LOAN AGREEMENT dated as of June 8, 2009 among PHOTRONICS, INC. The Lenders Party Hereto and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent _______________________________ J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC., as Sole...
EXECUTION COPY |
dated as of
June 8, 2009
among
PHOTRONICS, INC.
The Lenders Party Hereto
and
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION
as Administrative Agent and Collateral
Agent
_______________________________
X.X. XXXXXX SECURITIES INC.,
as Sole Bookrunner and Sole Lead Arranger
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | |||
ARTICLE I Definitions | |||
Defined Terms | 1 | ||
SECTION 1.02. | Classification of Loans and Borrowings | 17 | |
SECTION 1.03. | Terms Generally | 17 | |
SECTION 1.04. | Accounting Terms; GAAP | 18 | |
ARTICLE II The Credits | 18 | ||
SECTION 2.01. | Commitments | 18 | |
SECTION 2.02. | Loans and Borrowings | 18 | |
SECTION 2.03. | Requests for Borrowings | 19 | |
SECTION 2.04. | [Intentionally Omitted] | 19 | |
SECTION 2.05. | [Intentionally Omitted] | 19 | |
SECTION 2.06. | [Intentionally Omitted] | 19 | |
SECTION 2.07. | Funding of Borrowings | 19 | |
SECTION 2.08. | Interest Elections | 20 | |
SECTION 2.09. | Termination of Commitments | 21 | |
SECTION 2.10. | Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt | 21 | |
SECTION 2.11. | Prepayment of Loans | 21 | |
SECTION 2.12. | Fees | 22 | |
SECTION 2.13. | Interest | 22 | |
SECTION 2.14. | Alternate Rate of Interest | 23 | |
SECTION 2.15. | Increased Costs | 23 | |
SECTION 2.16. | Break Funding Payments | 24 | |
SECTION 2.17. | Taxes | 24 | |
SECTION 2.18. | Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs | 25 | |
SECTION 2.19. | Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders | 27 | |
ARTICLE III Representations and Warranties | 27 | ||
SECTION 3.01. | Organization; Powers; Subsidiaries | 27 | |
SECTION 3.02. | Authorization; Enforceability | 28 | |
SECTION 3.03. | Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts | 28 | |
SECTION 3.04. | Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change | 28 | |
SECTION 3.05. | Properties | 28 | |
SECTION 3.06. | Litigation and Environmental Matters | 29 | |
SECTION 3.07. | Compliance with Laws and Agreements | 29 | |
SECTION 3.08. | Investment Company Status | 29 | |
SECTION 3.09. | Taxes | 29 | |
SECTION 3.10. | ERISA | 29 | |
SECTION 3.11. | Disclosure | 29 | |
SECTION 3.12. | Federal Reserve Regulations | 30 | |
SECTION 3.13. | Liens | 30 | |
SECTION 3.14. | No Default | 30 | |
SECTION 3.15. | Senior Indebtedness | 30 | |
SECTION 3.16. | Security Interest in Collateral | 30 |
Table of Contents
(continued)
Page | |||
ARTICLE IV Conditions | 30 | ||
SECTION 4.01. | Effective Date | 30 | |
SECTION 4.02. | Each Credit Event | 31 | |
ARTICLE V Affirmative Covenants | 32 | ||
SECTION 5.01. | Financial Statements and Other Information | 32 | |
SECTION 5.02. | Notices of Material Events | 33 | |
SECTION 5.03. | Existence; Conduct of Business | 33 | |
SECTION 5.04. | Payment of Obligations | 34 | |
SECTION 5.05. | Maintenance of Properties; Insurance | 34 | |
SECTION 5.06. | Books and Records; Inspection Rights | 34 | |
SECTION 5.07. | Compliance with Laws and Material Contractual Obligations | 35 | |
SECTION 5.08. | Use of Proceeds | 35 | |
SECTION 5.09. | Subsidiary Guarantors; Pledges; Additional Collateral; Further Assurances | 35 | |
SECTION 5.10. | [Intentionally Omitted] | 36 | |
SECTION 5.11. | Depository Banks | 36 | |
SECTION 5.12. | Financial Consultant | 37 | |
ARTICLE VI Negative Covenants | 37 | ||
SECTION 6.01. | Indebtedness | 37 | |
SECTION 6.02. | Liens | 38 | |
SECTION 6.03. | Fundamental Changes and Asset Sales | 39 | |
SECTION 6.04. | Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions | 40 | |
SECTION 6.05. | Swap Agreements | 41 | |
SECTION 6.06. | Restricted Payments | 41 | |
SECTION 6.07. | Transactions with Affiliates | 41 | |
SECTION 6.08. | Restrictive Agreements | 42 | |
SECTION 6.09. | Issuances of Equity Interests by Subsidiaries | 42 | |
SECTION 6.10. | Amendment of Material Documents | 42 | |
SECTION 6.11. | Financial Covenants | 42 | |
ARTICLE VII Events of Default | 44 | ||
ARTICLE VIII The Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent | 47 | ||
ARTICLE IX Miscellaneous | 50 | ||
SECTION 9.01. | Notices | 50 | |
SECTION 9.02. | Waivers; Amendments | 51 | |
SECTION 9.03. | Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver | 51 | |
SECTION 9.04. | Successors and Assigns | 52 | |
SECTION 9.05. | Survival | 55 | |
SECTION 9.06. | Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness | 55 |
ii
Table of Contents
(continued)
Page | |||
SECTION 9.07. | Severability | 55 | |
SECTION 9.08. | Right of Setoff | 55 | |
SECTION 9.09. | Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process | 56 | |
SECTION 9.10. | WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL | 56 | |
SECTION 9.11. | Headings | 56 | |
SECTION 9.12. | Confidentiality | 57 | |
SECTION 9.13. | USA PATRIOT Act | 57 | |
SECTION 9.14. | Appointment for Perfection | 57 |
iii
Table of Contents
(continued)
Page | |||
SCHEDULES: | |||
Schedule 1.01 | -- Consolidated EBITDA/Net Income | ||
Schedule 2.01 | -- Commitments | ||
Schedule 2.02 | -- [Intentionally Omitted] | ||
Schedule 3.01 | -- Subsidiaries | ||
Schedule 6.01 | -- Existing Indebtedness | ||
Schedule 6.02 | -- Existing Liens | ||
Schedule 6.04 | -- Existing Investments, Loans and Advances | ||
Schedule 6.07 | -- Affiliate Transactions | ||
Schedule 6.08 | -- Existing Restrictions | ||
EXHIBITS: | |||
Exhibit A | -- Form of Assignment and Assumption | ||
Exhibit B | -- Forms of Opinions of Loan Parties’ Counsels | ||
Exhibit C | -- [Intentionally Omitted] | ||
Exhibit D | -- [Intentionally Omitted] | ||
Exhibit E | -- List of Closing Documents | ||
Exhibit F-1 | -- [Intentionally Omitted] | ||
Exhibit F-2 | -- [Intentionally Omitted] | ||
Exhibit G | -- Form of Subsidiary Guaranty | ||
Exhibit H | -- Form of Pledge Agreement | ||
Exhibit I | -- Form of Intercreditor Agreement |
iv
LOAN AGREEMENT dated as of June 8, 2009 among PHOTRONICS, INC., the LENDERS from time to time party hereto and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent.
The parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions
Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:
“ABR”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to a Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.
“Adjusted LIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum which is the greater of (1) 2.00% and (2) an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to (a) the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate.
“Administrative Agent” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder.
“Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.
“Affected Foreign Subsidiary” means any Foreign Subsidiary to the extent such Foreign Subsidiary acting as a Subsidiary Guarantor would cause a Deemed Dividend Problem.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to a specified Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.
“Agents” means the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent.
“Aggregate Commitment” means the aggregate of the Commitments of all of the Lenders. As of the Effective Date, the Aggregate Commitment is $27,204,119.
“Alternate Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus ½ of 1% and (c) the Adjusted LIBO Rate for a one month Interest Period on such day (or if such day is not a Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) plus a percentage per annum equal to the then applicable “Eurodollar Spread” on such day as set forth in the definition of “Applicable Rate”; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the Adjusted LIBO Rate for any day shall be based on the rate appearing on the Reuters BBA Libor Rates Page 3750 (or on any successor or substitute page of such page) at approximately 11:00 a.m. London time on such day. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the Federal Funds Effective Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate, respectively.
“Applicable Pledge Percentage” means 100% but 65% in the case of a pledge by the Borrower or any Domestic Subsidiary of its Equity Interests in an Affected Foreign Subsidiary.
“Applicable Percentage” means, with respect to any Lender, the percentage of the Aggregate Commitment represented by such Lender’s Commitment. If the Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Percentages shall be determined based upon the percentage obtained by dividing such Lender’s outstanding Loans by the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all of the Loans at such time.
“Applicable Rate” means, for any day, with respect to any Eurodollar Loan or any ABR Loan, the applicable rate per annum set forth below under the caption “Eurodollar Spread” or “ABR Spread”:
Eurodollar | ABR |
Spread | Spread |
6.00% | 5.00% |
“Approved Fund” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04.
“Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption agreement entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 9.04), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit A or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
“Banking Services” means each and any of the following bank services provided to the Borrower or any Subsidiary by any Lender or any of its Affiliates: (a) commercial credit cards, (b) stored value cards and (c) treasury management services (including, without limitation, controlled disbursement, automated clearinghouse transactions, return items, overdrafts and interstate depository network services).
“Banking Services Agreement” means any agreement entered into by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with Banking Services.
“Banking Services Obligations” means any and all obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor) in connection with Banking Services.
“Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America.
“Borrower” means Photronics, Inc., a Connecticut corporation.
“Borrowing” means Loans of the same Type, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.
“Borrowing Request” means a request by the Borrower for a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03.
“Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided that, when used in connection with a Eurodollar Loan, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in Dollar deposits in the London interbank market.
2
“Capital Expenditures” means, without duplication, any cash expenditures for any purchase or other acquisition of any asset which would be classified as a fixed or capital asset on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP.
“Capital Lease Obligations” of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Change in Control” means (a) the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person or group (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder as in effect on the date hereof), of Equity Interests representing more than 35% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Borrower; (b) occupation of a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors of the Borrower by Persons who were neither (i) nominated by the board of directors of the Borrower nor (ii) appointed by directors so nominated; or (c) the acquisition of direct or indirect Control of the Borrower by any Person or group; or (d) the occurrence of a change in control, or other similar provision, as defined in any agreement or instrument evidencing any Material Indebtedness (triggering a default or mandatory prepayment, which default or mandatory prepayment has not been waived in writing).
“Change in Law” means (a) the adoption of any law, rule or regulation after the date of this Agreement, (b) any change in any law, rule or regulation or in the interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority after the date of this Agreement or (c) compliance by any Lender (or, for purposes of Section 2.15(b), by any lending office of such Lender or by such Lender’s holding company, if any) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement.
“Chinese Credit Facility” means the RMB186,000,000 credit facility evidenced by that certain Amended and Restated Agreement by and among Photronics Imaging Technologies (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., JPMorgan Chase Bank (China) Company Limited Shanghai Branch, as original lender and as administrative agent and the other financial institutions party thereto.
“Chinese Facility Sale” means any sale of the Borrower’s direct or indirect Equity Interests in Photronics China or all or a portion of the assets of Photronics China (excluding equipment returned by Photronics China to the Borrower or any Subsidiary).
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
“Collateral” means all Pledged Equity, all “Collateral” as defined in the Security Agreement and all other property pledged in favor of the Collateral Agent, on behalf of itself and the Holders of Secured Obligations, pursuant to the Mortgages and any other Collateral Document from time to time.
“Collateral Agent” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association in its capacity as Collateral Agent for the Holders of Secured Obligations and any successor Collateral Agent appointed pursuant to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement.
3
“Collateral Documents” means, collectively, the Security Agreement, the Pledge Agreements, the Mortgages and all other agreements, instruments and documents executed in connection with this Agreement that are intended to create, evidence or perfect Liens to secure the Secured Obligations.
“Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make Loans on the Effective Date, expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate amount of such Lender’s Loans hereunder. The initial amount of each Lender’s Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01, or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its Commitment, as applicable.
“Consolidated EBITDA” means, for any period, Consolidated Net Income for such period, minus the aggregate amount of extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring income or gains for such period to the extent required to be separately stated in the Borrower’s financial statements in accordance with GAAP, plus, without duplication and to the extent deducted from revenues in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period, the sum of (a) the aggregate amount of Consolidated Interest Expense for such period, plus (b) the aggregate amount of income tax expense for such period, plus (c) the aggregate amount of depreciation and amortization for such period, plus (d) non-cash expenses related to stock-based compensation, plus (e) any extraordinary or non-recurring non-cash expenses, write-downs, write-offs, or losses including impairment or restructuring charges, all as determined on a consolidated basis with respect to the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, minus, to the extent included in determining Consolidated Net Income for such period, any cash payments made during such period in respect of items described in clauses (d) and (e) above subsequent to the fiscal quarter in which the relevant non-cash expense or loss was reflected in a statement of Consolidated Net Income. For the purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDA for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters (each, a “Reference Period”), (i) if at any time during such Reference Period the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall have made any Material Disposition, the Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period shall be reduced by an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDA (if positive) attributable to the property that is the subject of such Material Disposition for such Reference Period or increased by an amount equal to the Consolidated EBITDA (if negative) attributable thereto for such Reference Period, and (ii) if during such Reference Period the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall have made a Material Acquisition, Consolidated EBITDA for such Reference Period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Material Acquisition occurred on the first day of such Reference Period. As used in this definition, “Material Acquisition” means any acquisition of property or series of related acquisitions of property that (a) constitutes (i) assets comprising all or substantially all or any significant portion of a business or operating unit of a business, or (ii) all or substantially all of the common stock or other Equity Interests of a Person, and (b) involves the payment of consideration by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in excess of $10,000,000; and “Material Disposition” means any sale, transfer or disposition of property or series of related sales, transfers, or dispositions of property that yields gross proceeds to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of $10,000,000.
“Consolidated Fixed Charges” means, with reference to any period, without duplication, interest payments in cash and scheduled principal payments on Indebtedness made in cash during such period, plus Taxes paid in cash, all calculated for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.
“Consolidated Interest Expense” means, with reference to any period, the interest expense (including without limitation interest expense under Capital Lease Obligations that is treated as interest in accordance with GAAP) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries calculated on a consolidated basis for such period with respect to (a) all outstanding Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP and (b) Swap Agreements (including, without limitation, all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers acceptance financing and net costs under interest rate Swap Agreements to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP).
4
“Consolidated Net Income” means, with reference to any period, the net income (or loss) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries calculated in accordance with GAAP on a consolidated basis (without duplication) for such period; provided that there shall be excluded (a) the income (or deficit) of any Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Borrower) in which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries has an ownership interest, except to the extent that any such income is actually received by the Borrower or such Subsidiary in the form of dividends or similar distributions and (b) the undistributed earnings of any Subsidiary of the Borrower to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by the terms of any contractual obligation (other than under any Loan Document) or any organizational or governing documents, any law, treaty, rule or regulation or any determination of an arbitrator or other Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to such Subsidiary. An example of the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA and Consolidated Net Income for the fiscal year ending October 29, 2006 and for the first two (2) fiscal quarters of 2007 is attached hereto as Schedule 1.01.
“Consolidated Senior Indebtedness” means at any time Consolidated Total Indebtedness minus the aggregate principal amount of Subordinated Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries calculated on a consolidated basis as of such time in accordance with GAAP.
“Consolidated Total Assets” means, as of the date of any determination thereof, total assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries calculated in accordance with GAAP on a consolidated basis as of such date.
“Consolidated Total Indebtedness” means at any time the sum, without duplication, of (a) the aggregate Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries calculated on a consolidated basis as of such time in accordance with GAAP, (b) the aggregate amount of Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries relating to the maximum drawing amount of all letters of credit outstanding and bankers acceptances and (c) Indebtedness of the type referred to in clauses (a) or (b) hereof of another Person guaranteed by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.
“Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.
“Convertible Subordinated Note Indenture” means (i) the Indenture dated as of April 15, 2003 from the Borrower to The Bank of New York, as Trustee, as in effect on the Effective Date and (ii) any replacement or additional indenture, in each case as the same may from time to time be issued, amended, restated or otherwise modified as permitted herein and pursuant to the which the Borrower issued the Convertible Subordinated Notes.
“Convertible Subordinated Notes” means (i) the $150,000,000 21/4% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2008, as in effect on the Effective Date and (ii) any other promissory notes issued pursuant to the Convertible Subordinated Note Indenture, in each case as the same may from time to time be issued, amended, restated or otherwise modified as permitted herein and as issued pursuant to the terms of the Convertible Subordinated Note Indenture.
“Deemed Dividend Problem” means, with respect to any Foreign Subsidiary, such Foreign Subsidiary’s accumulated and undistributed earnings and profits being deemed to be repatriated to the Borrower or the applicable parent Domestic Subsidiary under Section 956 of the Code or any successor or similar law and the effect of such repatriation causing or expected to cause adverse tax consequences in excess of $1,000,000 in the aggregate to the Borrower or such parent Domestic Subsidiary, in each case as determined by the Borrower in its commercially reasonable judgment acting in good faith and in consultation with its legal and tax advisors.
5
“Default” means any event or condition which constitutes an Event of Default or which upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.
“Dollars” or “$” refers to lawful money of the United States of America.
“Domestic Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary organized under the laws of a jurisdiction located in the United States of America.
“Effective Date” means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 4.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02).
“Environmental Laws” means all laws, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, the management, release or threatened release of any Hazardous Material or to health and safety matters.
“Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Borrower or any Subsidiary directly or indirectly 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.
“Equity Interests” means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any such equity interest.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.
“ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with the Borrower, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.
“ERISA Event” means (a) any “reportable event”, as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30-day notice period is waived); (b) the existence with respect to any Plan of an “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(d) of the Code or Section 303(d) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (d) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (e) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (f) the incurrence by the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal of the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition upon the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.
6
“EU” means the European Union.
“euro” and/or “EUR” means the single currency of the participating member states of the EU.
“Eurodollar”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, mean that such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bears interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.
“Event of Default” has the meaning assigned to such term in Article VII.
“Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder, (a) income or franchise taxes imposed on (or measured by) its net income by the United States of America, or by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable lending office is located, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States of America or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction 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 2.19(b)), any withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party to this Agreement (or designates a new lending office) or is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure to comply with Section 2.17(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 2.17(a).
“Federal Funds Effective Rate” means, for any day, the weighted average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the quotations for such day for such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.
“Financial Officer” means the chief financial officer, any vice president of finance, principal accounting officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower.
“First Tier Foreign Subsidiary” means each Foreign Subsidiary and with respect to which any one or more of the Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries directly owns or controls more than 50% of such Foreign Subsidiary’s Equity Interests.
“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.12(d).
7
“Foreign Lender” means any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is located. For purposes of this definition, the United States of America, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.
“Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.
“Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.
“Guarantee” of or by any Person (the “guarantor”) means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or obligation; provided, that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.
“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.
“Holders of Secured Obligations” means the Secured Parties and the Revolving Facility Secured Parties.
“Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or with respect to deposits or advances of any kind, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person upon which interest charges are customarily paid, (d) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person, (e) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding current accounts payable and accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business), (f) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed, (g) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, (h) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (i) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and letters of guaranty, (j) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances, (k) all obligations of such Person under any Swap Agreement or under any similar type of agreement and (l) obligations of such Person under Sale and Leaseback Transactions. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor.
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“Indemnified Taxes” means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.
“Intercreditor Agreement” means that certain Amended and Restated Intercreditor Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit I and entered into by the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as administrative agent under the Revolving Facility in connection with this Agreement and the Revolving Facility Documents, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Interest Election Request” means a request by the Borrower to convert or continue a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.08.
“Interest Payment Date” means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan, the last day of each March, June, September and December and (b) with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months’ duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months’ duration after the first day of such Interest Period.
“Interest Period” means with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, two, three or six months thereafter, as the Borrower may elect; provided, that (i) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing only, such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day and (ii) any Interest Period pertaining to a Eurodollar Borrowing that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made.
“Joint Venture” means any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other legal entity or arrangement in which the Borrower or any Subsidiary has an equity investment and direct or indirect Control.
“Lenders” means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.01 and any other Person that shall have become a Lender hereunder pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption.
“LIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, the rate appearing on Reuters BBA Libor Rates Page 3750 (or on any successor or substitute page of such Service, or any successor to or substitute for such Service, providing rate quotations comparable to those currently provided on such page of such Service, as determined by the Administrative Agent from time to time for purposes of providing quotations of interest rates applicable to deposits in Dollars in the London interbank market) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, as the rate for deposits in Dollars with a maturity comparable to such Interest Period. In the event that such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the “LIBO Rate” with respect to such Eurodollar Borrowing for such Interest Period shall be the rate at which deposits in Dollars of $5,000,000 and for a maturity comparable to such Interest Period are offered by the principal London office of the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two (2) Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period.
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“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, charge or security interest in, on or of such asset, (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset and (c) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities.
“Loans” means the loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower, or otherwise incurred by the Borrower, pursuant to this Agreement.
“Loan Documents” means this Agreement, the Subsidiary Guaranty, the Collateral Documents (including, without limitation, the Pledge Agreements), any promissory notes executed and delivered pursuant to Section 2.10(e), the Intercreditor Agreement and any and all other instruments and documents executed and delivered in connection with any of the foregoing.
“Loan Parties” means, collectively, the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors.
“Manchester Facility” means the real property and buildings owned by the Borrower or any Subsidiary located in Manchester, England.
“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, assets, property or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole or (b) the ability of the Borrower or any other Loan Party to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or (c) the rights of or remedies available to the Lenders under this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
“Material Indebtedness” means (i) the Indebtedness under any Convertible Subordinated Note and (ii) any other Indebtedness (other than the Loans), or obligations in respect of one or more Swap Agreements, of any one or more of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $5,000,000. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “principal amount” of the obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of any Swap Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Borrower or such Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Swap Agreement were terminated at such time.
“Material Subsidiary” means each Subsidiary (i) which, as of the most recent fiscal year of the Borrower, for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters then ended, for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.01, contributed greater than ten percent (10%) of the Borrower’s Consolidated EBITDA for such period or (ii) which contributed greater than ten percent (10%) of the Borrower’s Consolidated Total Assets as of such date; provided that, if at any time the aggregate amount of the Borrower’s Consolidated EBITDA or Borrower’s Consolidated Total Assets attributable to Subsidiaries (other than Affected Foreign Subsidiaries) that are not Subsidiary Guarantors exceeds twenty percent (20%) of the Borrower’s Consolidated EBITDA for any such period or twenty percent (20%) of the Borrower’s Consolidated Total Assets as of the end of any such fiscal year, the Borrower (or, in the event the Borrower has failed to do so within ten days, the Administrative Agent) shall designate sufficient Subsidiaries (other than Affected Foreign Subsidiaries) as “Material Subsidiaries” to eliminate such excess, and such designated Subsidiaries shall for all purposes of this Agreement constitute Material Subsidiaries; provided, that, in the case of a Person becoming a Subsidiary pursuant to an acquisition, the foregoing financial tests shall be applied on a Pro Forma Basis immediately upon consummation of such acquisition and, assuming such Subsidiary would constitute a Material Subsidiary on a Pro Forma Basis, the Borrower shall comply with Section 5.09.
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“Maturity Date” means January 31, 2011.
“Moody’s” means Xxxxx’x Investors Service, Inc.
“Mortgage” means each mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement which conveys or evidences a Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and the Holders of Secured Obligations, on real property of a Loan Party, including any amendment, restatement, modification or supplement thereto, each in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent and the Borrower.
“Mortgage Instruments” means such title reports, title insurance, flood certifications and flood insurance, opinions of counsel, surveys, appraisals and environmental reports and other similar information and related certifications as are reasonably requested by, and in form and substance reasonably acceptable to, the Collateral Agent from time to time.
“Multiemployer Plan” means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
“Net Proceeds” means (a) the cash proceeds actually received in respect of the Chinese Facility Sale or arising from a casualty, condemnation or similar event in respect of the assets of Photronics China including any cash received in respect of any non-cash proceeds (including any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or purchase price adjustment receivable or otherwise, but excluding any interest payments), but only as and when received, net of (b) the sum of (i) all reasonable attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, investment banking fees, survey costs, title policy premiums, and related search and recording charges, transfer taxes, deed or mortgage recording taxes, required payments of other obligations relating to the applicable event on such asset, other customary expenses and brokerage, consultant and other customary fees actually incurred in connection therewith and (ii) the amount of all taxes paid (or reasonably estimated to be payable) and the amount of any reserves established against any adjustment to the sale price or to fund contingent liabilities reasonably estimated to be payable, in each case during the year that such event occurred or the next succeeding year and that are directly attributable to such event (as determined reasonably and in good faith by a Financial Officer).
“New Mask Shop Obligations” means all obligations of the Borrower to pay rent, additional rent and other payments under, or in connection with, the Build to Suit Lease dated May 5, 2006 by and between the Borrower and Micron Technology, Inc., including any, extension, amendment, modification, replacement, substitution or refinancing of such obligations whether with Micron Technology, Inc. or a third party lender so long as the principal amount of such obligations is not increased.
“Obligations” means all indebtedness (including interest accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), obligations and liabilities of any of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to any of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, individually or collectively, existing on the Effective Date or arising thereafter, under this Loan Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or to the Lenders or any of their Affiliates under any Swap Agreement or any Banking Services Agreement or in respect of any of the Loans made or other instruments at any time evidencing any thereof, whether direct or indirect, joint or several, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, secured or unsecured, arising by contract, operation of law or otherwise.
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“Other Taxes” means any and 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 from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
“Participant” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04.
“PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.
“Permitted Encumbrances” means:
(a) Liens imposed by law for taxes that are not yet due or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.04, or as to which the grace period, if any, related thereto has not expired;
(b) carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s and other like Liens imposed by law, arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more than thirty (30) days or are not in excess of $3,000,000 individually, or $5,000,000 in the aggregate, or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.04;
(c) pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations;
(d) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(e) judgment liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under clause (k) of Article VII; and
(f) easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;
provided that the term “Permitted Encumbrances” shall not include any Lien securing Indebtedness.
“Permitted Investments” means:
(a) direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States of America (or by any agency thereof to the extent such obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America), in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof;
(b) investments in commercial paper maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of acquisition, the credit rating of A1 from S&P or P1 from Moody’s;
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(c) investments in certificates of deposit, banker’s acceptances and time deposits maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money market deposit accounts issued or offered by, any domestic office of any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof which has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000;
(d) fully collateralized repurchase agreements with a term of not more than 30 days for securities described in clause (a) above and entered into with a financial institution satisfying the criteria described in clause (c) above;
(e) investments in taxable or tax exempt obligations of any state of the United States of America or any municipality thereof maturing within three years of the date of acquisition thereof and which is rated “A1” or higher by Moody’s or “AA” or higher by S&P;
(f) investments in auction rate securities maturing within one year of the date of acquisition thereof and which is rated “Aa3” or higher by Moody’s or “AA-” or higher by S&P;
(g) investments in fixed income securities maturing within one year of the date of acquisition thereof and which are rated “A” or higher by Moody’s or S&P;
(h) to the extent the aggregate amount of such investments does not exceed 10% of Permitted Investments, investments in fixed income securities maturing within two years of the date of acquisition thereof and which are rated between “BBB-” and “BBB+” by S&P;
(i) investments in money market mutual funds having assets in excess of $1,000,000,000 whose sole investments are securities described in clauses (a) through (i) above; and
(j) in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary, investments of comparable tenure and credit quality to those described in the foregoing clauses (a) through (i) or other high quality short term investments, in each case, customarily utilized in countries in which such Foreign Subsidiary operates for short term cash management purposes.
“Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.
“Photronics China” means Photronics Imaging Technologies (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., a Chinese corporation.
“PKL” means PKL, Ltd., a Korean corporation.
“Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.
“Pledge Agreements” means that certain Pledge Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit H (including any and all supplements thereto) and executed by the relevant Loan Parties, and, in the case of any pledge of Equity Interests of a Foreign Subsidiary, any other pledge agreements, share mortgages, charges and comparable instruments and documents from time to time executed pursuant to the terms of Section 5.09 in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Holders of Secured Obligations as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
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“Pledge Subsidiary” means (i) each Domestic Subsidiary and (ii) each First Tier Foreign Subsidiary that is a Material Subsidiary.
“Pledged Equity” means all pledged Equity Interests in or upon which a security interest or Lien is from time to time granted to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Holders of Secured Obligations, under the Pledge Agreements.
“Prepayment Event” means (a) the Chinese Facility Sale and (b) a casualty, condemnation or similar event in respect of the assets of Photronics China.
“Prime Rate” means the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in New York City; each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced as being effective.
“Pro Forma Basis” means on a basis in accordance with GAAP and Regulation S-X and otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
“PSMC” means Photronics Semiconductor Mask Corporation, a Republic of China corporation.
“Qualified Asset Sales” means (i) the Chinese Facility Sale and (ii) the sale, transfer or disposition by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of all or a portion of the Manchester Facility (in each case excluding sales, transfers or dispositions from the Borrower or any Subsidiary to the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate thereof).
“Qualified Unsecured Indebtedness” of the Borrower or any Subsidiary means unsecured Indebtedness of such Person in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not in excess of $25,000,000 and on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (it being understood and agreed that the limitations applicable to Subordinated Indebtedness pursuant to Section 6.10 shall also be applicable, mutatis mutandis, to Qualified Unsecured Indebtedness).
“Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04.
“Regulation S-X” means Regulation S-X under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Related Parties” means, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates.
“Required Lenders” means, at any time, Lenders having Loans representing more than 50% of the sum of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all of the Loans at such time.
“Restricted Payment” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interests in the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such Equity Interests in the Borrower or any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such Equity Interests in the Borrower.
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“Revolving Facility” means the revolving credit facility evidenced by the Revolving Facility Agreement.
“Revolving Facility Agreement” means that certain Credit Agreement dated as of June 6, 2007 by and among the Borrower, certain foreign subsidiary borrowers which may from time to time be party thereto, certain lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as administrative agent, as such agreement may be amended, modified or replaced from time to time.
“Revolving Facility Documents” means the Revolving Facility Agreement and the other instruments and documents related thereto.
“Revolving Facility Obligations” means the Indebtedness and other obligations of the “Borrowers” under the Revolving Facility Agreement, and includes without limitation the “Obligations” as defined in the Revolving Facility Agreement.
“Revolving Facility Secured Parties” means the holders of the Revolving Facility Obligations from time to time and shall include their respective successors, transferees and assigns.
“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s.
“SAFE” means the State Administration of Foreign Exchange of the People’s Republic of China.
“Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means any sale or other transfer of property by any Person with the intent to lease such property as lessee.
“Secured Obligations” means the Obligations and the Revolving Facility Obligations.
“Secured Parties” means the holders of the Obligations from time to time and shall include (i) each Lender, (ii) the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in respect of all other present and future obligations and liabilities of the Borrower and each Subsidiary of every type and description arising under or in connection with the Loan Agreement or any other Loan Document, (iii) each Lender and affiliate of such Lender in respect of Swap Agreements and Banking Services entered into with such Person by the the Borrower or any Subsidiary, (iv) each indemnified party under Section 9.03 in respect of the obligations and liabilities of the Borrower to such Person hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, and (v) their respective successors and (in the case of a Lender, permitted) transferees and assigns.
“Security Agreement” means that certain Security Agreement (including any and all supplements thereto), dated as of December 12, 2008, between the Loan Parties and the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and the other Holders of Secured Obligations, as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Senior Leverage Ratio” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.11(a).
“Specified Chinese Assets” means the site or any buildings located at Xx. 000, Xxx Xxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx (including, for the avoidance of doubt, both allocated land and granted land) and any other property (whether real, personal, tangible, intangible, or mixed) of Photronics China reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent.
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“Specified Intercompany Note” means the intercompany note and related loan agreement (in each case in form and substance acceptable to the Collateral Agent) payable by Photronics China to the Borrower and evidencing the intercompany loan from the Borrower (with the proceeds of the Loans hereunder) to Photronics China to effect the repayment in full of the Chinese Credit Facility.
“Statutory Reserve Rate” means a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentages (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the Board to which the Administrative Agent is subject, with respect to the Adjusted LIBO Rate, for eurodollar funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency Liabilities” in Regulation D of the Board). Such reserve percentages shall include those imposed pursuant to such Regulation D. Eurodollar Loans shall be deemed to constitute eurodollar funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under such Regulation D or any comparable regulation. The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.
“Subordinated Indebtedness” of the Borrower or any Subsidiary means the Indebtedness under the Convertible Subordinated Notes outstanding on the Effective Date and any other Indebtedness of such Person the payment of which is subordinated to payment of the obligations under the Loan Documents to the written satisfaction of, and the terms and conditions of which are otherwise satisfactory to, the Administrative Agent.
“Subordinated Indebtedness Documents” means any document, agreement or instrument evidencing any Subordinated Indebtedness or entered into in connection with any Subordinated Indebtedness.
“subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person (the “parent”) at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held, or (b) that is, as of such date, otherwise Controlled, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent.
“Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Borrower.
“Subsidiary Guarantor” means each Subsidiary (other than Affected Foreign Subsidiaries). The Subsidiary Guarantors on the Effective Date are identified as such in Schedule 3.01 hereto.
“Subsidiary Guaranty” means that certain Guaranty dated as of the Effective Date in the form of Exhibit G (including any and all supplements thereto) and executed by each Subsidiary Guarantor party thereto, and, in the case of any guaranty by a Foreign Subsidiary, any other guaranty agreements as are requested by the Administrative Agent and its counsel, in each case as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Swap Agreement” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Borrower or the Subsidiaries shall be a Swap Agreement.
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“Swap Obligations” means any and all obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor), under (a) any and all Swap Agreements permitted hereunder with a Lender or an affiliate of a Lender, and (b) any and all cancellations, buy backs, reversals, terminations or assignments of any such Swap Agreement transaction.
“Taxes” means any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any Governmental Authority.
“Total Leverage Ratio” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.11(b).
“Transactions” means the execution, delivery and performance by the Loan Parties of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the borrowing of Loans and the use of the proceeds thereof.
“Type”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the Alternate Base Rate.
“UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York or any other state the laws of which are required to be applied in connection with the issue of perfection of security interests.
“Withdrawal Liability” means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.
SECTION 1.02. Classification of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Loan”) and Borrowings may also be classified and referred to by Type (e.g., a “Eurodollar Borrowing”).
SECTION 1.03. Terms Generally. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, restatements, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (c) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (d) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement and (e) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.
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SECTION 1.04. Accounting Terms; GAAP. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided that, if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith.
ARTICLE II
The Credits
SECTION 2.01. Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender agrees to make Loans to the Borrower in Dollars on the Effective Date in an aggregate principal amount that will not result in (a) the principal amount of such Lender’s Loans exceeding such Lender’s Commitment, (b) the sum of the aggregate principal amount of the Loans exceeding the Aggregate Commitment.
SECTION 2.02. Loans and Borrowings. (a) Each Loan shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided that the Commitments of the Lenders are several and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lender’s failure to make Loans as required.
(b) Subject to Section 2.14, each Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans as the Borrower may request in accordance herewith. Each Lender at its option may make any Eurodollar Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan; provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(c) At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Eurodollar Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $500,000 and not less than $3,000,000. At the time that each ABR Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $100,000 and not less than $1,000,000. Borrowings of more than one Type may be outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total of five (5) Eurodollar Borrowings outstanding.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Borrower shall not be entitled to request any Loans other than the initial Loans on the Effective Date and shall not be entitled to elect to convert or continue, any Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Maturity Date.
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SECTION 2.03. Requests for Borrowings. To request a Borrowing, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by telephone (a) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m. New York City time, three (3) Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, one (1) Business Day before the date of the proposed Borrowing. Each such telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower. Each such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:
(i) the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing;
(ii) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;
(iii) whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing;
(iv) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, the initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”; and
(v) the location and number of the Borrower’s account to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.07.
If no election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified, then the requested Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested Eurodollar Borrowing, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration. Promptly following receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lender’s Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.
SECTION 2.04. [Intentionally Omitted].
SECTION 2.05. [Intentionally Omitted].
SECTION 2.06. [Intentionally Omitted].
SECTION 2.07. Funding of Borrowings. (a) Each Lender shall make the Loan to be made by it hereunder on the Effective Date by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 12:00 noon, New York City time, to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders. The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower by promptly crediting the amounts so received, in like funds, to an account of the Borrower maintained with the Administrative Agent in New York City and designated by the Borrower in the applicable Borrowing Request.
(b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation or (ii) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to ABR Loans. If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing.
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SECTION 2.08. Interest Elections. (a) Each Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request. Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section. The Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing.
(b) To make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election by telephone by the time that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.03 if the Borrower were requesting a Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to be made on the effective date of such election. Each such telephonic Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Interest Election Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Borrower. Notwithstanding any contrary provision herein, this Section shall not be construed to permit the Borrower to elect an Interest Period for Eurodollar Loans that does not comply with Section 2.02(d).
(c) Each telephonic and written Interest Election Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:
(i) the Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies and, if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) below shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing);
(ii) the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest Election Request, which shall be a Business Day;
(iii) whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing; and
(iv) if the resulting Borrowing is a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Interest Period to be applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which Interest Period shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”.
If any such Interest Election Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration.
(d) Promptly following receipt of an Interest Election Request, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of such Lender’s portion of each resulting Borrowing.
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(e) If the Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Eurodollar Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period such Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing. Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent, at the request of the Required Lenders, so notifies the Borrower, then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing (i) no outstanding Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing and (ii) unless repaid, each Eurodollar Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.
SECTION 2.09. Termination of Commitments. The Commitments shall terminate on the Effective Date upon the funding of the Loans in accordance with Section 4.01.
SECTION 2.10. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt. (a) The Borrower shall repay the Loans as follows: (i) $9,068,039.67 of the unpaid principal amount of the Loans shall be paid in cash on January 31, 2010 and (ii) to the extent not previously prepaid, all unpaid Loans shall be paid in full in cash by the Borrower on the Maturity Date.
(b) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Loan made by such Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.
(c) The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Type thereof and the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each Lender’s share thereof.
(d) The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of this Section shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(e) Any Lender may request that Loans made by it to the Borrower be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to the order of such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns) and in a form approved by the Administrative Agent. Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 9.04) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form payable to the order of the payee named therein (or, if such promissory note is a registered note, to such payee and its registered assigns).
SECTION 2.11. Prepayment of Loans.
(a) The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part, subject to prior notice in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.11(a). The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent by telephone (confirmed by telecopy) of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of prepayment of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, three Business Days before the date of prepayment and (ii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, one Business Day before the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid. Promptly following receipt of any such notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof.
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(b) Each prepayment of a Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.11(a) shall be applied to prepay the Loans ratably in accordance with the then outstanding amounts thereof. Prepayments shall be accompanied by (i) accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.13 and (ii) break funding payments pursuant to Section 2.16.
(c) In the event and on each occasion that any Net Proceeds are received by or on behalf of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of any Prepayment Event, the Borrower shall, within three (3) Business Days after such Net Proceeds are received by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, prepay the Loans in an aggregate amount equal to 100% of such Net Proceeds received by the Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided that the Net Proceeds in respect of the Chinese Facility Sale (and Net Proceeds arising from a casualty, condemnation or similar event in respect of the assets of Photronics China) shall be applied to prepay the Loans, as described above.
SECTION 2.12. Fees. (a) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, fees payable in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
(b) All fees payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in Dollars and immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent and shall not be refundable under any circumstances.
SECTION 2.13. Interest. (a) The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.
(b) The Loans comprising each Eurodollar Borrowing shall bear interest at the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Rate.
(c) In addition to the foregoing, the Loans shall bear additional interest on the unpaid principal amount thereof at the rate of 0.5% per annum, such rate to increase to 1.0% per annum at the commencement of the Borrower’s fiscal quarter ending on or about November 1, 2009, to 1.5% per annum at the commencement of the Borrower’s fiscal quarter ending on or about January 31, 2010, to 2.0% per annum at the commencement of the Borrower’s fiscal quarter ending on or about May 2, 2010 and to 2.5% per annum at the commencement of the Borrower’s fiscal quarter ending on or about August 1, 2010 (the interest set forth in this Section 2.13(c) being referred to herein as the “PIK Interest”). The Borrower shall have the option to pay all or part of the PIK Interest in cash on each Interest Payment Date. Any PIK Interest not paid in cash on the applicable Interest Payment Date shall on such date be capitalized and added to the aggregate principal amount of the Loans. Amounts representing any accrued but unpaid PIK Interest that has been capitalized and added to the aggregate principal amount of the Loans as set forth herein shall thereafter bear interest in accordance with this Section 2.13.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any principal of or interest on any Loan or any fee or other amount payable by the Borrower hereunder is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, such overdue amount shall bear interest, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of overdue principal of any Loan, 2% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan as provided in the preceding paragraphs of this Section or (ii) in the case of any other amount, 2% plus the rate applicable to ABR Loans as provided in paragraph (a) of this Section.
(e) Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan, accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment and (iii) in the event of any conversion of any Eurodollar Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion.
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(f) All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except that interest computed by reference to the Alternate Base Rate at times when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). The applicable Alternate Base Rate, Adjusted LIBO Rate or LIBO Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
SECTION 2.14. Alternate Rate of Interest. If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing:
(a) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable, for such Interest Period; or
(b) the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders that the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable, for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders (or Lender) of making or maintaining their Loans (or its Loan) included in such Borrowing for such Interest Period;
then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders by telephone or telecopy as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be ineffective; provided that if the circumstances giving rise to such notice affect only one Type of Borrowings, then the other Type of Borrowings shall be permitted.
SECTION 2.15. Increased Costs. (a) If any Change in Law shall:
(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted LIBO Rate); or
(ii) impose on any Lender or the London interbank market any other condition affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Loans made by such Lender 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 Loan or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender hereunder, whether of principal, interest or otherwise, then the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.
(b) If any Lender determines that any Change in Law regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans made by such Lender to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.
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(c) A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.
(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than 270 days prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 270-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.
SECTION 2.16. Break Funding Payments. In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default or as a result of any prepayment pursuant to Section 2.11), (b) the conversion of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Eurodollar Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked under Section 2.11(b) and is revoked in accordance therewith) or (d) the assignment of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.19, then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event. Such loss, cost or expense to any Lender shall be deemed to include an amount determined by such Lender to be the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest which would have accrued on the principal amount of such Loan had such event not occurred, at the Adjusted LIBO Rate that would have been applicable to such Loan, for the period from the date of such event to the last day of the then current Interest Period therefor (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, for the period that would have been the Interest Period for such Loan), over (ii) the amount of interest which would accrue on such principal amount for such period at the interest rate which such Lender would bid were it to bid, at the commencement of such period, for deposits in the relevant currency of a comparable amount and period from other banks in the eurodollar market. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within thirty (30) days after receipt thereof.
SECTION 2.17. Taxes. (a) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes; provided that if the Borrower shall be required to deduct any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes from such payments, then (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the Administrative Agent or Lender (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.
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(b) In addition, the Borrower shall pay any Other Taxes related to the Borrower and imposed on or incurred by the Administrative Agent or a Lender to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.
(c) The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender, within ten (10) days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes paid by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(d) As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by the Borrower to a Governmental Authority, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(e) Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments under this Agreement shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate.
(f) If the Administrative Agent or a Lender determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.17, it shall pay over such refund to the Borrower (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower under this Section 2.17 with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent or such Lender and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); provided, that the Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent or such Lender in the event the Administrative Agent or such Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. This Section shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes which it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other Person.
SECTION 2.18. Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs.
(a) The Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest or fees, or of amounts payable under Section 2.15, 2.16 or 2.17, or otherwise) prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without set-off or counterclaim. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent at its offices at 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments denominated in the same currency received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension. All payments hereunder shall be made in Dollars.
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(b) If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, (i) first, towards payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, and (ii) second, towards payment of principal then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal then due to such parties.
(c) If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans of other Lenders to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans; provided that (i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply). The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of set-off and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.
(d) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders 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, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.
(e) If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.07(b), 2.18(d) or 9.03(c), then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender to satisfy such Lender’s obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid.
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SECTION 2.19. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders. (a) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17, 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 2.15 or 2.17, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.
(b) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.04), all its interests, rights and obligations under the Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (i) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, 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) and (iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.15 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.17, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.
ARTICLE III
Representations and Warranties
The Borrower represents and warrants to the Lenders that:
SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers; Subsidiaries. Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing (to the extent such concept is applicable in the relevant jurisdiction) under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing (to the extent such concept is applicable) in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is required. Schedule 3.01 hereto (as supplemented from time to time) identifies each Subsidiary, if such Subsidiary is a Material Subsidiary, the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, as the case may be, the percentage of issued and outstanding shares of each class of its capital stock or other equity interests owned by the Borrower and the other Subsidiaries and, if such percentage is not 100% (excluding directors’ qualifying shares as required by law), a description of each class issued and outstanding. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock and other equity interests of each Subsidiary are validly issued and outstanding and fully paid and nonassessable and all such shares and other equity interests indicated on Schedule 3.01 as owned by the Borrower or another Subsidiary are owned, beneficially and of record, by the Borrower or any Subsidiary free and clear of all Liens, other than Liens created under the Loan Documents. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.01, there are no outstanding commitments or other obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to issue, and no options, warrants or other rights of any Person to acquire, any shares of any class of capital stock or other equity interests of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.
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SECTION 3.02. Authorization; Enforceability. The Transactions are within each Loan Party’s corporate powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate and, if required, shareholder action. The Loan Documents to which each Loan Party is a party have been duly executed and delivered by such Loan Party and constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.
SECTION 3.03. Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts. The Transactions (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect, and except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (b) will not violate any applicable law or regulation or the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any order of any Governmental Authority, except for violations, individually or in the aggregate, which could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (c) will not violate or result in a default under any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or its assets, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, except for violations or defaults, individually or in the aggregate, which could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, other than Liens created under the Loan Documents.
SECTION 3.04. Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change. (a) The Borrower has heretofore furnished to the Lenders its consolidated balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows (i) as of and for the fiscal year ended November 2, 2008 reported on by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent public accountants and (ii) as of and for the fiscal quarter ended February 1, 2009, certified by its chief financial officer. Such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such dates and for such periods in accordance with GAAP, subject to year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes in the case of the statements referred to in clause (ii) above.
(b) Since November 2, 2008, there has been no material adverse change in the business, assets, operations or condition, financial or otherwise, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
SECTION 3.05. Properties. (a) Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has good title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all its real and personal property material to its business, except for minor defects in title that do not interfere with its ability to conduct its business as currently conducted or to utilize such properties for their intended purposes. There are no Liens on any of the real or personal properties of the Borrower or any Subsidiary except for Liens permitted by Section 6.02.
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(b) Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries owns, or is licensed to use, all trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, patents and other intellectual property material to its business, and the use thereof by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries does not infringe upon the rights of any other Person, except for any such infringements that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.06. Litigation and Environmental Matters. (a) There are no actions, suits, proceedings or investigations by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (i) as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination and that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) that involve this Agreement or the Transactions. There are no labor controversies pending against or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (i) which could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) that involve this Agreement or the Transactions.
(b) Except with respect to any other matters that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law, (ii) has become subject to any Environmental Liability, (iii) has received notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or (iv) knows of any basis for any Environmental Liability.
(c) Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary is party or subject to any law, regulation, rule or order, or any obligation under any agreement or instrument, that has a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.07. Compliance with Laws and Agreements. Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all laws, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property and all indentures, agreements and other instruments binding upon it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.08. Investment Company Status. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is an “investment company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940.
SECTION 3.09. Taxes. Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has timely filed or caused to be filed all Tax returns and reports required to have been filed and has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it, except (a) Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books adequate reserves or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.10. ERISA. No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which liability is reasonably expected to occur, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.11. Disclosure. The Borrower has disclosed to 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. None of the reports, financial statements, certificates or other informationn furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder (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, 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.
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SECTION 3.12. Federal Reserve Regulations. No part of the proceeds of any Loan have been used or will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation of any of the Regulations of the Board, including Regulations T, U and X.
SECTION 3.13. Liens. There are no Liens on any of the real or personal properties of the Borrower or any Subsidiary except for Liens permitted by Section 6.02.
SECTION 3.14. No Default. The Borrower is in full compliance with this Agreement and no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
SECTION 3.15. Senior Indebtedness. The Obligations constitute “Senior Indebtedness” under and as defined in the Convertible Subordinated Note Indenture.
SECTION 3.16. Security Interest in Collateral. The provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents create legal and valid Liens on all the Collateral covered thereby in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Holders of Secured Obligations, and (i) when all appropriate filings, recordings, registrations, stampings or notifications are made and (ii) upon the taking of possession or control by the Collateral Agent of such Collateral with respect to which a security interest may be perfected only by possession or control, such Liens shall constitute perfected and continuing Liens on the Collateral, securing the Secured Obligations, and having priority over all other Liens on the Collateral except in the case of (a) Permitted Encumbrances, to the extent any such Permitted Encumbrances would have priority over the Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent pursuant to any applicable law and (b) Liens perfected only by possession (including possession of any certificate of title) to the extent the Collateral Agent has not obtained or does not maintain possession of such Collateral.
ARTICLE IV
Conditions
SECTION 4.01. Effective Date. The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans hereunder shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02):
(a) The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received from each party hereto either (i) a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party or (ii) written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include telecopy transmission of a signed signature page of this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement.
(b) The Administrative Agent shall have received the favorable written opinions (addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated the Effective Date) of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxx, counsels for the initial Loan Parties, substantially in the form of Exhibit B, and covering such other matters relating to the Loan Parties, the Loan Documents or the Transactions as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request. The Borrower hereby requests such counsel to deliver such opinions.
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(c) (i) The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence of approval from SAFE, in a form satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, permitting the prepayment of loans and related obligations under the Chinese Credit Facility or (ii) the Borrower shall have received a written demand for payment from the Administrative Agent under the Chinese Credit Facility in accordance with Section 2.1 of the Second Amended and Restated Guarantee Agreement under the Chinese Credit Facility and the Borrower shall have requested the Lenders to make the Loans hereunder in order to pay or prepay the loans and related obligations under the Chinese Credit Facility.
(d) The Administrative Agent shall have received such documents and certificates as the Administrative Agent or its counsel may reasonably request relating to the organization, existence and good standing of the initial Loan Parties, the authorization of the Transactions and any other legal matters relating to such Loan Parties, the Loan Documents or the Transactions, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel and as further described in the list of closing documents attached as Exhibit E.
(e) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, dated the Effective Date and signed by the President, a Vice President or a Financial Officer of the Borrower, confirming compliance with the conditions set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 4.02.
(f) The Administrative Agent shall have received all fees and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Effective Date, including, to the extent invoiced, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower hereunder.
(g) The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence reasonably satisfactory to it that all governmental and third party approvals necessary or, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, advisable in connection with the Transactions have been obtained and are in full force and effect.
The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding.
SECTION 4.02. Each Credit Event. The obligation of each Lender to make the Loan on the Effective Date is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:
(a) The representations and warranties of the Borrower set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of the date of such Loan.
(b) At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Loan, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
(c) No law or regulation shall prohibit, and no order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority shall enjoin, prohibit or restrain, any Lender from making the requested Loan.
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ARTICLE V
Affirmative Covenants
Until the Commitments have expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder shall have been paid in full, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:
SECTION 5.01. Financial Statements and Other Information. The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent for distribution to each Lender:
(a) as soon as the same is available but in any event within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, its audited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported on by Deloitte & Touche LLP or other independent public accountants of recognized national standing (without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied;
(b) (i) as soon as the same is available but in any event within forty five (45) days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, its consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, all certified by one of its Financial Officers as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes, (ii) as soon as available but in any event within ten (10) Business Days after the end of each fiscal month of the Borrower, a report (organized and detailed on a per jurisdiction basis) reflecting the amount of unrestricted cash balances and Permitted Investments maintained by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in each such jurisdiction as of the end of such month and (iii) as soon as the same is available but in any event within forty five (45) days after the end of each fiscal quarter of each fiscal year of the Borrower, projections of the cash flows for the following fiscal quarter of the Borrower, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
(c) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a) or (b) above, a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower (i) certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and, if a Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, (ii) setting forth reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating compliance with Section 6.11 and (iii) stating whether any change in GAAP or in the application thereof has occurred since the date of the audited financial statements referred to in Section 3.04 and, if any such change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate;
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(d) within 90 days of the commencement of each fiscal year of the Borrower, projected consolidated balance sheets, income statements and cash flow statements of the Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries for such fiscal year;
(e) promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all 10-Ks, 10-Qs and 8-Ks filed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions of said Commission, or with any national securities exchange, or distributed by the Borrower to its shareholders generally, as the case may be; and
(f) promptly following any request therefor, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of this Agreement, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.
Documents required to be delivered pursuant to clauses (a), (b), (d) or (e) of this Section 5.01 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 <xxx.xxxxxxxxxx.xxx>; (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on IntraLinks™ or a substantially similar electronic platform, 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); or (iii) on which such documents are filed for public availability on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering and Retrieval System; provided that the Borrower shall notify (which may be by facsimile or electronic mail) the Administrative Agent 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 required by clause (c) of this Section 5.01 to the Administrative Agent.
SECTION 5.02. Notices of Material Events. The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent prompt written notice of the following:
(a) the occurrence of any Default;
(b) the filing or commencement of any action, suit or proceeding by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority against or affecting the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(c) the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, alone or together with any other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and
(d) any other development that results in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.
Each notice delivered under this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of a Financial Officer or other executive officer of the Borrower setting forth the details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.
SECTION 5.03. Existence; Conduct of Business. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence and the rights, licenses, permits, privileges and franchises material to the conduct of its business; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 6.03.
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SECTION 5.04. Payment of Obligations. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, pay its obligations, including Tax liabilities, that, if not paid, could result in a Material Adverse Effect before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) the Borrower or such Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and (c) the failure to make payment pending such contest could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 5.05. Maintenance of Properties; Insurance.
(a) The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, (i) keep and maintain all property material to the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and (ii) maintain with financially sound and reputable carriers (1) insurance in such amounts (with no greater risk retention) and against such risks (including loss or damage by fire and loss in transit; theft, burglary, pilferage, larceny, embezzlement, and other criminal activities; business interruption; and general liability) and such other hazards, as is customarily maintained by companies of established repute engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations and (2) all insurance required pursuant to the Collateral Documents. The Borrower will furnish to the Lenders, upon request of the Collateral Agent, information in reasonable detail as to the insurance so maintained.
(b) The Borrower shall deliver to the Collateral Agent endorsements (x) to all “All Risk” physical damage insurance policies on the Loan Parties’ tangible personal property and assets located in the United States of America and business interruption insurance policies naming the Collateral Agent as lender loss payee, and (y) to all general liability and other liability policies naming the Collateral Agent an additional insured. Each policy for liability insurance shall provide for all losses to be paid on behalf of the Collateral Agent and the Borrower or its Subsidiaries as their interests may appear. In the event the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries at any time or times hereafter shall fail to obtain or maintain any of the policies or insurance required herein or to pay any premium in whole or in part relating thereto, then the Collateral Agent, without waiving or releasing any obligations or resulting Default hereunder, may at any time or times thereafter (but shall be under no obligation to do so) obtain and maintain such policies of insurance and pay such premiums and take any other action with respect thereto which the Collateral Agent deems advisable. All sums so disbursed by the Collateral Agent shall constitute part of the Obligations, payable as provided in this Agreement. The Borrower will furnish to the Collateral Agent prompt written notice of any casualty or other insured damage to any material portion of the Collateral or the commencement of any action or proceeding for the taking of any material portion of the Collateral or interest therein under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding.
(c) So long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, all insurance payments received by the Collateral Agent in connection with any loss, damage or destruction of any property of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries will be released by the Collateral Agent to the Borrower or such Subsidiary for the repair, replacement or restoration thereof, subject to the prepayment requirements under Section 2.11(c) and subject to such other terms and conditions with respect to the release thereof as the Collateral Agent may reasonably require.
SECTION 5.06. Books and Records; Inspection Rights. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, keep proper books of record and account in which entries that are full, true and correct in all material respects are made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, upon reasonable prior notice, to visit and inspect its properties, to examine and make extracts from its relevant books and records, including environmental assessment reports and Phase I or Phase II studies, and to discuss its affairs, finances and condition with its officers and independent accountants, all at such reasonable times and as often as reasonably requested. The Borrower acknowledges that the Administrative Agent, after exercising its rights of inspection, may prepare and distribute to the Lenders certain reports pertaining to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries’ assets for internal use by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders.
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SECTION 5.07. Compliance with Laws and Material Contractual Obligations. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, (i) comply with all laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property (including without limitation Environmental Laws) and (ii) perform in all material respects its obligations under material agreements to which it is a party, in each case except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 5.08. Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loans will be used only to repay Indebtedness, and prepay the obligations, under the Chinese Credit Facility on the Effective Date. No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation of any of the Regulations of the Board, including Regulations T, U and X.
SECTION 5.09. Subsidiary Guarantors; Pledges; Additional Collateral; Further Assurances
(a) As promptly as possible but in any event within thirty (30) days (or such later date as may be agreed upon by the Administrative Agent) after any Person becomes a Subsidiary or any Subsidiary qualifies independently as, or is designated by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as, a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to the definition of “Subsidiary Guarantor”, the Borrower shall provide the Administrative Agent with written notice thereof setting forth information in reasonable detail describing the earnings and material assets of such Person and shall cause each such Subsidiary which also qualifies as a Subsidiary Guarantor to deliver to the Administrative Agent a joinder to the Subsidiary Guaranty and the Security Agreement (in each case in the form contemplated thereby) pursuant to which such Subsidiary agrees to be bound by the terms and provisions of thereof, such Subsidiary Guaranty to be accompanied by appropriate corporate resolutions, other corporate documentation and legal and joinder opinions in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.
(b) The Borrower will cause, and will cause each other Subsidiary qualifying as a Loan Party to cause, within the time periods set forth below with respect to real property, all of its owned property (whether real, personal, tangible, intangible, or mixed) to be subject at all times to first priority and perfected (subject in each case to the qualifications specified in Section 3.16 with respect to priority and perfection) Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Holders of Secured Obligations to secure the Secured Obligations in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Collateral Documents, subject in any case to Liens permitted by Section 6.02. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Borrower (i) will cause the Applicable Pledge Percentage of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of each Pledge Subsidiary directly owned by the Borrower or any other Subsidiary qualifying as a Loan Party to be subject at all times to a first priority and perfected (subject in each case to the qualifications specified in Section 3.16 with respect to priority and perfection) Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent to secure the Secured Obligations in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Collateral Documents; provided that no such pledge of the Equity Interests of a Foreign Subsidiary shall be required hereunder to the extent such pledge is prohibited by applicable law or the Collateral Agent and its counsel reasonably determine that, in light of the cost and expense associated therewith, such pledge would be unduly burdensome or not provide material Pledged Equity for the benefit of the Holders of Secured Obligations pursuant to legally binding, valid and enforceable Pledge Agreements, (ii) will, and will cause each other Subsidiary qualifying as a Loan Party to, deliver Mortgages and Mortgage Instruments with respect to real property owned by the Borrower or such Subsidiary to the extent, and within such time period as is, reasonably required by the Collateral Agent and (iii) will (A) cause the intercompany note under the Specified Intercompany Note (and accompanying allonge in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Agent) to be delivered to the Collateral Agent by no later than five (5) days after the repayment of the Chinese Credit Facility (or such later date as the Collateral Agent may agree in the exercise of its reasonable discretion with respect thereto), (B) cause the Specified Intercompany Note to be secured, pursuant to such documentation as is reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent, by the Specified Chinese Assets by no later than the date that is sixty (60) days following the Effective Date (or such later date as the Collateral Agent may agree in the exercise of its reasonable discretion with respect thereto) and will not permit such security (and the indebtedness and obligations evidenced by the Specified Intercompany Note) to be released or otherwise terminated without the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent, (C) duly complete the foreign debt registration with SAFE in respect of the Specified Intercompany Note, duly register the security documentation in respect of the Specified Intercompany Note as first ranking mortgages on the Specified Chinese Assets in favor of the Borrower with the relevant government agency or authority, duly complete the external security registration with SAFE, in each case to the extent, and within such time period, as is reasonably required by the Collateral Agent and (D) obtain all approvals and take all actions that are necessary for the creation, registration and perfection of the security granted to secure the obligations under the Specified Intercompany Note, in each case to the extent, and within such time period, as is reasonably required by the Collateral Agent.
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(c) Without limiting the foregoing, the Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, to the Collateral Agent such documents, agreements and instruments, and will take or cause to be taken such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements, fixture filings, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents and such other actions or deliveries of the type required by Section 4.01, as applicable), which may be required by law or which the Collateral Agent may, from time to time, reasonably request to carry out the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and to ensure perfection and priority of the Liens created or intended to be created by the Collateral Documents, all at the expense of the Borrower.
(d) If any real property or improvements thereto or any interests therein are acquired by a Loan Party after December 12, 2008 (other than assets already constituting Collateral under the Security Agreement or any Mortgage), the Borrower will notify the Collateral Agent thereof, and, if requested by the Collateral Agent, the Borrower will cause such assets to be subjected to a Lien securing the Secured Obligations and will take, and cause the other Loan Parties to take, such actions as shall be necessary or reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent to grant and perfect such Liens, including actions described in paragraph (c) of this Section, all at the expense of the Borrower.
SECTION 5.10. [Intentionally Omitted].
SECTION 5.11. Depository Banks. The Borrower and each Subsidiary will, by no later than January 12, 2009, maintain one or more of the Lenders (or their subsidiaries or affiliates) as its principal depository bank, including for the maintenance of operating, administrative, cash management, collection activity, and other deposit accounts for the conduct of its business. In the event that any Lender ceases to be a Lender hereunder, the Borrower and its applicable Subsidiaries shall have 30 days, or such longer period as may be agreed by the Collateral Agent in its reasonable discretion, to move its accounts to one or more of the other Lenders (or their subsidiaries or affiliates).
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SECTION 5.12. Financial Consultant. The Borrower shall retain the services of a financial consultant selected by the Borrower from a list of consultants provided to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent (the “Financial Consultant”) on terms (including scope of engagement) reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent by no later than January 15, 2009. The Borrower shall cause the Financial Consultant to (i) provide a report (in form and scope reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent) to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders covering the 2009 business plan, cash flow projections and liquidity, capital expenditures and foreign activities, in each case in respect of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, by no later than March 31, 2009 and (ii) provide such services from time to time as are requested by the Administrative Agent. It is understood and agreed that the Financial Consultant shall be and remain the agent of the Borrower and not of the Agents or the Lenders and shall not have any authority to act for, or on behalf of, the Agents or the Lenders in any matter whatsoever; provided that the Financial Consultant will be permitted to hold direct conversations with the Agents and the Lenders.
ARTICLE VI
Negative Covenants
Until the Commitments have expired or terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder have been paid in full, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders that:
SECTION 6.01. Indebtedness. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness, except:
(a) (i) the Obligations and any other Indebtedness created under the Loan Documents, (ii) Indebtedness created under the Revolving Facility and (iii) the Specified Intercompany Note;
(b) Indebtedness existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule 6.01 and, other than with respect to the Chinese Credit Facility, extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness with Indebtedness of a similar type that does not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;
(c) Indebtedness of (i) any Loan Party to any other Loan Party, (ii) any Subsidiary to any Loan Party and (iii) any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party to any other Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party;
(d) Guarantees by the Borrower of Indebtedness of any Subsidiary and by any Subsidiary of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary;
(e) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary incurred to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of any fixed or capital assets, including Capital Lease Obligations and any Indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition of any such assets or secured by a Lien on any such assets prior to the acquisition thereof, and extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof; provided that (i) such Indebtedness is incurred prior to or within 90 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness permitted by this clause (e) shall not exceed $5,000,000 at any time outstanding;
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(f) Subordinated Indebtedness and Qualified Unsecured Indebtedness, in each case so long as, after giving effect to the incurrence thereof, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Borrower shall be in compliance, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such incurrence, with the covenants contained in Section 6.11 recomputed as if such incurrence had occurred on the first day of the period for testing such compliance;
(g) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary as an account party in respect of trade letters of credit;
(h) (i) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary under any Swap Agreement otherwise permitted under Section 6.05, (ii) the Guarantee of any Loan Party of any such Indebtedness and (iii) the Guarantee of any Loan Party of the obligations of PSMC, PKL or any of their respective subsidiaries under any Swap Agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(i) the New Mask Shop Obligations; and
(j) unsecured Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $1,000,000 at any time outstanding.
SECTION 6.02. Liens. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, or assign or sell any income or revenues (including accounts receivable) or rights in respect of any thereof, except:
(a) Permitted Encumbrances, Liens created under any Loan Document and Liens on the Specified Chinese Assets securing the Specified Intercompany Note;
(b) any Lien on any property or asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule 6.02; provided that (i) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary and (ii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date hereof and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;
(c) any Lien existing on any property or asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or existing on any property or asset of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the date hereof prior to the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided that (i) such Lien is not created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (ii) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary and (iii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary, as the case may be and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;
(d) Liens on fixed or capital assets acquired, constructed or improved by the Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided that (i) such security interests secure Indebtedness permitted by clause (e) of Section 6.01, (ii) such security interests and the Indebtedness secured thereby are incurred prior to or within ninety (90) days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement, (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed 100% of the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving such fixed or capital assets and (iv) such security interests shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary; and
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(e) customary bankers’ Liens and rights of setoff arising by operation of law and incurred on deposits made in the ordinary course of business;
(f) Liens on certain real property located in Boise, Idaho securing the New Mask Shop Obligations; and
(g) attachments, appeal bonds, judgments and other similar Liens, for sums not exceeding $1,000,000 in the aggregate arising in connection with court proceedings; provided, that the execution or other enforcement of such Liens is effectively stayed and the claims secured thereby are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and adequate reserves in respect thereof have been established on the books of the Borrower to the extent required by GAAP.
SECTION 6.03. Fundamental Changes and Asset Sales. (a) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, merge into or consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions) any of its assets, (including pursuant to a Sale and Leaseback Transaction), or all or any of the Equity Interests of any of its Subsidiaries (in each case, whether now owned or hereafter acquired), or liquidate or dissolve, except that, if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Default shall have occurred and be continuing (i) any Person may merge into the Borrower in a transaction in which the Borrower is the surviving corporation, (ii) any Subsidiary may merge into a Loan Party in a transaction in which the surviving entity is such Loan Party (provided that any such merger involving the Borrower must result in the Borrower as the surviving entity), (iii) any Subsidiary may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of its assets to, or otherwise dissolve into, a Loan Party and (iv) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may (A) sell inventory, used or surplus equipment and Permitted Investments in the ordinary course of business and real estate located in Dresden, Germany not currently used in the operation of the Borrower’s business, (B) effect sales, trade-ins or dispositions of used equipment for value in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (C) enter into licenses of technology in the ordinary course of business, (D) enter into Qualified Asset Sales so long as the Net Proceeds resulting thereof are applied in accordance with Section 2.11(c) and in accordance with the Revolving Facility Agreement and (E) make any other sales, transfers, leases or dispositions of assets with an aggregate book value that, together with the aggregate book value of all other assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries previously leased, sold or disposed of as permitted by this clause (E) during any fiscal year of the Borrower, does not exceed 1% of Consolidated Total Assets (as reflected in the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower delivered to the Lenders) or as otherwise approved in writing by the Administrative Agent and (v) any Subsidiary (other than a Material Subsidiary) may liquidate or dissolve if the Borrower determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Borrower and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders; provided that any such merger involving a Person that is not a wholly owned Subsidiary immediately prior to such merger shall not be permitted unless also permitted by Section 6.04.
(b) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, engage to any material extent in any business other than businesses of the type conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the date of execution of this Agreement and businesses reasonably related thereto, including semi-conductor application processes.
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(c) The Borrower will not change its fiscal year from the annual period which ends on the Sunday closest to October 29 or its fiscal quarters which, during the term of this Agreement, consist of four equal 13 week periods.
SECTION 6.04. Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, purchase, hold or acquire (including pursuant to any merger with any Person that was not a wholly owned Subsidiary prior to such merger) any capital stock, evidences of indebtedness or other securities (including any option, warrant or other right to acquire any of the foregoing) of, make or permit to exist any loans or advances to, Guarantee any obligations of, or make or permit to exist any investment or any other interest in, any other Person, or purchase or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) any Person or any assets of any other Person constituting a business unit, except
(a) Permitted Investments;
(b) with respect to any Foreign Subsidiary, direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the government of the country in which such Foreign Subsidiary is organized or has its principal place of business, in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof, so long as the aggregate amount of all such obligations for all Foreign Subsidiaries does not exceed $5,000,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding;
(c) loans, advances or investments existing on the date hereof by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries to or in their respective subsidiaries;
(d) investments, loans or advances made by the Borrower in or to any Subsidiary and made by any Subsidiary to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary (provided that not more than $1,000,000 in investments, loans or advances or capital contributions may be made and remain outstanding, during the term of this Agreement, by any Loan Party to a Subsidiary which is not a Loan Party but provided further that investments, loans, advances or capital contributions made to (i) prepay the obligations under the Chinese Credit Facility on the Effective Date with the proceeds of the Loans and (ii) fund the operating expenses of Photronics China in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, in each case shall not be subject to the foregoing proviso);
(e) Guarantees constituting Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01 and Guarantees by the Borrower of rental obligations or accounts payable of any Subsidiary;
(f) investments received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of, or settlement of delinquent accounts and disputes with, customers and suppliers, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(g) investments made in connection with a sale of assets permitted by Section 6.03 to the extent of the non-cash consideration received by the Borrower or a Subsidiary;
(h) [intentionally omitted];
(i) investments, loans and advances by the Borrower or any Subsidiary existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule 6.04;
(j) [intentionally omitted]; and
(k) any other investment (other than acquisitions), loan or advance (including investments made to meet minimum capital requirements of foreign jurisdictions) so long as the aggregate amount of all such investments does not exceed $1,000,000 during the term of this Agreement.
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SECTION 6.05. Swap Agreements. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any Swap Agreement, except (a) Swap Agreements entered into to hedge or mitigate risks to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary has actual exposure (other than those in respect of Equity Interests of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries), and (b) Swap Agreements entered into in order to effectively cap, collar or exchange interest rates (from fixed to floating rates, from one floating rate to another floating rate or otherwise) with respect to any interest-bearing liability or investment of the Borrower or any Subsidiary.
SECTION 6.06. Restricted Payments. (a) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, declare or make, or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, except (i) the Borrower may declare and pay dividends with respect to its Equity Interests payable solely in additional shares of its common stock, (ii) Subsidiaries may declare and pay dividends ratably with respect to their Equity Interests, (iii) the Borrower may make Restricted Payments pursuant to and in accordance with stock option plans or other benefit plans for management or employees of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and (iv) PSMC may make dividends to its shareholders.
(b) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, make or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any payment or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) of or in respect of principal of or interest on any Indebtedness, or any payment or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any Indebtedness, except: (i) payment of Indebtedness created under the Loan Documents; (ii) payment of regularly scheduled interest and principal payments as and when due in respect of any Indebtedness (subject to any subordination provisions thereof); (iii) payments in respect of the Revolving Facility, and in respect of the Chinese Credit Facility on the Effective Date; (iv) prepayment, purchase, redemption, retirement or other acquisition of the Convertible Subordinated Notes by exchange for or out of the proceeds received from a substantially concurrent issue of new shares of its non-mandatorily redeemable Equity Interests or from a substantially concurrent incurrence of Subordinated Indebtedness (including mandatorily redeemable Equity Interests of the Borrower) within 90 days of such issuance or incurrence (provided that the foregoing 90 day requirement shall not apply to any prepayment, purchase, redemption, retirement or other acquisition of the Convertible Subordinated Notes outstanding on the Effective Date); (v) so long as at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect (including pro forma effect) thereto no Default shall have occurred and be continuing, prepayment, purchase, redemption, retirement or other acquisition in cash of the Convertible Subordinated Notes outstanding on the Effective Date; and (vi) payment of secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness.
SECTION 6.07. Transactions with Affiliates. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, sell, lease or otherwise transfer any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates, except (a) in the ordinary course of business at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arm’s-length basis from unrelated third parties, (b) transactions between or among the Borrower and its wholly owned Subsidiaries not involving any other Affiliate, (c) in addition to transactions set forth in Schedule 6.07, transactions with Related Parties not exceeding $6,000,000 in the aggregate, (d) Indebtedness permitted by Sections 6.01(b) and 6.01(c), investments permitted by Section 6.04 and fundamental changes permitted by Section 6.03 so long as each such transaction is at a price and on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arm’s-length basis from unrelated third parties, (e) any Restricted Payment permitted by Section 6.06, (f) transactions existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule 6.07 and (g) any Affiliate who is an individual may serve as a director, officer or employee of the Borrower or such Subsidiary and receive compensation (including stock options) for his or her services in such capacity.
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SECTION 6.08. Restrictive Agreements. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into, incur or permit to exist any agreement or other arrangement that prohibits, restricts or imposes any condition upon (a) the ability of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to create, incur or permit to exist any Lien upon any of its property or assets, or (b) the ability of any Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions with respect to holders of its Equity Interests or to make or repay loans or advances to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary or to Guarantee Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other Subsidiary; provided that (i) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions imposed by law or by this Agreement or by the Revolving Facility Agreement, (ii) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions existing on the date hereof identified on Schedule 6.08 (but shall apply to any extension or renewal of, or any amendment or modification expanding the scope of, any such restriction or condition), (iii) the foregoing shall not apply to customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a Subsidiary pending such sale, provided such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary that is to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder, (iv) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement if such restrictions or conditions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness, (v) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not apply to customary provisions in leases and other contracts restricting the assignment thereof and (vi) clause (b) of the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed by the organizational documents of any Joint Venture to the extent that an investment in such Joint Venture is permitted by Section 6.04(j).
SECTION 6.09. Issuances of Equity Interests by Subsidiaries. The Borrower will not permit any Subsidiary to issue any additional shares of its Equity Interests other than (a) to the Borrower or a wholly-owned Subsidiary, (b) any such issuance that does not change the Borrower’s direct or indirect percentage ownership interest in such Subsidiary, (c) any such issuance that is permitted pursuant to Section 6.03 or 6.04 and (d) any such issuance by PKL, PSMC, Photronics China or PKLT Co., Ltd., a Taiwanese corporation, so long as the Borrower continues to own and control more than 50% of the voting and economic power of such Subsidiary.
SECTION 6.10. Amendment of Material Documents. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, amend, modify or waive (a) any of its rights under its certificate of incorporation, by-laws or other organizational documents, in each case in any respect adverse to the Lenders or (b) any of the terms of any Subordinated Indebtedness (including, without limitation, the terms contained in any Convertible Subordinated Note Indenture and any Convertible Subordinated Notes), in each case in any respect adverse to the Lenders (for the purposes of this Section 6.10(b) and without limitation of the scope of the definition of “adverse”, any amendment to increase the principal amount, the interest rate or fees or other amounts payable, to advance the dates upon which payments are made or to alter any subordination provision (or any definition related thereto) shall be deemed to be “adverse”).
SECTION 6.11. Financial Covenants.
(a) Maximum Senior Leverage Ratio. The Borrower will not permit the ratio (the “Senior Leverage Ratio”), determined as of the end of each of its fiscal quarters set forth below, of (i) Consolidated Senior Indebtedness to (ii) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of 4 consecutive fiscal quarters ending with the end of such fiscal quarter, all calculated for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, to be greater than the ratio set forth opposite such fiscal quarter:
Fiscal Quarter Ending On or About | Maximum Senior Leverage Ratio | |
February 1, 2009 | 2.25 to 1.00 | |
May 3, 2009 | 2.75 to 1.00 | |
August 2, 2009 | 3.00 to 1.00 | |
November 1, 2009 | 3.00 to 1.00 | |
January 31, 2010 | 2.50 to 1.00 | |
May 2, 2010 | 2.25 to 1.00 | |
August 1, 2010 | 2.00 to 1.00 | |
October 31, 2010 | 1.75 to 1.00 | |
January 30, 2011 and each Fiscal Quarter | 1.25 to 1.00 | |
ending thereafter |
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(b) Total Leverage Ratio. The Borrower will not permit the ratio (the “Total Leverage Ratio”), determined as of the end of each of its fiscal quarters set forth below, of (i) Consolidated Total Indebtedness to (ii) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of 4 consecutive fiscal quarters ending with the end of such fiscal quarter, all calculated for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, to be greater than the ratio set forth opposite such fiscal quarter:
Fiscal Quarter Ending On or About | Maximum Total Leverage Ratio | |
February 1, 2009 | 2.50 to 1.00 | |
May 3, 2009 | 3.00 to 1.00 | |
August 2, 2009 | 3.25 to 1.00 | |
November 1, 2009 | 3.25 to 1.00 | |
January 31, 2010 | 2.75 to 1.00 | |
May 2, 2010 | 2.50 to 1.00 | |
August 1, 2010 | 2.25 to 1.00 | |
October 31, 2010 | 2.00 to 1.00 | |
January 30, 2011 and each Fiscal Quarter | 1.50 to 1.00 | |
ending thereafter |
(c) Minimum Unrestricted Cash Balances. The Borrower will not permit the aggregate amount of unrestricted cash balances and Permitted Investments maintained by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries to be less than $50,000,000 (provided that, during the Borrower’s fiscal quarter ending on or about January 31, 2010, such amount shall not be less than $45,000,000). For the avoidance of doubt, any cash deposited with the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of the Collateral Documents shall be deemed to be unrestricted cash.
(d) Minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. The Borrower will not permit the ratio (the “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio”), determined as of the end of each of its fiscal quarters set forth below, of (i) Consolidated EBITDA to (ii) Consolidated Fixed Charges, in each case for the period of four (4) consecutive fiscal quarters ending with the end of such fiscal quarter, all calculated for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, to be less than the ratio set forth opposite such fiscal quarter:
Fiscal Quarter Ending On or About | Minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio | |
May 3, 2009 | 2.00 to 1.00 | |
August 2, 2009 | 1.85 to 1.00 | |
November 1, 2009 | 1.75 to 1.00 | |
January 31, 2010 | 1.50 to 1.00 | |
May 2, 2010 | 1.75 to 1.00 | |
August 1, 2010 | 2.00 to 1.00 | |
October 31, 2010 and each Fiscal Quarter | 2.25 to 1.00 | |
ending thereafter |
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(e) Minimum EBITDA. The Borrower will not permit Consolidated EBITDA for the period of six consecutive fiscal months ending at the end of each fiscal quarter on or about the dates set forth below to be less than the corresponding amount set forth opposite such fiscal quarter:
Minimum Consolidated EBITDA | ||
Fiscal Quarter Ending On or About | (Trailing 6 Months) | |
February 1, 2009 | $40,000,000 | |
May 3, 2009 | $27,500,000 | |
August 2, 2009 | $32,000,000 | |
November 1, 2009 | $40,000,000 | |
January 31, 2010 | $42,500,000 | |
May 2, 2010 | $45,000,000 | |
August 1, 2010 | $50,000,000 | |
October 31, 2010 and each Fiscal Quarter | $55,000,000 | |
ending thereafter |
(f) Maximum Capital Expenditures. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, make Capital Expenditures in an amount (in the aggregate for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries) during the period of 4 consecutive fiscal quarters ending as of the end of each of its fiscal quarters set forth below in excess of the corresponding amount set forth opposite such fiscal quarter:
Fiscal Quarter Ending On or About | Maximum Capital Expenditures | |
February 1, 2009 | $65,000,000 | |
May 3, 2009 | $57,500,000 | |
August 2, 2009 | $55,000,000 | |
November 1, 2009 | $52,500,000 | |
January 31, 2010 | $52,500,000 | |
May 2, 2010 | $47,500,000 | |
August 1, 2010 | $47,500,000 | |
October 31, 2010 | $52,500,000 | |
January 30, 2011 and each Fiscal Quarter | $65,000,000 | |
ending thereafter |
ARTICLE VII
Events of Default
If any of the following events (“Events of Default”) shall occur:
(a) the Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment thereof or otherwise;
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(b) the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in clause (a) of this Article) payable under this Agreement, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of three (3) Business Days;
(c) any representation or warranty made or deemed made by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any amendment or modification thereof or waiver thereunder, or in any report, certificate, financial statement or other document furnished pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any amendment or modification thereof or waiver thereunder, shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made;
(d) (i) the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 5.02, 5.03 (with respect to the Borrower’s existence), 5.08, 5.09, 5.10, 5.11 or 5.12, in Article VI or in Article X or (ii) any Loan Document shall for any reason not be or shall cease to be in full force and effect or is declared to be null and void, or the Borrower or any Subsidiary takes any action for the purpose of terminating, repudiating or rescinding any Loan Document or any of its obligations thereunder;
(e) the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than those specified in clause (a), (b) or (d) of this Article) or any other Loan Document, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of thirty (30) days after notice thereof from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower (which notice will be given at the request of any Lender);
(f) the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall fail to make any payment (whether of principal or interest and regardless of amount) in respect of any Material Indebtedness, when and as the same shall become due and payable;
(g) any event or condition occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables or permits (with or without the giving of notice, the lapse of time or both) the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any Material Indebtedness to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity; provided that this clause (g) shall not apply to secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness;
(h) an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or its debts, or of a substantial part of its assets, under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Borrower or any Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for 60 days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;
(i) the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in clause (h) of this Article, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the Borrower or any Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or (vi) take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;
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(j) the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall become unable, admit in writing its inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due;
(k) one or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $1,000,000 shall be rendered against the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any combination thereof and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of 30 consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed, or any action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to attach or levy upon any assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to enforce any such judgment;
(l) an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, in the opinion of the Required Lenders, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(m) a Change in Control shall occur;
(n) within 90 days prior to the Maturity Date, the sum of (i) the “Available Revolving Commitment” defined in the Revolving Facility Agreement and (ii) the aggregate amount of unrestricted cash balances and Permitted Investments maintained by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be less than the aggregate principal amount of the Indebtedness then outstanding under the Convertible Subordinated Notes; or
(o) any Collateral Document shall for any reason fail to create a valid and perfected first priority security interest in any material portion of the Collateral purported to be covered thereby, except as permitted by the terms of any Loan Document;
then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Required Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower, take either or both of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate the Commitments, and thereupon the Commitments shall terminate immediately, and (ii) declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other Obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower; and in case of any event with respect to the Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article, the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other Obligations accrued hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower.
Any proceeds of Collateral received by the Administrative Agent after an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent so elects or the Required Lenders so direct, such funds shall be applied, subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, ratably first, to pay any reasonable out-of-pocket fees, indemnities, or expense reimbursements including amounts then due to the Administrative Agent from the Loan Parties, second, to pay any fees or expense reimbursements then due to the Lenders from the Loan Parties, third, to pay interest then due and payable on the Loans ratably, fourth, on a ratable basis, to prepay principal on the Loans, to payment of any amounts owing with respect to Banking Services Obligations and Swap Obligations, and fifth, to the payment of any other Obligation due to the Administrative Agent or any Lender by the Loan Parties. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have the continuing and exclusive right to apply and reverse and reapply any and all such proceeds and payments to any portion of the Obligations.
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Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Collateral Agent may, in accordance with the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, exercise any rights and remedies provided to the Collateral Agent under the Loan Documents or at law or equity, including all remedies provided under the UCC.
ARTICLE VIII
The Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent
Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent hereunder and under each other Loan Document, and each of the Lenders authorizes each of the Agents to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement on behalf of such Lender (each Lender hereby agreeing to be bound by the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement as if it were a party thereto) and to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Agents by the terms hereof and the terms of the other Loan Documents, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.
The bank serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent, and such bank and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of business with Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if it were not the Administrative Agent hereunder.
No Agent shall have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (a) no Agent shall be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing, (b) no Agent shall have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby that such Agent is required to exercise in writing as directed by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 9.02), and (c) except as expressly set forth herein, no Agent shall have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that is communicated to or obtained by the bank serving as either Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity. No Agent shall be liable for any action taken or not taken by it with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary under the circumstances as provided in Section 9.02) or in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. No Agent shall be deemed to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice thereof is given to such Agent by the Borrower or a Lender, and neither Agent shall 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, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or in connection herewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement or any other agreement, instrument or document, (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 such Agent or (vi) the creation, perfection or priority of Liens on the Collateral or the existence of the Collateral.
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The Agents shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or sent by the proper Person. The Agents also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. The Agents 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.
Either Agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by such Agent. The Agents and any such sub-agent may perform any and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of the preceding paragraphs shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Agents and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as an Agent.
Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Administrative Agent as provided in this paragraph, the Administrative Agent may resign at any time by notifying the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower, to appoint a successor. If no successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent which shall be a bank with an office in New York, New York, or an Affiliate of any such bank. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder. The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Article and Section 9.03 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while it was acting as Administrative Agent.
Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon either Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon either Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.
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In its capacity, the Collateral Agent is a “representative” of the Holders of Secured Obligations within the meaning of the term “secured party” as defined in the New York Uniform Commercial Code. Each Lender authorizes the Collateral Agent to enter into each of the Collateral Documents to which it is a party and to take all action contemplated by such documents. Each Lender agrees that no Holder of Secured Obligations (other than the Collateral Agent) shall have the right individually to seek to realize upon the security granted by any Collateral Document, it being understood and agreed that such rights and remedies may be exercised solely by the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Holders of Secured Obligations upon the terms of the Collateral Documents. In the event that any Collateral is hereafter pledged by any Person as collateral security for the Obligations, the Collateral Agent is hereby authorized, and hereby granted a power of attorney, to execute and deliver on behalf of the Holders of Secured Obligations any Loan Documents necessary or appropriate to grant and perfect a Lien on such Collateral in favor of the Collateral Agent on behalf of the Holders of Secured Obligations. The Lenders hereby authorize the Collateral Agent, at its option and in its discretion, to release any Lien granted to or held by the Collateral Agent upon any Collateral (i) as described in Section 9.02(b); (ii) as permitted by, but only in accordance with, the terms of the applicable Loan Document; or (iii) if approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders, unless such release is required to be approved by all of the Lenders hereunder. Upon request by the Collateral Agent at any time, the Lenders will confirm in writing the Collateral Agent’s authority to release particular types or items of Collateral pursuant hereto. Upon any sale or transfer of assets constituting Collateral which is permitted pursuant to the terms of any Loan Document, or consented to in writing by the Required Lenders or all of the Lenders, as applicable, and upon at least five Business Days’ prior written request by the Borrower to the Collateral Agent, the Collateral Agent shall (and is hereby irrevocably authorized by the Lenders to) execute such documents as may be necessary to evidence the release of the Liens granted to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Holders of Secured Obligations herein or pursuant hereto upon the Collateral that was sold or transferred; provided, however, that (i) the Collateral Agent shall not be required to execute any such document on terms which, in the Collateral Agent’s opinion, would expose the Collateral Agent to liability or create any obligation or entail any consequence other than the release of such Liens without recourse or warranty, and (ii) such release shall not in any manner discharge, affect or impair the Obligations or any Liens upon (or obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of) all interests retained by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, including (without limitation) the proceeds of the sale, all of which shall continue to constitute part of the Collateral.
The Borrower, on its behalf and on behalf of its Subsidiaries, and each Lender, on its behalf and on the behalf of its affiliated Holders of Secured Obligations, hereby irrevocably constitute the Collateral Agent as the holder of an irrevocable power of attorney (fondé de pouvoir within the meaning of Article 2692 of the Civil Code of Québec) in order to hold hypothecs and security granted by the Borrower or any Subsidiary on property pursuant to the laws of the Province of Quebec to secure obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary under any bond, debenture or similar title of indebtedness issued by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with this Agreement, and agree that the Collateral Agent may act as the bondholder and mandatary with respect to any bond, debenture or similar title of indebtedness that may be issued by the Borrower or any Subsidiary and pledged in favor of the Holder of Secured Obligations in connection with this Agreement. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 32 of the An Act respecting the special powers of legal persons (Quebec), JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association as Collateral Agent may acquire and be the holder of any bond issued by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with this Agreement (i.e., the fondé de pouvoir may acquire and hold the first bond issued under any deed of hypothec by the Borrower or any Subsidiary).
The Collateral Agent is hereby authorized to execute and deliver any documents necessary or appropriate to create and perfect the rights of pledge for the benefit of the Holders of Secured Obligations including a right of pledge with respect to the entitlements to profits, the balance left after winding up and the voting rights of the Borrower as ultimate parent of any subsidiary of the Borrower which is organized under the laws of the Netherlands and the Equity Interests of which are pledged in connection herewith (a “Dutch Pledge”). Without prejudice to the provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree with the creation of parallel debt obligations of the Borrower or any relevant Subsidiary as will be described in any Dutch Pledge (the “Parallel Debt”), including that any payment received by the Collateral Agent in respect of the Parallel Debt will - conditionally upon such payment not subsequently being avoided or reduced by virtue of any provisions or enactments relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, preference, liquidation or similar laws of general application - be deemed a satisfaction of a pro rata portion of the corresponding amounts of the Obligations, and any payment to the Holders of Secured Obligations in satisfaction of the Obligations shall - conditionally upon such payment not subsequently being avoided or reduced by virtue of any provisions or enactments relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, preference, liquidation or similar laws of general application - be deemed as satisfaction of the corresponding amount of the Parallel Debt. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that, for purposes of a Dutch Pledge, any resignation by the Collateral Agent is not effective until its rights under the Parallel Debt are assigned to the successor Collateral Agent.
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The parties hereto acknowledge and agree for the purposes of taking and ensuring the continuing validity of German law governed pledges (Pfandrechte) with the creation of parallel debt obligations of the Borrower as will be further described in a separate German law governed parallel debt undertaking. The Collateral Agent shall (i) hold such parallel debt undertaking as fiduciary agent (Treuhaender) and (ii) administer and hold as fiduciary agent (Treuhaender) any pledge created under a German law governed Collateral Document which is created in favor of any Holder of the Secured Obligations or transferred to any Holder of the Secured Obligations due to its accessory nature (Akzessorietaet), in each case in its own name and for the account of the Holders of the Secured Obligations. Each Lender, on its own behalf and on behalf of its affiliated Holders of Secured Obligations, hereby authorizes the Collateral Agent to enter as its agent in its name and on its behalf into any German law governed Collateral Document, to accept as its agent in its name and on its behalf any pledge under such Collateral Document and to agree to and execute as agent its in its name and on its behalf any amendments, supplements and other alterations to any such Collateral Document and to release any such Collateral Document and any pledge created under any such Collateral Document in accordance with the provisions herein and/or the provisions in any such Collateral Document.
ARTICLE IX
Miscellaneous
SECTION 9.01. Notices. (a) Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and subject to paragraph (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopy, as follows:
(i) if to the Borrower, to Photronics, Inc., 00 Xxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx 00000, Attention of Xxxx X. Xxxxx (Telecopy No. (000) 000-0000; Telephone No. (000) 000-0000), with a copy (in the case of notices of Default) to Attention of Xxxxxxxx Xxxx (Telecopy No. (000) 000-0000; Telephone No. (000) 000-0000);
(ii) if to the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, to JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, 00 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, Attention of Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx (Telecopy No. (000) 000-0000), with a copy to JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Attention of Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx (Telecopy No. (000) 000-0000); and
(iii) if to any other Lender, to it at its address (or telecopy number) set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire.
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(b) Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices pursuant to Article II unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.
(c) Any party hereto may change its address or telecopy number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date of receipt.
SECTION 9.02. Waivers; Amendments. (a) No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Administrative Agent, any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.
(b) Neither this Agreement nor any provision hereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and the Required Lenders or by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that no such agreement shall (i) increase the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender, (ii) reduce the principal amount of any Loan or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fees payable hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby, (iii) postpone the scheduled date of payment of the principal amount of any Loan, or any interest thereon, or any fees payable hereunder, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, or postpone the scheduled date of expiration of any Commitment, without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby, (iv) change Section 2.18(b) or (c) in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, without the written consent of each Lender, (v) change any of the provisions of this Section or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender or (vi) release the Borrower or all or substantially all of the Subsidiary Guarantors from their obligations under Article X or the Subsidiary Guaranty or release all or substantially all of the Pledged Equity, as applicable, without the written consent of each Lender; provided further that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent.
SECTION 9.03. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver. (a) The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Agents and their Affiliates, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for each Agent, in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation 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 Agents or any Lender, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for either Agent or any Lender, in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with the Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans.
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(b) The Borrower shall indemnify the Agents and each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee, incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of the Loan Documents or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) any Loan or the use of the proceeds therefrom, (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 and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or from the breach of such Indemnitee’s obligations under the Loan Documents.
(c) To the extent that the Borrower fails to pay any amount required to be paid by it to the Agents under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the relevant Agent such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount (it being understood that the Borrower’s failure to pay any such amount shall not relieve the Borrower of any default in the payment thereof); 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 relevant Agent in its capacity as such.
(d) To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower shall not assert, and the Borrower 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 or thereby, the Transactions, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof.
(e) All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than fifteen (15) days after written demand therefor.
SECTION 9.04. Successors and Assigns. (a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that (i) the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants (to the extent provided in paragraph (c) of this Section) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
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(b)(i) Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) below, any Lender may assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) of:
(A) the Borrower, provided that no consent of the Borrower shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund or, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any other assignee; and
(B) the Administrative Agent.
(ii) Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:
(A) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment or Loans, the amount of the Commitment or 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) shall not be less than $5,000,000 unless each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent, provided that no such consent of the Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;
(B) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement;
(C) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500; and
(D) the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.
For the purposes of this Section 9.04(b), the term “Approved Fund” has the following meaning:
“Approved Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.
(iii) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (b)(iv) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 9.04 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section.
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(iv) The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitment of, and principal amount of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
(v) Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, the assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register; provided that if either the assigning Lender or the assignee shall have failed to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.07(b), 2.18(d) or 9.03(c), the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information therein in the Register unless and until such payment shall have been made in full, together with all accrued interest thereon. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.
(c) (i) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans owing to it); provided that (A) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (C) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement 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, modification or waiver described in the first proviso to Section 9.02(b) that affects such Participant. Subject to paragraph (c)(ii) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.18(c) as though it were a Lender.
(ii) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.15 or 2.17 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.17 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 2.17(e) as though it were a Lender.
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(d) Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including without limitation any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.
SECTION 9.05. Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Loan Parties in the Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the making of any Loans, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document is outstanding and unpaid and so long as the Commitments have not expired or terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 9.03 and Article VIII shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any provision hereof or thereof.
SECTION 9.06. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
SECTION 9.07. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.
SECTION 9.08. Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each of its Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final and in whatever currency denominated) at any time held and other obligations at any time owing by such Lender or Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any of and all the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement held by such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement and although such obligations may be unmatured. The rights of each Lender under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Lender may have.
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SECTION 9.09. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process. (a) This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.
(b) The Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall affect any right that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement against the Borrower or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.
(c) The Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.
(d) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01. Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
SECTION 9.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY 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 PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
SECTION 9.11. Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.
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SECTION 9.12. Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority, (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or 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 Borrower or (h) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (ii) becomes available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries. For the purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower relating to the Borrower or its business, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower; provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.
SECTION 9.13. USA PATRIOT Act. Each Lender that is subject to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Act”) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Act.
SECTION 9.14. Appointment for Perfection. Each Lender hereby appoints each other Lender as its agent for the purpose of perfecting Liens, for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and the Holders of Secured Obligations, in assets which, in accordance with Article 9 of the UCC or any other applicable law can be perfected only by possession. Should any Lender (other than the Collateral Agent) obtain possession of any such Collateral, such Lender shall notify the Collateral Agent thereof, and, promptly upon the Collateral Agent’s request therefor shall deliver such Collateral to the Collateral Agent or otherwise deal with such Collateral in accordance with the Collateral Agent’s instructions.
[Signature Pages Follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the day and year first above written.
PHOTRONICS, INC., as the Borrower | ||
By | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Signature Page to Loan Agreement
Photronics, Inc.
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL | ||
ASSOCIATION, individually as a Lender and as | ||
Administrative Agent | ||
By | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL | ||
ASSOCIATION, as Collateral Agent | ||
By | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Signature Page to Loan Agreement
Photronics, Inc.
HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL | ||
ASSOCIATION, as a Lender | ||
By | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Signature Page to Loan Agreement
Photronics, Inc.
CITIBANK, N.A., as a Lender | ||
By | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Signature Page to Loan Agreement
Photronics, Inc.
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender | ||
By | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
Signature Page to Loan Agreement
Photronics, Inc.
SCHEDULE 2.01
COMMITMENTS
LENDER | COMMITMENT | |||
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION | $8,161,235.70 | |||
HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION | $8,161,235.70 | |||
CITIBANK, N.A. | $5,440,823.80 | |||
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. | $5,440,823.80 | |||
AGGREGATE COMMITMENT | $27,204,119.00 |