CREDIT AGREEMENT DATED AS OF OCTOBER 5, 2007 AMONG LANCASTER COLONY CORPORATION, THE LENDERS, and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Agent THE HUNTINGTON NATIONAL BANK, as Documentation Agent
Exhibit 4.1
Execution Copy
DATED AS OF OCTOBER 5, 2007
AMONG
LANCASTER COLONY CORPORATION,
THE LENDERS,
and
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Agent
as Agent
X.X. XXXXXX SECURITIES INC.,
as Lead Arranger and Sole Book Runner
as Lead Arranger and Sole Book Runner
THE HUNTINGTON NATIONAL BANK,
as Documentation Agent
as Documentation Agent
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I. | DEFINITIONS | 1 | ||||||||
ARTICLE II. | THE CREDITS | 13 | ||||||||
2.1. | Commitment | 13 | ||||||||
2.2. | Required Payments; Termination | 14 | ||||||||
2.3. | Ratable Loans | 14 | ||||||||
2.4. | Types of Advances | 14 | ||||||||
2.5. | Swing Line Loans | 14 | ||||||||
2.5.1. | Amount of Swing Line Loans | 14 | ||||||||
2.5.2. | Borrowing Notice | 14 | ||||||||
2.5.3. | Making of Swing Line Loans | 14 | ||||||||
2.5.4. | Repayment of Swing Line Loans | 14 | ||||||||
2.6. | Facility Fee; Reductions in Aggregate Commitment | 15 | ||||||||
2.7. | Minimum Amount of Each Advance | 16 | ||||||||
2.8. | Optional Principal Payments | 16 | ||||||||
2.9. | Method of Selecting Types and Interest Periods for New Advances | 16 | ||||||||
2.10. | Conversion and Continuation of Outstanding Advances | 17 | ||||||||
2.11. | Changes in Interest Rate, etc | 17 | ||||||||
2.12. | Rates Applicable After Default | 18 | ||||||||
2.13. | Method of Payment | 18 | ||||||||
2.14. | Noteless Agreement; Evidence of Indebtedness | 18 | ||||||||
2.15. | Telephonic Notices | 19 | ||||||||
2.16. | Interest Payment Dates; Interest and Fee Basis | 19 | ||||||||
2.17. | Notification of Advances, Interest Rates, Prepayments and Commitment Reductions | 20 | ||||||||
2.18. | Lending Installations | 20 | ||||||||
2.19. | Non-Receipt of Funds by the Agent | 20 | ||||||||
2.20. | Facility LCs | 20 | ||||||||
2.20.1. | Issuance | 20 | ||||||||
2.20.2. | Participations | 21 | ||||||||
2.20.3. | Notice | 21 | ||||||||
2.20.4. | LC Fees | 21 | ||||||||
2.20.5. | Administration; Reimbursement by Lenders | 21 | ||||||||
2.20.6. | Reimbursement by Borrower | 22 | ||||||||
2.20.7. | Obligations Absolute | 22 | ||||||||
2.20.8. | Actions of LC Issuer | 23 | ||||||||
2.20.09. | Indemnification | 23 | ||||||||
2.20.10. | Lenders’ Indemnification | 23 | ||||||||
2.20.11. | Facility LC Collateral Account | 24 | ||||||||
2.20.12. | Rights as a Lender | 24 | ||||||||
2.21. | Extension of Facility Termination Date | 24 | ||||||||
2.22. | Replacement of Lender | 24 | ||||||||
ARTICLE III. | YIELD PROTECTION; TAXES | 25 | ||||||||
3.1. | Yield Protection | 25 | ||||||||
3.2. | Changes in Capital Adequacy Regulations | 26 | ||||||||
3.3. | Availability of Types of Advances | 26 |
3.4. | Funding Indemnification | 26 | ||||||||
3.5. | Taxes | 26 | ||||||||
3.6. | Lender Statements; Survival of Indemnity | 28 | ||||||||
ARTICLE IV. | CONDITIONS PRECEDENT | 28 | ||||||||
4.1. | Initial Credit Extension | 28 | ||||||||
4.2. | Each Credit Extension | 29 | ||||||||
ARTICLE V. | REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES | 30 | ||||||||
5.1. | Existence and Standing | 30 | ||||||||
5.2. | Authorization and Validity | 30 | ||||||||
5.3. | No Conflict; Government Consent | 30 | ||||||||
5.4. | Financial Statements | 30 | ||||||||
5.5. | Material Adverse Change | 31 | ||||||||
5.6. | Taxes | 31 | ||||||||
5.7. | Litigation and Contingent Obligations | 31 | ||||||||
5.8. | Subsidiaries | 31 | ||||||||
5.9. | ERISA | 31 | ||||||||
5.10. | Accuracy of Information | 31 | ||||||||
5.11. | Regulations S, T, U and X | 32 | ||||||||
5.12. | Material Agreements | 32 | ||||||||
5.13. | Compliance With Laws | 32 | ||||||||
5.14. | Ownership of Properties | 32 | ||||||||
5.15. | Plan Assets; Prohibited Transactions | 32 | ||||||||
5.16. | Environmental Matters | 32 | ||||||||
5.17. | Investment Company Act | 32 | ||||||||
ARTICLE VI. | COVENANTS | 33 | ||||||||
6.1. | Financial Reporting | 33 | ||||||||
6.2. | Use of Proceeds | 34 | ||||||||
6.3. | Notice of Default | 34 | ||||||||
6.4. | Conduct of Business | 34 | ||||||||
6.5. | Taxes | 34 | ||||||||
6.6. | Insurance | 34 | ||||||||
6.7. | Compliance with Laws | 34 | ||||||||
6.8. | Maintenance of Properties | 35 | ||||||||
6.9. | Inspection | 35 | ||||||||
6.10. | Guaranties | 35 | ||||||||
6.11. | Merger | 35 | ||||||||
6.12. | Sale of Assets | 35 | ||||||||
6.13. | Investments and Acquisitions | 36 | ||||||||
6.14. | Liens | 37 | ||||||||
6.15. | Affiliates | 38 | ||||||||
6.16. | Financial Contracts | 38 | ||||||||
6.17. | Financial Covenants | 38 | ||||||||
6.17.1. | Interest Coverage Ratio | 38 | ||||||||
6.17.2. | Leverage Ratio | 38 | ||||||||
6.18. | Government Regulation | 38 |
3
ARTICLE VII. | DEFAULTS | 39 | ||||||||
ARTICLE VIII. | ACCELERATION, WAIVERS, AMENDMENTS AND REMEDIES | 41 | ||||||||
8.1. | Acceleration; Facility LC Collateral Account | 41 | ||||||||
8.2. | Amendments | 42 | ||||||||
8.3. | Preservation of Rights | 43 | ||||||||
ARTICLE IX. | GENERAL PROVISIONS | 43 | ||||||||
9.1. | Survival of Representations | 43 | ||||||||
9.2. | Governmental Regulation | 43 | ||||||||
9.3. | Headings | 43 | ||||||||
9.4. | Entire Agreement | 43 | ||||||||
9.5. | Several Obligations; Benefits of this Agreement | 43 | ||||||||
9.6. | Expenses; Indemnification | 44 | ||||||||
9.7. | Numbers of Documents | 44 | ||||||||
9.8. | Accounting | 44 | ||||||||
9.9. | Severability of Provisions | 45 | ||||||||
9.10. | Nonliability of Lenders | 45 | ||||||||
9.12. | Nonreliance | 46 | ||||||||
9.13. | Disclosure | 46 | ||||||||
9.14. | USA PATRIOT Act | 46 | ||||||||
ARTICLE X. | THE AGENT | 47 | ||||||||
10.1. | Appointment; Nature of Relationship | 47 | ||||||||
10.2. | Powers | 47 | ||||||||
10.3. | General Immunity | 47 | ||||||||
10.4. | No Responsibility for Loans, Recitals, etc | 47 | ||||||||
10.5. | Action on Instructions of Lenders | 48 | ||||||||
10.6. | Employment of Agents and Counsel | 48 | ||||||||
10.7. | Reliance on Documents; Counsel | 48 | ||||||||
10.8. | Agent’s Reimbursement and Indemnification | 48 | ||||||||
10.9. | Notice of Default | 48 | ||||||||
10.10. | Rights as a Lender | 49 | ||||||||
10.11. | Lender Credit Decision | 49 | ||||||||
10.12. | Successor Agent | 49 | ||||||||
10.13. | Agent and Arranger Fees. | 50 | ||||||||
10.14. | Delegation to Affiliates | 50 | ||||||||
10.15. | Co-Agents, Documentation Agent, Syndication Agent, etc | 50 | ||||||||
ARTICLE XI. | SETOFF; RATABLE PAYMENTS | 50 | ||||||||
11.1. | Setoff | 50 | ||||||||
11.2. | Ratable Payments | 50 |
4
ARTICLE XII. | BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENTS; PARTICIPATIONS | 50 | ||||||||
12.1. | Successors and Assigns | 51 | ||||||||
12.2. | Participations | 51 | ||||||||
12.2.1. | Permitted Participants; Effect | 51 | ||||||||
12.2.2. | Voting Rights | 51 | ||||||||
12.2.3. | Benefit of Setoff | 51 | ||||||||
12.3. | Assignments | 52 | ||||||||
12.3.1. | Permitted Assignments | 52 | ||||||||
12.3.2. | Effect; Effective Date | 52 | ||||||||
12.4. | Dissemination of Information | 52 | ||||||||
12.5. | Tax Treatment | 52 | ||||||||
ARTICLE XIII. | NOTICES | 53 | ||||||||
13.1. | Notices | 53 | ||||||||
13.2. | Change of Address | 53 | ||||||||
ARTICLE XIV. | COUNTERPARTS | 53 | ||||||||
ARTICLE XV. | CHOICE OF LAW; CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL | 53 | ||||||||
15.1. | CHOICE OF LAW | 53 | ||||||||
15.2. | CONSENT TO JURISDICTION | 54 | ||||||||
15.3. | WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL | 54 | ||||||||
PRICING SCHEDULE | 61 | |||||||||
EXHIBIT A. | FORM OF OPINION | 63 | ||||||||
EXHIBIT B. | COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE | 65 | ||||||||
EXHIBIT C. | ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT | 67 | ||||||||
EXHIBIT D. | LOAN/CREDIT RELATED MONEY TRANSFER INSTRUCTION | 74 | ||||||||
EXHIBIT E. | NOTE | 75 |
5
This Credit Agreement, dated as of October 5, 2007, is among Lancaster Colony Corporation, an
Ohio corporation, the Lenders and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., a national banking association, as LC
Issuer and as Agent. The parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
As used in this Agreement:
“Acquisition” means any transaction, or any series of related transactions, consummated on or
after the date of this Agreement, by which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (i) acquires any
ongoing business or all or substantially all of the assets of any firm, corporation or limited
liability company, or division thereof, whether through purchase of assets, merger or otherwise or
(ii) directly or indirectly acquires (in one transaction or as the most recent transaction in a
series of transactions) at least a majority (in number of votes) of the securities of a corporation
which have ordinary voting power for the election of directors (other than securities having such
power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) or a majority (by percentage or voting
power) of the outstanding ownership interests of a partnership or limited liability company.
“Advance” means a borrowing hereunder, (i) made by some or all of the Lenders on the same
Borrowing Date, or (ii) converted or continued by the Lenders on the same date of conversion or
continuation, consisting, in either case, of the aggregate amount of the several Loans of the same
Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, for the same Interest Period. The term “Advance” shall
include Swing Line Loans unless otherwise expressly provided.
“Affected Lender” is defined in Section 2.22.
“Affiliate” of any Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling,
controlled by or under common control with such Person. A Person shall be deemed to control
another Person if the controlling Person owns 10% or more of any class of voting securities (or
other voting ownership interests) of the controlled Person or possesses, directly or indirectly,
the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of the controlled Person,
whether through ownership of Capital Stock, by contract or otherwise.
“Agent” means JPMCB in its capacity as contractual representative of the Lenders pursuant to
Article X, and not in its individual capacity as a Lender, and any successor Agent appointed
pursuant to Article X.
“Aggregate Commitment” means the aggregate of the Commitments of all the Lenders, as increased
or reduced from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof.
“Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure” means, at any time, the aggregate of the Outstanding
Credit Exposure of all the Lenders.
“Agreement” means this credit agreement, as it may be amended or modified and in effect from
time to time.
6
“Agreement Accounting Principles” means generally accepted accounting principles as in effect
from time to time.
“Alternate Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate of interest per annum equal to the higher of
(i) the Prime Rate for such day and (ii) the sum of the Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day
plus 1/2% per annum.
“Applicable Fee Rate” means, at any time, the percentage rate per annum at which facility fees
are accruing on the Aggregate Commitment (without regard to usage) at such time as set forth in the
Pricing Schedule.
“Applicable Margin” means, with respect to Advances of any Type at any time, the percentage
rate per annum which is applicable at such time with respect to Advances of such Type as set forth
in the Pricing Schedule.
“Arranger” means X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its successors, in
its capacity as Lead Arranger and Sole Book Runner.
“Article” means an article of this Agreement unless another document is specifically
referenced.
“Authorized Officer” means, with respect to the Borrower, any two of the President, the
Secretary or the Treasurer of the Borrower or any one or more other persons that are authorized
from time to time in a writing signed any two of the President, Secretary or Treasurer of the
Borrower to act for the Borrower for the specific purpose(s) stated in such writing.
“Available Aggregate Commitment” means, at any time, the Aggregate Commitment then in effect
minus the Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure at such time.
“Board of Directors” means:
(1) with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation;
(2) with respect to a partnership, the Board of Directors of the general partner of the
partnership; and
(3) with respect to any other Person, the board or committee or manager of such Person serving
a similar function.
“Borrower” means Lancaster Colony Corporation, an Ohio corporation, and its permitted
successors and assigns.
“Borrowing Date” means a date on which an Advance is made hereunder.
“Borrowing Notice” is defined in Section 2.9.
“Business Day” means (i) with respect to any borrowing, payment or rate selection of
Eurodollar Advances, a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks generally are open in
Columbus, Chicago and New York for the conduct of substantially all of their commercial lending
activities, interbank wire transfers can be made on the Fedwire system and dealings in Dollars are
carried on in the London interbank market and (ii) for all other purposes, a day (other than a
Saturday or Sunday) on which
7
banks generally are open in Chicago for the conduct of substantially all of their commercial
lending activities and interbank wire transfers can be made on the Fedwire system.
“Capital Stock” means (i) in the case of any corporation, all capital stock and any securities
exchangeable for or convertible into capital stock and any warrants, rights or other options to
purchase or otherwise acquire capital stock or such securities or any other form of equity
securities, (ii) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests,
participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock, (iii) in the
case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether
general or limited) and (iv) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right
to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.
“Capitalized Lease” of a Person means any lease of Property by such Person as lessee which
would be capitalized on a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with Agreement
Accounting Principles.
“Capitalized Lease Obligations” of a Person means the amount of the obligations of such Person
under Capitalized Leases which would be shown as a liability on a balance sheet of such Person
prepared in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles.
“Cash Equivalent Investments” means (i) short-term obligations of, or fully guaranteed by, the
United States of America, (ii) securities or commercial paper rated A-2 or better by S&P, P-2 or
better by Xxxxx’x, or F-2 or better by Fitch with a maturity of one year or less, (iii) demand
deposit accounts maintained at, or securities issued or guaranteed by, banks whose commercial paper
is rated A-2 or better by S&P, P-2 or better by Xxxxx’x, or F-2 or better by Fitch, (iv) money
market accounts, sweep accounts and other similar accounts, (v) securities with provisions for
liquidity or maturity accommodations (i.e. auction rate securities, put-option bonds) of one year
or less that are (a) rated not lower than BBB by S&P or Baa2 by Xxxxx’x or (b) issued or guaranteed
by any financial institution having a short-term credit rating of A-2 or better by S&P, P-2 or
better by Xxxxx’x, or F-2 or better by Fitch, and (vi) certificates of deposit issued by and time
deposits with (in each case with a maturity of one year or less) commercial banks (whether domestic
or foreign) having capital and surplus in excess of $100,000,000.
“Change in Control” means the occurrence of either of the following: (i) the acquisition,
after the date hereof, by any Person, or two or more Persons acting in concert, of beneficial
ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Securities and Exchange Commission under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of 20% or more of the outstanding shares of voting Capital Stock
of the Borrower; or (ii) the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of Directors
of the Borrower are not Continuing Directors.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, reformed or otherwise modified
from time to time.
“Collateral Shortfall Amount” is defined in Section 8.1.
“Commitment” means, for each Lender, the obligation of such Lender to make Revolving Loans to,
and participate in Facility LCs issued upon the application of, the Borrower and to participate in
Swing Line Loans made to the Borrower, in an aggregate amount not exceeding the amount set forth
opposite its signature below, as it may be modified as a result of any assignment that has become
effective pursuant to Section 12.3.2 or as otherwise modified from time to time pursuant to the
terms hereof.
8
“Consolidated Debt” means at any time the Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
calculated on a consolidated basis as of such time.
“Consolidated EBIT” means (a) Consolidated Net Income, plus (b) to the extent deducted
in determining such Consolidated Net Income, Consolidated Interest Expense and income taxes,
minus (c) to the extent included in determining such Consolidated Net Income, each of the
following, without duplication: (i) the income of any Person (other than any Subsidiary for which
80% or more of its Capital Stock is owned by the Borrower or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the
Borrower) in which any Person other than the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries has a joint
interest or a partnership interest or other ownership interest, except to the extent of the amount
of dividends or other distributions actually paid to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries by
such Person during such period, (ii) extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring gains (or plus
extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring non-cash losses) from the sale, exchange, transfer or other
disposition of property or assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and related tax effects in
accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles, (iii) any other extraordinary, unusual or
non-recurring gains or other income (or plus other extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring non-cash
losses) not from the continuing operations of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, and related tax
effects in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles and (iv) the income of any Subsidiary of
the Borrower to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by
that Subsidiary of that income is not at the time permitted by operation of the terms of its
charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or governmental
regulation applicable to that Subsidiary.
“Consolidated EBITDA” means (a) Consolidated EBIT, plus (b) to the extent deducted in
determining such Consolidated EBIT, depreciation and amortization expense and any non-cash write
down of goodwill or other intangible assets required under S.F.A.S. 142 or S.F.A.S. 144.
“Consolidated Interest Expense” means, with reference to any period, the interest expense of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and the interest expense component of any Off-Balance Sheet
Liability, in each case calculated on a consolidated basis for such period.
“Consolidated Net Income” means, with reference to any period, the net income (or loss) of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries calculated on a consolidated basis for such period.
“Consolidated Net Worth” means at any time the consolidated stockholders’ equity of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries as calculated on a consolidated basis as of such time.
“Consolidated Tangible Net Worth” means, as of any date, the difference of (i) Consolidated
Net Worth, minus (ii) to the extent included in determining the amount under the foregoing clause
(i), the net book value of goodwill, cost in excess of fair value of net assets acquired, patents,
trademarks, tradenames and copyrights, treasury stock and all other assets which are deemed
intangible assets under Agreement Accounting Principles.
“Contingent Obligation” of a Person means any agreement, undertaking or arrangement by which
such Person assumes, guarantees, endorses, contingently agrees to purchase or provide funds for the
payment of, or otherwise becomes or is contingently liable upon, the obligation or liability of any
other Person, or agrees to maintain the net worth or working capital or other financial condition
of any other Person, or otherwise assures any creditor of such other Person against loss,
including, without limitation, any comfort letter, operating agreement, take-or-pay contract or the
obligations of any such Person as general partner of a partnership with respect to the liabilities
of the partnership, provided that the term “Contingent Obligation” shall not include endorsements
of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business.
9
“Continuing Directors” means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Board of
Directors of the Borrower who:
(1) was a member of such Board of Directors on the date of this Agreement; or
(2) was nominated for election to such Board of Directors with the approval of a majority of
the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board at the time of such nomination or election.
“Controlled Group” means all members of a controlled group of corporations or other business
entities and all trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under common control which,
together with the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, are treated as a single employer under
Section 414 of the Code.
“Conversion/Continuation Notice” is defined in Section 2.10.
“Credit Extension” means the making of an Advance or the issuance of a Facility LC hereunder.
“Credit Extension Date” means the Borrowing Date for an Advance or the issuance date for a
Facility LC.
“Default” means an event described in Article VII.
“Defaulting Lender” means any Lender that (i) on any Borrowing Date fails to make available to
the Agent such Lender’s Loans required to be made to the Borrower on such Borrowing Date, (ii)
shall not have made a payment to the Agent required under this Agreement or (iii) shall not have
made a payment to the LC Issuer or the Swing Line Lender required under this Agreement. Once a
Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, such Lender shall continue as a Defaulting Lender until such
time as such Defaulting Lender makes available to the Agent, the amount of such Defaulting Lender’s
Loans and to the LC Issuer and the Swing Line Lender, such payments requested by the LC Issuer and
by the Swing Line Lender together with all other amounts required to be paid to the Agent and/or
the LC Issuer and/or the Swing Line Lender pursuant to this Agreement.
“Documentation Agent” means The Huntington National Bank in its capacity as documentation
agent hereunder, and not in its individual capacity as a Lender, together with its successors and
assigns.
“Dollars” and “$” shall mean the lawful currency of the United States of America.
“Environmental Laws” means any and all federal, state, local and foreign statutes, laws,
judicial decisions, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, plans, injunctions,
permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements and other governmental restrictions
relating to (i) the protection of the environment, (ii) the effect of the environment on human
health, (iii) emissions, discharges or releases of pollutants, contaminants, hazardous substances
or wastes into surface water, ground water or land, or (iv) the manufacture, processing,
distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of pollutants, contaminants,
hazardous substances or wastes or the clean-up or other remediation thereof.
“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.
10
“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 unfunded 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 by the PBGC 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 that is not eliminated by the application
of Section 4208(e) or 4209 of ERISA 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 (as defined in ERISA) that is not
eliminated by the application of Section 4208(e) or 4209 of ERISA, 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.
“Eurodollar Advance” means an Advance which, except as otherwise provided in Section 2.12,
bears interest at the applicable Eurodollar Rate.
“Eurodollar Base Rate” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Advance for any Interest Period,
the rate appearing on Reuters Screen Page LIBOR01 (or on any successor or substitute page of
Reuters, or any successor to or substitute for Reuters, providing rate quotations comparable to
those currently provided on such page of Reuters, as determined by the 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 “Eurodollar Base Rate” with respect to such Eurodollar 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 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.
“Eurodollar Loan” means a Loan which, except as otherwise provided in Section 2.12, bears
interest at the applicable Eurodollar Rate.
“Eurodollar Rate” means, with respect to a Eurodollar Advance for the relevant Interest
Period, the sum of (i) the quotient of (a) the Eurodollar Base Rate applicable to such Interest
Period, divided by (b) one minus the Reserve Requirement (expressed as a decimal) applicable to
such Interest Period, plus (ii) the Applicable Margin.
“Excluded Taxes” means, in the case of each Lender or applicable Lending Installation and the
Agent, taxes imposed on its overall net income, and franchise taxes imposed on it, by (i) the
jurisdiction under the laws of which such Lender or the Agent is incorporated or organized or (ii)
the jurisdiction in which the Agent’s or such Lender’s principal executive office or such Lender’s
applicable Lending Installation is located.
“Exhibit” refers to an exhibit to this Agreement, unless another document is specifically
referenced.
11
“Existing Facility LC” is defined in Section 2.20.1.
“Extension Request” is defined in Section 2.21.
“Facility LC” is defined in Section 2.20.1.
“Facility LC Application” is defined in Section 2.20.3.
“Facility LC Collateral Account” is defined in Section 2.20.11.
“Facility Termination Date” means the date five years after the date of this Agreement or any
later date as may be specified as the Facility Termination Date in accordance with Section 2.21 or
any earlier date on which the Aggregate Commitment is reduced to zero or otherwise terminated
pursuant to the terms hereof.
“Federal Funds Effective Rate” means, for any day, an interest rate per annum equal to the
weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal
Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers on such day, as published for such day (or, if
such day is not a Business Day, for the immediately preceding Business Day) by the Federal Reserve
Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day which is a Business Day, the
average of the quotations at approximately 10:00 a.m. (Chicago time) on such day on such
transactions received by the Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected
by the Agent in its sole reasonable good faith discretion.
“Financial Contract” of a Person means (i) any exchange-traded or over-the-counter futures,
forward, swap or option contract or other financial instrument with similar characteristics or (ii)
any Rate Management Transaction.
“Floating Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to (i) the Alternate Base Rate for
such day plus (ii) the Applicable Margin, in each case changing when and as the Alternate Base Rate
changes.
“Floating Rate Advance” means an Advance which, except as otherwise provided in Section 2.12,
bears interest at the Floating Rate.
“Floating Rate Loan” means a Loan which, except as otherwise provided in Section 2.12, bears
interest at the Floating Rate.
“Guarantor” means any Subsidiary of the Borrower required to be a party to a Guaranty at any
time pursuant to Section 6.10.
“Guaranty” means each guaranty executed by a Guarantor in favor of the Agent, for the ratable
benefit of the Lenders, pursuant to this Agreement and in form and substance satisfactory to the
Agent, as they may be amended or modified and in effect from time to time.
“Indebtedness” of a Person means such Person’s (i) any obligation for borrowed money or
similar obligations, obligations representing the deferred purchase price of Property or services
(other than accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of such Person’s business payable on
terms customary in the trade), obligations, whether or not assumed, secured by Liens or payable out
of the proceeds or production from Property now or hereafter owned or acquired by such Person,
obligations which are evidenced by notes, acceptances, letters of credit or other instruments,
obligations of such Person to purchase securities or other Property arising out of or in connection
with the sale of the same or
12
substantially similar securities or Property, and Capitalized Lease Obligations, (ii) Off-Balance
Sheet Liabilities, and (iii) Contingent Obligations with respect to any of the foregoing.
“Interest Period” means, with respect to a Eurodollar Advance, a period of one, two, three or
six months or such other period of time agreed to by the Lenders and the Borrower commencing on a
Business Day selected by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement. Such Interest Period shall end
on the day which corresponds numerically to such date one, two, three or six months thereafter or
such other period of time agreed to by the Lenders and the Borrower, if any, provided, however,
that if there is no such numerically corresponding day in such next, second, third or sixth or
other (if agreed to by the Lenders and the Borrower) succeeding month, such Interest Period shall
end on the last Business Day of such next, second, third or sixth or other (if agreed to by the
Lenders and the Borrower) succeeding month. If an Interest Period would otherwise end on a day
which is not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall end on the next succeeding Business Day,
provided, however, that if said next succeeding Business Day falls in a new calendar month, such
Interest Period shall end on the immediately preceding Business Day.
“Investment” of a Person means any loan, advance (other than commission, travel and similar
advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business), extension of credit
(other than accounts receivable arising in the ordinary course of business on terms customary in
the trade) or contribution of capital by such Person; stocks, bonds, mutual funds, partnership
interests, notes, debentures or other securities owned by such Person; and structured notes,
derivative financial instruments and other similar instruments or contracts owned by such Person.
“JPMCB” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., a national banking association, in its individual
capacity, and its successors.
“LC Fee” is defined in Section 2.20.4.
“LC Issuer” means JPMCB (or any subsidiary or affiliate of JPMCB designated by JPMCB) in its
capacity as issuer of Facility LCs hereunder.
“LC Obligations” means, at any time, the sum, without duplication, of (i) the aggregate
undrawn stated amount under all Facility LCs outstanding at such time plus (ii) the aggregate
unpaid amount at such time of all Reimbursement Obligations.
“LC Payment Date” is defined in Section 2.20.5.
“Lenders” means the lending institutions listed on the signature pages of this Agreement and
their respective successors and assigns. Unless otherwise specified, the term “Lenders” includes
JPMCB in its capacity as Swing Line Lender.
“Lending Installation” means, with respect to a Lender or the Agent, the office, branch,
subsidiary or affiliate of such Lender or the Agent listed on the signature pages hereof or on a
Schedule or otherwise selected by such Lender or the Agent pursuant to Section 2.18.
“Letter of Credit” of a Person means a letter of credit or similar instrument which is issued
upon the application of such Person or upon which such Person is an account party or for which such
Person is in any way liable.
“Leverage Ratio” means, at any time, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Debt at such time to (b)
Consolidated EBITDA, as calculated at such time for the most recently ended four consecutive fiscal
13
quarters of the Borrower.
“Lien” means any lien (statutory or other), mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment,
deposit arrangement, encumbrance or preference, priority or other security agreement or
preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, the
interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale, Capitalized Lease or other title
retention agreement).
“Loan” means a Revolving Loan or a Swing Line Loan.
“Loan Documents” means this Agreement, the Facility LC Applications, the Guaranty, any Notes
issued pursuant to Section 2.14, and any other agreement or document executed in connection with
any of the foregoing.
“Margin Stock” means “margin stock” as defined in Regulations U or X or “marginable OTC stock”
or “foreign margin stock” within the meaning of Regulation T.
“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (i) the business, Property,
condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
taken as a whole, (ii) the ability of the Borrower or any Guarantor to perform its obligations
under the Loan Documents, or (iii) the validity or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents or
the rights or remedies of the Agent, the LC Issuer or the Lenders thereunder.
“Material Indebtedness” is defined in Section 7.5.
“Modify” and “Modification” are defined in Section 2.20.1.
“Moody’s” means Xxxxx’x Investors Service, Inc.
“Multiemployer Plan” means a Plan maintained pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement or
any other arrangement to which the Borrower or any member of the Controlled Group is a party to
which more than one employer is obligated to make contributions.
“Non-U.S. Lender” is defined in Section 3.5(iv).
“Note” is defined in Section 2.14.
“Obligations” means all unpaid principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans, all
Reimbursement Obligations, all accrued and unpaid fees and all expenses, reimbursements,
indemnities and other obligations of the Borrower to the Lenders or to any Lender, the Agent, the
LC Issuer or any indemnified party arising under the Loan Documents.
“Off-Balance Sheet Liability” of a Person means (i) the aggregate outstanding amount of all
asset securitizations, receivable sales and/or factoring and other similar off balance sheet
financings and liabilities, based on the aggregate outstanding amount sold, assigned, discounted or
otherwise transferred or financed, whether or not shown as a liability on a balance sheet of such
Person, (ii) any liability under any Sale and Leaseback Transaction which is not a Capitalized
Lease, (iii) any liability under any so-called “synthetic lease” transaction entered into by such
Person, or (iv) any obligation arising with respect to any other transaction which is the
functional equivalent of or takes the place of borrowing but which does not constitute a liability
on the balance sheet of such Person, based on the aggregate outstanding amount sold, assigned,
discounted or otherwise transferred or financed, but excluding from this clause (iv) Operating
Leases.
14
“Operating Lease” of a Person means any lease of Property (other than a Capitalized Lease) by
such Person as lessee which has an original term (including any required renewals and any renewals
effective at the option of the lessor) of one year or more.
“Other Taxes” is defined in Section 3.5(ii).
“Outstanding Credit Exposure” means, as to any Lender at any time, the sum of (i) the
aggregate principal amount of its Revolving Loans outstanding at such time, plus (ii) an amount
equal to its Pro Rata Share of the aggregate principal amount of Swing Line Loans and LC
Obligations outstanding at such time.
“Participants” is defined in Section 12.2.1.
“Payment Date” means the last day of each calendar quarter.
“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, or any successor thereto.
“Permitted Securitization Transaction” is defined in Section 6.12(iv).
“Person” means any natural person, corporation, firm, joint venture, partnership, limited
liability company, association, enterprise, trust or other entity or organization, or any
government or political subdivision or any agency, department or instrumentality thereof.
“Plan” means an employee pension benefit plan which is covered by Title IV of ERISA or subject
to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code as to which the Borrower or any
member of the Controlled Group may have any liability.
“Pricing Schedule” means the Schedule attached hereto identified as such.
“Prime Rate” means a rate per annum equal to the prime rate of interest announced from time to
time by JPMCB or its parent (which is not necessarily the lowest rate charged to any customer),
changing when and as said prime rate changes.
“Property” of a Person means any and all property, whether real, personal, tangible,
intangible, or mixed, of such Person, or other assets owned, leased or operated by such Person.
“Pro Rata Share” means, with respect to a Lender, a portion equal to a fraction the numerator
of which is such Lender’s Commitment and the denominator of which is the Aggregate Commitment.
“Purchasers” is defined in Section 12.3.1.
“Rate Management Transaction” means any transaction (including an agreement with respect
thereto) now existing or hereafter entered into between the Borrower and any Lender or Affiliate
thereof which is a rate swap, basis swap, forward rate transaction, commodity swap, commodity
option, equity or equity index swap, equity or equity index option, bond option, interest rate
option, foreign exchange transaction, cap transaction, floor transaction, collar transaction,
forward transaction, currency swap transaction, cross-currency rate swap transaction, currency
option or any other similar transaction (including any option with respect to any of these
transactions) or any combination thereof, whether linked to one or more interest rates, foreign
currencies, commodity prices, equity prices or other financial measures.
15
“Rate Management Obligations” of a Person means any and all obligations of such Person,
whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired
(including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor), under
(i) any and all Rate Management Transactions, and (ii) any and all cancellations, buy backs,
reversals, terminations or assignments of any Rate Management Transactions.
“Regulation D” means Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as
from time to time in effect and any successor thereto or other regulation or official
interpretation of said Board of Governors relating to reserve requirements applicable to member
banks of the Federal Reserve System.
“Regulation T” means Regulation T of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as
from time to time in effect and any successor or other regulation or official interpretation of
said Board of Governors.
“Regulation U” means Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as
from time to time in effect and any successor or other regulation or official interpretation of
said Board of Governors.
“Regulation X” means Regulation X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as
from time to time in effect and any successor or other regulation or official interpretation of
said Board of Governors.
“Reimbursement Obligations” means, at any time, the aggregate of all obligations of the
Borrower then outstanding under Section 2.20 to reimburse the LC Issuer for amounts paid by the LC
Issuer in respect of any one or more drawings under Facility LCs.
“Reportable Event” means a reportable event as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA and the
regulations issued under such section, with respect to a Plan, excluding, however, such events as
to which the PBGC has by regulation waived the requirement of Section 4043(a) of ERISA that it be
notified within 30 days of the occurrence of such event, provided, however, that a failure to meet
the minimum funding standard of Section 412 of the Code and of Section 302 of ERISA shall be a
Reportable Event regardless of the issuance of any such waiver of the notice requirement in
accordance with either Section 4043(a) of ERISA or Section 412(d) of the Code.
“Reports” is defined in Section 9.6.
“Required Lenders” means Lenders in the aggregate having at least 51% of the Aggregate
Commitment or, if the Aggregate Commitment has been terminated, Lenders in the aggregate holding at
least 51% of the Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure.
“Reserve Requirement” means, with respect to an Interest Period, the maximum aggregate reserve
requirement (including all basic, supplemental, marginal and other reserves) which is imposed under
Regulation D on Eurocurrency liabilities.
“Revolving Loan” means, with respect to a Lender, such Lender’s loan made pursuant to its
commitment to lend set forth in Section 2.1 (or any conversion or continuation thereof).
“S&P” means Standard and Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw Hill Companies,
Inc.
16
“Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means any sale or other transfer of Property by any Person
with the intent to lease such Property as lessee.
“Schedule” refers to a specific schedule to this Agreement, unless another document is
specifically referenced.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission and any successor agency.
“Section” means a numbered section of this Agreement, unless another document is specifically
referenced.
“Securitization Entity” means a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower that engages in no
activities other than Permitted Securitization Transactions and any necessary related activities
and owns no assets other than as required for Permitted Securitization Transactions and (i) no
portion of the Indebtedness (contingent or otherwise) of which is guaranteed by the Borrower or any
Subsidiary of the Borrower or is recourse to or obligates the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the
Borrower in any way, other than pursuant to customary representations, warranties, covenants,
indemnities and other obligations entered into in connection with a Permitted Securitization
Transaction, and (ii) to which neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary of the Borrower has any
material obligation to maintain or preserve such entity’s financial condition or cause such entity
to achieve certain levels of operating results.
“Significant Subsidiary” means, at any time, any Subsidiary which (i) for the most recent four
fiscal quarters of the Borrower, accounted for more than 10% of the consolidated net sales of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries or (ii) as of the end of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of
the Borrower, was the owner of more than 10% of the consolidated assets of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries.
“Single Employer Plan” means a Plan maintained by the Borrower or any member of the Controlled
Group for employees of the Borrower or any member of the Controlled Group.
“Subsidiary” of a Person means (i) any corporation more than 50% of the outstanding securities
having ordinary voting power of which shall at the time be owned or controlled, directly or
indirectly, by such Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries or by such Person and one or more
of its Subsidiaries, or (ii) any partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture
or similar business organization more than 50% of the ownership interests having ordinary voting
power of which shall at the time be so owned or controlled. Unless otherwise expressly provided,
all references herein to a “Subsidiary” shall mean a Subsidiary of the Borrower.
“Substantial Portion” means, with respect to the Property of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, Property which (i) represents more than 10% of the consolidated assets of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries as would be shown in the consolidated financial statements of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the beginning of the twelve-month period ending with the month
in which such determination is made, or (ii) is responsible for more than 10% of the consolidated
net sales or of the consolidated net income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as reflected in
the financial statements referred to in clause (i) above, or (iii) represents more than 25% of the
consolidated assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as would be shown in the consolidated
financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of June 30, 2007 or (iv) is
responsible for more than 25% of the consolidated net sales or of the consolidated net income of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as reflected in the financial statements referred to in clause
(iii) above.
17
“Swing Line Borrowing Notice” is defined in Section 2.5.2.
“Swing Line Lender” means JPMCB or such other Lender which may succeed to its rights and
obligations as Swing Line Lender pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and shall include, without
limitation, any office, branch, subsidiary or affiliate of JPMCB or such other Lender selected by
JPMCB or such other Lender from time to time as the provider of any Swing Line Loan.
“Swing Line Loan” means a Loan made available to the Borrower by the Swing Line Lender
pursuant to Section 2.5.
“Taxes” means any and all present or future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions,
charges or withholdings, and any and all liabilities with respect to the foregoing, but excluding
Excluded Taxes and Other Taxes.
“Transferee” is defined in Section 12.4.
“Type” means, with respect to any Advance, its nature as a Floating Rate Advance or a
Eurodollar Advance.
“Unfunded Liabilities” means the amount (if any) by which the present value of all vested and
unvested accrued benefits under all Single Employer Plans exceeds the fair market value of all such
Plan assets allocable to such benefits, all determined as of the then most recent valuation date
for such Plans using PBGC actuarial assumptions for single employer plan terminations.
“Unmatured Default” means an event which but for the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or
both, would constitute a Default.
“Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” of a Person means (i) any Subsidiary all of the outstanding voting
securities of which shall at the time be owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such
Person or one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person, or by such Person and one or more
Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person, or (ii) any partnership, limited liability company,
association, joint venture or similar business organization 100% of the ownership interests having
ordinary voting power of which shall at the time be so owned or controlled.
The foregoing definitions shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of
the defined terms. Section 9.8 addresses accounting terms that are used but not defined above.
ARTICLE II
THE CREDITS
2.1. Commitment. From and including the date of this
Agreement and prior to the Facility Termination Date, each Lender severally agrees, on the terms
and conditions set forth in this Agreement, to (i) make Revolving Loans to the Borrower and (ii)
participate in Facility LCs and Swing Line Loans issued or made upon the request of the Borrower,
provided that, after giving effect to the making of each such Loan and the issuance of each such
Facility LC, such Lender’s Outstanding Credit Exposure shall not exceed its Commitment and the
Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments. Subject to the
terms of this Agreement, the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow at any time prior to the
Facility Termination Date. The Commitments to extend credit
18
hereunder shall expire on the Facility Termination Date.
The LC Issuer will issue Facility LCs hereunder on the terms and conditions set forth in Section
2.20. The Swing Line Lender agrees to make Swing Line Loans hereunder on the terms and conditions
set forth in Section 2.5.
2.2. Required Payments; Termination. The
Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure and all other unpaid Obligations shall be paid in full by the
Borrower on the Facility Termination Date. Additionally, the Borrower shall promptly pay the
Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure to the extent the amount thereof at any time exceeds the
Aggregate Commitments at such time.
2.3.Ratable Loans. Each Advance hereunder (other than any
Swing Line Loan) shall consist of Revolving Loans made from the several Lenders ratably according
to their Pro Rata Shares.
2.4. Types of Advances. The Advances may be Floating
Rate Advances or Eurodollar Advances, or a combination thereof, selected by the Borrower in
accordance with Sections 2.9 and 2.10.
2.5. Swing Line Loans.
2.5.1. Amount of Swing Line Loans. Upon the
satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.2 and, if such Swing Line
Loan is to be made on the date of the initial Advance hereunder, the satisfaction of the
conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.1 as well, from and including the date of this
Agreement and prior to the Facility Termination Date, the Swing Line Lender agrees, on the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, to make Swing Line Loans to the Borrower
from time to time in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $25,000,000, provided that
the Outstanding Credit Exposure shall not at any time exceed the Aggregate Commitments, and
provided further that at no time shall the sum of (i) the Swing Line Lender’s Pro Rata Share
of the Swing Line Loans, plus (ii) the outstanding Revolving Loans made by the Swing Line
Lender pursuant to Section 2.1, exceed the Swing Line Lender’s Commitment at such time,
provided that it is acknowledged that Swing Loans will reduce the Swing Line Lender’s
Commitment only by the Swing Line Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Swing Line Loans. Subject
to the terms of this Agreement, the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow Swing Line Loans
at any time prior to the Facility Termination Date.
2.5.2. Borrowing Notice. The Borrower shall deliver to
the Agent and the Swing Line Lender irrevocable notice (a “Swing Line Borrowing Notice”) not
later than noon (Chicago time) on the Borrowing Date of each Swing Line Loan, specifying (i)
the applicable Borrowing Date (which date shall be a Business Day) and (ii) the aggregate
amount of the requested Swing Line Loan which shall be an amount not less than $100,000.
Each Swing Line Loan shall bear interest at the Floating Rate or such other rate as agreed
upon between the Borrower and the Swing Line Lender, and shall mature as agreed to by the
Swing Line Lender and the Borrower, not to exceed 30 days after the date thereof.
2.5.3. Making of Swing Line Loans. If a
Swing Line Loan is to be made, the Swing Line Lender shall make available the Swing Line
Loan to the Borrower, in immediately available funds or same day funds, at such Lending
Installation of the Swing Line Lender as determined by the Swing Line Lender.
2.5.4. Repayment of Swing Line Loans. Each Swing Line Loan shall be paid in full by the Borrower on the earliest of (i) the
date agreed to by the Swing Line Lender and the Borrower, (ii) the date 30 days after the
Borrowing Date for such Swing Line Loan or (iii) the Facility Termination Date. The Swing
Line Lender may at any time in its sole discretion with respect to
19
any outstanding Swing Line Loan require each Lender (including the Swing Line Lender) to make a Revolving Loan in
the amount of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such Swing Line Loan (including, without
limitation, any interest accrued and unpaid thereon), for the purpose of repaying such Swing
Line Loan. Not later than noon (Chicago time) on the date of any notice received pursuant
to this Section 2.5.4, each Lender shall make available its required Revolving Loan, in
funds immediately available in Chicago to the Agent at its address specified pursuant to
Article XIII. Revolving Loans made pursuant to this Section 2.5.4 shall initially be
Floating Rate Loans and thereafter may be continued as Floating Rate Loans or converted into
Eurodollar Loans in the manner provided in Section 2.10 and subject to the other conditions
and limitations set forth in this Article II. Such Lender’s obligation to make Revolving
Loans pursuant to this Section 2.5.4 to repay Swing Line Loans shall be unconditional,
continuing, irrevocable and absolute and shall not be affected by any circumstances,
including, without limitation, (a) any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other
right which such Lender may have against the Agent, the Swing Line Lender or any other
Person, (b) the occurrence or continuance of a Default or Unmatured Default, (c) any adverse
change in the condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower, or (d) any other
circumstances, happening or event whatsoever. In the event that any Lender fails to make
payment to the Agent of any amount due under this Section 2.5.4, the Agent shall be entitled
to receive, retain and apply against such obligation the principal and interest otherwise
payable to such Lender hereunder until the Agent receives such payment from such Lender or
such obligation is otherwise fully satisfied. In addition to the foregoing, if for any
reason any Lender fails to make payment to the Agent of any amount due under this Section
2.5.4, such Lender shall be deemed, at the option of the Agent, to have unconditionally and
irrevocably purchased from the Swing Line Lender, without recourse or warranty, an undivided
interest and participation in the applicable Swing Line Loan in the amount of such Revolving
Loan, and such interest and participation may be recovered from such Lender together with
interest thereon at the Federal Funds Effective Rate for each day during the period
commencing on the date of demand and ending on the date such amount is received. On the
Facility Termination Date, the Borrower shall repay in full the outstanding principal
balance of the Swing Line Loans.
2.6. Facility Fee; Reductions and Increases in Aggregate Commitment. (i) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Agent for
the account of each Lender according to its Pro Rata Share a facility fee at a per annum rate equal
to the Applicable Fee Rate on the average daily amount of such Lender’s Commitment, whether used or
unused, from the date hereof to and including the Facility Termination Date, payable on each
Payment Date hereafter and on the Facility Termination Date.
(ii) The Borrower may permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitment in whole, or in part ratably
among the Lenders in integral multiples of $5,000,000, upon at least three Business Days’ written
notice to the Agent, which notice shall specify the amount of any such reduction, provided,
however, that the amount of the Aggregate Commitment may not be reduced below the Aggregate
Outstanding Credit Exposure. All accrued facility fees on the amount of the Aggregate Commitment
so reduced or terminated shall be payable on the effective date of any termination of the
obligations of the Lenders to make Credit Extensions hereunder.
(iii) With the prior consent of the Agent, the Borrower may request to increase the Aggregate
Commitment in increments of $10,000,000, provided that the Aggregate Commitment shall not exceed
$260,000,000. Any such request to increase the Aggregate Commitment shall be deemed to be a
certification by the Borrower that at the time of such request, there exists no Default or
Unmatured Default and the representations and warranties contained in Article V are true and
correct as of such date or, if applicable only to a prior date, as of such prior date. Any request
from the Borrower to increase the Aggregate Commitment shall be implemented by one or more existing
Lenders agreeing to increase their
20
Commitments (provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to increase its Commitment) or by one or more new lenders agreeing to become a Lender hereunder or
by any combination of the foregoing, as determined by the Agent and the Arranger in consultation
with the Borrower. Prior to any such increase in the Aggregate Commitment becoming effective, the
Agent shall have received:
(a) copies, certified by the secretary of the Borrower of its Board of Directors’
resolutions and of resolutions or actions of any other body authorizing the increase
in the Aggregate Commitment;
(b) a certificate, signed by the chief financial officer of the Borrower, showing
that after giving effect to the increase in the Aggregate Commitment, no Default or
Unmatured Default shall occur and the Borrower shall be in compliance with all
covenants in this Agreement;
(c) copies of all governmental and nongovernmental consents, approvals,
authorizations, declarations, registrations or filings required on the part of the
Borrower or any Guarantor in connection with the increase in the Aggregate
Commitment, certified as true and correct in full force and effect as of the date of
the increase by an Authorized Officer, or if none are required, a certificate of
such Authorized Officer to that effect;
(d) evidence satisfactory to the Agent that no Material Adverse Effect shall have
occurred with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries since the most recent
financial statements provided to the Lenders hereunder; and
(e) such other documents and conditions as the Agent or its counsel may have
reasonably requested.
2.7. Minimum Amount of Each Advance. Each
Eurodollar Advance shall be in the minimum amount of $5,000,000 (and in multiples of $500,000 if in
excess thereof), and each Floating Rate Advance (other than an Advance to repay Swing Line Loans)
shall be in the minimum amount of $2,500,000 (and in multiples of $500,000 if in excess thereof),
provided, however, that any Floating Rate Advance may be in the amount of the Available Aggregate
Commitment.
2.8. Optional Principal Payments. The Borrower may from time to time pay, without
penalty or premium, all outstanding Floating Rate Advances (other than Swing Line Loans), or, in a
minimum aggregate amount of $2,500,000 or any integral multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof, any
portion of the outstanding Floating Rate Advances (other than Swing Line Loans) upon two Business
Days’ prior notice to the Agent. The Borrower may at any time pay, subject to the payment of any
funding indemnification amounts required by Section 3.4 but without penalty or premium, all
outstanding Swing Line Loans, or, in a minimum amount of $100,000 and increments of $50,000 in
excess thereof, any portion of the outstanding Swing Line Loans, with notice to the Agent and the
Swing Line Lender by 11:00 a.m. (Chicago time) on the date of repayment. The Borrower may from
time to time pay, subject to the payment of any funding indemnification amounts required by Section
3.4 but without penalty or premium, all outstanding Eurodollar Advances, or, in a
minimum aggregate amount of $5,000,000 or any integral multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof, any
portion of the outstanding Eurodollar Advances upon three Business Days’ prior notice to the Agent.
2.9. Method of Selecting Types and Interest Periods for New Advances. The Borrower
shall select the Type of Advance and, in the case of each Eurodollar Advance, the Interest Period
applicable thereto from time to time. The Borrower shall give the Agent irrevocable notice by an
Authorized Officer (a “Borrowing Notice”) not later than 10:00 a.m. (Chicago time) on the Borrowing
Date of each Floating
21
Rate Advance and three Business Days before the Borrowing Date for each Eurodollar Advance, specifying:
(i) | the Borrowing Date, which shall be a Business Day, of such Advance, | ||
(ii) | the aggregate amount of such Advance, | ||
(iii) | the Type of Advance selected, and | ||
(iv) | in the case of each Eurodollar Advance, the Interest Period applicable thereto. |
Not later than noon (Chicago time) on each Borrowing Date, each Lender shall make available its
Revolving Loan or Revolving Loans in funds immediately available in Chicago to the Agent at its
address specified pursuant to Article XIII. The Agent will make the funds so received from the
Lenders available to the Borrower at the Agent’s aforesaid address.
2.10. Conversion and Continuation of Outstanding Advances. Floating Rate Advances
(other than Swing Line Loans) shall continue as Floating Rate Advances unless and until such
Floating Rate Advances are converted into Eurodollar Advances pursuant to this Section 2.10 or are
repaid in accordance with Section 2.8. Each Eurodollar Advance shall continue as a Eurodollar
Advance until the end of the then applicable Interest Period therefor, at which time such
Eurodollar Advance shall be automatically converted into a Floating Rate Advance unless (x) such
Eurodollar Advance is or was repaid in accordance with Section 2.8 or (y) the Borrower shall have
given the Agent a Conversion/Continuation Notice (as defined below) requesting that, at the end of
such Interest Period, such Eurodollar Advance continue as a Eurodollar Advance for the same or
another Interest Period. Subject to the terms of Section 2.7, the Borrower may elect from time to
time to convert all or any part of a Floating Rate Advance (other than a Swing Line Loan) into a
Eurodollar Advance. The Borrower shall give the Agent irrevocable notice (a
“Conversion/Continuation Notice”) of each conversion of a Floating Rate Advance into a Eurodollar
Advance or continuation of a Eurodollar Advance not later than 11:00 a.m. (Chicago time) at least
three Business Days prior to the date of the requested conversion or continuation, specifying:
(i) | the requested date, which shall be a Business Day, of such conversion or continuation, | ||
(ii) | the aggregate amount and Type of the Advance which is to be converted or continued, and | ||
(iii) | the amount of such Advance which is to be converted into or continued as a Eurodollar Advance and the duration of the Interest Period applicable thereto. |
2.11. Changes in Interest Rate, etc. Each Floating Rate Advance (other than a Swing
Line Loan) shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof, for each day from and
including the date such Advance is made or is automatically converted from a Eurodollar Advance
into a Floating Rate Advance pursuant to Section 2.10, to but excluding the date it is paid or is converted into a Eurodollar Advance pursuant to Section 2.10
hereof, at a rate per annum equal to the Floating Rate for such day. Each Swing Line Loan shall
bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof, for each day from and including the day
such Swing Line Loan is made to but excluding the date it is paid, at a rate per annum equal to the
Floating Rate for such day or such other rate, if any, agreed to by the Borrower and the Swing Line
Lender for such day. Changes in the rate of interest on that portion of any Advance maintained as
a Floating Rate Advance will take effect simultaneously with each change in the Alternate Base
Rate. Each Eurodollar Advance shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from
22
and including the first day of the Interest Period applicable thereto to (but not including) the
last day of such Interest Period at the interest rate determined by the Agent as applicable to such
Eurodollar Advance based upon the Borrower’s selections under Sections 2.9 and 2.10 and otherwise
in accordance with the terms hereof. No Interest Period may end after the Facility Termination
Date.
2.12. Rates Applicable After Default.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 2.9 or 2.10, during the continuance
of a Default or Unmatured Default the Required Lenders may, at their option, by notice to the
Borrower (which notice may be revoked at the option of the Required Lenders notwithstanding any
provision of Section 8.2 requiring unanimous consent of the Lenders to changes in interest rates),
declare that no Advance may be made as, converted into or continued as a Eurodollar Advance.
During the continuance of a Default the Required Lenders may, at their option, by notice to the
Borrower (which notice may be revoked at the option of the Required Lenders notwithstanding any
provision of Section 8.2 requiring unanimous consent of the Lenders to changes in interest rates),
declare that (i) each Eurodollar Advance shall bear interest for the remainder of the applicable
Interest Period at the rate otherwise applicable to such Interest Period plus 2% per annum, (ii)
each Floating Rate Advance shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Floating Rate in
effect from time to time plus 2% per annum and (iii) the LC Fee shall be increased by 2% per annum,
provided that, during the continuance of a Default under Section 7.6 or 7.7, the interest rates set
forth in clauses (i) and (ii) above and the increase in the LC Fee set forth in clause (iii) above
shall be applicable to all Credit Extensions without any election or action on the part of the
Agent or any Lender.
2.13. Method of Payment. All payments of the
Obligations hereunder shall be made, without setoff, deduction, or counterclaim, in immediately
available funds to the Agent at the Agent’s address specified pursuant to Article XIII, or at any
other Lending Installation of the Agent specified in writing by the Agent to the Borrower, by noon
(local time) on the date when due and shall (except in the case of Reimbursement Obligations for
which the LC Issuer has not been fully indemnified by the Lenders, with respect to repayments of
Swing Line Loans or as otherwise specifically required hereunder) be applied ratably by the Agent
among the Lenders. Each payment delivered to the Agent for the account of any Lender shall be
delivered promptly by the Agent to such Lender in the same type of funds that the Agent received at
its address specified pursuant to Article XIII or at any Lending Installation specified in a notice
received by the Agent from such Lender. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no payments of principal,
interest, fees or other amounts delivered to the Agent for the account of any Defaulting Lender
shall be delivered by the Agent to such Defaulting Lender. Instead, such payments shall, for so
long as such Defaulting Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender, be held by the Agent, and the Agent is
hereby authorized and directed by all parties hereto to hold such funds in escrow and apply such
funds as follows: (i) First, if applicable to any payments due from such Defaulting Lender
to the Agent or the LC Issuer, and (ii) Second, to Credit Extensions required to be made by
such Defaulting Lender on any Borrowing Date to the extent such Defaulting Lender fails to make
such Credit Extensions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the termination of all Commitments and
the payment and performance of all of the Obligations (other than those owing to a Defaulting
Lender), any funds then held in escrow by the Agent pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be
distributed to each Defaulting Lender, pro rata in proportion to amounts that would
be due to each Defaulting Lender but for the fact that it is a Defaulting Lender. Each reference to the
Agent in this Section 2.13 shall also be deemed to refer, and shall apply equally, to the LC
Issuer, in the case of payments required to be made by the Borrower to the LC Issuer pursuant to
Section 2.20.6, and the Swing Line Lender, in the case of payments required to be made by the
Borrower to the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.5.4.
2.14. Noteless Agreement; Evidence of Indebtedness. (i) 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 from time to time, including the amounts of principal
and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.
23
(ii) The Agent shall also maintain accounts in which it will record (a) the amount of each
Loan made hereunder, the Type thereof and the Interest Period with respect thereto, (b) the amount
of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each
Lender hereunder, (c) the original stated amount of each Facility LC and the amount of LC
Obligations outstanding at any time, and (d) the amount of any sum received by the Agent hereunder
from the Borrower and each Lender’s share thereof.
(iii) The entries maintained in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraphs (i) and (ii)
above shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the Obligations therein
recorded; provided, however, that the failure of the Agent or any Lender to maintain such accounts
or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the
Obligations in accordance with their terms.
(iv) Any Lender may request that its Revolving Loans be evidenced by a promissory note or, in
the case of the Swing Line Lender, promissory notes representing its Revolving Loans and Swing Line
Loans, respectively, substantially in the form of Exhibit E, with appropriate changes for notes
evidencing Swing Line Loans (each a “Note”). In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute
and deliver to such Lender such Note or Notes payable to the order of such Lender. Thereafter, the
Loans evidenced by each such Note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after any
assignment pursuant to Section 12.3) be represented by one or more Notes payable to the order of
the payee named therein or any assignee pursuant to Section 12.3, except to the extent that any
such Lender or assignee subsequently returns any such Note for cancellation and requests that such
Loans once again be evidenced as described in paragraphs (i) and (ii) above.
2.15. Telephonic Notices. The Borrower hereby
authorizes the Lenders and the Agent to extend, convert or continue Advances, effect selections of
Types of Advances and to transfer funds based on telephonic notices made by any person or persons
the Agent or any Lender in good faith believes to be an Authorized Officer, it being understood
that the foregoing authorization is specifically intended to allow Borrowing Notices, Swingline
Borrowing Notices and Conversion/Continuation Notices to be given telephonically. The Borrower
agrees to deliver promptly to the Agent a written (which includes electronic mail) confirmation, if
such confirmation is requested by the Agent or any Lender, of each telephonic notice signed by an
Authorized Officer. If the written confirmation differs in any material respect from the action
taken by the Agent and the Lenders, the records of the Agent and the Lenders shall constitute prima
facie evidence of the action requested by Borrower.
2.16. Interest Payment Dates; Interest and Fee Basis. Interest accrued on each Floating Rate Advance shall be payable on
each Payment Date, commencing with the first such date to occur after the date hereof, on any
date on which the Floating Rate Advance is prepaid, whether due to acceleration or otherwise, and
at maturity. Interest accrued on that portion of the outstanding principal amount of any Floating
Rate Advance converted into a Eurodollar Advance on a day other than a Payment Date shall be
payable on the date of conversion. Interest accrued on each Eurodollar Advance shall be payable on
the last day of its applicable Interest Period, on any date on which the Eurodollar Advance is
prepaid, whether by acceleration or otherwise, and at maturity. Interest accrued on each
Eurodollar Advance having an Interest Period longer than three months shall also be payable on the
last day of each three-month interval during such Interest Period. Interest, facility fees and LC
Fees, other than interest based on the Floating Rate, shall be calculated for actual days elapsed
on the basis of a 360-day year. Interest based on the Floating Rate shall be calculated for actual
days elapsed on the basis of a 365- (or 366-, as the case may be) day year. Interest shall be
payable for the day an Advance is made but not for the day of any payment on the amount paid if
payment is received prior to noon (local time) at the place of payment. If any payment of
principal of or interest on an Advance shall become due on a day which is not a
24
Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day and, in the case of a
principal payment, such extension of time shall be included in computing interest in connection
with such payment.
2.17. Notification of Advances, Interest Rates, Prepayments and Commitment Reductions.
Promptly after receipt thereof, the Agent will notify each Lender of the contents of each
Aggregate Commitment reduction notice, Borrowing Notice, Conversion/Continuation Notice, and
repayment notice received by it hereunder. The Agent will notify each Lender of the interest rate
applicable to each Eurodollar Advance promptly upon determination of such interest rate and will
give each Lender prompt notice of each change in the Alternate Base Rate.
2.18. Lending Installations. Each Lender may book its Loans and its participation in
any LC Obligations and Swing Line Loans and the LC Issuer may book the Facility LCs at any Lending
Installation selected by such Lender or the LC Issuer, as the case may be, and may change its
Lending Installation from time to time, subject to the limitations of Section 3.6 hereof. All
terms of this Agreement shall apply to any such Lending Installation and the Loans, Facility LCs,
participations in LC Obligations and any Notes issued hereunder shall be deemed held by each Lender
or the LC Issuer, as the case may be, for the benefit of any such Lending Installation. Each
Lender and the LC Issuer may, by written notice to the Agent and the Borrower in accordance with
Article XIII, designate replacement or additional Lending Installations through which Loans will be
made by it or Facility LCs will be issued by it and for whose account Loan payments or payments
with respect to Facility LCs are to be made.
2.19. Non-Receipt of Funds by the Agent. Unless the Borrower or a Lender, as the case
may be, notifies the Agent prior to the date on which it is scheduled to make payment to the Agent
of (i) in the case of a Lender, the proceeds of a Loan or (ii) in the case of the Borrower, a
payment of principal, interest or fees to the Agent for the account of the Lenders, that it does
not intend to make such payment, the Agent may assume that such payment has been made. The Agent
may, but shall not be obligated to, make the amount of such payment available to the intended
recipient in reliance upon such assumption. If such Lender or the Borrower, as the case may be,
has not in fact made such payment to the Agent, the recipient of such payment shall, on demand by
the Agent, repay to the Agent the amount so made available together with interest thereon in
respect of each day during the period commencing on the date such amount was so made available by
the Agent until the date the Agent recovers such amount at a rate per annum equal to (x) in the
case of payment by a Lender, the Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day for the first three days
and, thereafter, the interest rate applicable to the relevant Loan or (y) in the case of payment by
the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to the relevant Loan.
2.20. Facility LCs.
2.20.1. Issuance. The LC Issuer hereby agrees, on the terms and conditions
set forth in this Agreement, to issue standby letters of credit (each, a “Facility LC”) and
to renew, extend, increase, decrease or otherwise modify each Facility LC (“Modify,” and
each such action a “Modification”), from time to time from and including the date of this
Agreement and prior to the Facility Termination Date upon the request of the Borrower;
provided that immediately after each such Facility LC is issued or Modified, (i) the
aggregate amount of the outstanding LC Obligations shall not exceed $25,000,000 and (ii) the
Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure shall not exceed the Aggregate Commitments. Facility
LCs may have an expiry date beyond the Facility Termination Date, provided that (a) no
Facility LC shall have an expiry date later than the date one year after the Facility
Termination Date and (b) the Borrower is unconditionally obligated, without any further notice, act or demand, to (x) pay
to the Agent an amount in immediately available funds, which funds shall be held in the
Facility LC Collateral Account, equal to the amount of LC Obligations outstanding on the
Facility Termination Date or (y)
25
provide a standby letter of credit in the amount of, and
securing, such LC Obligations in form and substance, and issued by an issuer, acceptable to
the Required Lenders and the Agent. The letters of credit identified on Schedule
2.20 (each an “Existing Facility LC”) shall each be deemed to be a “Facility LC”
issued on the date of this Agreement for all purposes of the Loan Documents.
2.20.2. Participations. Upon the issuance or Modification by the LC Issuer of
a Facility LC in accordance with this Section 2.20, the LC Issuer shall be deemed, without
further action by any party hereto, to have unconditionally and irrevocably sold to each
Lender, and each Lender shall be deemed, without further action by any party hereto, to have
unconditionally and irrevocably purchased from the LC Issuer, a participation in such
Facility LC (and each Modification thereof) and the related LC Obligations in proportion to
its Pro Rata Share.
2.20.3. Notice. Subject to Section 2.20.1, the Borrower shall give the LC
Issuer notice prior to 11:00 a.m. (Chicago time) at least two Business Days prior to the
proposed date of issuance or Modification of each Facility LC, specifying the beneficiary,
the account party, the proposed date of issuance (or Modification) and the expiry date of
such Facility LC, and describing the proposed terms of such Facility LC and the nature of
the transactions proposed to be supported thereby. The account party shall be the Borrower
or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, and if the account party is a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary the
Borrower hereby agrees that it shall be jointly and severally, absolutely and
unconditionally liable with such Wholly-Owned Subsidiary for all reimbursement obligations
and all other liabilities with respect to such Facility LC and such Wholly-Owned Subsidiary
shall agree to all applicable terms hereunder and execute such other agreements requested by
the Agent in connection with any such Facility LC. Upon receipt of such notice, the LC
Issuer shall promptly notify the Agent, and the Agent shall promptly notify each Lender, of
the contents thereof and of the amount of such Lender’s participation in such proposed
Facility LC. The issuance or Modification by the LC Issuer of any Facility LC shall, in
addition to the conditions precedent set forth in Article IV (the satisfaction of which the
LC Issuer shall have no duty to ascertain), be subject to the conditions precedent that such
Facility LC shall be satisfactory to the LC Issuer and that the Borrower shall have executed
and delivered such application agreement and/or such other instruments and agreements
relating to such Facility LC as the LC Issuer shall have reasonably requested (each, a
“Facility LC Application”). In the event of any conflict between the terms of this
Agreement and the terms of any Facility LC Application, the terms of this Agreement shall
control.
2.20.4. LC Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Agent, for the account of the
Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares, with respect to each
Facility LC (including, without limitation, each Existing Facility LC), a letter of credit
fee at a per annum rate equal to the Applicable Margin for Eurodollar Loans in effect from
time to time on the face amount of such Facility LC, such fee to be payable in arrears on
each Payment Date (each such fee described in this sentence an “LC Fee”). The Borrower
shall also pay to the LC Issuer for its own account (x) at the time of issuance of each
Facility LC, a fronting fee in an amount to be agreed upon between the LC Issuer and the
Borrower, and (y) documentary and processing charges in connection with the issuance or
Modification of and draws under Facility LCs in accordance with the LC Issuer’s standard
schedule for such charges as in effect from time to time.
2.20.5. Administration; Reimbursement by Lenders. Upon receipt from the
beneficiary of any Facility LC of any demand for payment under such Facility LC, the LC
Issuer shall notify the Agent and the Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and each
other Lender as to the amount to be paid by the LC Issuer as a result of such demand and the
proposed payment date (the “LC Payment Date”). The responsibility of the LC Issuer to the
Borrower and each Lender shall be only to determine that the documents (including each
demand for payment) delivered
26
under each Facility LC in connection with such presentment
shall be in substantial conformity with such Facility LC. The LC Issuer shall endeavor to
exercise the same care in the issuance and administration of the Facility LCs as it does
with respect to letters of credit in which no participations are granted, it being
understood that in the absence of any gross negligence or willful misconduct by the LC
Issuer, each Lender shall be unconditionally and irrevocably liable without regard to the
occurrence of any Default or any condition precedent whatsoever, to reimburse the LC Issuer
on demand for (i) such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the amount of each payment made by the LC
Issuer under each Facility LC to the extent such amount is not reimbursed by the Borrower
pursuant to Section 2.20.6 below, plus (ii) interest on the foregoing amount to be
reimbursed by such Lender, for each day from the date of the LC Issuer’s demand for such
reimbursement (or, if such demand is made after 11:00 a.m. (Chicago time) on such date, from
the next succeeding Business Day) to the date on which such Lender pays the amount to be
reimbursed by it, at a rate of interest per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate
for the first three days and, thereafter, at a rate of interest equal to the rate applicable
to Floating Rate Advances.
2.20.6. Reimbursement by Borrower. The Borrower shall be irrevocably and
unconditionally obligated to reimburse the LC Issuer on or before the applicable LC Payment
Date for any amounts to be paid by the LC Issuer upon any drawing under any Facility LC,
without presentment, demand, protest or other formalities of any kind; provided that neither
the Borrower nor any Lender shall hereby be precluded from asserting any claim for direct
(but not consequential) damages suffered by the Borrower or such Lender to the extent, but
only to the extent, caused by (i) the willful misconduct or gross negligence of the LC
Issuer in determining whether a request presented under any Facility LC issued by it
complied with the terms of such Facility LC or (ii) the LC Issuer’s failure to pay under any
Facility LC issued by it after the presentation to it of a request strictly complying with
the terms and conditions of such Facility LC. All such amounts paid by the LC Issuer and
remaining unpaid by the Borrower shall bear interest, payable on demand, for each day until
paid at a rate per annum equal to (x) the rate applicable to Floating Rate Advances for such
day if such day falls on or before the applicable LC Payment Date and (y) the sum of 2% plus
the rate applicable to Floating Rate Advances for such day if such day falls after such LC
Payment Date. The LC Issuer will pay to each Lender ratably in accordance with its Pro Rata
Share all amounts received by it from the Borrower for application in payment, in whole or
in part, of the Reimbursement Obligation in respect of any Facility LC issued by the LC
Issuer, but only to the extent such Lender has made payment to the LC Issuer in respect of
such Facility LC pursuant to Section 2.20.5. Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement (including without limitation the submission of a Borrowing Notice in compliance
with Section 2.9 and the satisfaction of the applicable conditions precedent set forth in
Article IV), the Borrower may request an Advance hereunder for the purpose of satisfying any
Reimbursement Obligation.
2.20.7. Obligations Absolute. The Borrower’s obligations under this Section
2.20 shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances and irrespective of
any setoff, counterclaim or defense to payment which the Borrower may have or have had
against the LC Issuer, any Lender or any beneficiary of a Facility LC. The Borrower further
agrees with the LC Issuer and the Lenders that the LC Issuer and the Lenders shall not be responsible for, and the Borrower’s Reimbursement Obligation in respect
of any Facility LC shall not be affected by, among other things, the validity or genuineness
of documents or of any endorsements thereon, even if such documents should in fact prove to
be in any or all respects invalid, fraudulent or forged, or any dispute between or among the
Borrower, any of its Affiliates, the beneficiary of any Facility LC or any financing
institution or other party to whom any Facility LC may be transferred or any claims or
defenses whatsoever of the Borrower or of any of its Affiliates
27
against the beneficiary of
any Facility LC or any such transferee. The LC Issuer shall not be liable for any error,
omission, interruption or delay in transmission, dispatch or delivery of any message or
advice, however transmitted, in connection with any Facility LC. The Borrower agrees that
any action taken or omitted by the LC Issuer or any Lender under or in connection with each
Facility LC and the related drafts and documents, if done without gross negligence or
willful misconduct, shall be binding upon the Borrower and shall not put the LC Issuer or
any Lender under any liability to the Borrower. Nothing in this Section 2.20.7 is intended
to limit the right of the Borrower to make a claim against the LC Issuer for damages as
contemplated by the proviso to the first sentence of Section 2.20.6.
2.20.8. Actions of LC Issuer. The LC Issuer shall be entitled to rely, and
shall be fully protected in relying, upon any Facility LC, draft, writing, resolution,
notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, cablegram, telegram, telecopy, telex or
teletype message, statement, order or other document believed by it to be genuine and
correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person or Persons, and upon
advice and statements of legal counsel, independent accountants and other experts selected
by the LC Issuer. The LC Issuer shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any
action under this Agreement unless it shall first have received such advice or concurrence
of the Required Lenders as it reasonably deems appropriate or it shall first be indemnified
to its reasonable satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and expense
which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.20, the LC Issuer shall in all cases
be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement in
accordance with a request of the Required Lenders, and such request and any action taken or
failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon the Lenders and any future holders of
a participation in any Facility LC.
2.20.9. Indemnification. The Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless each Lender, the LC Issuer and the Agent, and their respective directors, officers,
agents and employees from and against any and all claims and damages, losses, liabilities,
costs or expenses which such Lender, the LC Issuer or the Agent may incur (or which may be
claimed against such Lender, the LC Issuer or the Agent by any Person whatsoever) by reason
of or in connection with the issuance, execution and delivery or transfer of or payment or
failure to pay under any Facility LC or any actual or proposed use of any Facility LC,
including, without limitation, any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses
which the LC Issuer may incur by reason of or in connection with (i) the failure of any
other Lender to fulfill or comply with its obligations to the LC Issuer hereunder (but
nothing herein contained shall affect any rights the Borrower may have against any
defaulting Lender) or (ii) by reason of or on account of the LC Issuer issuing any Facility
LC which specifies that the term “Beneficiary” included therein includes any successor by
operation of law of the named Beneficiary, but which Facility LC does not require that any
drawing by any such successor Beneficiary be accompanied by a copy of a legal document,
satisfactory to the LC Issuer, evidencing the appointment of such successor Beneficiary;
provided that the Borrower shall not be required to indemnify any Lender, the LC Issuer or
the Agent for any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses to the extent, but
only to the extent, caused by (x) the willful misconduct or gross negligence of the LC
Issuer in determining whether a request presented under any Facility LC complied with the terms of such Facility LC or (y) the LC Issuer’s
failure to pay under any Facility LC after the presentation to it of a request strictly
complying with the terms and conditions of such Facility LC. Nothing in this Section 2.20.9
is intended to limit the obligations of the Borrower under any other provision of this
Agreement.
2.20.10. Lenders’ Indemnification. Each Lender shall, ratably in accordance
with its Pro Rata Share, indemnify the LC Issuer, its affiliates and their respective
directors, officers, agents
28
and employees (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower)
against any cost, expense (including reasonable counsel fees and disbursements), claim,
demand, action, loss or liability (except such as result from such indemnitees’ gross
negligence or willful misconduct or the LC Issuer’s failure to pay under any Facility LC
after the presentation to it of a request strictly complying with the terms and conditions
of the Facility LC) that such indemnitees may suffer or incur in connection with this
Section 2.20 or any action taken or omitted by such indemnitees hereunder.
2.20.11. Facility LC Collateral Account. The Borrower agrees that it will,
upon the request of the Agent or the Required Lenders after a Default has occurred and is
continuing and until the final expiration date of any Facility LC and thereafter as long as
any amount is due and owing to the LC Issuer or the Lenders in respect of any Facility LC,
maintain a special collateral account pursuant to arrangements satisfactory to the Agent
(the “Facility LC Collateral Account”) at the Agent’s office at the address specified
pursuant to Article XIII, in the name of the Borrower but under the sole dominion and
control of the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders and in which the Borrower shall have no
interest other than as set forth in Section 8.1. The Borrower hereby pledges, assigns and
grants to the Agent, on behalf of and for the ratable benefit of the Lenders and the LC
Issuer, a security interest in all of the Borrower’s right, title and interest in and to all
funds which may from time to time be on deposit in the Facility LC Collateral Account to
secure the prompt and complete payment and performance of the Obligations, provided that it
is acknowledged and agreed that no funds may be required to be deposited in such Facility LC
Collateral Account until after a Default. The Agent will invest any funds on deposit from
time to time in the Facility LC Collateral Account in certificates of deposit of JPMCB
having a maturity not exceeding 30 days. Nothing in this Section 2.20.11 shall either
obligate the Agent to require the Borrower to deposit any funds in the Facility LC
Collateral Account until after a Default or limit the right of the Agent to release any
funds held in the Facility LC Collateral Account in each case other than as required by
Section 8.1.
2.20.12. Rights as a Lender. In its capacity as a Lender, the LC Issuer shall
have the same rights and obligations as any other Lender.
2.21. Extension of Facility Termination Date. The Borrower may request a one-year
extension of the Facility Termination Date by submitting a request for an extension to the Agent
(an “Extension Request”) no more than 90 and no less than 50 days prior to each anniversary of the
closing of this Agreement. Promptly upon receipt of an Extension Request, the Agent shall notify
each Lender thereof and shall request each Lender to approve the Extension Request. Each Lender
approving the Extension Request shall deliver its written consent no later than 15 days prior to
such anniversary of the closing of this Agreement. If the consent of each of the Lenders is
received by the Agent, the Facility Termination Date shall be extended by one year from the then
existing Facility Termination Date and the Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and each Lender
of the new Facility Termination Date.
2.22. Replacement of Lender. If the Borrower is required pursuant to Section 3.1,
3.2 or 3.5 to make any additional payment to any Lender or if any Lender’s obligation to make or
continue, or to convert Floating Rate Advances into, Eurodollar Advances shall be suspended
pursuant to Section 3.3, or if any Lender does not approve an Extension Request pursuant to Section
2.21 when Lenders constituting the Required Lenders are approving such Extension Request (any
Lender so affected an “Affected Lender”), the Borrower may elect, if such amounts continue to be
charged or such suspension is still effective or such Extension Request continues to be denied, as
the case may be, to replace such Affected Lender as a Lender party to this Agreement, provided that
no Default or Unmatured Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such
replacement, and provided further that, concurrently with such replacement, (i) another bank or
other entity which is reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower and
29
the Agent shall agree, as of such
date, to purchase for cash the Advances and other Obligations due to the Affected Lender pursuant
to an assignment substantially in the form of Exhibit C and to become a Lender for all purposes
under this Agreement and to assume all obligations of the Affected Lender to be terminated as of
such date and to comply with the requirements of Section 12.3 applicable to assignments, and (ii)
the Borrower shall pay to such Affected Lender in same day funds on the day of such replacement (A)
all interest, fees and other amounts then accrued but unpaid to such Affected Lender by the
Borrower hereunder to and including the date of termination, including without limitation payments
due to such Affected Lender under Sections 3.1, 3.2 and 3.5, and (B) an amount, if any, equal to
the payment which would have been due to such Lender on the day of such replacement under Section
3.4 had the Loans of such Affected Lender been prepaid on such date rather than sold to the
replacement Lender.
ARTICLE III
YIELD PROTECTION; TAXES
3.1. Yield Protection. If, on or after the date of this Agreement, the adoption of
any law or any governmental or quasi-governmental rule, regulation, policy, guideline or directive
(whether or not having the force of law), or any change in the interpretation or administration
thereof by any governmental or quasi-governmental authority, central bank or comparable agency
charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any Lender or
applicable Lending Installation or the LC Issuer with any request or directive (whether or not
having the force of law) of any such authority, central bank or comparable agency:
(i) | subjects any Lender or any applicable Lending Installation or the LC Issuer to any Taxes, or changes the basis of taxation of payments (other than with respect to Excluded Taxes) to any Lender or the LC Issuer in respect of its Eurodollar Loans, Facility LCs or participations therein, or | ||
(ii) | imposes or increases or deems applicable any reserve, assessment, insurance charge, special deposit or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender or any applicable Lending Installation or the LC Issuer (other than reserves and assessments taken into account in determining the interest rate applicable to Eurodollar Advances), or | ||
(iii) | imposes any other condition the result of which is to increase the cost to any Lender or any applicable Lending Installation or the LC Issuer of making, funding or maintaining its Eurodollar Loans, or of issuing or participating in Facility LCs, or reduces any amount receivable by any Lender or any applicable Lending Installation or the LC Issuer in connection with its Eurodollar Loans, Facility LCs or participations therein, or requires any Lender or any applicable Lending Installation or LC Issuer to make any payment calculated by reference to the amount of Eurodollar Loans, Facility LCs or participations therein held or interest or LC Fees received by it, by an amount deemed material by such Lender or the LC Issuer as the case may be, |
and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Lender or applicable Lending
Installation or the LC Issuer, as the case may be, of making or maintaining its Eurodollar Loans or
Commitment or of issuing or participating in Facility LCs or to reduce the return received by such
Lender or applicable Lending Installation or the LC Issuer, as the case may be, in connection with
such Eurodollar Loans, Commitment or Facility LCs or participations therein, then, if such Lender,
applicable
30
Lending Institution or the LC Issuer makes demand on the Borrower within 180 days of
such occurrence, within 30 days of demand by such Lender or the LC Issuer, as the case may be, the
Borrower shall pay such Lender or the LC Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or
amounts as will compensate such Lender or the LC Issuer, as the case may be, for such increased
cost or reduction in amount received, but without duplication, including by reason of the
provisions of any other Section of this Article III.
3.2. Changes in Capital Adequacy Regulations. If a Lender or the LC Issuer determines
the amount of capital required or expected to be maintained by such Lender, or the LC Issuer, any
Lending Installation of such Lender or the LC Issuer or any corporation controlling such Lender or
LC Issuer is increased as a result of a Change and if such Lender or the LC Issuer makes demand on
the Borrowing within 180 days of such Change, then, within 30 days of such demand by such Lender or
the LC Issuer, the Borrower shall pay such Lender or the LC Issuer the amount necessary to
compensate for any shortfall in the rate of return on the portion of such increased capital which
such Lender or the LC Issuer determines is attributable to this Agreement, its Outstanding Credit
Exposure or its Commitment to make Loans and issue or participate in Facility LCs or Swing Line
Loans, as the case may be, hereunder (after taking into account such Lender’s or the LC Issuer’s
policies as to capital adequacy). “Change” means (i) any change after the date of this Agreement
in the Risk-Based Capital Guidelines or (ii) any adoption of or change in any other law,
governmental or quasi-governmental rule, regulation, policy, guideline, interpretation, or
directive (whether or not having the force of law) after the date of this Agreement which affects
the amount of capital required or expected to be maintained by any Lender or the LC Issuer or any
Lending Installation or any corporation controlling any Lender or the LC Issuer. “Risk-Based
Capital Guidelines” means (i) the risk-based capital guidelines in effect in the United States on
the date of this Agreement, including transition rules, and (ii) the corresponding capital
regulations promulgated by regulatory authorities outside the United States implementing the July
1988 report of the Basle Committee on Banking Regulation and Supervisory Practices Entitled
“International Convergence of Capital Measurements and Capital Standards,” including transition
rules, and any amendments to such regulations adopted prior to the date of this Agreement.
3.3. Availability of Types of Advances. If any Lender determines that maintenance of
its Eurodollar Loans at a suitable Lending Installation would violate any applicable law, rule,
regulation, or directive, whether or not having the force of law, or if the Required Lenders
determine that (i) deposits of a type and maturity appropriate to match fund Eurodollar Advances
are not available or (ii) the interest rate applicable to Eurodollar Advances does not accurately
reflect the cost of making or maintaining Eurodollar Advances, then the Agent shall suspend the
availability of Eurodollar Advances and require any affected Eurodollar Advances which would
violate any such applicable law, rule, regulation, or directive if allowed to remain outstanding to
be repaid or converted to Floating Rate Advances, subject to the payment of any funding
indemnification amounts required by Section 3.4.
3.4. Funding Indemnification. If any payment of a Eurodollar Advance occurs on a date
which is not the last day of the applicable Interest Period, whether because of acceleration,
prepayment or otherwise, or a Eurodollar Advance is not made on the date specified by the Borrower
for any reason other than default by the Lenders, the Borrower will indemnify each Lender for any
loss or cost incurred by it resulting therefrom, including, without limitation, any loss or cost in
liquidating or employing deposits from third parties acquired to fund or maintain such Eurodollar
Advance.
3.5. Taxes. (i) All payments by the Borrower to or for the account of any Lender,
the LC Issuer or the Agent hereunder or under any Note or Facility LC Application shall be made
free and clear of and without deduction for any and all Taxes. If the Borrower shall be required
by law to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable hereunder to any Lender, the LC
Issuer or the Agent, (a) 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
3.5) such Lender, the LC Issuer or the
31
Agent (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the
sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (b) the Borrower shall make such
deductions, (c) the Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant authority in
accordance with applicable law and (d) the Borrower shall furnish to the Agent the original copy of
a receipt evidencing payment thereof within 30 days after such payment is made.
(ii) In addition, the Borrower hereby agrees to pay any present or future stamp or
documentary taxes and any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies which arise
from any payment made hereunder or under any Note or Facility LC Application or from the execution
or delivery of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any Note or Facility LC Application
(“Other Taxes”).
(iii) The Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify the Agent, the LC Issuer and each Lender for
the full amount of Taxes or Other Taxes (including, without limitation, any Taxes or Other Taxes
imposed on amounts payable under this Section 3.5) paid by the Agent, the LC Issuer or such Lender
and any liability (including penalties, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect
thereto. Payments due under this indemnification shall be made within 30 days of the date the
Agent, the LC Issuer or such Lender makes demand therefor pursuant to Section 3.6.
(iv) Each Lender (which includes a Purchaser when it becomes a Lender) that is not
incorporated under the laws of the United States of America or a state thereof (each a “Non-U.S.
Lender”) agrees that it will, not more than ten Business Days after the date of this Agreement, (i)
deliver to each of the Borrower and the Agent two duly completed copies of United States Internal
Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8ECI, certifying in either case that such Lender is entitled to
receive payments under this Agreement without deduction or withholding of any United States federal
income taxes, and (ii) deliver to each of the Borrower and the Agent a United States Internal
Revenue Form W-8 or W-9, as the case may be, and certify that it is entitled to an exemption from
United States backup withholding tax. Each Non-U.S. Lender further undertakes to deliver to each
of the Borrower and the Agent (x) renewals or additional copies of such form (or any successor
form) on or before the date that such form expires or becomes obsolete, and (y) after the
occurrence of any event requiring a change in the most recent forms so delivered by it, such
additional forms or amendments thereto as may be reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Agent.
All forms or amendments described in the preceding sentence shall certify that such Lender is
entitled to receive payments under this Agreement without deduction or withholding of any United
States federal income taxes, unless an event (including without limitation any change in treaty,
law or regulation) has occurred prior to the date on which any such delivery would otherwise be
required which renders all such forms inapplicable or which would prevent such Lender from duly
completing and delivering any such form or amendment with respect to it and such Lender advises the Borrower and the Agent that it is not capable of receiving payments without any deduction or
withholding of United States federal income tax.
(v) For any period during which a Non-U.S. Lender has failed to provide the Borrower with an
appropriate form pursuant to clause (iv), above (unless such failure is due to a change in treaty,
law or regulation, or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any
governmental authority, occurring subsequent to the date on which a form originally was required to
be provided), such Non-U.S. Lender shall not be entitled to indemnification under this Section 3.5
with respect to Taxes imposed by the United States; provided that, should a Non-U.S. Lender which
is otherwise exempt from or subject to a reduced rate of withholding tax become subject to Taxes
because of its failure to deliver a form required under clause (iv), above, the Borrower shall take
such steps as such Non-U.S. Lender shall reasonably request to assist such Non-U.S. Lender to
recover such Taxes.
(vi) Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax with
respect to payments under this Agreement or any Note pursuant to the law of any relevant
jurisdiction or
32
any treaty shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Agent), at the time or
times prescribed by applicable law, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed
by applicable law as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate.
(vii) If the U.S. Internal Revenue Service or any other governmental authority of the United
States or any other country or any political subdivision thereof asserts a claim that the Agent did
not properly withhold tax from amounts paid to or for the account of any Lender (because the
appropriate form was not delivered or properly completed, because such Lender failed to notify the
Agent of a change in circumstances which rendered its exemption from withholding ineffective, or
for any other reason), such Lender shall indemnify the Agent and the Borrower fully for all amounts
paid, directly or indirectly, by the Agent as tax, withholding therefor, or otherwise, including
penalties and interest, and including taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on amounts payable to the
Agent under this subsection, together with all costs and expenses related thereto (including
attorneys fees and time charges of attorneys for the Agent, which attorneys may be employees of the
Agent). The obligations of the Lenders under this Section 3.5(vii) shall survive the payment of
the Obligations and termination of this Agreement.
3.6. Lender Statements; Survival of Indemnity. To the extent reasonably possible, each
Lender shall designate an alternate Lending Installation with respect to its Eurodollar Loans to
reduce any liability of the Borrower to such Lender under Sections 3.1, 3.2 and 3.5 or to avoid the
unavailability of Eurodollar Advances under Section 3.3, so long as such designation is not, in the
judgment of such Lender, disadvantageous to such Lender. Each Lender shall deliver a written
statement of such Lender to the Borrower (with a copy to the Agent) as to the amount due, if any,
under Section 3.1, 3.2, 3.4 or 3.5. Such written statement shall set forth in reasonable detail
the calculations upon which such Lender determined such amount and shall be final, conclusive and
binding on the Borrower in the absence of manifest error. Determination of amounts payable under
such Sections in connection with a Eurodollar Loan shall be calculated as though each Lender funded
its Eurodollar Loan through the purchase of a deposit of the type and maturity corresponding to the
deposit used as a reference in determining the Eurodollar Rate applicable to such Loan, whether in
fact that is the case or not. Unless otherwise provided herein, the amount specified in the
written statement of any Lender shall be payable on demand after receipt by the Borrower of such
written statement. The obligations of the Borrower under Sections 3.1, 3.2, 3.4 and 3.5 shall
survive payment of the Obligations and termination of this Agreement.
ARTICLE IV
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
4.1. Initial Credit Extension. The Lenders shall not be required to make the initial
Credit Extension hereunder unless the Borrower has furnished to the Agent with sufficient copies
for the Lenders:
(i) | Copies of the articles or certificate of incorporation of the Borrower and each Guarantor, together with all amendments, and a certificate of good standing, each certified by the appropriate governmental officer in its jurisdiction of incorporation. | ||
(ii) | Copies, certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Borrower and each Guarantor, of its respective by-laws or regulations, as appropriate, and of its Board of Directors’ resolutions and of resolutions or actions of any other body authorizing the execution of the Loan Documents to which the Borrower or such Guarantor is a party. |
33
(iii) | An incumbency certificate, executed by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Borrower and each Guarantor, which shall identify by name and title and bear the signatures of the Authorized Officers and any other officers of the Borrower or such Guarantor, as the case may be, authorized to sign the Loan Documents to which the Borrower or such Guarantor is a party, upon which certificate the Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely until informed of any change in writing by the Borrower or such Guarantor, as the case may be. | ||
(iv) | A certificate, signed by the chief financial officer of the Borrower, stating that on the initial Credit Extension Date no Default or Unmatured Default has occurred and is continuing. | ||
(v) | A written opinion of the Borrower’s and Guarantors’ in-house counsel, addressed to the Lenders in substantially the form of Exhibit A. | ||
(vi) | Any Notes requested by a Lender pursuant to Section 2.14 payable to the order of each such requesting Lender. | ||
(vii) | The Guaranty executed by all Guarantors. | ||
(viii) | Written money transfer instructions, in substantially the form of Exhibit D, addressed to the Agent and signed by an Authorized Officer, together with such other related money transfer authorizations as the Agent may have reasonably requested. | ||
(ix) | If the initial Credit Extension will be the issuance of a Facility LC, a properly completed Facility LC Application. | ||
(x) | Evidence satisfactory to the Agent that the Borrower shall have paid, concurrently with the initial Loans hereunder, in full in cash all obligations (other than the Existing Facility LCs continued hereunder) under the Borrower’s existing credit agreement dated as of February 13, 2001, as amended, with JPMCB as agent, and terminated all commitments to make any advances thereunder. | ||
(xi) | Such other documents as the Agent or its counsel may have reasonably requested. |
4.2. Each Credit Extension. The Lenders shall not (except as otherwise set forth in
Section 2.5.4. with respect to Revolving Loans for the purpose of repaying Swing Line Loans) be
required to make any Credit Extension unless on the applicable Credit Extension Date:
(i) | There exists no Default or Unmatured Default. | ||
(ii) | The representations and warranties contained in Article V are true and correct as of such Credit Extension Date except to the extent any such representation or warranty is stated to relate solely to an earlier date, in which case such representation or warranty shall have been true and correct on and as of such earlier date. | ||
(iii) | All legal matters incident to the making of such Credit Extension shall be satisfactory to the Agent and its counsel. |
34
Each Borrowing Notice or Swing Line Borrowing Notice, as the case may be, with respect to each
such Credit Extension shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower that the
conditions contained in Sections 4.2(i) and (ii) have been satisfied.
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
The Borrower represents and warrants to the Lenders that:
5.1. Existence and Standing. Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is a
corporation, partnership (in the case of Subsidiaries only), limited liability company or similar
entity duly and properly incorporated or organized, as the case may be, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization and has all
requisite authority to conduct its business in each jurisdiction in which its business is conducted
and where the failure to have such authority would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.2. Authorization and Validity. The Borrower has the power and authority and legal
right to execute and deliver the Loan Documents to which it is a party and to perform its
obligations thereunder. The execution and delivery by the Borrower of the Loan Documents to which
it is a party and the performance of its obligations thereunder have been duly authorized by proper
corporate (to the extent such concept applies to such entity) proceedings, and the Loan Documents
to which the Borrower is a party constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Borrower
enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with their terms, except as enforceability may be
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights
generally and by equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in equity or at
law).
5.3. No Conflict; Government Consent. Neither the execution and delivery by the
Borrower of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, nor the consummation of the transactions
therein contemplated, nor compliance with the provisions thereof will violate (i) any law, rule, regulation, order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree or
award binding on the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) the Borrower’s or any Subsidiary’s
articles or certificate of incorporation, partnership agreement, certificate of partnership,
articles or certificate of organization, by-laws, or operating or other management agreement, as
the case may be, or (iii) the provisions of any indenture, instrument or other material agreement
to which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or is subject, or by which it, or its
Property, is bound, or conflict with or constitute a default thereunder, or result in, or require,
the creation or imposition of any Lien in, of or on the Property of the Borrower or a Subsidiary
pursuant to the terms of any such indenture, instrument or other material agreement. No order,
consent, adjudication, approval, license, authorization, or validation of, or filing, recording or
registration with, or exemption by, or other action in respect of any governmental or public body
or authority, or any subdivision thereof, which has not been obtained by the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries, is required to be obtained by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in connection
with the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents, the borrowings under this Agreement, the
payment and performance by the Borrower of the Obligations or the legality, validity, binding
effect or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents.
5.4. Financial Statements. The consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007 heretofore delivered to the Lenders were
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in effect on the date such statements were
35
prepared and fairly present the consolidated financial condition and operations of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at such date and the consolidated results of their operations for
the period then ended.
5.5. Material Adverse Change. Since June 30, 2007 there has been no change in the
business, Property, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.6. Taxes. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have filed all United States federal
tax returns and all other tax returns which are required to be filed and have paid all taxes due
pursuant to said returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries, except such taxes, if any, (i) as are being contested in good faith and as to which
adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles or (ii) as
to which the aggregate amount of potential tax liability is not material to the Borrower and its
subsidiaries taken as a whole. The United States income tax returns of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries have been audited by the Internal Revenue Service through the fiscal year ended June
30, 2003. No tax liens have been filed and no material claims are being asserted with respect to
any such taxes. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries in respect of any taxes or other governmental charges are adequate.
5.7. Litigation and Contingent Obligations. There is no litigation, arbitration,
governmental investigation, proceeding or inquiry pending or, to the knowledge of any of their
officers, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries which could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or which seeks to prevent, enjoin or delay
the making of any Credit Extensions. Other than any liability incident to any litigation,
arbitration or proceeding which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect,
the Borrower has no material contingent obligations not provided for or disclosed in the financial
statements referred to in Section 5.4.
5.8. Subsidiaries. Schedule 1 contains an accurate list of all Subsidiaries of the
Borrower as of the date of this Agreement, setting forth their respective jurisdictions of organization and the percentage of their respective Capital Stock owned by the
Borrower or other Subsidiaries. All of the issued and outstanding shares of Capital Stock of such
Subsidiaries have been (to the extent such concepts are relevant with respect to such ownership
interests) duly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.
5.9. ERISA. 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 Thirty Million Dollars
(U.S.$30,000,000) the fair market value of the assets of such Plan, and the present value of all
accumulated benefit obligations of all underfunded Plans (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 Thirty Million Dollars
(U.S.$30,000,000) the fair market value of the assets of all such underfunded Plans.
5.10. Accuracy of Information. No information, exhibit or report furnished by the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to the Agent or to any Lender in connection with the
negotiation of, or compliance with, the Loan Documents contained any material misstatement of fact
or omitted to state a material fact or any fact necessary to make the statements contained therein
not misleading.
36
5.11. Regulations T, U and X. Margin Stock constitutes less than 25% of the value of
those assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries which are subject to any limitation on sale,
pledge, or other restriction hereunder.
5.12. Material Agreements. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is a party to any
agreement or instrument or subject to any charter or other corporate restriction which could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary
is in default in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any of the obligations, covenants or
conditions contained in (i) any agreement to which it is a party, which default could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) any agreement or instrument evidencing or
governing Indebtedness in an outstanding amount equal to or exceeding $15,000,000 in the aggregate.
5.13. Compliance With Laws. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have complied with all
applicable statutes, rules, regulations, orders and restrictions of any domestic or foreign
government or any instrumentality or agency thereof having jurisdiction over the conduct of their
respective businesses or the ownership of their respective Property except for any failure to
comply with any of the foregoing which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
5.14. Ownership of Properties. On the date of this Agreement, the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries will have good title, free of all Liens other than those permitted by Section 6.14, to
all of the Property and assets reflected in the Borrower’s most recent consolidated financial
statements provided to the Agent as owned by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.
5.15. Plan Assets; Prohibited Transactions. The Borrower is not an entity deemed to
hold “plan assets” within the meaning of 29 C.F.R. § 2510.3-101 of an employee benefit plan (as
defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) which is subject to Title I of ERISA or any plan (within the
meaning of Section 4975 of the Code), and neither the execution of this Agreement nor the making of Credit Extensions hereunder gives rise to a prohibited transaction
within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.
5.16. Environmental Matters. In the ordinary course of its business, the officers of
the Borrower consider the effect of Environmental Laws on the business of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, in the course of which they identify and evaluate potential risks and liabilities
accruing to the Borrower due to Environmental Laws. On the basis of this consideration, the
Borrower has concluded that Environmental Laws cannot reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary has received any notice to the effect that
its operations are not in material compliance with any of the requirements of applicable
Environmental Laws or are the subject of any federal or state investigation evaluating whether any
remedial action is needed to respond to a release of any toxic or hazardous waste or substance into
the environment, which non-compliance or remedial action could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
5.17. Investment Company Act. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is an
“investment company” or a company “controlled” by an “investment company”, within the meaning of
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
37
ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS
During the term of this Agreement, unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise consent in
writing:
6.1. Financial Reporting. The Borrower will maintain, for itself and each Subsidiary,
a system of accounting established and administered in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles, and furnish to the Lenders:
(i) | Within five days after the earlier of the date on which such report on Form 10-K is required to be filed by the Borrower with the SEC and the date 60 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, copies of the report filed by the Borrower with the SEC on Form 10-K in respect of such fiscal year or, if the Borrower is not required to file such a report in respect of such fiscal year, the consolidated balance sheet and related consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, as of the close of such fiscal year, all audited by independent accountants of recognized national standing and accompanied by an opinion of such accountants to the effect that such consolidated financial statements fairly present the financial position, results of operations, cash flows and changes in stockholders’ equity of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles; | ||
(ii) | Within five days after the earlier of the date on which such report on Form 10-Q is required to be filed by the Borrower with the SEC and the date 40 days after the end of each of the first three quarterly periods of each of its fiscal years, (a) copies of the report filed by the Borrower with the SEC on Form 10-Q in respect of such fiscal quarter or (b) if the Borrower is not required to file such a report in respect of such fiscal quarter, the consolidated balance sheet and related consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, as of the close of such fiscal quarter and for the period from the beginning of such fiscal year to the end of such quarter, all certified by the Borrower’s chief financial officer; | ||
(iii) | Together with the financial statements required under Sections 6.1(i) and (ii), a compliance certificate in substantially the form of Exhibit B signed by its chief financial officer showing the calculations necessary to determine compliance with this Agreement and stating that no Default or Unmatured Default exists, or if any Default or Unmatured Default exists, stating the nature and status thereof; | ||
(iv) | As soon as possible and in any event within 30 days after the Borrower knows of the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, alone or together with any other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and | ||
(v) | As soon as possible and in any event within 30 days after receipt by the Borrower, a copy of (a) any notice or claim to the effect that the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is or may be liable to any Person as a result of the release by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, or any other Person of any toxic or hazardous waste or substance into the environment, and (b) any notice alleging any violation of any federal, state or local environmental, health or safety law or regulation by the Borrower or any of its |
38
Subsidiaries, which, in the case of either of the foregoing clauses (a) or (b), could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; |
(vi) | Promptly upon the furnishing thereof to the shareholders of the Borrower, copies of all financial statements, reports and proxy statements so furnished; | ||
(vii) | Promptly upon the filing thereof, copies of all registration statements and annual, quarterly, monthly or other regular reports which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries files with the SEC; and | ||
(viii) | Such other information (including non-financial information) as the Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request. |
6.2. Use of Proceeds. The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, use the
proceeds of the Credit Extensions for general corporate purposes, including Acquisitions, dividends
and repurchases of its Capital Stock if no Default or Unmatured Default exists or would be caused
thereby. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, use any of the proceeds of
the Advances to purchase or carry any Margin Stock.
6.3. Notice of Default. The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, give
prompt notice in writing to the Lenders of the occurrence of any Default or Unmatured Default and
of any other development, financial or otherwise, which could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
6.4. Conduct of Business. Other than as permitted under Section 6.11, the Borrower
will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, carry on and conduct its business in substantially the
same manner and in substantially the same fields of enterprise as it is presently conducted and do
all things necessary to remain duly incorporated or organized, validly existing and (to the extent
such concept applies to such entity) in good standing as a domestic corporation, partnership or
limited liability company in its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, as the case may be,
and maintain all requisite authority to conduct its business in each jurisdiction in which its business is conducted except where the failure to maintain such authority does not have a Material
Adverse Effect.
6.5. Taxes. The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, timely file
complete and correct United States federal and applicable foreign, state and local tax returns
required by law and pay when due all taxes, assessments and governmental charges and levies upon it
or its income, profits or Property, except those which are being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves have been set aside in
accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles or as to which the amount of potential tax
liability is not material to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
6.6. Insurance. The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, maintain with
financially sound and reputable insurance companies insurance on all their Property in such amounts
and covering such risks as is consistent with sound business practice, and the Borrower will
furnish to any Lender upon reasonable request full information as to the insurance carried.
6.7. Compliance with Laws. The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to,
comply with all laws, rules, regulations, orders, writs, judgments, injunctions, decrees or awards
to which it may be subject including, without limitation, all Environmental Laws, the
non-compliance with which would have a Material Adverse Effect.
39
6.8. Maintenance of Properties. The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to,
do all things necessary to maintain, preserve, protect and keep its Property in good repair,
working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted and excluding assets which are not
material in the aggregate and are obsolete or otherwise no longer useful in the business of the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and make all necessary and proper repairs, renewals and
replacements so that its business carried on in connection therewith may be properly conducted at
all times.
6.9. Inspection. The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, permit the
Agent and the Lenders, by their respective representatives and agents, to inspect any of the
Property, books and financial records of the Borrower and each Subsidiary, to examine and make
copies of the books of accounts and other financial records of the Borrower and each Subsidiary,
and to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Borrower and each Subsidiary with, and to
be advised as to the same by, their respective officers at such reasonable times and intervals
during normal business hours as the Agent or any Lender may designate.
6.10. Guaranties. As soon as reasonably practical, the Borrower shall cause to be
executed and delivered to the Lenders and the Agent from time to time Guaranties of its present and
future Subsidiaries such that, at all times, all Subsidiaries which are not Guarantors do not, if
considered in the aggregate as a single Subsidiary, constitute a Significant Subsidiary. In
connection with the delivery of each such Guaranty, the Borrower will also deliver or caused to be
delivered to the Agent such resolutions and related corporate documents and opinions of counsel
reasonably requested by the Agent in connection therewith. Notwithstanding anything herein to the
contrary, the Borrower may request that any Guarantor be released from its Guaranty, and the Agent
is hereby authorized on behalf of all the Lenders, without the necessity of any further consent
from any Lender, to release any such Guarantor from its Guaranty, provided that before and after
giving effect to such release (and giving effect to any sale of the Guarantor or its assets if such
release is requested in connection with such a sale) the Borrower is in compliance the terms of
this Section 6.10 and all other terms of the Agreement and no Default or Unmatured Default exists.
6.11. Merger. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, merge or
consolidate with or into any other Person, except that (i) a Subsidiary may merge into the Borrower
(provided the Borrower is the surviving corporation) or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary, provided that
the surviving entity shall assume all obligations of such Subsidiary under the Loan Documents, and
(ii) any Subsidiary may merge into the Person acquired so long as (a) the resulting Person shall be
a Subsidiary and assumes all of the obligations of the Subsidiary existing pre-merger under the
Loan Documents and executes such further Loan Documents as may be required hereunder and (b)
immediately before and immediately after giving effect to such merger or consolidation, no Default
or Unmatured Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
6.12. Sale of Assets. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to,
lease, sell or otherwise dispose of its Property to any other Person, except (so long as, in all of
the following cases other than clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) at the time thereof and immediately
after giving effect thereto no Default or Unmatured Default shall have occurred and be continuing):
(i) | Sales of inventory in the ordinary course of business and the sale of assets not material in amount in the aggregate and which are obsolete and no longer useful in the business of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; | ||
(ii) | Sales or other dispositions in the ordinary course of business of fixed assets for the purpose of replacing such fixed assets, provided that any such fixed asset is replaced within 180 days of such sale or other disposition with other fixed assets which have a fair market value |
40
not materially less than the fixed assets sold or otherwise disposed of and provided that the aggregate amount sold or otherwise disposed under this Section 6.12(ii) does not exceed a Substantial Portion; |
(iii) | The transfer of any assets from a Subsidiary to the Borrower or a Guarantor; | ||
(iv) | Any sale or other transfer of an interest in accounts or notes receivable pursuant to a securitization on a limited recourse basis acceptable to the Agent, provided that (a) such sale or other transfer qualifies as a sale under Agreement Accounting Principles, and (b) the aggregate outstanding amount of the financing (as determined by the Agent) in connection therewith does not exceed $100,000,000 at any one time outstanding (each such transaction, a “Permitted Securitization Transaction”); | ||
(v) | The sale of any Property that is not related to the manufacture or distribution of food products, provided that the aggregate net book value of all such Property sold since the date hereof does not exceed $90,000,000; and | ||
(vi) | Other leases, sales or other dispositions of its Property that, together with all other Property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries previously leased, sold or disposed of (other than inventory in the ordinary course of business) as permitted by this Section 6.12(vi) during the twelve-month period ending with the month in which any such lease, sale or other disposition occurs, do not constitute a Substantial Portion of the Property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries. |
6.13. Investments and Acquisitions. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any
Subsidiary to, make or suffer to exist any Investments, or commitments therefor, or to become or
remain a partner in any partnership or joint venture, or to make any Acquisition of any Person,
except:
(i) | Cash Equivalent Investments; | ||
(ii) | (a) Existing Investments in Subsidiaries and other Investments in existence on the date hereof and described in Schedule 1, (b) Investments (not including any permitted sale or other transfer of an interest in accounts or notes receivable) in a Securitization Entity in connection with Permitted Securitization Transactions and in an aggregate outstanding amount not to exceed 10% of the aggregate amount of all Permitted Securitization Transactions and (c) additional Investments in Subsidiaries which are not for the purpose of making or consummating an Acquisition; | ||
(iii) | Other Investments and Acquisitions by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, provided that (a) immediately before and after giving effect to such Investment or Acquisition, no Default or Unmatured Default shall exist or shall have occurred and be continuing and the representations and warranties contained in Article V and in the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct on and as of the date thereof (both before and after such Investment or Acquisition is consummated) as if made on the date such Investment or Acquisition is consummated, (b) the target of such Investment or Acquisition is in substantially the same line of business or a similar or related line of business as the Borrower or the Guarantors, (c) the Board of Directors and the management of the target of such Investment or Acquisition has approved such Investment or Acquisition if such board approval is otherwise necessary, (d) the aggregate consideration paid or payable or otherwise advanced in connection with any single or series of related Investments or Acquisitions permitted by this Section 6.13(iii), including without limitation any |
41
Indebtedness assumed in connection therewith or Contingent Liabilities incurred in connection therewith, shall not exceed $75,000,000, provided that the condition under this clause (d) shall not be required if immediately before and after giving effect to such Investment or Acquisition the Leverage Ratio is less than 2.0 to 1.0 on a pro forma basis acceptable to the Agent, and (e) at least two Business Days’ prior to the consummation of any single or series of related Investments or Acquisitions for which aggregate consideration paid or payable exceeds $25,000,000, the Borrower shall have provided to the Lenders a pro forma compliance certificate signed by its chief financial officer containing pro forma computations and related financial statements and information requested by, and acceptable to, the Agent and containing such other information and certifications as requested by the Agent; and |
(iv) | Additional Investments (other than Acquisitions) provided that at any time the aggregate amount of all such outstanding additional Investments shall not exceed 15% of Consolidated Tangible Net Worth. |
6.14. Liens. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, create,
incur, or suffer to exist any Lien in, of or on the Property of the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries, except:
(i) | Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies on its Property if the same shall not at the time be delinquent or thereafter can be paid without penalty, or are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles shall have been set aside on its books; | ||
(ii) | Landlord Liens (whether imposed by law or created by the terms of the lease and allowed by law, provided that only unpaid rent is covered thereby and it is limited to fixed assets at the leased location) and statutory Liens imposed by law, such as bankers’, carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, vendor’s, materialmen’s, repairmen’s liens and other similar liens arising in the ordinary course of business which secure payment of obligations not more than 60 days past due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves shall have been set aside on its books; | ||
(iii) | Liens arising out of pledges or deposits under worker’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance, old age pensions, or other social security or retirement benefits or similar legislation; | ||
(iv) | Easements, building restrictions and such other encumbrances or charges against real property as are of a nature generally existing with respect to properties of a similar character and which do not in any material way affect the marketability of the same or interfere with the use thereof in the business of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries; | ||
(v) | Liens existing on the date hereof, provided that the Borrower represents and acknowledges that the aggregate amount secured by such existing Liens does not exceed $10,000,000 and agrees that no increase in the principal amount secured by any such existing Liens is permitted; | ||
(vi) | Liens incurred in connection with any transfer of an interest in accounts or notes receivable which is permitted pursuant to Section 6.12(v) and which are required to consummate such Permitted Securitization Transaction; |
42
(vii) | Liens arising out of deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than contracts for the payment of money), leases, licenses, franchises, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate amount not to exceed $10,000,000 at any time; | ||
(viii) | Liens arising with respect to rights of lessees or sublessees under Operating Leases in assets leased by the Borrower or any Subsidiary under an Operating Lease; | ||
(ix) | Liens securing other obligations and liabilities and not otherwise permitted by the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.14, provided that the aggregate outstanding amount of all obligations and liabilities secured by all such Liens in this clause 6.14(ix) shall not at any time exceed 10% of Consolidated Tangible Net Worth; and | ||
(x) | Any extension, renewal or replacement (or successive extension, renewal, or replacement) in whole or in part, of any Lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (i) through (x) inclusive; provided, however, that the principal amount of Indebtedness secured thereby shall not exceed the principal amount of Indebtedness so secured at the time of such extension, renewal or replacement, and that such extension, renewal or replacement shall be limited to all or a part of the property which secured the Lien so extended, renewed or replaced. |
6.15. Affiliates. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, enter
into any transaction (including, without limitation, the purchase or sale of any Property or service) with, or make any payment or transfer to, any Affiliate (other than a
Subsidiary) except in the ordinary course of business and pursuant to the reasonable requirements
of the Borrower’s or such Subsidiary’s business and upon fair and reasonable terms no less
favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary than the Borrower or such Subsidiary would obtain in a
comparable arms-length transaction and except for those transactions which, individually or in the
aggregate, are not material to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, provided that
the Borrower may redeem its Capital Stock owned by Affiliates if (i) such transaction is upon fair
and reasonable terms no less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary than the Borrower or such
Subsidiary would obtain in a comparable arms-length transaction, (ii) no Default or Unmatured
Default exists or would be caused thereby, and (iii) such transaction is approved by the Board of
Directors, including a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors.
6.16. Financial Contracts. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary
to, enter into or remain liable upon any Financial Contract for purposes of financial speculation.
6.17. Financial Covenants.
6.17.1. Interest Coverage Ratio. The Borrower will not permit the
ratio, determined as of the end of each of its fiscal quarters for
the then most-recently ended four fiscal quarters, of (i)
Consolidated EBIT, to (ii) Consolidated Interest Expense, all
calculated for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated
basis, to be less than 2.5 to 1.0 as of the end of any fiscal
quarter.
6.17.2. Leverage Ratio. The Borrower will not permit the Leverage
Ratio to be greater than 3.0 to 1.0 at any time.
6.18. Government Regulation. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its
43
Subsidiaries, to be or become subject at any time to any law, regulation, or list of any government
agency (including, without limitation, the U.S. Office of Foreign Asset Control list) that
prohibits or limits any Lender from making any advance or extension of credit to the Borrower or
from otherwise conducting business with the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or fail to provide
documentary and other evidence of the Borrower’s or any Subsidiary’s identity as may be requested
by any Lender at any time to enable such Lender to verify the Borrower’s or any Subsidiary’s
identity or to comply with any applicable law or regulation, including, without limitation, Section
326 of the USA Patriot Act of 2001, 31 U.S.C. Section 5318.
ARTICLE VII
DEFAULTS
The occurrence of any one or more of the following events shall constitute a Default:
7.1. Any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any
of its Subsidiaries to the Lenders or the Agent under or in connection with this Agreement, any
Credit Extension, or any certificate or information delivered in connection with this Agreement or
any other Loan Document shall be materially false on the date as of which made.
7.2. Nonpayment of principal of any Loan within two Business Days after the same becomes due,
nonpayment of any Reimbursement Obligation within one Business Day after the same becomes due, or
nonpayment of interest upon any Loan or of any facility fee, utilization fees, LC Fee or other
obligations under any of the Loan Documents within five Business Days after the same becomes due.
7.3. The breach by the Borrower of any of the terms or provisions of Section 6.2, 6.3, 6.11,
6.12, 6.13, 6.14, 6.15, 6.16, 6.17 or 6.18.
7.4. The breach by the Borrower (other than a breach which constitutes a Default under another
Section of this Article VII) or any Guarantor of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement
or any other Loan Document which is not remedied within 30 days after written notice from the Agent
or any Lender.
7.5. Failure of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to pay when due any Indebtedness or
Rate Management Obligation aggregating in excess of $15,000,000 (“Material Indebtedness”); or the
default by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the performance (beyond the applicable grace
period with respect thereto, if any) of any term, provision or condition contained in any agreement
under which any such Material Indebtedness was created or is governed, or any other event shall
occur or condition exist, the effect of which default or event is to cause, or to permit the holder
or holders of such Material Indebtedness to cause, such Material Indebtedness to become due prior
to its stated maturity; or any Material Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
shall be declared to be due and payable or required to be prepaid or repurchased (other than by a
regularly scheduled payment) prior to the stated maturity thereof; or the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries shall not pay, or admit in writing its inability to pay, its debts generally as they
become due.
7.6. The Borrower or any Guarantor shall (i) have an order for relief entered with respect to
it under the Federal bankruptcy laws as now or hereafter in effect, (ii) make an assignment for the
benefit of creditors, (iii) apply for, seek, consent to, or acquiesce in, the appointment of a
receiver, custodian, trustee, examiner, liquidator or similar official for it or any Substantial
Portion of its Property, (iv)
44
institute any proceeding seeking an order for relief under the Federal bankruptcy laws as now or
hereafter in effect or seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking dissolution,
winding up, liquidation, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of it or its debts
under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors or fail to
file an answer or other pleading denying the material allegations of any such proceeding filed
against it, (v) take any corporate or partnership action to authorize or effect any of the
foregoing actions set forth in this Section 7.6 or (vi) fail to contest in good faith any
appointment or proceeding described in Section 7.7.
7.7. Without the application, approval or consent of the Borrower or any Guarantor, a
receiver, trustee, examiner, liquidator or similar official shall be appointed for the Borrower or
Guarantor or any Substantial Portion of its Property, or a proceeding described in Section 7.6(iv)
shall be instituted against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and such appointment continues
undischarged or such proceeding continues undismissed or unstayed for a period of 60 consecutive
days.
7.8. Any court, government or governmental agency shall condemn, seize or otherwise
appropriate, or take custody or control of, all or any portion of the Property of the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries which, when taken together with all other Property of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries so condemned, seized, appropriated, or taken custody or control of, during the
twelve-month period ending with the month in which any such action occurs, constitutes a
Substantial Portion.
7.9. The Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall fail within 30 days to pay, bond or
otherwise discharge one or more (i) judgments or orders for the payment of money in excess of
$15,000,000 (or the equivalent thereof in currencies other than Dollars) in the aggregate, or (ii)
nonmonetary judgments or orders which, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, which judgment(s), in any such case, is/are not stayed
on appeal or otherwise being appropriately contested in good faith.
7.10. 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 Thirty
Million Dollars (U.S.$30,000,000) for all periods.
7.11. The Borrower or any other member of the Controlled Group shall have been notified by
the sponsor of a Multiemployer Plan that it has incurred withdrawal liability to such Multiemployer
Plan in an amount which, when aggregated with all other amounts required to be paid to
Multiemployer Plans by the Borrower or any other member of the Controlled Group as withdrawal
liability (determined as of the date of such notification), exceeds $15,000,000.
7.12. The Borrower or any other member of the Controlled Group shall have been notified by
the sponsor of a Multiemployer Plan that such Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization or is being
terminated, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA, if as a result of such reorganization or
termination the aggregate annual contributions of the Borrower and the other members of the
Controlled Group (taken as a whole) to all Multiemployer Plans which are then in reorganization or
being terminated have been or will be increased over the amounts contributed to such Multiemployer
Plans for the respective plan years of each such Multiemployer Plan immediately preceding the plan
year in which the reorganization or termination occurs by an amount exceeding $15,000,000.
7.13. The Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall (i) be the subject of any proceeding or
investigation pertaining to the release by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any other
Person of any toxic or hazardous waste or substance into the environment, or (ii) violate any
Environmental Law,
45
which, in the case of an event described in clause (i) or clause (ii), could reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect.
7.14. Any Change in Control shall occur.
7.15. The occurrence of any “default”, as defined in any Loan Document (other than this
Agreement) or the breach of any of the terms or provisions of any Loan Document (other than this
Agreement), which default or breach continues beyond any period of grace therein provided.
7.16. Any Guaranty required hereunder shall fail to remain in full force or effect or any
action shall be taken to discontinue or to assert the invalidity or unenforceability of any
Guaranty, or any Guarantor required to be a party to a Guaranty shall fail to comply with any of
the terms or provisions of any Guaranty to which it is a party, or any such Guarantor shall deny
that it has any further liability under any Guaranty to which it is a party, or shall give notice
to such effect.
7.17. The representations and warranties set forth in Section 5.15 (“Plan Assets; Prohibited
Transactions”) shall at any time not be true and correct.
ARTICLE VIII
ACCELERATION, WAIVERS, AMENDMENTS AND REMEDIES
8.1. Acceleration; Facility LC Collateral Account . (i) If any Default described in
Section 7.6 or 7.7 occurs with respect to the Borrower, the obligations of the Lenders to make
Loans hereunder and the obligation and power of the LC Issuer to issue Facility LCs shall
automatically terminate and the Obligations shall immediately become due and payable without any
election or action on the part of the Agent, the LC Issuer or any Lender and the Borrower will be
and become thereby unconditionally obligated, without any further notice, act or demand, to pay to
the Agent an amount in immediately available funds, which funds shall be held in the Facility LC
Collateral Account, equal to the difference of (x) the amount of LC Obligations at such time, less
(y) the amount on deposit in the Facility LC Collateral Account at such time which is free and
clear of all rights and claims of third parties and has not been applied against the Obligations
(such difference, the “Collateral Shortfall Amount”). If any other Default occurs, the Agent, with
the consent of or at the request of the Required Lenders (a) may terminate or suspend the
obligations of the Lenders to make Loans hereunder and the obligation and power of the LC Issuer to
issue Facility LCs, or declare the Obligations to be due and payable, or both, whereupon the
Obligations shall become immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or
notice of any kind, all of which the Borrower hereby expressly waives, and (b) upon notice to the
Borrower and in addition to the continuing right to demand payment of all amounts payable under
this Agreement, make demand on the Borrower to pay, and the Borrower will, forthwith upon such
demand and without any further notice or act, pay to the Agent the Collateral Shortfall Amount,
which funds shall be deposited in the Facility LC Collateral Account. Notwithstanding any
provision to the contrary, it is understood that, other than with respect to a Default described in
Section 7.6 of 7.7, (1) no Lender has the right to individually terminate its obligations to make
Loans hereunder (such right of termination residing with the Agent as provided above), and (2) no
Lender has the right to declare its Loans due and payable prior to maturity (such right to declare
the Loans due and payable residing with the Agent as provided above).
(ii) If at any time while any Default is continuing or at any time on or after the Facility
Termination Date while any Obligations, including any Facility LCs, are outstanding, the Agent
46
determines that the Collateral Shortfall Amount at such time is greater than zero, the Agent may
make demand on the Borrower to pay, and the Borrower will, forthwith upon such demand and without
any further notice or act, pay to the Agent the Collateral Shortfall Amount, which funds shall be
deposited in the Facility LC Collateral Account.
(iii) The Agent may at any time or from time to time after funds are deposited in the
Facility LC Collateral Account, apply such funds to the payment of the Obligations and any other
amounts as shall from time to time have become due and payable by the Borrower to the Lenders or
the LC Issuer under the Loan Documents.
(iv) At any time while any Default is continuing, neither the Borrower nor any Person
claiming on behalf of or through the Borrower shall have any right to withdraw any of the funds
held in the Facility LC Collateral Account. After all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly
paid in full and the Aggregate Commitment has been terminated, any funds remaining in the Facility
LC Collateral Account shall be returned by the Agent to the Borrower or paid to whomever may be
legally entitled thereto at such time.
(v) If, within 30 days after acceleration of the maturity of the Obligations or termination of
the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans and the obligation and power of the LC Issuer to issue
Facility LCs hereunder as a result of any Default (other than any Default as described in Section
7.6 or 7.7 with respect to the Borrower) and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the
Obligations due shall have been obtained or entered, the Required Lenders (in their sole
discretion) shall so direct, the Agent shall, by notice to the Borrower, rescind and annul such
acceleration and/or termination.
8.2. Amendments. Subject to the provisions of this Article VIII, the Required Lenders
(or the Agent with the consent in writing of the Required Lenders) and the Borrower may enter into
agreements supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding or modifying any provisions to the Loan
Documents or changing in any manner the rights of the Lenders or the Borrower hereunder or waiving
any Default hereunder; provided, however, that no such supplemental agreement shall, without the
consent of all of the Lenders:
(i) | Extend the final maturity of any Loan, or extend the expiry date of any Facility LC to a date after the Facility Termination Date or forgive all or any portion of the principal amount thereof, any accrued interest or fees or any Reimbursement Obligation related thereto, or reduce the Applicable Margin or the Applicable Fee Rate or extend the time of payment of interest or fees thereon or Reimbursement Obligations related thereto. | ||
(ii) | Reduce the percentage specified in the definition of Required Lenders. | ||
(iii) | Extend the Facility Termination Date, or reduce the amount or extend the payment date for, the mandatory payments required under Section 2.2, or increase the amount of the Aggregate Commitment (other than as allowed under Section 2.6(iii)), the Commitment of any Lender (other than as allowed under Section 2.6(iii)) hereunder or the commitment to issue Facility LCs, or permit the Borrower to assign its rights under this Agreement. | ||
(iv) | Amend this Section 8.2 or Section 2.6(iii). | ||
(v) | Release the Borrower hereunder or, unless otherwise allowed under this Agreement as of the date hereof, release any Guarantor which is a Significant Subsidiary under any Guaranty. |
No amendment of any provision of this Agreement relating to the Agent shall be effective without
the
47
written consent of the Agent, no amendment of any provisions relating to the LC Issuer shall be
effective without the written consent of the LC Issuer and no amendment of any provision of this
Agreement relating to the Swing Line Lender or any Swing Line Loans shall be effective without the
written consent of the Swing Line Lender. The Agent may waive payment of the fee required under
Section 12.3.2 without obtaining the consent of any other party to this Agreement. Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, no Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to vote (whether to consent
or to withhold its consent) with respect to any amendment, modification, termination or waiver and,
for purposes of the determining the Required Lenders, the Commitments and the Outstanding Credit
Exposure of each Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded and the Agent shall have the ability, but
not the obligation, to replace any Defaulting Lender with another lender or lenders.
8.3. Preservation of Rights. No delay or omission of the Lenders, the LC Issuer or
the Agent to exercise any right under the Loan Documents shall impair such right or be construed to
be a waiver of any Default or an acquiescence therein, and the making of a Credit Extension
notwithstanding the existence of a Default or the inability of the Borrower to satisfy the
conditions precedent to such Credit Extension shall not constitute any waiver or acquiescence. Any
single or partial exercise of any such right shall not preclude other or further exercise thereof
or the exercise of any other right, and no waiver, amendment or other variation of the terms,
conditions or provisions of the Loan Documents whatsoever shall be valid unless in writing signed
by the Lenders required pursuant to Section 8.2, and then only to the extent in such writing
specifically set forth. All remedies contained in the Loan Documents or by law afforded shall be
cumulative and all shall be available to the Agent, the LC Issuer and the Lenders until the
Obligations have been paid in full.
ARTICLE IX
GENERAL PROVISIONS
9.1. Survival of Representations. All representations and warranties of the Borrower
contained in this Agreement, as updated from time to time in accordance with Section 8.2, shall
survive the making of the Credit Extensions herein contemplated.
9.2. Governmental Regulation. Anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, neither the LC Issuer nor any Lender shall be obligated to extend credit to the
Borrower in violation of any limitation or prohibition provided by any applicable statute or
regulation.
9.3. Headings. Section headings in the Loan Documents are for convenience of
reference only, and shall not govern the interpretation of any of the provisions of the Loan
Documents.
9.4. Entire Agreement. The Loan Documents embody the entire agreement and
understanding among the Borrower, the Agent, the LC Issuer and the Lenders and supersede all prior
agreements and understandings among the Borrower, the Agent, the LC Issuer and the Lenders
relating to the subject matter thereof other than any fee agreement described in Section 10.13.
9.5. Several Obligations; Benefits of this Agreement. The respective obligations of
the Lenders hereunder are several and not joint and no Lender shall be the partner or agent of any
other (except to the extent to which the Agent is authorized to act as such). The failure of any
Lender to perform any of its obligations hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender from any of
its obligations hereunder. This Agreement shall not be construed so as to confer any right or
benefit upon any Person
48
other than the parties to this Agreement and their respective successors
and assigns, provided, however, that the parties hereto expressly agree that the Arranger shall
enjoy the benefits of the provisions of Sections 9.6, 9.10 and 10.11 to the extent specifically set
forth therein and shall have the right to enforce such provisions on its own behalf and in its own
name to the same extent as if it were a party to this Agreement.
9.6. Expenses; Indemnification. (i) The Borrower shall reimburse the Agent and the
Arranger for any costs, internal charges and out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable
attorneys’ fees and time charges of attorneys for the Agent, which attorneys may be employees of
the Agent) paid or incurred by the Agent or the Arranger in connection with the preparation,
negotiation, execution, delivery, syndication, distribution (including, without limitation, via the
internet), review, amendment, modification, and administration of the Loan Documents. The Borrower
also agrees to reimburse the Agent, the Arranger, the LC Issuer and the Lenders for any costs,
internal charges and out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and time charges
of attorneys for the Agent, the Arranger, the LC Issuer and the Lenders, which attorneys may be
employees of the Agent, the Arranger, the LC Issuer or the Lenders) paid or incurred by the Agent,
the Arranger, the LC Issuer or any Lender in connection with the collection and enforcement of the
Loan Documents. Expenses being reimbursed by the Borrower under this Section include, without
limitation, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Reports described in the following
sentence. The Borrower acknowledges that from time to time Agent may prepare and may distribute to
the Lenders (but shall have no obligation or duty to prepare or to distribute to the Lenders)
certain audit reports (the “Reports”) pertaining to the Borrower’s assets for internal use by Agent
from information furnished to it by or on behalf of the Borrower, after Agent has exercised its
rights of inspection pursuant to this Agreement.
(ii) The Borrower hereby further agrees to indemnify the Agent, the Arranger, the LC Issuer
and each Lender, their respective affiliates, and each of their directors, officers and employees
against all losses, claims, damages, penalties, judgments, liabilities and expenses (including,
without limitation, all expenses of litigation or preparation therefor whether or not the Agent,
the Arranger, the LC Issuer or any Lender or any affiliate is a party thereto) which any of them
may pay or incur arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the
transactions contemplated hereby or the direct or indirect application or proposed application of
the proceeds of any Credit Extension hereunder except to the extent that they are determined in a
final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross
negligence or willful misconduct of the party seeking indemnification. The obligations of the
Borrower under this Section 9.6 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
9.7. Numbers of Documents. All statements, notices, closing documents, and requests
hereunder shall be furnished to the Agent with sufficient counterparts so that the Agent may
furnish one to each of the Lenders.
9.8. Accounting. (i) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all accounting
terms used herein shall be interpreted, and all financial statements and certificates and reports
as to financial matters required to be delivered to the Lenders hereunder shall (unless otherwise
disclosed to the Lenders in writing at the time of delivery thereof in the manner described in
subsection (ii) below) be prepared, in accordance with Agreement Accounting Principles (subject, in
the case of financial statements which are not fiscal year end statements, to the absence of
footnotes and year-end audit adjustments); provided that, if the Borrower notifies the Agent that it wishes to
amend any covenant in Article VI to eliminate the effect of any change in Agreement Accounting
Principles or in the manner in which they are applied since those in effect as of the date of, and
applied by the Borrower in, the financial statements referred to in Section 5.4 and such change
requires the Borrower to file a letter with, or otherwise report to, the SEC stating that it is a
material change (or if the Agent notifies the Borrower that the Agent or the Required Lenders wish
to amend Article VI for such purpose), then the Borrower’s compliance with such covenants shall be
determined on the basis of
49
Agreement Accounting Principles in effect immediately before the
relevant change in Agreement Accounting Principles or its application became effective until either
such notice is withdrawn or such covenant or any such defined term is amended in a manner
satisfactory to the Borrower and the Required Lenders. Notwithstanding anything herein, in any
financial statements of the Borrower or in Agreement Accounting Principles to the contrary, for
purposes of calculating and determining compliance with the financial covenants in Article VI and
determining the Applicable Margin, including defined terms used therein, any Acquisition made by
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, including through mergers or consolidations and including
any related financing transactions, during the period for which such financial covenants and the
Applicable Margin were calculated shall be deemed to have occurred on the first day of the relevant
period for which such financial covenants and the Applicable Margin were calculated on a pro forma
basis acceptable to the Agent.
(ii) The Borrower shall deliver to the Lenders at the same time as the delivery of any
financial statement under Section 6.1(i) or (ii): (x) a description in reasonable detail of any
material variation between the application or other modification of accounting principles employed
in the preparation of such statement and the application or other modification of accounting
principles employed in the preparation of the immediately prior annual or quarterly financial
statements as to which no objection has been made in accordance with the last sentence of
subsection (i) above and (y) reasonable estimates of the difference between such statements arising
as a consequence thereof.
9.9. Severability of Provisions. Any provision in any Loan Document that is held to
be inoperative, unenforceable, or invalid in any jurisdiction shall, as to that jurisdiction, be
inoperative, unenforceable, or invalid without affecting the remaining provisions in that
jurisdiction or the operation, enforceability, or validity of that provision in any other
jurisdiction, and to this end the provisions of all Loan Documents are declared to be severable.
9.10. Nonliability of Lenders. The relationship between the Borrower on the one hand
and the Lenders, the LC Issuer and the Agent on the other hand shall be solely that of borrower and
lender. Neither the Agent, the Arranger nor any Lender shall have any fiduciary responsibilities
to the Borrower. Neither the Agent, the Arranger, the LC Issuer nor any Lender undertakes any
responsibility to the Borrower to review or inform the Borrower of any matter in connection with
any phase of the Borrower’s business or operations. The Borrower agrees that neither the Agent,
the Arranger, the LC Issuer nor any Lender shall have liability to the Borrower (whether sounding
in tort, contract or otherwise) for losses suffered by the Borrower in connection with, arising out
of, or in any way related to, the transactions contemplated and the relationship established by the
Loan Documents, or any act, omission or event occurring in connection therewith, unless it is
determined in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction that such losses
resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the party from which recovery is
sought. Neither the Agent, the Arranger, the LC Issuer nor any Lender shall have any liability
with respect to, and the Borrower hereby waives, releases and agrees not to xxx for, any special,
indirect, consequential or punitive damages suffered by the Borrower in connection with, arising
out of, or in any way related to the Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated thereby.
9.11. Confidentiality. (a) Each of the Agent, the LC Issuer 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, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder
or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the enforcement of rights
hereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions
50
substantially the same as those of
this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or
Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or
prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the
Borrower and its obligations, (g) with the consent of the Borrower or (h) to the extent such
Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or
(ii) becomes available to the Agent, the LC Issuer or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a
source other than the Borrower. For the 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 Agent, the LC Issuer 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 date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the
time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of
Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to
do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such
Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.
(b) EACH LENDER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT INFORMATION AS DEFINED IN SECTION 9.11(a) FURNISHED TO IT
PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY INCLUDE MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION CONCERNING THE BORROWER AND
ITS RELATED PARTIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES, AND CONFIRMS THAT IT HAS DEVELOPED COMPLIANCE
PROCEDURES REGARDING THE USE OF MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION AND THAT IT WILL HANDLE SUCH
MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THOSE PROCEDURES AND APPLICABLE LAW, INCLUDING
FEDERAL AND STATE SECURITIES LAWS.
(c) ALL INFORMATION, INCLUDING REQUESTS FOR WAIVERS AND AMENDMENTS, FURNISHED BY THE BORROWER
OR THE AGENT PURSUANT TO, OR IN THE COURSE OF ADMINISTERING, THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE SYNDICATE-LEVEL
INFORMATION, WHICH MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE BORROWER AND ITS
SUBSIDIARIES OR THEIR RESPECTIVE SECURITIES. ACCORDINGLY, EACH LENDER REPRESENTS TO THE BORROWER
AND THE AGENT THAT IT HAS IDENTIFIED IN ITS ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTIONNAIRE A CREDIT CONTACT WHO MAY
RECEIVE INFORMATION THAT MAY CONTAIN MATERIAL NON-PUBLIC INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS
COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES AND APPLICABLE LAW.
9.12. Nonreliance. Each Lender hereby represents that it is not relying on or looking
to any Margin Stock for the repayment of the Credit Extensions provided for herein.
9.13. Disclosure. The Borrower and each Lender hereby acknowledge and agree that
JPMCB and/or its Affiliates from time to time may hold investments in, make other loans to or have
other relationships with the Borrower and its Affiliates.
9.14. USA PATRIOT Act. Each Lender that is subject to the requirements of the USA
Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Act”) hereby
notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the Act, it is required to obtain,
verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and
address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender to identify the Borrower
in accordance with the Act.
51
ARTICLE X
THE AGENT
10.1. Appointment; Nature of Relationship. JPMCB is hereby appointed by each of the
Lenders as its contractual representative (herein referred to as the “Agent”) hereunder and under
each other Loan Document, and each of the Lenders irrevocably authorizes the Agent to act as the
contractual representative of such Lender with the rights and duties expressly set forth herein and
in the other Loan Documents. The Agent agrees to act as such contractual representative upon the
express conditions contained in this Article X. Notwithstanding the use of the defined term
“Agent,” it is expressly understood and agreed that the Agent shall not have any fiduciary
responsibilities to any Lender by reason of this Agreement or any other Loan Document and that the
Agent is merely acting as the contractual representative of the Lenders with only those duties as
are expressly set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. In its capacity as the
Lenders’ contractual representative, the Agent (i) does not hereby assume any fiduciary duties to
any of the Lenders, (ii) is a “representative” of the Lenders within the meaning of the Uniform
Commercial Code and (iii) is acting as an independent contractor, the rights and duties of which
are limited to those expressly set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Each of
the Lenders hereby agrees to assert no claim against the Agent on any agency theory or any other
theory of liability for breach of fiduciary duty, all of which claims each Lender hereby waives.
10.2. Powers. The Agent shall have and may exercise such powers under the Loan
Documents as are specifically delegated to the Agent by the terms of each thereof, together with
such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The Agent shall have no implied duties to the
Lenders, or any obligation to the Lenders to take any action thereunder except any action
specifically provided by the Loan Documents to be taken by the Agent.
10.3. General Immunity. Neither the Agent nor any of its directors, officers, agents
or employees shall be liable to the Borrower, the Lenders or any Lender for any action taken or
omitted to be taken by it or them hereunder or under any other Loan Document or in connection
herewith or therewith except to the extent such action or inaction is determined in a final
non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have arisen from the gross
negligence or willful misconduct of such Person.
10.4. No Responsibility for Loans, Recitals, etc. Neither the Agent nor any of its
directors, officers, agents or employees shall be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain,
inquire into, or verify (a) any statement, warranty or representation made in connection with any
Loan Document or any borrowing hereunder; (b) the performance or observance of any of the covenants
or agreements of any obligor under any Loan Document, including, without limitation, any agreement
by an obligor to furnish information directly to each Lender; (c) the satisfaction of any condition
specified in Article IV, except receipt of items required to be delivered solely to the Agent; (d)
the existence or possible existence of any Default or Unmatured
Default; (e) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness, sufficiency or genuineness of any Loan
Document or any other instrument or writing furnished in connection therewith; (f) the value,
sufficiency, creation, perfection or priority of any Lien in any collateral security; or (g) the
financial condition of the Borrower or any Guarantor of any of the Obligations or of any of the
Borrower’s or any such guarantor’s respective Subsidiaries. The Agent shall have no duty to
disclose to the Lenders information that is not required to be furnished by the Borrower to the
Agent at such time, but is voluntarily furnished by the Borrower to the Agent (either in its
capacity as Agent or in its individual capacity).
52
10.5. Action on Instructions of Lenders. The Agent shall in all cases be fully
protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, hereunder and under any other Loan Document in
accordance with written instructions signed by the Required Lenders, and such instructions and any
action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding on all of the Lenders. The
Lenders hereby acknowledge that the Agent shall be under no duty to take any discretionary action
permitted to be taken by it pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement or any other Loan Document
unless it shall be requested in writing to do so by the Required Lenders. The Agent shall be fully
justified in failing or refusing to take any action hereunder and under any other Loan Document
unless it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders pro rata against any and
all liability, cost and expense that it may incur by reason of taking or continuing to take any
such action.
10.6. Employment of Agents and Counsel. The Agent may execute any of its duties as
Agent hereunder and under any other Loan Document by or through employees, agents, and
attorneys-in-fact and shall not be answerable to the Lenders, except as to money or securities
received by it or its authorized agents, for the default or misconduct of any such agents or
attorneys-in-fact selected by it with reasonable care. The Agent shall be entitled to advice of
counsel concerning the contractual arrangement between the Agent and the Lenders and all matters
pertaining to the Agent’s duties hereunder and under any other Loan Document.
10.7. Reliance on Documents; Counsel. The Agent shall be entitled to rely upon any
Note, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram, statement, paper or document
believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed or sent by the proper person or
persons, and, in respect to legal matters, upon the opinion of counsel selected by the Agent, which
counsel may be employees of the Agent.
10.8. Agent’s Reimbursement and Indemnification. The Lenders agree to reimburse and
indemnify the Agent ratably in proportion to their respective Commitments (or, if the Commitments
have been terminated, in proportion to their Commitments immediately prior to such termination) (i)
for any amounts not reimbursed by the Borrower for which the Agent is entitled to reimbursement by
the Borrower under the Loan Documents, (ii) for any other expenses incurred by the Agent on behalf
of the Lenders, in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration and
enforcement of the Loan Documents (including, without limitation, for any expenses incurred by the
Agent in connection with any dispute between the Agent and any Lender or between two or more of the
Lenders) and (iii) for any liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions,
judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind and nature whatsoever which may be
imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Agent in any way relating to or arising out of the
Loan Documents or any other document delivered in connection therewith or the transactions
contemplated thereby (including, without limitation, for any such amounts incurred by or asserted
against the Agent in connection with any dispute between the Agent and any Lender or between two or
more of the Lenders), or the enforcement of any of the terms of the Loan Documents or of any such
other documents, provided that (i) no Lender shall be liable for any of the foregoing to the extent
any of the foregoing is found in a final non-appealable judgment by a court of competent
jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Agent and (ii)
any indemnification
required pursuant to Section 3.5(vii) shall, notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 10.8,
be paid by the relevant Lender in accordance with the provisions thereof. The obligations of the
Lenders under this Section 10.8 shall survive payment of the Obligations and termination of this
Agreement.
10.9. Notice of Default. The Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of
the occurrence of any Default or Unmatured Default hereunder unless the Agent has received written
notice from a Lender or the Borrower referring to this Agreement describing such Default or
Unmatured Default
53
and stating that such notice is a “notice of default”. In the event that the
Agent receives such a notice, the Agent shall give prompt notice thereof to the Lenders.
10.10. Rights as a Lender. In the event the Agent is a Lender, the Agent shall have
the same rights and powers hereunder and under any other Loan Document with respect to its
Commitment and its Loans as any Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Agent,
and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, at any time when the Agent is a Lender, unless the
context otherwise indicates, include the Agent in its individual capacity. The Agent and its
Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, and generally engage in any kind of trust,
debt, equity or other transaction, in addition to those contemplated by this Agreement or any other
Loan Document, with the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in which the Borrower or such
Subsidiary is not restricted hereby from engaging with any other Person. The Agent, in its
individual capacity, is not obligated to remain a Lender.
10.11. Lender Credit Decision. Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently
and without reliance upon the Agent, the Arranger or any other Lender and based on the financial
statements prepared by the Borrower and such other documents and information as it has deemed
appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement and the other
Loan Documents. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance
upon the Agent, the Arranger or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it
shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not
taking action under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
10.12. Successor Agent. The Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice
thereof to the Lenders and the Borrower, such resignation to be effective upon the appointment of a
successor Agent or, if no successor Agent has been appointed, forty-five days after the retiring
Agent gives notice of its intention to resign. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders
shall have the right to appoint, on behalf of the Borrower and the Lenders, a successor Agent, with
the consent of the Borrower, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed and shall
not be required if any Default has occurred and is continuing. If no successor Agent shall have
been so appointed by the Required Lenders within thirty days after the resigning Agent’s giving
notice of its intention to resign, then the resigning Agent may appoint, on behalf of the Borrower
and the Lenders, a successor Agent. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, the Agent may at any
time without the consent of the Borrower or any Lender, appoint any of its Affiliates which is a
commercial bank as a successor Agent hereunder. If the Agent has resigned and no successor Agent
has been appointed, the Lenders may perform all the duties of the Agent hereunder and the Borrower
shall make all payments in respect of the Obligations to the applicable Lender and for all other
purposes shall deal directly with the Lenders. No successor Agent shall be deemed to be appointed
hereunder until such successor Agent has accepted the appointment. Any such successor Agent shall
be a commercial bank having capital and retained earnings of at least $100,000,000. Upon the
acceptance of any appointment as Agent hereunder by a successor Agent, such successor Agent shall
thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the
resigning Agent. Upon the effectiveness of the resignation of the Agent, the resigning Agent shall
be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the Loan Documents. After the
effectiveness of the resignation of an Agent, the provisions of this Article X shall
continue in effect for the benefit of such Agent in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be
taken by it while it was acting as the Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents. In the
event that there is a successor to the Agent by merger, or the Agent assigns its duties and
obligations to an Affiliate pursuant to this Section 10.12, then the term “Prime Rate” as used in
this Agreement shall mean the prime rate, base rate or other analogous rate of the new Agent.
54
10.13. Agent and Arranger Fees. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Agent and the
Arranger, for their respective accounts, the fees agreed to by the Borrower, the Agent and the
Arranger from time to time.
10.14. Delegation to Affiliates. The Borrower and the Lenders agree that the Agent
may delegate any of its duties under this Agreement to any of its Affiliates. Any such Affiliate
(and such Affiliate’s directors, officers, agents and employees) which performs duties in
connection with this Agreement shall be entitled to the same benefits of the indemnification,
waiver and other protective provisions to which the Agent is entitled under Articles IX and X.
10.15. Co-Agents, Documentation Agent, Syndication Agent, etc. Neither any Lender
identified in this Agreement or otherwise as a “co-agent”, “managing agent” or “syndication agent”
nor the Documentation Agent shall have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or
duty under this Agreement other than those applicable to all Lenders as such. Without limiting the
foregoing, neither any such Lender nor the Documentation Agent shall have or be deemed to have a
fiduciary relationship with any Lender. Each Lender hereby makes the same acknowledgments with
respect to such Lenders and the Documentation Agent as it makes with respect to the Agent in
Section 10.11.
ARTICLE XI
SETOFF; RATABLE PAYMENTS
11.1. Setoff. In addition to, and without limitation of, any rights of the Lenders
under applicable law, if the Borrower becomes insolvent, however evidenced, or any Default occurs,
any and all deposits (including all account balances, whether provisional or final and whether or
not collected or available) and any other Indebtedness at any time held or owing by any Lender or
any Affiliate of any Lender to or for the credit or account of the Borrower may be offset and
applied toward the payment of the Obligations owing to such Lender, whether or not the Obligations,
or any part thereof, shall then be due.
11.2. Ratable Payments. If any Lender, whether by setoff or otherwise, has payment
made to it upon its Outstanding Credit Exposure (other than payments received pursuant to Section
3.1, 3.2, 3.4 or 3.5) in a greater proportion than that received by any other Lender, such Lender
agrees, promptly upon demand, to purchase a portion of the Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure
held by the other Lenders so that after such purchase each Lender will hold its Pro Rata Share of
the Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure. If any Lender, whether in connection with setoff or
amounts which might be subject to setoff or otherwise, receives collateral or other protection for
its Obligations or such amounts which may be subject to setoff, such Lender agrees, promptly upon
demand, to take such action necessary such that all Lenders share in the benefits of such
collateral ratably in
proportion to their respective Pro Rata Shares of the Aggregate Outstanding Credit Exposure. In
case any such payment is disturbed by legal process, or otherwise, appropriate further adjustments
shall be made.
ARTICLE XII
BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENTS; PARTICIPATIONS
55
12.1. Successors and Assigns. The terms and provisions of the Loan Documents shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrower and the Lenders and their respective
successors and assigns, except that (i) the Borrower shall not have the right to assign its rights
or obligations under the Loan Documents without the consent of all of the Lenders and (ii) any
assignment by any Lender must be made in compliance with Section 12.3. The parties to this
Agreement acknowledge that clause (ii) of this Section 12.1 relates only to absolute assignments
and does not prohibit assignments creating security interests, including, without limitation, (x)
any pledge or assignment by any Lender of all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement and
any Note to a Federal Reserve Bank or (y) in the case of a Lender which is a fund, any pledge or
assignment of all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement and any Note to its trustee in
support of its obligations to its trustee; provided, however, that no such pledge or assignment
creating a security interest shall release the transferor Lender from its obligations hereunder
unless and until the parties thereto have complied with the provisions of Section 12.3. The Agent
may treat the Person which made any Loan or which holds any Note as the owner thereof for all
purposes hereof unless and until such Person complies with Section 12.3; provided, however, that
the Agent may in its discretion (but shall not be required to) follow instructions from the Person
which made any Loan or which holds any Note to direct payments relating to such Loan or Note to
another Person. Any assignee of the rights to any Loan or any Note agrees by acceptance of such
assignment to be bound by all the terms and provisions of the Loan Documents. Any request,
authority or consent of any Person, who at the time of making such request or giving such authority
or consent is the owner of the rights to any Loan (whether or not a Note has been issued in
evidence thereof), shall be conclusive and binding on any subsequent holder or assignee of the
rights to such Loan.
12.2. Participations.
12.2.1. Permitted Participants; Effect. Any Lender may, in the
ordinary course of its business and in accordance with applicable
law, at any time sell to one or more banks or other entities
(“Participants”) participating interests in any Outstanding Credit
Exposure of such Lender, any Note held by such Lender, any
Commitment of such Lender or any other interest of such Lender under
the Loan Documents. In the event of any such sale by a Lender of
participating interests to a Participant, such Lender’s obligations
under the Loan Documents shall remain unchanged, such Lender shall
remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the
performance of such obligations, such Lender shall remain the owner
of its Outstanding Credit Exposure and the holder of any Note issued
to it in evidence thereof for all purposes under the Loan Documents,
all amounts payable by the Borrower under this Agreement shall be
determined as if such Lender had not sold such participating
interests, and the Borrower and the Agent shall continue to deal
solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such
Lender’s rights and obligations under the Loan Documents.
12.2.2. Voting Rights. Each Lender shall retain the sole right to
approve, without the consent of any Participant, any amendment,
modification or waiver of any provision of the Loan Documents other
than any amendment, modification or waiver with respect to any
Credit Extension or Commitment in which such Participant has an
interest which would require consent of all of the Lenders pursuant
to the terms of Section 8.2 or of any other Loan Document.
12.2.3. Benefit of Setoff. The Borrower agrees that each
Participant shall be deemed to have the right of setoff provided in
Section 11.1 in respect of its participating interest in amounts
owing under the Loan Documents to the same extent as if the amount
of its participating interest were owing directly to it as a Lender
under the Loan Documents, provided that each Lender shall retain the
right of setoff provided in Section 11.1 with respect to the amount
of participating interests sold to each Participant. The Lenders
agree to share with each Participant, and each Participant, by
exercising the right of setoff provided in Section 11.1, agrees to
share with each
56
Lender, any amount received pursuant to the exercise
of its right of setoff, such amounts to be shared in accordance with
Section 11.2 as if each Participant were a Lender.
12.3. Assignments.
12.3.1. Permitted Assignments. Any Lender may, in the ordinary
course of its business and in accordance with applicable law, at any
time assign to one or more banks or other entities (“Purchasers”)
all or any part of its rights and obligations under the Loan
Documents. Such assignment shall be substantially in the form of
Exhibit C or in such other form as may be agreed to by the parties
thereto. The consent of the Agent and the LC Issuer shall be
required prior to any assignment becoming effective. The consent of
the Borrower shall be required prior to an assignment becoming
effective with respect to a Purchaser which is not a Lender or an
Affiliate thereof; provided, however, that if a Default has occurred
and is continuing, the consent of the Borrower shall not be
required. Such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed. Each such assignment with respect to a Purchaser which is
not a Lender or an Affiliate thereof shall (unless the Agent
otherwise consents) be in an amount not less than the lesser of (i)
$10,000,000 and in multiples of $1,000,000 thereof or (ii) the
remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment (calculated as
at the date of such assignment) or outstanding Loans (if the
applicable Commitment has been terminated).
12.3.2. Effect; Effective Date. Upon (i) delivery to the Agent of
an assignment, together with any consents required by Section
12.3.1, and (ii) payment of a $3,500 fee to the Agent for processing
such assignment (unless such fee is waived by the Agent), such
assignment shall become effective on the effective date specified in
such assignment. The assignment shall contain a representation by
the Purchaser to the effect that none of the consideration used to
make the purchase of the Commitment and Outstanding Credit Exposure
under the applicable assignment agreement constitutes “plan assets”
as defined under ERISA and that the rights and interests of the
Purchaser in and under the Loan Documents will not be “plan assets”
under ERISA. On and after the effective date of such assignment,
such Purchaser shall for all purposes be a Lender party to this
Agreement and any other Loan Document executed by or on behalf of
the Lenders and shall have all the rights and obligations of a
Lender under the Loan Documents, to the same extent as if it were an
original party hereto, and no further consent or action by the
Borrower, the Lenders or the Agent shall be required to release the
transferor Lender with respect to the percentage of the Aggregate
Commitment and Outstanding Credit Exposure assigned to such
Purchaser. Upon the consummation of any assignment to a Purchaser
pursuant to this Section 12.3.2, the transferor Lender, the Agent
and
the Borrower shall, if the transferor Lender or the Purchaser desires that its Loans be
evidenced by Notes, make appropriate arrangements so that new Notes or, as appropriate,
replacement Notes are issued to such transferor Lender and new Notes or, as appropriate,
replacement Notes, are issued to such Purchaser, in each case in principal amounts
reflecting their respective Commitments, as adjusted pursuant to such assignment.
12.4. Dissemination of Information. The Borrower authorizes each Lender to disclose
to any Participant or Purchaser or any other Person acquiring an interest in the Loan Documents by
operation of law (each a “Transferee”) and any prospective Transferee any and all information in
such Lender’s possession concerning the creditworthiness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries,
including without limitation any information contained in any Reports; provided that each
Transferee and prospective Transferee agrees to be bound by Section 9.11 of this Agreement.
12.5. Tax Treatment. If any interest in any Loan Document is transferred to any
Transferee which is organized under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States or
any State thereof, the
57
transferor Lender shall cause such Transferee, concurrently with the
effectiveness of such transfer, to comply with the provisions of Section 3.5(iv).
ARTICLE XIII
NOTICES
13.1. Notices. Except as otherwise permitted by Section 2.15 with respect to
Borrowing Notices and Swing Line Borrowing Notices, all notices, requests and other communications
to any party hereunder shall be in writing (including electronic transmission, facsimile
transmission or similar writing) and shall be given to such party: (x) in the case of the Borrower
or the Agent, at its street address or facsimile number set forth on the signature pages hereof,
(y) in the case of any Lender, at its street address or facsimile number set forth in its
administrative questionnaire or (z) in the case of any party, at such other street address or
facsimile number as such party may hereafter specify for the purpose by notice to the Agent and the
Borrower in accordance with the provisions of this Section 13.1. Each such notice, request or
other communication shall be effective (i) if given by facsimile transmission, when transmitted to
the facsimile number specified in this Section and confirmation of receipt is received, or (ii) if
given by mail, by nationally recognized overnight courier or other means to the recipient’s street
address, when delivered at the address specified in this Section. No notice, including a Borrowing
Notice and a Swing Line Notice, from the Borrower shall be effective unless it is from an
Authorized Officer.
13.2. Change of Address. The Borrower, the Agent and any Lender may each change the
address for service of notice upon it by a notice in writing to the other parties hereto.
ARTICLE XIV
COUNTERPARTS
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which taken together
shall constitute one agreement, and any of the parties hereto may execute this Agreement by signing
any such counterpart. This Agreement shall be effective when it has been executed by the Borrower,
the Agent, the LC Issuer and the Lenders and each party has notified the Agent by facsimile
transmission or telephone that it has taken such action.
ARTICLE XV
CHOICE OF LAW; CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
15.1. CHOICE OF LAW. THE LOAN DOCUMENTS (OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINING A CONTRARY
EXPRESS CHOICE OF LAW PROVISION) SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE
STATE OF OHIO.
58
15.2. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. EACH BORROWER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE
NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY UNITED STATES FEDERAL OR OHIO STATE COURT SITTING IN COLUMBUS,
OHIO IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENTS AND THE BORROWER
HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND
DETERMINED IN ANY SUCH COURT AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE AS
TO THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT OR THAT SUCH COURT IS
AN INCONVENIENT FORUM. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL LIMIT THE RIGHT OF THE AGENT, THE LC ISSUER OR ANY
LENDER TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ANY BORROWER IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. ANY
JUDICIAL PROCEEDING BY ANY BORROWER AGAINST THE AGENT, THE LC ISSUER OR ANY LENDER OR ANY AFFILIATE
OF THE AGENT, THE LC ISSUER OR ANY LENDER INVOLVING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ANY MATTER IN ANY WAY
ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH ANY LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL BE BROUGHT ONLY IN A COURT IN
COLUMBUS, OHIO.
15.3. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH BORROWER, THE AGENT, THE LC ISSUER AND EACH LENDER
HEREBY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING INVOLVING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ANY MATTER
(WHETHER SOUNDING IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR
CONNECTED WITH ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE RELATIONSHIP ESTABLISHED THEREUNDER.
59
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower, the Lenders, the LC Issuer and the Agent have executed this
Agreement as of the date first above written.
LANCASTER COLONY CORPORATION |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx X Xxxxx | |||
Title: Secretary | ||||
By: | /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
Title: Treasurer | ||||
00 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000
Attention: Treasurer
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000
Attention: Treasurer
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
60
Commitments |
||||||||
$45,000,000 | JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Agent, LC Issuer and as a Lender | |||||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||||||
Title: | Senior Vice President | |||||||
Attention: | ||||||||
Telephone: | ||||||||
Fax: | ||||||||
e-mail: |
61
$40,000,000 | THE HUNTINGTON NATIONAL BANK, as Documentation Agent and as a Lender | |||||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||||||
Title: | Senior Vice President | |||||||
Attention: | ||||||||
Telephone: | ||||||||
Fax: | ||||||||
e-mail: |
62
$25,000,000 | NATIONAL CITY BANK | |||||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||||||
Title: | Senior Vice President | |||||||
Attention: | ||||||||
Telephone: | ||||||||
Fax: | ||||||||
e-mail: |
63
$25,000,000 | FIFTH THIRD BANK, CENTRAL OHIO | |||||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||||||
Title: | Vice President | |||||||
Attention: | ||||||||
Telephone: | ||||||||
Fax: | ||||||||
e-mail: |
64
$25,000,000 | BMO CAPITAL MARKETS FINANCING, INC. | |||||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx | |||||||
Title: | Director | |||||||
Attention: | ||||||||
Telephone: | ||||||||
Fax: | ||||||||
e-mail: | ||||||||
Aggregate Commitment |
||||||||
$160,000,000 |
65
PRICING SCHEDULE
Applicable | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV | Level V | Level VI | ||||||||||||||||||
Margin | Status | Status | Status | Status | Status | Status | ||||||||||||||||||
Eurodollar Rate and Letter of Credit
Applicable Margin |
0.275 | % | 0.320 | % | 0.360 | % | 0.400 | % | 0.500 | % | 0.600 | % | ||||||||||||
Floating Rate Applicable Margin |
0 | % | 0 | % | 0 | % | 0 | % | 0 | % | 0 | % | ||||||||||||
Facility Fee Applicable Margin |
0.075 | % | 0.080 | % | 0.090 | % | 0.100 | % | 0.125 | % | 0.150 | % |
Until adjusted for first time based on the Leverage Ratio as of the end of the first full fiscal
quarter ending after the Effective Date, the Applicable Margin and Applicable Fee Rate will be set
at Level I. Thereafter, the Applicable Margin and the Applicable Fee Rate will vary with the
Borrower’s Leverage Ratio as set forth above.
For the purposes of this Schedule, the following terms have the following meanings, subject to
the final paragraph of this Schedule:
“Financials” means the annual or quarterly financial statements of the Borrower delivered
pursuant to Section 6.1(i) or (ii).
“Level I Status” exists at any date if, as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the
Borrower referred to in the most recent Financials, the Leverage Ratio is less than 0.50 to 1.00.
“Level II Status” exists at any date if, as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the
Borrower referred to in the most recent Financials, (i) the Borrower has not qualified for Level I
Status and (ii) the Leverage Ratio is less than 1.00 to 1.00.
“Level III Status” exists at any date if, as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the
Borrower referred to in the most recent Financials, (i) the Borrower has not qualified for Level I
Status or Level II Status and (ii) the Leverage Ratio is less than 1.50 to 1.00.
“Level IV Status” exists at any date if, as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the
Borrower referred to in the most recent Financials, (i) the Borrower has not qualified for Level I
Status, Level II Status or Level III Status and (ii) the Leverage Ratio is less than 2.00 to 1.00.
“Level V Status” exists at any date if, as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the
Borrower referred to in the most recent Financials, (i) the Borrower has not qualified for Level I
Status, Level II Status, Level III Status or Level IV Status and (ii) the Leverage Ratio is less
than 2.50 to 1.00.
“Level VI Status” exists at any date if the Borrower has not qualified for Level I Status,
Level II Status, Level III Status, Level IV Status or Level V Status.
“Status” means either Level I Status, Level II Status, Level III Status, Level IV Status,
Level V Status or Level VI Status.
66
The Applicable Margin and Applicable Fee Rate shall be determined in accordance with the
foregoing table based on the Borrower’s Status as reflected in the then most recent Financials.
Adjustments, if any, to the Applicable Margin or Applicable Fee Rate shall be effective 50 days
after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year and 95 days after the
end of each fiscal year of the Borrower. If the Borrower fails to deliver the Financials to the
Agent at the time required pursuant to Section 6.1 or any Default has occurred and is continuing,
then the Applicable Margin and Applicable Fee Rate shall be set at Level VI Status.
67