CREDIT AGREEMENT Dated as of June 16, 2005 among CHAPARRAL STEEL COMPANY, as the Borrower, BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer, UBS SECURITIES LLC, as Syndication Agent, GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL...
Exhibit 10.4
[Published CUSIP Number: ]
Dated as of June 16, 2005
among
CHAPARRAL STEEL COMPANY,
as the Borrower,
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender
and
L/C Issuer,
UBS SECURITIES LLC,
as Syndication Agent,
GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION,
XXXXX FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
and
SUNTRUST BANK,
as Co-Documentation Agents,
and
The Other Lenders Party Hereto
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC,
as
Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Book Manager
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section |
Page | |||
ARTICLE I. |
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS | 1 | ||
1.01 |
Defined Terms | 1 | ||
1.02 |
Other Interpretive Provisions | 30 | ||
1.03 |
Accounting Terms | 31 | ||
1.04 |
Rounding | 31 | ||
1.05 |
Times of Day | 31 | ||
1.06 |
Letter of Credit Amounts | 31 | ||
ARTICLE II. |
THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS | 32 | ||
2.01 |
Revolving Loans | 32 | ||
2.02 |
Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans | 32 | ||
2.03 |
Letters of Credit | 33 | ||
2.04 |
Swing Line Loans | 43 | ||
2.05 |
Prepayments | 46 | ||
2.06 |
Termination or Reduction of Commitments | 47 | ||
2.07 |
Repayment of Loans | 48 | ||
2.08 |
Interest | 48 | ||
2.09 |
Fees | 49 | ||
2.10 |
Computation of Interest and Fees | 49 | ||
2.11 |
Evidence of Debt | 50 | ||
2.12 |
Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback | 50 | ||
2.13 |
Sharing of Payments by Lenders | 52 | ||
2.14 |
Collateral | 53 | ||
ARTICLE III. |
TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY | 54 | ||
3.01 |
Taxes | 54 | ||
3.02 |
Illegality | 56 | ||
3.03 |
Inability to Determine Rates | 56 | ||
3.04 |
Increased Costs; Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans | 57 | ||
3.05 |
Compensation for Losses | 58 | ||
3.06 |
Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders | 59 | ||
3.07 |
Survival | 59 | ||
ARTICLE IV. |
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS | 60 | ||
4.01 |
Conditions of Initial Credit Extension | 60 | ||
4.02 |
Conditions to all Credit Extensions | 62 | ||
ARTICLE V. |
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES | 63 | ||
5.01 |
Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws | 63 | ||
5.02 |
Authorization; No Contravention | 63 | ||
5.03 |
Governmental Authorization; Other Consents | 63 | ||
5.04 |
Binding Effect | 64 |
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5.05 |
Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect; No Internal Control Event | 64 | ||
5.06 |
Litigation | 64 | ||
5.07 |
No Default | 65 | ||
5.08 |
Ownership of Property; Liens | 65 | ||
5.09 |
Environmental Compliance | 65 | ||
5.10 |
Insurance | 66 | ||
5.11 |
Taxes | 66 | ||
5.12 |
ERISA Compliance | 66 | ||
5.13 |
Subsidiaries; Equity Interests | 67 | ||
5.14 |
Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act; Public Utility Holding Company Act | 67 | ||
5.15 |
Disclosure | 68 | ||
5.16 |
Compliance with Laws | 68 | ||
5.17 |
Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc. | 68 | ||
5.18 |
Common Enterprise | 68 | ||
5.19 |
Solvent | 69 | ||
5.20 |
Security Interests | 69 | ||
ARTICLE VI. |
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS | 69 | ||
6.01 |
Financial Statements | 69 | ||
6.02 |
Certificates; Other Information | 70 | ||
6.03 |
Notices | 72 | ||
6.04 |
Payment of Obligations | 73 | ||
6.05 |
Preservation of Existence, Etc. | 73 | ||
6.06 |
Maintenance of Properties | 73 | ||
6.07 |
Maintenance of Insurance | 74 | ||
6.08 |
Compliance with Laws | 74 | ||
6.09 |
Books and Records | 74 | ||
6.10 |
Inspection Rights | 74 | ||
6.11 |
Use of Proceeds | 74 | ||
6.12 |
Further Assurances | 74 | ||
6.13 |
Additional Subsidiaries | 75 | ||
ARTICLE VII. |
NEGATIVE COVENANTS | 75 | ||
7.01 |
Liens | 75 | ||
7.02 |
Investments | 75 | ||
7.03 |
Debt | 76 | ||
7.04 |
Fundamental Changes | 77 | ||
7.05 |
Dispositions | 78 | ||
7.06 |
Restricted Payments | 78 | ||
7.07 |
Change in Nature of Business | 79 | ||
7.08 |
Transactions with Affiliates | 79 | ||
7.09 |
Burdensome Agreements | 79 | ||
7.10 |
Use of Proceeds | 79 | ||
7.11 |
Financial Covenants | 80 |
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7.12 |
Sale and Leaseback | 80 | ||
7.13 |
Sale or Discount of Receivables | 80 | ||
7.14 |
Debt Modifications | 80 | ||
7.15 |
Debt Payments | 80 | ||
7.16 |
Capital Expenditures | 80 | ||
7.17 |
Centralized Cash Management Program | 81 | ||
ARTICLE VIII. |
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES | 81 | ||
8.01 |
Events of Default | 81 | ||
8.02 |
Remedies Upon Event of Default | 83 | ||
8.03 |
Application of Funds | 83 | ||
ARTICLE IX. |
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT | 85 | ||
9.01 |
Appointment and Authority | 85 | ||
9.02 |
Rights as a Lender | 85 | ||
9.03 |
Exculpatory Provisions | 85 | ||
9.04 |
Reliance by Administrative Agent | 86 | ||
9.05 |
Delegation of Duties | 86 | ||
9.06 |
Resignation of Administrative Agent | 87 | ||
9.07 |
Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders | 88 | ||
9.08 |
No Other Duties, Etc. | 88 | ||
9.09 |
Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim | 88 | ||
9.10 |
Collateral and Guaranty Matters | 89 | ||
ARTICLE X. |
MISCELLANEOUS | 89 | ||
10.01 |
Amendments, Etc. | 89 | ||
10.02 |
Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication | 91 | ||
10.03 |
No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies | 93 | ||
10.04 |
Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver | 93 | ||
10.05 |
Payments Set Aside | 95 | ||
10.06 |
Successors and Assigns | 96 | ||
10.07 |
Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality | 100 | ||
10.08 |
Right of Setoff | 101 | ||
10.09 |
Interest Rate Limitation | 101 | ||
10.10 |
Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness | 102 | ||
10.11 |
Survival of Representations and Warranties | 102 | ||
10.12 |
Severability | 102 | ||
10.13 |
Replacement of Lenders | 102 | ||
10.14 |
Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc. | 103 | ||
10.15 |
Waiver of Jury Trial | 104 | ||
10.16 |
USA PATRIOT Act Notice | 104 | ||
10.17 |
ENTIRE AGREEMENT | 105 | ||
SIGNATURES |
S-1 |
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SCHEDULES |
||
2.01 |
Commitments and Applicable Percentages | |
5.13 |
Subsidiaries; Other Equity Investments; Equity Interests in the Borrower | |
7.01 |
Existing Liens | |
7.02(d) |
Existing Investments | |
7.03(c) |
Existing Debt | |
10.02 |
Administrative Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices | |
10.06 |
Processing and Recordation Fees |
EXHIBITS |
||
Form of | ||
A |
Assignment and Assumption | |
B |
Compliance Certificate | |
C |
Guaranty | |
D |
Opinion Matters | |
E |
Revolving Loan Note | |
F |
Revolving Loan Notice | |
G |
Security Agreement | |
H |
Swing Line Loan Notice | |
I |
Swing Line Note | |
J |
Borrowing Base Certificate |
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This CREDIT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is entered into as of June 16, 2005, among CHAPARRAL STEEL COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and individually, a “Lender”), and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer.
The Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide a revolving credit facility, and the Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
1.01 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
“Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in the UCC.
“Account Debtor” means each Person obligated in any way on or in connection with an Account, Chattel Paper, or General Intangibles (including a payment intangible).
“Acquisition” means the acquisition by any Person of (a) a majority of the Equity Interests of another Person, (b) all or substantially all of the assets of another Person or any operating division of another Person or (c) all or substantially all of a line of business of another Person, in each case whether or not involving a merger or consolidating with such other Person.
“Acquisition Consideration” means the consideration given by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries for an Acquisition, including but not limited to the sum of (without duplication) (a) the fair market value of any cash, property (other than Equity Interests issued in respect of such Acquisition) or services given, plus (b) the amount of any Debt assumed, incurred or guaranteed (to the extent not otherwise included) in connection with such Acquisition by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.
“Adjusted Net Earnings From Operations” means, with respect to any fiscal period of any Person (the “subject Person”), net income of the subject Person on a consolidated basis after provision for income taxes for such fiscal period, as determined in conformity with GAAP and reported on the financial statements for such fiscal period, excluding any and all of the following included in such net income: (a) gain, to the extent in excess of $5,000,000, or loss arising from the sale of any capital assets (including sales of surplus operating assets and real estate); (b) gain or loss arising from any write-up or write-down in the book value of any asset; (c) earnings of any other Person, substantially all of the assets of which have been acquired by the subject Person in any manner, to the extent realized by such other Person prior to the date of Acquisition; (d) earnings of any other Person (excluding Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries) in which the subject Person has an ownership interest unless (and only to the extent) such earnings shall
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actually have been received by the subject Person in the form of cash distributions; (e) earnings of any Person to which assets of the subject Person shall have been sold, transferred, or disposed of, or into which subject Person shall have been merged, or which has been a party with the subject Person to any consolidation or other form of reorganization, prior to the date of such transaction; (f) gain arising from the acquisition of debt or equity securities of the subject Person or from cancellation or forgiveness of Debt; and (g) gain or loss arising from extraordinary items, as determined in conformity with GAAP, or from any other non-recurring transaction (including costs in respect of implementing the Spin-Off Transaction not to exceed $10,000,000 in aggregate amount).
“Administrative Agent” means Bank of America in its capacity as administrative agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent.
“Administrative Agent’s Office” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02, or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify to the Borrower and the Lenders.
“Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.
“Aggregate Commitments” means the Commitments of all Lenders.
“Agreement” means this Credit Agreement.
“Applicable Law” means (a) in respect of any Person, all provisions of Laws applicable to such Person, and all orders and decrees of all courts and determinations of arbitrators applicable to such Person and (b) in respect of contracts made or performed in the State of Texas, “Applicable Law” shall also mean the laws of the United States of America, including, without limitation the foregoing, 12 USC Sections 85 and 86, as amended to the date hereof and as the same may be amended at any time and from time to time hereafter, and any other statute of the United States of America now or at any time hereafter prescribing the maximum rates of interest on loans and extensions of credit, and the laws of the State of Texas. Chapter 346 (other than Section 346.004) of the Texas Finance Code (which regulates certain revolving credit accounts and revolving tri-party accounts) shall not apply to the Loans or the other Obligations.
“Applicable Percentage” means, with respect to each Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place), the numerator of which is the amount of the Commitment of such Lender at such time and the denominator of which is the Aggregate Commitments at such time; provided that if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02, then the Applicable Percentage of each Lender shall be determined based on the Applicable Percentage of such Lender most recently in effect, giving effect to any subsequent
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assignments. The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.
“Applicable Rate” means the following percentages per annum, based upon the Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.02(a):
Level |
Leverage Ratio |
Commitment Fee |
Applicable Margin for Eurodollar Rate Loans and Letters of Credit |
Applicable Margin for Base Rate Loans |
|||||||
1 | £ 1.00 to 1.00 | 0.250 | % | 1.250 | % | 0.000 | % | ||||
2 | £ 2.00 to 1.00 but > 1.00 to 1.00 | 0.375 | % | 1.500 | % | 0.500 | % | ||||
3 | £ 3.00 to 1.00 but > 2.00 to 1.00 | 0.500 | % | 1.750 | % | 0.750 | % | ||||
4 | > 3.00 to 1.00 | 0.500 | % | 2.000 | % | 1.000 | % |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the percentages set forth above for the Applicable Margin for Eurodollar Rate Loans and Letters of Credit shall be reduced by 0.250% at each Level during such time as the Debt Ratings are at least BB– by S&P and Ba3 by Xxxxx’x. Any change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a publicly announced change in the Debt Ratings shall be effective, in the case of an upgrade, during the period commencing on the date of delivery by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent of notice thereof pursuant to Section 6.03(f) and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change and, in the case of a downgrade, during the period commencing on the date of the public announcement thereof and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change.
Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a); provided, however, that if a Compliance Certificate is not delivered when due in accordance with such Section, then Pricing Level 4 shall apply as of the first Business Day after the date on which such Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered. The Applicable Rate in effect from the Closing Date through August 31, 2005 shall be determined based upon Pricing Level 2.
“Approved Fund” means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.
“Arranger” means Banc of America Securities LLC, in its capacity as sole lead arranger and sole book manager.
“Assignee Group” means two or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one another or two or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.
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“Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 10.06(b)), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit A or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
“Audited Financial Statements” means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2004, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including the notes thereto.
“Auto-Extension Letter of Credit” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03 (b)(iii).
“Availability” means, as of any date of determination, the remainder of (a) the lesser of (i) the Aggregate Commitments as at such date and (ii) the Borrowing Base as at such date minus (b) the Total Outstandings as at such date.
“Availability Period” means the period from and including the Closing Date to the earliest of (a) the Maturity Date, (b) the date of termination of the Aggregate Commitments pursuant to Section 2.06, and (c) the date of termination of the commitment of each Lender to make Revolving Loans and of the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions pursuant to Section 8.02.
“Bank of America” means Bank of America, N.A. and its successors.
“Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code (11 U.S.C. Section 101 et seq.)
“Base Rate” means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the higher of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1% and (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Bank of America as its “prime rate.” The “prime rate” is a rate set by Bank of America based upon various factors including Bank of America’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in such rate announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.
“Base Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.
“Borrower” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.
“Borrower Materials” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.
“Borrowing” means a Revolving Borrowing or a Swing Line Borrowing, as the context may require.
“Borrowing Base” means, as of any date, an amount equal to (a) the sum of (i) an amount equal to 60% of the aggregate amount of Eligible Inventory on such date, plus (ii) an amount
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equal to 85% of the aggregate amount of Eligible Accounts on such date, minus (b) the Swap Contract Amount.
“Borrowing Base Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit J attached hereto, which has been completed and duly executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state where the Administrative Agent’s Office is located and, if such day relates to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, means any such day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank eurodollar market.
“Capital Expenditure” means, for any Person, the aggregate amount of all purchases or acquisitions by such Person of, and expenditures for additions to, items considered to be capital items, including, expenditures relating to property, plant, or equipment, which would be capitalized on such Person’s balance sheet in accordance with GAAP, excluding amounts (a) capitalized as inventory and (b) in respect of purchases, acquisitions and expenditures that are “Acquisitions” as defined herein.
“Capital Lease Obligations” means, for any Person, the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under a lease of (or other agreement conveying the right to use) real and/or personal property, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as a capital lease on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP. For purposes of this Agreement, the amount of such Capital Lease Obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof, determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Cash Collateralize” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(g).
“Cash Equivalents” means: (a) United States dollars; (b) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality thereof (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support thereof) maturing, unless such securities are deposited to defease any Debt, not more than twelve months from the date of acquisition; (c) certificates of deposit and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of twelve months or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding twelve months and overnight bank deposits, in each case, with any domestic commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000 and a rating at the time of acquisition thereof of P-1 or better from Xxxxx’x or A-1 or better from S&P; (d) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (b) and (c) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (c) above; (e) commercial paper having the highest rating obtainable from Xxxxx’x or S&P and in each case maturing within six months after the date of acquisition; (f) auction rate securities rated with the highest short-term ratings by Xxxxx’x and S&P, and maturing within 365 days of acquisition; (g) securities issued and fully guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States of America, or by any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof, rated at least “A” by Xxxxx’x or S&P and
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having maturities of not more than twelve months from the date of acquisition; and (h) money market funds at least 95% of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents of the kinds described in clauses (a) through (g) of this definition.
“Cash Management Obligations” means, with respect to any Lender, any obligations owed to such Lender by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries which arise as a direct result of the deposit, collection and other cash management, treasury or deposit services provided by such Lender to the Borrower or any such Subsidiary, including without limitation all of the obligations of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to such Lender for overdrafts, for returned checks and other returned items and for credit extended under, or as a result of, cash management, treasury and deposit agreements.
“Centralized Cash Management Program” means the program through which, until the earlier of (a) the distribution of the Borrower to TXI’s shareholders, and (b) September 30, 2005, TXI may (1) sweep cash from the Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries concentration accounts, which shall reduce the TXI Advance, provided that the amount swept to TXI shall not exceed the outstanding amount of the TXI Advance, or (2) make payments to the Borrower to the extent required by the Borrower for payments, including raw material procurement, payroll and other working capital requirements and capital expenditures which shall increase the TXI Advance; provided that the amount of payments to the Borrower shall not increase the amount of the TXI Advance to an amount in excess of $50,000,000; provided, however, that upon the earlier of (a) the distribution of the Borrower to TXI’s shareholders and (b) September 30, 2005, TXI shall contribute the TXI Advance to the capital of the Borrower.
“Change in Law” means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any Law, (b) any change in any Law, or in the administration, interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of Law) by any Governmental Authority.
“Change of Control” means (a) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used for purposes of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act, whether or not applicable), (b) any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used for purposes of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act, whether or not applicable) is or becomes the “beneficial owner”, directly or indirectly, of more than 35% of the total voting power in the aggregate of all classes of Equity Interests of the Borrower then outstanding normally entitled to vote in elections of directors, (c) during any period of 24 consecutive months after the Closing Date, individuals who at the beginning of such 24-month period constituted the board of directors of the Borrower (together with any new directors whose election by such board of directors or whose nomination for election by the shareholders of the Borrower was approved by a vote of a majority of the directors then still in office who were either directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved) cease for any reason to
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constitute a majority of the board of directors of the Borrower then in office, or (d) any “Change of Control” as defined in the Senior Notes shall occur in respect thereof.
“Chattel Paper” has the meaning specified in the UCC and includes, without limitation, electronic chattel paper.
“Closing Date” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 4.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 10.01.
“Co-Documentation Agents” means General Electric Capital Corporation, Xxxxx Fargo Bank, National Association, and SunTrust Bank, in their capacity as co-documentation agents under any of the Loan Documents, or any successors thereto.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
“Collateral” has the meaning specified in Section 2.14 of this Agreement.
“Collateral Documents” means, collectively, the Security Agreement and any other agreement or document, together with all related financing statements and stock powers, executed and delivered in connection with this Agreement to create a Lien on the Collateral in favor of the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.
“Commitment” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to (a) make Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01, (b) purchase participations in L/C Obligations, and (c) purchase participations in Swing Line Loans, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01, or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.
“Commitment Fee” has the meaning specified in Section 2.09(a).
“Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B.
“Contractual Obligation” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.
“Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.
“Credit Extension” means each of the following: (a) a Borrowing, (b) an L/C Credit Extension, and (c) a Swing Line Borrowing.
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“Debt” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication, (a) debt of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all debt of such Person evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or bankers’ acceptances or letters of credit (or reimbursement obligations in respect thereof); (c) the balance deferred and unpaid by such Person of the purchase price of any property which purchase price is due more than six months after the date of placing such property in service or taking delivery and title thereto, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable, (d) all obligations of others secured by any Lien (other than Liens referred to in clauses (b), (c), (d), (e), (g) or (i) of the definition of Permitted Liens) on any property or asset owned by such Person, whether or not the obligation secured thereby shall have been assumed, (e) to the extent not otherwise included, all Capitalized Lease Obligations of such Person, all obligations of such Person with respect to leases constituting part of a sale and leaseback arrangement, all Guaranties of such Person, all obligations of such Person under Swap Contracts, (f) any “withdrawal liability” of such Person, as such term is defined under part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA, (g) all Synthetic Lease Obligations of such Person, (h) all preferred stock issued by such Person and required by the terms thereof to be redeemed, or for which mandatory sinking fund payments are due, by a fixed date prior to one year after the Maturity Date, and (i) the TXI Advance.
“Debt Ratings” means, as of any date of determination, the secured debt ratings of this Agreement as determined by S&P and Xxxxx’x.
“Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.
“Default” means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that, with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.
“Default Rate” means (a) when used with respect to Obligations other than Letter of Credit Fees, an interest rate equal to (i) the Base Rate plus (ii) the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (iii) 2% per annum; provided, however, that with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2% per annum, and (b) when used with respect to Letter of Credit Fees, a rate equal to the Applicable Rate plus 2% per annum.
“Defaulting Lender” means any Lender that (a) has failed to fund any portion of the Loans, participations in L/C Obligations or participations in Swing Line Loans required to be funded by it hereunder within one Business Day of the date required to be funded by it hereunder, (b) has otherwise failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within one Business Day of the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute, or (c) has been deemed insolvent or become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding.
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“Depreciation” means depreciation and depletion expense as determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Disposition” or “Dispose” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction) of any property by any Person, including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith.
“Dividend” means, as to any Person, any declaration or payment of any dividend (other than a stock dividend) on, or the making of any distribution, loan, advance or investment to or in any holder of, any shares of capital stock (or other equity or beneficial interest) of such Person (other than salaries, bonuses and loans to employees made or paid in the ordinary course of business).
“Dollar” and “$” mean lawful money of the United States.
“Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of any political subdivision of the United States.
“EBITDA” means, for any period, determined in accordance with GAAP on a consolidated basis for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, the sum of (a) Adjusted Net Earnings From Operations for such period, plus (b) to the extent deducted in the determination of Adjusted Net Earnings from Operations for such period, (i) Interest Expense, plus (ii) federal, state, local and foreign income taxes, plus (iii) Depreciation, amortization and other non-recurring non-cash charges (excluding any non-cash charges to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash payments in any future period), plus (iv) non-cash charges in respect of employee stock option expenses (excluding any such non-cash charges to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash payments in any future period), minus (c) to the extent included in the determination of Adjusted Net Earnings from Operations for such period, non-recurring non-cash credits.
“Eligible Accounts” means the Accounts of the Loan Parties which the Administrative Agent in the exercise of its reasonable credit judgment determines to be Eligible Accounts. Without limiting the discretion of the Administrative Agent to establish other criteria of ineligibility, Eligible Accounts shall not include any Account:
(a) if more than 60 days have elapsed since the original due date therefor or more than 90 days have elapsed from the original invoice date therefor;
(b) with respect to which any of the representations, warranties, covenants, and agreements contained in the Security Agreement are incorrect or have been breached in any material respect;
(c) with respect to which Account (or any other Account due from the applicable Account Debtor), in whole or in part, a check, promissory note, draft, trade acceptance, or other instrument for the payment of money has been received, presented for payment, and returned
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uncollected for any reason or which is the subject of any debit memo or charge-back, but only to the extent of such debit memo or charge-back;
(d) which represents a progress billing (as hereinafter defined) or as to which the Loan Party has extended the time for payment without the consent of the Administrative Agent (for the purposes hereof, “progress billing” means any invoice for goods sold or leased or services rendered under a contract or agreement pursuant to which the Account Debtor’s obligation to pay such invoice is conditioned upon the Loan Party’s completion of any further performance under such contract or agreement);
(e) with respect to which any one or more of the following events has occurred to the Account Debtor on such Account: (i) death or judicial declaration of incompetency of such Account Debtor who is a natural person; (ii) the filing by or against such Account Debtor of a request or petition for liquidation, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debts, adjudication as a bankrupt, winding-up, or other relief under the Bankruptcy Code or any other bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws of the U.S., any state or territory thereof, or any foreign jurisdiction, now or hereafter in effect; (iii) the making of any general assignment by such Account Debtor for the benefit of creditors; (iv) the appointment of a receiver or trustee for such Account Debtor or for any of the assets of the Account Debtor, including, without limitation, the appointment of or taking possession by a “custodian,” as defined in the Bankruptcy Code; (v) the institution by or against such Account Debtor of any other type of insolvency proceeding (under the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise) or of any formal or informal proceeding for the dissolution or liquidation of, settlement of claims against, or winding up of affairs of, such Account Debtor; (vi) the sale, assignment, or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of such Account Debtor; (vii) the nonpayment generally by such Account Debtor of its debts as they become due; or (viii) the cessation of the business of such Account Debtor as a going concern;
(f) if 50% or more of the aggregate Dollar amount of outstanding Accounts owed at such time by the Account Debtor thereon is classified as ineligible pursuant to the other provisions of this definition;
(g) owed by an Account Debtor which (i) does not maintain its chief executive office in the U.S. or Canada (excluding the province of Newfoundland), (ii) is not organized under the laws of the U.S. or Canada (excluding the province of Newfoundland) or any political subdivision, state, province, or territory thereof, or (iii) is the government of any foreign country or sovereign state, or of any state, province, municipality, or other political subdivision thereof, or of any department, agency, public corporation, or other instrumentality thereof, except to the extent that such Account is secured or payable by a letter of credit the terms of which are satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its discretion and which is in the possession of the Administrative Agent, and which, together with all related letter-of-credit rights (as defined in the UCC), is subject to a first priority Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders or to the extent that payment of such Account is insured by an insurance policy satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
(h) owed by an Account Debtor which is an Affiliate, director, officer or other employee of any Loan Party;
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(i) with respect to which either the perfection, enforceability, or validity of the Administrative Agent’s Liens in such Account, or the Administrative Agent’s right or ability to obtain direct payment to the Administrative Agent of the proceeds of such Account, is governed by any federal, state, or local statutory requirements other than those of the UCC;
(j) owed by an Account Debtor to which a Loan Party or any of its Affiliates, is indebted in any way (including accrued liabilities), or which is subject to any right of setoff or recoupment by the Account Debtor, unless the Account Debtor has entered into an agreement acceptable to the Administrative Agent to waive setoff rights, or if the Account Debtor thereon has disputed liability or made any claim with respect to any other Account due from such Account Debtor, but in each such case only to the extent of such indebtedness, setoff, recoupment, dispute, or claim;
(k) owed by the government of the U.S., or any department, agency, public corporation, or other instrumentality thereof;
(l) owed by any state, municipality, or other political subdivision of the U.S., or any department, agency, public corporation, or other instrumentality thereof and as to which the Administrative Agent determines that its Lien therein is not or cannot be perfected;
(m) which represents a sale on a xxxx-and-hold, guaranteed sale, sale and return, sale on approval, consignment, or other repurchase or return basis;
(n) which is evidenced by a promissory note or other Instrument or by Chattel Paper;
(o) with respect to which the Administrative Agent believes, in the exercise of its reasonable credit judgment, that the prospect of collection of such Account is impaired or that such Account may not be paid by reason of the Account Debtor’s financial inability to pay;
(p) with respect to which the Account Debtor is located in any state requiring the filing of a Notice of Business Activities Report or similar report in order to permit the Loan Party to seek judicial enforcement in such state of payment of such Account, unless such Loan Party has qualified to do business in such state or has filed a Notice of Business Activities Report or equivalent report for the then current year;
(q) which arises out of a sale not made in the ordinary course of the Loan Party’s business or which represents a sale on a cash or “COD” basis;
(r) with respect to which the goods giving rise to such Account have not been shipped and delivered to and accepted by, or have been rejected or objected to by, the Account Debtor or the services giving rise to such Account have not been performed by such Loan Party, and, if applicable, accepted by the Account Debtor, or the Account Debtor revokes its acceptance of such goods or services;
(s) owed by an Account Debtor, or group of affiliated Account Debtors, which is obligated to the Loan Parties respecting Accounts the aggregate unpaid balance of which exceeds
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10% of the aggregate unpaid balance of all Eligible Accounts owed to the Loan Parties at such time by all of the Loan Parties’ Account Debtors, but only to the extent of such excess;
(t) which is not subject to a first priority and perfected security interest in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders;
(u) with respect to which such Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, in the exercise of its reasonable credit judgment, has deemed such Account as uncollectible or has any reason to believe that such Account is uncollectible;
(v) which is the subject of any unreconciled variance between the aging of Accounts delivered to the Agent, the general ledger, and the applicable Borrowing Base Certificate; and
(w) which the Administrative Agent determines in its reasonable credit judgment is ineligible for any other reason.
If any Account (or portion thereof) at any time ceases to be an Eligible Account, then such Account (or the applicable portion thereof) shall promptly be excluded from the calculation of the Borrowing Base.
“Eligible Assignee” means (a) a Lender; (b) an Affiliate of a Lender; (c) an Approved Fund; and (d) any other Person (other than a natural person) approved by (i) the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender, and (ii) unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower (each such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, “Eligible Assignee” shall not include the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries.
“Eligible Inventory” means Inventory, valued at the lower of cost or market value, which the Administrative Agent, in its reasonable credit judgment, determines to be Eligible Inventory. Without limiting the discretion of the Administrative Agent to establish other criteria of ineligibility, Eligible Inventory shall not include any Inventory:
(a) that is not owned by a Loan Party, including goods held by a Loan Party on consignment;
(b) with respect to which any of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in the Security Agreement are incorrect or have been breached in any material respect;
(c) that is not subject to the Administrative Agent’s Liens, which are perfected as to such Inventory, or that is subject to any other Lien whatsoever (other than the Liens described in clause (c) of the definition of Permitted Liens; provided that such Permitted Liens (i) are junior in priority to the Administrative Agent’s Liens and (ii) do not impair directly or indirectly the ability of the Administrative Agent to realize on or obtain the full benefit of the Collateral);
(d) that is work-in-progress and raw materials, other than ferrous scrap, and billets;
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(e) that is not finished goods, other than ferrous scrap, billets and other supplies purchased from third parties for which there is a recognized resale market;
(f) that is chemicals, samples, prototypes, supplies, or packing and shipping materials;
(g) that is not in good condition, is unmerchantable, or does not meet all standards imposed by any Governmental Authority having regulatory authority over such goods or their use or sale;
(h) that is obsolete, defective, or not currently salable, at prices approximating at least cost, in the normal course of such Loan Party’s business, or that is slow moving or stale;
(i) that is returned, repossessed, or used goods taken in trade;
(j) that is located outside the U.S. or that is in transit from vendors or suppliers;
(k) that is consigned to third parties or located in a public warehouse or in possession of a bailee or in a facility leased by such Loan Party, if the applicable warehouseman, bailee, or lessor has not delivered to the Administrative Agent, if requested by the Administrative Agent, a subordination agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
(l) that contains or bears any Rights licensed to a Loan Party by any Person, if the Administrative Agent is not satisfied that it may sell or otherwise dispose of such Inventory in accordance with the terms of the Security Agreement and Section 7.05 without infringing the rights of the licensor of such Rights or violating any contract with such licensor (and without payment of any royalties other than any royalties due with respect to the sale or disposition of such Inventory pursuant to the existing license agreement), and, if the Administrative Agent deems it necessary, as to which such Loan Party has not delivered to the Administrative Agent a consent or sublicense agreement from such licensor in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent; or
(m) that is not reflected in the details of a current perpetual inventory report.
If any Inventory at any time ceases to be Eligible Inventory, such Inventory shall promptly be excluded from the calculation of the Borrowing Base.
“Environmental Laws” means any and all Federal, state, local, and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or governmental restrictions relating to pollution and the protection of the environment or the release of any materials into the environment, including those related to hazardous substances or wastes, air emissions and discharges to waste or public systems.
“Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Borrower, any other Loan Party or any of their respective Subsidiaries directly or indirectly
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resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.
“Environmental Permit” means any permit, license, order, approval or other authorization under Environmental Law material to business of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.
“Equity Interests” means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests), and all of the other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are outstanding on any date of determination.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
“ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with the Borrower within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code).
“ERISA Event” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate a Pension Plan, the treatment of a Pension Plan amendment as a termination under Sections 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (e) an event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (f) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate.
“Eurodollar Rate” means, for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the rate per annum equal to the British Bankers Association LIBOR Rate (“BBA LIBOR”), as published by Reuters (or other commercially available source providing quotations of BBA LIBOR as designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period,
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for Dollar deposits (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period. If such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the “Eurodollar Rate” for such Interest Period shall be the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate at which deposits in Dollars for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period in same day funds in the approximate amount of the Eurodollar Rate Loan being made, continued or converted by Bank of America and with a term equivalent to such Interest Period would be offered by Bank of America’s London Branch to major banks in the London interbank eurodollar market at their request at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period.
“Eurodollar Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the Eurodollar Rate.
“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.
“Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder, (a) taxes imposed on or measured by its overall net income (however denominated), and franchise taxes imposed on it (in lieu of net income taxes), by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable Lending Office is located, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located and (c) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 10.13), any withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party hereto (or designates a new Lending Office) or is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure or inability (other than as a result of a Change in Law) to provide the documentation described in Section 3.01(e), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 3.01(a).
“Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the 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 by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) charged to Bank of America on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent.
“Fee Letter” means the letter agreement, dated May 4, 2005 among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Arranger.
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“Foreign Lender” means any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes. For purposes of this definition, the United States, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.
“Foreign Subsidiary” means each Subsidiary of the Borrower which is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States of America or any state or commonwealth thereof.
“FRB” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.
“Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.
“General Intangible” has the meaning specified in the Security Agreement.
“Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).
“Granting Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(h).
“Guarantee” means, as to any Person, any (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Debt or other obligation payable or performable by another Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Debt or other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Debt or other obligation of the payment or performance of such Debt or other obligation, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Debt or other obligation, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Debt or other obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in
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respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Debt or other obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Debt or other obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Debt to obtain any such Lien). The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith. The term “Guarantee” as a verb has a corresponding meaning.
“Guarantors” means, collectively, each Material Domestic Subsidiary.
“Guaranty” means the Guaranty made by the Guarantors, substantially in the form of Exhibit C.
“Hazardous Materials” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.
“Highest Lawful Rate” means at the particular time in question the maximum rate of interest which, under Applicable Law, any Lender is then permitted to charge on the Obligations. If the maximum rate of interest which, under Applicable Law, any Lender is permitted to charge on the Obligations shall change after the date hereof, the Highest Lawful Rate shall be automatically increased or decreased, as the case may be, from time to time as of the effective time of each change in the Highest Lawful Rate without notice to the Borrower. For purposes of determining the Highest Lawful Rate under Applicable Law, on each day, if any, that Chapter 303 of the Texas Finance Code establishes the Highest Lawful Rate, such rate shall be the weekly ceiling computed in accordance with Section 303.003 for that day.
“Honor Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(c)(i).
“Indemnified Taxes” means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.
“Indemnitees” has the meaning specified in Section 10.04(b).
“Information” has the meaning specified in Section 10.07.
“Instrument” has the meaning specified in the UCC.
“Interest Coverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis determined in accordance with GAAP, the ratio of (a) EBITDA to (b) Interest Expense, in each case for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on such date of determination.
“Interest Expense” means, for any period of calculation, calculated for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis determined in accordance with GAAP, interest expense
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(including interest expense pursuant to Capitalized Lease Obligations) for such period. For purposes of this Agreement, Interest Expense shall be deemed to have been $7,000,000 during each of the fiscal quarters beginning June 1, 2004, September 1, 2004, December 1, 2004, March 1, 2005 and June 1, 2005.
“Interest Payment Date” means, (a) as to any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date; provided, however, that if any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates; and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan (including a Swing Line Loan), the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date.
“Interest Period” means, as to each Eurodollar Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such Eurodollar Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Rate Loan and ending on the date one, two, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Revolving Loan Notice; provided that:
(i) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;
(ii) any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and
(iii) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date.
“Internal Control Event” means a material weakness in, or material fraud that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in, the Borrower’s internal controls over financial reporting, in each case as described in the Securities Laws.
“Inventory” has the meaning specified in the UCC.
“Investment” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person, whether by means of (a) the purchase or other acquisition of capital stock or other securities of another Person, (b) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, Guarantee or assumption of debt of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or Equity Interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person and any arrangement pursuant to which the investor Guarantees Debt of such other Person, or (c) the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of assets of another Person that constitute a business unit. For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of any Investment shall be the amount actually invested, without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment.
“IP Rights” has the meaning specified in Section 5.17.
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“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.
“ISP” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the “International Standby Practices 1998” published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).
“Issuer Documents” means with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Letter of Credit Application, and any other document, agreement and instrument entered into by the L/C Issuer and the Borrower or in favor of the L/C Issuer and relating to any such Letter of Credit.
“Laws” means, collectively, all international, foreign, Federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case whether or not having the force of law.
“L/C Advance” means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s funding of its participation in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Revolving Applicable Percentage.
“L/C Borrowing” means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit which has not been reimbursed on the date when made or refinanced as a Revolving Borrowing.
“L/C Credit Extension” means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof or extension of the expiry date thereof, or the increase of the amount thereof.
“L/C Issuer” means Bank of America in its capacity as issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, or any successor issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder.
“L/C Obligations” means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit plus the aggregate of all Unreimbursed Amounts, including all L/C Borrowings. For purposes of computing the amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06. For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.
“Lender” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto and, as the context requires, includes the Swing Line Lender.
“Lending Office” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
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“Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit issued hereunder, and shall include Existing Letters of Credit. A Letter of Credit may be a commercial letter of credit or a standby letter of credit.
“Letter of Credit Application” means an application and agreement for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit in the form from time to time in use by the L/C Issuer.
“Letter of Credit Expiration Date” means the day that is seven days prior to the Maturity Date then in effect (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day).
“Letter of Credit Fee” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(i).
“Letter of Credit Sublimit” means an amount equal to $25,000,000. The Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitments.
“Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries consolidated in accordance with GAAP, the ratio of (a) Total Debt as of such date of determination to (b) EBITDA for the four fiscal quarters ending on such date of determination.
“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge, or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement in the nature of a security interest of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to real property, and any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).
“Loan” means an extension of credit by a Lender to the Borrower under Article II in the form of a Revolving Loan or a Swing Line Loan.
“Loan Documents” means this Agreement, each Note, each Issuer Document, the Fee Letter, the Guaranty, the Collateral Documents and any other agreement or document executed, delivered or performable by any Loan Party in connection herewith or as security for the Obligations.
“Loan Parties” means, collectively, the Borrower, each Guarantor and each Grantor (as defined in the Security Agreement).
“Material Adverse Effect” means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the operations, business, properties, liabilities (actual or contingent) or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower or the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of the Loan Parties to perform their obligations under the Loan Documents; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against any Loan Party of any Loan Document to which it is a party.
“Material Domestic Subsidiary” means any Domestic Subsidiary that has assets in excess of $10,000.
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“Maturity Date” means (a) June 16, 2010 or (b) such earlier date as the (i) the Obligations become due and payable pursuant to this Agreement (whether by acceleration, prepayment in full, scheduled reduction or otherwise) or (ii) there shall exist an Event of Default under Section 8.01(f) of this Agreement.
“Moody’s” means Xxxxx’x Investors Services, Inc. and any successor thereto.
“Multiemployer Plan” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding five plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions.
“Net Cash Proceeds” means:
(a) with respect to the sale of any asset by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, the excess, if any, of (i) the sum of cash and cash equivalents received in connection with such sale (including any cash received by way of deferred payment pursuant to, or by monetization of, a note receivable or otherwise, but only as and when so received) over (ii) the sum of (A) the principal amount of any Debt that is secured by such asset and that is required to be repaid in connection with the sale thereof (other than Debt under the Loan Documents), (B) the out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with such sale and (C) income taxes reasonably estimated to be actually payable within two years of the date of the relevant asset sale as a result of any gain recognized in connection therewith; and
(b) with respect to the sale of any Equity Interest by the Borrower, the excess of (i) the sum of the cash and cash equivalents received in connection with such sale over (ii) the underwriting discounts and commissions, and other out-of-pocket expenses, incurred by the Borrower in connection with such sale.
“Net Recovery Proceeds” means, with respect to any Recovery Event, the gross cash proceeds (net of reasonable fees, costs and taxes actually incurred and paid in connection with such Recovery Event and any required permanent payment of Debt (other than Debt secured pursuant to the Collateral Documents) which is secured by the property that is the subject of such Recovery Event) received by the respective Person in connection with such Recovery Event.
“Non-Extension Notice Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(b)(iii).
“Notes” means collectively, the Revolving Loan Notes and the Swing Line Note.
“Obligations” means all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Loan Party arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to (i) any Loan or Letter of Credit, (ii) any Swap Contract of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to which a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender is a party, provided such Lender was a party to this Agreement at the time such Swap Contract was entered into or (iii) Cash Management Obligations, in each case whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that
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accrue after the commencement by or against any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding.
“Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities” means, with respect to any Person as of any date of determination thereof, without duplication and to the extent not included as a liability on the consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP: (a) with respect to any asset securitization transaction (including any accounts receivable purchase facility) (i) the unrecovered investment of purchasers or transferees of assets so transferred, and (ii) any other payment, recourse, repurchase, hold harmless, indemnity or similar obligation of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of assets transferred or payments made in respect thereof, other than limited recourse provisions that are customary for transactions of such type and that neither (x) have the effect of limiting the loss or credit risk of such purchasers or transferees with respect to payment or performance by the obligors of the assets so transferred nor (y) impair the characterization of the transaction as a true sale under applicable Laws (including Debtor Relief Laws); (b) the monetary obligations under any financing lease or so-called “synthetic,” tax retention or off-balance sheet lease transaction which, upon the application of any Debtor Relief Law to such Person or any of its Subsidiaries, would be characterized as indebtedness; (c) the monetary obligations under any sale and leaseback transaction which does not create a liability on the consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Subsidiaries; (d) any other monetary obligation arising with respect to any other transaction which upon the application of any Debtor Relief Law to such Person or any of its Subsidiaries, would be characterized as indebtedness, or (e) any transaction structured to provide tax deductibility as interest expense of any dividend or similar payment.
“Organization Documents” means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.
“Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or under any other Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
“Outstanding Amount” means (i) with respect to Revolving Loans and Swing Line Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Revolving Loans and Swing Line Loans, as the case may be, occurring on such date; and (ii) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the amount of such L/C Obligations on such date after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension
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occurring on such date and any other changes in the aggregate amount of the L/C Obligations as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements by the Borrower of Unreimbursed Amounts.
“Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d).
“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
“Pension Plan” means any “employee pension benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA and is sponsored or maintained by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate contributes or has an obligation to contribute, or in the case of a multiple employer or other plan described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA, has made contributions at any time during the immediately preceding five plan years.
“Permitted Liens” means, as applied to any Person:
(a) any Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent to secure the Obligations (including, without limitation, L/C Obligations and obligations in respect of Swap Contracts, to the extent included within the definition of Obligations);
(b) (i) Liens on real estate for real estate taxes not yet delinquent, (ii) Liens on leasehold interests created by the lessor in favor of any mortgagee of the leased premises, and (iii) Liens for taxes, assessments, governmental charges, levies or claims that are being diligently contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves shall have been set aside on such Person’s books, but only so long as no foreclosure, restraint, sale or similar proceedings have been commenced with respect thereto;
(c) Liens of carriers, landlords, warehousemen, mechanics, laborers and materialmen and other similar Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business for sums not yet due or being contested in good faith, if such reserve or appropriate provision, if any, as shall be required by GAAP shall have been made therefore;
(d) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with worker’s compensation, unemployment insurance or similar legislation, other than Liens imposed by ERISA;
(e) Easements, right-of-way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances on real property which do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of such Person;
(f) Liens created to secure Debt permitted by Sections 7.03(d), which is incurred solely for the purpose of financing the acquisition or construction of such assets and incurred at the time of acquisition or construction, so long as each such Lien shall at all times be confined solely to the asset or assets so acquired or constructed (and proceeds
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thereof), and refinancings thereof so long as any such Lien remains solely on the asset or assets acquired or constructed and the amount of Debt related thereto is not increased.
(g) Liens in respect of judgments or awards for which appeals or proceedings for review are being prosecuted and in respect of which a stay of execution upon any such appeal or proceeding for review shall have been secured, provided that (i) such Person shall have established adequate reserves for such judgments or awards, (ii) such judgments or awards shall be fully insured and the insurer shall not have denied coverage, or (iii) such judgments or awards shall have been bonded to the reasonable satisfaction of the Administrative Agent;
(h) Any Liens existing on the Closing Date which are described on Schedule 7.01 and which are acceptable to the Lenders, and Liens resulting from the refinancing of the related Debt, provided that the Debt secured thereby shall not be increased and the Liens shall not cover additional assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary; and
(i) Liens filed of record out of an abundance of caution by lessors of personal property, so long as each such Lien shall at all times be confined solely to the asset or assets so leased (including additions and accessions thereto and proceeds of insurance thereon).
“Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.
“Plan” means any “employee benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) established by the Borrower or, with respect to any such plan that is subject to Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, any ERISA Affiliate.
“Platform” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.
“Recovery Event” means the receipt by any Loan Party of any cash insurance proceeds or condemnation awards payable (i) by reason of theft, loss, physical destruction, damage, taking or any other similar event with respect to any property or assets of any Loan Party and (ii) under any policy of insurance required to be maintained under any Loan Document.
“Register” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(c).
“Registered Public Accounting Firm” has the meaning specified in the Securities Laws and shall be independent of the Borrower as prescribed by the Securities Laws.
“Related Parties” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.
“Release” has the meaning specified under any Environmental Law.
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“Reportable Event” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than events for which the 30 day notice period has been waived.
“Request for Credit Extension” means (a) with respect to a Revolving Borrowing or a conversion or continuation of Revolving Loans, a Revolving Loan Notice, (b) with respect to an L/C Credit Extension, a Letter of Credit Application, and (c) with respect to a Swing Line Loan, a Swing Line Loan Notice.
“Required Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having more than 50% of the Aggregate Commitments or, if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02, Lenders holding in the aggregate more than 50% of the Total Outstandings (with the aggregate amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition); provided that the Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.
“Response” has the meaning specified under any Environmental Law.
“Responsible Officer” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, chief accounting officer, treasurer or assistant treasurer of a Loan Party. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party.
“Restricted Debt Payments” has the meaning specified in Section 7.15.
“Restricted Payment” means any Dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any capital stock or other Equity Interest of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such capital stock or other Equity Interest, or on account of any return of capital to the Borrower’s stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent Person thereof).
“Revolving Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Revolving Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01.
“Revolving Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.
“Revolving Loan Note” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of a Lender evidencing Revolving Loans made by such Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit E.
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“Revolving Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) a Revolving Borrowing, (b) a conversion of Revolving Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Revolving Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit F.
“Rights” shall have the meaning set forth in the Security Agreement.
“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service, a division of The McGraw–Hill Companies, Inc. and any successor thereto.
“Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx” means the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.
“Secured Party” means each of, and “Secured Parties” means all of, (i) the Administrative Agent, (ii) the Lenders, (iii) any Affiliate of a Lender that is a party to a Swap Contract with the Borrower or any Subsidiary, provided such Lender was a party to this Agreement at the time such Swap Contract was entered into and (iv) the Swing Line Lender.
“Securities Laws” means the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx and the applicable accounting and auditing principles, rules, standards and practices promulgated, approved or incorporated by the SEC or the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, as each of the foregoing may be amended and in effect on any applicable date hereunder.
“Security Agreement” means the Security Agreement executed by the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries in favor of Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, in substantially the form of Exhibit G hereto.
“Senior Notes” means those certain senior notes of the Borrower due no earlier than 2012 in the aggregate principal amount not in excess of $300,000,000 to be issued on or about the date of the initial Credit Extension pursuant to terms, covenants and provisions satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
“Senior Secured Debt” means, as of any date of determination, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis determined in accordance with GAAP, the remainder of (a) Total Debt as of such date of determination which is secured by a Lien minus (b) Subordinated Debt as of such date of determination.
“Senior Secured Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis determined in accordance with GAAP, the ratio of (a) Senior Secured Debt as of such date of determination to (b) EBITDA for the four fiscal quarters ending on such date of determination.
“Solvent” means, with respect to any Person, as of any date of determination, that the fair value of the assets of such Person (at fair valuation) is, on the date of determination, greater than the total amount of liabilities (including contingent and unliquidated liabilities) of such Person as
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of such date, that the present fair saleable value of the assets of such Person will, as of such date, be greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts as such debts become absolute and matured, and that, as of such date, such Person will be able to pay all liabilities of such Person as such liabilities mature and such Person does not have unreasonably small capital with which to carry on its business. In computing the amount of contingent or unliquidated liabilities at any time, such liabilities will be computed at the amount which, in light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability discounted to present value at rates believed to be reasonable by such Person acting in good faith.
“SPC” has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(h).
“Spin-Off Transaction” means collectively the various transactions described in Borrower’s Form 10 Registration Statement and related Information Statement filed with the SEC concerning TXI’s distribution to its shareholders of the stock of the Borrower, including without limitation: (a) TXI’s contribution or transfer to the Borrower of TXI’s subsidiaries engaged in the steel business and certain related assets, and the Borrower’s assumption of the liabilities arising out of the steel business or the transferred assets, (b) the sale of the Senior Notes by the Borrower and the sale of senior notes of TXI, (c) the Borrower’s payment to TXI of a cash Dividend of approximately $341,000,000 (but not to exceed $345,000,000), and (d) the registration and distribution of the common Equity Interests of the Borrower to TXI’s shareholders.
“Subordinated Debt” means all Debt of the Borrower or any Subsidiary which shall be subordinated, on terms satisfactory to the Required Lenders, to the Obligations.
“Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of securities or other interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than securities or interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.
“Supermajority Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders having at least 66 2/3% of the Aggregate Commitments or, if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02, Lenders holding in the aggregate at least 66 2/3% of the Total Outstandings (with the aggregate amount of each Lender’s risk participation and funded participation in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans being deemed “held” by such Lender for purposes of this definition); provided that the Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Supermajority Lenders.
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“Swap Contract” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement to the extent governing contracts of the kinds described in clause (a) of this definition (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.
“Swap Contract Amount” means, with respect to all Swap Contracts to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is a party with any Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender (provided that such Lender was a Lender at the time such Swap Contract was entered into), the amount on any date by which the Swap Termination Value (determined as if all such Swap Contracts were terminated as of such date) of all such Swap Contracts exceeds $5,000,000.
“Swap Termination Value” means, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the xxxx-to-market value(s) for such Swap Contracts, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Swap Contracts (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).
“Swing Line” means the revolving credit facility made available by the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.04.
“Swing Line Borrowing” means a borrowing of a Swing Line Loan pursuant to Section 2.04.
“Swing Line Lender” means Bank of America in its capacity as provider of Swing Line Loans, or any successor swing line lender hereunder.
“Swing Line Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(a).
“Swing Line Loan Notice” means a notice of a Swing Line Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.04(b), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit H.
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“Swing Line Note” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of the Swing Line Lender evidencing Swing Line Loans made by such Swing Line Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit I.
“Swing Line Sublimit” means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $15,000,000 and (b) the Aggregate Commitments. The Swing Line Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Commitments.
“Syndication Agent” means UBS Securities LLC, in its capacity as syndication agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor syndication agent.
“Synthetic Lease Obligation” means the monetary obligation of a Person under (a) a so-called synthetic, off-balance sheet or tax retention lease, or (b) an agreement for the use or possession of property creating obligations that do not appear on the balance sheet of such Person but which, upon the insolvency or bankruptcy of such Person, would be characterized as the indebtedness of such Person (without regard to accounting treatment).
“Taxes” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings, assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
“Total Debt” means, as of any date of determination, determined for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis determined in accordance with GAAP, the sum (without duplication) of (a) all principal outstanding under the Loan Documents, (b) all principal obligations evidenced by a promissory note or otherwise representing borrowed money, (c) all reimbursement obligations for letters of credit that have been drawn and remain outstanding, and (d) all Capitalized Lease Obligations.
“Total Outstandings” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans and all L/C Obligations.
“TXI” means Texas Industries, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and prior to the Spin–Off Transaction, the parent company of the Borrower.
“TXI Advance” means the intercompany payable owing from the Borrower to TXI, which on the Closing Date shall not exceed $25,000,000, which shall only increase or decrease as provided in the definition of “Centralized Cash Management Program”; provided that the amount outstanding shall not exceed $50,000,000.
“TXI Dividend” means the Dividend to TXI by the Borrower in an aggregate amount of approximately $341,000,000 (but not to exceed $345,000,000) made in connection with the Spin–Off Transaction; provided that no more than $50,000,000 of such Dividend shall be from the proceeds of Borrowings under this Agreement.
“Type” means, with respect to a Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Rate Loan.
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“UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code of Texas or, where applicable to specific Collateral, any other relevant state.
“Unfunded Pension Liability” means the excess of a Pension Plan’s benefit liabilities under Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA, over the current value of that Pension Plan’s assets, determined in accordance with the assumptions used for funding the Pension Plan pursuant to Section 412 of the Code for the applicable plan year.
“United States” and “U.S.” mean the United States of America.
“Unreimbursed Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(c)(i).
“Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” when used to determine the relationship of a Subsidiary to a Person, means a Subsidiary all of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests (other than directors’ qualifying shares) of which shall at the time be owned by such Person or one or more of such Person’s Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries or by such Person and one or more of such Person’s Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries.
1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions. With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:
(a) The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.” Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document (including any Organization Document) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein or in any other Loan Document), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (iii) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document, shall be construed to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not to any particular provision thereof, (iv) all references in a Loan Document to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or interpreting such law and any reference to any law or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and (vi) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.
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(b) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including;” the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding;” and the word “through” means “to and including.”
(c) Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
1.03 Accounting Terms.
(a) Generally. All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the Audited Financial Statements, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein.
(b) Changes in GAAP. If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that, until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP.
1.04 Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).
1.05 Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Central time (daylight or standard, as applicable).
1.06 Letter of Credit Amounts. Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the stated amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided, however, that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Issuer Document related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.
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ARTICLE II.
THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS
2.01 Revolving Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make loans (each such loan, a “Revolving Loan”) to the Borrower from time to time, on any Business Day during the Availability Period, in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Lender’s Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Revolving Borrowing, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the lesser of (a) the Aggregate Commitments and (b) the Borrowing Base, and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment. Within the limits of the Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.01. Revolving Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein.
2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans.
(a) Each Borrowing, each conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or of any conversion of Eurodollar Rate Loans to Base Rate Loans, and (ii) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans. Each telephonic notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written Revolving Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. Except as provided in Sections 2.03(c) and 2.04(c), each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof. Each Revolving Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written), shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Borrowing, a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Loans are to be converted, and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto. If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Loan in a Revolving Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans. Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurodollar Rate Loans. If the Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurodollar Rate
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Loans in any such Revolving Loan Notice but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month.
(b) Following receipt of a Revolving Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans described in the preceding subsection. In the case of a Revolving Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in the Revolving Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (and, if such Borrowing is the initial Credit Extension, Section 4.01), the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of Bank of America with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Borrower; provided, however, that if, on the date the Revolving Loan Notice with respect to such Borrowing is given by the Borrower, there are L/C Borrowings outstanding, then the proceeds of such Borrowing, first, shall be applied to the payment in full of any such L/C Borrowings, and second, shall be made available to the Borrower as provided above.
(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurodollar Rate Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate Loan. During the existence of a Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as Eurodollar Rate Loans without the consent of the Required Lenders.
(d) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurodollar Rate Loans upon determination of such interest rate. At any time that Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of any change in Bank of America’s prime rate used in determining the Base Rate promptly following the public announcement of such change.
(e) After giving effect to all Borrowings, all conversions of Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than five Interest Periods in effect with respect to Loans.
2.03 Letters of Credit.
(a) The Letter of Credit Commitment.
(i) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (A) the L/C Issuer agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the Lenders set forth in this Section 2.03, (1) from time to time on any Business Day during the period from
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the Closing Date until the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, to issue Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower, and to amend or extend Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with subsection (b) below, and (2) to honor drawings under the Letters of Credit; and (B) the Lenders severally agree to participate in Letters of Credit issued for the account of the Borrower and any drawings thereunder; provided that after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension with respect to any Letter of Credit, (x) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the lesser of (A) the Aggregate Commitments and (B) the Borrowing Base, (y) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment, and (z) the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations shall not exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit. Each request by the Borrower for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be a representation by the Borrower that the L/C Credit Extension so requested complies with the conditions set forth in the proviso to the preceding sentence. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower’s ability to obtain Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving, and accordingly the Borrower may, during the foregoing period, obtain Letters of Credit to replace Letters of Credit that have expired or that have been drawn upon and reimbursed.
(ii) The L/C Issuer shall not issue any Letter of Credit, if:
(A) subject to Section 2.03(b)(iii), the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur more than twelve months after the date of issuance or last extension, unless the Required Lenders have approved such expiry date; or
(B) the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur after the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, unless all the Lenders have approved such expiry date.
(iii) The L/C Issuer shall not be under any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if:
(A) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain the L/C Issuer from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any Law applicable to the L/C Issuer or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the L/C Issuer shall prohibit, or request that the L/C Issuer refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon the L/C Issuer with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which the L/C Issuer is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date,
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or shall impose upon the L/C Issuer any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Closing Date and which the L/C Issuer in good xxxxx xxxxx material to it;
(B) the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of the L/C Issuer;
(C) except as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer, such Letter of Credit is in an initial stated amount less than $100,000, in the case of a commercial Letter of Credit, or $100,000, in the case of a standby Letter of Credit;
(D) such Letter of Credit is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars; or
(E) a default of any Lender’s obligations to fund under Section 2.03(c) exists or any Lender is at such time a Defaulting Lender hereunder, unless the L/C Issuer has entered into satisfactory arrangements with the Borrower or such Lender to eliminate the L/C Issuer’s risk with respect to such Lender.
(iv) The L/C Issuer shall not amend any Letter of Credit if the L/C Issuer would not be permitted at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof.
(v) The L/C Issuer shall be under no obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if (A) the L/C Issuer would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof, or (B) the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to such Letter of Credit.
(vi) The L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and the L/C Issuer shall have all of the benefits and immunities (A) provided to the Administrative Agent in Article IX with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by the L/C Issuer in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and Issuer Documents pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term “Administrative Agent” as used in Article IX included the L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (B) as additionally provided herein with respect to the L/C Issuer.
(b) Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of Credit; Auto-Extension Letters of Credit.
(i) Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the request of the Borrower delivered to the L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) in the form of a Letter of Credit Application,
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appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Such Letter of Credit Application must be received by the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m. at least two Business Days (or such later date and time as the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in their sole discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be. In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the L/C Issuer: (A) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (B) the amount thereof; (C) the expiry date thereof; (D) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (E) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (F) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; and (G) such other matters as the L/C Issuer may require. In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the L/C Issuer (A) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (B) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (C) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (D) such other matters as the L/C Issuer may require. Additionally, the Borrower shall furnish to the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent such other documents and information pertaining to such requested Letter of Credit issuance or amendment, including any Issuer Documents, as the L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent may require.
(ii) Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the L/C Issuer will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit Application from the Borrower and, if not, the L/C Issuer will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof. Unless the L/C Issuer has received written notice from any Lender, the Administrative Agent or any Loan Party, at least one Business Day prior to the requested date of issuance or amendment of the applicable Letter of Credit, that one or more applicable conditions contained in Article IV shall not then be satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the L/C Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Borrower or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be, in each case in accordance with the L/C Issuer’s usual and customary business practices. Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the L/C Issuer a risk participation in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage times the amount of such Letter of Credit.
(iii) If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the L/C Issuer may, in its sole and absolute discretion, agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions (each, an “Auto-Extension Letter of Credit”); provided that any such Auto-Extension Letter of Credit must permit the L/C Issuer to prevent any such extension at least once in
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each twelve-month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the “Non-Extension Notice Date”) in each such twelve-month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Unless otherwise directed by the L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the L/C Issuer for any such extension. Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the L/C Issuer to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided, however, that the L/C Issuer shall not permit any such extension if (A) the L/C Issuer has determined that it would not be permitted, or would have no obligation, at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its revised form (as extended) under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of clause (ii) or (iii) of Section 2.03(a) or otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is five Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date (1) from the Administrative Agent that the Required Lenders have elected not to permit such extension or (2) from the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied, and in each such case directing the L/C Issuer not to permit such extension.
(iv) Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary thereof, the L/C Issuer will also deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.
(c) Drawings and Reimbursements; Funding of Participations.
(i) Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any notice of a drawing under such Letter of Credit, the L/C Issuer shall notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof. Not later than 11:00 a.m. on the date of any payment by the L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit (each such date, an “Honor Date”), the Borrower shall reimburse the L/C Issuer through the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing. If the Borrower fails to so reimburse the L/C Issuer by such time, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the Honor Date, the amount of the unreimbursed drawing (the “Unreimbursed Amount”), and the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage thereof. In such event, the Borrower shall be deemed to have requested a Revolving Borrowing of Base Rate Loans to be disbursed on the Honor Date in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed Amount, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.02 for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Commitment and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than the delivery of a Revolving Loan Notice). Any notice given by the L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.03(c)(i) may be given by
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telephone if immediately confirmed in writing; provided that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.
(ii) Each Lender shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) make funds available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer at the Administrative Agent’s Office in an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the Unreimbursed Amount not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in such notice by the Administrative Agent, whereupon, subject to the provisions of Section 2.03(c)(iii), each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Loan to the Borrower in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the L/C Issuer.
(iii) With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount that is not fully refinanced by a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans because the conditions set forth in Section 3.02 cannot be satisfied or for any other reason, the Borrower shall be deemed to have incurred from the L/C Issuer an L/C Borrowing in the amount of the Unreimbursed Amount that is not so refinanced, which L/C Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest at the Default Rate. In such event, each Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(ii) shall be deemed payment in respect of its participation in such L/C Borrowing and shall constitute an L/C Advance from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section 2.03.
(iv) Until each Lender funds its Revolving Loan or L/C Advance pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) to reimburse the L/C Issuer for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit, interest in respect of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such amount shall be solely for the account of the L/C Issuer.
(v) Each Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Loans or L/C Advances to reimburse the L/C Issuer for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, as contemplated by this Section 2.03(c), shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the L/C Issuer, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided, however, that each Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Loans pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than delivery by the Borrower of a Revolving Loan Notice). No such making of an L/C Advance shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the L/C Issuer for the amount of any payment made by the L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit, together with interest as provided herein.
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(vi) If any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03(c) by the time specified in Section 2.03(c)(ii), the L/C Issuer shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the L/C Issuer at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the L/C Issuer in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation. A certificate of the L/C Issuer submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (vi) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(vii) The L/C Issuer will provide to the Administrative Agent reports in detail acceptable to the Administrative Agent (including draws, payments and reconciliation reports) with respect to outstanding Letters of Credit issued by the L/C Issuer, in such frequency as reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent will provide quarterly reports to each Lender with respect to the outstanding Letters of Credit at such time issued by the L/C Issuer, and such other information regarding outstanding Letters of Credit or L/C Obligations reasonably requested by any Lender from time to time.
(d) Repayment of Participations.
(i) At any time after the L/C Issuer has made a payment under any Letter of Credit and has received from any Lender such Lender’s L/C Advance in respect of such payment in accordance with Section 2.03(c), if the Administrative Agent receives for the account of the L/C Issuer any payment in respect of the related Unreimbursed Amount or interest thereon (whether directly from the Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds of Cash Collateral applied thereto by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent will distribute to such Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Lender’s L/C Advance was outstanding) in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent.
(ii) If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) is required to be returned under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the L/C Issuer in its discretion), each Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned by such Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
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(e) Obligations Absolute. The obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the L/C Issuer for each drawing under each Letter of Credit and to repay each L/C Borrowing shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances, including the following:
(i) any lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit, this Agreement, or any other Loan Document;
(ii) the existence of any claim, counterclaim, setoff, defense or other right that the Borrower or any Subsidiary may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the L/C Issuer or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such Letter of Credit or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated transaction;
(iii) any draft, demand, certificate or other document presented under such Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under such Letter of Credit;
(iv) any payment by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or any payment made by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor to any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit, including any arising in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law; or
(v) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, including any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, the Borrower or any Subsidiary.
The Borrower shall promptly examine a copy of each Letter of Credit and each amendment thereto that is delivered to it and, in the event of any claim of noncompliance with the Borrower’s instructions or other irregularity, the Borrower will immediately notify the L/C Issuer. The Borrower shall be conclusively deemed to have waived any such claim against the L/C Issuer and its correspondents unless such notice is given as aforesaid.
(f) Role of L/C Issuer. Each Lender and the Borrower agree that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, the L/C Issuer shall not have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight draft, certificates and documents expressly required by the Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of
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any such document or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document. None of the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of the L/C Issuer shall be liable to any Lender for (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of the Lenders or the Required Lenders, as applicable; (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct; or (iii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related to any Letter of Credit or Issuer Document. The Borrower hereby assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to its use of any Letter of Credit; provided, however, that this assumption is not intended to, and shall not, preclude the Borrower’s pursuing such rights and remedies as it may have against the beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement. None of the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of the L/C Issuer shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in clauses (i) through (v) of Section 2.03(e); provided, however, that anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, the Borrower may have a claim against the L/C Issuer, and the L/C Issuer may be liable to the Borrower, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by the Borrower which the Borrower proves were caused by the L/C Issuer’s willful misconduct or gross negligence or the L/C Issuer’s willful failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft and certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the L/C Issuer may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and the L/C Issuer shall not be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason.
(g) Cash Collateral. Upon the request of the Administrative Agent, (i) if the L/C Issuer has honored any full or partial drawing request under any Letter of Credit and such drawing has resulted in an L/C Borrowing, or (ii) if, as of the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, any L/C Obligation for any reason remains outstanding, the Borrower shall, in each case, immediately Cash Collateralize the then Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations. Sections 2.05 and 8.02(c) set forth certain additional requirements to deliver Cash Collateral hereunder. For purposes of this Section 2.03, Section 2.05 and Section 8.02(c), “Cash Collateralize” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the L/C Issuer and the Lenders, as collateral for the L/C Obligations, cash or deposit account balances pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer (which documents are hereby consented to by the Lenders). Derivatives of such term have corresponding meanings. The Borrower hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the L/C Issuer and the Lenders, a security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein and all proceeds of the foregoing. Cash Collateral shall be maintained in blocked, non-interest bearing deposit accounts at Bank of America.
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(h) Applicability of ISP and UCP. Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the L/C Issuer and the Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued, (i) the rules of the ISP shall apply to each standby Letter of Credit, and (ii) the rules of the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, as most recently published by the International Chamber of Commerce at the time of issuance, shall apply to each commercial Letter of Credit.
(i) Letter of Credit Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage a Letter of Credit fee (the “Letter of Credit Fee”) for each Letter of Credit equal to the Applicable Rate times the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06. Letter of Credit Fees shall be (i) computed on a quarterly basis in arrears and (ii) due and payable on the first Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. If there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the daily amount available to be drawn under each Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, upon the request of the Required Lenders, while any Event of Default exists, all Letter of Credit Fees shall accrue at the Default Rate.
(j) Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuer. The Borrower shall pay directly to the L/C Issuer for its own account a fronting fee with respect to each (i) commercial Letter of Credit at rate separately agreed to by the Borrower and the L/C Issuer and (ii) standby Letter of Credit, at the rate per annum specified in the Fee Letter, computed on the daily amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit on a quarterly basis in arrears. Such fronting fee with respect to commercial Letters of Credit shall be due and payable on the date of issuance thereof. Such fronting fee with respect to standby Letters of Credit shall be due and payable on the tenth Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December in respect of the most recently-ended quarterly period (or portion thereof, in the case of the first payment), commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06. In addition, the Borrower shall pay directly to the L/C Issuer for its own account the customary issuance, presentation, amendment and other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of the L/C Issuer relating to letters of credit as from time to time in effect. Such customary fees and standard costs and charges are due and payable on demand and are nonrefundable.
(k) Conflict with Issuer Documents. In the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Issuer Document, the terms hereof shall control.
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2.04 Swing Line Loans.
(a) The Swing Line. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swing Line Lender agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Lenders set forth in this Section 2.04, to make loans (each such loan, a “Swing Line Loan”) to the Borrower from time to time on any Business Day during the Availability Period in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of the Swing Line Sublimit, notwithstanding the fact that such Swing Line Loans, when aggregated with the Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of Revolving Loans and L/C Obligations of the Lender acting as Swing Line Lender, may exceed the amount of such Lender’s Percentage of the Aggregate Commitments; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Swing Line Loan, (i) the Total Outstandings shall not exceed the lesser of (A) the Aggregate Commitments and (B) the Borrowing Base, and (ii) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Loans of any Lender, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations, plus such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans shall not exceed such Lender’s Commitment, and provided, further, that the Borrower shall not use the proceeds of any Swing Line Loan to refinance any outstanding Swing Line Loan. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.04, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.04. Each Swing Line Loan shall be a Base Rate Loan. Immediately upon the making of a Swing Line Loan, each Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Swing Line Lender a risk participation in such Swing Line Loan in an amount equal to the product of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage times the amount of such Swing Line Loan.
(b) Borrowing Procedures. Each Swing Line Borrowing shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon on the requested borrowing date, and shall specify (i) the amount to be borrowed, which shall be a minimum of $100,000, and (ii) the requested borrowing date, which shall be a Business Day. Each such telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent of a written Swing Line Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Promptly after receipt by the Swing Line Lender of any telephonic Swing Line Loan Notice, the Swing Line Lender will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has also received such Swing Line Loan Notice and, if not, the Swing Line Lender will notify the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) of the contents thereof. Unless the Swing Line Lender has received notice (by telephone or in writing) from the Administrative Agent (including at the request of any Lender) prior to 1:00 p.m. on the date of the proposed Swing Line Borrowing (A) directing the Swing Line Lender not to make such Swing Line Loan as a result of the limitations set forth in the proviso to the first sentence of Section 2.04(a), or (B) that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Article IV is not then satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swing Line Lender will, not later than
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2:00 p.m. on the borrowing date specified in such Swing Line Loan Notice, make the amount of its Swing Line Loan available to the Borrower at its office by crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of the Swing Line Lender in immediately available funds.
(c) Refinancing of Swing Line Loans.
(i) The Swing Line Lender at any time in its sole and absolute discretion may request, on behalf of the Borrower (which hereby irrevocably authorizes the Swing Line Lender to so request on its behalf), that each Lender make a Base Rate Loan in an amount equal to such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of the amount of Swing Line Loans then outstanding. Such request shall be made in writing (which written request shall be deemed to be a Revolving Loan Notice for purposes hereof) and in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.02, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified therein for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the unutilized portion of the Commitment and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02. The Swing Line Lender shall furnish the Borrower with a copy of the applicable Revolving Loan Notice promptly after delivering such notice to the Administrative Agent. Each Lender shall make an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the amount specified in such Revolving Loan Notice available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds for the account of the Swing Line Lender at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 12:00 noon on the day specified in such Revolving Loan Notice, whereupon, subject to Section 2.04(c)(ii), each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Loan to the Borrower in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the Swing Line Lender.
(ii) If for any reason any Swing Line Loan cannot be refinanced by such a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.04 (c)(i), the request for Base Rate Loans submitted by the Swing Line Lender as set forth herein shall be deemed to be a request by the Swing Line Lender that each of the Lenders fund its risk participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan and each Lender’s payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(c)(i) shall be deemed payment in respect of such participation.
(iii) If any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.04(c) by the time specified in Section 2.04(c)(i), the Swing Line Lender shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the Swing Line Lender at a rate per annum equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Swing Line Lender in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation. A certificate of the Swing Line Lender
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submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (iii) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(iv) Each Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Loans or to purchase and fund risk participations in Swing Line Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the Swing Line Lender, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided, however, that each Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02. No such funding of risk participations shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrower to repay Swing Line Loans, together with interest as provided herein.
(d) Repayment of Participations.
(i) At any time after any Lender has purchased and funded a risk participation in a Swing Line Loan, if the Swing Line Lender receives any payment on account of such Swing Line Loan, the Swing Line Lender will distribute to such Lender its Applicable Percentage of such payment (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Lender’s risk participation was funded) in the same funds as those received by the Swing Line Lender.
(ii) If any payment received by the Swing Line Lender in respect of principal or interest on any Swing Line Loan is required to be returned by the Swing Line Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Swing Line Lender in its discretion), each Lender shall pay to the Swing Line Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate. The Administrative Agent will make such demand upon the request of the Swing Line Lender. The obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
(e) Interest for Account of Swing Line Lender. The Swing Line Lender shall be responsible for invoicing the Borrower for interest on the Swing Line Loans. Until each Lender funds its Base Rate Loan or risk participation pursuant to this Section 2.04 to refinance such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of any Swing Line Loan, interest in respect of such Applicable Percentage shall be solely for the account of the Swing Line Lender.
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(f) Payments Directly to Swing Line Lender. The Borrower shall make all payments of principal and interest in respect of the Swing Line Loans directly to the Swing Line Lender.
2.05 Prepayments.
(a) Voluntary Prepayments - Revolving Loans. The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Revolving Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (A) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans and (B) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans; (ii) any prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof; and (iii) any prepayment of Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Loans to be prepaid. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein. Any prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. Each such prepayment shall be applied to the Revolving Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages.
(b) Voluntary Prepayments - Swing Line Loans. The Borrower may, upon notice to the Swing Line Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at any time or from time to time, voluntarily prepay Swing Line Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon on the date of the prepayment, and (ii) any such prepayment shall be in a minimum principal amount of $100,000. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein.
(c) Mandatory Prepayments - Excess Outstandings. If for any reason the Total Outstandings at any time exceed the lesser of (i) the Borrowing Base and (ii) the Aggregate Commitments then in effect, the Borrower shall immediately prepay Loans and/or Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an aggregate amount equal to such excess; provided, however, that the Borrower shall not be required to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations pursuant to this Section 2.05(c) unless after the prepayment in full of the Loans the Total Outstandings exceed the lesser of (i) the Borrowing Base and (ii) the Aggregate Commitments then in effect.
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(d) Mandatory Prepayments - Asset Dispositions. Upon the Disposition of any assets of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries, other than Dispositions permitted by clauses (a) through (f) of Section 7.05, the Borrower shall make a mandatory prepayment to the Administrative Agent for the Lenders (and if the Outstanding Amount of all Loans is zero, pledge to the Administrative Agent cash or cash equivalent investments in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the aggregate amount of the Net Cash Proceeds of such Disposition and (ii) any Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations) in the aggregate amount equal to the Net Cash Proceeds of such Disposition, which prepayment shall be applied to the Loans; provided however, if on the date of receipt by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of such Net Cash Proceeds all of the conditions precedent to a Credit Extension set forth in Section 4.02 are satisfied (other than the delivery of a Revolving Loan Notice), the Borrower shall not be required to make such prepayment.
(e) Prepayment from Recovery Events. Immediately upon receipt by any of the Loan Parties of Net Recovery Proceeds for any Recovery Event in an aggregate amount in excess of $1,000,000, the Borrower shall, at the request of the Required Lenders, prepay Loans in an aggregate principal amount equal to 100% of such excess amount of the Net Recovery Proceeds from such Recovery Event (and if the Outstanding Amount of all Loans is zero, pledge to the Administrative Agent cash or cash equivalent investments in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) such Net Recovery Proceeds and (ii) any Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations); provided that the Required Lenders may, at their discretion, permit or require the applicable Loan Party to use such Net Recovery Proceeds, or any part thereof, to replace or restore any properties or assets in respect of which such Net Recovery Proceeds were paid within 365 days of receipt thereof; provided however, if on the date of receipt by any Loan Party of such Net Recovery Proceeds all of the conditions precedent to a Credit Extension set forth in Section 4.02 are satisfied (other than the delivery of a Revolving Loan Notice), the Borrower shall not be required to make such prepayment.
(f) Repayment Application. Any mandatory prepayment of Loans pursuant to Section 2.05(d) or (e) shall (i) include and be applied to interest to the date of such prepayment on the principal amount prepaid and any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05, and (ii) not be subject to any notice and minimum payment provisions.
2.06 Termination or Reduction of Commitments. The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the Aggregate Commitments, or from time to time permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitments; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 10:00 a.m. five Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction, (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof, (iii) the Borrower shall not terminate or reduce the Aggregate Commitments if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Total Outstandings would exceed the Aggregate Commitment, and (iv) if, after giving effect to any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments, the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit exceeds the amount of the Aggregate Commitments, such Sublimit shall be automatically reduced by the amount of such excess. The
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Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any such notice of termination or reduction of the Aggregate Commitments. Any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments shall be applied to the Aggregate Commitment of each Lender according to its Applicable Percentage. All fees accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Aggregate Commitment shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.
2.07 Repayment of Loans.
(a) The Borrower shall repay to the Lenders on the Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of Revolving Loans outstanding on such date and all other outstanding and unpaid Obligations.
(b) The Borrower shall repay each Swing Line Loan on the earlier to occur of (i) demand of the Swing Line Lender and (ii) the Maturity Date.
2.08 Interest.
(a) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) below, (i) each Eurodollar Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the lesser of (x) the Highest Lawful Rate and (y) the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate; (ii) each Base Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the lesser of (x) the Highest Lawful Rate and (y) the Base Rate in effect from time to time plus the Applicable Rate; and (iii) each Swing Line Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the lesser of (x) the Highest Lawful Rate and (y) the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.
(b) (i) If any amount of principal of any Loan is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the lesser of (x) the Highest Lawful Rate and (y) the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
(ii) If any amount (other than principal of any Loan) payable by the Borrower under any Loan Document is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, then upon the request of the Required Lenders, such amount shall thereafter bear interest, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the lesser of (x) the Highest Lawful Rate and (y) the Default Rate, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
(iii) Upon the request of the Required Lenders, while any Event of Default exists, the Borrower shall pay interest on the principal amount of all
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outstanding Obligations hereunder at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
(iv) Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.
(c) Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein. Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.
2.09 Fees. In addition to certain fees described in subsections (i) and (j) of Section 2.03:
(a) Commitment Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, a commitment fee (“Commitment Fee”) equal to the Applicable Rate times the actual daily amount by which the Aggregate Commitments exceed the sum of (i) the Outstanding Amount of Loans and (ii) the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations. The Commitment Fee shall accrue at all times during the Availability Period, including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article IV is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and on the Maturity Date. The Commitment Fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and if there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect. For purposes of computation of the Commitment Fee, Swing Line Loans shall not be counted toward or considered usage of the Aggregate Commitments.
(b) Other Fees.
(i) The Borrower shall pay to the Arranger and the Administrative Agent for their own respective accounts fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Fee Letter. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.
(ii) The Borrower shall pay to the Lenders such fees as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.
2.10 Computation of Interest and Fees. All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans when the Base Rate is determined by Bank of America’s “prime rate” shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed. Subject to
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Section 10.09, all other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year). Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid, provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.12(a), bear interest for one day. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
2.11 Evidence of Debt.
(a) The Credit Extensions made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Credit Extensions made by the Lenders to the Borrower and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Revolving Loan Note, and/or Swing Line Note, as applicable, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to its Notes and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.
(b) In addition to the accounts and records referred to in subsection (a), each Lender and the Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records evidencing the purchases and sales by such Lender of participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by the Administrative Agent and the accounts and records of any Lender in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.
2.12 Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback.
(a) General. All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars and in immediately available funds not later than 1:00 p.m. on the date specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Applicable Percentage
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(or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 1:00 p.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. If any payment to be made by the Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.
(b) (i) Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing of Eurodollar Rate Loans (or, in the case of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 12:00 noon on the date of such Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.02 (or, in the case of a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, that such Lender has made such share available in accordance with and at the time required by Section 2.02) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans. If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing. Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.
(ii) Payments by Borrower; Presumptions by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such
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payment, then each of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.
A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this subsection (b) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
(c) Failure to Satisfy Conditions Precedent. If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II, and such funds are not made available to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Credit Extension set forth in Article IV are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.
(d) Obligations of Lenders Several. The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Loans, to fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section 10.04(c) are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan, to fund any such participation or to make any payment under Section 10.04(c) on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Loan, to purchase its participation or to make its payment under Section 10.04(c).
(e) Funding Source. Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner.
2.13 Sharing of Payments by Lenders. If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of the Loans made by it, or the participations in L/C Obligations or in Swing Line Loans held by it resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Loans or participations and accrued interest thereon greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans and subparticipations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans and other amounts owing them, provided that:
(i) if any such participations or subparticipations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations or subparticipations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest; and
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(ii) the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or (y) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or subparticipations in L/C Obligations or Swing Line Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section shall apply).
Each Loan Party consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under Applicable Law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against such Loan Party rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of such Loan Party in the amount of such participation.
2.14 Collateral. To secure full and complete payment and performance of the Obligations, the Borrower shall execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered the documents described below covering the property and collateral described in this Section 2.14 (which, together with any other property and collateral which may now or hereafter secure the Obligations or any part thereof, is sometimes herein called the “Collateral”):
(a) The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Domestic Subsidiaries to, grant to Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in all of its accounts and inventory and assets related thereto such as related chattel papers, instruments, software and contract rights, 100% of Equity Interests in its Domestic Subsidiaries and 66% of Equity Interests in Foreign Subsidiaries owned directly by the Borrower or any Domestic Subsidiary and other personal property subject to the Lien granted pursuant to the Security Agreement, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and all products and cash and non-cash proceeds thereof, pursuant to the Security Agreement, provided in all cases (i) perfection in such collateral shall be limited to the extent that perfection may be obtained by (w) the filing of a centralized UCC-1 financing statement, (x) patent, trademark or copyright office filings or (y) possession of stock certificates and (ii) the security interest shall not cover any assets with respect to which there are effective and enforceable legal restrictions against the granting of a security interest therein.
(b) The Borrower will, and will cause each of the Guarantors to execute and deliver and cause to be executed and delivered such further documents and instruments as Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, deems necessary or desirable to evidence and perfect its Liens in the Collateral.
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ARTICLE III.
TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
3.01 Taxes.
(a) Payments Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without reduction or withholding for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, provided that if the Borrower shall be required by Applicable Law to deduct any Indemnified Taxes (including any Other Taxes) from such payments, then (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the Administrative Agent, Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be, receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower shall timely pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with Applicable Law.
(b) Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower. Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) above, the Borrower shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with Applicable Law.
(c) Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the L/C Issuer, within 10 days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) paid by the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender or the L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender or the L/C Issuer, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(d) Evidence of Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by the Borrower to a Governmental Authority, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(e) Status of Lenders. Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall deliver to
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the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by Applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, 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 of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by Applicable Law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower is resident for tax purposes in the United States, any Foreign Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, but only if such Foreign Lender is legally entitled to do so), whichever of the following is applicable:
(i) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN claiming eligibility for benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party,
(ii) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI,
(iii) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not (A) a “bank” within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (B) a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or (C) a “controlled foreign corporation” described in section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code and (y) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN, or
(iv) any other form prescribed by Applicable Law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in United States Federal withholding tax duly completed together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by Applicable Law to permit the Borrower to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.
(f) Treatment of Certain Refunds. If the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section, it shall pay to the Borrower an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower under this Section with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be,
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and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that the Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer in the event the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. This subsection shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes that it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other Person.
3.02 Illegality. If any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Eurodollar Rate Loans, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars in the London interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Eurodollar Rate Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all Eurodollar Rate Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans, either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.
3.03 Inability to Determine Rates. If the Required Lenders determine that for any reason in connection with any request for a Eurodollar Rate Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof that (a) Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Eurodollar Rate Loan, (b) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Eurodollar Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan, or (c) the Eurodollar Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein.
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3.04 Increased Costs; Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans.
(a) Increased Costs Generally. If any Change in Law shall:
(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any reserve requirement contemplated by Section 3.04(e)) or the L/C Issuer;
(ii) subject any Lender or the L/C Issuer to any tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to this Agreement, any Letter of Credit, any participation in a Letter of Credit or any Eurodollar Rate Loan made by it, or change the basis of taxation of payments to such Lender or the L/C Issuer in respect thereof (except for Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes covered by Section 3.01 and the imposition of, or any change in the rate of, any Excluded Tax payable by such Lender or the L/C Issuer); or
(iii) impose on any Lender or the L/C Issuer or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Rate Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;
and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining any Eurodollar Rate Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to increase the cost to such Lender or the L/C Issuer of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or the L/C Issuer hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender or the L/C Issuer, the Borrower will pay to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.
(b) Capital Requirements. If any Lender or the L/C Issuer determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or the L/C Issuer or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company, if any, regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by the L/C Issuer, to a level below that which such Lender or the L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender
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or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer or such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.
(c) Certificates for Reimbursement. A certificate of a Lender or the L/C Issuer setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (a) or (b) of this Section and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.
(d) Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the L/C Issuer to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or the L/C Issuer pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than nine months prior to the date that such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or the L/C Issuer’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the nine-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).
(e) Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans. The Borrower shall pay to each Lender, as long as such Lender shall be required to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency funds or deposits (currently known as “Eurocurrency liabilities”), additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Eurodollar Rate Loan equal to the actual costs of such reserves allocated to such Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive), which shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided the Borrower shall have received at least 10 days’ prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest from such Lender. If a Lender fails to give notice 10 days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional interest shall be due and payable 10 days from receipt of such notice.
3.05 Compensation for Losses. Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:
(a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise);
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(b) any failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower; or
(c) any assignment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 10.13;
including any loss of anticipated profits and any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained. The Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.
For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this Section 3.05, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurodollar Rate Loan made by it at the Eurodollar Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the London interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurodollar Rate Loan was in fact so funded.
3.06 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.
(a) Designation of a Different Lending Office. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04, as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02, as applicable, and (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.
(b) Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, the Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 10.13.
3.07 Survival. All of the Borrower’s obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.
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ARTICLE IV.
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS
4.01 Conditions of Initial Credit Extension. The obligation of the L/C Issuer and each Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:
(a) The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or telecopies (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party, each dated the Closing Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the Closing Date) and each in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders:
(i) executed counterparts of this Agreement, the Guaranty, the Security Agreement (together with related UCC-1 financing statements, stock certificates for all Equity Interests owned by the Loan Parties in each Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower, stock certificates for 66% of the Equity Interests in the Foreign Subsidiaries owned directly by the Borrower or a Domestic Subsidiary, and undated stock powers duly executed in blank) sufficient in number for distribution to the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Borrower;
(ii) receipt of certificates of insurance and endorsements to insurance policies naming the Administrative Agent as loss payee with respect to all Collateral;
(iii) copies of all UCC searches of the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries, each such search showing no Liens except Permitted Liens;
(iv) Revolving Loan Notes executed by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting a Revolving Loan Note;
(v) a Swing Line Note executed by the Borrower in favor of the Swing Line Lender;
(vi) such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party as the Administrative Agent may require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party;
(vii) such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that each Loan Party is duly organized or formed, and that each Loan Party is validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or
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operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(viii) a favorable opinion of Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx L.L.P., counsel to the Loan Parties, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, as to the matters set forth in Exhibit D and such other matters concerning the Loan Parties and the Loan Documents as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request;
(ix) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Loan Party either (A) attaching copies of all consents, licenses and approvals required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by such Loan Party and the validity against such Loan Party of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and such consents, licenses and approvals shall be in full force and effect, or (B) stating that no such consents, licenses or approvals are so required;
(x) a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying (A) that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied, and (B) that there has been no event or circumstance since the date of the Audited Financial Statements that has had or could be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;
(xi) the Senior Notes shall have been issued contemporaneously with the initial Credit Extension;
(xii) a solvency certificate signed by the Chief Financial Officer of the Borrower in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
(xiii) a duly completed Borrowing Base Certificate as of the last day of the month immediately preceding the Closing Date signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower; and
(xiv) such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, the Swing Line Lender or the Required Lenders reasonably may require.
(b) Any fees required to be paid on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid.
(c) Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall have paid all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent to the extent invoiced prior to or on the Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of such fees, charges and disbursements as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such fees, charges and disbursements incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing proceedings (provided that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent).
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(d) There shall not have occurred a material adverse change (x) in the business, assets, properties, liabilities (actual or contingent), operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, since May 31, 2004 or (y) in the facts and information regarding such entities represented to date.
(e) After giving effect to the initial Credit Extension, (i) the Leverage Ratio, on a pro forma basis, shall not exceed 2.00 to 1.00 and (ii) Availability shall not be less than $50,000,000.
(f) The Borrower’s Form 10 shall be effective and such Form 10 (including all exhibits thereto) shall not have been amended in any material respect since June 10, 2005.
(g) Simultaneously with the initial Credit Extension, (i) the TXI Dividend shall be paid and (ii) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be released from all Guarantees in respect of Debt of TXI and its Subsidiaries, including but not limited to TXI’s 10-1/4% senior notes due 2011.
(h) TXI’s contribution or transfer to the Borrower of TXI’s subsidiaries engaged in the steel business and related assets shall have been completed.
(i) The initial Credit Extension shall have occurred on or before September 30, 2005.
Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Section 9.04, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.
4.02 Conditions to all Credit Extensions. The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension (other than a Revolving Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Revolving Loans to the other Type, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans) is subject to the following conditions precedent:
(a) The representations and warranties of the Borrower and each other Loan Party contained in Article V or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Section 4.02, the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5.05 shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01.
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(b) No Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Credit Extension or from the application of the proceeds thereof.
(c) The Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.
Each Request for Credit Extension (other than a Revolving Loan Notice requesting only a conversion of Revolving Loans to the other Type or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans) submitted by the Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.
ARTICLE V.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
The Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:
5.01 Existence, Qualification and Power; Compliance with Laws. The Borrower and each Subsidiary (a) is duly organized or formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority and all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to (i) own or lease its assets and carry on its business and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party, (c) is duly qualified and is licensed and in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification or license, and (d) is in compliance with all Laws; except in each case referred to in clause (b)(i), (c) or (d), to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.02 Authorization; No Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is party, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not and will not (a) contravene the terms of any of such Person’s Organization Documents; (b) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under, or require any payment to be made under (i) any Contractual Obligation to which such Person is a party or affecting such Person or the properties of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is subject; or (c) violate any Law. The Borrower and each Subsidiary is in compliance with all Contractual Obligations referred to in clause (b)(i), except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.03 Governmental Authorization; Other Consents. No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary or required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
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5.04 Binding Effect. This Agreement has been, and each other Loan Document, when delivered hereunder, will have been, duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is party thereto. This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document when so delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against each Loan Party that is party thereto in accordance with its terms, except as limited by (a) Debtor Relief Laws and (b) the effect of general principles of equity whether applied by a court of Law or equity.
5.05 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect; No Internal Control Event.
(a) The Audited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; (ii) fairly present the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (iii) show all material consolidated indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Debt, as and to the extent required to be reported in accordance with GAAP.
(b) The unaudited consolidated and consolidating balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries dated February 28, 2005, and the related consolidated and consolidating statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the fiscal quarter ended on that date (i) were, with respect to the consolidated statements, prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein, (ii) fairly present the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby, subject, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit adjustments, and (iii) set forth all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the date of such financial statements, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Debt, as and to the extent required to be reported in accordance with GAAP.
(c) Since the date of the Audited Financial Statements, there has been no event or circumstance (including, without limitation, an Internal Control Event), either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(d) The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have no Off-Balance Sheet Liabilities.
5.06 Litigation. There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower after due and diligent investigation, threatened or contemplated, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or
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against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or against any of their properties or revenues that (a) purport to affect or pertain to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, or (b) either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.07 No Default. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is in default under or with respect to any Contractual Obligation that could, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
5.08 Ownership of Property; Liens. Each of the Borrower and each Subsidiary has good record and marketable title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold interests in, all real property necessary or used in the ordinary conduct of its business, except for such defects in title as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is subject to no Liens, other than Liens permitted by Section 7.01.
5.09 Environmental Compliance.
(a) Permits, Etc. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries (i) have obtained all material Environmental Permits required by Governmental Authorities necessary for the ownership and operation of their respective properties and the conduct of their respective businesses; (ii) are in compliance with all terms and conditions of such Environmental Permits, if any, and with all other material requirements of applicable Environmental Laws; (iii) have not received notice of any violation or alleged violation of any Environmental Law or Environmental Permit; and (iv) are not subject to any actual or contingent Environmental Liability, in each case in clauses (i) through (iv) immediately preceding where the effect could not individually or in the aggregate be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Certain Liabilities. None of the present or, to our knowledge, previously owned or operated Properties of the Borrower or of any of its present or former Subsidiaries, wherever located, (i) has been placed on or proposed to be placed on the National Priorities List, the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation Liability Information System list, or their state or local analogs, or have been otherwise investigated, designated, listed or identified as a potential site for removal, remediation, cleanup, closure, restoration, reclamation, or other response activity under any Environmental Laws, except for any such Property with respect to which such event could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) is subject to a Lien, arising under or in connection with any Environmental Laws, that attaches to any revenues or to any Property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, wherever located, which could individually or in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or (iii) has been the site of any Release of Hazardous Materials from present or past operations which has caused at the site or at any third party site any condition that has resulted in or
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could individually or in the aggregate reasonably be expected to result in the need for Response that would cause a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Certified Actions. Without limiting the foregoing, (i) all necessary notices have been properly filed, and no further action is required under current Environmental Law as to each Response or other restoration or remedial project taken by the Borrower, or its present or former Subsidiaries on any of their presently or formerly owned or operated Properties and (ii) the present and future liability, if any, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries which could reasonably be expected to arise in connection with requirements under Environmental Laws could not individually or in the aggregate be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.10 Insurance. The properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Borrower, in such amounts, with such deductibles and covering such risks as are customarily carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where the Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary operates.
5.11 Taxes. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have filed all Federal, state and other material tax returns and reports required to be filed, and have paid all Federal, state and other material taxes shown on such returns and all other assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP. There is no proposed tax assessment against the Borrower or any Subsidiary that would, if made, have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is party to any tax sharing agreement with any party outside the Borrower’s consolidated group other than as a part of the Spin-Off Transaction.
5.12 ERISA Compliance.
(a) Each Plan is in compliance with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other Federal or state Laws, except such noncompliance as could not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each Plan that is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code has qualified in form and operation under such Section and, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, nothing has occurred which would prevent, or cause the loss of, such qualification. The Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate have made all required contributions to each Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Code has been made with respect to any Plan.
(b) There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules
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with respect to any Plan that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) (i) No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) no Pension Plans have any Unfunded Pension Liability, individually or in the aggregate for all Pension Plans, in excess of $1,000,000; (iii) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan (other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA); (iv) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice under Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Sections 4201 or 4243 of ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan; and (v) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Sections 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.
5.13 Subsidiaries; Equity Interests. As of the Closing Date, the Borrower has no Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Part (a) of Schedule 5.13, and all of the outstanding Equity Interests in such Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by a Loan Party in the amounts specified on Part (a) of Schedule 5.13 free and clear of all Liens. The Borrower has no equity investments in any other corporation or entity other than those specifically disclosed in Part (b) of Schedule 5.13. Prior to consummation of the Spin–Off Transaction, all of the outstanding Equity Interests in the Borrower have been validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned of record and beneficially in the amounts specified on Part (c) of Schedule 5.13 free and clear of all Liens.
5.14 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act; Public Utility Holding Company Act.
(a) The Borrower is not engaged and will not engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock. Following the application of the proceeds of each Borrowing or drawing under each Letter of Credit, not more than 25% of the value of the assets (either of the Borrower only or of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis) subject to the provisions of Section 7.01 or Section 7.05 or subject to any restriction contained in any agreement or instrument between the Borrower and any Lender or any Affiliate of any Lender relating to Debt and within the scope of Section 8.01(e) will be margin stock.
(b) None of the Borrower, any Person Controlling the Borrower, or any Subsidiary (i) is a “holding company,” or a “subsidiary company” of a “holding company,” or an “affiliate” of a “holding company” or of a “subsidiary company” of a “holding company,” within the meaning of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, or (ii) is or is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
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5.15 Disclosure. The Borrower has disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, and all other matters known to it, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No report, financial statement, certificate or other information furnished (whether in writing or orally) by or on behalf of any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document (in each case, as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made and on the dates on which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time.
5.16 Compliance with Laws. Each of the Borrower and each Subsidiary is in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its properties, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted or (b) the failure to comply therewith, either individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.17 Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries own, or possess the right to use, all of the trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, patents, patent rights, franchises, licenses and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “IP Rights”) that are reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, without conflict with the rights of any other Person. To the knowledge of the Borrower, no slogan or other advertising device, product, process, method, substance, part or other material now employed, or now contemplated to be employed, by the Borrower or any Subsidiary infringes upon any rights held by any other Person. No claim or litigation regarding any of the foregoing is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, threatened, which, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.18 Common Enterprise. The operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries require financing on a basis such that the credit supplied can be made available from time to time to the Borrower and various of its Subsidiaries, as required for the continued successful operation of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as a whole. The Borrower has requested the Lender to make credit available hereunder primarily for the purposes set forth in Section 6.11 and generally for the purposes of financing the operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries. The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries expects to derive benefit (and the Board of Directors or other similar governing body of the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries has determined that such Subsidiary may reasonably be expected to derive benefit), directly or indirectly, from a portion of the credit extended by the Lenders hereunder, both in its separate capacity and as a member of the group of companies, since the successful operation and condition of the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries is enhanced by the continued successful performance of the functions
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of the group as a whole. The Borrower acknowledges that, but for the agreement by each of the Guarantors to execute and deliver the Guaranty, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders would not have made available the credit facilities established hereby on the terms set forth herein.
5.19 Solvent. The Borrower is, and the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are on a consolidated basis, Solvent.
5.20 Security Interests. The Security Agreement, together with the financing statements that the Administrative Agent is authorized to file in the jurisdiction of incorporation of each Grantor (as defined in the Security Agreement) and the filing of the Security Agreement with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, are effective to create in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a perfected Lien in the Collateral and the proceeds thereof, to the extent such perfection can be obtained by central UCC filings of financing statements and patent or trademark office filings or possession of stock certificates, that is, subject only to Permitted Liens, prior and superior in right to any other Person.
ARTICLE VI.
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, the Borrower shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.01, 6.02, and 6.03) cause each Subsidiary to:
6.01 Financial Statements. Deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:
(a) as soon as available, but in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower (commencing with the fiscal year ended May 31, 2005), a consolidated and, to the extent prepared by the Borrower, consolidating balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year, and the related consolidated and, to the extent prepared by the Borrower, consolidating statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year (provided that such financial statement may also include TXI and its Subsidiaries as and to the extent required by GAAP), all in reasonable detail and, with respect to the consolidated statements, prepared in accordance with GAAP, such consolidated statements to be audited and accompanied by (i) a report and opinion of a Registered Public Accounting Firm of nationally recognized standing reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and applicable Securities Laws and shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit and (ii) an attestation report of such Registered Public Accounting Firm as to the Borrower’s internal controls pursuant to Section 404 of Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx, and, to the extent prepared by the Borrower, such consolidating statements to be certified by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower to the effect that such statements are fairly
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stated in all material respects when considered in relation to the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;
(b) as soon as available, but in any event within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower (commencing with the fiscal quarter ended August 31, 2005), a consolidated and, to the extent prepared by the Borrower, consolidating balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, and the related consolidated and, to the extent prepared by the Borrower, consolidating statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the Borrower’s fiscal year then ended, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, such consolidated statements to be certified by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower as fairly presenting the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes and, to the extent prepared by the Borrower, such consolidating statements to be certified by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower to the effect that such statements are fairly stated in all material respects when considered in relation to the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; and
(c) as soon as available, but in any event no more than 15 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, forecasts prepared by management of the Borrower, in form satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, of consolidated balance sheets and statements of income or operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a quarterly basis for the immediately following fiscal year (including the fiscal years in which the Maturity Date occurs).
As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section 6.02(c), the Borrower shall not be separately required to furnish such information under clause (a) or (b) above, but the foregoing shall not be in derogation of the obligation of the Borrower to furnish the information and materials described in clauses (a) and (b) above at the times specified therein.
6.02 Certificates; Other Information. Deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:
(a) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a), and (b) (commencing with the delivery of the financial statements for the fiscal quarter ended August 31, 2005), (i) a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower and (ii) a duly completed Borrowing Base Certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower (provided that beginning with the last fiscal quarter of fiscal year 2006 and the last fiscal quarter of each fiscal year thereafter, the Borrowing Base Certificate for such fiscal quarter shall be delivered within 60 days after the end of each such fiscal quarter);
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(b) promptly after any request by the Administrative Agent, copies of any detailed audit reports, management letters or recommendations submitted to the board of directors (or the audit committee of the board of directors) of the Borrower by independent accountants in connection with the accounts or books of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any audit of any of them;
(c) promptly after the same are available, copies of each annual report, proxy or financial statement or other report or communication sent to the stockholders of the Borrower, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Borrower may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto;
(d) promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any statement or report furnished to any holder of debt securities of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof pursuant to the terms of any indenture, loan or credit or similar agreement and not otherwise required to be furnished to the Lenders pursuant to Section 6.01 or any other clause of this Section 6.02;
(e) promptly, and in any event within five Business Days after receipt thereof by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof, copies of each notice or other correspondence received from the SEC (or comparable agency in any applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction) concerning any investigation or possible investigation by such agency regarding financial or other operational results of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof;
(f) as soon as available, and in any event within 20 days after the end of each fiscal month of the Borrower in which the Availability as of the end of such fiscal month is less than 35% of the Aggregate Commitments then in effect, a Borrowing Base Certificate prepared as of the end of such fiscal month; and
(g) promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial or corporate affairs of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request.
Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01 or Section 6.02 (other than Section 6.02(a)) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 10.02; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that: (i) the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent or any Lender that requests the Borrower to deliver such paper copies until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and (ii) the
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Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender (by telecopier or electronic mail) of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in every instance the Borrower shall be required to provide paper copies of the Compliance Certificates and Borrowing Base Certificates required by Section 6.02(a) to the Administrative Agent. Except for such Compliance Certificates and Borrowing Base Certificates, the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery or to maintain copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with any such request for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.
The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Arranger will make available to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders may be “public-side” Lenders (i.e., Lenders that do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities) (each, a “Public Lender”). The Borrower hereby agrees that (w) all Borrower Materials that are to be made available to Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Arranger, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws (provided, however, that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 10.07); (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Investor;” and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Arranger shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Investor.” Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall be under no obligation to xxxx any Borrower Materials “PUBLIC.”
6.03 Notices. Promptly notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender:
(a) of the occurrence of any Default;
(b) of any matter that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, including such matters as (i) breach or non-performance of, or any default under, a Contractual Obligation of the Borrower or any Subsidiary; (ii) any dispute, litigation, investigation, proceeding or suspension between the Borrower or any Subsidiary and any Governmental Authority; or (iii) the commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws;
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(c) of any litigation, investigation or proceeding affecting any Loan Party in which the damages, penalties, fines or other sanctions could reasonably be expected to exceed $5,000,000 (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance) or in which injunctive relief or similar relief is sought, which relief, if granted, could be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(d) of the occurrence of any ERISA Event;
(e) of any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by the Borrower or any Subsidiary;
(f) of any announcement by Xxxxx’x or S&P of any change or possible change in the Debt Ratings; and
(g) of the occurrence of any Internal Control Event.
Each notice pursuant to this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto. Each notice pursuant to Section 6.03(a) shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached.
6.04 Payment of Obligations. Pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable, all its material obligations and liabilities, including (a) all material tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it or its properties or assets, unless the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Borrower or such Subsidiary; (b) all material lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien upon its property; and (c) all Debt in a principal amount of at least $1,000,000, as and when due and payable, but subject to any subordination provisions contained in any instrument or agreement pertaining to such Debt.
6.05 Preservation of Existence, Etc. (a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 7.04; (b) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges, permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect including, without limitation, licenses and permits issued by the United States Federal Aviation Administration or foreign aeronautical authorities; and (c) preserve or renew all of its registered patents, trademarks, trade names and service marks, the non-preservation of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.06 Maintenance of Properties. (a) Maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted; (b) make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to
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have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) use the standard of care typical in the industry in the operation and maintenance of its facilities.
6.07 Maintenance of Insurance. Maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Borrower, insurance with respect to its properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business, of such types and in such amounts as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons and providing for not less than 30 days prior notice to the Administrative Agent of termination, lapse or cancellation of such insurance. To the extent required in the Collateral Documents, each insurance policy covering Collateral shall name the Administrative Agent as loss payee, and each liability policy shall name the Administrative Agent as additional insured.
6.08 Compliance with Laws. Comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; or (b) the failure to comply therewith could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.09 Books and Records. Maintain proper books of record and account, in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP consistently applied shall be made of all financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be.
6.10 Inspection Rights. Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent or selected by the Required Lenders and accompanied by any Lender which so elects with the consent of the Administrative Agent to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants, and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrower; provided, however, prior to an Event of Default, the Borrower shall not be obligated to pay any expenses related to more than one such visit and inspection during any calendar year; provided, further, however, that when an Event of Default exists the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice.
6.11 Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions to make the TXI Dividend and for working capital, capital expenditures to the extent permitted hereunder, and for other general corporate purposes not in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document.
6.12 Further Assurances. At any time or from time to time upon reasonable request by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall or shall cause any of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries to execute and deliver such further documents and do such other acts and things as
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the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in order to effect fully the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and to provide for payment of the Obligations in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
6.13 Additional Subsidiaries. Within ten Business Days after the time that (a) any Person becomes a Domestic Subsidiary as a result of the creation of such Subsidiary or an Acquisition or otherwise, (i) such Subsidiary, if it is a Material Subsidiary, shall execute (x) a Guaranty, and (y) a Security Agreement, to secure the Obligations, and (ii) 100% of such Subsidiary’s Equity Interests shall be pledged to secure the Obligations, and (b) any Domestic Subsidiary that was not a Material Domestic Subsidiary becomes a Material Domestic Subsidiary, such Subsidiary shall execute a Guaranty and a Security Agreement, and in each case with respect to subsections (a) and (b) above, the Lenders shall receive such board resolutions, officer’s certificates, corporate and other documents and opinions of counsel as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request in connection with the actions described in such subsections. Within thirty days after the time that any Person becomes a Foreign Subsidiary owned directly by the Borrower or a Domestic Subsidiary as a result of the creation of such Subsidiary or an Acquisition or otherwise, (a) 66% of the Subsidiary’s Equity Interests owned directly by the Borrower or any such Domestic Subsidiary shall be pledged to secure the Obligations and (b) the Lenders shall receive such board resolutions, officer’s certificates, corporate and other documents and opinions of counsel as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request in connection with such pledge.
ARTICLE VII.
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, any Loan or other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:
7.01 Liens. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than Permitted Liens.
7.02 Investments. Make any Investments, except:
(a) Cash Equivalents;
(b) Investments in one or more Subsidiaries or Persons which become Subsidiaries (including Guaranties of their obligations to the extent permitted hereunder) that (i) are subject to the provisions hereof, (ii) comply with Section 6.13 and (iii) if an Acquisition, complies with Section 7.02(e);
(c) Accounts receivable that arise in the ordinary course of business and are payable on standard terms or which have been converted to a note receivable;
(d) Investments in existence on the Closing Date which are described on Schedule 7.02(d); and
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(e) Acquisitions, provided (i) immediately before and after giving effect to such proposed Acquisition there shall exist no Default, (ii) such Acquisition shall not be opposed by the board of directors (or other governing body) of the Person being acquired, (iii) if the aggregate Acquisition Consideration for such proposed Acquisition exceeds $10,000,000, the Administrative Agent shall have received a Compliance Certificate at least 10 Business Days prior to the date of such Acquisition setting forth the covenant calculations in Section 7.11 both immediately before and after giving effect to the proposed Acquisition, (iv) the assets, property or business acquired shall be in the types of businesses presently engaged in by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (v) if such Acquisition results in a Subsidiary, the Administrative Agent shall have received any documentation required by Section 6.13, and (vi) the aggregate Acquisition Consideration for all Acquisitions during each fiscal year shall not exceed $25,000,000; and
(f) Investments not otherwise permitted pursuant to this Section 7.02, provided (i) immediately before and after giving effect to such proposed Investment there shall exist no Default and (ii) the aggregate amount of all such Investments permitted to be made during each fiscal year shall not exceed $10,000,000.
7.03 Debt. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Debt, except:
(a) Debt under the Loan Documents;
(b) Guaranties in respect of Debt permitted by this Section 7.03;
(c) Debt outstanding on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 7.03(c) and any refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions thereof; provided that (i) the amount of such Debt is not increased at the time of such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension except by an amount equal to a reasonable premium or other reasonable amount paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such refinancing and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder and (ii) the terms relating to principal amount, amortization, maturity, collateral (if any) and subordination (if any), and other material terms taken as a whole, of any such refinancing, refunding, renewing or extending Debt, and of any agreement entered into and of any instrument issued in connection therewith, are no less favorable in any material respect to the Loan Parties or the Lenders than the terms of any agreement or instrument governing the Debt being refinanced, refunded, renewed or extended and the interest rate applicable to any such refinancing, refunding, renewing or extending Debt does not exceed the then applicable market interest rate;
(d) Capitalized Lease Obligations and Debt incurred to purchase assets, provided, (i) immediately before and after giving effect to such Debt there shall exist no Default and (ii) the aggregate amount of all such proposed Debt shall not exceed (x) $10,000,000 during any fiscal year and (y) $25,000,000 during the term of this Agreement;
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(e) Subordinated Debt, provided (i) immediately before and after giving effect to such Subordinated Debt there shall exist no Default and (ii) the aggregate amount of all such proposed Subordinated Debt shall not exceed $100,000,000;
(f) Debt under the Senior Notes;
(g) Debt in respect of intercompany loans between and among any of the Borrower and any Guarantor, each of which such loans shall be evidenced by a promissory note, provided that obligations pursuant to such Debt is subordinate to any Obligations under any of the Loan Documents and under the Senior Notes in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
(h) obligations (contingent or otherwise) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary existing or arising under any Swap Contract, provided that (i) such obligations are (or were) entered into in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of directly mitigating risks associated with liabilities, commitments, investments, assets, or property held or reasonably anticipated by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, or changes in the value of securities issued by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and not for purposes of speculation or taking a “market view;” (ii) such Swap Contract does not contain any provision exonerating the non-defaulting party from its obligation to make payments on outstanding transactions to the defaulting party, and (iii) with respect to Swap Contracts which limit or fix interest payable, a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender is a party to such Swap Contract;
(i) prior to the earlier of (i) the distribution of the Borrower to TXI’s shareholders and (ii) September 30, 2005, the TXI Advance;
(j) Guaranties in respect of transactions by the Borrower or any Subsidiaries permitted under this Agreement;
(k) consolidated cash management obligations in the ordinary course of business among the Borrower and the Guarantors; and
(l) other unsecured Debt not otherwise permitted pursuant to this Section 7.03, provided, (i) immediately before and after giving effect to such Debt there shall exist no Default, (ii) such unsecured Debt shall not have (w) any scheduled amortization or mandatory prepayments or obligations to repurchase prior to thirty days after the Maturity Date, (x) any terms, covenants and provisions that are more restrictive on the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or less favorable to the Lenders than this Agreement and (iii) the aggregate amount of all such Debt shall not exceed $10,000,000.
7.04 Fundamental Changes. Merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person except that, so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom any Subsidiary may merge with (a) the Borrower, provided that the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person, or (b) any one or more other Subsidiaries, provided that when any Guarantor is merging with another Subsidiary, a Guarantor shall be the continuing or surviving Person.
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7.05 Dispositions. Make any Disposition or enter into any agreement to make any Disposition, except:
(a) Dispositions of obsolete or worn out property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business;
(b) Dispositions of Inventory in the ordinary course of business;
(c) the sale, discount, or transfer of delinquent accounts receivable in the ordinary course of business for purposes of collection;
(d) Dispositions of equipment or real property to the extent that (i) such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property or (ii) the proceeds of such Disposition are reasonably promptly applied to the purchase price of such replacement property;
(e) Dispositions of property by the Borrower or any Subsidiary to the Borrower or to a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary; provided that if the transferor of such property is the Borrower or a Guarantor, the transferee thereof must either be the Borrower or a Guarantor;
(f) Dispositions permitted by Section 7.02, 7.03, 7.04 or 7.06 and
(g) so long as there exists no Default immediately before and after giving effect to any such transaction, Dispositions (excluding Collateral other than Inventory permitted to be Disposed of pursuant to Section 7.05(b)) not otherwise permitted in clauses (a) through (f) above, the Net Cash Proceeds of which are applied in accordance with Section 2.05(d);
provided, however, that any Disposition pursuant to clauses (a) through (g) shall be for fair market value.
7.06 Restricted Payments. Declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, or incur any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to do so, or issue or sell any Equity Interests, except that, so long as no Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of any action described below or would result therefrom:
(a) each Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments to the Borrower, the Guarantors and any other Person that owns an Equity Interest in such Subsidiary, ratably according to their respective holdings of the type of Equity Interest in respect of which such Restricted Payment is being made;
(b) the Borrower and each Subsidiary may declare and make any Dividends or other distributions payable solely in the common stock or other common Equity Interests of such Person;
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(c) the Borrower may make the TXI Dividend on the date of the initial Credit Extension;
(d) after the Spin–Off Transaction has been consummated, the Borrower may declare and make other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed $10,000,000, plus (x) 50% of consolidated net income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries from and including May 31, 2005 and (y) 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds from the issuance of Equity Interests of the Borrower from and including May 31, 2005.
Nothing in this Section 7.16 shall prohibit any transaction among the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that is expressly permitted under Sections 7.02, 7.03 or 7.04.
7.07 Change in Nature of Business. Engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the date hereof or any business substantially related or incidental thereto.
7.08 Transactions with Affiliates. Except for the Spin-Off Transaction, enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of the Borrower (other than a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary), whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than on fair and reasonable terms substantially as favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary as would be obtainable by the Borrower or such Subsidiary at the time in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate.
7.09 Burdensome Agreements. Enter into any Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement or any other Loan Document) that (a) limits the ability (i) of any Subsidiary to make Restricted Payments to the Borrower or any Guarantor or to otherwise transfer property to the Borrower or any Guarantor, (ii) of any Subsidiary to Guarantee the Debt of the Borrower or (iii) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person; provided, however, that the restrictions above shall not (A) prohibit any negative pledge incurred or provided (x) in favor of any holder of Debt permitted under Section 7.03(d) solely to the extent any such negative pledge relates to the property financed by or the subject of such Debt or (y) with respect to the Senior Notes, (B) apply to restrictions and conditions relating to the sale of a Subsidiary pending such sale, provided such restrictions or conditions apply only to the Subsidiary that is to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder and (C) apply to customary provisions in leases and other contracts restricting the assignment thereof; or (b) requires the grant of a Lien other than a Permitted Lien to secure an obligation of such Person if a Lien is granted to secure another obligation of such Person.
7.10 Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the FRB) or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose.
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7.11 Financial Covenants.
(a) Senior Secured Leverage Ratio. Permit the Senior Secured Leverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower to be greater than 2.00 to 1.00.
(b) Interest Coverage Ratio. Permit the Interest Coverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower to be less than 2.00 to 1.00.
7.12 Sale and Leaseback. Enter into any arrangement whereby it sells or transfers any of its assets, and thereafter rents or leases such assets.
7.13 Sale or Discount of Receivables. Sell, with or without recourse, for discount or otherwise, any notes or accounts receivable, other than bad debts sold in accordance with regular collection procedures.
7.14 Debt Modifications. Amend, modify, supplement, waive compliance with, or assent to noncompliance with, any term, provision or condition of any of the documents governing or evidencing any Subordinated Debt, the Senior Notes or any Debt permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(l), which the Required Lenders deem material (including, without limitation, relating to events of default, acceleration rights, interest rates, maturity date, subordination and covenants, placing any further restrictions on the Borrower or any Subsidiary, increasing the obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereunder, or conferring on the holders thereof any additional rights).
7.15 Debt Payments. Prepay, pay, redeem, purchase in any manner, or make any payment in respect of, or transfer any property in payment of or as security for the payment of, or establish any sinking fund, reserve or analogous fund for the redemption, retirement, prepayment or repayment of, any principal of, interest on, or any fees or other amounts related to any Subordinated Debt, the Senior Notes or any Debt permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(l) (collectively, “Restricted Debt Payments”), except (a) regularly scheduled payments of interest in respect of the Senior Notes and Debt permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(l), (b) regularly scheduled payment of interest in respect of any Subordinated Debt, provided that immediately before and after giving effect thereto there is no Default and (c) provided that (i) immediately before and after giving effect thereto there is no Default and (ii) after giving effect thereto Availability is not less than $75,000,000 any other Restricted Debt Payments not to exceed $175,000,000 in aggregate amount during the term of this Agreement.
7.16 Capital Expenditures. Make or become legally obligated to make any Capital Expenditures, except for Capital Expenditures not exceeding, in the aggregate for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries during each fiscal year set forth below, the amount set forth opposite such fiscal year:
Fiscal Year |
Amount | ||
2006 and each fiscal year thereafter |
$ | 35,000,000 |
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provided, however, that so long as no Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from such Capital Expenditure, any portion of the amount set forth above, if not expended in the fiscal year for which it is permitted above, may be carried over for expenditure in the next following fiscal year.
7.17 Centralized Cash Management Program. Permit the Centralized Cash Management Program to exist after the earlier of (i) the distribution of the Borrower to TXI’s shareholders and (ii) September 30, 2005.
ARTICLE VIII.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
8.01 Events of Default. Any of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:
(a) Non-Payment. The Borrower or any other Loan Party fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan or any L/C Obligation, or (ii) within three days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan or on any L/C Obligation, or any fee due hereunder, or (iii) within five days after the same becomes due, any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document; or
(b) Specific Covenants. The Borrower or any Subsidiary, as applicable, fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 6.03(a), 6.10, 6.11 or 6.12 or Article VII, or any default exists under the Guaranty; or
(c) Other Defaults. The Borrower or any Subsidiary, as applicable, fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in subsection (a) or (b) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for 30 days; or
(d) Representations and Warranties. Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed made; or
(e) Cross-Default. (i) The Borrower or any Subsidiary (A) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Debt or Guarantee (other than Debt hereunder and Debt under Swap Contracts) having an aggregate principal amount (including owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) of more than $10,000,000, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Debt or Guarantee or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event occurs, the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Debt or the beneficiary or
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beneficiaries of such Guarantee (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Debt to be demanded or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Debt to be made, prior to its stated maturity, or such Guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded; or (ii) there occurs under any Swap Contract an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Swap Contract) resulting from (A) any event of default under such Swap Contract as to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) or (B) any Termination Event (as so defined) under such Swap Contract as to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is an Affected Party (as so defined) and, in either event, the Swap Termination Value owed by the Borrower or such Subsidiary as a result thereof is greater than $10,000,000; or
(f) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc. The Borrower or any Subsidiary institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for 60 calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for 60 calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or
(g) Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment. (i) The Borrower or any Subsidiary becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of any such Person and is not released, vacated or stayed within 30 days after its issue or levy; or
(h) Judgments. There is entered against the Borrower or any Subsidiary (i) a final judgment or order for the payment of money in an aggregate amount exceeding $5,000,000 (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage), or (ii) any one or more non-monetary final judgments that have, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and, in either case, (A) enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order, or (B) there is a period of 30 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or
(i) ERISA. (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of $5,000,000, or (ii) the Borrower or
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any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of $5,000,000; or
(j) Invalidity of Loan Documents. Any Loan Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect; or any Loan Party or any other Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document; or any Loan Party denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any Loan Document; or
(k) Change of Control. There occurs any Change of Control.
8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:
(a) declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;
(b) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower;
(c) require that the Borrower Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to the then Outstanding Amount thereof); and
(d) exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it and the Lenders under the Loan Documents;
provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans and any obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, and the obligation of the Borrower to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations as aforesaid shall automatically become effective, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.
8.03 Application of Funds. After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable and the L/C Obligations have automatically been required to be Cash Collateralized as set forth in the
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proviso to Section 8.02), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:
First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent and amounts payable under Article III) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;
Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal, interest, Letter of Credit Fees and Cash Management Obligations) payable to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders and the L/C Issuer (including fees and time charges for attorneys who may be employees of any Lender or the L/C Issuer) and amounts payable under Article III), ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;
Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations, (other than Obligations with respect to Swap Contracts and Cash Management Obligations), constituting accrued and unpaid Letter of Credit Fees and interest on the Loans, L/C Borrowings and other Obligations ratably among the Lenders and the L/C Issuer in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;
Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations, constituting Obligations with respect to Swap Contracts, unpaid principal of the Loans and L/C Borrowings, ratably among the Lenders and the L/C Issuer in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them;
Fifth, to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer, to Cash Collateralize that portion of L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit; and
Sixth, to payment of remaining portion of the Obligations (including Cash Management Obligations), ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Sixth held by them; and
Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.
Subject to Section 2.03(c), amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fifth above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur. If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above.
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ARTICLE IX.
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
9.01 Appointment and Authority.
Each of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer hereby irrevocably appoints Bank of America to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, and neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.
9.02 Rights as a Lender. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.
9.03 Exculpatory Provisions. The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:
(a) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;
(b) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or Applicable Law; and
(c) shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.
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The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 10.01 and 8.02) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower, a Lender or the L/C Issuer. The Administrative Agent shall promptly request any report, letter, statement or other information under Section 6.02(b) or (c) which any Lender requests the Administrative Agent to obtain.
The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.
9.04 Reliance by Administrative Agent.
The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or the L/C Issuer unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or the L/C Issuer prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.
9.05 Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any
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such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.
9.06 Resignation of Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower, to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may on behalf of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided that if the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (1) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any Collateral held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders or the L/C Issuer under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such Collateral until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (2) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender and the L/C Issuer directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above in this Section. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section). The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.
Any resignation by Bank of America as Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section shall also constitute its resignation as L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender, (b) the retiring L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender shall be discharged from all of their respective duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, and (c) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to the retiring L/C Issuer to effectively assume the obligations of the retiring L/C Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit.
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9.07 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.
9.08 No Other Duties, Etc. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, neither the Arranger, Syndication Agent nor any Co-Documentation Agent listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender or the L/C Issuer hereunder.
9.09 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or L/C Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise
(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, L/C Obligations and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.03(i) and (j), 2.09 and 10.04) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and
(b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and the L/C Issuer to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 10.04.
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Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender or the L/C Issuer any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender or to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.
9.10 Collateral and Guaranty Matters. The Lenders and the L/C Issuer irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion,
(a) to release any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document (i) upon termination of the Aggregate Commitments and payment in full of all Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations) and the expiration or termination of all Letters of Credit, (ii) that is sold or Disposed of or to be sold or Disposed of as part of or in connection with any Disposition permitted hereunder or under any other Loan Document, or (iii) subject to Section 10.01, if approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders;
(b) to subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien created to secure Debt permitted by Section 7.03(d); and
(c) to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty (i) if such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted hereunder or (ii) subject to Section 10.01, if approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders.
Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release or subordinate its interest in particular types or items of property, or to release any Guarantor from its obligations under the Guaranty pursuant to this Section 9.10.
ARTICLE X.
MISCELLANEOUS
10.01 Amendments, Etc. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrower or any other Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Borrower or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:
(a) waive any condition set forth in Section 4.01(a) without the written consent of each Lender;
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(b) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 8.02) without the written consent of such Lender;
(c) postpone any scheduled date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment (it being understood that the mandatory prepayments under Section 2.05 do not provide for a scheduled date fixed for payment), of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;
(d) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or L/C Borrowing, or (subject to clause (v) of the second proviso to this Section 10.01) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided, however, that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest or Letter of Credit Fees at the Default Rate;
(e) change Section 2.13 or Section 8.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender;
(f) change any provision of this Section or the definitions of “Required Lenders” or “Supermajority Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder without the written consent of each Lender;
(g) release all or substantially all of the value of the Guaranty without the written consent of each Lender;
(h) release all or substantially all of the Collateral in any transaction or series of related transactions without the written consent of each Lender, unless otherwise permitted by clause (i) or (ii) of Section 9.10(a); or
(i) change the definition of “Borrowing Base,” “Eligible Accounts,” or “Eligible Inventory” without the written consent of the Supermajority Lenders;
and, provided further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the L/C Issuer in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the L/C Issuer under this Agreement or any Issuer Document relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it; (ii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Swing Line Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Swing Line Lender under this Agreement; (iii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; (iv) Section 10.06(h) may not be amended, waived or otherwise
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modified without the consent of each Granting Lender all or any part of whose Loans are being funded by an SPC at the time of such amendment, waiver or other modification; and (v) the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder, except that the Commitment of such Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender.
10.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.
(a) Notices Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopier as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:
(i) if to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02; and
(ii) if to any other Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire.
Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by telecopier shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient). Notices delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b) below, shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b).
(b) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or the L/C Issuer pursuant to Article II if such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.
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Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.
(c) THE PLATFORM. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY OF ITS RELATED PARTIES (COLLECTIVELY, THE “AGENT PARTIES”) HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO THE BORROWER, ANY LENDER, THE L/C ISSUER OR ANY OTHER PERSON FOR LOSSES, CLAIMS, DAMAGES, LIABILITIES OR EXPENSES OF ANY KIND (WHETHER IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF THE BORROWER’S OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S TRANSMISSION OF BORROWER MATERIALS THROUGH THE INTERNET, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT SUCH LOSSES, CLAIMS, DAMAGES, LIABILITIES OR EXPENSES ARE DETERMINED BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION BY A FINAL AND NONAPPEALABLE JUDGMENT TO HAVE RESULTED FROM THE GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF SUCH AGENT PARTY; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT IN NO EVENT SHALL ANY AGENT PARTY HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO THE BORROWER, ANY LENDER, THE L/C ISSUER OR ANY OTHER PERSON FOR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES (AS OPPOSED TO DIRECT OR ACTUAL DAMAGES).
(d) Change of Address, Etc. Each of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower, the
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Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, telecopier number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender.
(e) Reliance by Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer and Lenders. The Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Revolving Loan Notices and Swing Line Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.
10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure by any Lender, the L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.
10.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.
(a) Costs and Expenses. The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent), in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the L/C Issuer in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer), and shall pay all reasonable legal fees and time charges for attorneys who may be employees of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer, in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under
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this Section, or (B) in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.
(b) Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender and the L/C Issuer, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), and shall indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee from all reasonable fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys who may be employees of the Indemnitee, incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, in the case of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by the L/C Issuer to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto, IN ALL CASES, WHETHER OR NOT CAUSED BY OR ARISING, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, OUT OF THE COMPARATIVE, CONTRIBUTORY OR SOLE NEGLIGENCE OF THE INDEMNITEE; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (y) result from a claim brought by the Borrower or any other Loan Party against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if the Borrower or such Loan Party has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(c) Reimbursement by Lenders. To the extent that the Borrower for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), the L/C Issuer or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), the L/C Issuer or such Related
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Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount, provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or the L/C Issuer in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or L/C Issuer in connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.11(d).
(d) WAIVER OF CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, ETC. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE BORROWER SHALL NOT ASSERT, AND HEREBY WAIVES, ANY CLAIM AGAINST ANY INDEMNITEE, ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, FOR SPECIAL, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES (AS OPPOSED TO DIRECT OR ACTUAL DAMAGES) ARISING OUT OF, IN CONNECTION WITH, OR AS A RESULT OF, THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR ANY AGREEMENT OR INSTRUMENT CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY, ANY LOAN OR LETTER OF CREDIT OR THE USE OF THE PROCEEDS THEREOF. NO INDEMNITEE REFERRED TO IN SUBSECTION (b) ABOVE SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES ARISING FROM THE USE BY UNINTENDED RECIPIENTS OF ANY INFORMATION OR OTHER MATERIALS DISTRIBUTED BY IT THROUGH TELECOMMUNICATIONS, ELECTRONIC OR OTHER INFORMATION TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.
(e) Payments. All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than ten Business Days after demand therefor.
(f) Survival. The agreements in this Section shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.
10.05 Payments Set Aside. To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender and
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the L/C Issuer severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
10.06 Successors and Assigns.
(a) Successors and Assigns Generally. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an Eligible Assignee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section, (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (f) of this Section, or (iv) to an SPC in accordance with the provisions of subsection (h) of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d) of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
(b) Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more Eligible Assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans (including for purposes of this subsection (b), participations in L/C Obligations and in Swing Line Loans) at the time owing to it); provided that
(i) except in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it or in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to a Lender, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be
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unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, however, that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single Eligible Assignee (or to an Eligible Assignee and members of its Assignee Group) will be treated as a single assignment for purposes of determining whether such minimum amount has been met;
(ii) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans or the Commitment assigned, except that this clause (ii) shall not apply to rights in respect of Swing Line Loans;
(iii) any assignment of a Commitment must be approved by the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender unless the Person that is the proposed assignee is itself a Lender (whether or not the proposed assignee would otherwise qualify as an Eligible Assignee); and
(iv) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount, if any, required as set forth in Schedule 10.06, and the Eligible Assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.
Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the Eligible Assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05, and 10.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment. Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d) of this Section.
(c) Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts of the Loans and L/C Obligations owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the
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Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by each of the Borrower and the L/C Issuer at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. In addition, at any time that a request for a consent for a material or substantive change to the Loan Documents is pending, any Lender may request and receive from the Administrative Agent a copy of the Register.
(d) Participations. Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Revolving Commitment and/or the Loans (including such Lender’s participations in L/C Obligations and/or Swing Line Loans) owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.
Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 10.01 that affects such Participant. Subject to subsection (e) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender.
(e) Limitations upon Participant Rights. A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 3.01 or 3.04 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 3.01 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 3.01(e) as though it were a Lender.
(f) Certain Pledges. Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note,
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if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.
(g) Electronic Execution of Assignments. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any Applicable Law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.
(h) Special Purpose Funding Vehicles. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a “Granting Lender”) may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (an “SPC”) the option to provide all or any part of any Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make pursuant to this Agreement; provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any SPC to fund any Loan, and (ii) if an SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to make all or any part of such Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Loan pursuant to the terms hereof or, if it fails to do so, to make such payment to the Administrative Agent as is required under Section 2.12(b)(ii). Each party hereto hereby agrees that (i) neither the grant to any SPC nor the exercise by any SPC of such option shall increase the costs or expenses or otherwise increase or change the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement (including its obligations under Section 3.04), (ii) no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement for which a Lender would be liable, and (iii) the Granting Lender shall for all purposes, including the approval of any amendment, waiver or other modification of any provision of any Loan Document, remain the lender of record hereunder. The making of a Loan by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Loan were made by such Granting Lender. In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees (which agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement) that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding commercial paper or other senior debt of any SPC, it will not institute against, or join any other Person in instituting against, such SPC any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, or liquidation proceeding under the laws of the United States or any State thereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any SPC may (i) with notice to, but without prior consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and with the payment of a processing fee in the amount of $2,500, assign all or any portion of its right to receive payment with respect to any Loan to the Granting Lender and (ii) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information relating to its funding
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of Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety or Guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC.
(i) Resignation as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender after Assignment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time Bank of America assigns all of its Commitment and Loans pursuant to subsection (b) above, Bank of America may, (i) upon 30 days’ notice to the Borrower and the Lenders, resign as L/C Issuer and/or (ii) upon 30 days’ notice to the Borrower, resign as Swing Line Lender. In the event of any such resignation as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, the Borrower shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder; provided, however, that no failure by the Borrower to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of Bank of America as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be. If Bank of America resigns as L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c)). If Bank of America resigns as Swing Line Lender, it shall retain all the rights of the Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Swing Line Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(c). Upon the appointment of a successor L/C Issuer and/or Swing Line Lender, (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, and (b) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to Bank of America to effectively assume the obligations of Bank of America with respect to such Letters of Credit.
10.07 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors and representatives (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 purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by Applicable Laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) as reasonably required in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (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
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Borrower or (h) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower.
For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary 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.
Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Borrower or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable Law, including Federal and state securities Laws.
10.08 Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, the L/C Issuer and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, after obtaining the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender, the L/C Issuer or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or any other Loan Party against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or the L/C Issuer shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party may be owed to a branch or office of such Lender or the L/C Issuer different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness. The rights of each Lender, the L/C Issuer and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, the L/C Issuer or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.
10.09 Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the Highest Lawful Rate. If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Highest Lawful Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower. In
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determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Highest Lawful Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.
10.10 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
10.11 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligations hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding.
10.12 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
10.13 Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or if any other circumstance exists hereunder that gives the Borrower the right to replace a Lender as a party hereto, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and
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consents required by, Section 10.06), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:
(a) the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee specified in Section 10.06(b);
(b) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and L/C Advances, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.05) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);
(c) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter; and
(d) such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws.
A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.
10.14 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.
(a) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.
(b) SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. THE BORROWER AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS SITTING IN DALLAS COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH TEXAS STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH
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ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY LENDER OR THE L/C ISSUER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST THE BORROWER OR ANY OTHER LOAN PARTY OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.
(c) WAIVER OF VENUE. THE BORROWER AND EACH OTHER LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (b) OF THIS SECTION. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.
(d) SERVICE OF PROCESS. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 10.02. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.
10.15 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
10.16 USA PATRIOT Act Notice. Each Lender that is subject to the Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender)
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hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Act”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Act.
10.17 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES.
REMAINDER OF PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
CHAPARRAL STEEL COMPANY | ||
By: | /s/ XXXX X. XXXXX | |
Xxxx X. Xxxxx Vice President and Treasurer |
S-1
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent | ||
By: | /s/ XXXXX X. XXXXXXXX | |
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx Vice President |
S-2
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender, L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender | ||
By: | /s/ XXXXX XXXXXXXX | |
Xxxxx XxXxxxxx Vice President |
S-3
UBS SECURITIES LLC, as Syndication Agent | ||
By: | /s/ XXXX X. XXXXXXXX | |
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx Director | ||
By: | /s/ XXXXXX XXXXXX | |
Director and Counsel Region Americas Legal |
S-4
UBS LOAN FINANCE, as a Lender | ||
By: | /s/ XXXXXXX X. SAINT | |
Xxxxxxx X. Saint Director Banking Products Services, US | ||
By: | /s/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX | |
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx Director Banking Products Services, US |
S-5
GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, as Co-Documentation Agent and as a Lender | ||
By: | /s/ XXXXXXX XXXXX | |
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Duly Authorized Signatory |
S-6
XXXXX FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Co-Documentation Agent and as a Lender | ||
By: | /s/ XXXXX X. XXXXXX | |
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx Vice President |
S-7
SUNTRUST BANK, as Co-Documentation Agent and as a Lender | ||
By: | /s/ XXXXXXXX X. EMMAN | |
Xxxxxxxx X. Emman Managing Director |
S-8
COMERICA BANK, as a Lender | ||
By: | /s/ XXXXX X. XXXXXXX | |
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx Assistant Vice President |
S-9
SCHEDULE 2.01
COMMITMENTS
AND APPLICABLE PERCENTAGES
Lender |
Commitment |
Applicable Percentage |
||||
Bank of America, N.A. |
$ | 30,000,000 | 20.000000000 | % | ||
UBS Loan Finance |
$ | 26,250,000 | 17.500000000 | % | ||
General Electric Capital Corporation |
$ | 26,250,000 | 17.500000000 | % | ||
Xxxxx Fargo Bank, National Association |
$ | 26,250,000 | 17.500000000 | % | ||
SunTrust Bank |
$ | 26,250,000 | 17.500000000 | % | ||
Comerica Bank |
$ | 15,000,000 | 10.000000000 | % | ||
Total |
$ | 150,000,000 | 100.000000000 | % |
1
SCHEDULE 5.13
SUBSIDIARIES,
OTHER EQUITY INVESTMENTS OF THE BORROWER
AND EQUITY INTERESTS IN THE BORROWER
AS OF THE CLOSING DATE
Part (a) Subsidiaries
STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION
OF INCORPORATION OR
ORGANIZATION
Chaparral (Virginia) Inc. |
Delaware | |
American Materials Transport, Inc. |
Delaware | |
Chaparral Steel Investments, Inc. (formerly Chaparral Steel Company) |
||
Delaware |
||
Chaparral Steel Texas, LLC (formerly Chaparral Steel Texas, Inc.) |
Delaware | |
Chaparral Steel Holdings, LLC (formerly Chaparral Steel Holdings, Inc.) |
Delaware | |
Chaparral Steel Trust |
Delaware | |
Chaparral Steel Midlothian, LP (1) |
Delaware | |
TXI Star Recycling LP (formerly Star 2000 LP) (1) |
Delaware | |
Aceros Chaparral, S. de X. X. de C. V. (2) |
Mexico | |
Servicios Chaparral, S. de X. X. de C. V. (3) |
Mexico |
Indirect subsidiaries of the Borrower are indented and listed following their direct parent company, with subsidiaries with multiple direct owners as follows:
(1) | Delaware limited partnership: Chaparral Steel Texas, LLC is 1% general partner and Chaparral Steel Trust is 99% limited partner. |
(2) | Mexico limited liability company: Chaparral Investments, Inc. and Chaparral Steel Midlothian, LP, owners. |
(3) | Mexico limited liability company: Aceros Chaparral, S. de X. X. de C. V. and Chaparral Steel Midlothian, LP, owners |
Part (b) Other Equity Investments of the Borrower
None
Part (c) Owner of Equity Interests in the Borrower prior to consummation of Spin-Off Transaction
TXI
1
SCHEDULE 7.01
EXISTING LIENS
Referred to in Subparagraph (h) of the definition of “Permitted Liens”
Liens and security interests granted by various Loan Parties in favor of Bank of America, as administrative agent under TXI’s $100,000,000 Credit Agreement dated as of June 6, 2003 that secure such Loan Parties’ guaranties of TXI’s obligations under such credit agreement. All such liens and security interests will be released as part of the transactions occurring on or about the Closing Date.
1
SCHEDULE 7.02(d)
EXISTING INVESTMENTS
referred to in Section 7.02(d)
NONE
1
SCHEDULE 7.03(c)
EXISTING DEBT
referred to in Section 7.03(c)
1. | Guarantees by certain Loan Parties of TXI’s $600,000,000 Senior Notes due 2011 issued by TXI under its Indenture dated as of June 6, 2003. These guarantees will be terminated as part of the transactions occurring on or about the Closing Date. |
2. | Guarantees by certain Loan Parties of TXI’s $100,000,000 Credit Agreement dated as of June 6, 2003. These guarantees will be terminated as part of the transactions occurring on or about the Closing Date. |
1
SCHEDULE 10.02
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S OFFICE;
CERTAIN ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES
THE BORROWER:
Chaparral Steel Company
0000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxx
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Telecopier: (000) 000-0000
Electronic Mail: xxxxxx@xxx.xxx
Website Address: xxx.xxx.xxx
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:
Administrative Agent’s Office
(for payments and Requests for Credit Extensions):
Bank of America, N.A.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Mail Code: TX1-492-14-14
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Primary | ||
Attention: | Xxxxxx Xxxxxx | |
Telephone: | 000-000-0000 | |
Telecopier: | 000-000-0000 | |
Electronic Mail: xxxxxx.x.xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx | ||
Secondary | ||
Attention: | Xxxxxx Xxxxx | |
Telephone: | 000-000-0000 | |
Telecopier: | 000-000-0000 | |
Electronic Mail: xxxxxx.xxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx | ||
Account No.: | 000-0000-000 | |
Ref: Chaparral Steel Company | ||
ABA# 000000000 | ||
Attn: Credit Services |
Schedule 10.02 - 1
Other Notices as Administrative Agent:
Bank of America, N.A.
Agency Management
Street Address: 000 Xxxxx XxXxxxx Xxxxxx
Mail Code: IL1-231-08-30
City, State ZIP Code: Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Primary | ||
Attention: | Xxxxx Lov | |
Telephone: | (000) 000-0000 | |
Telecopier: | (000) 000-0000 | |
Electronic Mail: xxxxx.x.xxx@XxxxxxXxxxxxx.xxx | ||
Secondary | ||
Attention: | Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |
Telephone: | (000) 000-0000 | |
Telecopier: | (000) 000-0000 | |
Electronic Mail: xxxxx.xxxxxxxx@XxxxxxXxxxxxx.xxx |
L/C ISSUER:
Standby Letters of Credit
Bank of America, N.A.
Trade Operations – Scranton
1 Fleetway
Mail Code: PA6-580-02-30
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx (Al) Xxxxxx
Asst. Vice President and Operations Manager
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Commercial Letters of Credit
Bank of America, N.A.
Trade Operations – Charlotte
000 X. Xxxxx Xx.
Mail Code: NC1-005-21-01
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Asst. Vice President and Operations Manager
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Schedule 10.02 - 2
SWING LINE LENDER:
Bank of America, N.A.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Mail Code: TX1-492-14-14
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Primary | ||
Attention: | Xxxxxx Xxxxxx | |
Telephone: | 000-000-0000 | |
Telecopier: | 000-000-0000 | |
Electronic Mail: xxxxxx.x.xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx | ||
Secondary | ||
Attention: | Xxxxxx Xxxxx | |
Telephone: | 000-000-0000 | |
Telecopier: | 000-000-0000 | |
Electronic Mail: xxxxxx.xxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx | ||
Account No.: | 000-0000-000 | |
Ref: Chaparral Steel Company | ||
ABA# 000000000 | ||
Attn: Credit Services |
Schedule 10.02 - 3
SCHEDULE 10.06
PROCESSING AND RECORDATION FEES
The Administrative Agent will charge a processing and recordation fee (an “Assignment Fee”) in the amount of $2,500 for each assignment; provided, however, that in the event of two or more concurrent assignments to members of the same Assignee Group (which may be effected by a suballocation of an assigned amount among members of such Assignee Group) or two or more concurrent assignments by members of the same Assignee Group to a single Eligible Assignee (or to an Eligible Assignee and members of its Assignee Group), the Assignment Fee will be $2,500 plus the amount set forth below:
Transaction |
Assignment Fee | ||
First four concurrent assignments or suballocations to members of an Assignee Group (or from members of an Assignee Group, as applicable) |
-0- | ||
Each additional concurrent assignment or suballocation to a member of such Assignee Group (or from a member of such Assignee Group, as applicable) |
$ | 500 |
1
EXHIBIT A
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION
This Assignment and Assumption (this “Assignment and Assumption”) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between [Insert name of Assignor] (the “Assignor”) and [Insert name of Assignee] (the “Assignee”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement identified below (the “Credit Agreement”), receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by the Assignee. The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Assumption as if set forth herein in full.
For an agreed consideration, the Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to the Assignee, and the Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from the Assignor, subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions and the Credit Agreement, as of the Effective Date inserted by the Administrative Agent as contemplated below (i) all of the Assignor’s rights and obligations as a Lender under the Credit Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto to the extent related to the amount and percentage interest identified below of all of such outstanding rights and obligations of the Assignor under the respective facilities identified below (including, without limitation, the Letters of Credit and the Swing Line Loans included in such facilities) and (ii) to the extent permitted to be assigned under Applicable Law, all claims, suits, causes of action and any other right of the Assignor (in its capacity as a Lender) against any Person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in connection with the Credit Agreement, any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the loan transactions governed thereby or in any way based on or related to any of the foregoing, including, but not limited to, contract claims, tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other claims at law or in equity related to the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clause (i) above (the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above being referred to herein collectively as, the “Assigned Interest”). Such sale and assignment is without recourse to the Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and Assumption, without representation or warranty by the Assignor.
1. | Assignor: |
2. | Assignee: [and is an Affiliate/Approved Fund of [identify Lender]1] |
3. | Borrower(s): Chaparral Steel Company |
4. | Administrative Agent: Bank of America, N.A., as the administrative agent under the Credit Agreement |
1 | Select as applicable. |
A - 1
Form of Assignment and Assumption
5. | Credit Agreement: Credit Agreement, dated as of June 16, 2005, among Chaparral Steel Company the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer, and Swing Line Lender |
6. | Assigned Interest: |
Aggregate Amount of Commitment for all Lenders* |
Amount of Commitment/ Assigned* |
Percentage Assigned of Commitment2 |
CUSIP Number | |||||
$ | $ | % | ||||||
$ | $ | % | ||||||
$ | $ | % |
[7. | Trade Date: ]3 |
Effective Date: , 20 [TO BE INSERTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER THEREFOR.]
The terms set forth in this Assignment and Assumption are hereby agreed to:
ASSIGNOR | ||
[NAME OF ASSIGNOR] | ||
By: | ||
Title: |
||
ASSIGNEE | ||
[NAME OF ASSIGNEE] | ||
By: | ||
Title: |
* | Amount to be adjusted by the counterparties to take into account any payments or prepayments made between the Trade Date and the Effective Date. |
2 | Set forth, to at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Commitment/Loans of all Lenders thereunder. |
3 | To be completed if the Assignor and the Assignee intend that the minimum assignment amount is to be determined as of the Trade Date. |
A - 2
Form of Assignment and Assumption
[Consented to and]4 Accepted: | ||
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as | ||
By: | ||
Title: |
||
[Consented to:]5 | ||
By: | ||
Title: |
4 | To be added only if the consent of the Administrative Agent is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement. |
5 | To be added only if the consent of the Borrower and/or other parties (e.g. Swing Line Lender, L/C Issuer) is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement. |
A - 3
Form of Assignment and Assumption
ANNEX 1 TO ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION
STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION
1. Representations and Warranties.
1.1. Assignor. The Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of the Assigned Interest, (ii) the Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Loan Documents or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of any Loan Document or (iv) the performance or observance by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under any Loan Document.
1.2. Assignee. The Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it meets all requirements of an Eligible Assignee under the Credit Agreement (subject to receipt of such consents as may be required under the Credit Agreement), (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of the Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.01 thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase the Assigned Interest on the basis of which it has made such analysis and decision independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, and (v) if it is a Foreign Lender, attached hereto is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by the Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.
2. Payments. From and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments in respect of the Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to the Assignor for amounts which have accrued to but excluding the
A - 4
Form of Assignment and Assumption
Effective Date and to the Assignee for amounts which have accrued from and after the Effective Date.
3. General Provisions. This Assignment and Assumption shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Assignment and Assumption may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Assumption by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Assumption. This Assignment and Assumption shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of Texas.
A - 5
Form of Assignment and Assumption
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
Financial Statement Date: ,
To: | Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of June 16, 2005 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the “Agreement;” the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among Chaparral Steel Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender.
The undersigned Responsible Officer hereby certifies as of the date hereof that he/she is the of the Borrower, and that, as such, he/she is authorized to execute and deliver this Certificate to the Administrative Agent on the behalf of the Borrower, and that:
[Use following paragraph 1 for fiscal year-end financial statements]
1. Attached hereto as Schedule 1 are the year-end audited financial statements required by Section 6.01(a) of the Agreement for the fiscal year of the Borrower ended as of the above date, together with the report and opinion of an independent certified public accountant required by such section.
[Use following paragraph 1 for fiscal quarter-end financial statements]
1. Attached hereto as Schedule 1 are the unaudited financial statements required by Section 6.01(b) of the Agreement for the fiscal quarter of the Borrower ended as of the above date. Such financial statements fairly present the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP as at such date and for such period, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.
2. The undersigned has reviewed and is familiar with the terms of the Agreement and has made, or has caused to be made under his/her supervision, a detailed review of the transactions and condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower during the accounting period covered by the attached financial statements.
3. A review of the activities of the Borrower during such fiscal period has been made under the supervision of the undersigned with a view to determining whether during such fiscal period the Borrower performed and observed all its Obligations under the Loan Documents, and
B - 1
Form of Compliance Certificate
[select one:]
[to the knowledge of the undersigned during such fiscal period, the Borrower performed and observed each covenant and condition of the Loan Documents applicable to it, and no Default has occurred and is continuing.]
--or--
[the following covenants or conditions have not been performed or observed and the following is a list of each such Default and its nature and status:]
4. The representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in Article V of the Agreement, and any representations and warranties of any Loan Party that are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection with the Loan Documents, are true and correct on and as of the date hereof, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct as of such earlier date, and except that for purposes of this Compliance Certificate, the representations and warranties contained in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5.05 of the Agreement shall be deemed to refer to the most recent statements furnished pursuant to clauses (a) and (b), respectively, of Section 6.01 of the Agreement, including the statements in connection with which this Compliance Certificate is delivered.
5. The financial covenant analyses and information set forth on Schedule 2 attached hereto are true and accurate on and as of the date of this Certificate.
This Certificate is executed by the undersigned in his capacity as a officer of the Borrower and not in any individual capacity.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate as of ,
CHAPARRAL STEEL COMPANY | ||
By: | ||
Name: |
||
Title: |
B - 2
Form of Compliance Certificate
For the Quarter/Year ended (“Statement Date”)
SCHEDULE 2
to the Compliance Certificate
($ in 000’s)
I. Leverage Ratio – For Determination of Applicable Rate. |
||
A. Total Debt for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries: |
||
1. Without duplication, all principal outstanding under the Loan Documents: |
$ | |
2. Without duplication, all principal obligations evidenced by a promissory note or otherwise representing borrowed money: |
$ | |
3. Without duplication, all reimbursement obligations for letters of credit that have been drawn upon and remain outstanding: |
$ | |
4. Without duplication, all Capitalized Lease Obligations: |
$ | |
5. Total Debt (Lines I.A.1. + 2. + 3. + 4.): |
$ | |
B. EBITDA for the period of the four fiscal quarters most recently ended: |
||
1. EBITDA for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis: |
||
(a) Adjusted Net Earnings From Operations for such Period: |
||
(i) net income for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis after provision for income taxes for such fiscal period, as determined in conformity with GAAP and reported on the financial statements for such fiscal period: |
$ | |
(ii) to the extent included in net income, gain, to the extent in excess of $5,000,000, or loss arising from the sale of any capital assets (including sales of surplus operating assets and real estate): |
$ |
(iii) to the extent included in net income, gain or loss arising from any write-up or write-down in the book value of any asset: |
$ | |
(iv) to the extent included in net income, earnings of any other Person, substantially all of the assets of which have been acquired by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries in any manner, to the extent realized by such other Person prior to the date of Acquisition: |
$ | |
(v) to the extent included in net income, earnings of any other Person (excluding Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries) in which the Borrower or its Subsidiaries has an ownership interest unless (and only to the extent) such earnings shall actually have been received by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries in the form of cash distributions: |
$ | |
(vi) to the extent included in net income, earnings of any Person to which assets of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries shall have been sold, transferred, or disposed of, or into which the Borrower or its Subsidiaries shall have been merged, or which has been a party with the Borrower or its Subsidiaries to any consolidation or other form of reorganization, prior to the date of such transaction: |
$ | |
(vii) to the extent included in net income, gain arising from the acquisition of debt or equity securities of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or from cancellation or forgiveness of Debt: |
$ | |
(viii) to the extent included in net income, gain or loss arising from extraordinary items, as determined in conformity with GAAP, or from any other non-recurring transaction (including costs in respect of implementing the Spin-Off Transaction not to exceed $10,000,000 in aggregate amount): |
$ |
(ix) Adjusted Net Earnings From Operations (Lines I.B.1.(a)(i) – (ii) – (iii) – (iv) – (v) – (vi) – (vii) – (viii)): |
$ | ||
(b) To the extent deducted in the determination of Adjusted Net Earnings From Operations, Interest Expense: |
$ | ||
(c) To the extent deducted in the determination of Adjusted Net Earnings From Operations, federal, state, local and foreign income taxes: |
$ | ||
(d) To the extent deducted in the determination of Adjusted Net Earnings From Operations, Depreciation, amortization and other non-recurring non-cash charges (excluding any non-cash charges to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash payments in any future period): |
$ | ||
(e) To the extent deducted in the determination of Adjusted Net Earnings From Operations, non-cash charges in respect of employee stock option expenses (excluding any non-cash charges to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash payments in any future period): |
$ | ||
(f) To the extent included in the determination of Adjusted Net Earnings From Operations, non-cash credits: |
$ | ||
(g) EBITDA (Lines I.B.1(a)(ix) + (b) + (c) + (d) + (e) – (f)): |
$ | ||
C. Leverage Ratio (Line I.A.5. ÷ Line I.B.1.(g)): |
to 1 | ||
II. Section 7.02(f) – Limitation on Acquisitions. |
|||
A. The aggregate Acquisition Consideration for all Acquisitions during each fiscal year: |
$ | ||
B. Maximum: |
$ | 25,000,000 |
III. Section 7.02(h) – Limitation on Other Investments. |
|||
A. The aggregate amount of Investments not otherwise permitted to be made by Section 7.02 made during each fiscal year: |
$ | ||
B. Maximum: |
$ | 10,000,000 | |
IV. Section 7.03(d) – Limitation on Capitalized Lease Obligations and Debt incurred to Purchase Assets. |
|||
A. The aggregate amount of Capitalized Lease Obligations and Debt incurred to purchase assets incurred during any fiscal year: |
$ | ||
B. Maximum: |
$ | 10,000,000 | |
C. The aggregate amount of Capitalized Lease Obligations and Debt incurred to purchase assets incurred during the term of the Agreement: |
$ | ||
D. Maximum: |
$ | 25,000,000 | |
V. Section 7.03(e) – Limitation on Subordinated Debt. |
|||
A. The aggregate amount of all Subordinated Debt: |
$ | ||
B. Maximum: |
$ | 100,000,000 | |
VI. Section 7.03(l) – Limitation on other Unsecured Debt. |
|||
A. The aggregate amount of unsecured Debt not otherwise permitted pursuant to Section 7.03: |
$ | ||
B. Maximum: |
$ | 10,000,000 | |
VII. Section 7.06(e) – Limitation on other Restricted Payments. |
|||
A. The aggregate amount of other Restricted Payments made by the Borrower after the Spin-Off transaction has been consummated: |
$ |
B. Maximum: |
|||
1. $10,000,000: |
$ | ||
2. 50% of consolidated net income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries from and including May 31, 2005: |
$ | ||
3. 100% of Net Cash Proceeds from the issuance of Equity Interests of the Borrower from and including May 31, 2005: |
$ | ||
4. Maximum (VII.B.1. + 2. + 3.): |
$ | ||
VIII. Section 7.11(a) – Maximum Senior Secured Leverage Ratio. |
|||
A. Senior Secured Debt: |
|||
1. Total Debt (Line I.A.5.): |
$ | ||
2. Total Debt not secured by a Lien: |
$ | ||
3. Subordinated Debt: |
$ | ||
4. Senior Secured Debt (Lines VIII.A.1. – 2. – 3.): |
$ | ||
B. Senior Secured Leverage Ratio (Line VIII.A.4. ÷ Line I.B.1.(g)): |
to 1.00 | ||
C. Maximum Senior Secured Leverage Ratio: |
2.00 to 1.00 | ||
IX. Section 7.11(c) – Minimum Interest Coverage Ratio. |
|||
A. EBITDA (Line I.B.1.(g)): |
$ | ||
B. Interest Expense for the Borrower and Subsidiaries (including Capitalization Lease Obligations but excluding any interest expense in respect of the Convertible Subordinated Debentures). Interest Expense shall be deemed to have been $7,000,000 during each of the fiscal quarters beginning June 1, 2004, September 1, 2004, December 1, 2004, March 1, 2005 and June 1, 2005: |
$ | ||
C. Interest Coverage Ratio (Line IX.A. ÷ IX.B.): |
to 1.00 | ||
D. Minimum Interest Coverage Ratio: |
2.00 to 1.00 |
X. Section 7.15 – Limitation on other Restricted Debt Payments. |
|||
A. The aggregate amount of other Restricted Debt Payments made during the term of the Agreement: |
$ | ||
B. Maximum: |
$ | 175,000,000 | |
XI. Section 7.16 – Maximum Capital Expenditures. |
|||
A. Aggregate amount of Capital Expenditures made by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries during such fiscal year: |
$ | ||
B. Maximum permitted: |
$ | 35,000,000 | |
C. Amount of Capital Expenditures not expended in the fiscal year for which it is permitted which may be carried over for expenditure in the next following fiscal year: |
$ | ||
D. Maximum (XI.B. + C.): |
$ |
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF GUARANTY
C - 1
Form of Guaranty
EXHIBIT D
OPINION MATTERS
The matters contained in the following Sections of the Credit Agreement should be covered by the legal opinion:
• | Section 5.01(a), (b) and (c) |
• | Section 5.02 |
• | Section 5.03 |
• | Section 5.04 |
• | Section 5.06 |
• | Section 5.14(b) |
D
Opinion Matters
EXHIBIT E
FORM OF REVOLVING LOAN NOTE
$ |
, 2005 |
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, Chaparral Steel Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), hereby promises to pay to the order of (the “Lender”), on the Maturity Date (as defined in the Credit Agreement referred to below) the principal amount of Dollars ($ ), or such lesser principal amount of Revolving Loans (as defined in such Credit Agreement) due and payable by the Borrower to the Lender on the Maturity Date under that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of June 16, 2005 (as amended, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the “Agreement;” the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among the Borrower, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender.
The Borrower promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan from the date of such Revolving Loan until such principal amount is paid in full, at such interest rates, and at such times as are specified in the Agreement. All payments of principal of and interest on this Note shall be made to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lender in Dollars in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office. If any amount is not paid in full when due hereunder, such unpaid amount shall bear interest, to be paid upon demand, from the due date thereof until the date of actual payment (and before as well as after judgment) computed at the per annum rate set forth in the Agreement.
This Note is one of the Revolving Loan Notes referred to in the Agreement, is entitled to the benefits thereof and is subject to optional and mandatory prepayment in whole or in part as provided therein. This Note is also entitled to the benefits of the Guaranty and is secured by the Collateral. Upon the occurrence of one or more of the Events of Default specified in the Agreement, all amounts then remaining unpaid on this Note shall become, or may be declared to be, immediately due and payable all as provided in the Agreement. Revolving Loans made by the Lender shall be evidenced by one or more loan accounts or records maintained by the Lender in the ordinary course of business. The Lender may also attach schedules to this Note and endorse thereon the date, amount, Type and maturity of its Revolving Loans and payments with respect thereto.
The Borrower, for itself, its successors and assigns, hereby waives diligence, presentment, protest and demand and, except for notices for which provision is expressly made in the Loan Documents, notice of protest, demand, intent to accelerate, acceleration, dishonor and non-payment of this Note.
E - 1
Form of Revolving Loan Note
THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.
CHAPARRAL STEEL COMPANY | ||
By: |
Name: |
||
Title: |
E - 2
Form of Revolving Loan Note
REVOLVING LOANS AND PAYMENTS WITH RESPECT THERETO
Date |
Type of Loan Made |
Amount of Loan Made |
End of Interest Period |
Amount of Principal or Interest Paid This Date |
Outstanding Principal Balance This Date |
Notation Made By | ||||||
E - 3
Form of Revolving Loan Note
EXHIBIT F
FORM OF REVOLVING LOAN NOTICE
Date: ,
To: | Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of June 16, 2005 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the “Agreement;” the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among Chaparral Steel Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender.
The undersigned hereby requests (select one):
¨ A Borrowing of Revolving Loans |
¨ A conversion or continuation of Revolving Loans | |
1. On __________________________________ (a Business Day). | ||
2. In the amount of $ ______________________. | ||
3. Comprised of __________________________. [Type of Revolving Loan requested] | ||
4. For Eurodollar Rate Loans: with an Interest Period of ________ months. |
The Revolving Borrowing, if any, requested herein complies with the provisos to the first sentence of Section 2.01 of the Agreement.
CHAPARRAL STEEL COMPANY | ||
By: |
Name: |
||
Title: |
F - 1
Form of Revolving Loan Notice
EXHIBIT G
FORM OF SECURITY AGREEMENT
G - 1
Form of Security Agreement
EXHIBIT H
FORM OF SWING LINE LOAN NOTICE
Date: ,
To: | Bank of America, N.A., as Swing Line Lender |
Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of June 16, 2005 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the “Agreement;” the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among Chaparral Steel Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender.
The undersigned hereby requests a Swing Line Loan:
1. | On __________________________________ (a Business Day). |
2. | In the amount of $ . |
The Swing Line Borrowing requested herein complies with the requirements of the provisos to the first sentence of Section 2.04(a) of the Agreement.
CHAPARRAL STEEL COMPANY | ||
By: |
Name: |
||
Title: |
H - 1
Form of Swing Line Loan Notice
EXHIBIT I
FORM OF SWING LINE NOTE
$ |
, 2005 |
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, CHAPARRAL STEEL COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), hereby promises to pay to the order of BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. (“Swing Line Lender”), on the date when due in accordance with the Credit Agreement referred to below, the aggregate unpaid principal amount of each Swing Line Loan from time to time made by the Swing Line Lender to the Borrower under that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of June 16, 2005 (as amended, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the “Agreement;” the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among the Borrower, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender.
The Borrower promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Swing Line Loan from the date of such Swing Line Loan until such principal amount is paid in full, at such interest rates and at such times as provided in the Agreement.
All payments of principal of and interest on this Note shall be made to the Swing Line Lender in Dollars in immediately available funds at its Lending Office.
If any amount is not paid in full when due hereunder, such unpaid amount shall bear interest, to be paid upon demand, from the due date thereof until the date of actual payment (and before as well as after judgment) computed at the per annum rate set forth in the Agreement.
This Note is the Swing Line Note referred to in the Agreement, is entitled to the benefits thereof and is subject to optional and mandatory prepayment in whole or in part as provided therein. This Note is also entitled to the benefits of the Guaranty and is secured by the Collateral. Upon the occurrence of one or more of the Events of Default specified in the Agreement, all amounts then remaining unpaid on this Note shall become, or may be declared to be, immediately due and payable all as provided in the Agreement. Swing Line Loans made by the Swing Line Lender shall be evidenced by one or more loan accounts or records maintained by Swing Line Lender in the ordinary course of business. The Swing Line Lender may also attach schedules to this Note and endorse thereon the date, amount and maturity of the Swing Line Loans and payments with respect thereto.
The Borrower, for itself, its successors and assigns, hereby waives diligence, presentment, protest and demand, and except for notices for which provision is expressly made in the Loan Documents, notice of protest, demand, intent to accelerate, acceleration, dishonor and non-payment of this Note.
I - 1
Form of Swing Line Note
THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.
CHAPARRAL STEEL COMPANY | ||
By: |
Name: |
||
Title: |
I - 2
Form of Swing Line Note
SWING LINE LOANS AND PAYMENTS WITH RESPECT THERETO
Date |
Amount of Loan Made |
Amount of Principal or Interest Paid This Date |
Outstanding Principal Balance This Date |
Notation Made By | ||||
I - 3
Form of Swing Line Note
EXHIBIT J
FORM OF BORROWING BASE CERTIFICATE
To: | Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent |
From: |
Date: | , |
Re: | Credit Agreement, dated as of , 2005 (as amended or modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), among Chaparral Steel Company (“Borrower”), certain Lenders, and Bank of America, N.A. as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer |
This Borrowing Base Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a) [and, if applicable, Section 6.02(f)] of the Credit Agreement. All capitalized terms used herein and defined in the Credit Agreement shall be used herein as so defined. For purposes hereof, section references herein relate to sections of the Credit Agreement, and bracketed amounts or ratios refer to the maximum or minimum amounts or ratios required under the relevant sections of the Credit Agreement.
I. | Borrowing Base. |
Borrower hereby represents and warrants that the following Borrowing Base Report is true and correct in all respects as of , (the “Reporting Date”). The Borrowing Base is determined as follows:
Book Value |
Advance Rate |
Base | |||||
A. Eligible Receivables |
|||||||
1. Accounts |
$ | ||||||
Less ineligible Accounts (without duplication) |
|||||||
a. Accounts for which more than 60 days have elapsed since the original due date therefor or more than 90 days have elapsed from the original invoice date therefor; |
$ | ||||||
b. Accounts with respect to which any of the representations, warranties, covenants, and agreements contained in the Security Agreement are incorrect or have been breached in any material respect; |
$ |
J - 1
Form of Borrowing Base Certificate
c. Accounts with respect to which a check, promissory note, draft, trade acceptance, or other instrument for the payment of money has been received, presented for payment, and returned uncollected for any reason or which is the subject of any debit memo or charge-back, but only to the extent of such debit memo or charge-back |
$ | ||||||
d. Accounts which represent a progress billing or as to which the Loan Party has extended the time for payment without the consent of the Administrative Agent |
$ | ||||||
e. Accounts with respect to which any one or more of the following events has occurred to the Account Debtor on such Account: (i) death or judicial declaration of incompetency of such Account Debtor who is a natural person; (ii) the filing by or against such Account Debtor of a request or petition for liquidation, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debts, adjudication as a bankrupt, winding-up, or other relief under the Bankruptcy Code or any other bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws of the U.S., any state or territory thereof, or any foreign jurisdiction, now or hereafter in effect; (iii) the making of any general assignment by such Account Debtor for the benefit of creditors; (iv) the appointment of a receiver or trustee for such Account Debtor or for any of the assets of the Account Debtor, including, without limitation, the appointment of or taking possession by a “custodian,” as defined in the Bankruptcy Code; (v) the institution by or against such Account Debtor of any other type of insolvency proceeding (under the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise) or of any formal or informal proceeding for the dissolution or liquidation of, settlement of claims against, or winding up of affairs of, such Account Debtor; (vi) the sale, assignment, or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of such Account Debtor; (vii) the nonpayment generally by such Account Debtor of its debts as they become due; or (viii) the cessation of the business of such Account Debtor as a going concern |
$ |
J - 2
Form of Borrowing Base Certificate
f. Accounts for which 50% or more of the aggregate Dollar amount of outstanding Accounts owed at such time by the Account Debtor thereon is classified as ineligible pursuant to the definition of “Eligible Accounts” |
$ | ||||||
g. Accounts owed by an Account Debtor which (i) does not maintain its chief executive office in the U.S. or Canada (excluding the province of Newfoundland), (ii) is not organized under the laws of the U.S. or Canada (excluding the province of Newfoundland) or any political subdivision, state, province, or territory thereof, or (iii) is the government of any foreign country or sovereign state, or of any state, province, municipality, or other political subdivision thereof, or of any department, agency, public corporation, or other instrumentality thereof, except to the extent that such Account is secured or payable by a letter of credit the terms of which are satisfactory to the Administrative Agent in its discretion and which is in the possession of the Administrative Agent, and which, together with all related letter-of-credit rights (as defined in the UCC), is subject to a first priority Lien in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders or to the extent that payment of such Account is insured by an insurance policy satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; |
$ | ||||||
h. Accounts owed by an Account Debtor which is an Affiliate, director, officer or other employee of any Loan Party |
$ | ||||||
i. Accounts with respect to which either the perfection, enforceability, or validity of the Administrative Agent’s Liens in such Account, or the Administrative Agent’s right or ability to obtain direct payment to the Administrative Agent of the proceeds of such Account, is governed by any federal, state, or local statutory requirements other than those of the UCC |
$ |
J - 3
Form of Borrowing Base Certificate
j. Accounts owed by an Account Debtor to which a Loan Party or any of its Affiliates, is indebted in any way (including accrued liabilities), or which is subject to any right of setoff or recoupment by the Account Debtor, unless the Account Debtor has entered into an agreement acceptable to the Administrative Agent to waive setoff rights, or if the Account Debtor thereon has disputed liability or made any claim with respect to any other Account due from such Account Debtor, but in each such case only to the extent of such indebtedness, setoff, recoupment, dispute, or claim |
$ | ||||||
k. Accounts owed by the government of the U.S., or any department, agency, public corporation, or other instrumentality thereof |
$ | ||||||
l. Accounts owed by any state, municipality, or other political subdivision of the U.S., or any department, agency, public corporation, or other instrumentality thereof and as to which the Administrative Agent determines that its Lien therein is not or cannot be perfected |
$ | ||||||
m. Accounts which represents a sale on a xxxx-and-hold, guaranteed sale, sale and return, sale on approval, consignment, or other repurchase or return basis |
$ | ||||||
n. Accounts which are evidenced by a promissory note or other Instrument or by Chattel Paper |
$ | ||||||
o. Accounts with respect to which the Administrative Agent believes, in the exercise of its reasonable credit judgment, that the prospect of collection of such Account is impaired or that such Account may not be paid by reason of the Account Debtor’s financial inability to pay |
$ |
J - 4
Form of Borrowing Base Certificate
p. Accounts with respect to which the Account Debtor is located in any state requiring the filing of a Notice of Business Activities Report or similar report in order to permit the Loan Party to seek judicial enforcement in such state of payment of such Account, unless such Loan Party has qualified to do business in such state or has filed a Notice of Business Activities Report or equivalent report for the then current year |
$ | ||||||
q. Accounts which arises out of a sale not made in the ordinary course of the Loan Party’s business or which represents a sale on a cash or “COD” basis |
$ | ||||||
r. Accounts with respect to which the goods giving rise to such Account have not been shipped and delivered to and accepted by, or have been rejected or objected to by, the Account Debtor or the services giving rise to such Account have not been performed by such Loan Party, and, if applicable, accepted by the Account Debtor, or the Account Debtor revokes its acceptance of such goods or services |
$ | ||||||
s. Accounts owed by an Account Debtor, or group of affiliated Account Debtors, which is obligated to the Loan Parties respecting Accounts the aggregate unpaid balance of which exceeds 10% of the aggregate unpaid balance of all Eligible Accounts owed to the Loan Parties at such time by all of the Loan Parties’ Account Debtors, but only to the extent of such excess |
$ | ||||||
t. Accounts which are not subject to a first priority and perfected security interest in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders |
$ | ||||||
u. Accounts with respect to which such Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, in the exercise of its reasonable credit judgment, has deemed such Account as uncollectible or has any reason to believe that such Account is uncollectible |
$ |
J - 5
Form of Borrowing Base Certificate
v. Accounts which are the subject of any unreconciled variance between the aging of Accounts delivered to the Agent, the general ledger, and the applicable Borrowing Base Certificate |
$ | ||||||||
w. Accounts which the Administrative Agent determines in its reasonable credit judgment are ineligible for any other reason |
$ | ||||||||
x. Total Ineligible Accounts (lines a + b + c + d + e + f + g + h + i + j + k + l + m + n + o + p + q + r + s + t + u + v + w) |
$ | ||||||||
2. Total (Line 1 – Line x) x Advance Rate |
$ | 85 | % | $ | |||||
Lower of Cost or Market Value |
Advance Rate |
Base | |||||||
B. Eligible Inventory |
|||||||||
1. Inventory |
$ | ||||||||
Less ineligible Inventory (without duplication) |
|||||||||
a. Inventory that is not owned by a Loan Party, including goods held by a Loan Party on consignment |
$ | ||||||||
b. Inventory with respect to which any of the representations, warranties, covenants, and agreements contained in the Security Agreement are incorrect or have been breached in any material respect. |
$ | ||||||||
c. Inventory that is not subject to the Administrative Agent’s Liens, which are perfected as to such Inventory, or that is subject to any other Lien whatsoever (other than the Liens described in clause (c) of the definition of Permitted Liens; provided that such Permitted Liens (i) are junior in priority to the Administrative Agent’s Liens and (ii) do not impair directly or indirectly the ability of the Administrative Agent to realize on or obtain the full benefit of the Collateral |
$ | ||||||||
d. Inventory that is work-in-progress and raw materials, other than ferrous scrap, and billets |
$ |
J - 6
Form of Borrowing Base Certificate
e. Inventory that is not finished goods, other than ferrous scrap, billets and other supplies purchased from third parties for which there is a recognized resale market |
$ | ||||||
f. Inventory that is chemicals, samples, prototypes, supplies, or packing and shipping materials |
$ | ||||||
g. Inventory that is not in good condition, is unmerchantable, or does not meet all standards imposed by any Governmental Authority having regulatory authority over such goods or their use or sale |
$ | ||||||
h. Inventory that is obsolete, defective, or not currently salable, at prices approximating at least cost, in the normal course of such Loan Party’s business, or that is slow moving or stale |
$ | ||||||
i. Inventory that is returned, repossessed, or used goods taken in trade |
$ | ||||||
j. Inventory that is located outside the U.S. or that is in transit from vendors or suppliers; |
$ | ||||||
k. Inventory that is consigned to third parties or located in a public warehouse or in possession of a bailee or in a facility leased by such Loan Party, if the applicable warehouseman, bailee, or lessor has not delivered to the Administrative Agent, if requested by the Administrative Agent, a subordination agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent |
$ |
J - 7
Form of Borrowing Base Certificate
l. Inventory that contains or bears any Rights licensed to a Loan Party by any Person, if the Administrative Agent is not satisfied that it may sell or otherwise dispose of such Inventory in accordance with the terms of the Security Agreement and Section 7.05 without infringing the rights of the licensor of such Rights or violating any contract with such licensor (and without payment of any royalties other than any royalties due with respect to the sale or disposition of such Inventory pursuant to the existing license agreement), and, if the Administrative Agent deems it necessary, as to which such Loan Party has not delivered to the Administrative Agent a consent or sublicense agreement from such licensor in form and substance acceptable to the Administrative Agent |
$ | ||||||||
m. Inventory that is not reflected in the details of a current perpetual inventory report |
$ | ||||||||
n. Total Ineligible Inventory (lines a + b + c + d + e + f + g + h + i + j + k + l) |
$ | ||||||||
2. Total (Line 1 – Line m) x Advance Rate |
$ | 60 | % | $ | |||||
C. Interest Hedge Amount |
$ | ||||||||
D. Borrowing Base [Lines A.2 + B.2 - C] on Reporting Date |
$ |
J - 8
Form of Borrowing Base Certificate
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF GUARANTY
GUARANTY (this “Guaranty”), dated as of June [ ], 2005, made by each of the parties listed on the signature pages hereof (collectively, the “Guarantors”, and each, a “Guarantor”), in favor of the Guarantied Parties referred to below.
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, Chaparral Steel Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), has entered into a Credit Agreement, dated as of June 16, 2005, among the Lenders party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as the Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer (hereinafter, the “Administrative Agent”) for the Lenders (said Credit Agreement, as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, being the “Credit Agreement”, and capitalized terms not defined herein but defined therein being used herein as therein defined); and
WHEREAS, the Borrower and each of the Guarantors are members of the same consolidated group of companies and are engaged in operations which require financing on a basis in which credit can be made available from time to time to the Borrower and the Guarantors, and the Guarantors will derive direct and indirect economic benefit from the Loans and Letters of Credit under the Credit Agreement; and
WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the obligation of the Lenders to make Loans and issue Letters of Credit under the Credit Agreement that the Guarantors shall have executed and delivered this Guaranty; and
WHEREAS, the Lenders, the Administrative Agent, any Affiliate of any Lender entering into a Swap Contract (provided that such Lender was a Lender at the time such Swap Contract was entered into) with the Borrower or any Affiliate of the Borrower and the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Loan Party under any Loan Document are herein referred to as the “Guarantied Parties”;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and to induce the Lenders to make Loans and issue Letters of Credit the Guarantors hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Guaranty. The Guarantors hereby jointly and severally unconditionally and irrevocably guarantee the full and prompt payment when due, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, of, and the performance of, (a) the Obligations, whether now or hereafter existing and whether for principal, interest, fees, expenses or otherwise, (b) all Obligations in respect of Swap Contracts owed to any Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender (provided at the time of execution of the Swap Contract related to such Swap Obligations such Lender is a party to the Credit Agreement, herein called a “Guarantied Swap Contract”), (c) all obligations and liabilities of the
Exhibit C-1
Form of Guaranty
Borrower or any other Loan Party owed to any Lender arising under or in connection with the Cash Management Obligations, (d) any and all out-of-pocket expenses (including, without limitation, expenses and counsel fees and expenses of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) incurred by any of the Guarantied Parties in enforcing any rights under this Guaranty and (e) all present and future amounts that would become due but for the operation of any provision of Debtor Relief Laws, and all present and future accrued and unpaid interest, including, without limitation, all post-petition interest if the Borrower or any Guarantor voluntarily or involuntarily becomes subject to any Debtor Relief Laws (the items set forth in clauses (a), (b), (c), and (e) immediately above being herein referred to as the “Guarantied Obligations”). Upon failure of the Borrower to pay any of the Guarantied Obligations when due after the giving by the Administrative Agent and/or the Lenders of any notice and the expiration of any applicable cure period in each case provided for in the Credit Agreement, other Loan Documents and Guarantied Swap Contracts (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), the Guarantors hereby further jointly and severally agree to promptly pay the same after the Guarantors’ receipt of notice from the Administrative Agent of the Borrower’s failure to pay the same, without any other demand or notice whatsoever, including without limitation, any notice having been given to any Guarantor of either the acceptance by the Guarantied Parties of this Guaranty or the creation or incurrence of any of the Guarantied Obligations. This Guaranty is an absolute guaranty of payment and performance of the Guarantied Obligations and not a guaranty of collection, meaning that it is not necessary for the Guarantied Parties, in order to enforce payment by the Guarantors, first or contemporaneously to accelerate payment of any of the Guarantied Obligations, to institute suit or exhaust any rights against any Loan Party, or to enforce any rights against any collateral. Notwithstanding anything herein, in any other Loan Document or in any Guarantied Swap Contract to the contrary, in any action or proceeding involving any state corporate law, or any state or federal bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other law affecting the rights of creditors generally, if, as a result of applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, including Section 548 of Bankruptcy Code or any applicable provisions of comparable state law (collectively, “Fraudulent Transfer Laws”), the obligations of any Guarantor under this Section 1 would otherwise, after giving effect to (a) all other liabilities of such Guarantor, contingent or otherwise, that are relevant under such Fraudulent Transfer Laws (specifically excluding, however, any liabilities of such Guarantor in respect of intercompany Debt to the Borrower to the extent that such Debt would be discharged in an amount equal to the amount paid by such Guarantor hereunder) and (b) to the value as assets of such Guarantor (as determined under the applicable provisions of such Fraudulent Transfer Laws) of any rights of subrogation, contribution, reimbursement, indemnity or similar rights held by such Guarantor pursuant to (i) applicable requirements of Law, (ii) Section 10 hereof or (iii) any other contractual obligations providing for an equitable allocation among such Guarantor and other Subsidiaries or Affiliates of the Borrower of obligations arising under this Guaranty or other guaranties of the Obligations by such parties, be held or determined to be void, invalid or unenforceable, or subordinated to the claims of any other creditors, on account of the amount of its liability under this Section 1, then the amount of such liability shall, without any further action by such Guarantor, any Lender, the Administrative Agent or any other Person, be automatically limited and reduced to the
Exhibit C-2
Form of Guaranty
highest amount that is valid and enforceable and not subordinated to the claims of other creditors as determined in such action or proceeding.
Section 2. Guaranty Absolute. Each Guarantor guaranties that the Guarantied Obligations will be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement, the Notes, the other Loan Documents and the Guarantied Swap Contracts, without set-off or counterclaim, and regardless of any Applicable Law now or hereafter in effect in any jurisdiction affecting any of such terms or the rights of the Guarantied Parties with respect thereto. The liability of each Guarantor under this Guaranty shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of:
(a) any lack of validity or enforceability of any provision of any other Loan Document or any Guarantied Swap Contract or any other agreement or instrument relating to any Loan Document, or avoidance or subordination of any of the Guarantied Obligations;
(b) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, or any increase in the amount of, all or any of the Guarantied Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of any term of, or any consent to departure from any requirement of, the Credit Agreement, the Notes, any of the other Loan Documents or any Guarantied Swap Contract;
(c) any exchange, release or non-perfection of any Lien on any collateral for, or any release of any other Loan Party or amendment or waiver of any term of any other guaranty of, or any consent to departure from any requirement of any other guaranty of, all or any of the Guarantied Obligations;
(d) the absence of any attempt to collect any of the Guarantied Obligations from the Borrower or from any other Loan Party or any other action to enforce the same or the election of any remedy by any of the Guarantied Parties;
(e) any waiver, consent, extension, forbearance or granting of any indulgence by any of the Guarantied Parties with respect to any provision of any other Loan Document or any Guarantied Swap Contract;
(f) the election by any of the Guarantied Parties in any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law;
(g) any borrowing or grant of a security interest by the Borrower, as debtor-in-possession, under any Debtor Relief Law; or
(h) any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of the Borrower or any Guarantor other than payment or performance of the Guarantied Obligations.
Exhibit C-3
Form of Guaranty
Section 3. Waiver.
(a) Each Guarantor hereby (i) waives (A) promptness, diligence, notice of acceptance and any and all other notices, including, without limitation, notice of intent to accelerate and notice of acceleration, with respect to any of the Guarantied Obligations or this Guaranty, (B) any requirement that any of the Guarantied Parties protect, secure, perfect or insure any security interest in or other Lien on any property subject thereto or exhaust any right or take any action against the Borrower or any other Person or any collateral, (C) the filing of any claim with a court in the event of receivership or bankruptcy of the Borrower or any other Person, (D) except as otherwise provided herein, protest or notice with respect to nonpayment of all or any of the Guarantied Obligations, (E) to the extent not prohibited by Law, the benefit of any statute of limitation, (F) all demands whatsoever (and any requirement that demand be made on the Borrower or any other Person as a condition precedent to such Guarantor’s obligations hereunder), (G) all rights by which any Guarantor might be entitled to require suit on an accrued right of action in respect of any of the Guarantied Obligations or require suit against the Borrower or any other Guarantor or Person, (H) any defense based upon an election of remedies by any Guarantied Party, or (I) notice of any events or circumstances set forth in clauses (a) through (h) of Section 2 hereof; and (ii) covenants and agrees that, except as otherwise agreed by the parties, this Guaranty will not be discharged except (i) by complete payment and performance of the Guarantied Obligations and any other obligations of such Guarantor contained herein or (ii) as to any Guarantor, upon the sale or other disposition of all of the Stock of such Guarantor as permitted under the Credit Agreement.
(b) If, in the exercise of any of its rights and remedies, any of the Guarantied Parties shall forfeit any of its rights or remedies, including, without limitation, its right to enter a deficiency judgment against the Borrower or any other Person, whether because of any Applicable Law pertaining to “election of remedies” or the like, each Guarantor hereby consents to such action by such Guarantied Party and waives any claim based upon such action. Any election of remedies which results in the denial or impairment of the right of such Guarantied Party to seek a deficiency judgment against the Borrower shall not impair the obligation of such Guarantor to pay the full amount of the Guarantied Obligations or any other obligation of such Guarantor contained herein.
(c) In the event any of the Guarantied Parties shall bid at any foreclosure or trustee’s sale or at any private sale permitted by law or under any of the Loan Documents, to the extent not prohibited by Applicable Law, such Guarantied Party may bid all or less than the amount of the Guarantied Obligations and the amount of such bid, if successful, need not be paid by such Guarantied Party but shall be credited against the Guarantied Obligations.
(d) Each Guarantor agrees that notwithstanding the foregoing and without limiting the generality of the foregoing if, after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Guarantied Parties are prevented by Applicable Law from exercising their respective rights to accelerate the maturity of the Guarantied Obligations, to collect interest on the Guarantied Obligations, or to enforce or exercise any other right
Exhibit C-4
Form of Guaranty
or remedy with respect to the Guarantied Obligations, or the Administrative Agent is prevented from taking any action to realize on the collateral, such Guarantor agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Guarantied Parties, upon demand therefor, the amount that would otherwise have been due and payable had such rights and remedies been permitted to be exercised by the Guarantied Parties.
(e) Each Guarantor hereby assumes responsibility for keeping itself informed of the financial condition of the Borrower and of each other Loan Party, and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Guarantied Obligations or any part thereof, that diligent inquiry would reveal. Each Guarantor hereby agrees that the Guarantied Parties shall have no duty to advise any Guarantor of information known to any of the Guarantied Parties regarding such condition or any such circumstance. In the event that any of the Guarantied Parties in its sole discretion undertakes at any time or from time to time to provide any such information to any Guarantor, such Guarantied Party shall be under no obligation (i) to undertake any investigation not a part of its regular business routine, (ii) to disclose any information which, pursuant to accepted or reasonable banking or commercial finance practices, such Guarantied Party wishes to maintain as confidential, or (iii) to make any other or future disclosures of such information or any other information to such Guarantor.
(f) Each Guarantor consents and agrees that the Guarantied Parties shall be under no obligation to marshal any assets in favor of any Guarantor or otherwise in connection with obtaining payment of any or all of the Guarantied Obligations from any Person or source.
Section 4. Representations and Warranties. Each Guarantor hereby represents and warrants to the Guarantied Parties that the representations and warranties set forth in Article 5 of the Credit Agreement as they relate to such Guarantor or to the Loan Documents to which such Guarantor is a party are true and correct in all material respects in the manner specified in the Credit Agreement and the Guarantied Parties shall be entitled to rely on each of them as if they were fully set forth herein.
Section 5. Amendments, Etc. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Guaranty nor consent to any departure by any Guarantor herefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing, approved by the Required Lenders (or by all the Lenders where the approval of each Lender is required under the Credit Agreement) and signed by the Administrative Agent, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given.
Section 6. Addresses for Notices. All notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be effectuated in the manner provided for in Section 10.02 of the Credit Agreement, provided that if a notice or communication hereunder is sent to a Guarantor, said notice shall be addressed to such Guarantor, in care of the Borrower.
Exhibit C-5
Form of Guaranty
Section 7. No Waiver; Remedies.
(a) No failure on the part of any Guarantied Party to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right. The remedies herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by Applicable Law, any of the other Loan Documents or any Guarantied Swap Contract.
(b) No waiver by the Guarantied Parties of any default shall operate as a waiver of any other default or the same default on a future occasion, and no action by any of the Guarantied Parties permitted hereunder shall in way affect or impair any of the rights of the Guarantied Parties or the obligations of any Guarantor under this Guaranty or under any of the other Loan Documents or any Guarantied Swap Contract, except as specifically set forth in any such waiver. Any determination by a court of competent jurisdiction of the amount of any principal and/or interest or other amount constituting any of the Guarantied Obligations shall be conclusive and binding on each Guarantor irrespective of whether such Guarantor was a party to the suit or action in which such determination was made provided that the Borrower was so a party.
Section 8. Right of Set-off. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default under the Credit Agreement, each of the Guarantied Parties is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, to set-off and apply any and all deposits (general or special (except trust and escrow accounts), time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other Debt at any time owing by such Guarantied Party to or for the credit or the account of each Guarantor against any and all of the obligations of such Guarantor now or hereafter existing under this Guaranty, irrespective of whether or not such Guarantied Party shall have made any demand under this Guaranty and although such obligations may be contingent and unmatured; provided, however, such Guarantied Party shall promptly notify such Guarantor and the Borrower after such set-off and the application made by such Guarantied Party. The rights of each Guarantied Party under this Section 8 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including, without limitation, other rights of set-off) which such Guarantied Party may have.
Section 9. Continuing Guaranty; Transfer of Notes. This Guaranty is a continuing guaranty and shall (i) remain in full force and effect until the date upon which all Obligations are paid in full and the Commitments are terminated (the “Release Date”), (ii) be binding upon each Guarantor, its permitted successors and assigns, and (iii) inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Guarantied Parties and their respective successors, permitted transferees, and permitted assigns. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing clause (iii), each of the Guarantied Parties may assign or otherwise transfer any Note held by it or the Guarantied Obligations owed to it to any other Person, and such other Person shall thereupon become vested with all the rights in respect thereof granted to such Guarantied Party herein or otherwise with respect to such of the Notes and the Guarantied Obligations so transferred or assigned, subject, however, to compliance with the provisions of Section 10.06 of the Credit Agreement in respect of assignments.
Exhibit C-6
Form of Guaranty
No Guarantor may assign any of its obligations under this Guaranty without first obtaining the written consent of the Lenders as set forth in the Credit Agreement.
Section 10. Reimbursement. To the extent that any Guarantor shall be required hereunder to pay a portion of the Guarantied Obligations exceeding the greater of (a) the amount of the economic benefit actually received by such Guarantor from the Loans and the Letters of Credit and (b) the amount such Guarantor would otherwise have paid if such Guarantor had paid the aggregate amount of the Guarantied Obligations (excluding the amount thereof repaid by the Borrower) in the same proportion as such Guarantor’s net worth at the date enforcement is sought hereunder bears to the aggregate net worth of all the Guarantors at the date enforcement is sought hereunder, then such Guarantor shall be reimbursed by such other Guarantors for the amount of such excess, pro rata, based on the respective net worths of such other Guarantors at the date enforcement hereunder is sought. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, each Guarantor agrees that the Guarantied Obligations may at any time and from time to time exceed the amount of the liability of such Guarantor hereunder without impairing its guaranty herein or affecting the rights and remedies of the Guarantied Parties hereunder. This Section 10 is intended only to define the relative rights of the Guarantors, and nothing set forth in this Section 10 is intended to or shall impair the obligations of the Guarantors, jointly and severally, to pay to the Guarantied Parties the Guarantied Obligations as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof.
Section 11. Reinstatement. This Guaranty shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against any Loan Party for liquidation or reorganization, should any Loan Party become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors or should a receiver or trustee be appointed for all or any significant part of any Loan Party’s assets, and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment and performance of the Obligations, or any part thereof, is, pursuant to Applicable Law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligees of the Guarantied Obligations or such part thereof, whether as a “voidable preference,” “fraudulent transfer,” or otherwise, all as though such payment or performance had not been made. In the event that any payment, or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Guarantied Obligations shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.
Section 12. GOVERNING LAW.
(a) THIS GUARANTY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF TEXAS APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN SUCH STATE AND APPLICABLE FEDERAL LAW.
(b) ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT MAY BE BROUGHT IN THE
Exhibit C-7
Form of Guaranty
COURTS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS SITTING IN DALLAS COUNTY, TEXAS OR IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF SUCH STATE, AND BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS GUARANTY, THE GUARANTOR, THE BORROWER, AND EACH GUARANTIED PARTY CONSENTS, FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THOSE COURTS. THE GUARANTOR, THE BORROWER, AND EACH GUARANTIED PARTY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION, INCLUDING ANY OBJECTION TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OR BASED ON THE GROUNDS OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS, WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE BRINGING OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN SUCH JURISDICTION IN RESPECT OF ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR OTHER DOCUMENT RELATED THERETO. THE GUARANTOR, THE BORROWER, AND EACH GUARANTIED PARTY WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF ANY SUMMONS, COMPLAINT OR OTHER PROCESS, WHICH MAY BE MADE BY ANY OTHER MEANS PERMITTED BY THE LAW OF SUCH STATE.
Section 13. Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY TO THIS GUARANTY HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO OR ANY OF THEM WITH RESPECT TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED THERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER FOUNDED IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE; AND EACH PARTY HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY, AND THAT ANY PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS SECTION WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE SIGNATORIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.
Section 14. Section Titles. The Section titles contained in this Guaranty are and shall be without substantive meaning or content of any kind whatsoever and are not a part of this Guaranty.
Section 15. Execution in Counterparts. This Guaranty may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same Guaranty.
Section 16. Miscellaneous. All references herein to the Borrower or to any Guarantor shall include their respective successors and assigns, including, without limitation, a receiver, trustee or debtor-in-possession of or for the Borrower or such Guarantor. All references to the singular shall be deemed to include the plural where the context so requires.
Exhibit C-8
Form of Guaranty
Section 17. Subrogation and Subordination.
(a) Subrogation. Notwithstanding any reference to subrogation contained herein to the contrary, each Guarantor hereby agrees that until the Release Date that such Guarantor shall not exercise any claim or other rights which it may have or hereafter acquire against the Borrower that arise from the existence, payment, performance or enforcement of such Guarantor’s obligations under this Guaranty, including, without limitation, any right of subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution, indemnification, any right to participate in any claim or remedy of any Lender against the Borrower or any collateral which any Lender now has or hereafter acquires, whether or not such claim, remedy or right arises in equity, or under contract, statutes or common law, including without limitation, the right to take or receive from the Borrower, directly or indirectly, in cash or other property or by set-off or in any other manner, payment or security on account of such claim or other rights. If any amount shall be paid to any Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence and the Guarantied Obligations shall not have been paid in full, such amount shall be deemed to have been paid to such Guarantor for the benefit of, and held in trust for the benefit of, the Lenders, and shall forthwith be paid to the Administrative Agent to be credited and applied upon the Guarantied Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement. Each Guarantor acknowledges that it will receive direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by the Credit Agreement and that the waiver set forth in this Section 17 is knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.
(b) Subordination. All debt and other liabilities of the Borrower to any Guarantor (“Borrower Debt”) are expressly subordinate and junior to the Guarantied Obligations and any instruments evidencing the Borrower Debt to the extent provided below.
(i) Until the Release Date, each Guarantor agrees that it will not request, demand, accept, or receive (by set-off or other manner) any payment amount, credit or reduction of all or any part of the amounts owing under the Borrower Debt or any security therefor, except as specifically allowed pursuant to clause (ii) below;
(ii) Notwithstanding the provisions of clause (i) above, the Borrower may pay to the Guarantors and the Guarantors may request, demand, accept and receive and retain from the Borrower payments, credits or reductions of all or any part of the amounts owing under the Borrower Debt or any security therefor on the Borrower Debt, provided that the Borrower’s right to pay and the Guarantors’ right to receive any such amount (other than in respect of cash management obligations in the ordinary course of business) shall automatically and be immediately suspended and cease (A) upon the occurrence and during the continuance of a Default or (B) if, after taking into account the effect of such payment, a Default would occur and be continuing. The Guarantors’ right to receive amounts under this clause (ii) (including any amounts which theretofore may have been suspended) shall automatically be reinstated at such time as the Default which was the basis of such suspension has been cured or waived
Exhibit C-9
Form of Guaranty
(provided that no subsequent Default has occurred) or such earlier date, if any, as the Administrative Agent gives notice to the Guarantors of reinstatement by the Required Lenders, in the Required Lenders’ sole discretion;
(iii) If any Guarantor receives any payment on the Borrower Debt in violation of this Guaranty, such Guarantor will hold such payment in trust for the Lenders and will immediately deliver such payment to the Administrative Agent; and
(iv) In the event of the commencement or joinder of any suit, action or proceeding of any type (judicial or otherwise) or proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law against the Borrower (an “Insolvency Proceeding”) and subject to court orders issued pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code, the Guarantied Obligations shall first be paid, discharged and performed in full before any payment or performance is made upon the Borrower Debt notwithstanding any other provisions which may be made in such Insolvency Proceeding. In the event of any Insolvency Proceeding, each Guarantor will at any time prior to the payment in full of the Guarantied Obligations on the Maturity Date (A) file, at the request of any Guarantied Party, any claim, proof of claim or similar instrument necessary to enforce the Borrower’s obligation to pay the Borrower Debt, and (B) hold in trust for and pay to the Guarantied Parties any and all monies, obligations, property, stock dividends or other assets received in any such proceeding on account of the Borrower Debt in order that the Guarantied Parties may apply such monies or the cash proceeds of such other assets to the Obligations.
Section 18. Guarantor Insolvency. Should any Guarantor voluntarily seek, consent to, or acquiesce in the benefits of any Debtor Relief Law or become a party to or be made the subject of any proceeding provided for by any Debtor Relief Law (other than as a creditor or claimant) that could suspend or otherwise adversely affect the rights of any Guarantied Party granted hereunder, then, the obligations of such Guarantor under this Guaranty shall be, as between such Guarantor and such Guarantied Party, a fully-matured, due, and payable obligation of such Guarantor to such Guarantied Party (without regard to whether the Borrower is then in default under the Credit Agreement or any Guarantied Swap Contract or whether any part of the Guarantied Obligations is then due and owing by the Borrower to such Guarantied Party), payable in full by such Guarantor to such Guarantied Party upon demand, which shall be the estimated amount owing in respect of the contingent claim created hereunder.
Section 19. Rate Provision. It is not the intention of any Guarantied Party to make an agreement violative of the laws of any applicable jurisdiction relating to usury. Regardless of any provision in this Guaranty, no Guarantied Party shall ever be entitled to contract, charge, receive, collect or apply, as interest on the Guarantied Obligations, any amount in excess of the Highest Lawful Rate. In no event shall any Guarantor be obligated to pay any amount in excess of the Highest Lawful Rate. If from any circumstance the Administrative Agent or any Guarantied Party shall ever receive, collect or apply anything of value deemed excess interest under Applicable Law, an amount equal to such excess shall be applied to the reduction of the principal amount of
Exhibit C-10
Form of Guaranty
outstanding Loans, L/C Borrowings and any remainder shall be promptly refunded to the payor. In determining whether or not interest paid or payable with respect to the Guarantied Obligations, under any specified contingency, exceeds the Highest Lawful Rate, the Guarantors and the Guarantied Parties shall, to the maximum extent permitted by Applicable Law, (a) characterize any non-principal payment as an expense, fee or premium rather than as interest, (b) amortize, prorate, allocate and spread the total amount of interest throughout the full term of such Obligations so that the interest paid on account of such Guarantied Obligations does not exceed the Highest Lawful Rate and/or (c) allocate interest between portions of such Guarantied Obligations; provided that if the Guarantied Obligations are paid and performed in full prior to the end of the full contemplated term thereof, and if the interest received for the actual period of existence thereof exceeds the Highest Lawful Rate, the Guarantied Parties shall refund to the payor the amount of such excess or credit the amount of such excess against the total principal amount owing, and, in such event, no Guarantied Party shall be subject to any penalties provided by any laws for contracting for, charging or receiving interest in excess of the Highest Lawful Rate.
Section 20. Severability. Any provision of this Guaranty which is for any reason prohibited or found or held invalid or unenforceable by any court or governmental agency shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity or unenforceability, without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof in such jurisdiction or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.
Section 21. Joinder Agreement. Any Material Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower which becomes a party hereto after the date hereof pursuant to Section 6.13 of the Credit Agreement and a Joinder Agreement shall be bound by all of the terms and provisions of this Guaranty, and shall be a “Guarantor” for all purposes of this Guaranty, the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
Section 22. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. THIS GUARANTY REPRESENTS THE FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES REGARDING THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREIN AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS. OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.
Section 23. Conflicts. If in the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions of this Guaranty and the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement, the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement shall control.
Section 24. Taxes.
(a) Except as provided below in this Section 24, any and all payments by each Guarantor to or for the account of the Administrative Agent or any Lender under this Guaranty, any other Loan Document or any Guarantied Swap Contract shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any and all present or future taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, assessments, fees, withholdings or similar charges, now or thereafter
Exhibit C-11
Form of Guaranty
imposed, and all liabilities with respect thereto, excluding, in the case of any Guarantied Party, or its applicable lending office, or any branch or affiliate thereof, taxes imposed on or measured by its net income (including net income taxes imposed by means of a backup withholding tax) franchise taxes, branch taxes, taxes on doing business or taxes measured by or imposed upon the overall capital or net worth of any Guarantied Party or its applicable lending office, or any branch or affiliate thereof, in each case imposed: (i) by the jurisdiction under the laws of which the Administrative Agent, or such Lender, applicable lending office, branch or affiliate is organized or is located, or in which the principal executive office of any Guarantied Party is located, or any nation within which such jurisdiction is located or any political subdivision thereof; or (ii) by reason of any present or former connection between the jurisdiction imposing such tax and such Guarantied Party, applicable lending office, branch or affiliate other than a connection arising solely from such Guarantied Party having executed, delivered or performed its obligation under, or received payment under or enforced this Agreement (all such non-excluded taxes, duties, levies, imposts, deductions, assessments, fees, withholdings or similar charges, and liabilities being hereinafter referred to as “Taxes”). If any Guarantor shall be required by any Laws to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable under this Guaranty, any other Loan Document or any Guarantied Swap Contract to any Guarantied Party, (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary to yield to such Guarantied Party an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) such Guarantor shall make such deductions, (iii) such Guarantor shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with applicable Laws, and (iv) within 30 days after the date of such payment, such Guarantor shall furnish to the Administrative Agent (which shall forward the same to such Guarantied Party) the original or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof; provided, however, that such Guarantor shall be entitled to deduct and withhold any Taxes and shall not be required to increase any such amounts payable to any Guarantied Party with respect to Taxes (i) that are directly attributable to such Guarantied Party’s failure to comply with the requirements of Section 10.15 of the Credit Agreement or (ii) that are U.S. withholding taxes imposed on amounts payable to such Lender at the time such Guarantied Party becomes a party to the Credit Agreement.
(b) In addition, each Guarantor agrees to pay any and all present or future stamp, court or documentary taxes and any other excise or property taxes or charges or similar levies which arise from any payment made under this Guaranty, any other Loan Document or any Guarantied Swap Contract or from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, or otherwise with respect to, this Guaranty, any other Loan Document or any Guarantied Swap Contract, except that no Guarantor shall be obligated to pay any such taxes, charges or similar levies that are incurred or payable by any Person in connection with any assignment referred to in Section 10.06(b) of the Credit Agreement, any participation referred to in Section 10.06(d) of the Credit Agreement or any pledge or security interest referred to in Section 10.06(f) of the Credit Agreement (such taxes, charges and similar levies with respect to which the Guarantors are obligated to pay are hereinafter referred to as “Other Taxes”).
Exhibit C-12
Form of Guaranty
(c) If any Guarantor shall be required to pay any Taxes or Other Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable under this Guaranty, any other Loan Document or any Guarantied Swap Contract to any Guarantied Party, such Guarantor shall also pay to the Administrative Agent (for the account of such Guarantied Party) or to such Guarantied Party, but without duplication in respect of such amounts payable hereunder, at the time interest on the Guarantied Obligations is paid, such additional amount that such Lender specifies as necessary to preserve the after-tax yield (after factoring in all taxes, including taxes imposed on or measured by net income) such Lender would have received if such Taxes or Other Taxes had not been imposed.
(d) Each Guarantor agrees to indemnify each Guarantied Party for (i) the full amount of Taxes and Other Taxes (including any Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this Section) paid by such Guarantied Party, (ii) amounts payable under Section 24(c) and (iii) any liability (including penalties, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto, in each case whether or not such Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. Payment under this subsection (d) shall be made within 30 days after the date the Guarantied Party makes a demand therefor.
(e) Any Guarantied Party claiming any additional amounts payable pursuant to this Section 24 shall use its reasonable best efforts (consistent with its internal policy and legal and regulatory restrictions) to change the jurisdiction of its lending office, if the making of such a change would avoid the need for, or reduce the amount of, any such additional amounts which may thereafter accrue and would not, in the reasonable judgment of such Guarantied Party, be disadvantageous to such Guarantied Party.
(f) Each Guarantied Party agrees that (i) it will take all reasonable actions by all usual means to maintain all exemptions, if any, available to it from United States withholding taxes (whether available by treaty, existing administrative waiver, by virtue of the location of any Guarantied Party’s lending office) and (ii) otherwise cooperate with the Borrower to minimize amounts payable by each Guarantor under this Section 24; provided, however, the Guarantied Parties shall not be obligated by reason of this Section 24(f) to contest the payment of any Taxes or Other Taxes or to disclose any information regarding its tax affairs or tax computations or reorder its tax or other affairs or tax or other planning. Subject to the foregoing, to the extent any Guarantor pays sums pursuant to this Section 24 Guarantied Party receives a refund of any or all of such sums, such refund shall be promptly paid to such Guarantor, provided that no Default is in existence at such time. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 24 to the contrary, the demand by any Guarantied Party for the payment of Taxes or Other Taxes under this Section 24 shall not include any Taxes or Other Taxes that occurred 180 days prior to the date that such Guarantied Party notifies the Borrower of such Taxes or Other Taxes no later than 180 days after the date that such Guarantied Party had actual knowledge of such Taxes or Other Taxes, except to the extent that any such Taxes or Other Taxes are retroactive according to the terms of the applicable provisions related thereto.
Exhibit C-13
Form of Guaranty
(g) The obligations of each Guarantor and each Lender or Participant under this Section 24 shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder and under the other Loan Documents.
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Exhibit C-14
Form of Guaranty
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Guarantor has caused this Guaranty to be duly executed and delivered by its duly authorized officer on the date first above written.
[GUARANTOR] | ||
By: |
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Name: |
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Title: |
Exhibit C-15
Form of Guaranty
NOTICE ADDRESS FOR ALL GUARANTORS: | ||
Phone No.: |
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Fax No.: |
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Attention: |
Exhibit C-16
Form of Guaranty
EXHIBIT G
SECURITY AGREEMENT
SECURITY AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of June [ ], 2005, made by each of the signatories party hereto (including any permitted successors and assigns, collectively, the “Grantors” and each a “Grantor”), in favor of Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent (“Administrative Agent”), for the ratable benefit of each Secured Lender (as hereinafter defined) (the Administrative Agent in said capacity, herein also referred to, from time to time, as the “Secured Party”).
BACKGROUND.
A. Bank of America, N.A., as the Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer, the Lenders party thereto, and Chaparral Steel Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”) entered into the Credit Agreement dated as of June 16, 2005 (said Credit Agreement, as it may be amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, being the “Credit Agreement”).
B. It is the intention of the parties hereto that this Agreement create a first priority security interest in certain property of the Grantors in favor of the Secured Party for the ratable benefit of the Secured Lenders securing the payment and performance of the Secured Obligations.
C. It is a condition precedent to effectiveness of the Credit Agreement that the Grantors shall have executed and delivered this Agreement.
AGREEMENT.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and in order to induce certain of the Secured Lenders to make the Loans and L/C Issuer to issue Letters of Credit under the Credit Agreement and to extend other credit accommodations under the Loan Documents, each Grantor hereby agrees with the Secured Party, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Lenders, as follows:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
“Account” means all right, title, and interest of each Grantor (in each case whether now or hereafter existing, owned, arising, or acquired) in and to an account (as defined in the UCC), and (whether or not included in such definition), a right to payment of a monetary obligation, whether or not earned by performance for property that has been or is to be sold, leased, licensed,
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assigned, or otherwise disposed of, and for service rendered or to be rendered, and all right, title, and interest in any returned property, together with all rights, titles, securities, and guarantees with respect thereto, including any rights to stoppage in transit, replevin, reclamation, and resales, and all related Liens whether voluntary or involuntary.
“Account Debtor” means any Person who is or who may become obligated to each Grantor under, with respect to or on account of an Account.
“Chattel Paper” means all right, title, and interest of each Grantor (in each case whether now or hereafter existing, owned, arising, or acquired) in and to chattel paper (as defined in the UCC), and (whether or not included in such definition), a Record or Records that evidence both a monetary obligation and a security interest in specific Goods, a security interest in specific Goods and Software used in the Goods, or a lease of specific Goods.
“Collateral” means all (a) Accounts and all Software used in the management thereof, (b) Chattel Paper and Instruments related to or arising out of the disposition of Accounts or Inventory, (c) Inventory, (d) all contract rights relating to the lease, sale or other disposition of Accounts and Inventory, (e) all General Intangibles related to or arising out of the disposition of Accounts or Inventory, (f) Pledged Equity Interests, and (g) Proceeds of the foregoing.
“Electronic Chattel Paper” means all right, title, and interest of each Grantor (in each case whether now or hereafter existing, owned, arising, or acquired) in and to electronic chattel paper (as defined in the UCC), and (whether or not included in such definition), chattel paper evidenced by a Record or Records consisting of information stored in electronic medium.
“General Intangible” means all right, title, and interest of each Grantor (in each case whether now or hereafter existing, owned, arising, or acquired) in and to a general intangible (as defined in the UCC (whether or not included in such definition)), all personal property, including things in action, other than Accounts, Chattel Paper, commercial tort claims, deposit accounts, documents, Goods, Instruments, investment property, letter-of-credit rights, letters of credit, money, and oil, gas or other minerals before extraction.
“Goods” means all right, title, and interest of each Grantor (in each case whether now or hereafter existing, owned, arising, or acquired) in and to goods (as defined in the UCC), and (whether or not included in such definition), all things that are movable when a security interest attaches.
“Governmental Authority” means any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof, any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, administrative tribunal, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government, and any corporation or other entity owned or controlled, through stock or capital ownership or otherwise, by any of the foregoing.
“Instrument” means all right, title, and interest of each Grantor (in each case whether now or hereafter existing, owned, arising, or acquired) in and to an instrument (as defined in the UCC), and (whether or not included in such definition), a negotiable instrument or any other
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writing that evidences a right to the payment of a monetary obligation, is not itself a security agreement or lease, and is of a type that in ordinary course of business is transferred by delivery with any necessary indorsement or assignment.
“Insurance” means all insurance policies covering any or all of the Collateral (regardless of whether the Secured Party is the loss payee thereof).
“Intellectual Property” means with respect to each Grantor, such Grantor’s copyrights, trademarks, trademark registrations and applications for registration, trade names, corporate names, trade styles, service marks, logos, other source and business identifying marks, together with goodwill associated therewith, such Grantor’s Software, any written agreement granting such Grantor any right to use any copyright, trademark, trademark application or registration (other than such rights that cannot be licensed by such Grantor), any written agreement granting such Grantor any right to use any Software (other than such rights that cannot be licensed by such Grantor), and books and records used in connection with any of the foregoing, but in each case limited solely to the extent necessary for the disposition of any Inventory pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
“Inventory” means all right, title, and interest of each Grantor (in each case whether now or hereafter existing, owned, arising, or acquired) in and to inventory (as defined in the UCC), and (whether or not included in such definition), Goods that (a) are leased by a Person as lessor, (b) are held by a Person for sale or lease or to be furnished under a contract of service, (c) are furnished by a Person under a contract of service, or (d) consist of raw materials, work in process, or materials used or consumed in a business, including packaging materials, scrap material, manufacturing supplies and spare parts, and all such Goods that have been returned to or repossessed by or on behalf of such Person.
“Pledged Equity Interests” shall mean all Pledged Stock, Pledged LLC Interests, Pledged Partnership Interests and Pledged Trust Interests; provided, however, not withstanding anything herein to the contrary, the amount of pledged equity interests of any Foreign Subsidiary shall be limited to 66% of the issued and outstanding equity interests of such Foreign Subsidiary.
“Pledged LLC Interests” shall mean, with respect to each Grantor, all interests of such Grantor in any limited liability company that is a Subsidiary of the Borrower and listed on Schedule 1 as owned by such Grantor and the certificates, if any, representing such limited liability company interests and any interest of such Grantor on the books and records of such limited liability company or on the books and records of any securities intermediary pertaining to each such limited liability company interest, and all dividends, distributions, cash, warrants, rights, options, instruments, securities and other property or proceeds from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of such limited liability company interests; provided, however, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the amount of pledged limited liability company interests of any Foreign Subsidiary shall be limited to 66% of the issued and outstanding limited liability company interests of such Foreign Subsidiary.
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“Pledged Partnership Interests” shall mean, with respect to each Grantor, all interests of such Grantor in any general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership or other partnership that is a Subsidiary of the Borrower and listed on Schedule 1 as owned by such Grantor, and the certificates, if any, representing such partnership interests and any interest of such Grantor on the books and records of each such partnership or on the books and records of any securities intermediary pertaining to such partnership interests and all dividends, distributions, cash, warrants, rights, options, instruments, securities and other property or proceeds from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of such partnership interests; provided, however, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the amount of pledged general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership or other partnership interests of any Foreign Subsidiary shall be limited to 66% of the issued and outstanding general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership or other partnership interests of such Foreign Subsidiary.
“Pledged Stock” shall mean, with respect to each Grantor, all shares of capital stock listed of Schedule 1 as owned by such Grantor and the certificates, if any, representing such shares and any interest of such Grantor on the books of the issuer of such shares identified on Schedule 1 or on the books of any securities intermediary pertaining to such shares, and all dividends, distributions, cash, warrants, rights, options, instruments, securities and other property or proceeds from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of such shares; provided, however, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the amount of pledged capital stock of any Foreign Subsidiary shall be limited to 66% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of such Foreign Subsidiary.
“Pledged Trust Interests” shall mean, with respect to each Grantor, all interests of such Grantor in a business trust or other trust that is a Subsidiary of the Borrower and listed on Schedule 1 as owned by such Grantor, and the certificates, if any, representing such trust interests and any interest of such Grantor on the books and records of such trust or on the books and records of any securities intermediary pertaining to such interest and all dividends, distributions, cash, warrants, rights, options, instruments, securities and other property or proceeds from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of such trust interests.
“Proceeds” means all right, title, and interest of each Grantor (in each case whether now or hereafter existing, owned, arising, or acquired) in and to proceeds (as defined in the UCC), and (whether or not included in such definition), (a) whatever is acquired upon the sale, lease, license, exchange, or other disposition of the Collateral, (b) whatever is collected on, or distributed on account of, the Collateral, (c) rights arising out of the Collateral, (d) claims arising out of the loss, nonconformity, or interference with the use of, defects or infringement of rights in, or damage to the Collateral, (e) insurance payable by reason of the loss or nonconformity of, defects or infringement of rights in, or damage to the Collateral, and (f) any and all other amounts from time to time paid or payable under or in connection with any of the Collateral.
“Record” means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.
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“Release Date” means the date upon which all of the Secured Obligations are paid in full, the Commitment of each Lender is terminated and all Letters of Credit have expired or terminated.
“Secured Lender” or “Secured Lenders” means (a) Administrative Agent, (b) Lenders, (c) L/C Issuer, (d) Swing Line Lender, (e) any Affiliate of any Lender that is a party to any Swap Contract (provided that such Lender was a Lender at the time such Swap Contract was entered into) with any Grantor or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower, and (f) the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Loan Party under any Loan Document.
“Secured Obligations” means, collectively, (a) the Obligations, and (b) any and all out-of-pocket expenses (including, without limitation, expenses and counsel fees and expenses of any Secured Lender) incurred by any Secured Lender in enforcing its rights under this Agreement.
“Securities Collateral” has the meaning specified in Section 4.5.
“Software” means all right, title, and interest of each Grantor (in each case whether now or hereafter existing, owned, arising, or acquired) in and to software (as defined in the UCC), and (whether or not included in such definition), and computer program (including source and object code) and any supporting information provided in connection with a transaction relating to the programs, in each case subject to the terms of applicable licenses and only to the extent used in the management of Accounts.
“Tangible Chattel Paper” means all right, title, and interest of each Grantor (in each case whether now or hereafter existing, owned, arising, or acquired) in and to tangible chattel paper (as defined in the UCC), and (whether or not included in such definition), chattel paper evidenced by a Record or Records consisting of information that is inscribed on a tangible medium.
“UCC” means Chapters 8 and 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of Texas.
Section 1.2 Other Definitional Provisions. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein have the meaning specified in the Credit Agreement, and, to the extent of any conflict, terms as defined in the Credit Agreement shall control (provided, that a more expansive or explanatory definition shall not be deemed a conflict).
Section 1.3 Construction. Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or the context requires otherwise, (a) the singular shall include the plural, and vice versa, (b) words of a gender include the other gender, (c) monetary references are to Dollars, (d) time references are to Dallas time, (e) references to “Articles,” “Sections,” “Exhibits,” and “Schedules” are to the Articles, Sections, Exhibits, and Schedules of and to this Agreement, (f) headings used in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be used in connection with the interpretation of any provision hereof, (g) references to any Person include that Person’s heirs, personal representatives, successors, trustees, receivers, and permitted assigns, that Person as a debtor-in possession, and any receiver, trustee, liquidator, conservator, custodian, or similar party
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appointed for such Person or all or substantially all of its assets, (h) references to any Law include every amendment or restatement to it, rule and regulation adopted under it, and successor or replacement for it, (i) references to a particular Loan Document include each amendment or restatement to it made in accordance with the Credit Agreement and such Loan Document, and (j) the inclusion of Proceeds in the definition of “Collateral” shall not be deemed a consent by the Secured Lenders to any sale or other disposition of any Collateral not otherwise specifically permitted by the terms of the Credit Agreement or this Agreement. This Agreement is a Loan Document.
ARTICLE II.
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST AND LICENSE
Section 2.1 Assignment and Grant of Security Interest; Grant of License. As security for the payment and performance, as the case may be, in full of the Secured Obligations, each Grantor hereby assigns to, and pledges and grants to Secured Party, for its benefit and the ratable benefit of the other Secured Lenders:
(a) a security interest in the entire right, title, and interest of Grantor in and to all Collateral of each such Grantor, whether now or hereafter existing, owned, arising or acquired (provided, the amount of Equity Interests of any Foreign Subsidiary pledged by such Grantor hereunder shall be limited to 66% of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of such Foreign Subsidiary); and
(b) an irrevocable royalty-free right and license to use, upon the occurrence and during continuance of an Event of Default, the Intellectual Property worldwide including, without limitation, the Intellectual Property identified in Schedule 2, and to enable Administrative Agent to exercise its rights and remedies with respect to the Collateral, including, without limitation, the right to use the Intellectual Property on or in connection with the disposition, maintenance or further production, manufacturing or processing of the Inventory and the collection of Accounts as Administrative Agent reasonably deems necessary or appropriate in the exercise of its rights and remedies with respect to Inventory and Accounts.
The Collateral shall not include any agreement, license or permit which by Law or by its terms validly prohibits the granting of a security interest therein unless a consent to the security interest and pledge hereunder has been obtained; provided that the foregoing limitation shall not affect, limit, restrict, or impair the grant by each Grantor of a security interest pursuant to this Agreement in any such Collateral to the extent that an otherwise applicable prohibition on such grant is rendered ineffective by the UCC or other applicable Law. Collateral shall not include any general intangibles to the extent the grant by such Grantor of a security interest pursuant to this Agreement in such general intangibles is expressly prohibited or restricted, unless such prohibition or restriction is rendered ineffective pursuant to Section 9.408 of the UCC, provided that the foregoing limitation shall not affect, limit, restrict or impair the grant by such Grantor of a security interest pursuant to this Agreement in any money or other amounts due or sums due in respect of such general intangible under Section 9.408 of the UCC.
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Section 2.2 Grantor Remains Liable. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, (a) each Grantor shall remain liable under the contracts and agreements included in such Grantor’s Collateral to the extent set forth herein to perform all of its duties and obligations thereunder to the same extent as if this Agreement had not been executed, (b) the exercise by any Secured Lender of any of the rights hereunder shall not release any Grantor from any of its duties or obligations under the contracts and agreements included in such Grantor’s Collateral, and (c) no Secured Lender shall have any obligation or liability under the contracts and agreements included in such Grantor’s Collateral by reason of this Agreement, nor shall any Secured Lender be obligated to perform any of the obligations or duties of any Grantor thereunder or to take any action to collect or enforce any claim for payment assigned hereunder.
Section 2.3 Delivery of Pledged Equity Interests. All certificates or other Instruments constituting or evidencing the Pledged Equity Interests shall be delivered to and held by or on behalf of Administrative Agent pursuant hereto and shall be in suitable form for transfer by delivery, or shall be accompanied by undated and duly executed instruments of transfer or assignment in blank, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Administrative Agent. If an Event of Default exists, Administrative Agent has the right, without notice to any Grantor, to transfer to or to register in the name of Administrative Agent or any of its nominees any or all of such Collateral. In addition, Administrative Agent has the right at any time with the consent of the Borrower prior to an Event of Default to exchange certificates or instruments representing or evidencing Pledged Equity Interests for certificates or instruments of smaller or larger denominations.
ARTICLE III.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Section 3.1 Representations and Warranties. Each Grantor represents and warrants to each Secured Lender severally with respect to itself and the Collateral owned by it that:
(a) This Agreement and the grant of the security interest pursuant to this Agreement in the Collateral create a valid first priority security interest (other than such Collateral that would require the execution of a control agreement or would require that the Secured Party take possession of for such first priority security interest) in favor of the Secured Party for the ratable benefit of the Secured Lenders in the Collateral (subject to Permitted Liens), securing the payment and performance of the Secured Obligations, and all filings and other actions necessary to perfect and protect such security interest and such priority have been duly taken (or will be taken upon each Grantor obtaining rights in Collateral after the date hereof) and, upon the filing of all UCC-1 financing statements for such Grantor on Schedule 3 hereto, in the form delivered by such Grantor to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the Closing Date and in the filing offices listed on such Schedule 3, and delivery to and continuing possession by the Administrative Agent of all certificates evidencing the Pledged Equity Interests (together with executed stock powers), all filings and other actions necessary to perfect and protect such security interest and such priority (subject to execution of a control agreement or possession by the Secured Party) have been duly taken (or will be taken upon any Grantor obtaining rights in
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Collateral after the date hereof), subject, however, with respect to Proceeds, to the provisions of Section 9.315 of the UCC.
(b) Each Grantor has good and indefeasible title to all of the Collateral free and clear of any Lien, except for Permitted Liens. No Grantor has granted a security interest or other Lien in or made an assignment of any of the Collateral, except for Permitted Liens. No Grantor has entered into nor is it or any of its property subject to any agreement limiting the ability of such Grantor to xxxxx x Xxxx in any property of such Grantor, or the ability of such Grantor to agree to grant or not xxxxx x Xxxx in property of such Grantor (in each case, except as permitted by the Credit Agreement). None of the Collateral is consigned Goods or subject to any agreement of repurchase, except in the ordinary course of business, nor subject to any dispute, defense, or counterclaim. No effective financing statement or other similar document used to perfect and preserve a security interest or other Lien under the Laws of any jurisdiction covering all or any part of the Collateral is on file in any recording office, except such as may have been filed (i) pursuant to this Agreement or other Loan Document, (ii) relating to Permitted Liens, or (iii) pursuant to the Existing Credit Agreement. Except as permitted under the Credit Agreement, each Grantor has not sold any interest in any of its Accounts (other than past due or doubtful Accounts assigned to third parties for collection), or consigned any of its Inventory.
(c) All of the Pledged Equity Interests have been duly and validly issued, and the Pledged Stock is fully paid and nonassessable. All of the Pledged Equity Interests consisting of certificated securities have been delivered to the Administrative Agent. Other than Pledged Partnership Interests and Pledged LLC Interests constituting General Intangibles, there are no Pledged Equity Interests other than that represented by certificated securities in the possession of the Administrative Agent. There are no restrictions in any Organization Document governing any Pledged Equity Interest or any other document related thereto which would limit or restrict (i) the grant of a Lien in the Pledged Equity Interests, (ii) the perfection of such Lien or (iii) the exercise of remedies in respect of such perfected Lien in the Pledged Equity Interests as contemplated by this Agreement. Upon the exercise of remedies in respect of Pledged Partnership Interests and Pledged LLC Interests, a transferee or assignee of a partnership interest or a membership interest, as the case may be, of such partnership or limited liability company, as the case may be, shall become a partner or member, as the case may be, of such partnership or limited liability company as the case may be, entitled to participate in the management thereof to the extent such partnership or membership interest would otherwise permit such transferee or assignee to participate in management and upon the transfer of the entire interest of such Grantor, such Grantor ceases to be a partner or member, as the case may be.
(d) Schedule 4 states the exact name of each Grantor, as such name appears in its currently effective organizational documents as filed with the appropriate authority of the jurisdiction of each Grantor’s organization. Schedule 4, Section (a) states the jurisdiction of organization of each Grantor. Schedule 4, Section (b) sets forth the type of entity and each other name each Grantor has had in the past two years, together with the date of the relevant change. Except as set forth in Schedule 4, Section (c), each Grantor has not changed its identity or type of entity in any way within the past two years. Changes in identity or type of entity include mergers, consolidations, acquisitions (including both equity and asset acquisitions), and any change in the form, nature or jurisdiction of organization. Schedules 4 and 5 contain the
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information required by this Section as to each acquiree or constituent party to a merger, consolidation, or acquisition within the preceding two years. Schedule 4, Section (d) states all other names (including trade, assumed, and similar names) used by each Grantor or any of its divisions or other business units at any time during the past two years. Schedule 4, Section (e) states the Federal Taxpayer Identification Number of each Grantor. Schedule 4, Section (f) states the corporate or other organizational number of each Grantor.
(e) As of the Closing Date, the chief executive office of each Grantor is located at the address stated on Schedule 5, Section (a). Schedule 5, Section (b) states all locations where each Grantor maintains any books or records relating to all Accounts (with each location at which Chattel Paper, if any, is kept being indicated by an “*”). As of the Closing Date, Schedule 5, Section (c) states all locations where each Grantor maintains any Inventory. As of the Closing Date, Schedule 5, Section (d) states all the places of business of each Grantor or other locations of Collateral not identified in Schedule 5, Sections (a), (b), or (c). As of the Closing Date, Schedule 5, Section (e) states the names and addresses of all Persons other than each Grantor who have possession of any of the Collateral of each such Grantor.
(f) All Accounts have been originated by each Grantor and all Inventory has been acquired by each Grantor in the ordinary course of business.
(g) Each Grantor has exclusive possession and control of the Inventory pledged by it hereunder, other than Inventory in the hands of third party processors.
(h) As of the Closing Date, Schedule 6 is a complete and correct list of all insurance policies covering losses with respect to the Collateral for which each Grantor is a named insured.
(i) Each Grantor represents and warrants that it is the owner of the material Intellectual Property identified in Schedule 2 and has the right to grant the rights and license granted herein.
(j) As of the Closing Date, except as set forth on Schedule 7, no consent of any other Person and no authorization, approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any Governmental Authority is required (i) for the pledge by each Grantor of the Collateral pledged by it hereunder, for the grant by each Grantor of the security interest granted hereby, or for the execution, delivery, or performance of this Agreement by each Grantor, (ii) for the perfection or maintenance of the pledge, assignment, and security interest created hereby (including the first priority nature of such pledge, assignment, and security interest) or (iii) for the enforcement of remedies by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Lenders.
ARTICLE IV.
COVENANTS
Section 4.1 Further Assurances.
(a) Each Grantor will, from time to time and at each Grantor’s expense, promptly execute and deliver such financing or continuation statements, or amendments thereto and such
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patent or trademark office filings and promptly deliver such certificated securities, as may be necessary, or as Administrative Agent may request, in order to perfect and preserve the pledge, assignment, and security interest granted or purported to be granted hereby, and take all further action in connection with the filing of such financing or continuation statements or amendments thereto, and such patent or trademark office filings that Administrative Agent may reasonably request, in order to perfect and protect any pledge, assignment, or security interest granted or purported to be granted hereby, and the priority thereof, or to enable Administrative Agent to exercise and enforce Administrative Agent’s and other Secured Lenders’ rights and remedies hereunder with respect to any Collateral.
(b) In addition to such other information as shall be specifically provided for herein, each Grantor shall furnish to Administrative Agent such other information with respect to the Collateral as Administrative Agent may reasonably request.
(c) Each Grantor authorizes Administrative Agent to file one or more financing or continuation statements and amendments thereto and any patent and trademark filings, relating to all or any part of the Collateral without the authentication of any Grantor where permitted by Law. A photocopy or other reproduction of this Agreement or any financing statement covering the Collateral or any part thereof shall be sufficient as a financing statement where permitted by Law. Each Grantor ratifies its execution and delivery of, and the filing of, any financing statement describing any of the Collateral which was filed prior to the date of this Agreement.
(d) Each Grantor will not, and will not permit any Person to, revise, modify, amend, or restate the Organization Documents of any Person the Equity Interests in which is Pledged Equity Interests in a manner that adversely affects the security interest of the Secured Party therein except as permitted by the Credit Agreement, or terminate, cancel, or dissolve any such Person except as permitted by the Credit Agreement.
(e) Each Grantor shall cooperate to determine what may or shall be required to satisfy the Laws throughout the world with respect to the recordation and validation of the license of Intellectual Property granted pursuant to Section 2.1(b), or otherwise to render this Agreement and the license of Intellectual Property granted pursuant to Section 2.1(b) effective for the purposes granted, and shall execute all documents which Administrative Agent reasonably determines to be necessary or desirable to implement this subsection, including registered user statements or other documents suitable for filing with the appropriate Governmental Authorities.
Section 4.2 Place of Perfection; Records; Collection of Accounts, Chattel Paper and Instruments.
(a) No Grantor shall change the jurisdiction of its organization from the jurisdiction specified in Schedule 4, Section (a), its type of entity from the type of entity specified in Schedule 4, Section (b), or its name from the name specified in Schedule 4, unless the appropriate Grantor has delivered to Administrative Agent 30 days prior written notice and taken such actions as Administrative Agent may reasonably require with respect to such change. Each Grantor shall keep its chief executive office at the address specified in Schedule 5, Section (a) and the office where it keeps its records concerning the Accounts, and the originals of all Chattel
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Paper and Instruments, at the address specified in Schedule 5, Section (b), unless the appropriate Grantor has delivered to Administrative Agent 30 days prior written notice and taken such actions as Administrative Agent may reasonably require with respect to such change. Each Grantor will hold and preserve such records and Chattel Paper and Instruments and will permit representatives of Administrative Agent at any time during normal business hours to inspect and make abstracts from and copies of such records and Chattel Paper and Instruments.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 4.2(b), each Grantor shall continue to collect, at its own expense, all amounts due or to become due each Grantor under the Accounts, Chattel Paper, and Instruments. In connection with such collections, each Grantor may take (and, at Administrative Agent’s direction, shall take) such action as each such Grantor or Administrative Agent may deem necessary or advisable to enforce collection of the Accounts, Chattel Paper, and Instruments; provided, however, that Administrative Agent shall have the right, if an Event of Default exists and is continuing, without notice to any Grantor, to notify the Account Debtors or obligors under any Accounts, Chattel Paper, and Instruments of the assignment of such Accounts, Chattel Paper, and Instruments to Administrative Agent and to direct such Account Debtors or obligors to make payment of all amounts due or to become due to each Grantor thereunder directly to Administrative Agent and, at the expense of each Grantor, to enforce collection of any such Accounts, Chattel Paper, and Instruments, and to adjust, settle or compromise the amount or payment thereof, in the same manner and to the same extent as each Grantor might have done or as Administrative Agent deems appropriate. If any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and upon notice to the Borrower and the applicable Grantor, all amounts and proceeds (including Instruments) received by each Grantor in respect of the Accounts, Chattel Paper, and Instruments shall be received in trust for the benefit of Administrative Agent hereunder, shall be segregated from other funds and property of each Grantor and shall be forthwith paid or delivered over to Administrative Agent in the same form as so received (with any necessary indorsement) to be held as cash collateral thereafter to be applied as provided in the Credit Agreement. Each Grantor shall not adjust, settle, or compromise the amount or payment of any Account, Chattel Paper, or Instrument, release wholly or partly any Account Debtor or obligor thereof, or allow any credit or discount thereon, except in the ordinary course of business.
Section 4.3 Inventory.
Each Grantor shall keep substantially all of its Inventory (other than Inventory subject to Dispositions permitted under Section 7.05 of the Credit Agreement,) at the addresses specified in Schedule 5 or at such other places if all action required by Section 4.1(a) shall have been taken with respect to the Inventory so located at any new location and if the Administrative Agent is notified of such new location not more than thirty days after any such Inventory first becomes located at such new location.
Section 4.4 Rights to Dividends and Distributions. With respect to any Pledged Equity Interests, Administrative Agent shall have authority if an Event of Default exists and is continuing, either to have the same registered in Administrative Agent’s name or in the name of a nominee, and, with or without such registration, to demand of the issuer thereof, and to receive and receipt for, any and all dividends (including any stock or similar dividend or distribution)
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payable in respect thereof, whether they be ordinary or extraordinary. The Administrative Agent shall send to the respective Grantor notice of Administrative Agent’s election to take any action described in the preceding sentence; provided any failure of any Grantor to receive any such notice shall not invalidate any action taken by Administrative Agent or impair any of its rights. If any Grantor shall become entitled to receive or shall receive any interest in or certificate (including, without limitation, any interest in or certificate representing a dividend or a distribution in connection with any reclassification, increase, or reduction of capital, or issued in connection with any reorganization), or any option or rights arising from or relating to any of the Pledged Equity Interests, whether as an addition to, in substitution of, as a conversion of, or in exchange for any of the Pledged Equity Interests, or otherwise, each Grantor agrees to accept the same as Administrative Agent’s agent and to hold the same in trust on behalf of and for the benefit of Administrative Agent, and to deliver the same immediately to Administrative Agent in the exact form received, with appropriate undated stock or similar powers, duly executed in blank, to be held by Administrative Agent, subject to the terms hereof, as Pledged Equity Interests. Unless an Event of Default exists, each Grantor shall be entitled to receive all cash dividends and distributions paid in respect of the Pledged Equity Interests, (subject to the restrictions of any other Loan Document). Administrative Agent shall be entitled to all dividends and distributions, and to any sums paid upon or in respect of any Pledged Equity Interests, upon the liquidation, dissolution, or reorganization of the issuer thereof (except those constituting Dispositions permitted under the Credit Agreement) which shall be paid to Administrative Agent to be held by it as additional collateral security for and application to the Secured Obligations at the discretion of Administrative Agent. All dividends paid or distributed in respect of the Pledged Equity Interests which are received by any Grantor in violation of this Agreement shall, until paid or delivered to Administrative Agent, be held by each Grantor in trust as additional Collateral for the Secured Obligations.
Section 4.5 Right of Administrative Agent to Notify Issuers. If an Event of Default exists and is continuing and at such other times as Administrative Agent is entitled to receive dividends and other property in respect of or consisting of any Collateral which is or represents an equity or ownership interest in any Person (“Securities Collateral”), Administrative Agent may notify issuers of the Securities Collateral to make payments of all dividends and distributions directly to Administrative Agent and Administrative Agent may take control of all Proceeds of any Securities Collateral. Until Administrative Agent elects to exercise such rights, if an Event of Default exists, each Grantor, as agent of Administrative Agent, shall collect and segregate all dividends and other amounts paid or distributed with respect to the Securities Collateral.
Section 4.6 Insurance. All policies of insurance required to be maintained pursuant to Section 6.07 of the Credit Agreement covering Collateral shall be written for the benefit of Administrative Agent, for itself and the other Secured Lenders and each Grantor, as their interests may appear, and shall provide for at least thirty Business Days’ prior written notice of cancellation to Administrative Agent. Upon reasonable request by Administrative Agent, each Grantor shall promptly furnish to Administrative Agent evidence of such insurance in form and content satisfactory to Administrative Agent. If any Grantor fails to perform or observe any applicable covenants as to insurance, Administrative Agent may at its option obtain insurance on only Secured Lenders’ interest in the Collateral, any premium thereby paid by Administrative
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Agent to become part of the Secured Obligations, bear interest prior to the existence of an Event of Default, at the then applicable Base Rate, and during the existence of an Event of Default, at the lesser of (i) the Highest Lawful Rate and (ii) the Default Rate. If Administrative Agent maintains such substitute insurance, the premium for such insurance shall be due on demand and payable by the applicable Grantor to Administrative Agent. Each Grantor grants and appoints Administrative Agent its attorney-in-fact to, if an Event of Default exists, endorse any check or draft that may be payable to each such Grantor in order to collect any payments in respect of insurance, including any refunds of unearned premiums in connection with any cancellation, adjustment, or termination of any policy of insurance. Any such sums collected by Administrative Agent shall be credited, except to the extent applied to the purchase by Administrative Agent of similar insurance, to any amounts then owing on the Secured Obligations in accordance with the Credit Agreement.
Section 4.7 Transfers and Other Liens. No Grantor shall (a) Dispose of any of the Collateral, except as permitted under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, or (b) create or permit to exist any Lien upon or with respect to any of the Collateral, except for Permitted Liens.
Section 4.8 Administrative Agent Appointed Attorney-in-Fact. Each Grantor hereby irrevocably appoints Administrative Agent Grantor’s attorney-in-fact, with full authority in the place and stead of each Grantor and in the name of each Grantor or otherwise to take any action and to execute any instrument which Administrative Agent may deem reasonably necessary or advisable to accomplish the purposes of this Agreement, including, without limitation (provided that the actions listed in each clause below other than the obtainment of insurance may only be taken or exercised if an Event of Default exists):
(a) to obtain and adjust insurance required to be paid to Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 4.6;
(b) to ask, demand, collect, xxx for, recover, compromise, receive, and give acquittance and receipts for moneys due and to become due under or in connection with the Collateral;
(c) to receive, indorse, and collect any drafts or other Instruments, documents, and Chattel Paper, in connection therewith; and
(d) to file any claims or take any action or institute any proceedings which Administrative Agent may deem necessary or desirable for the collection of any of the Collateral or otherwise to enforce compliance with the terms and conditions of any Collateral or the rights of Administrative Agent with respect to any of the Collateral. EACH GRANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY GRANTS TO ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT EACH SUCH GRANTOR’S PROXY (EXERCISABLE ONLY IF AN EVENT OF DEFAULT EXISTS) TO VOTE ANY SECURITIES COLLATERAL AND APPOINTS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT EACH SUCH GRANTOR’S ATTORNEY-IN-FACT TO PERFORM ALL OBLIGATIONS OF GRANTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT AND TO EXERCISE ALL OF ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S AND EACH OTHER SECURED PARTY’S
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RIGHTS HEREUNDER. THE PROXY AND EACH POWER OF ATTORNEY HEREIN GRANTED, AND EACH STOCK POWER AND SIMILAR POWER NOW OR HEREAFTER GRANTED (INCLUDING ANY EVIDENCED BY A SEPARATE WRITING), ARE COUPLED WITH AN INTEREST AND ARE IRREVOCABLE PRIOR TO FINAL PAYMENT IN FULL OF THE SECURED OBLIGATIONS.
Section 4.9 Intellectual Property.
(a) The parties acknowledge and agree that the Intellectual Property is the sole and exclusive property of each applicable Grantor, subject to the terms and conditions stated in this Agreement. Other than in connection with any security interest in the Intellectual Property that any Grantor has granted to Secured Party, or any rights and remedies of Secured Lenders under Applicable Law, neither Administrative Agent nor any other Secured Lender shall challenge any Grantor’s ownership of the Intellectual Property. Each Grantor expressly retains all rights, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default, to license third parties to use the Intellectual Property for any purpose whatsoever not in violation of the Loan Documents and which are not exclusive as to prevent Administrative Agent from using any of the Intellectual Property.
(b) The license granted to Administrative Agent hereunder shall include the right of Administrative Agent to grant sublicenses to others to use the Intellectual Property if an Event of Default exists, and to enable such sublicensees to exercise any rights and remedies of Secured Lenders with respect to the Collateral, as Administrative Agent reasonably deems necessary or appropriate in the exercise of the rights and remedies of Secured Lenders. In any country where sublicenses are incapable of registration or where registration of a sublicense will not satisfactorily protect the rights of Grantor and Administrative Agent, Administrative Agent shall also have the right to designate other parties as direct licensees of Grantor to use the Intellectual Property if an Event of Default exists and to enable such direct licensees to exercise any rights and remedies of Secured Lenders as such licensees reasonably deem necessary or appropriate and Grantor agrees to enter into direct written licenses with the parties as designated on the same terms as would be applicable to a sublicense, and any such direct license may, depending on the relevant local requirements, be either (a) in lieu of a sublicense or (b) supplemental to a sublicense. In either case, the parties hereto shall cooperate to determine what shall be necessary or appropriate in the circumstances. For each sublicense to a sublicensee and direct license to a licensee, Grantor appoints Administrative Agent its agent for the purpose of exercising quality control over the sublicensee. Grantor shall execute this Agreement in any form, content and language suitable for recordation, notice and/or registration in all available and appropriate agencies of foreign countries as Administrative Agent may require.
(c) In connection with the assignment or other transfer (in whole or in part) of its obligations to any other Person, Administrative Agent may assign the license granted herein without Grantor’s consent and upon such assignment or transfer such other Person shall thereupon become vested with all rights and benefits in respect thereof granted to Administrative Agent under this Agreement (to the extent of such assignment or transfer).
(d) The parties hereto shall take reasonable action to preserve the confidentiality of the Intellectual Property; provided, that Administrative Agent shall not have any liability to any
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Person for any disclosure of the Intellectual Property related to Collateral upon and after any realization upon such Collateral.
Section 4.10 Dilution of Ownership. As to any Pledged Equity Interests, unless otherwise permitted by the Credit Agreement, no Grantor will consent to or approve of the issuance of (a) any additional shares of any class of Equity Interests of such issuer (unless immediately upon issuance additional Equity Interests are pledged and delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms hereof to the extent necessary to give Secured Party a security interest after such issuance in at least the same percentage of such issuer’s outstanding securities or other equity interest as Secured Party had before such issuance), (b) any instrument convertible voluntarily by the holder thereof or automatically upon the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event or condition into, or exchangeable for, any such securities or other equity interests, or (c) any warrants, options, contracts or other commitments entitling any third party to purchase or otherwise acquire any such securities or other equity interests. The foregoing shall not apply to any Equity Interests in Borrower.
Section 4.11 Restrictions on Securities. No Grantor will enter into any agreement creating, or otherwise permit to exist, any restriction or condition upon the transfer, voting or control of any Pledged Equity Interests, except (a) as consented to in writing by the Secured Party, (b) required by provisions of applicable Securities Laws or state securities Laws (which provisions are subject to Laws that expressly prohibit waiver of such provision), or (c) otherwise permitted by the Credit Agreement. No issuer of any Pledged Equity Interests, which is either a partnership or limited liability company, shall amend or restate its partnership agreement or certificate of organization or operating agreement, respectively, or other governance document, to provide that any Equity Interest of such Issuer is a security governed by Chapter 8 of the Code or permit any Equity Interest of such issuer to be evidenced by a certificate or other instrument.
ARTICLE V.
RIGHTS AND POWERS OF SECURED PARTY.
Section 5.1 Administrative Agent May Perform. If any Grantor fails to perform any agreement contained herein, Administrative Agent may itself perform, or cause performance of, such agreement, and the expenses of Administrative Agent incurred in connection therewith shall be payable by each such Grantor under Section 5.5.
Section 5.2 Administrative Agent’s Duties. The powers conferred on Administrative Agent hereunder are solely to protect Secured Lenders’ interest in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon it to exercise any such powers. Except for the safe custody of any Collateral in its possession and the accounting for moneys actually received by Secured Lenders hereunder, neither Administrative Agent nor any other Secured Lender shall have any duty as to any Collateral, as to ascertaining or taking action with respect to calls, conversions, exchanges, maturities, tenders, or other matters relative to any Collateral, whether or not Administrative Agent or any other Secured Lender has or is deemed to have knowledge of such matters, or as to the taking of any necessary steps to preserve rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining to any reasonable care in the custody and preservation of any Collateral in its
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possession if such Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which Administrative Agent accords its own property. Except as provided in this Section 5.2, neither Administrative Agent nor any other Secured Lender shall have any duty or liability to protect or preserve any Collateral or to preserve rights pertaining thereto. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as requiring or obligating Administrative Agent or any other Secured Lender, and neither Administrative Agent nor any other Secured Lender shall be required or obligated, to (a) present or file any claim or notice or take any action, with respect to any Collateral or in connection therewith or (b) notify any Grantor of any decline in the value of any Collateral.
Section 5.3 Remedies. If an Event of Default exists:
(a) Administrative Agent may exercise in respect of the Collateral, in addition to other rights and remedies provided for herein or otherwise available to it or any other Secured Lender pursuant to any Applicable Law, all the rights and remedies of a secured party on default under the UCC (whether or not the UCC applies to the affected Collateral), and also may require each Grantor to, and each Grantor will at its expense and upon request of Administrative Agent forthwith, assemble all or part of the Collateral as directed by Administrative Agent and make it available to Administrative Agent at a place to be designated by Administrative Agent which is reasonably convenient to both parties at public or private sale, at any of Administrative Agent’s offices or elsewhere, for cash, on credit or for future delivery, and upon such other terms as Administrative Agent may deem commercially reasonable. Each Grantor agrees that, to the extent notice of sale shall be required by Law, ten days’ notice to each Grantor of the time and place of any public sale or the time after which any private sale is to be made shall constitute reasonable notification. Administrative Agent shall not be obligated to make any sale of Collateral regardless of notice of sale having been given. Administrative Agent may adjourn any public or private sale from time to time by announcement at the time and place fixed therefor, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the time and place to which it was so adjourned.
(b) All cash proceeds received by Administrative Agent upon any sale of, collection of, or other realization upon, all or any part of the Collateral shall be applied as set forth in Section 8.03 of the Credit Agreement.
(c) All payments received by each Grantor under or in connection with any Collateral shall be received in trust for the benefit of Administrative Agent, shall be segregated from other funds of each such Grantor, and shall be forthwith paid over to Administrative Agent in the same form as so received (with any necessary indorsement).
(d) Because of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), and other Laws, including without limitation state “blue sky” Laws, or contractual restrictions or agreements, there may be legal restrictions or limitations affecting Administrative Agent in any attempts to dispose of the Pledged Equity Interests and the enforcement of rights under this Agreement. For these reasons, Administrative Agent is authorized by each Grantor, but not obligated, if any Event of Default exists, to sell or otherwise dispose of any of the Pledged Equity Interests at private sale, subject to an investment letter, or in any other manner which will
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not require the Pledged Equity Interests, or any part thereof, to be registered in accordance with the Securities Act, or any other Law. Administrative Agent is also hereby authorized by each Grantor, but not obligated, to take such actions, give such notices, obtain such consents, and do such other things as Administrative Agent may deem required or appropriate under the Securities Act or other securities Laws or other Laws or contractual restrictions or agreements in the event of a sale or disposition of any Pledged Equity Interests. Each Grantor understands that Administrative Agent may in its discretion approach a restricted number of potential purchasers and that a sale under such circumstances may yield a lower price for the Pledged Equity Interests than would otherwise be obtainable if same were registered and/or sold in the open market. No sale so made in good faith by Administrative Agent shall be deemed to be not “commercially reasonable” because so made. Each Grantor agrees that if an Event of Default exists, and Administrative Agent sells the Pledged Equity Interests or any portion thereof at any private sale or sales, Administrative Agent shall have the right to rely upon the advice and opinion of appraisers and other Persons, which appraisers and other Persons are acceptable to Administrative Agent, as to the best price reasonably obtainable upon such a private sale thereof. In the absence of bad faith or gross negligence, such reliance shall be prima facie evidence that Administrative Agent and the other Secured Lenders handled such matter in a commercially reasonable manner under Applicable Law.
(e) After notice to Grantor, Administrative Agent and such Persons as Administrative Agent may reasonably designate shall have the right, at Grantor’s own cost and expense, to verify under reasonable procedures, the validity, amount, quality, quantity, value, condition, and status of, or any other matter relating to, the Collateral, including, in the case of Accounts or Collateral in the possession of any third person, by contacting Account Debtors or the third person possessing such Collateral for the purpose of making such a verification. Administrative Agent shall have the absolute right to share any information it gains from such inspection or verification with any Secured Lender.
(f) For purposes of enabling Administrative Agent to exercise rights and remedies under this Agreement, each Grantor grants (to the extent not otherwise prohibited by a license with respect thereto) to Administrative Agent an irrevocable, nonexclusive license (exercisable without payment of royalty or other compensation to any Grantor or any other Person, provided, that if the license granted to Administrative Agent is a sublicense, each Grantor shall be solely responsible for, and indemnify Administrative Agent against, any royalty or other compensation payable to Grantor’s licensor or other Person) to use, if an Event of Default exists, all of Grantor’s Software, and including in such license reasonable access to all media in which any of the licensed items may be recorded and all related manuals.
(g) Administrative Agent may dispose of any Inventory and any other manufactured products under any of the Intellectual Property licensed hereby, provided the Inventory and any other manufactured products so disposed of by it or any other Person acting on behalf of licensee shall comply in any material respect with (i) quality standards and specifications, including labeling specifications, employed by Grantor in commerce prior to the occurrence of the relevant Event of Default, or, where no such standards and specifications exist, a level of quality comparable to the quality standards generally accepted for other leading competitive brands of
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the same item of Inventory in the same markets from time to time; or (ii) a level of quality comparable to that which may be adopted by Grantor for its or its other licensees’ products.
(h) The license granted with respect to any Intellectual Property may be terminated only upon the event that the Secured Obligations which are secured in part by the Collateral of Grantor and by the license granted herein, are finally and fully satisfied and paid in accordance with all terms and conditions of the Loan Documents at the time of such termination. If after termination of this Agreement, there occurs a rescission of payment of any of the Secured Obligations or the restoration of such payments by Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other Person upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of Grantor or any other Person, this Agreement shall be reinstated as though such payment had not been made and remain in full force and effect in accordance with the terms of the preceding sentence.
Section 5.4 INDEMNITY AND EXPENSES.
(a) EACH GRANTOR SHALL INDEMNIFY (WHICH SHALL BE PAYABLE FROM TIME TO TIME ON DEMAND) SECURED LENDERS FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, LOSSES, AND LIABILITIES (INCLUDING REASONABLE ATTORNEYS’ FEES) GROWING OUT OF OR RESULTING FROM THIS AGREEMENT (INCLUDING ENFORCEMENT OF THIS AGREEMENT), EXPRESSLY INCLUDING SUCH CLAIMS, LOSSES, OR LIABILITIES ARISING OUT OF MERE NEGLIGENCE OF ANY SECURED PARTY, EXCEPT CLAIMS, LOSSES, OR LIABILITIES RESULTING FROM ANY SECURED LENDER’S (i) GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OR (ii) BREACH IN BAD FAITH OF ITS OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER.
(b) EACH GRANTOR WILL UPON DEMAND PAY TO ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT (AND EACH SUB-AGENT THEREOF) AND THEIR RESPECTIVE RELATED PARTIES THE AMOUNT OF ANY AND ALL REASONABLE EXPENSES, INCLUDING THE REASONABLE FEES AND EXPENSES OF ITS COUNSEL AND OF ANY EXPERTS AND AGENTS, WHICH ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT (AND EACH SUB-AGENT THEREOF) AND THEIR RESPECTIVE RELATED PARTIES MAY INCUR IN CONNECTION WITH THE ADMINISTRATION OF THIS AGREEMENT.
(c) EACH GRANTOR WILL UPON DEMAND PAY TO ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT (AND EACH SUB-AGENT THEREOF), EACH OTHER SECURED LENDER AND THEIR RESPECTIVE RELATED PARTIES THE AMOUNT OF ANY AND ALL EXPENSES, INCLUDING THE FEES AND EXPENSES OF ITS COUNSEL AND OF ANY EXPERTS AND AGENTS, WHICH ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT (AND EACH SUB-AGENT THEREOF), SUCH OTHER SECURED LENDER AND THEIR RESPECTIVE RELATED PARTIES MAY INCUR IN CONNECTION WITH (I) THE CUSTODY, PRESERVATION, USE OR OPERATION OF, OR THE SALE OF, COLLECTION FROM, OR OTHER REALIZATION UPON, ANY OF THE COLLATERAL, (II) THE EXERCISE OR
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ENFORCEMENT OF ANY OF THE RIGHTS OF ANY SECURED LENDER HEREUNDER, OR (III) THE FAILURE BY GRANTOR TO PERFORM OR OBSERVE ANY OF THE PROVISIONS HEREOF.
ARTICLE VI.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 6.1 Maximum Liability. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, the obligations of each Grantor (other than Borrower) hereunder shall be limited to a maximum aggregate amount equal to the largest amount that would not render its obligations hereunder subject to avoidance as a fraudulent transfer or conveyance under Section 548 of Title 11 of the United States Code or any applicable provisions of comparable Law (collectively, the “Fraudulent Transfer Laws”), in each case after giving effect to all other liabilities of each Grantor, contingent or otherwise, that are relevant under the Fraudulent Transfer Laws (specifically excluding, however, any liabilities of each Grantor in respect of intercompany indebtedness to other Loan Parties or Affiliates of other Loan Parties to the extent that such indebtedness would be discharged in an amount equal to the amount paid or property conveyed by each Grantor under the Loan Documents) and after giving effect as assets, subject to Section 6.2, to the value (as determined under the applicable provisions of the Fraudulent Transfer Laws) of any rights to subrogation or contribution of each Grantor pursuant to (a) Applicable Law or (b) any agreement providing for an equitable allocation among each Grantor and other Loan Parties of obligations arising under the Loan Documents.
Section 6.2 Waiver of Subrogation. No Grantor shall assert, enforce, or otherwise exercise (a) any right of subrogation to any of the rights or Liens of any Secured Lender or any other beneficiary against any other Loan Party or any Collateral, or (b) any right of recourse, reimbursement, contribution, indemnification, or similar right against any other Loan Party on all or any part of the Obligations or any other Loan Party, and each Grantor hereby waives any and all of the foregoing rights and the benefit of, and any right to participate in, and Collateral or other security given to or for the benefit of any Secured Lender or any other beneficiary to secure payment of the Obligations. This Section 6.2 shall survive the termination of this Agreement, and any satisfaction and discharge of each Grantor by virtue of any payment, court order, or Law.
Section 6.3 Cumulative Rights. All rights of Administrative Agent and each other Secured Lender under the Loan Documents are cumulative of each other and of every other right which Administrative Agent and each other Secured Lender may otherwise have at Law or in equity or under any other agreement. The exercise of one or more rights shall not prejudice or impair the concurrent or subsequent exercise of other rights.
Section 6.4 Amendments; Waivers. Any term, covenant, agreement, or condition of this Agreement may be amended, and any right under this Agreement may be waived, if, but only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and is signed by Administrative Agent and, in the case of an amendment, by each Grantor. Unless otherwise specified in such waiver, a waiver of any right under this Agreement shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the
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specific purpose for which given. No election not to exercise, failure to exercise or delay in exercising any right, nor any course of dealing or performance, shall operate as a waiver of any right of any Secured Lender under this Agreement or Applicable Law, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right of any Secured Lender under this Agreement or Applicable Law.
Section 6.5 Continuing Security Interest.
(a) This Agreement creates a continuing security interest in the Collateral and shall (x) remain in full force and effect until the Release Date, (y) be binding upon each Grantor, its successors and assigns, and (z) inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, Administrative Agent and its successors, transferees and assigns. Upon the Release Date, this Agreement and all obligations (other than those expressly stated to survive such termination) of Administrative Agent and each Grantor hereunder shall terminate, all without delivery of any instrument or performance of any act by any party, and all rights to the Collateral shall revert to the granting parties and Administrative Agent will, at Grantor’s expense, execute and deliver to each Grantor such documents (including without limitation UCC termination statements) as each such Grantor shall reasonably request to evidence such termination and shall deliver to such Grantor any Collateral held by Administrative Agent hereunder. Each Grantor agrees that to the extent that Administrative Agent or any other Secured Lender receives any payment or benefit and such payment or benefit, or any part thereof, is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or is required to be repaid to a trustee, receiver, or any other Person under any Debtor Relief Law, common law or equitable cause, then to the extent of such payment or benefit, the Obligations or part thereof intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment or benefit had not been made and, further, any such repayment by Administrative Agent or any other Secured Lender, to the extent that Administrative Agent or any other Secured Lender did not directly receive a corresponding cash payment, shall be added to and be additional Obligations payable upon demand by Administrative Agent or any other Secured Lender and secured hereby, and, if the Lien and security interest hereof shall have been released, such Lien and security interest shall be reinstated with the same effect and priority as on the date of execution hereof all as if no release of such Lien or security interest had ever occurred.
(b) In connection with any sale or other disposition of Collateral permitted by the Credit Agreement, the Lien pursuant to this Agreement on such sold or disposed of Collateral shall be automatically released. In connection with the sale or other disposition of Collateral permitted under the Credit Agreement, Administrative Agent shall, upon receipt from the Borrower of a written request for the release of such Collateral subject to such sale or other disposition, identifying such Collateral, deliver to such Grantor, as the case may be, such Collateral held by Administrative Agent hereunder and execute and deliver to the relevant Grantor (at the sole cost and expense of such Grantor) or authorize such Grantor to file all releases or other documents (including without limitation UCC termination statements) necessary or reasonably desirable for the release of Liens created hereby on such Collateral as such Grantor may reasonably request.
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Section 6.6 GOVERNING LAW; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL; CONSENT TO JURISDICTION AND SERVICE OF PROCESS.
(a) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF TEXAS APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN SUCH STATE AND APPLICABLE FEDERAL LAW.
(b) EACH GRANTOR, THE SECURED PARTY AND EACH SECURED LENDER, BY ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS SITTING IN DALLAS COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH GRANTOR, THE SECURED PARTY AND EACH OTHER SECURED LENDER IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH TEXAS STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH GRANTOR, THE SECURED PARTY AND EACH OTHER SECURED LENDER BY ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE SECURED PARTY, ANY SECURED LENDER OR THE L/C ISSUER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST ANY GRANTOR OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.
(c) EACH GRANTOR, THE SECURED PARTY AND EACH SECURED LENDER, BY ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION. EACH GRANTOR, THE SECURED PARTY AND EACH OTHER SECURED LENDER, BY ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.
(d) EACH GRANTOR, THE SECURED PARTY AND EACH OTHER SECURED LENDER, BY ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF
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PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 10.02 OF THE CREDIT AGREEMENT. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF EACH GRANTOR, THE SECURED PARTY AND EACH OTHER SECURED LENDER, TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.
(e) EACH GRANTOR, THE SECURED PARTY AND EACH OTHER SECURED LENDER, BY ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO OR ANY OF THEM WITH RESPECT TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED THERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER FOUNDED IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE; AND EACH GRANTOR, THE SECURED PARTY AND EACH SECURED LENDER, BY ACCEPTANCE HEREOF, HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY, AND THAT ANY PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS SECTION WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE SIGNATORIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.
Section 6.7 Administrative Agent’s Right to Use Agents. Administrative Agent may exercise its rights under this Agreement through an agent or other designee.
Section 6.8 No Interference, Compensation or Expense. Administrative Agent may exercise its rights under this Agreement (a) without resistance or interference by any Grantor and (b) without payment of any rent, license fee, or compensation of any kind to any Grantor.
Section 6.9 Waivers of Rights Inhibiting Enforcement. Each Grantor waives (a) any claim that, as to any part of the Collateral, a private sale, should Administrative Agent elect so to proceed, is, in and of itself, not a commercially reasonable method of sale for such Collateral, (b) except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW, NOTICE OR JUDICIAL HEARING IN CONNECTION WITH ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S DISPOSITION OF ANY OF THE COLLATERAL INCLUDING ANY AND ALL PRIOR NOTICE AND HEARING FOR ANY PREJUDGMENT REMEDY OR REMEDIES AND ANY SUCH RIGHT THAT EACH GRANTOR WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OR ANY STATUTE OF THE UNITED STATES OR OF ANY STATE, AND ALL OTHER REQUIREMENTS AS TO THE TIME, PLACE AND TERMS OF SALE OR OTHER REQUIREMENTS WITH RESPECT TO THE ENFORCEMENT OF SECURED LENDERS’ RIGHTS HEREUNDER and (c) all rights of redemption, appraisement or valuation.
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Section 6.10 Obligations Not Affected. To the fullest extent not prohibited by Applicable Law, the obligations of each Grantor under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect without regard to, and shall not be impaired or affected by:
(a) any amendment, addition, or supplement to, or restatement of any Loan Document or any instrument delivered in connection therewith or any assignment or transfer thereof;
(b) any exercise, non-exercise, or waiver by Secured Party or any other Secured Lender of any right, remedy, power, or privilege under or in respect of, or any release of any guaranty, any collateral, or the Collateral or any part thereof provided pursuant to, this Agreement or any Loan Document;
(c) any waiver, consent, extension, indulgence, or other action or inaction in respect of this Agreement or any Loan Document or any assignment or transfer of any thereof;
(d) any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, readjustment, composition, liquidation, or the like of any Loan Party or any other Person, whether or not each Grantor shall have notice or knowledge of any of the foregoing; or
(e) any other event which may give a Grantor or any other Loan Party a defense to, or a discharge of, any of its obligations under any Loan Document.
Section 6.11 Notices and Deliveries. All notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be effectuated in the manner provided for in Section 10.02 of the Credit Agreement, provided that if a notice or communication hereunder is to a Grantor other than the Borrower, said notice shall be addressed to such Grantor, in care of the Borrower at the Borrower’s then current address (or facsimile number) for notice under the Credit Agreement.
Section 6.12 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, invalid, or unenforceable under present or future Laws during the term thereof, (a) such provision shall be fully severable, this Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if such illegal, invalid, or unenforceable provision had never comprised a part hereof, and the remaining provisions hereof shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be affected by the illegal, invalid, or unenforceable provision or by its severance herefrom and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid, or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid, or unenforceable provisions.
Section 6.13 Successors and Assigns. All of the provisions of this Agreement shall be binding and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including, as to each Grantor, all Persons who may become bound as a debtor or a new debtor to this Agreement); provided, each Grantor may not assign any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement, except as a result of the consummation of a transaction permitted under Section 7.04 of the Credit Agreement.
Section 6.14 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto were upon the same instrument.
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Section 6.15 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. THIS WRITTEN AGREEMENT, TOGETHER WITH THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS AMONG THE PARTIES.
THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by their respective duly authorized officers as of the date first above written.
GRANTORS:
CHAPARRAL STEEL COMPANY [ ] | ||
By: |
Name: |
||
Title: |
||
Chief Financial Officer |
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SECURED PARTY:
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT | ||
By: |
Name: |
||
Title: |
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SCHEDULE 1
Pledged Equity Interests
GRANTOR:
Schedule 1 - Page 1
SCHEDULE 2
Intellectual Property
Schedule 2 - Page 1
SCHEDULE 3
Filing Offices
1. | UCC Filings |
Grantor |
State of Incorporation or Formation |
Filing Office |
Address | |||||
a. |
Schedule 3 - Page 1
SCHEDULE 4
Organization and Names
GRANTOR: [Exact Name of Grantor]
(a) | Jurisdiction of organization: |
(b) | Entity Type/Prior Names: |
(c) | Changes in Identity or Entity Type: |
(d) | Trade Names: |
(e) | Federal Tax Identification Number: |
(f) | Corporate or other Organizational Number: |
Schedule 4 - Page 1
SCHEDULE 5
Addresses
GRANTOR:
(a) | Chief Executive Office: |
Street Address and Zip |
Mailing Address and |
County/ Independent |
State |
Country | ||||
(b) | Locations where books and records are kept: |
(c) | Locations where Equipment and Inventory are kept: |
Street Address and Zip |
Mailing Address and |
County/Independent |
State |
Country | ||||
(d) | All other places of business not listed above: |
(e) | Persons (other than the Grantors) who have possession of Collateral or other Property: |
THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.
Schedule 5 - Page 1
SCHEDULE 6
Insurance
TO BE COMPLETED
Schedule 6 - Page 1
SCHEDULE 7
Required Consents
TO BE COMPLETED
Schedule 7 - Page 1