cash proceeds,
but
only as and when received, (ii) in the case of a casualty, insurance proceeds,
and (iii) in the case of a condemnation or similar event, condemnation awards
and similar payments, net of (b) the sum of (i) all customary fees and
out-of-pocket expenses paid by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries to third
parties (other than Affiliates) in connection with such event (including fees
and out-of-pocket expenses attributable to claiming such proceeds), (ii) in
the
case of a sale, transfer or other disposition of an asset (including pursuant
to
a sale and leaseback transaction or a casualty or a condemnation or similar
proceeding), the amount of all payments required to be made by the Borrower
and
the Subsidiaries as a result of such event to repay Indebtedness (other than
Loans) secured by such asset or otherwise subject to mandatory prepayment as
a
result of such event and (iii) the amount of all taxes paid (or reasonably
estimated to be payable) by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, and the amount
of
any reserves established by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries to fund contingent
liabilities reasonably estimated to be payable, in each case, that are directly
attributable to such event (as determined reasonably and in good faith by a
Financial Officer), including any such reserves established in respect of
indemnification, pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities, workers
compensation liabilities, liabilities associated with retiree benefits or
liabilities relating to environmental matters.
-15-
“Obligations”
has the
meaning assigned to such term in the Collateral Agreement.
“Other
Taxes”
means
any and all present or future recording, stamp, documentary, excise, transfer,
sales, property or similar taxes, charges or levies arising from any payment
made under any Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or enforcement
of,
or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document.
“Patriot
Act”
means
the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required
to
Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (Title III of Pub. L. No. 107-56
(signed into law October 26, 2001)).
“PBGC”
means
the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA and
any successor entity performing similar functions.
“Perfection
Certificate”
means a
certificate in the form of Exhibit D or any other form approved by the
Administrative Agent.
“Permitted
Acquisition”
has the
meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.04(g).
“Permitted
Encumbrances”
means:
(a) Liens
imposed by law for taxes that are not yet due or are being contested in
compliance with Section 5.05;
(b) carriers’,
warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s and other like Liens
imposed by law, arising in the ordinary course of business and securing
obligations that are not overdue by more than 30 days or are being contested
in
compliance with Section 5.05;
(c) pledges
and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’
compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or
regulations;
(d) deposits
to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory
obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations
of
a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(e)
judgment liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of
Default under clause (k) of Article VII;
-16-
(f) easements,
zoning and other restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on real
property imposed by law, arising in the ordinary course of business or in the
ordinary operation of such real property that do not secure any monetary
obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected
property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Borrower
or
any Subsidiary;
(g)
customary rights of setoff upon deposits of cash in favor of banks and other
depository institutions and Liens of a collecting bank arising under the Uniform
Commercial Code in respect of payment items in the course of
collection;
(h)
Liens
arising from precautionary Uniform Commercial Code financing statements
regarding operating leases or consignments;
(i)
Liens
in favor of custom and forwarding agents and similar Persons in respect of
imported goods and merchandise; and
(j)
setoff or credit balances of the Borrower or any Subsidiary with credit card
issuers to secure obligations of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case
may be, to any such credit card issuers incurred in the ordinary course of
business as a result of fees and chargebacks;
provided
that the
term “Permitted Encumbrances” shall not include any Lien securing
Indebtedness.
“Permitted
Investments”
means:
(a) direct
obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are
unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States of America (or by any agency
thereof to the extent such obligations are backed by the full faith and credit
of the United States of America), in each case maturing within one year from
the
date of acquisition thereof;
(b) investments
in commercial paper maturing within 270 days from the date of acquisition
thereof and having, at such date of acquisition, the highest credit rating
obtainable from S&P or from Moody’s;
(c) investments
in certificates of deposit, banker’s acceptances and time deposits maturing
within one year from the date of acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by
or
placed with, and money market deposit accounts issued or offered by, any
domestic office of any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United
States of America or any State thereof which has a combined capital and surplus
and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000;
(d) fully
collateralized repurchase agreements with a term of not more than 30 days
for securities described in clause (a) above and entered into with a
financial institution satisfying the criteria described in clause (c)
above;
-17-
(e)
money
market funds that (i) comply with the criteria set forth in Securities
and
Exchange Commission Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
(ii) are rated AAA by S&P or Aaa by Moody’s and (iii) have
portfolio assets of at least $5,000,000,000; and
(f)
investments in the capital stock of Blue Tulip Corporation, a Delaware
corporation, and Xxxx XxXxxxxx, Inc., a Delaware corporation; provided
that the
sum of all such investments shall not exceed $1,000,000 in the
aggregate.
“Permitted
Investors”
means
Xxxxx Xxxxx (or any member of his immediate family that is actively involved
in
the management of the Borrower), Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxxx
and
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx.
“Person”
means
any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint
venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other
entity.
“Plan”
means
any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject
to
the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code
or
Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which the Borrower or any ERISA
Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069
of
ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of
ERISA.
“Prime
Rate”
means
the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by JPMorgan
Chase Bank, N.A. as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in New
York
City; each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the
date such change is publicly announced as being effective.
“Pro
Forma Basis”
means,
with respect to compliance with any test or covenant hereunder, compliance
with
such covenant or test after giving effect to any proposed Permitted Acquisition
(including pro forma adjustments arising out of events which are directly
attributable to the proposed Permitted Acquisition, are factually supportable
and are expected to have a continuing impact, in each case as reasonably
determined by the Borrower and as certified by a Financial Officer of the
Borrower and approved by the Administrative Agent) using, for purposes of
determining such compliance, the historical financial statements of all entities
or assets so acquired or to be acquired and the consolidated financial
statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries which shall be reformulated
as
if such Permitted Acquisition, and all other Permitted Acquisitions that have
been consummated during the period, and any Indebtedness or other liabilities
incurred in connection with any such Permitted Acquisitions had been consummated
and incurred at the beginning of such period.
“Pro
Forma Compliance”
means,
at any date of determination, that the Borrower shall be in compliance with
the
covenants set forth in Sections 6.12 and 6.13 as of the date of such
determination or the last day of the most recent fiscal quarter-end, as the
case
may be (computed on the basis of (a) balance sheet amounts as of such date
and
(b) income statement amounts for the most recently completed period of four
consecutive fiscal quarters for which financial statements shall have been
delivered to the Administrative Agent and, in each case, calculated on a Pro
Forma Basis in respect of the event giving rise to such
determination).
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“Qualified
Capital Stock”
of any
Person means any capital stock of such Person that is not Disqualified
Stock.
“Register”
has the
meaning set forth in Section 9.04.
“Related
Parties”
means,
with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the
respective directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person
and such Person’s Affiliates.
“Release”
means
any actual release, spill, emission, leaking, dumping, injection, pouring,
deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching or migration into or through
the environment or within or upon any building, structure, facility or
fixture.
“Required
Lenders”
means,
at any time, Lenders having Revolving Exposures and unused Commitments
representing more than 50% of the sum of the total Revolving Exposures and
unused Commitments at such time.
“Restricted
Payment”
means
any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other
property) with respect to any Equity Interests in the Borrower or any
Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property),
including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase,
redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancelation or termination of any Equity
Interests in the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any option, warrant or other
right to acquire any such Equity Interests in the Borrower or any
Subsidiary.
“Revolving
Exposure”
means,
with respect to any Lender at any time, the sum of the outstanding principal
amount of such Lender’s Revolving Loans and its LC Exposure and Swingline
Exposure at such time.
“Revolving
Lender”
means a
Lender with a Commitment or, if the Commitments have terminated or expired,
a
Lender with Revolving Exposure.
“Revolving
Loan”
means a
Loan made pursuant to Section 2.01.
“S&P”
means
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (or any successor thereto).
“Secured
Parties”
has the
meaning assigned to such term in the Collateral Agreement or any other
applicable Security Document.
“Security
Documents”
means
the Collateral Agreement, the Mortgages and each other security agreement or
other instrument or document executed and delivered pursuant to the Collateral
Requirement or pursuant to Section 5.12 or 5.13 to secure any of the
Obligations.
-19-
“SPE”
means
Xxxxxxxx Realty, LLC, a wholly owned Subsidiary that was formed solely to
purchase, own and operate the Distribution Center.
“Standby
Letter of Credit”
means a
letter of credit that is not a Commercial Letter of Credit.
“Statutory
Reserve Rate”
means a
fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one
and
the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum
reserve percentages (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental
reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the Board or any other banking
authority, domestic or foreign, to which the Administrative Agent or any Lender
(including any branch, Affiliate or other fronting office making or holding
a
Loan) is subject with respect to eurocurrency funding (currently referred to
as
“Eurocurrency Liabilities” in Regulation D of the Board). Such reserve
percentages shall include those imposed pursuant to such Regulation D.
Eurocurrency Loans shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to
be
subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration,
exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender
under such Regulation D or any comparable regulation. The Statutory
Reserve
Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any
change in any reserve percentage.
“subsidiary”
means,
with respect to any Person (the “parent”)
at any
date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association
or
other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the
parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such financial
statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as
any
other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other
entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests representing
more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or,
in
the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests
are, as of such date, owned, Controlled or held or (b) that is, as of
such
date, otherwise Controlled, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the
parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent.
“Subsidiary”
means
any subsidiary of the Borrower; provided,
however,
that
the SPE shall be deemed not to be a Subsidiary for any purpose of this Agreement
or other Loan Documents.
“Swingline
Exposure”
means,
at any time, the aggregate principal amount of all Swingline Loans outstanding
at such time. The Swingline Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be its
Applicable Percentage of the total Swingline Exposure at such time.
“Swingline
Lender”
means
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as lender of Swingline Loans
hereunder.
“Swingline
Loan”
means a
Loan made pursuant to Section 2.04.
-20-
“Synthetic
Lease”
shall
mean, as to any Person, any lease (including leases that may be terminated
by
the lessee at any time) of any property (whether real, personal or mixed) (a)
that is accounted for as an operating lease under GAAP and (b) in respect of
which the lessee retains or obtains ownership of the property so leased for
U.S.
federal income tax purposes, other than any such lease under which such person
is the lessor.
“Synthetic
Lease Obligations”
shall
mean, as to any Person, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the obligations of
such person to pay rent or other amounts under any Synthetic Lease which are
attributable to principal and, without duplication, (b) the amount of any
purchase price payment under any Synthetic Lease assuming the lessee exercises
the option to purchase the leased property at the end of the lease
term.
“Taxes”
means
any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions,
charges or withholdings imposed by any Governmental Authority.
“Total
Assets”
means,
on any date, the total assets of the Borrower, as such amount would be reflected
on an unconsolidated balance sheet of the Borrower prepared as of such date
in
accordance with GAAP.
“Total
Indebtedness”
means,
as of any date, the sum of (a) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness
of
the Borrower and the Subsidiaries outstanding as of such date, in the amount
that would be reflected on a balance sheet prepared as of such date on a
consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, plus (b) the aggregate principal
amount of Indebtedness of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries outstanding as
of
such date that is not required to be reflected on a balance sheet in accordance
with GAAP, determined on a consolidated basis; provided
that,
for purposes of clause (b) above, the term “Indebtedness” shall not include
contingent obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary as an account party
in
respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty unless such letter of
credit or letter of guaranty supports an obligation that constitutes
Indebtedness.
“Total
Tangible Assets”
means,
on any date, Total Assets minus the sum of (i) Intangible Assets, (ii) the
aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of the Subsidiaries to the Borrower
on such date and (iii) investments by the Borrower in Equity Interests in the
Subsidiaries and the SPE, as such amounts would be reflected on an
unconsolidated balance sheet of the Borrower prepared as of such date in
accordance with GAAP.
“Transactions”
means
(a) the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of the Loan
Documents, the borrowing of Loans, the use of the proceeds thereof and the
issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder, (b) the termination of, and
repayment of all outstanding obligations under, the Existing Credit Agreement
and (c) the payment of all fees and expenses in connection with the
foregoing.
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“Type”,
when
used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of
interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined
by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the Alternate Base Rate.
“Withdrawal
Liability”
means
liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial
withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in
Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.
SECTION
1.02. Classification
of Loans and Borrowings.
For
purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Class
(e.g.,
a
“Revolving Loan”) or by Type (e.g.,
a
“Eurocurrency Loan”) or by Class and Type (e.g.,
a
“Eurocurrency Revolving Loan”). Borrowings also may be classified and referred
to by Class (e.g.,
a
“Revolving Borrowing”) or by Type (e.g.,
a
“Eurocurrency Borrowing”) or by Class and Type (e.g.,
a
“Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowing”).
SECTION
1.03. Terms
Generally.
The
definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural
forms
of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall
include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words
“include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the
phrase “without limitation”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same
meaning and effect as the word “shall”. Unless the context requires otherwise
(a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other
document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument
or
other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified
(subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications
set forth herein), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed
to
include such Person’s successors and assigns, (c) the words “herein”, “hereof”
and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to
this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof,
(d)
all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be
construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules
to,
this Agreement and (e) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to
have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and
intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and
contract rights.
SECTION
1.04. Accounting
Terms; GAAP.
Except
as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial
nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to
time; provided
that, if
the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an
amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change
occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the application thereof on the
operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the
Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof
for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or
after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision
shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately
before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have
been
withdrawn or such provision is amended in accordance herewith; provided
that the
Borrower, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and Lenders, on the
other hand, agree to negotiate in good faith any proposed amendment to eliminate
or adjust for the effect of any such change in GAAP.
-22-
SECTION
1.05. Pro
Forma Calculations.
With
respect to any period during which any Permitted Acquisition of the type
described in the definition of the term “Pro Forma Basis” occurs as permitted
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, the Adjusted Leverage Ratio and the
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated with respect to such period
and
such Permitted Acquisition on a Pro Forma Basis.
ARTICLE II
The
Credits
SECTION
2.01. Commitments.
Subject
to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees
to
make Revolving Loans to the Borrower from time to time during the Availability
Period in an aggregate principal amount that will not result in such Lender’s
Revolving Exposure exceeding such Lender’s Commitment. Within the foregoing
limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower
may borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans.
SECTION
2.02. Loans
and Borrowings. (a)
Each
Loan
(other than a Swingline Loan) shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting
of
Loans of the same Type made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their
respective Commitments. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required
to
be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder;
provided
that the
Commitments of the Lenders are several and no Lender shall be responsible for
any other Lender’s failure to make Loans as required.
(b)
Subject
to Section 2.13, each Revolving Borrowing shall be comprised entirely
of
ABR Loans or Eurocurrency Loans as the Borrower may request in accordance
herewith. Each Swingline Loan shall be an ABR Loan. Each Lender at its option
may make any Eurocurrency Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or
Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan; provided
that any
exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to
repay
such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(c)
At
the
commencement of each Interest Period for any Eurocurrency Borrowing (other
than
any Eurocurrency Borrowing resulting from written Interest Election Requests
made by the Borrower on and dated the Effective Date), such Borrowing shall
be
in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less
than $5,000,000. At the time that each ABR Revolving Borrowing is made, such
Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of
$500,000 and not less than $500,000; provided
that an
ABR Revolving Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to the
entire unused balance of the total Commitments or that is required to finance
the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.05(e).
Each
Swingline Loan shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $100,000
and not less than $100,000. Borrowings of more than one Type may be outstanding
at the same time; provided
that
there shall not at any time be more than a total of 10 Eurocurrency Borrowings
outstanding.
-23-
(d)
Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, the Borrower shall not be entitled to
request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Borrowing if the Interest
Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Maturity
Date.
SECTION
2.03. Requests
for Borrowings.
To
request a Revolving Borrowing, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative
Agent of such request by telephone (a) in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing,
not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, three Business Days before
the date of the proposed Borrowing or (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing,
not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, one Business Day before
the
date of the proposed Borrowing; provided
that any
such notice of an ABR Revolving Borrowing to finance the reimbursement of an
LC
Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.05(e) may be given not later
than
12:00 noon, New York City time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing. Each
such
telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed
promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written
Borrowing Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed
by
the Borrower. Each such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify
the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:
(i) the
aggregate amount of such Borrowing;
(ii) the
date
of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;
(iii) whether
such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurocurrency
Borrowing;
(iv) in
the
case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, the initial Interest Period to be applicable
thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term
“Interest
Period”;
and
(v) the
location and number of the Borrower’s account to which funds are to be
disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section
2.06.
If
no
election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified, then the requested Borrowing
shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period is specified with respect
to
any requested Eurocurrency Revolving Borrowing, then the Borrower shall be
deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration. Promptly
following receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section, the
Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of
the
amount of such Lender’s Loan to be made as part of the requested
Borrowing.
SECTION
2.04. Swingline
Loans. (a)
Subject
to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swingline Lender agrees to
make Swingline Loans to the Borrower from time to time during the Availability
Period, in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding that will
not
result in (i) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Swingline
Loans
exceeding $10,000,000 or (ii) the sum of the total Revolving Exposures exceeding
the total Commitments; provided
that the
Swingline Lender shall not be required to make a Swingline Loan to refinance
an
outstanding Swingline Loan. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the
terms
and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow
Swingline Loans.
-24-
(b)
To
request a Swingline Loan, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent
of
such request by telephone (confirmed by telecopy), not later than 12:00 noon,
New York City time, on the day of a proposed Swingline Loan. Each such notice
shall be irrevocable and shall specify the requested date (which shall be a
Business Day) and amount of the requested Swingline Loan. The Administrative
Agent will promptly advise the Swingline Lender of any such notice received
from
the Borrower. The Swingline Lender shall make each Swingline Loan available
to
the Borrower by means of a credit to the general deposit account of the Borrower
with the Swingline Lender (or, in the case of a Swingline Loan made to finance
the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.05(e),
by
remittance to the applicable Issuing Bank) by 2:00 p.m., New York City
time, on the requested date of such Swingline Loan.
(c)
The
Swingline Lender may by written notice given to the Administrative Agent not
later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on any Business Day require
the
Revolving Lenders to acquire participations on such Business Day in all or
a
portion of the Swingline Loans outstanding. Such notice shall specify the
aggregate amount of Swingline Loans in which Revolving Lenders will participate.
Promptly upon receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent will give notice
thereof to each Revolving Lender, specifying in such notice such Lender’s
Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans. Each Revolving Lender
hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees, upon receipt of notice as provided
above, to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Swingline
Lender, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans.
Each Revolving Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire
participations in Swingline Loans pursuant to this paragraph is absolute and
unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever,
including the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or
termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without
any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever. Each Revolving
Lender shall comply with its obligation under this paragraph by wire transfer
of
immediately available funds, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.06
with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.06 shall apply,
mutatis mutandis,
to the
payment obligations of the Revolving Lenders), and the Administrative Agent
shall promptly pay to the Swingline Lender the amounts so received by it from
the Revolving Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower of
any
participations in any Swingline Loan acquired pursuant to this paragraph, and
thereafter payments in respect of such Swingline Loan shall be made to the
Administrative Agent and not to the Swingline Lender. Any amounts received
by
the Swingline Lender from the Borrower (or other party on behalf of the
Borrower) in respect of a Swingline Loan after receipt by the Swingline Lender
of the proceeds of a sale of participations therein shall be promptly remitted
to the Administrative Agent; any such amounts received by the Administrative
Agent shall be promptly remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Revolving
Lenders that shall have made their payments pursuant to this paragraph and
to
the Swingline Lender, as their interests may appear. The purchase of
participations in a Swingline Loan pursuant to this paragraph shall not relieve
the Borrower of any default in the payment thereof.
-25-
SECTION
2.05. Letters
of Credit. (a)
General.
Subject
to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrower may request the
issuance of Letters of Credit for its own account or, so long as the Borrower
is
a joint and several co-applicant with respect thereto, any of its Subsidiaries,
in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the applicable
Issuing Bank, at any time and from time to time during the Availability Period.
In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this
Agreement and the terms and conditions of any form of letter of credit
application or other agreement submitted by the Borrower to, or entered into
by
the Borrower with, the applicable Issuing Bank relating to any Letter of Credit,
the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control. On and after the
Effective Date, each Existing Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be a Letter
of
Credit for all purposes hereof and shall be deemed to have been issued hereunder
on the Effective Date. Any Lender that issued an Existing Letter of Credit
but
shall not have entered into an Issuing Bank Agreement shall nevertheless have
the rights of an Issuing Bank as to such Existing Letter of Credit for purposes
of this Section 2.05.
(b)
Notice
of Issuance, Amendment, Renewal, Extension; Certain Conditions.
To
request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment, renewal or
extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the Borrower shall hand deliver
or telecopy (or transmit by electronic communication, if arrangements for doing
so have been approved by the applicable Issuing Bank) to an Issuing Bank and
the
Administrative Agent (reasonably in advance of the requested date of issuance,
amendment, renewal or extension) a notice requesting the issuance of a Letter
of
Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended, renewed or extended,
and specifying the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (which
shall be a Business Day), the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire
(which shall comply with paragraph (c) of this Section), the amount
of such
Letter of Credit, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof and such
other
information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend, renew or extend such Letter
of Credit. If requested by an Issuing Bank, the Borrower also shall submit
a
letter of credit application on such Issuing Bank’s standard form in connection
with any request for a Letter of Credit (other than an Existing Letter of
Credit). A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended, renewed or extended only
if (and upon issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of each Letter of Credit
the Borrower shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect
to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension the total Revolving Exposures
shall not exceed the total Commitments.
(c)
Expiration
Date.
Each
Letter of Credit shall expire at or prior to the close of business on the
earlier of (i) the date one year after the date of the issuance of such
Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any renewal or extension thereof, one
year
after such renewal or extension) and (ii) the date that is five Business
Days prior to the Maturity Date; provided
that a
Letter of Credit may expire at a later date if the Borrower shall have deposited
cash collateral in an account with the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section
2.05(j) in an amount equal to 105% of the undrawn face amount of such Letter
or
Credit. Any Letter of Credit may provide by its terms that it may be
automatically extended (i.e.,
“evergreen”) for additional successive one year periods on terms reasonably
acceptable to the applicable Issuing Bank. Any Letter of Credit providing for
automatic extension shall be extended upon the then current expiration date
without any further action by any Person unless the applicable Issuing Bank
shall have given notice to the applicable beneficiary (with a copy to the
Borrower) of the election by such Issuing Bank not to extend such Letter of
Credit, such notice to be given not fewer than 30 days prior to the then current
expiration date of such Letter of Credit, provided
that no
Letter of Credit may be extended automatically or otherwise beyond the date
that
is five Business Days prior to the Maturity Date (other than in accordance
with
the proviso to the first sentence of this paragraph (c)).
-26-
(d)
Participations.
By the
issuance of a Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing
the amount thereof) and without any further action on the part of the applicable
Issuing Bank or the Lenders, such Issuing Bank hereby grants to each Revolving
Lender, and each Revolving Lender hereby acquires from such Issuing Bank, a
participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such Lender’s Applicable
Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter
of
Credit. In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Revolving
Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the Administrative
Agent, for the account of the applicable Issuing Bank, such Lender’s Applicable
Percentage of each LC Disbursement made by such Issuing Bank and not reimbursed
by the Borrower on the date due as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section,
or
of any reimbursement payment required to be refunded to the Borrower for any
reason. Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire
participations pursuant to this paragraph in respect of Letters of Credit is
absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance
whatsoever, including any amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of
Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or
termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without
any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever. On the Effective
Date and without any further action by any party hereto, each Issuing Bank
that
has issued an Existing Letter of Credit shall be deemed to have granted to
each
Revolving Lender, and each Revolving Lender shall be deemed to have acquired
from such Issuing Bank, a participation in each such Existing Letter of Credit
in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (d).
(e)
Reimbursement.
If an
Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit,
it
shall give prompt notice thereof to the Borrower. The Borrower shall reimburse
such LC Disbursement by paying to the Administrative Agent an amount equal
to
such LC Disbursement not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date
that such LC Disbursement is made, if the Borrower shall have received notice
of
such LC Disbursement prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on such date,
or,
if such notice has not been received by the Borrower prior to such time on
such
date, then not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on (i) the Business
Day
that the Borrower receives such notice, if such notice is received prior to
10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the day of receipt, or (ii) the Business
Day
immediately following the day that the Borrower receives such notice, if such
notice is not received prior to such time on the day of receipt; provided
that, if
such LC Disbursement is not less than $500,000, the Borrower may, subject to
the
conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section
2.03 or 2.04 that such payment be financed with an ABR Revolving Borrowing
or
Swingline Loan in an equivalent amount and, to the extent so financed, the
Borrower’s obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by
the resulting ABR Revolving Borrowing or Swingline Loan. If the Borrower fails
to make such payment when due, the Administrative Agent shall notify each
Revolving Lender of the applicable LC Disbursement, the payment then due from
the Borrower in respect thereof and such Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof.
Promptly following receipt of such notice, each Revolving Lender shall pay
to
the Administrative Agent its Applicable Percentage of the payment then due
from
the Borrower, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.06 with respect
to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.06 shall apply, mutatis mutandis,
to the
payment obligations of the Revolving Lenders), and the Administrative Agent
shall promptly pay to the applicable Issuing Bank the amounts so received by
it
from the Revolving Lenders. Promptly following receipt by the Administrative
Agent of any payment from the Borrower pursuant to this paragraph, the
Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to the applicable Issuing
Bank or, to the extent that Revolving Lenders have made payments pursuant to
this paragraph to reimburse the applicable Issuing Bank, then to such Revolving
Lenders and such Issuing Bank as their interests may appear. Any payment made
by
a Revolving Lender pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse the applicable
Issuing Bank for any LC Disbursement (other than the funding of ABR Revolving
Loans or a Swingline Loan as contemplated above) shall not constitute a Loan
and
shall not relieve the Borrower of its obligation to reimburse such LC
Disbursement.
-27-
(f)
Obligations
Absolute.
The
Borrower’s obligation to reimburse LC Disbursements as provided in
paragraph (e) of this Section shall be absolute, unconditional and
irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective
of
(i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit or this
Agreement, or any term or provision therein, (ii) any draft or other document
presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent or invalid
in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any
respect, (iii) payment by the applicable Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit
against presentation of a draft or other document that does not substantially
comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit or (iv) any other event or
circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that
might, but for the provisions of this Section, constitute a legal or equitable
discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, the Borrower’s obligations
hereunder. Neither the Administrative Agent, the Lenders nor the applicable
Issuing Bank, nor any of their Related Parties, shall have any liability or
responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer
of
any Letter of Credit or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder
(irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding
sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission
or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to
any
Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder),
any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence arising from
causes beyond the control of such Issuing Bank; provided
that the
foregoing shall not be construed to excuse such Issuing Bank from liability
to
the Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to consequential
damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Borrower to the
extent permitted by applicable law) suffered by the Borrower that are caused
by
such Issuing Bank’s failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and
other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms
thereof. The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of gross
negligence or wilful misconduct on the part of the applicable Issuing Bank
(as
finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), such Issuing Bank
shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination. In
furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the
parties agree that, with respect to documents presented which appear on their
face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit,
such
Issuing Bank may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon
such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless
of
any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment
upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the
terms of such Letter of Credit.
-28-
(g)
Disbursement
Procedures.
The
applicable Issuing Bank shall, promptly following its receipt thereof, examine
all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under a Letter of
Credit. The applicable Issuing Bank shall promptly notify the Administrative
Agent and the Borrower by telephone (confirmed by telecopy) of such demand
for
payment and whether such Issuing Bank has made or will make an LC Disbursement
thereunder; provided
that any
failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the Borrower
of
its obligation to reimburse such Issuing Bank and the Revolving Lenders with
respect to any such LC Disbursement in accordance with the foregoing provisions
of paragraphs (e) and (f).
(h)
Interim
Interest.
If an
Issuing Bank shall make any LC Disbursement, then, unless the Borrower shall
reimburse such LC Disbursement in full on the date such LC Disbursement is
made,
the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest, for each day from and including
the date such LC Disbursement is made to but excluding the date that the
Borrower reimburses such LC Disbursement, at the rate per annum then applicable
to ABR Revolving Loans; provided
that, if
the Borrower fails to reimburse such LC Disbursement when due pursuant to
paragraph (e) of this Section, then Section 2.12(c) shall apply. Interest
accrued pursuant to this paragraph shall be for the account of the applicable
Issuing Bank, except that interest accrued on and after the date of payment
by
any Revolving Lender pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section to reimburse
such
Issuing Bank shall be for the account of such Lender to the extent of such
payment.
(i)
Replacement
of Issuing Banks.
An
Issuing Bank may resign at any time by giving 30 days prior written
notice
to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, and an Issuing Bank may be
replaced at any time by written agreement among the Borrower, the Administrative
Agent, the replaced Issuing Bank and the successor Issuing Bank. The
Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of any such resignation or
replacement of an Issuing Bank. At the time any such resignation or replacement
shall become effective, the Borrower shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for
the
account of the retiring or replaced Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.11(b).
From and after the effective date of any such resignation or replacement, (i)
the successor Issuing Bank shall have all the rights and obligations of an
Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit to be issued
thereafter and (ii) references herein to the term “Issuing
Bank”
shall
be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Issuing Bank, or to
such
successor and all previous Issuing Banks, as the context shall require. After
the resignation or replacement of an Issuing Bank hereunder, the retiring or
replaced Issuing Bank shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have
all
the rights and obligations of an Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect
to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such resignation or replacement,
but
shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit.
-29-
(j)
Cash
Collateralization.
If any
Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, on the Business Day that the
Borrower receives notice from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders
(or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated, Revolving Lenders with
LC Exposure representing greater than 50% of the total LC Exposure) demanding
the deposit of cash collateral pursuant to this paragraph, the Borrower shall
deposit in an account with the Administrative Agent, in the name of the
Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the Lenders, an amount in cash
equal
to the total LC Exposure as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest
thereon; provided
that the
obligation to deposit such cash collateral shall become effective immediately,
and such deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without demand or
other notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default with
respect to the Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of Article VII.
The Borrower also shall deposit cash collateral pursuant to this paragraph
as
and to the extent required by Section 2.10(b). Each such deposit shall be held
by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of
the
obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement. The Administrative Agent
shall
have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of
withdrawal, over such account. Other than any interest earned on the investment
of such deposits, which investments shall be made at the option and sole
discretion of the Administrative Agent and at the Borrower’s risk and expense,
such deposits shall not bear interest. Interest or profits, if any, on such
investments shall accumulate in such account. Moneys in such account shall
be
applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse the Issuing Banks for LC
Disbursements for which they have not been reimbursed by or on behalf of the
Borrower and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction
of the reimbursement obligations of the Borrower for the LC Exposure at such
time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to
the
consent of Revolving Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50%
of
the total LC Exposure), be applied to satisfy other obligations of the Borrower
under this Agreement. If the Borrower is required to provide an amount of cash
collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default,
such
amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the
Borrower within three Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured
or waived. If the Borrower is required to provide an amount of cash collateral
hereunder pursuant to Section 2.10(b), such amount (to the extent not
applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the Borrower as and to the extent
that, after giving effect to such return, the Borrower would remain in
compliance with Section 2.10(b) and no Default shall have occurred and
be
continuing.
-30-
(k)
Issuing
Bank Agreements.
Unless
otherwise requested by the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank shall report
in writing to the Administrative Agent (i) on the first Business Day
of
each week, the daily activity (set forth by day) in respect of Letters of Credit
during the immediately preceding week, including all issuances, extensions,
amendments and renewals, all expirations and cancelations and all disbursements
and reimbursements, (ii) on or prior to each Business Day on which such
Issuing Bank expects to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit,
the
date of such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, and the aggregate face
amount of the Letters of Credit to be issued, amended, renewed or extended
by it
and outstanding after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or
extension occurred (and whether the amount thereof changed), it being understood
that such Issuing Bank shall not permit any issuance of any Letter of Credit,
or
any renewal, extension or amendment resulting in an increase in the amount
of
any Letter of Credit to occur, without first obtaining written confirmation
from
the Administrative Agent that it is then permitted under this Agreement,
(iii) on each Business Day on which such Issuing Bank makes any LC
Disbursement, the date of such LC Disbursement and the amount of such LC
Disbursement, (iv) on any Business Day on which the Borrower fails to
reimburse an LC Disbursement required to be reimbursed to such Issuing Bank
on
such day, the date of such failure and the amount and currency of such LC
Disbursement and (v) on any other Business Day, such other information
as
the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request.
SECTION
2.06. Funding
of Borrowings. (a)
Each
Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date
thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 12:00 noon, New
York
City time, to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated
by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders; provided
that
Swingline Loans shall be made as provided in Section 2.04. The
Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower by promptly
crediting the amounts so received, in like funds, to an account of the Borrower
maintained with the Administrative Agent in New York City and designated by
the
Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request; provided
that ABR
Revolving Loans or Swingline Loans made to finance the reimbursement of an
LC
Disbursement as provided in Section 2.05(e) shall be remitted by the
Administrative Agent to the applicable Issuing Bank.
(b)
Unless
the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to
the
proposed date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to
the
Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative
Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date
in
accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section and may, in reliance upon such
assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such
event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing
available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the
Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand
such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including
the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the
date
of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of such Lender,
the
greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the
Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank
compensation or (ii) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable
to ABR Loans, but without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against
such Lender. If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then
such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such
Borrowing.
-31-
SECTION
2.07. Interest
Elections. (a)
Each
Revolving Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable
Borrowing Request and, in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, shall have
an
initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request. Thereafter,
the
Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue
such Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, may elect Interest
Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section. The Borrower may elect
different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing,
in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders
holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each
such
portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing. This Section shall not apply
to Swingline Borrowings, which may not be converted or continued.
(b)
To
make
an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower shall notify the
Administrative Agent of such election by telephone by the time that a Borrowing
Request would be required under Section 2.03 if the Borrower were requesting
a
Revolving Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to be made on
the
effective date of such election. Each such telephonic Interest Election Request
shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or
telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Interest Election Request
in a
form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the
Borrower.
(c)
Each
telephonic and written Interest Election Request shall specify the following
information in compliance with Section 2.02:
(i) the
Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies and, if different
options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the
portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case
the
information to be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) below shall
be
specified for each resulting Borrowing);
(ii) the
effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest Election Request,
which shall be a Business Day;
(iii) whether
the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurocurrency Borrowing;
and
-32-
(iv) if
the
resulting Borrowing is a Eurocurrency Borrowing, the Interest Period to be
applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which shall be a period
contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest
Period”.
If
any
such Interest Election Request requests a Eurocurrency Borrowing but does not
specify an Interest Period, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected
an Interest Period of one month’s duration.
(d)
Promptly
following receipt of an Interest Election Request, the Administrative Agent
shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of such Lender’s portion of
each resulting Borrowing.
(e)
If
the
Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to
a
Eurocurrency Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable
thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end
of
such Interest Period such Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing.
Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent, at the request of
the
Required Lenders, so notifies the Borrower, then, so long as an Event of Default
is continuing (i) no outstanding Borrowing may be converted to or continued
as a
Eurocurrency Borrowing and (ii) unless repaid, each Eurocurrency Borrowing
shall
be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable
thereto.
SECTION
2.08. Termination
and Reduction of Commitments; Increase of Commitments. (a)
Unless
previously terminated, the Commitments shall terminate on the Maturity
Date.
(b)
The
Borrower may at any time terminate, or from time to time reduce, the
Commitments; provided
that (i)
each reduction of the Commitments shall be in an amount that is an integral
multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000 and (ii) the Borrower shall
not terminate or reduce the Commitments if, after giving effect to any
concurrent prepayment of the Revolving Loans in accordance with
Section 2.10, the sum of the Revolving Exposures would exceed the total
Commitments.
(c)
The
Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of any election to terminate
or
reduce the Commitments under paragraph (b) of this Section at least
three
Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction,
specifying such election and the effective date thereof. Promptly following
receipt of any notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of
the
contents thereof. Each notice delivered by the Borrower pursuant to this Section
shall be irrevocable; provided
that a
notice of termination of the Commitments delivered by the Borrower may state
that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit
facilities, in which case such notice may be revoked by the Borrower (by notice
to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if
such
condition is not satisfied. Any termination or reduction of the Commitments
shall be permanent. Each reduction of the Commitments shall be made ratably
among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Commitments.
-33-
(d)
The
Borrower may from time to time, by written notice to the Administrative Agent,
executed by the Borrower and one or more financial institutions (any such
financial institution being called an “Increasing
Lender”),
which
may include any Lender, cause the Commitments of the Increasing Lenders to
be
increased (or cause Commitments to be extended by the Increasing Lenders, as
the
case may be) in an amount for each Increasing Lender set forth in such notice;
provided
that (i)
the amount of any such increase in the aggregate Commitments shall be not less
than $10,000,000, (ii) the aggregate amount of increases in Commitments made
pursuant to this paragraph shall not exceed $50,000,000, (iii) each Increasing
Lender, if not already a Lender hereunder, shall be subject to the approval
of
the Administrative Agent and each Issuing Bank (which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed) and shall execute all such documentation
as
the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall reasonably specify to evidence
the Commitment of such Increasing Lender and its status as a Lender hereunder.
Such notice shall set forth the date (the “Increase
Effective Date”)
on
which such increase is requested to become effective (which shall not be less
than 3 Business Days or more than 45 days after the date of such notice). On
the
Increase Effective Date, (A) the aggregate principal amount of the Loans
outstanding (the “Initial
Loans”)
immediately prior to giving effect to the Commitment increase on the Increase
Effective Date shall be deemed to be repaid, (B) after the effectiveness
of
the Commitment increase, the Borrower shall be deemed to have made new
Borrowings (the “Subsequent
Borrowings”)
in an
aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the
Initial Loans and of the Types and for the Interest Periods specified in a
Borrowing Request delivered to the Administrative Agent in accordance with
Section 2.03, (C) each Lender shall pay to the Administrative
Agent in
same day funds an amount equal to the difference, if positive, between
(x) such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (calculated after giving effect to
the Commitment increase) of the Subsequent Borrowings and (y) such
Lender’s Applicable Percentage (calculated without giving effect to the
Commitment increase) of the Initial Loans, (D) after the Administrative
Agent receives the funds specified in clause (C) above, the Administrative
Agent
shall pay to each Lender the portion of such funds that is equal to the
difference, if positive, between (1) such Lender’s Applicable Percentage
(calculated without giving effect to the Commitment increase) of the
Initial Loans and (2) such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (calculated after
giving effect to the Commitment increase) of the amount of the Subsequent
Borrowings, (E) each Lender (including each Increasing Lender) shall
be
deemed to hold its Applicable Percentage of each Subsequent Borrowing (each
calculated after giving effect to the Commitment increase) and (F) the
Borrower shall pay each Lender (other than any Increasing Lender that was not
a
Lender before giving effect to the Commitment increase) any and all accrued
but
unpaid interest on the Initial Loans. The deemed payments made pursuant to
clause (A) above in respect of each Eurodollar Loan shall be subject
to
indemnification by the Borrower pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.15
if the Increase Effective Date occurs other than on the last day of the Interest
Period relating thereto and breakage costs actually result therefrom.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no increase in the Commitments (or in any
Commitment of any Lender) or addition of an Increasing Lender shall become
effective under this paragraph unless, (A) on the date of such increase,
the conditions set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 4.02
shall be satisfied and the Administrative Agent shall have received a
certificate to that effect dated such date and executed by a Financial Officer
of the Borrower, and (B) the Administrative Agent shall have received
(with
sufficient copies for each of the Lenders) documents consistent with those
delivered pursuant to Section 4.01 as to the corporate power and authority
of the Borrower to borrow hereunder after giving effect to such
increase.
-34-
SECTION
2.09. Repayment of
Loans; Evidence of Debt. (a)
The
Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent
for the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each
Revolving Loan of such Lender on the Maturity Date and (ii) to the Swingline
Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Swingline Loan on the earlier
of
the Maturity Date and the first date after such Swingline Loan is made that
is
the 15th or last day of a calendar month and is at least five Business Days
after such Swingline Loan is made; provided
that on
each date that a Revolving Borrowing is made, the Borrower shall repay all
Swingline Loans that were outstanding on the date such Borrowing was
requested.
(b)
Each
Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or
accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting
from each Loan made by such Lender, including the amounts of principal and
interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time
hereunder.
(c)
The
Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall record
(i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Class and Type thereof
and
the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal
or
interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to
each
Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the
Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each Lender’s
share thereof.
(d)
The
entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (b)
or (c) of this Section shall be prima facie
evidence
of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided
that the
failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts
or
any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower
to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(e)
Any
Lender may request that Loans of any Class made by it be evidenced by a
promissory note. In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver
to such Lender a promissory note payable to the order of such Lender (or, if
requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns) and
substantially in the form of Exhibit F. Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by
such
promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after
assignment pursuant to Section 9.04) be represented by one or more promissory
notes in such form payable to the order of the payee named therein (or, if
such
promissory note is a registered note, to such payee and its registered
assigns).
-35-
SECTION
2.10. Prepayment
of Loans. (a)
The
Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any
Borrowing in whole or in part, subject to the requirements of this
Section.
(b)
In
the
event and on such occasion that the sum of the Revolving Exposures exceeds
the
total Commitments, the Borrower shall prepay Revolving Borrowings or Swingline
Borrowings (or, if no such Borrowings are outstanding, deposit cash collateral
in an account with the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 2.05(j)) in
an
aggregate amount equal to such excess.
(c)
Prior
to
any optional or mandatory prepayment of Borrowings hereunder, the Borrower
shall
select the Borrowing or Borrowings to be prepaid and shall specify such
selection in the notice of such prepayment pursuant to paragraph (e)
of
this Section.
(d)
The
Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent (and, in the case of prepayment
of a Swingline Loan, the Swingline Lender) by telephone (confirmed by telecopy)
of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of prepayment of a Eurocurrency
Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, three Business Days
before the date of prepayment, (ii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR
Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date of
prepayment or (iii) in the case of prepayment of a Swingline Loan, not later
than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the date of prepayment. Each such notice
shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date, the principal amount
of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid and, in the case of a
mandatory prepayment, a reasonably detailed calculation of the amount of such
prepayment; provided
that, if
a notice of optional prepayment is given in connection with a conditional notice
of termination of the Commitments as contemplated by Section 2.08, then
such notice of prepayment may be revoked if such notice of termination is
revoked in accordance with Section 2.08. Promptly following receipt
of any
such notice (other than a notice relating solely to Swingline Loans), the
Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each
partial prepayment of any Borrowing shall be in an amount that would be
permitted in the case of an advance of a Borrowing of the same Type as provided
in Section 2.02, except as necessary to apply fully the required amount of
a
mandatory prepayment. Each prepayment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably
to
the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing. Prepayments shall be accompanied
by
accrued interest and other amounts to the extent required by Section
2.12.
(e)
Amounts to be applied pursuant to this Section 2.10 to prepay any Eurocurrency
Borrowing shall be deposited in a Breakage Prepayment Account (as defined below)
if the Borrower so requests in order to avoid the incurrence of costs under
Section 2.15. On the last day of the Interest Period of such Eurocurrency
Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall apply any cash on deposit in such
Breakage Prepayment Account to amounts due in respect of such Eurocurrency
Borrowing until all amounts due in respect thereof have been satisfied (with
any
remaining funds being returned to the Borrower) or until all the allocable
cash
on deposit has been exhausted. For purposes of this paragraph (g), the term
“Breakage
Prepayment Account”
shall
mean an account established by the Borrower with the Administrative Agent and
over which the Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control,
including the exclusive right of withdrawal for application in accordance with
this paragraph (g). The Administrative Agent will, at the request of the
Borrower, invest amounts on deposit in a Breakage Prepayment Account in
short-term, cash equivalent investments selected by the Administrative Agent
in
consultation with the Borrower that mature prior to the last day of the Interest
Period of the applicable Eurocurrency Borrowing; provided,
however,
that
the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to invest amounts on deposit
in a Breakage Prepayment Account if a Default or an Event of Default shall
have
occurred and be continuing. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative
Agent for any losses relating to the investments made at the request or
direction of the Borrower so that the amount available to prepay amounts due
in
respect of the applicable Eurocurrency Borrowing on the last day of the
applicable Interest Period is not less than the amount that would have been
available had no investments been made pursuant thereto. Other than any interest
earned on such investments (which shall be for the account of the Borrower,
to
the extent not necessary for the prepayment of Eurocurrency Borrowings in
accordance with this Section), the Breakage Prepayment Account shall not bear
interest. Interest or profits, if any, on such investments in any Breakage
Prepayment Account shall be deposited in such Breakage Prepayment Account and
reinvested and disbursed as specified above. If the maturity of the Loans and
all amounts due hereunder has been accelerated pursuant to Article VII, the
Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, apply all amounts on deposit
in the Breakage Prepayment Accounts to satisfy any of the Obligations (and
the
Borrower has pursuant to the Collateral Agreement or another Security Document
granted to the Administrative Agent a security interest in each of its Breakage
Prepayment Accounts to secure such Obligations).
-36-
SECTION
2.11. Fees. (a)
The
Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each
Lender a commitment fee, which shall accrue at the Applicable Rate on the
average daily unused amount of each Commitment of such Lender during the period
from and including the date hereof to but excluding the date on which such
Commitment terminates. Accrued commitment fees shall be payable in arrears
on
the last day of March, June, September and December of each year and on the
date
on which the Commitments terminate, commencing on the first such date to occur
after the Effective Date. All commitment fees shall be computed on the basis
of
a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed
(including the first day but excluding the last day). For purposes of computing
commitment fees with respect to Commitments, a Commitment of a Lender shall
be
deemed to be used to the extent of the outstanding Revolving Loans and LC
Exposure of such Lender (and the Swingline Exposure of such Lender shall be
disregarded for such purpose).
(b)
The
Borrower agrees to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each
Revolving Lender a participation fee with respect to its participations in
Commercial Letters of Credit or Standby Letters of Credit, as the case may
be,
which shall accrue at the Applicable Rate therefor, in each case, on the average
daily amount of such Lender’s LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof
attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the period from and
including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date on which
such Lender’s Commitment terminates and the date on which such Lender ceases to
have any LC Exposure, and (ii) to each Issuing Bank a fronting fee, which shall
accrue at the rate or rates per annum separately agreed upon between the
Borrower and such Issuing Bank on the average daily amount of the LC Exposure
(excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements)
attributable to Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank during the period
from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date
of
termination of the Commitments and the date on which there ceases to be any
such
LC Exposure, as well as such Issuing Bank’s standard fees with respect to the
issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or processing
of drawings thereunder. Participation fees and fronting fees accrued through
and
including the last day of March, June, September and December of each year
shall
be payable on the third Business Day following such last day, commencing on
the
first such date to occur after the Effective Date; provided
that all
such fees shall be payable on the date on which the Commitments terminate and
any such fees accruing after the date on which the Commitments terminate shall
be payable on demand. Any other fees payable to any Issuing Bank pursuant to
this paragraph shall be payable within 10 days after demand. All participation
fees and fronting fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days
and
shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first
day
but excluding the last day).
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(c)
The
Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, fees
payable in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon between the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
(d)
All
fees
payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available
funds, to the Administrative Agent (or to the applicable Issuing Bank, in the
case of fees payable to it) for distribution, in the case of commitment fees
and
participation fees, to the Lenders entitled thereto. Fees paid shall not be
refundable under any circumstances (absent manifest error).
SECTION
2.12. Interest. (a)
The
Loans
comprising each ABR Borrowing (including each Swingline Loan) shall
bear
interest at the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.
(b)
The
Loans
comprising each Eurocurrency Borrowing shall bear interest at the Adjusted
LIBO
Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable
Rate.
(c)
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if any principal of or interest on any Loan or any fee or other
amount payable by the Borrower hereunder is not paid when due (after giving
effect to any applicable grace period), whether at stated maturity, upon
acceleration or otherwise, such overdue amount shall bear interest, after as
well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of overdue
principal of any Loan, 2% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan as
provided in the preceding paragraphs of this Section or (ii) in the case of
any
other amount, 2% plus the rate applicable to ABR Revolving Loans as provided
in
paragraph (a) of this Section.
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(d)
Accrued
interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment
Date
for such Loan and, in the case of Revolving Loans, upon termination of the
Commitments; provided
that (i)
interest accrued pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section shall be payable
on
demand, (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan (other
than
a prepayment of an ABR Revolving Loan prior to the end of the Availability
Period), accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be
payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment and (iii) in the event
of
any conversion of any Eurocurrency Loan prior to the end of the current Interest
Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective
date of such conversion.
(e)
All
interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except
that interest computed by reference to the Alternate Base Rate at times when
the
Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate shall be computed on the basis
of
a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and in each case shall be
payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but
excluding the last day). The applicable Alternate Base Rate or Adjusted LIBO
Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination
shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
SECTION
2.13. Alternate
Rate of Interest.
If prior
to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurocurrency
Borrowing:
(a)
the
Administrative Agent determines in good faith (which determination shall be
conclusive absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not
exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate for such Interest Period;
or
(b)
the
Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders that the Adjusted LIBO
Rate for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost
to
such Lenders of making or maintaining their Loans included in such Borrowing
for
such Interest Period;
then
the
Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders
by telephone or telecopy as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the
Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the
circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist (which notice shall
be
promptly given following the termination of any such circumstances), (i) any
Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to,
or
continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurocurrency Borrowing shall be ineffective,
and such Borrowing shall be converted to or continued on the last day of the
Interest Period applicable thereto as an ABR Borrowing, and (ii) if any
Borrowing Request requests a Eurocurrency Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be
made as an ABR Borrowing.
SECTION
2.14. Increased
Costs. (a)
If
any
Change in Law shall:
(i) impose,
modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement
against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended
by,
any Lender (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted LIBO
Rate) or any Issuing Bank; or
-39-
(ii) impose
on
any Lender or any Issuing Bank or the London interbank market any other
condition affecting this Agreement or Eurocurrency Loans made by such Lender
or
any Letter of Credit or participation therein;
and
the
result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender
of
making or maintaining any Eurocurrency Loan (or of maintaining its obligation
to
make any such Loan) or to increase the cost to such Lender or any Issuing Bank
of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit or to reduce
the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or such Issuing
Bank
hereunder (whether of principal, interest or otherwise), then the Borrower
will
pay to such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional
amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the
case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction
suffered.
(b)
If
any
Lender or any Issuing Bank determines that any Change in Law regarding capital
requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on
such
Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or
such Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement
or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit held by, such
Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank, to a level below
that which such Lender or such Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or such Issuing
Bank’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking
into consideration such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s policies and the
policies of such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s holding company with respect to
capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender
or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts
as
will compensate such Lender or such Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or such
Issuing Bank’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.
(c)
A
certificate of a Lender or an Issuing Bank setting forth in reasonable detail
the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or such Issuing Bank
or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a)
or (b) of this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be
conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender or such
Issuing Bank, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such
certificate within 30 days after receipt thereof.
(d)
Failure
or delay on the part of any Lender or any Issuing Bank to demand compensation
pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or such
Issuing Bank’s right to demand such compensation; provided
that the
Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or an Issuing Bank
pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more
than 270 days prior to the date that such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as the
case may be, notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such
increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s
intention to claim compensation therefor; provided further
that, if
the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is
retroactive, then the 270-day period referred to above shall be extended to
include the period of retroactive effect thereof.
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SECTION
2.15. Break
Funding Payments.
In the
event of (a) the payment of any principal of any Eurocurrency Loan other than
on
the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result
of
an Event of Default), (b) the conversion of any Eurocurrency Loan other than
on
the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the failure to
borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Revolving Loan on the date specified
in
any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may
be
revoked under Section 2.10(d) and is revoked in accordance therewith), or
(d) the assignment of any Eurocurrency Loan other than on the last day
of
the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower
pursuant to Section 2.18, then, in any such event, the Borrower shall
compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such
event. In the case of a Eurocurrency Loan, such loss, cost or expense to any
Lender shall be deemed to include an amount determined by such Lender to be
the
excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest which would have accrued on the
principal amount of such Loan had such event not occurred, at the Adjusted
LIBO
Rate that would have been applicable to such Loan, for the period from the
date
of such event to the last day of the then current Interest Period therefor
(or,
in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, for the period that
would have been the Interest Period for such Loan), over (ii) the amount of
interest which would accrue on such principal amount for such period at the
interest rate which such Lender would bid were it to bid, at the commencement
of
such period, for dollar deposits of a comparable amount and period from other
banks in the eurocurrency market. A certificate of any Lender setting forth
in
reasonable detail any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive
pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be
conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount
shown as due on any such certificate within 30 days after receipt
thereof.
SECTION
2.16. Taxes. (a)
Any
and
all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder or
under any other Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without
deduction for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes; provided
that if
the Borrower shall be required to deduct any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes
from such payments, then (i) the sum payable shall be increased as
necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions
applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the Administrative
Agent, Lender or Issuing Bank (as the case may be) receives an amount equal
to
the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the
Borrower shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower shall pay
the
full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with
applicable law.
(b)
In
addition, the Borrower shall pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental
Authority in accordance with applicable law.
(c)
The
Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and each Issuing
Bank, within 10 days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of
any
Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes paid by the Administrative Agent, such Lender
or such Issuing Bank, as the case may be, on or with respect to any payment
by
or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder or under any other
Loan Document (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted
on
or attributable to amounts payable under this Section), and any penalties,
interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto,
whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally
imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate
containing reasonable detail as to the amount of such payment or liability
delivered to the Borrower by a Lender or an Issuing Bank, or by the
Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender or an Issuing
Bank, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
-41-
(d)
As
soon
as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by the
Borrower to a Governmental Authority, the Borrower shall deliver to the
Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by
such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return
reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory
to the Administrative Agent.
(e)
Any
Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding
tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located, or
any
treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments under
this Agreement shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative
Agent), on
or
prior to the date of this Agreement (or, in the case of any Lender that becomes
a party to this Agreement pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption, on or prior
to the effective date of such Assignment and Assumption), either (a) two (2)
properly executed originals of Form W-8ECI or Form W-8BEN (or any successor
forms) prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service or other documents
satisfactory to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, as the case may
be,
certifying (i) that all payments to be made to such Foreign Lender hereunder
and
under any other Loan Documents are exempt from United States withholding taxes
because such payments are effectively connected with the conduct by such Lender
of a trade or business within the United States and are included in such
Lender’s gross income or (ii) that all payments to be made to such Foreign
Lender hereunder and under any other Loan Documents are completely exempt from
taxes or are subject to such taxes at a reduced rate by an applicable tax
treaty, or (b)(i) a certificate executed by such Lender certifying that such
Lender is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code
and that such Lender qualifies for the portfolio interest exemption under
Section 881(c) of the Code, and (ii) two (2) properly executed originals of
Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN (or any successor form), in each case,
certifying such Lender’s entitlement to an exemption from United States
withholding tax with respect to payments of interest to be made hereunder or
under any other Loan Documents. Each Lender that is not a Foreign Lender shall
deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) two (2)
properly executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 (or any
successor form). Each such Lender agrees to provide the Borrower (with a copy
to
the Administrative Agent) with new forms prescribed by the Internal Revenue
Service upon the expiration or obsolescence of any previously delivered form,
or
after the occurrence of any event requiring a change in the most recent forms
delivered by it to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
-42-
(f)
If
the
Administrative Agent or a Lender determines, in its sole discretion, that it
has
received a refund of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been
indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid
additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.16, it shall pay over
such
refund to the Borrower (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made,
or
additional amounts paid, by the Borrower under this Section 2.16 with
respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all
out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent or such Lender and without
interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority
with respect to such refund); provided, that the Borrower, upon the request
of
the Administrative Agent or such Lender, agrees to repay the amount paid over
to
the Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the
relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent or such Lender
in
the event the Administrative Agent or such Lender is required to repay such
refund to such Governmental Authority. This Section shall not be construed
to
require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its tax returns
(or any other information relating to its taxes which it deems confidential)
to
the Borrower or any other Person.
SECTION
2.17. Payments
Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs. (a)
The
Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder or under
any other Loan Document (whether of principal, interest, fees or reimbursement
of LC Disbursements, or of amounts payable under Section 2.14, 2.15 or 2.16,
or
otherwise) prior to the time expressly required hereunder or under such other
Loan Document for such payment (or, if no such time is expressly required,
prior
to 12:00 noon, New York City time), on the date when due, in immediately
available funds, without set-off or counterclaim. Any amounts received after
such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be
deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes
of
calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to the
Administrative Agent at its offices at 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx
or
such other location as the Administrative Agent may reasonably specify, except
payments to be made directly to an Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender as
expressly provided herein and except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.14,
2.15, 2.16 and 9.03 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto
and
payments pursuant to other Loan Documents shall be made to the Persons specified
therein. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received
by
it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly
following receipt thereof. If any payment under any Loan Document shall be
due
on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended
to
the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing
interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension.
All payments under each Loan Document shall be made in dollars. Any payment
required to be made by the Administrative Agent hereunder shall be deemed to
have been made by the time required if the Administrative Agent shall, at or
before such time, have taken the necessary steps to make such payment in
accordance with the regulations or operating procedures of the clearing or
settlement system used by the Administrative Agent to make such
payment.
-43-
(b)
If
at any
time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative
Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, unreimbursed LC Disbursements,
interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first,
towards payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the
parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees
then due to such parties, and (ii) second, towards payment of principal and
unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due hereunder, ratably among the parties
entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal and unreimbursed
LC
Disbursements then due to such parties.
(c)
If
any
Lender shall, by exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise,
obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its
Revolving Loans or participations in LC Disbursements or Swingline Loans
resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the
aggregate amount of its Revolving Loans and participations in LC Disbursements
and Swingline Loans and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received
by
any other Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall
purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Revolving Loans and
participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans of other Lenders to
the
extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by
the
Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and
accrued interest on their respective Revolving Loans and participations in
LC
Disbursements and Swingline Loans; provided
that (i)
if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment
giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and
the
purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and
(ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any
payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express
terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration
for
the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or
participations in LC Disbursements to any assignee or participant, other than
to
the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions
of this paragraph shall apply). The Borrower consents to the foregoing and
agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any
Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may
exercise against the Borrower rights of set-off and counterclaim with respect
to
such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the
Borrower in the amount of such participation.
(d)
Unless
the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior
to
the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account
of the Lenders or any Issuing Bank hereunder that the Borrower will not make
such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made
such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon
such
assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the applicable Issuing Bank, as the
case may be, the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact
made
such payment, then each of the Lenders or such Issuing Bank, as the case may
be,
severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the
amount so distributed to such Lender or Issuing Bank with interest thereon,
for
each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but
excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of
the
Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent
in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank
compensation.
-44-
(e)
If
any
Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to
Section 2.04(c), 2.05(d) or (e), 2.06(b), 2.17(d) or 9.03(c), then the
Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary
provision hereof), apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative
Agent for the account of such Lender to satisfy such Lender’s obligations under
such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully
paid.
SECTION
2.18. Mitigation
Obligations; Replacement of Lenders. (a)
If
any
Lender requests compensation under Section 2.14, or if the Borrower
is
required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental
Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.16, then
such
Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office
for
funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations
hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the good
faith judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would
eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.14 or 2.16, as the
case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any
unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to
such
Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses
incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or
assignment.
(b)
If
(i) any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.14, (ii) the
Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any
Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to
Section 2.16, (iii) any Lender defaults in its obligation to
fund
Loans hereunder or (iv) any Lender refuses to consent to any amendment, waiver
or other modification of any Loan Document requested by the Borrower that
requires the consent of a greater percentage of the Lenders than the Required
Lenders and such amendment, waiver or other modification is consented to by
Lenders having Revolving Exposures and unused Commitments representing more
than
66-2/3% of the sum of the total Revolving Exposures and unused Commitments
at
such time, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice
to
such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and
delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions
contained in Section 9.04), all its interests, rights and obligations
under
this Agreement to an assignee that shall assume such obligations and, with
respect to clause (iv) above, shall consent to such requested amendment, waiver
or other modification of any Loan Document (which assignee may be another
Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (i) the Borrower
shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (and,
if a Commitment is being assigned, each Issuing Bank (subject to the provisions
of clause (2) of the proviso to Section 9.04(b)(i)(C)) and the Swingline
Lender), which consent in each case shall not unreasonably be withheld or
delayed, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to
the
outstanding principal of its Loans and funded participations in LC Disbursements
and Swingline Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other
amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such
outstanding principal, funded participations and accrued interest and fees)
or
the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts) and (iii) in the case
of
any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under
Section 2.14 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.16,
such assignment will result in a material reduction in such compensation or
payments. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and
delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or
otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment
and delegation cease to apply.
-45-
ARTICLE
III
Representations
and Warranties
The
Borrower represents and warrants to the Lenders that:
SECTION
3.01. Organization;
Powers.
The
Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and
in
good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has all
requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and,
except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could
not
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, is qualified
to
do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where such
qualification is required.
SECTION
3.02. Authorization;
Enforceability.
The
Transactions to be entered into by the Borrower are within the Borrower’s
corporate powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate and,
if required, stockholder action. This Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by the Borrower and constitutes, and each other Loan Document, when
executed and delivered by the Borrower, will constitute, a legal, valid and
binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable in accordance with its terms,
subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or
other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general
principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity
or at law.
SECTION
3.03. Governmental
Approvals; No Conflicts.
The
Transactions (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or
filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except such
as
have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect and except filings
necessary to perfect Liens created under the Loan Documents, (b) will not
violate any applicable law or regulation or the charter, by-laws or other
organizational documents of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any
order
of any Governmental Authority, except, in the case of any applicable law or
regulation, a violation which could not reasonably be expected to result in
a
Material Adverse Effect, (c) will not violate or result in a default under
any
indenture, material agreement or other material instrument binding upon the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or its assets, or give rise to a right
thereunder to require any payment to be made by the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries, and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of any
Lien
on any asset of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, except Liens created
under the Loan Documents.
-46-
SECTION
3.04. Financial
Condition; No Material Adverse Change. (a)
The
Borrower has heretofore furnished to the Lenders (i) the consolidated balance
sheets and related statements of earnings, shareholders’ equity and cash flows
of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of and for the fiscal
years
ended July 31, 2004, and July 30, 2005, each audited by and accompanied by
the
unqualified opinion of Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered
public accounting firm. Such financial statements present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash
flows of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such dates and
for
such periods in accordance with GAAP.
(b)
Except
as
disclosed in the financial statements referred to above or the notes thereto
and
except for the Disclosed Matters, after giving effect to the Transactions,
none
of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries has, as of the Effective Date, any material
contingent liabilities, unusual long-term commitments or unrealized
losses.
(c)
Since
July 30, 2005, there has been no material adverse change in the business,
assets, operations, properties, condition (financial or otherwise), results
of
operations or liabilities (including contingent liabilities), of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
SECTION
3.05. Properties. (a)
The
Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries has good title to, or valid leasehold
interests in, all its real and personal property material to its business
(including its Mortgaged Properties), except for minor defects in title that
do
not interfere with its ability to conduct its business as currently conducted
or
to utilize such properties for their intended purposes and Liens expressly
permitted by Section 6.02.
(b)
The
Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries owns, or is licensed to use, all
trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, patents and other intellectual property
material to its business, and the use thereof by the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries does not infringe upon the rights of any other Person, except
for
any such infringements that, individually or in the aggregate, could not
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(c)
Schedule
3.05 sets forth the address of each real property that will be owned, and each
material parcel of property that will be leased, by the Borrower as of the
Effective Date after giving effect to the Transactions.
(d)
As
of the
Effective Date, neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries has received
written notice of, or has knowledge of, any pending or contemplated condemnation
proceeding affecting any Mortgaged Property or any sale or disposition thereof
in lieu of condemnation. Neither any Mortgaged Property nor any interest therein
is subject to any right of first refusal, option or other contractual right
to
purchase such Mortgaged Property or interest therein.
SECTION
3.06. Litigation
and Environmental Matters. (a)
There
are
no actions, suits or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or Governmental
Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened
against or affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (i) as
to
which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination and that,
if
adversely determined, could reasonably be expected, individually or in the
aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect (other than the Disclosed
Matters) or (ii) that involve any of the Loan Documents or the
Transactions.
-47-
(b)
Except
for the Disclosed Matters and except with respect to any other matters that,
individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result
in
a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries
(i) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain
or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any
Environmental Law, (ii) has become subject to any Environmental Liability,
(iii) has received written notice of any claim with respect to any
Environmental Liability or (iv) knows of any basis for any Environmental
Liability.
(c)
Since
the
date of this Agreement, there has been no change in the status of the Disclosed
Matters that, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted in, or materially
increased the likelihood of, a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION
3.07. Compliance
with Laws and Agreements.
The
Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all laws,
regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its
property and all indentures, agreements and other instruments binding upon
it or
its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the
aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect (it being understood and agreed that this Section 3.07 does not apply
to
any law which is the subject of Section 3.06, 3.08, 3.09, 3.10 or 3.14). No
Default has occurred and is continuing.
SECTION
3.08. Investment
and Holding Company Status.
Neither
the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is (a) an “investment company” as
defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940
or (b) a “holding company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under,
the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935.
SECTION
3.09. Taxes.
The
Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries has timely filed or caused to be filed
all
Tax returns and reports required to have been filed and has paid or caused
to be
paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it, except (a) any Taxes
that
are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which
the
Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books adequate
reserves or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so could not
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION
3.10. ERISA;
Margin Regulations. (a)
No
ERISA
Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together
with all other such ERISA Events for which liability is reasonably expected
to
occur, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
The
present value of all accumulated benefit obligations under each Plan (based
on
the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements
reflecting such amounts, exceed by more than $2,000,000 the fair market value
of
the assets of such Plan.
-48-
(b)
None
of
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is engaged principally, or as one of
its
important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of
buying or carrying Margin Stock. No part of the proceeds of any Loan or any
Letter of Credit will be used, whether directly or indirectly, and whether
immediately, incidentally or ultimately, in any manner or for any purpose that
would entail a violation of the Regulations T, U or X of the Board.
SECTION
3.11. Disclosure.
The
Borrower has disclosed to the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate
or other restrictions to which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is
subject, and all other matters known to any of them, that, individually or
in
the aggregate, if, in the case of any such agreement, instrument or restriction,
the same is not complied with in accordance with its terms or is otherwise
violated, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
None of the reports, financial statements, certificates or other information
furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any
Lender in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or any other Loan
Document or delivered hereunder or thereunder (as modified or supplemented
by
other information so furnished, taken as a whole) contains any material
misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make
the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading; provided
that,
with respect to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only
that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed
to be reasonable at the time.
SECTION
3.12. Subsidiaries.
Schedule 3.12 sets forth the name of, and the ownership interest of
the
Borrower in, each Subsidiary of the Borrower as of the Effective
Date.
SECTION
3.13. Insurance.
Schedule
3.13 sets forth a description of all insurance maintained by or on behalf of
the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the Effective Date. As of the Effective
Date, all premiums then due and payable in respect of such insurance have been
paid. The Borrower believes that the insurance maintained by or on behalf of
the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries is adequate.
SECTION
3.14. Labor
Matters.
As of
the Effective Date, there are no strikes, lockouts or slowdowns against the
Borrower or any Subsidiary pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower,
threatened. The hours worked by and payments made to employees of the Borrower
and the Subsidiaries have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards
Act
or any other applicable Federal, state, local or foreign law dealing with such
matters, except for any such violation that, individually or in the aggregate,
could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. All
payments due from the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or for which any claim may
be
made against the Borrower or any Subsidiary, on account of wages and employee
health and welfare insurance and other benefits, have been paid or accrued
as a
liability on the books of the Borrower or such Subsidiary to the extent required
by GAAP. The consummation of the Transactions will not give rise to any right
of
termination or right of renegotiation on the part of any union under any
collective bargaining agreement to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is
bound.
-49-
SECTION
3.15. Solvency.
Immediately after the consummation of the Transactions to occur on the Effective
Date and immediately following the making of each Loan made on the Effective
Date and after giving effect to the application of the proceeds of such Loans,
(a) the fair value of the assets of the Borrower and its consolidated
Subsidiaries, at a fair valuation, will exceed their debts and liabilities,
subordinated, contingent or otherwise; (b) the present fair saleable value
of
the property of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries will be greater
than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of their
debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such
debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured; (c) the Borrower and
its consolidated Subsidiaries will be able to pay their debts and liabilities,
subordinated, contingent or otherwise (it being understood and agreed that
for
purposes of this Section 3.15, contingent liabilities mean the maximum
amount of liability which could reasonably be likely to result from pending
litigation, asserted claims and assessments, guaranties, indemnification
obligations, adjustment of purchase price or other post-closing payment
adjustments (including earn-outs and other similar arrangements) and uninsured
risks of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries), as such debts and liabilities
become absolute and matured; and (d) the Borrower and its consolidated
Subsidiaries will not have unreasonably small capital with which to conduct
the
businesses in which they are engaged as such businesses are now conducted and
are proposed to be conducted following the Effective Date.
SECTION
3.16. Collateral
Matters. (a)
When
executed and delivered, the Collateral Agreement will be effective to create
in
favor of the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties
a valid and enforceable security interest in the Collateral (as defined therein)
and (i) when the Collateral (as defined therein) constituting certificated
securities (as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code) is delivered to the
Administrative Agent thereunder together with instruments of transfer duly
endorsed in blank, the Collateral Agreement will constitute a fully perfected
Lien on, and security interest in, all right, title and interest of the pledgors
thereunder in such Collateral, prior and superior in right to any other Person,
and (ii) when financing statements in appropriate form are filed in
the
offices specified in the Perfection Certificate, the Collateral Agreement will
constitute a fully perfected Lien on and security interest in all right, title
and interest of the grantors in the remaining Collateral (as defined therein)
to
the extent perfection can be obtained by filing Uniform Commercial Code
financing statements, prior and superior to the rights of any other Person,
except Liens expressly permitted by Section 6.02.
(b)
Each
Mortgage, upon execution and delivery by the parties thereto, will create in
favor of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured
Parties, a legal, valid and enforceable Lien on all the applicable mortgagor’s
right, title and interest in and to the Mortgaged Properties subject thereto
and
the proceeds thereof, and when the Mortgages have been filed in the
jurisdictions specified in Schedule 3.16, the Mortgages will constitute
a
fully perfected Lien on all right, title and interest of the mortgagors in
the
Mortgaged Properties and the proceeds thereof, prior and superior in right
to
any other Person (but subject to Liens or other encumbrances for which
exceptions are taken in the policies of title insurance delivered in respect
of
the Mortgaged Properties).
-50-
(c)
Upon
the
recordation of the Collateral Agreement or a memorandum of such Agreement with
the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright
Office, the Lien created under the Collateral Agreement will constitute a fully
perfected Lien on all right, title and interest of the Borrower in the
registered Intellectual Property (as defined in the Collateral Agreement) in
which a security interest may be fully perfected by filing in the United States
Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, in each
case
prior and superior in right to any other Person, except Liens expressly
permitted under Section 6.02 (it being understood that subsequent recordings
in
the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright
Office may be necessary to perfect a Lien on registered trademarks and trademark
applications or copyrights, respectively, acquired by the Borrower after the
Effective Date).
SECTION
3.17. Use
of
Proceeds.
The
Borrower will use the proceeds of the Loans and will request the issuance of
Letters of Credit only for purposes set forth in Section 5.11.
SECTION
3.18. Termination
of Guarantees.
Upon the
termination of the Existing Credit Agreement and the related subsidiary
guarantees on the Effective Date, no Subsidiary will Guarantee the Convertible
Notes or any other Material Indebtedness of the Borrower.
ARTICLE
IV
Conditions
SECTION
4.01. Effective
Date.
The
obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of the Issuing Banks to issue
Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective until the date on which
each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with
Section 9.02):
(a)
The
Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received from each party hereto
either (i) a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such
party
or (ii) written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may
include telecopy transmission of a signed signature page of this Agreement)
that
such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement.
(b)
The
Administrative Agent shall have received a favorable written opinion (addressed
to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated the Effective Date) of
(i) Proskauer Rose LLP, counsel to the Borrower, substantially in the
form
of Exhibit B-1 and (ii) Xxxxxxxxxxx
X. XxXxxxxx,
Esq.,
special Connecticut counsel to the Borrower, substantially in the form of
Exhibit B-2, and, in the case of each such opinion required by this
paragraph, covering such other matters relating to the Borrower, the Loan
Documents or the Transactions as the Required Lenders shall reasonably request.
The Borrower hereby requests such counsel to deliver such opinions.
-51-
(c)
The
Administrative Agent shall have received such documents and certificates as
the
Administrative Agent or its counsel may reasonably request relating to the
organization, existence and good standing of the Borrower, the authorization
of
the Transactions and any other legal matters relating to the Borrower, the
Loan
Documents or the Transactions, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.
(d)
The
Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, dated the Effective
Date
and signed by the President, a Vice President or a Financial Officer of the
Borrower, confirming compliance with the conditions set forth in paragraphs
(a)
and (b) of Section 4.02.
(e)
The
Administrative Agent shall have received all fees and other amounts due and
payable on or prior to the Effective Date, including, to the extent invoiced,
reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable
fees, charges and disbursements of counsel) required to be reimbursed or paid
by
the Borrower hereunder or under any other Loan Document.
(f)
The
Collateral Requirement shall have been satisfied and the Administrative Agent
shall have received a completed Perfection Certificate dated the Effective
Date
and signed by an executive officer or Financial Officer of the Borrower,
together with all attachments contemplated thereby, including the results of
a
search of the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent) filings made with respect
to the Borrower in the jurisdictions contemplated by the Perfection Certificate
and copies of the financing statements (or similar documents) disclosed by
such
search and evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that
the
Liens indicated by such financing statements (or similar documents) are
permitted by Section 6.02, have been released or have lapsed.
(g)
The
Administrative Agent shall have received evidence that the insurance required
by
Section 5.07 and the Security Documents is in effect.
(h)
All
requisite material Governmental Authorities shall have approved or consented
to
the Transactions and the other transactions contemplated hereby to the extent
required, all applicable waiting or appeal periods (including any extensions
thereof) shall have expired and there shall not be any pending or threatened
litigation, governmental, administrative or judicial action that could
reasonably be expected to prevent or impose materially burdensome conditions
on
the Transactions or the other transactions contemplated hereby.
-52-
(i)
After
giving effect to the Transactions, neither the Borrower nor any of its
Subsidiaries shall have outstanding any shares of preferred stock or any
Indebtedness, other than (i) Indebtedness incurred under the Loan
Documents, (ii) the Convertible Notes and (iii) other Indebtedness
set
forth on Schedule 6.01 (provided that
the
terms and conditions of any such other Indebtedness set forth on
Schedule 6.01 (including those relating to interest rates, fees,
amortization, maturity, redemption, subordination, covenants, events of default
and remedies) shall be reasonably satisfactory in all respects to
Lenders).
(j)
Except
for Disclosed Matters, there shall be no pending or, to the knowledge of the
Borrower, threatened litigation, arbitration, administrative proceeding or
consent decree that could reasonably be expected to (a) result in Material
Adverse Effect or (b) have a material adverse effect on the ability of the
parties to consummate the Transactions.
(k)
The
Administrative Agent shall have received a solvency certificate from the chief
financial officer of the Borrower, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to the Administrative Agent, confirming the solvency of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries after giving effect to the Transactions.
(l)
The
Existing Credit Agreement and the commitments thereunder shall have been
terminated and all amounts outstanding or owed thereunder shall have been repaid
or shall be repaid substantially simultaneously with the making of the initial
Loans hereunder on the Effective Date, all letters of credit outstanding
thereunder (other than Existing Letters of Credit) shall have expired or been
terminated and all Liens and security interests securing obligations under
the
Existing Credit Agreement shall have been released effective upon such
repayment, in each case pursuant to arrangements reasonably satisfactory to
the
Administrative Agent.
(m)
The
Lenders shall have received all documentation and other information required
by
regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money
laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act.
The
Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the Effective
Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and of the Issuing
Banks
to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective unless each
of
the foregoing conditions is satisfied (or waived pursuant to Section 9.02)
at or
prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on December 30, 2005 (and, in the event
such conditions are not so satisfied or waived, the Commitments shall terminate
at such time).
SECTION
4.02. Each
Credit Event.
The
obligation of each Lender to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing,
and
of each Issuing Bank to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit,
is
subject to receipt of the request therefor in accordance herewith (which shall
be deemed to have been made in respect of the Existing Letters of Credit to
be
deemed to be issued herewith on the Effective Date) and to the satisfaction
of
the following conditions:
-53-
(a)
The
representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in the Loan Documents
shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of
such
Borrowing or the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such
Letter of Credit, as applicable.
(b)
At
the
time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing or the issuance,
amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, no
Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
Each
Borrowing and each issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of
Credit shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by the
Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified in paragraphs (a)
and
(b) of this Section.
ARTICLE V
Affirmative
Covenants
Until
the
Commitments have expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest
on
each Loan and all fees payable hereunder shall have been paid in full and all
Letters of Credit shall have expired or terminated and all LC Disbursements
shall have been reimbursed, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders
that:
SECTION
5.01. Financial
Statements and Other Information.
The
Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:
(a)
within
90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, its audited
consolidated balance sheet and related statements of earnings, shareholders’
equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in
each
case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported
on by Deloitte & Touche LLP or other independent registered public
accounting firm of recognized national standing (without a “going concern” or
like qualification or exception and without any qualification or exception
as to
the scope of such audit) to the effect that such consolidated financial
statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition
and
results of operations of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on
a
consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied;
(b)
within
45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of
each
fiscal year of the Borrower, its consolidated balance sheet and related
statements of earnings, shareholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and
for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting
forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period
or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the
previous fiscal year, all certified by one of its Financial Officers as
presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results
of operations of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a
consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to
normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;
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(c)
concurrently
with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a) or
(b) above, (i) a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower
(x) certifying, to the knowledge of such Financial Officer after due
inquiry, as to whether a Default has occurred and, if a Default has occurred,
specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken
with
respect thereto, (y) setting forth reasonably detailed calculations
demonstrating compliance with Sections 6.12, 6.13, 6.14, 6.15 and 6.16
and
(z) stating whether any change in GAAP or in the application thereof
has
occurred since the date of the Borrower’s audited financial statements referred
to in Section 3.04 and, if any such change has occurred, specifying
the
effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate,
and (ii) an unaudited and unconsolidated balance sheet of the Borrower as of
the
end of such fiscal quarter, setting forth in each case in comparative form
the
figures as of the end of the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year,
certified by one of its Financial Officers;
(d)
concurrently
with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a) above, a
certificate of the accounting firm that reported on such financial statements
stating whether they obtained knowledge during the course of their examination
of such financial statements of any Default (which certificate may be limited
to
the extent required by accounting rules or guidelines);
(e)
at
least
30 days prior to the commencement of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a
detailed consolidated budget for such fiscal year (including a projected
consolidated balance sheet and related statements of projected earnings and
cash
flow as of the end of and for such fiscal year and setting forth the assumptions
used for purposes of preparing such budget) and, as available, any significant
revisions of such budget;
(f)
promptly
after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other
reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by the Borrower or any
Subsidiary with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental
Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions of said Commission, or
with
any national securities exchange, or distributed by the Borrower to its
shareholders generally, as the case may be;
(g)
within
a
reasonable time following any written request therefor, all documentation and
other information required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your
customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot
Act; and
(h)
promptly
following any request therefor, such other information regarding the operations,
business affairs and financial condition of the Borrower or any Subsidiary,
or
compliance with the terms of any Loan Document, as the Administrative Agent
or
any Lender may reasonably request.
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Information
required to be delivered pursuant to this Section 5.01 shall be deemed
to
have been delivered if such information, or one or more annual or quarterly
reports containing such information, shall have been posted by the
Administrative Agent on an IntraLinks or similar site to which the Lenders
have
been granted access or shall be available on the website of the Securities
and
Exchange Commission at xxxx://xxx.xxx.xxx
(and a
confirming electronic correspondence shall have been delivered or caused to
be
delivered to the Lenders providing notice of such posting or availability);
provided
that the
Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such information to any Lender that
requests such delivery. Information required to be delivered pursuant to this
Section 5.01 may also be delivered by electronic communications pursuant
to
procedures approved by the Administrative Agent.
SECTION
5.02. Notices
of Material Events.
The
Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender written notice
promptly upon any Financial Officer, or other officer or employee responsible
for compliance with the Loan Documents, of the Borrower or any Subsidiary
becoming aware of any of the following:
(a)
the
occurrence of any Default;
(b)
the
filing or commencement of any action, suit or proceeding by or before any
arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or affecting the Borrower or any
Affiliate thereof that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected
to
result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(c)
the
occurrence of any ERISA Event that, alone or together with any other ERISA
Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in liability
of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding
$10,000,000; and
(d)
any
other
development that results in, or could reasonably be expected to result in,
a
Material Adverse Effect.
Each
notice delivered under this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of
a
Financial Officer or other executive officer of the Borrower setting forth
the
details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken
or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.
SECTION
5.03. Information
Regarding Collateral. (a)
The
Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent prompt written notice of
any
change in its (i) legal name, (ii) organizational identity, (iii) organizational
identification number or (iv) organizational structure. The Borrower agrees
not
to effect or permit any change referred to in the preceding sentence unless
all
filings have been made under the Uniform Commercial Code or otherwise that
are
required in order for the Administrative Agent to continue at all times
following such change to have a valid, legal and perfected security interest
in
all the Collateral affected thereby. The Borrower also agrees promptly to notify
the Administrative Agent if any material portion of the Collateral is damaged
or
destroyed.
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(b)
Each
year, at the time of delivery of annual financial statements with respect to
the
preceding fiscal year pursuant to clause (a) of Section 5.01, the Borrower
shall
deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a Financial Officer of
the
Borrower setting forth the information required pursuant to Sections 1 and
2 of
the Perfection Certificate or confirming that there has been no material change
in such information since the date of the Perfection Certificate delivered
on
the Effective Date or the date of the most recent certificate delivered pursuant
to this Section.
SECTION
5.04. Existence;
Conduct of Business.
The
Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, do or cause to be
done all things reasonably necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force
and effect its legal existence and the rights, licenses, permits, privileges,
franchises, patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade names material to the
conduct of its business; provided
that the
foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or
dissolution permitted under Section 6.03.
SECTION
5.05. Payment
of Obligations.
The
Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, pay its Indebtedness
and other obligations, including Tax liabilities, before the same shall become
delinquent or in default, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is
being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) the Borrower
or
such Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect
thereto in accordance with GAAP, (c) such contest effectively suspends
collection of the contested obligation and the enforcement of any Lien securing
such obligation and (d) the failure to make payment pending such contest could
not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION
5.06. Maintenance
of Properties.
The
Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, keep and maintain
all
property material to the conduct of its business in good working order and
condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted.
SECTION
5.07. Insurance.
The
Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain, with
financially sound and reputable insurance companies (a) insurance in such
amounts (with no greater risk retention) and against such risks as are
customarily maintained by companies of established repute engaged in the same
or
similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations and (b) all
insurance required to be maintained pursuant to the Security Documents. The
Borrower will furnish to the Lenders, upon request of the Administrative Agent,
information in reasonable detail as to the insurance so maintained.
SECTION
5.08. Casualty
and Condemnation.
The
Borrower (a) will furnish to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders prompt
written notice of any casualty or other insured damage to any material portion
of any Collateral or the commencement of any action or proceeding for the taking
of any Collateral or any part thereof or interest therein under power of eminent
domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding and (b) will ensure that the
Net
Proceeds of any such event (whether in the form of insurance proceeds,
condemnation awards or otherwise) are collected and applied in accordance with
the applicable provisions of the Security Documents.
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SECTION
5.09. Books
and Records; Inspection and Audit Rights.
The
Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, keep proper books
of
record and account in which full, true and correct (in all material respects)
entries are made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business
and activities. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries
to,
permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent or any Lender,
upon reasonable prior notice (but in no event more than once each fiscal quarter
unless a Default has occurred and is continuing), to visit and inspect its
properties, to examine and make extracts from its books and records, and to
discuss its affairs, finances and condition with its officers and, accompanied
by one or more such officers or their designees if requested by the Borrower,
independent accountants, all at such reasonable times and as often as reasonably
requested.
SECTION
5.10. Compliance
with Laws.
The
Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply with all
laws,
rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it
or
its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the
aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
SECTION
5.11. Use
of
Proceeds and Letters of Credit.
The
proceeds of the Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans will be used only for
working capital and other general corporate purposes of the Borrower, including
to finance Permitted Acquisitions and the Transactions. No part of the proceeds
of any Loan will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that
entails a violation of any of the Regulations of the Board, including
Regulations T, U and X. Letters of Credit will be issued only to support
the general corporate purposes and payment obligations of the Borrower and
its
Subsidiaries.
SECTION
5.12. Additional
Subsidiaries.
If any
additional Subsidiary is formed or acquired after the Effective Date, the
Borrower will, within ten Business Days after such Subsidiary is formed or
acquired, notify the Administrative Agent and the Lenders thereof and cause
the
Collateral Requirement to be satisfied with respect to all Equity Interests
in
and Indebtedness of such Subsidiary owned by or on behalf of the
Borrower.
SECTION
5.13. Further
Assurances. (a)
The
Borrower will execute any and all further documents, financing statements,
agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions (including the
filing and recording of financing statements, fixture filings, mortgages, deeds
of trust and other documents), which may be required under any applicable law,
or which the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may reasonably
request, to cause the Collateral Requirement to be and remain satisfied, all
at
the Borrower’s expense. The Borrower also agrees to provide to the
Administrative Agent, from time to time upon request, evidence reasonably
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent as to the perfection and priority
of
the Liens created or intended to be created by the Security
Documents.
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(b)
If
any
material assets (including any real property or improvements thereto or any
interest therein) are acquired by the Borrower after the Effective Date (other
than assets constituting Collateral under the Collateral Agreement that become
subject to the Lien of the Collateral Agreement upon acquisition thereof),
the
Borrower will notify the Administrative Agent and the Lenders thereof, and,
if
requested by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, the Borrower
will
cause such assets to be subjected to a Lien securing the Obligations and will
take such actions as shall be necessary or reasonably requested by the
Administrative Agent to grant and perfect such Liens, including actions
described in paragraph (a) of this Section, all at the Borrower’s expense. It is
understood and agreed that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the
foregoing provisions of this Section 5.13 or any Security Document, the Borrower
shall not be required to (i)(A) grant leasehold mortgages or collateral
assignments of leases and rents or (B) obtain landlord lien waivers or
collateral access rights agreements with respect to any of its typical retail
operating store locations (it being agreed that this exclusion is not intended
to cover any future “flagship” store or “megastore”) or (ii) enter into deposit
control agreements in respect of (A) any retail operating store deposit account
that is not a concentration or cash sweep account (unless any such account
has
average balances above the threshold amount specified in the Collateral
Agreement), (B) payroll accounts or (C) medical or insurance reimbursement
accounts.
ARTICLE
VI
Negative
Covenants
Until
the
Commitments have expired or terminated and the principal of and interest on
each
Loan and all fees payable hereunder have been paid in full and all Letters
of
Credit have expired or terminated and all LC Disbursements shall have been
reimbursed, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders
that:
SECTION
6.01. Indebtedness;
Certain Equity Securities. (a)
The
Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume
or permit to exist any Indebtedness, except:
(i) Indebtedness
created under the Loan Documents;
(ii) Indebtedness
of the Borrower in respect of the Convertible Notes and extensions, renewals
and
replacements of such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal
amount thereof or result in an earlier maturity date or decreased weighted
average life thereof; provided
that (a)
any such refinancing Indebtedness shall be unsecured and (b) only the Borrower
may become obligated with respect to any such refinancing Indebtedness
(iii) Indebtedness
existing on the Effective Date and set forth in Schedule 6.01 and
extensions, renewals and replacements of such Indebtedness that do not increase
the outstanding principal amount thereof or result in an earlier maturity date
or decreased weighted average life thereof or add any new obligor or any
security in respect thereof;
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(iv) Indebtedness
of the Borrower to any Subsidiary and of any Subsidiary to the Borrower or
any
other Subsidiary; provided
that
Indebtedness of any Subsidiary to the Borrower shall be subject to
Section 6.04;
(v) Guarantees
by the Borrower of Indebtedness of any Subsidiary and by any Subsidiary of
Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary, in each case subject
to
Section 6.04;
(vi) Indebtedness
of the Borrower or any Subsidiary incurred to finance the acquisition,
construction or improvement of any fixed or capital assets of the Borrower
or
such Subsidiary, including Capital Lease Obligations, Synthetic Lease
Obligations and any Indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition
of
any such assets or secured by a Lien on any such assets prior to the acquisition
thereof, and extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness
that
do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof or result in an earlier
maturity date or decreased weighted average life thereof; provided
that (A)
such Indebtedness is incurred prior to or within 180 days after such acquisition
or the completion of such construction or improvement and (B) the aggregate
principal amount of Indebtedness permitted by this clause (vi) shall
not
exceed $25,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(vii) Indebtedness
in respect of netting services, overdraft protections (in an aggregate amount
not to exceed $1,000,000 at any time outstanding) and otherwise in connection
with deposit and checking accounts;
(viii) Indebtedness
acquired or assumed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with any
Permitted Acquisition in an aggregate principal amount not in excess of
$5,000,000 at any time outstanding; provided
that
such Indebtedness existed at the time of such Permitted Acquisition and was
not
created in connection therewith or in contemplation thereof;
(ix) Indebtedness
of the Borrower in respect of letters of credit (other than Existing Letters
of
Credit and Letters of Credit issued hereunder) issued by any Lender or any
Affiliate thereof with an aggregate face amount not in excess of $50,000,000
at
any time outstanding; and
(x) other
unsecured Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $5,000,000
at any time outstanding.
(b)
The
Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, issue any capital
stock that is not Qualified Capital Stock.
SECTION
6.02. Liens. (a)
The
Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume
or permit to exist any Lien on any property or asset now owned or hereafter
acquired by it, or assign or sell any income or revenues (including accounts
receivable) or rights in respect of any thereof, except:
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(i) Liens
created under the Loan Documents;
(ii) Permitted
Encumbrances;
(iii) any
Lien
on any property or asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary existing on the
Effective Date and set forth in Schedule 6.02; provided
that (i)
such Lien shall not apply to any other property or asset of the Borrower or
any
Subsidiary and (ii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it
secures on the Effective Date and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof
that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;
(iv) any
Lien
existing on any property or asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the
Borrower or any Subsidiary or existing on any property or asset of any Person
that becomes a Subsidiary after the Effective Date prior to the time such Person
becomes a Subsidiary (including pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition);
provided
that
(A) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with
such
acquisition or such Person becoming a Subsidiary, as the case may be,
(B) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or assets of the
Borrower or any Subsidiary and (C) such Lien shall secure only those obligations
which it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes
a Subsidiary, as the case may be and extensions, renewals and replacements
thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;
and
(v) Liens
on
fixed or capital assets acquired, constructed or improved by the Borrower or
any
Subsidiary; provided
that
(A) such Liens secure Indebtedness permitted by clause (vi) of
Section 6.01(a), (B) such Liens and the Indebtedness secured
thereby
are incurred prior to or within 180 days after such acquisition or the
completion of such construction or improvement, (C) the Indebtedness
secured thereby does not exceed the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving
such fixed or capital assets and (D) such Liens shall not apply to any
other property or assets of the Borrower, any Subsidiary or the
SPE.
SECTION
6.03. Fundamental
Changes; SPE Restrictions. (a)
The
Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, merge into or
consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into
or
consolidate with it, or liquidate or dissolve, except that, if at the time
thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Default shall have
occurred and be continuing (i) any Subsidiary may merge into the Borrower
in a transaction in which the Borrower is the surviving corporation,
(ii) any Subsidiary may merge into any Subsidiary in a transaction in
which
the surviving entity is a Subsidiary, (iii) any Subsidiary or the SPE may
liquidate or dissolve if the Borrower determines in good faith that such
liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Borrower and is
not
materially disadvantageous to the Lenders (and, in the case of the liquidation
or dissolution of the SPE, its fee ownership interest in the Distribution Center
is transferred to the Borrower in connection therewith) and (iv) the Borrower
or
any Subsidiary may effect a Permitted Acquisition by means of any merger or
consolidation of a type permitted by this Section 6.03 in which the Borrower
or
a Subsidiary is the surviving entity in such transaction; provided
that any
such merger involving a Person that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary immediately
prior to such merger shall not be permitted unless also permitted by
Section 6.04.
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(b)
The
Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, engage to
any
material extent in any business other than businesses of the type conducted
by
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the date of execution of this Agreement
and
businesses reasonably related thereto, including development, operation and
promotion of upscale women’s clothing in a specialty store
environment.
(c)
The
Borrower will not permit the SPE to (a) engage in any business or activity
other
than (i) the ownership of the Distribution Center and activities incidental
thereto (including the leasing of space therein), (ii) performance of
its
obligations under and in connection with the Existing Mortgage Loan and
(iii) actions required by law to maintain its existence, (b) purchase,
own, hold or acquire any assets other than the Distribution Center, cash and
Permitted Investments, (c) sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of any
asset (other than the leasing of space in the Distribution Center in the
ordinary course of business), (d) incur any liabilities other than liabilities
under the Existing Mortgage Loan, liabilities imposed by law, including tax
liabilities, and other liabilities incidental to its existence and permitted
business and activities, (e) create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien
on any property or asset owned by it, other than pursuant to the Existing
Mortgage, judgment liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an
Event
of Default under clause (k) of Article VII and other Liens that constitute
Permitted Encumbrances or (f) merge into or consolidate with any other Person,
or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or liquidate
or
dissolve (other then permitted by Section 6.03(a)).
SECTION
6.04. Investments,
Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions.
The
Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, purchase,
hold or acquire (including pursuant to any merger with any Person that was
not a
wholly owned Subsidiary prior to such merger) any Equity Interests in or
evidences of indebtedness or other securities (including any option, warrant
or
other right to acquire any of the foregoing) of, make or permit to exist any
capital contributions or any loans or advances to, enter into or permit to
exist
any Guarantee of the obligations of, or make or permit to exist any investment
or any other interest in, any other Person (all the foregoing being called
“investments”), or purchase or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series
of transactions) any assets of any other Person constituting a business unit,
except:
(a)
Permitted
Investments;
(b)
investments
existing on the Effective Date and set forth on Schedule 6.04;
(c)
investments
by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in Equity Interests in their respective
Subsidiaries and the SPE; provided
that any
such Equity Interests (other than those of the SPE) held by the Borrower shall
be pledged pursuant to the Collateral Agreement (subject to the limitations
applicable to Equity Interests of a Foreign Subsidiary referred to in
Section 5.12);
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(d)
loans
or
advances made by the Borrower to any Subsidiary and made by any Subsidiary
to
the Borrower or any other Subsidiary; provided
that any
such loans and advances made by the Borrower shall be evidenced by a promissory
note (which may be in the form of a grid note) pledged pursuant to the
Collateral Agreement;
(e)
Guarantees
constituting Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01; provided
that no
Subsidiary shall Guarantee the Convertible Notes or any other Material
Indebtedness of the Borrower;
(f)
investments
received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of, or settlement
of delinquent accounts and disputes with, customers and suppliers, in each
case
in the ordinary course of business;
(g)
the
acquisition of all or substantially all the assets of a Person or line of
business of such Person, or not less than 100% of the Equity Interests (except
for directors’ qualifying shares) of a Person (referred to herein as the
“Acquired
Entity”);
provided
that (i)
such acquisition was not preceded by an unsolicited tender offer for such Equity
Interests by, or proxy contest initiated by, the Borrower or any Subsidiary;
(ii) after giving effect to the acquisition the Borrower shall be in compliance
with Section 6.03(b); (iii) the Acquired Entity is located, and
substantially all of its operations are conducted, in the United States of
America; (iv) both before and after giving effect to such acquisition
no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; (v) after
giving effect to such acquisition (A) the Borrower would be in Pro Forma
Compliance and (B) there shall be at least $30,000,000 of unused and
available Commitments; (vi) the total cash and non-cash consideration paid
in
connection with such acquisition and any other acquisitions pursuant to this
Section 6.04(g) (including the fair market value of all Equity Interests
of
the Borrower or any Subsidiary issued or transferred to the seller or sellers
in
any such acquisition, any Indebtedness of the Acquired Entity that is assumed,
refinanced or repaid by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with or
following such acquisition) shall not exceed (A) $75,000,000 in any fiscal
year
or (B) $150,000,000 in the aggregate; and (vii) the Borrower shall comply with
the applicable provisions of Sections 5.12 and 5.13 and the Security Documents
(any acquisition of an Acquired Entity meeting all the criteria of this
Section 6.04(g) being referred to herein as a “Permitted
Acquisition”);
(h)
deposits,
prepayments and other credits to suppliers, lessors and landlords made in the
ordinary course of business;
(i)
advances
by the Borrower or any Subsidiary to employees for moving and travel expenses
and similar expenses in the ordinary course of business;
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(j)
the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries may acquire and hold promissory notes and/or
Equity Interests issued by the purchaser or purchasers in connection with the
sale of assets to the extent permitted under Section 6.05 (provided
that any
such promissory note issued to the Borrower in an amount in excess of $250,000
shall be pledged pursuant to the Collateral Agreement); and
(k)
the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries may acquire individual retail store locations
and
leases.
For
the
purposes of this Section, any unreimbursed payment by the Borrower for goods
or
services delivered to a Subsidiary shall be deemed to be an investment in such
Subsidiary.
SECTION
6.05. Asset
Sales.
The
Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, sell,
transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of any asset, including any Equity Interest
owned by it, nor will the Borrower permit any of it Subsidiaries to issue any
additional Equity Interest in such Subsidiary, except:
(a)
sales
of
inventory, used, surplus, obsolete or outmoded machinery or equipment and
Permitted Investments and contributions of merchandise to charitable
organizations, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(b)
sales,
transfers and other dispositions to the Borrower or a Subsidiary; provided
that any
such sales, transfers or dispositions involving a Subsidiary shall be made
in
compliance with Section 6.09;
(c)
the
sale
or discount accounts receivable arising in the ordinary course of business,
but
only in connection with the compromise or collection thereof and not in
connection with any financing transaction;
(d)
leases
or
subleases granted by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to third Persons
not interfering in any material respect with the business of the Borrower or
any
of its Subsidiaries;
(e)
the
sale,
transfer or other disposition of patents, trademarks, copyrights and know-how
which, in the reasonable judgment of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, are
determined to be uneconomical, negligible or obsolete in the conduct of
business; or
(f)
sales,
transfers and other dispositions of assets (other than Equity Interests in
a
Subsidiary) that are not permitted by any other clause of this Section;
provided
that the
aggregate fair market value of all assets sold, transferred or otherwise
disposed of in reliance upon this clause (f) shall not exceed $10,000,000 during
any fiscal year of the Borrower;
provided
that all
sales, transfers, leases and other dispositions permitted hereby (other than
those permitted by clause (b) above) shall be made for fair value and for at
least 75% cash consideration.
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SECTION
6.06. Sale
and Leaseback Transactions.
The
Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into
any arrangement, directly or indirectly, whereby it shall sell or transfer
any
property, real or personal, used or useful in its business, whether now owned
or
hereinafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such property or other
property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes
as the property sold or transferred, except for any such sale of any fixed
or
capital assets that is made for cash consideration in an amount not less than
the cost of such fixed or capital asset and is consummated within 180 days
after
the Borrower or such Subsidiary acquires or completes the construction of such
fixed or capital asset.
SECTION
6.07. Hedging
Agreements.
The
Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into
any Hedging Agreement, other than Hedging Agreements entered into in the
ordinary course of business to hedge or mitigate risks to which the Borrower
or
any Subsidiary is exposed in the conduct of its business or the management
of
its liabilities and not for speculative purposes.
SECTION
6.08. Restricted
Payments; Certain Payments of Indebtedness. (a)
The
Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, declare or make,
or
agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, or incur
any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to do so, except (i) the Borrower
may
declare and pay dividends with respect to its capital stock payable solely
in
additional shares of its common stock, (ii) Subsidiaries may declare
and
pay dividends ratably with respect to their capital stock, (iii) the
Borrower may make Restricted Payments, not exceeding $1,000,000 during any
fiscal year, pursuant to and in accordance with stock option plans or other
benefit plans for management or employees of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
and (iv) the Borrower may repurchase shares of its common stock (either in
the
open market or through private transactions) pursuant to the Borrower’s Stock
Buyback Program originally announced on April 5, 2001, in an aggregate amount
not to exceed $50,000,000 in any fiscal year (it being agreed that any amount
not utilized in any fiscal year may be carried forward and utilized in any
subsequent fiscal year; provided
that (x)
at the time of and immediately after giving effect to any such Restricted
Payment, (i) the Borrower shall be in Pro Forma Compliance and (ii) no Default
or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (y) the aggregate
amount of Restricted Payments made pursuant to this clause (iv) in any fiscal
year shall not in any event exceed $75,000,000).
(b)
The
Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, make or agree to pay
or
make, directly or indirectly, any payment or other distribution (whether in
cash, securities or other property) of or in respect of principal of or interest
on any Indebtedness, or any payment or other distribution (whether in cash,
securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit,
on
account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancelation or
termination of any Indebtedness, except:
(i) payment
of Indebtedness created under the Loan Documents;
-65-
(ii) so
long
as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or
would
result therefrom, payment of the cash portion of the settlement amount required
to be paid to any holder of Convertible Notes upon the conversion thereof in
accordance with the terms of the Convertible Note Documents (provided
that no
such payment may be financed in whole or in part by any Borrowings unless after
giving pro forma effect thereto there shall be at least $30,000,000 of unused
and available Commitments);
(iii) payment
of regularly scheduled interest and principal payments as and when due in
respect of any Indebtedness, other than payments in respect of any subordinated
Indebtedness prohibited by the subordination provisions thereof;
(iv) refinancings
of Indebtedness to the extent permitted by Section 6.01;
(v) payment
of secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale
or
transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness; and
(vi) payment
of Indebtedness solely by issuance of the common stock of the
Borrower.
SECTION
6.09. Transactions
with Affiliates.
The
Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, sell, lease or
otherwise transfer any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise
acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other
transactions with, any of its Affiliates, except (a) transactions in the
ordinary course of business at prices and on terms and conditions not less
favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary than could be obtained on an
arm’s-length basis from unrelated third parties, (b) transactions between or
among the Subsidiaries not involving the Borrower or any other Affiliate, (c)
any Restricted Payment permitted by Section 6.08, (d) reasonable fees
and
compensation may be paid to, and reasonable indemnities may be provided on
behalf of, directors and officers of the Borrower, as determined by the board
of
directors of the Borrower in good faith, (e) the transactions described on
Schedule 6.09 and (f) the lease between the SPE and the Borrower in respect
of
the Distribution Center as in effect on the Effective Date or any amendments
thereto that (i) do not increase the Borrower’s obligations thereunder in any
material respect or (ii) would be permitted in accordance with clause (a) of
this Section 6.09.
SECTION
6.10. Restrictive
Agreements.
The
Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, directly or
indirectly, enter into, incur or permit to exist any agreement or other
arrangement that prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon (a) the
ability of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to create, incur or permit to exist
any Lien upon any of its property or assets, or (b) the ability of any
Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions with respect to any shares
of
its capital stock or to make or repay loans or advances to the Borrower or
any
other Subsidiary or to Guarantee Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other
Subsidiary; provided
that (i)
the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions imposed by law
or
by any Loan Document or Convertible Note Document, (ii) the foregoing shall
not
apply to restrictions and conditions existing on the Effective Date identified
on Schedule 6.10 (but shall apply to any extension or renewal of, or any
amendment or modification expanding the scope of, any such restriction or
condition), (iii) the foregoing shall not apply to customary restrictions and
conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a Subsidiary pending
such sale, provided such restrictions and conditions apply only to the
Subsidiary that is to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder, (iv) clause
(a) of the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed
by
any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement
if
such restrictions or conditions apply only to the property or assets securing
such Indebtedness and (v) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not apply to
customary provisions in leases restricting the assignment thereof.
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SECTION
6.11. Amendment
of Material Documents.
The
Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, amend, modify or
waive
any of its rights under (a) any Convertible Note Document or (b) its certificate
of incorporation, by-laws or other organizational documents, in either case,
to
the extent such amendment, modification or waiver would be adverse in any
material respect to the rights or interests of the Lenders hereunder or under
any other Loan Document.
SECTION
6.12. Adjusted
Leverage Ratio.
The
Borrower will not permit the Adjusted Leverage Ratio as of any date during
any
period set forth below to exceed the ratio set forth opposite such
period:
Period
|
Ratio
|
|||
Effective
Date through January 31, 2006
|
4.60
to 1.00
|
|||
February
1, 2006 through July 29, 2006
|
4.55
to 1.00
|
|||
July
30, 2006 through July 28, 2007
|
4.35
to 1.00
|
|||
July
29, 2007 through July 26, 2008
|
4.20
to 1.00
|
|||
Thereafter
|
4.05
to 1.00
|
SECTION
6.13. Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio.
The
Borrower will not permit the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for any period of
four
consecutive fiscal quarters ending on any date during any period set forth
below, to be less than the ratio set forth below opposite such
period:
Period
|
Ratio
|
|||
Effective
Date through July 29, 2006
|
1.30
to 1.00
|
|||
August
1, 2006 through July 26, 2008
|
1.35
to 1.00
|
|||
Thereafter
|
1.40
to 1.00
|
SECTION
6.14. Consolidated
Net Worth.
The
Borrower will not permit Consolidated Net Worth at any time to be less than
$250,000,000 plus the sum of (a) 100% of the Net Proceeds received by or on
behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of any Equity Issuance
and
(b) 50% of cumulative Consolidated Net Income for each fiscal quarter ended
after the Effective Date and for which the Borrower shall have delivered
financial statements under Section 5.01(a) or (b) (excluding any fiscal
quarter for which Consolidated Net Income shall have been
negative).
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SECTION
6.15. Capital
Expenditures. (a)
The
Borrower will not permit the aggregate amount of Capital Expenditures made
by
the Borrower and the Subsidiaries in any period set forth below to exceed the
amount set forth below for such period:
Period
|
Amount
|
|||
Effective
Date through July 30, 2006
|
$
|
75,000,000
|
||
Each
fiscal year thereafter
|
$
|
75,000,000
|
(b)
The
amount of permitted Capital Expenditures set forth in paragraph (a)
above
in respect of any fiscal year commencing with the fiscal year ending on
July 29, 2006, shall be increased by an amount equal to 50% of the amount
of unused permitted Capital Expenditures for the immediately preceding fiscal
year (after giving effect to any adjustment thereto in accordance with this
paragraph (b)), with the amount of Capital Expenditures made in such succeeding
fiscal year being applied first to the amount of permitted Capital Expenditures
carried forward to such succeeding fiscal year; provided
that in
no event shall the amount of the increase pursuant to this paragraph (b) in
respect of any fiscal year exceed $10,000,000.
SECTION
6.16. Total
Tangible Assets.
The
Borrower will not permit Total Tangible Assets at any time to be less than
an
amount equal to 1.5 times the total Commitments.
ARTICLE VII
Events
of Default
If
any of
the following events (“Events
of Default”)
shall
occur:
(a)
the
Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan or any reimbursement
obligation in respect of any LC Disbursement when and as the same shall become
due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for
prepayment thereof or otherwise;
(b)
the
Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or any fee or any other
amount (other than an amount referred to in clause (a) of this Article)
payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, when and as the same
shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for
a
period of three Business Days;
(c)
any
representation or warranty made or deemed made by the Borrower in or in
connection with any Loan Document or any amendment or modification thereof
or
waiver thereunder, or in any report, certificate, financial statement or other
document furnished pursuant to or in connection with any Loan Document or any
amendment or modification thereof or waiver thereunder, shall prove to have
been
incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made;
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(d)
The
Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement
contained in Section 5.02, 5.04 (with respect to the existence of the
Borrower) or 5.11 or in Article VI;
(e)
the
Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement
contained in any Loan Document (other than those specified in clause (a), (b)
or
(d) of this Article), and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period
of
30 days after the earlier of (i) the Borrower becoming aware of such
failure and (ii) notice thereof from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower
(which notice will be given at the request of any Lender);
(f)
the
Borrower or any Subsidiary shall fail to make any payment (whether of
principal or interest and regardless of amount) in respect of any Material
Indebtedness, when and as the same shall become due and payable (after giving
effect to any applicable grace period);
(g)
any
event
or condition occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due
prior
to its scheduled maturity or that enables or permits (with or without the giving
of notice, the lapse of time or both) the holder or holders of any Material
Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any
Material Indebtedness to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase,
redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity; provided
that
this clause (g) shall not apply to secured Indebtedness that becomes
due as
a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing
such Indebtedness;
(h)
an
involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall
be
filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect
of
the Borrower or any Subsidiary or its debts, or of a substantial part of its
assets, under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership
or similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of
a
receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official
for
the Borrower or any Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, and,
in
any such case, such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for
60 days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing
shall be entered;
(i)
the
Borrower or any Subsidiary shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding
or
file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under
any
Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law
now or hereafter in effect, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail
to
contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described
in clause (h) of this Article, (iii) apply for or consent to the
appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or
similar official for the Borrower or any Subsidiary or for a substantial part
of
its assets, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of
a
petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general
assignment for the benefit of creditors or (vi) take any action for
the
purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;
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(j)
the
Borrower or any Subsidiary shall become unable, admit in writing its inability
or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due;
(k)
one
or
more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of
$10,000,000 (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance
as
to which the insurer has been notified of such judgment and has not denied
coverage) shall be rendered against the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any
combination thereof and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of
30 consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively
stayed,
or any action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to attach or levy
upon any assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to enforce any such
judgment;
(l)
an
ERISA
Event shall have occurred that, in the opinion of the Required Lenders, when
taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably
be expected to result in liability of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in
an
aggregate amount exceeding (i) $5,000,000 in any year or (ii) $10,000,000 for
all periods;
(m)
any
Lien
purported to be created under any Security Document shall cease to be, or shall
be asserted by the Borrower not to be, a valid and perfected Lien on any
Collateral, with the priority required by the applicable Security Document,
except (i) as a result of the sale or other disposition of the applicable
Collateral in a transaction permitted under the Loan Documents or (ii) as a
result of the Administrative Agent’s failure to (A) maintain possession of any
stock certificates, promissory notes or other instruments delivered to it under
the Collateral Agreement or (B) continue in accordance with applicable law
the
effectiveness of any Uniform Commercial Code financing statements;
or
(n)
a
Change
in Control shall occur;
then,
and
in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Borrower described
in clause (h) or (i) of this Article), and at any time thereafter during the
continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request
of
the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower, take either or both
of
the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate
the
Commitments, and thereupon the Commitments shall terminate immediately and
(ii) declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole
(or
in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable
may
thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal
of
the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest
thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder,
shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest
or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower;
and
in case of any event with respect to the Borrower described in clause (h) or
(i)
of this Article, the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal
of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all
fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder, shall
automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest
or
other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower to
the
extent permitted by applicable law.
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ARTICLE VIII
The
Administrative Agent
Each
of
the Lenders and each Issuing Bank hereby irrevocably appoints the Administrative
Agent as its agent and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions
on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative
Agent by the terms of the Loan Documents, together with such actions and powers
as are reasonably incidental thereto.
The
bank
serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and
powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the
same
as though it were not the Administrative Agent, and such bank and its Affiliates
may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of
business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as
if it
were not the Administrative Agent hereunder.
The
Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those
expressly set forth in the Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality
of
the foregoing, (a) the Administrative Agent shall not be subject to
any
fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred
and is continuing, (b) the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty
to
take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except
discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated by the Loan Documents
that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise in writing by the Required
Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary
under the circumstances as provided in Section 9.02) and (c) except
as
expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent shall not
have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose,
any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that is
communicated to or obtained by the bank serving as Administrative Agent or
any
of its Affiliates in any capacity. The Administrative Agent shall not be liable
for any action taken or not taken by it with the consent or at the request
of
the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as
shall
be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 9.02) or
in the
absence of its own gross negligence or wilful misconduct. The Administrative
Agent shall not be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until
written notice thereof is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower
or a
Lender, and the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any
duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or
representation made in or in connection with any Loan Document, (ii) the
contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered thereunder
or in
connection therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of
the
covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth in any Loan
Document, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness
of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or
(v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV
or
elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly
required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.
-71-
The
Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any
liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent,
statement, instrument, document or other writing believed by it to be genuine
and to have been signed or sent by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent
also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed
by it to be made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for
relying thereon. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who
may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts
selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by
it
in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or
experts.
The
Administrative Agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights
and powers by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the
Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may
perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers through their
respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of the preceding
paragraphs shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of
the
Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective
activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided
for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.
Subject
to the appointment and acceptance of a successor to the Administrative Agent
as
provided in this paragraph, the Administrative Agent may resign at any time
by
notifying the Lenders, the Issuing Banks and the Borrower. Upon any such
resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with
the
Borrower, to appoint a successor. If no successor shall have been so appointed
by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within
30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its
resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, in consultation with
the Borrower, on behalf of the Lenders and the Issuing Banks, appoint a
successor Administrative Agent which shall be a bank with an office in New
York,
New York, or an Affiliate of any such bank. Upon the acceptance of its
appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor, such successor
shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges
and
duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative
Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder. The fees
payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same
as
those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower
and such successor. After the Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder, the
provisions of this Article and Section 9.03 shall continue in effect
for
the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their
respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be
taken by any of them while it was acting as Administrative Agent.
Each
Lender acknowledges 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 credit analysis and
decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also acknowledges that it
will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any
other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall from time
to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not
taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or
related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or
thereunder.
-72-
ARTICLE IX
Miscellaneous
SECTION
9.01. Notices.
Except
in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given
by telephone and, subject to paragraph (b) below, all notices and other
communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered
by
hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or
sent by telecopy, as follows:
(i)
if
to the
Borrower, to it at 00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, 00000, Attention of
Xx.
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Chief Financial Officer (Telecopy No. (000)
000-0000);
(ii)
if
to the
Administrative Agent or to the Swingline Lender, to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.,
Loan and Agency Services Group, 000 X. Xxxxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx
00000, Attention of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx (Telecopy No. (000) 000-0000), with a
copy
to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Xxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx 00000,
Attention of Xxxxx Xxxxxx (Telecopy No. (000) 000-0000);
(iii)
if
to the
Collateral Agent, to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Xxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx,
0xx
Xxxxx,
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx 00000, Attention of Xxxxx Xxxxxx (Telecopy No. (000)
000-0000);
(iv)
if
to any
Issuing Bank, to the address most recently specified by it in a notice delivered
to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower; and
(v)
if
to any
other Lender, to it at its address (or telecopy number) set forth in its
Administrative Questionnaire.
(b)
Notices
and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished
by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by the
Administrative Agent; provided
that the
foregoing shall not apply to notices pursuant to Article II unless otherwise
agreed by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender. The Administrative
Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other
communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to
procedures approved by it; provided
that
approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or
communications.
(c)
Any
party
hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other
communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. All notices
and
other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions
of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date of
receipt.
-73-
SECTION
9.02. Waivers;
Amendments. (a)
No
failure or delay by the Administrative Agent, an Issuing Bank or any Lender
in
exercising any right or power hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall
operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any
such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce
such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the
exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the
Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders hereunder and under
the
other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or
remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of any
Loan
Document or consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom shall in any
event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b)
of
this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the
specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan or issuance of a Letter of
Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether
the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the applicable Issuing Bank may have
had
notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.
(b)
None
of
this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any provision hereof or thereof
may
be waived, amended or modified except, in the case of this Agreement, pursuant
to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and the
Required Lenders or, in the case of any other Loan Document, pursuant to an
agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Administrative Agent
and
the Borrower, in each case with the consent of the Required Lenders;
provided
that no
such agreement shall (i) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the
written consent of such Lender, (ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan
or
LC Disbursement or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees
payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender affected thereby,
(iii) postpone the maturity of any Loan, or the required date of reimbursement
of any LC Disbursement, or any date for the payment of any interest or fees
payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment,
or
postpone the scheduled date of expiration of any Commitment, without the written
consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iv) change Section 2.17(b) or (c)
in a
manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby,
without the written consent of each Lender, (v) change any of the provisions
of
this Section or the percentage set forth in the definition of “Required
Lenders”
or any
other provision of any Loan Document specifying the number or percentage of
Lenders (or Lenders of any Class) required to waive, amend or modify any rights
thereunder or make any determination or grant any consent thereunder, without
the written consent of each Lender (or each Lender of such Class, as the case
may be), (vi) release all or any substantial part of the Collateral from the
Liens of the Security Documents, without the written consent of each Lender
or
(vii) change any provisions of any Loan Document in a manner that by its terms
adversely affects the rights in respect of Collateral of or in respect of
payments or prepayment due to Lenders holding Loans of any Class differently
than those holding Loans of any other Class, without the written consent of
Lenders holding a majority in interest of the outstanding Loans and unused
Commitments of the adversely affected Class; provided
further
that no
such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties
of
the Administrative Agent, an Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender without the
prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Bank or the
Swingline Lender, as the case may be. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing,
this
Agreement may be amended to provide for increased Commitments in the manner
contemplated by Sections 2.08(d) and without any additional
consents.
-74-
SECTION
9.03. Expenses;
Indemnity; Damage Waiver. (a)
The
Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the
Administrative Agent and its Affiliates, including the reasonable fees, charges
and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent, in connection with
the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation
and administration of the Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or
waivers of the provisions thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated
hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses incurred by the Issuing Banks in connection with the issuance,
amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for
payment thereunder (in the case of the Existing Letters of Credit, without
duplication of any fees or expenses previously paid in connection with any
issuance, amendment, renewal or extension thereof) and (iii) all out-of-pocket
expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks or any Lender,
including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for
the
Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks or any Lender, in connection with the
enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with the Loan Documents,
including its rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made
or
Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses
incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such
Loans or Letters of Credit.
(b)
The
Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank and each
Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person
being called an “Indemnitee”)
against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities and related expenses, including the reasonable fees,
charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee, incurred by or
asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a
result of (i) the execution or delivery of any Loan Document or any
other
agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the performance by the parties
to
the Loan Documents of their respective obligations thereunder or the
consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated hereby,
(ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds therefrom
(including any refusal by an Issuing Bank to honor a demand for payment under
a
Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand
do
not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any
actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any
Mortgaged Property or any other property currently or formerly owned or operated
by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability
related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or (iv) any actual
or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any
of
the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory and
regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto (and regardless of
whether such matter is instituted by a third party or by the Borrower);
provided
that
such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent
that
such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses are determined
by
a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have
resulted from the gross negligence or wilful misconduct of such
Indemnitee.
-75-
(c)
To
the
extent that the Borrower fails to pay any amount required to be paid by it
to
the Administrative Agent, an Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender under
paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, each Lender severally agrees to pay to
the
Administrative Agent, the applicable Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender,
as
the case may be, such Lender’s pro rata share (determined as of the time that
the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such
unpaid amount; provided
that the
unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related
expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the
Administrative Agent, the applicable Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender in
its
capacity as such. For purposes hereof, a Lender’s “pro rata share” shall be
determined based upon its share of the sum of the aggregate Revolving Exposures
and unused Commitments at the time.
(d)
To
the
extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby
waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for
special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct
or
actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this
Agreement or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the Transactions,
any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof.
(e)
All
amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than 10 days after
written demand therefor.
SECTION
9.04. Successors
and Assigns. (a)
The
provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit
of
the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby
(including any Affiliate of an Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit),
except that (i) the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any
of
its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each
Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower without such
consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise
transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this
Section. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed
to
confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective
successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of an Issuing
Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), Participants (to the extent provided
in
paragraph (c) of this Section) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby,
the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks
and
the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason
of
this Agreement.
(b)
(i)
Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) below, any Lender
may
assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations
under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the
Loans
at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to
be
unreasonably withheld or delayed) of:
-76-
(A)
the
Borrower; provided
that no
consent of the Borrower shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an
Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund or, if an Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing, any other assignee;
(B)
the
Administrative Agent; and
(C)
each
Issuing Bank, provided
that if
any Issuing Bank has not provided written notice of its objection to any
proposed assignment within three Business Days of its receipt of notice thereof
from the Administrative Agent, such Issuing Bank shall be deemed to have
consented to such proposed assignment.
(ii)
Assignments
shall be subject to the following additional conditions:
(A)
except
in
the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved
Fund, or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s
Commitment, the amount of the Commitment of the assigning Lender subject to
each
such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with
respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall
not
be less than $5,000,000, unless each of the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent otherwise consent; provided
that no
such consent of the Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing;
(B)
each
partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of
all
the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement;
(C)
the
parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative
Agent
an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee
of
$3,500; and
(D)
the
assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative
Agent
an Administrative Questionnaire.
For
purposes of this Section 9.04(b), the term “Approved
Fund”
has the
following meaning:
“Approved
Fund”
means
any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing,
holding or investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the
ordinary course of its business and that is administered or managed by a Lender,
an Affiliate of a Lender or an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that
administers or manages a Lender.
(iii)
Subject
to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (b)(iv) of
this
Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and
Assumption the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent
of
the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and
obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender
thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment
and
Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in
the
case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s
rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be
a
party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of
Sections 2.14, 2.15, 2.16 and 9.03). Any assignment or transfer by a
Lender
of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this
Section 9.04 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such
Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with
paragraph (c) of this Section.
-77-
(iv)
The
Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower,
shall
maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Assumption
delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses
of
the Lenders, and the Commitment of, and principal amount of the Loans and LC
Disbursements owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time
to
time (the “Register”).
The
entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the
Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders may treat each Person
whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender
hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the
contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower, any
Issuing Bank and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon
reasonable prior notice.
(v)
Upon
its
receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning
Lender and an assignee, the assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire
(unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and
recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section and any written
consent to such assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section, the
Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record
the
information contained therein in the Register. No assignment shall be effective
for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register
as
provided in this paragraph.
(c)
(i)
Any
Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent,
any
Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender, sell participations to one or more banks
or other entities (a “Participant”)
in all
or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement
(including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans owing to it);
provided
that
(A) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged,
(B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties
hereto
for the performance of such obligations and (C) the Borrower, the
Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the other Lenders shall continue
to
deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s
rights and obligations under the Loan Documents. Any agreement or instrument
pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such
Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce the Loan Documents and to approve
any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of the Loan Documents;
provided
that
such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without
the
consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver
described in the first proviso to Section 9.02(b) that affects such Participant.
Subject to paragraph (c)(ii) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each
Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.14, 2.15 and 2.16
to
the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by
assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted
by
law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of
Section 9.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees
to be subject to Section 2.17(c) as though it were a Lender.
-78-
(ii)
A
Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section
2.14 or 2.16 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive
with
respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the
participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written
consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall
not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.16 unless the Borrower
is
notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant
agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 2.16(e) as
though it were a Lender.
(d)
Any
Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any
portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender,
including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve
Bank, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of
a
security interest; provided
that no
such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from
any
of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for
such
Lender as a party hereto.
SECTION
9.05. Survival.
All
covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Borrower
in
the Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in
connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall
be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall
survive the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the making of
any
Loans and issuance of any Letters of Credit, regardless of any investigation
made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the
Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks or any Lender may have had notice or
knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time
any
credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as
long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or
any
other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid or any
Letter of Credit is outstanding and so long as the Commitments have not expired
or terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.14, 2.15, 2.16 and 9.03 and Article
VIII shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the
Loans, the expiration or termination of the Letters of Credit and the
Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any provision
hereof.
-79-
SECTION
9.06. Counterparts;
Integration; Effectiveness.
This
Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto
on
different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all
of
which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement,
the other Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to
fees
payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire contract among the
parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous
agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter
hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become
effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and
when
the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when
taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and
thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto
and their respective successors and assigns. Delivery of an executed counterpart
of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy shall be effective as delivery
of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
SECTION
9.07. Severability.
Any
provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in
any
jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of
such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity,
legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the
invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not
invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.
SECTION
9.08. Right
of Setoff.
If an
Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each
of
its Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits
(general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held
and
other obligations at any time owing by such Lender or Affiliate to or for the
credit or the account of the Borrower against any of and all the obligations
of
the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement held by such Lender,
irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under
this
Agreement and although such obligations may be unmatured. The rights of each
Lender under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies
(including other rights of setoff) which such Lender may have.
SECTION
9.09. Governing
Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process.
(a) This
Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of
the
State of New York.
(a)
The
Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its
property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State
of
New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court
of
the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof,
in
any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to any Loan Document, or
for
recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto
hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of
any
such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York
State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the
parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding
shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the
judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement
or
any other Loan Document shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent,
any Issuing Bank or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or
proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document against the
Borrower or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.
-80-
(b)
The
Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent
it
may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter
have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of
or
relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any court referred
to
in paragraph (b) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably
waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient
forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such
court.
(c)
Each
party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner
provided for notices in Section 9.01. Nothing in this Agreement or any
other Loan Document will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to
serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
SECTION
9.10. WAIVER
OF JURY TRIAL.
EACH
PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW,
ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT
OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR
ANY
OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE,
AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE,
THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE
THE
FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES
HERETO
HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE
MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
SECTION
9.11. Headings.
Article
and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience
of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the
construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this
Agreement.
SECTION
9.12. Confidentiality.
Each of
the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Banks and the Lenders agrees to maintain
the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that
Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates’ directors,
officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other
advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made
will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed
to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested
by any
regulatory authority, (c) to the extent required by applicable laws
or
regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party
to this Agreement acting in its capacity as such, (e) in connection with the
exercise of any remedies hereunder or any suit, action or proceeding relating
to
this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder
or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially
the same as those of this Section, to any assignee of or Participant in, or
any
prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations
under this Agreement, or to any actual or prospective counterparty (or its
advisors) to any Hedging Agreement, (g) with the consent of the Borrower or
(h) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available
other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (ii) becomes
available to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender on a
nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower. For purposes of
this Section, “Information”
means
all information received from the Borrower relating to the Borrower or its
business, other than any such information that is available to the
Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis
prior to disclosure by the Borrower; provided
that, in
the case of information received from the Borrower after the Effective Date,
such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential
or is of a nature that the recipient should reasonably believe to be
confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information
as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its
obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to
maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord
to
its own confidential information.
-81-
SECTION
9.13. Patriot
Act.
Each
Lender hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the
Patriot Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that
identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of
the
Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender to identify the
Borrower in accordance with such Act.
SECTION
9.14. Interest
Rate Limitation.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest
rate applicable to any Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts
which are treated as interest on such Loan under applicable law (collectively
the “Charges”),
shall
exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “Maximum
Rate”)
which
may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender
holding such Loan in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest
payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all Charges payable
in
respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful,
the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan
but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section shall be
cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in respect of
other Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate
therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the
Federal Funds Effective Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received
by such Lender.
-82-
SECTION
9.15. Release
of Collateral. (a)
Notwithstanding
any contrary provision herein or in any other Loan Document, (i)
upon
(A)
any sale or other transfer in the ordinary course of business by the Borrower
of
any Collateral consisting of inventory or used, surplus, obsolete or outmoded
machinery or equipment or (B) the effectiveness of any written consent (pursuant
to Section 9.02) to the release of all or any portion of the security interest
granted in any Collateral, the security interest in such Collateral shall
automatically be released and (ii)
if
the
Borrower shall request the release under the Collateral Agreement or any other
Security Document of any Collateral to be sold or otherwise disposed of to
a
Person in a transaction permitted under the terms of this Agreement and shall
deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate to the effect that such sale
or other disposition and the application of the proceeds thereof will comply
with the terms of this Agreement, the Administrative Agent, if satisfied that
the applicable certificate is correct, shall, without the consent of any Lender,
execute and deliver all such instruments, releases, financing statements or
other agreements, and take all such further actions, as shall be necessary
to
effectuate the release of such Collateral substantially simultaneously with
or
at any time after the completion of such sale or other disposition. Any such
release shall be without recourse to, or representation or warranty by, the
Administrative Agent and shall not require the consent of any Lender. The
Administrative Agent shall execute and deliver all such instruments, releases,
financing statements or other agreements, and take all such further actions,
as
shall be necessary to effectuate the release of Collateral required by this
paragraph.
(b)
Without
limiting the provisions of Section 9.03, the Borrower shall reimburse
the
Administrative Agent for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, including the
reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative
Agent, incurred by it in connection with any action contemplated by this
Section 9.15.
-83-
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first
above written.
THE DRESS BARN, INC., | ||
|
|
|
By: | /s/ XXXXXX XXXXXXX | |
Name:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
|
||
Title:
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
|
JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, N.A.,
individually and as Administrative Agent
and Collateral Agent,
|
||
|
|
|
By: | /s/ XXXXX X. XXXXXX | |
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx |
||
Title: Vice President |
-84-
LENDER
SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE DRESS BARN, INC. CREDIT AGREEMENT
Signature
|
Title
|
Name
of Institution
|
|||
By:
|
/s/
XXXXXXX X. XXXX
|
Vice
President
|
Bank
of America, N.A.
|
||
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxx
|
|
||||
By:
|
/s/
XXXXX X. XXXXXXX
|
Vice
President
|
The
Bank of New York
|
||
Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
|
|||||
By:
|
/s/
XXXX X. XXXXXXX
|
Vice
President
|
Citibank,
N.A.
|
||
Xxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
|
|||||
By:
|
/s/
XXXX XXXXXX
|
Assistant
Vice President
|
Xxxxx
Fargo Retail Finance, LLC
|
||
Xxxx
Xxxxxx
|
Account
Executive
|
||||
By:
|
/s/
XXXXX XXXXXXXX
|
Senior
Vice President
|
National
City Bank
|
||
Brain
Strayton
|
|||||
By:
|
/s/
XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX
|
Assistant
Vice President
|
The
CIT Group/
|
||
|
Xxxxxxx XxXxxxxx |
Business
Credit, Inc.
|
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By:
|
/s/
XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX
|
Assistant
Vice President
|
U.S.
Bank National Association
|
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Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx
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By:
|
/s/
XXX XXXXXX
|
Vice
President
|
North
Folk Business Capital Corp.
|
||
Xxx
Xxxxxx
|
|||||
By:
|
/s/
XXXXXX X. XXXXXXXXXXX
|
Senior
Vice President I
|
Israel
Discount Bank of New York
|
||
Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxxxxx
|
|||||
By:
|
/s/
XXXX XXXXXX
|
First
Vice President
|
Israel
Discount Bank of New York
|
||
Xxxx Xxxxxx |