CREDIT AGREEMENT DATED AS OF OCTOBER 31, 2007 COMERICA BANK AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, SYNDICATION AGENT, DOCUMENTATION AGENT AND LEAD ARRANGER
Exhibit
10.1
EXECUTION
COPY
STERLING
CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC.
DATED
AS OF OCTOBER 31, 2007
COMERICA
BANK
AS
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, SYNDICATION AGENT,
DOCUMENTATION
AGENT AND LEAD ARRANGER
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
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1.
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DEFINITIONS.
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1
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1.1
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Certain
Defined Terms
|
1
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2.
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REVOLVING
CREDIT.
|
23
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2.1
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Commitment
|
23
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2.2
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Accrual
of Interest and Maturity; Evidence of
Indebtedness.
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23
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2.3
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Requests
for and Refundings and Conversions of Advances
|
24
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2.4
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Disbursement
of Advances.
|
26
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2.5
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Swing
Line Advances
|
28
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2.6
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Interest
Payments; Default Interest
|
33
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2.7
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Optional
Prepayments.
|
34
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2.8
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Prime-based
Advance in Absence of Election or Upon Default
|
35
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2.9
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Revolving
Credit Facility Fee
|
35
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2.10
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Mandatory
Repayment of Revolving Credit Advances.
|
35
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2.11
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Optional
Reduction or Termination of Revolving Credit Aggregate
Commitment
|
36
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2.12
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Use
of Proceeds of Advances
|
37
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3.
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LETTERS
OF CREDIT.
|
37
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3.1
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Letters
of Credit
|
37
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3.2
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Conditions
to Issuance
|
38
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3.3
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Notice
|
39
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3.4
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Letter
of Credit Fees; Increased Costs
|
39
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3.5
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Other
Fees
|
41
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3.6
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Drawings
and Demands for Payment Under Letters of Credit.
|
41
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3.7
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Obligations
Irrevocable
|
42
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3.8
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Risk
Under Letters of Credit.
|
44
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3.9
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Indemnification
|
44
|
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3.10
|
Right
of Reimbursement
|
45
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4.
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INTENTIONALLY
OMITTED.
|
46
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5.
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CONDITIONS.
|
46
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5.1
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Conditions
of Initial Advances
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46
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5.2
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Continuing
Conditions
|
50
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6.
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REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES.
|
50
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6.1
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Corporate
Authority
|
50
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6.2
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Due
Authorization
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50
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6.3
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Good
Title; Leases; Assets; No Liens
|
50
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6.4
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Taxes
|
51
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6.5
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No
Defaults
|
51
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6.6
|
Enforceability
of Agreement and Loan Documents
|
51
|
i
6.7
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Compliance
with Laws
|
51
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6.8
|
Non-contravention
|
52
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6.9
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Litigation
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52
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6.10
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Consents,
Approvals and Filings, Etc
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52
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6.11
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Agreements
Affecting Financial Condition
|
52
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6.12
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No
Investment Company or Margin Stock
|
52
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6.13
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ERISA
|
53
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6.14
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Conditions
Affecting Business or Properties
|
53
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6.15
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Environmental
and Safety Matters
|
53
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6.16
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Subsidiaries
|
54
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6.17
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Intentionally
Omitted
|
54
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6.18
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Intentionally
Omitted
|
54
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6.19
|
Franchises,
Patents, Copyrights, Tradenames, etc
|
54
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6.20
|
Capital
Structure
|
54
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6.21
|
Accuracy
of Information
|
54
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6.22
|
Solvency
|
55
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6.23
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Employee
Matters
|
55
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6.24
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No
Misrepresentation
|
55
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6.25
|
Corporate
Documents and Corporate Existence
|
56
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6.26
|
Acquisition
Documents.
|
56
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7.
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AFFIRMATIVE
COVENANTS.
|
56
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7.1
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Financial
Statements
|
57
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7.2
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Certificates;
Other Information
|
57
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7.3
|
Intentionally
Omitted
|
59
|
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7.4
|
Conduct
of Business and Maintenance of Existence; Compliance with
Laws.
|
59
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7.5
|
Maintenance
of Property; Insurance
|
59
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7.6
|
Inspection
of Property; Books and Records, Discussions
|
60
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7.7
|
Notices
|
60
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7.8
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Hazardous
Material Laws
|
61
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7.9
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Financial
Covenants.
|
62
|
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7.10
|
Governmental
and Other Approvals
|
62
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7.11
|
Compliance
with ERISA; ERISA Notices
|
62
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7.12
|
Defense
of Collateral
|
63
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7.13
|
Future
Subsidiaries; Additional Collateral.
|
63
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7.14
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Accounts
|
64
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7.15
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Use
of Proceeds
|
64
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7.16
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Post-Closing
Items
|
65
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7.17
|
Further
Assurances and Information
|
66
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8.
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NEGATIVE
COVENANTS.
|
66
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8.1
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Limitation
on Debt
|
66
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8.2
|
Limitation
on Liens
|
67
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8.3
|
Acquisitions
|
68
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8.4
|
Limitation
on Mergers, Dissolution or Sale of Assets
|
68
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8.5
|
Restricted
Payments
|
69
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8.6
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Put
and Call
|
70
|
ii
8.7
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Limitation
on Investments, Loans and Advances
|
70
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8.8
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Transactions
with Affiliates
|
71
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8.9
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Sale-Leaseback
Transactions; Sale of Accounts or Notes
Receivables
|
71
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8.10
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Limitations
on Other Restrictions
|
71
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8.11
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Prepayment
of Debt
|
71
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8.12
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Amendment
of Certain Documents
|
72
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8.13
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Modification
of Certain Agreements
|
72
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8.14
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Management
Fees
|
72
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8.15
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Fiscal
Year
|
72
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|
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9.
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DEFAULTS.
|
72
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9.1
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Events
of Default
|
72
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9.2
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Exercise
of Remedies
|
75
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9.3
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Rights
Cumulative
|
75
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9.4
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Waiver
by Borrowers of Certain Laws
|
76
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9.5
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Waiver
of Defaults
|
76
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9.6
|
Set
Off
|
76
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10.
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PAYMENTS,
RECOVERIES AND COLLECTIONS.
|
76
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10.1
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Payment
Procedure
|
76
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10.2
|
Application
of Proceeds of Collateral
|
78
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10.3
|
Pro-rata
Recovery
|
78
|
|
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11.
|
CHANGES
IN LAW OR CIRCUMSTANCES; INCREASED COSTS.
|
79
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11.1
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Reimbursement
of Prepayment Costs
|
79
|
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11.2
|
Eurodollar
Lending Office
|
79
|
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11.3
|
Circumstances
Affecting Eurodollar-based Rate Availability
|
79
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11.4
|
Laws
Affecting Eurodollar-based Advance Availability
|
80
|
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11.5
|
Increased
Cost of Eurodollar-based Advances
|
80
|
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11.6
|
Capital
Adequacy and Other Increased Costs
|
81
|
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11.7
|
Right
of Lenders to Fund through Branches and
Affiliates
|
82
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11.8
|
Margin
Adjustment
|
82
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12.
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AGENT.
|
83
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12.1
|
Appointment
of Agent
|
83
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12.2
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Deposit
Account with Agent
|
84
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12.3
|
Scope
of Agent’s Duties
|
84
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12.4
|
Successor
Agent
|
85
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12.5
|
Credit
Decisions
|
85
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12.6
|
Authority
of Agent to Enforce This Agreement
|
85
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12.7
|
Indemnification
of Agent
|
86
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12.8
|
Knowledge
of Default
|
86
|
|
12.9
|
Agent’s
Authorization; Action by Lenders
|
86
|
|
12.10
|
Enforcement
Actions by the Agent
|
87
|
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12.11
|
Collateral
Matters.
|
87
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12.12
|
Agents
in their Individual Capacities
|
88
|
|
12.13
|
Agent’s
Fees
|
88
|
iii
12.14
|
Documentation
Agent or other Titles
|
88
|
|
12.15
|
No
Reliance on Agent’s Customer Identification
Program
|
88
|
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13.
|
MISCELLANEOUS.
|
89
|
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13.1
|
Accounting
Principles
|
89
|
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13.2
|
Consent
to Jurisdiction
|
89
|
|
13.3
|
Law
of Texas
|
89
|
|
13.4
|
Interest
|
90
|
|
13.5
|
Closing
Costs and Other Costs; Indemnification.
|
90
|
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13.6
|
Notices
|
92
|
|
13.7
|
Further
Action
|
93
|
|
13.8
|
Successors
and Assigns; Participations; Assignments.
|
93
|
|
13.9
|
Counterparts;
Execution
|
96
|
|
13.10
|
Amendment
and Waiver
|
96
|
|
13.11
|
Confidentiality
|
97
|
|
13.12
|
Substitution
of Lenders
|
98
|
|
13.13
|
Withholding
Taxes
|
99
|
|
13.14
|
Taxes
and Fees
|
99
|
|
13.15
|
WAIVER
OF JURY TRIAL
|
100
|
|
13.16
|
Patriot
Act Notice
|
100
|
|
13.17
|
Complete
Agreement; Conflicts
|
100
|
|
13.18
|
Severability
|
100
|
|
13.19
|
Table
of Contents and Headings; Section References
|
100
|
|
13.20
|
Construction
of Certain Provisions
|
101
|
|
13.21
|
Independence
of Covenants
|
101
|
|
13.22
|
Electronic
Transmissions
|
101
|
|
13.23
|
Advertisements
|
102
|
|
13.24
|
Reliance
on and Survival of Provisions
|
102
|
|
13.25
|
Joint
and Several Liability
|
102
|
iv
EXHIBITS
A
FORM OF
REQUEST FOR REVOLVING CREDIT ADVANCE
B
FORM OF
REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE
C
FORM OF
SWING LINE NOTE
D
FORM OF
REQUEST FOR SWING LINE ADVANCE
E
FORM OF
NOTICE OF LETTERS OF CREDIT
F
FORM OF
SECURITY AGREEMENT
G
FORM OF
JOINDER AGREEMENT
H
FORM OF
ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT
I
INTENTIONALLY OMITTED
J
FORM OF
COVENANT COMPLIANCE REPORT
K
INTENTIONALLY OMITTED
L
INTENTIONALLY OMITTED
M
FORM OF
SWING LINE PARTICIPATION CERTIFICATE
SCHEDULES
Schedule
1.1
|
Applicable
Margin Grid
|
Schedule
1.2
|
Percentages
and Allocations
|
Schedule
1.3
|
Corporate
Information
|
Schedule
1.4
|
Existing
Comerica Loans
|
Schedule
1.5
|
Existing
Letters of Credit
|
Schedule
5.1(c)
|
Jurisdictions
of Organization
|
Schedule
5.2
|
Jurisdictions
where each Credit Party is Authorized to do
Business
|
Schedule
6.3(b)
|
Owned
Real Property
|
Schedule
6.4
|
Exceptions
to Tax Filings
|
Schedule
6.7
|
Violations
of Law
|
Schedule
6.9
|
Litigation
|
Schedule
6.10
|
Third
Party Consents
|
Schedule
6.13
|
Benefit
Plans
|
Schedule
6.15
|
Environmental
|
Schedule
6.16
|
Subsidiaries
|
Schedule
6.19
|
Trade
Names
|
Schedule
6.20
|
Equity
Interests
|
Schedule
6.23
|
Collective
Bargaining Agreements and
Grievances
|
Schedule
8.1
|
Existing
Debt
|
Schedule
8.1(i)
|
Liberty
Mutual Insurance Company Bonds Remaining Outstanding Post
Closing
|
Schedule
8.2
|
Existing
Liens
|
Schedule
8.7
|
Existing
Investments
|
Schedule
8.8
|
Transactions
with Affiliates
|
Schedule
13.6
|
Notices
|
1
This
Credit Agreement (“Agreement”) is made as of the 31st day of
October,
2007, by and among the financial institutions from time to time signatory
hereto
(individually a “Lender,” and any and all such financial institutions
collectively the “Lenders”), Comerica Bank, as Administrative Agent for the
Lenders (in such capacity, the “Agent”), Arranger, Syndication Agent and
Documentation Agent, Sterling Construction Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(“Sterling”), Texas Sterling Construction Co., a Delaware corporation (“TSC”)
and Oakhurst Management Corporation, a Texas corporation (“OMC” and together
with Sterling and TSC, the “Borrowers” and each a “Borrower” as more
specifically defined herein).
RECITALS
A. Borrowers
have requested that the Lenders extend to them credit and letters of credit
on
the terms and conditions set forth herein.
B. The
Lenders are prepared to extend such credit as aforesaid, but only on the
terms
and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
NOW
THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants contained herein, Borrowers,
the
Lenders, and the Agent agree as follows:
1.
|
DEFINITIONS.
|
1.1 Certain
Defined Terms. For the purposes of this Agreement the
following terms will have the following meanings:
“Acquisition”
shall mean the acquisition by Sterling of 100% of the issued and outstanding
Equity Interests of RHBI and of at least 91% of the issued and outstanding
Equity Interests of RHBL on the terms set forth in this Agreement and the
Acquisition Documents.
“Acquisition
Documents” shall mean the Purchase Agreement dated October 31, 2007 by and among
Sterling, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx and the Sellers (the “Purchase Agreement”) and all
documents related thereto or executed and delivered in connection therewith,
as
the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified in compliance with
this
Agreement.
“Advance(s)”
shall mean, as the context may indicate, a borrowing requested by the Borrowers,
and made by the Revolving Credit Lenders under Section 2.1 hereof or the
Swing
Line Lender under Section 2.5 hereof, including without limitation any
readvance, refunding or conversion of such borrowing pursuant to Section
2.3 or
2.5 hereof, and any advance deemed to have been made in respect of a Letter
of
Credit under Section 3.6(a) hereof, and shall include, as applicable, a
Eurodollar-based Advance, a Prime-based Advance and a Quoted Rate
Advance.
“Affected
Lender” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13.12
hereof.
1
“Affiliate”
shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly
controlling (including but not limited to all directors and officers of such
Person), controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with such
Person. A Person shall be deemed to control another Person for the purposes
of
this definition if such Person possesses, directly or indirectly, the power
(i)
to vote 10% or more of the Equity Interests having ordinary voting power
for the
election of directors or managers of such other Person or (ii) to direct
or
cause the direction of the management and policies of such other Person,
whether
through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or
otherwise.
“Agent”
shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble, and include any successor
agents appointed in accordance with Section 12.4 hereof.
“Agent’s
Correspondent” shall mean for Eurodollar-based Advances, Agent’s Grand Cayman
Branch (or for the account of said branch office, at Agent’s main office in
Detroit, Michigan, United States).
“Alternate
Base Rate” shall mean, for any day, an interest rate per annum equal to the
Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day, plus fifty basis
points.
“Applicable
Fee Percentage” shall mean, as of any date of determination thereof, the
applicable percentage used to calculate certain of the fees due and payable
hereunder, determined by reference to the appropriate columns in the Pricing
Matrix attached to this Agreement as Schedule 1.1.
“Applicable
Interest Rate” shall mean, (i) with respect to each Revolving Credit Advance,
the Eurodollar-based Rate or the Prime-based Rate, and (ii) with respect
to each
Swing Line Advance, the Prime-based Rate or, if made available to the Borrowers
by the Swing Line Lender at its option, the Quoted Rate, in each case as
selected by the Borrowers from time to time subject to the terms and conditions
of this Agreement.
“Applicable
Margin” shall mean, as of any date of determination thereof, the applicable
interest rate margin, determined by reference to the appropriate columns
in the
Pricing Matrix attached to this Agreement as Schedule 1.1, such Applicable
Margin to be adjusted solely as specified in Section 11.8 hereof.
“Applicable
Measuring Period” shall mean the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters
ending on the applicable date of determination, for Sterling, TSC, OMC and
the
Target as if they had combined operations as of January 1, 2007.
“Asset
Coverage Ratio” shall mean, as of any date of determination, a ratio the
numerator of which is an amount equal to eighty percent (80%) of the orderly
liquidation value of machinery and equipment of Sterling and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries owned on the Effective Date after giving effect to the Acquisition
plus eighty percent (80%) of the Cost of new and used machinery and equipment
purchased after the Effective Date and the denominator of which is the Funded
Debt minus cash and cash equivalents and Permitted Investments of
Sterling and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, in each case as determined in
accordance with GAAP.
2
“Asset
Sale” shall mean the sale, transfer or other disposition by any Credit Party of
any asset (other than the sale or transfer of less than one hundred percent
(100%) of the stock or other ownership interests of any Subsidiary) to any
Person (other than to Borrowers or a Guarantor).
“Assignment
Agreement” shall mean an Assignment Agreement substantially in the form of
Exhibit H hereto.
“Authorized
Signer” shall mean each person who has been authorized by the Borrowers to
execute and deliver any requests for Advances hereunder pursuant to a written
authorization delivered to the Agent and whose signature card or incumbency
certificate has been received by the Agent.
“Average
Total Debt” shall mean the daily average Funded Debt for any applicable
period.
“Balance
Sheet” shall have the meaning as set forth on Section 7.2(b).
“Bankruptcy
Code” shall mean Title 11 of the United States Code and the rules promulgated
thereunder.
“Bond
Documents” shall mean the Surety Agreements together, in each case, with such
other documents as are related thereto as the same may be amended, restated,
or
otherwise modified in compliance with this Agreement.
“Borrower
Representative” shall mean Sterling or any other Borrower identified as the
Borrower Representative in a written notice delivered to Agent and signed
by
Borrowers.
“Borrowers”
and “Borrower” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble to this
Agreement, and shall include each other Subsidiary of Sterling which shall
join
into this Agreement as a Borrower hereunder, including but not limited to
Road
and Highway Builders, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company (“RHBL”) and Road
and Highway Builders Inc., a Nevada corporation (“RHBI” and together with RHBL,
the “Target”) following the consummation of the Acquisition.
“Business
Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday or a Sunday on which commercial
banks are open for domestic and international business (including dealings
in
foreign exchange) in Detroit, Michigan and New York, New York, and in the
case
of a Business Day which relates to a Eurodollar-based Advance, on which dealings
are carried on in the London interbank eurodollar market.
“Capitalized
Lease” shall mean, as applied to any Person, any lease of any property (whether
real, personal or mixed) with respect to which the discounted present value
of
the rental obligations of such Person as lessee thereunder, in conformity
with
GAAP, is required to be capitalized on the balance sheet of that
Person.
“Collateral”
shall mean all property or rights in which a security interest, mortgage,
lien
or other encumbrance for the benefit of the Lenders is or has been granted
or
arises or has arisen, under or in connection with this Agreement, the other
Loan
Documents, or otherwise to secure the Indebtedness.
3
“Collateral
Access Agreement” shall mean an agreement in form and substance satisfactory to
the Agent in its sole discretion, pursuant to which a mortgagee or lessor
of
real property on which Collateral is stored or otherwise located, or a
warehouseman, processor or other bailee of inventory or other property owned
by
any Credit Party, that acknowledges the Liens under the Collateral Documents
and
subordinates or waives any Liens held by such Person on such property and,
includes such other agreements with respect to the Collateral as Agent may
require in its sole discretion, as the same may be amended, restated or
otherwise modified from time to time.
“Collateral
Assignment” shall mean that certain Collateral Assignment of Purchase Agreement
dated as of the date hereof executed by Sterling for the benefit of Agent,
as
the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to
time.
“Collateral
Documents” shall mean the Security Agreement, the Pledge Agreements, the
Mortgages, the Collateral Assignment, the Escrow Agreement Acknowledgement,
the
Collateral Access Agreements, the Joinder Agreement and all other security
documents (and any joinders thereto) executed by any Credit Party in favor
of
the Agent on or after the Effective Date, in connection with any of the
foregoing collateral documents, in each case, as such collateral documents
may
be amended or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Comerica
Bank” shall mean Comerica Bank and its successors or assigns.
“Comerica
Debt” shall mean the term loans owed by any of the Borrowers to Comerica Bank as
set forth on Schedule 1.4.
“Comerica
Intercreditor Agreement” shall mean that certain Intercreditor Agreement dated
as of the Effective Date between the Agent and Comerica Bank, as the same
may be
amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Commitment
Letter” shall mean that certain Commitment Letter dated as of October 12, 2007
by and among Comerica Bank, Sterling, TSC and OMC.
“Consolidated”
(or “consolidated”) or “Consolidating” (or “consolidating”) shall mean, when
used with reference to any financial term in this Agreement, the aggregate
for
two or more Persons of the amounts signified by such term for all such Persons
determined on a consolidated (or consolidating) basis in accordance with
GAAP,
applied on a consistent basis. Unless otherwise specified herein, “Consolidated”
and “Consolidating” shall refer to Sterling and its Subsidiaries, determined on
a Consolidated or Consolidating basis.
“Cost”
shall mean the purchase price and all other costs related to the purchase
of the
machinery and equipment by the Credit Parties which are eligible to be
capitalized under GAAP, including taxes, transportation, warranties, set-up
charges, instructions, license fees and other miscellaneous
amounts.
“Covenant
Compliance Report” shall mean the report to be furnished by Borrowers to the
Agent pursuant to Section 7.2(a) hereof, substantially in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit J and certified by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower
Representative, in which report Borrowers shall set forth the information
specified therein and which shall include a statement of then applicable
level
for the Applicable Margin and Applicable Fee Percentages as specified in
Schedule 1.1 attached to this Agreement.
4
“Credit
Parties” shall mean the Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries, and “Credit
Party” shall mean any one of them, as the context indicates or otherwise
requires.
“Current
Maturities of Long Term Debt” shall mean, at any given time, all principal and
interest payments required to be paid during the ensuing one year period
from
such given time on all Debt having a maturity of greater than one
year.
“Debt”
shall mean as to any Person, without duplication (a) all Funded Debt of a
Person, (b) all Guarantee Obligations of such Person, (c) all obligations
of
such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating
to property or assets purchased by such Person, (d) all indebtedness of such
Person arising in connection with any Hedging Transaction entered into by
such
Person, and (e) all recourse Debt of any partnership of which such Person
is the
general partner.
“Default”
shall mean any event that with the giving of notice or the passage of time,
or
both, would constitute an Event of Default under this Agreement.
“Distribution”
is defined in Section 8.5 hereof.
“Dollars”
and the sign “$” shall mean lawful money of the United States of
America.
“Domestic
Subsidiary” shall mean any Subsidiary of a Borrower incorporated or organized
under the laws of the United States of America, or any state or other political
subdivision thereof or which is considered to be a “disregarded entity” for
United States federal income tax purposes and which is not a “controlled foreign
corporation” as defined under Section 957 of the Internal Revenue Code, in each
case provided such Subsidiary is owned by a Borrower or a Domestic Subsidiary
of
Borrower, and “Domestic Subsidiaries” shall mean any or all of
them.
“EBITDA”
shall mean for any period, as determined in accordance with GAAP, Net Income
for
such period plus, without duplication and only to the extent reflected as
a charge or reduction in the statement of such Net Income for such period,
the
sum of (a) income tax expense, (b) interest expense, (c) depreciation and
amortization expense (including amortized debt financing costs), (d) any
extraordinary or non-recurring non-cash expenses or losses, and any other
non-cash expenses or losses approved by the Majority Lenders, including non-cash
losses on sales of assets outside the ordinary course of business, minus,
to the extent included in consolidated Net Income for such period, any
extraordinary or non-recurring non-cash gains including non-cash gains on
sales
of assets outside the ordinary course of business.
“Effective
Date” shall mean the date on which all the conditions precedent set forth in
Sections 5.1 and 5.2 have been satisfied.
“Electronic
Transmission” shall mean each document, instruction, authorization, file,
information and any other communication transmitted, posted or otherwise
made or
communicated by e-mail or E-Fax, or otherwise to or from an E-System or other
equivalent service.
5
“Eligible
Assignee” shall mean (a) a Lender; (b) an Affiliate of a Lender; (c) any Person
(other than a natural person) that is or will be engaged in the business
of
making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans or
similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business, provided
that such Person is administered or managed by a Lender, an Affiliate of
a
Lender or an entity or Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages
a
Lender; or (d) any other Person (other than a natural person) approved by
the
(i) Agent (and in the case of an assignment of a commitment under the Revolving
Credit, the Issuing Lender and Swing Line Lender), and (ii) unless a Event
of
Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower Representative (each
such
approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that
notwithstanding the foregoing, “Eligible Assignee” shall not include the
Borrowers, or any of the Borrowers’ Affiliates or Subsidiaries; and provided
further that notwithstanding clause (d)(ii) of this definition, no assignment
shall be made to an entity which is a competitor of any Credit Party without
the
consent of the Borrower Representative, which consent may be withheld in
its
sole discretion.
“Equity
Interest” shall mean (i) in the case of any corporation, all capital stock and
any securities exchangeable for or convertible into capital stock, (ii) in
the
case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests,
participations, rights or other equivalents of corporate stock (however
designated) in or to such association or entity, (iii) in the case of a
partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests
(whether general or limited) and (iv) any other interest or participation
that
confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses
of,
or distribution of assets of, the issuing Person, and including, in all of
the
foregoing cases described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv), any warrants,
rights or other options to purchase or otherwise acquire any of the interests
described in any of the foregoing cases.
“ERISA”
shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended,
or
any successor act or code and the regulations in effect from time to time
thereunder.
“E-System”
shall mean any electronic system and any other Internet or extranet-based
site,
whether such electronic system is owned, operated or hosted by the Agent,
any of
its Affiliates or any other Person, providing for access to data protected
by
passcodes or other security system.
“Escrow
Agreement Acknowledgement” shall mean that certain acknowledgment executed and
delivered by Sterling and Comerica Bank, as escrow agent for the benefit
of the
Agent, acknowledging the assignment of Sterling’s rights under that certain
Escrow Agreement relating to the Acquisition.
“Eurodollar-based
Advance” shall mean any Advance which bears interest at the Eurodollar-based
Rate.
“Eurodollar-based
Rate” shall mean a per annum interest rate which is equal to the sum of (a) the
Applicable Margin, plus (b) the quotient of:
6
(i) the
per annum interest rate at which deposits in the relevant eurocurrency are
offered to Agent’s Eurodollar Lending Office by other prime banks in the
eurocurrency market in an amount comparable to the relevant Eurodollar-based
Advance and for a period equal to the relevant Eurodollar-Interest Period
at
approximately 11:00 A.M. Detroit time two (2) Business Days prior to the
first
day of such Eurodollar-Interest Period, divided by
(ii) a
percentage equal to 100% minus the maximum rate on such date at which Agent
is
required to maintain reserves on ‘Eurocurrency Liabilities’ as defined in and
pursuant to Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System
or, if such regulation or definition is modified, and as long as Agent is
required to maintain reserves against a category of liabilities which includes
eurocurrency deposits or includes a category of assets which includes
eurocurrency loans, the rate at which such reserves are required to be
maintained on such category,
such
sum
to be rounded upward, if necessary, to the nearest whole multiple of 1/100th
of
1%.
“Eurodollar-Interest
Period” shall mean, for any Eurodollar-based Advance, an Interest Period of one,
two, three or six months (or any shorter or longer periods agreed to in advance
by the Borrower Representative, Agent and the Lenders) as selected by Borrowers,
for such Eurodollar-based Advance pursuant to Section 2.3 or 4.4 hereof,
as the
case may be.
“Eurodollar
Lending Office” shall mean, (a) with respect to the Agent, Agent’s office
located at its Grand Caymans Branch or such other branch of Agent, domestic
or
foreign, as it may hereafter designate as its Eurodollar Lending Office by
written notice to the Borrower Representative and the Lenders and (b) as
to each
of the Lenders, its office, branch or affiliate located at its address set
forth
on the signature pages hereof (or identified thereon as its Eurodollar Lending
Office), or at such other office, branch or affiliate of such Lender as it
may
hereafter designate as its Eurodollar Lending Office by written notice to
Borrower Representative and Agent.
“Event
of
Default” shall mean each of the Events of Default specified in Section 9.1
hereof.
“Existing
Letters of Credit” shall mean the Letters of Credit set forth on Schedule
1.5.
“Federal
Funds Effective Rate” shall mean, for any day, a fluctuating interest rate per
annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds
transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal
funds brokers, as published for such day (or, if such day is not a Business
Day,
for the next preceding Business Day) by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York,
or, if such rate is not so published for any day which is a Business Day,
the
average of the quotations for such day on such transactions received by Agent
from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by Agent,
all
as conclusively determined by the Agent, such sum to be rounded upward, if
necessary, to the nearest whole multiple of 1/100th of 1%.
“Fee
Letter” shall mean the fee letter by and among Sterling, TSC, OMC and Comerica
Bank dated as of October 12, 2007 relating to the Indebtedness hereunder,
as
amended, restated, replaced or otherwise modified from time to
time.
7
“Fees”
shall mean the Revolving Credit Facility Fee, the Letter of Credit Fees and
the
other fees and charges (including any agency fees) payable by Borrowers to
the
Lenders, the Issuing Lender or Agent hereunder or under the Fee
Letter.
“Final
Maturity Date” shall mean the Revolving Credit Maturity Date.
“Fiscal
Year” shall mean the twelve-month period ending on each December
31.
“Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio” shall mean as of any date of determination a ratio the
numerator of which is EBITDA for the Applicable Measuring Period, minus
cash taxes and cash tax distributions with respect to such period and the
denominator of which is the sum of Current Maturities of Long Term Debt
plus interest paid during the trailing twelve month period, plus
twenty-five percent (25%) of the daily average total non-amortizing debt
during
the trailing twelve month period.
“Foreign
Subsidiary” shall mean any Subsidiary, other than a Domestic Subsidiary, and
“Foreign Subsidiaries” shall mean any or all of them.
“Funded
Debt” of any Person shall mean, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness of
such Person for borrowed money or for the deferred purchase price of property
or
services as of such date (other than operating leases and trade liabilities
incurred in the ordinary course of business and payable in accordance with
customary practices) or which is evidenced by a note, bond, debenture or
similar
instrument, (b) the principal component of all obligations of such Person
under
Capitalized Leases, (c) all reimbursement obligations (actual, contingent
or
otherwise) of such Person in respect of letters of credit, bankers acceptances
or similar obligations issued or created for the account of such Person,
(d) all
liabilities of the type described in (a), (b) and (c) above that are secured
by
any Liens on any property owned by such Person as of such date even though
such
Person has not assumed or otherwise become liable for the payment thereof,
the
amount of which is determined in accordance with GAAP but excluding accrued
liabilities or deferred charges as defined under GAAP except as specifically
included in clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) of this definition; provided however
that so long as such Person is not personally liable for any such liability,
the
amount of such liability shall be deemed to be the lesser of the fair market
value at such date of the property subject to the Lien securing such liability
and the amount of the liability secured, and (e) all Guarantee Obligations
in
respect of any liability which constitutes Funded Debt; provided, however
that
Funded Debt shall not include any indebtedness under any Hedging Transaction
prior to the occurrence of a termination event with respect
thereto.
“GAAP”
shall mean, as of any applicable date of determination, generally accepted
accounting principles in the United States of America, as applicable on such
date, consistently applied, as in effect from time to time.
“Governmental
Obligations” means noncallable direct general obligations of the United States
of America or obligations the payment of principal of and interest on which
is
unconditionally guaranteed by the United States of America.
8
“Guarantee
Obligation” shall mean as to any Person (the “guaranteeing person”) any
obligation of the guaranteeing Person in respect of any obligation of another
Person (the “primary obligor”) (including, without limitation, any bank under
any letter of credit), the creation of which was induced by a reimbursement
agreement, guaranty agreement, keepwell agreement, purchase agreement,
counterindemnity or similar obligation issued by the guaranteeing person,
in
either case guaranteeing or in effect guaranteeing any Debt, leases, dividends
or other obligations (the “primary obligations”) of the primary obligor in any
manner, whether directly or indirectly, including, without limitation, any
obligation of the guaranteeing person, whether or not contingent, (i) to
purchase any such primary obligation or any property constituting direct
or
indirect security therefor, (ii) to advance or supply funds (1) for the purchase
or payment of any such primary obligation or (2) to maintain working capital
or
equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise to maintain the net worth
or
solvency of the primary obligor, (iii) to purchase property, securities or
services primarily for the purpose of assuring the owner of any such primary
obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to make payment of such
primary
obligation or (iv) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the owner of any
such
primary obligation against loss in respect thereof; provided, however, that
the
term Guarantee Obligation shall not include endorsements of instruments for
deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business. The amount of any
Guarantee Obligation of any guaranteeing person shall be deemed to be the
lower
of (a) an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary
obligation in respect of which such Guarantee Obligation is made and (b)
the
maximum amount for which such guaranteeing person may be liable pursuant
to the
terms of the instrument embodying such Guarantee Obligation, unless such
primary
obligation and the maximum amount for which such guaranteeing person may
be
liable are not stated or determinable, in which case the amount of such
Guarantee Obligation shall be such guaranteeing person’s maximum reasonably
anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the applicable
Person
in good faith.
“Guarantor(s)”
shall mean each Subsidiary of any Borrower which has executed and delivered
to
the Agent a Guaranty (or a joinder to a Guaranty), and a Security Agreement
(or
a joinder to the Security Agreement).
“Guaranty”
shall mean, collectively, any guaranty agreements executed and delivered
from
time to time after the Effective Date (whether by execution of joinder
agreements or otherwise) pursuant to Section 7.13 hereof or otherwise, as
amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Hazardous
Material” shall mean any hazardous or toxic waste, substance or material defined
or regulated as such in or for purposes of the Hazardous Material
Laws.
“Hazardous
Material Law(s)” shall mean all laws, codes, ordinances, rules, regulations and
other governmental restrictions and requirements issued by any federal, state,
local or other governmental or quasi-governmental authority or body (or any
agency, instrumentality or political subdivision thereof) pertaining to any
substance or material which is regulated for reasons of health, safety or
the
environment and which is present or alleged to be present on or about or
used in
any facilities owned, leased or operated by any Credit Party, or any portion
thereof including, without limitation, those relating to soil, surface,
subsurface ground water conditions and the condition of the indoor and outdoor
ambient air; any so-called “superfund” or “superlien” law; and any other United
States federal, state or local statute, law, ordinance, code, rule, regulation,
order or decree regulating, relating to, or imposing liability or standards
of
conduct concerning, any Hazardous Material, as now or at any time during
the
term of the Agreement in effect.
9
“Hedging
Agreement” shall mean any agreement relating to a Hedging Transaction entered
into between a Borrower and any Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender.
“Hedging
Transaction” means each interest rate swap transaction, basis swap transaction,
forward rate transaction, equity transaction, equity index transaction, foreign
exchange transaction, cap transaction, floor transaction or commodities hedge
(including any option with respect to any of these transactions and any
combination of any of the foregoing).
“Hereof”,
“hereto”, “hereunder” and similar terms shall refer to this Agreement and not to
any particular paragraph or provision of this Agreement.
“Income
Taxes” shall mean for any period the aggregate amount of taxes based on income
or profits for such period with respect to the operations of Sterling and
its
Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, all corporate franchise, capital
stock, net worth and value-added taxes assessed by state and local governments)
determined in accordance with GAAP on a Consolidated basis (to the extent
such
income and profits were included in computing Consolidated Net
Income).
“Indebtedness”
shall mean all indebtedness and liabilities (including without limitation
principal, interest (including without limitation interest accruing at the
then
applicable rate provided in this Agreement or any other applicable Loan Document
after the Final Maturity Date and interest accruing at the then applicable
rate
provided in this Agreement or any other applicable Loan Document after the
filing of any petition in bankruptcy, or the commencement of any insolvency,
reorganization or like proceeding, relating to the Credit Parties whether
or not
a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such
proceeding), fees, expenses and other charges) arising under this Agreement
or
any of the other Loan Documents, whether direct or indirect, absolute or
contingent, of any Credit Party to any of the Lenders or Affiliates thereof
or
to the Agent, in any manner and at any time, whether arising under this
Agreement, the Guaranty or any of the other Loan Documents (including without
limitation, payment obligations under Hedging Transactions evidenced by Hedging
Agreements, provided that the payment obligations under commodities Hedging
Transactions evidenced by Hedging Agreements that are deemed “Indebtedness”
hereunder and entitled to the benefit of the Liens granted under the Collateral
Documents (the “Lender Commodities Hedging Transactions”) (a) shall not exceed
$500,000 in aggregate amount and (b) shall be provided by only one Lender
at a
time, which Lender (the “Designated Lender”) shall be designated in a notice
from the Borrower Representative to the Agent, provided, further, that the
Borrowers may select a new Designated Lender from time to time upon notice
to
the Agent so long as no payment obligations remain outstanding to the then
current Designated Lender under any Lender Commodities Hedging Transaction),
due or hereafter to become due, now owing or that may hereafter be incurred
by
any Credit Party to any of the Lenders or Affiliates thereof or to the Agent,
and which shall be deemed to include protective advances made by Agent with
respect to the Collateral under or pursuant to the terms of any Loan Document
and any liabilities of any Credit Party to Agent or any Lender arising in
connection with any Lender Products, in each case whether or not reduced
to
judgment, with interest according to the rates and terms specified, and any
and
all consolidations, amendments, renewals, replacements, substitutions or
extensions of any of the foregoing; provided, however that for purposes of
calculating the Indebtedness outstanding under this Agreement or any of the
other Loan Documents, the direct and indirect and absolute and contingent
obligations of the Credit Parties (whether direct or contingent) shall be
determined without duplication.
10
“Intercompany
Note” shall mean any promissory note issued or to be issued by any Credit Party
to evidence an intercompany loan in form and substance satisfactory to
Agent.
“Interest
Period” shall mean (a) with respect to a Eurodollar-based Advance, a
Eurodollar-Interest Period, commencing on the day a Eurodollar-based Advance
is
made, or on the effective date of an election of the Eurodollar-based Rate
made
under Section 2.3 or 4.4 hereof, and (b) with respect to a Swing Line Advance
carried at the Quoted Rate, an interest period of 30 days (or any lesser
number
of days agreed to in advance by the Borrower Representative, Agent and the
Swing
Line Lender); provided, however that (i) any Interest Period which would
otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day shall end on the next
succeeding Business Day, except that as to an Interest Period in respect
of a
Eurodollar-based Advance, if the next succeeding Business Day falls in another
calendar month, such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business
Day, (ii) when an Interest Period in respect of a Eurodollar-based Advance
begins on a day which has no numerically corresponding day in the calendar
month
during which such Interest Period is to end, it shall end on the last Business
Day of such calendar month, and (iii) no Interest Period in respect of any
Advance shall extend beyond the Revolving Credit Maturity Date.
“Internal
Revenue Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 of the United States
of America, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated
thereunder.
“Investment”
shall mean, when used with respect to any Person, (a) any loan, investment
or
advance made by such Person to any other Person (including, without limitation,
any Guarantee Obligation) in respect of any Equity Interest, Debt, obligation
or
liability of such other Person and (b) any other investment made by such
Person
(however acquired) in Equity Interests in any other Person, including, without
limitation, any investment made in exchange for the issuance of Equity Interest
of such Person and any investment made as a capital contribution to such
other
Person.
“Issuing
Lender” shall mean Comerica Bank in its capacity as issuer of one or more
Letters of Credit hereunder, or its successor designated by the Revolving
Credit
Lenders.
“Issuing
Office” shall mean such office as Issuing Lender shall designate as its Issuing
Office.
“Joinder
Agreement” means that certain Joinder Agreement in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit G, executed and delivered by Target and dated as of the Effective
Date,
as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified.
“Lender
Products” shall mean any one or more of the following types of services or
facilities extended to the Credit Parties by any Lender: (i) credit cards,
(ii)
credit card processing services, (iii) debit cards, (iv) purchase cards,
(v)
Automated Clearing House (ACH) transactions, (vi) cash management, including
controlled disbursement services, and (vii) establishing and maintaining
deposit
accounts.
11
“Lenders”
shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble, and shall include the
Revolving Credit Lenders, the Swing Line Lender and any assignee which becomes
a
Lender pursuant to Section 13.8 hereof.
“Letter
of Credit Agreement” shall mean, collectively, the letter of credit application
and related documentation executed and/or delivered by the Borrowers in respect
of each Letter of Credit, in each case satisfactory to the Issuing Lender,
as
amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Letter
of Credit Documents” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section
3.7(a) hereof.
“Letter
of Credit Fees” shall mean the fees payable in connection with Letters of Credit
pursuant to Section 3.4(a) and (b) hereof.
“Letter
of Credit Maximum Amount” shall mean Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars
($2,500,000).
“Letter
of Credit Obligations” shall mean at any date of determination, the sum of (a)
the aggregate undrawn amount of all Letters of Credit then outstanding, and
(b)
the aggregate amount of Reimbursement Obligations which remain unpaid as
of such
date.
“Letter
of Credit Payment” shall mean any amount paid or required to be paid by the
Issuing Lender in its capacity hereunder as issuer of a Letter of Credit
as a
result of a draft or other demand for payment under any Letter of
Credit.
“Letter(s)
of Credit” shall mean any standby letters of credit issued by Issuing Lender at
the request of or for the account of Borrowers (or any of them) pursuant
to
Article 3 hereof, and shall include all Existing Letters of Credit, which
shall
be deemed “Letters of Credit” as defined in this Agreement for all purposes of
this Agreement and the related Loan Documents, and which shall be secured
by all
the Collateral Documents.
“Leverage
Ratio” shall mean as of any date of determination, a ratio the numerator of
which is Funded Debt of Sterling and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of
such
date and the denominator of which is EBITDA for the Applicable Measuring
Period
as of such date, in each case as determined in accordance with
GAAP.
“Liberty
Mutual Indemnity Agreement” shall mean that certain General Agreement of
Indemnity by RHBL and the Sellers for the benefit of Liberty Mutual Insurance
Company, Employers Insurance Company of Wausau, Peerless Insurance Company
and
any other company that is part of the Liberty Mutual Group dated as of November
15, 2006.
“Lien”
shall mean any security interest in or lien on or against any property arising
from any pledge, assignment, hypothecation, mortgage, security interest,
deposit
arrangement, trust receipt, conditional sale or title retaining contract,
sale
and leaseback transaction, Capitalized Lease, consignment or bailment for
security, or any other type of lien, charge, encumbrance, title exception,
preferential or priority arrangement affecting property (including with respect
to stock, any stockholder agreements, voting rights agreements, buy-back
agreements and all similar arrangements), whether based on common law or
statute.
12
“Loan
Documents” shall mean, collectively, this Agreement, the Notes (if issued), the
Letter of Credit Agreements, the Letters of Credit, the Guaranty, the
Subordination Agreements, the Comerica Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral
Documents, each Hedging Agreement, and any other documents, certificates
or
agreements that are executed and required to be delivered pursuant to any
of the
foregoing documents, as such documents may be amended, restated or otherwise
modified from time to time.
“Majority
Lenders” shall mean at any time (a) so long as the Revolving Credit Aggregate
Commitment has not been terminated, Lenders holding more than 50.0% of the
sum
of (i) the Revolving Credit Aggregate Commitment and (b) if the Revolving
Credit
Aggregate Commitment has been terminated (whether by maturity, acceleration
or
otherwise), Lenders holding more than 50.0% of the aggregate principal amount
then outstanding under the Revolving Credit; provided that, for purposes
of
determining Majority Lenders hereunder, the Letter of Credit Obligations
and
principal amount outstanding under the Swing Line shall be allocated among
the
Revolving Credit Lenders based on their respective Revolving Credit Percentages;
provided further that so long as there are fewer than three Lenders, considering
any Lender and its Affiliates as a single Lender, “Majority Lenders” shall mean
all Lenders.
“Majority
Revolving Credit Lenders” shall mean Majority Lenders.
“Material
Adverse Effect” shall mean a material adverse effect on (a) the condition (financial
or
otherwise), business, performance, operations, properties or prospects of
the
Credit Parties taken as a whole, (b) the ability of any Credit Party to
perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Notes (if issued) or any
other
Loan Document to which it is a party, or (c) the validity or enforceability
of
this Agreement, any of the Notes (if issued) or any of the other Loan Documents
or the rights or remedies of the Agent or the Lenders hereunder or
thereunder.
“Mortgages”
shall mean the mortgages, deeds of trust and any other similar documents
related
thereto or required thereby executed and delivered by a Credit Party on the
Effective Date pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof, if any, and executed and
delivered after the Effective Date by a Credit Party pursuant to Section
7.13
hereof or otherwise, and “Mortgage” shall mean any such document, as such
documents may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to
time.
“Multiemployer
Plan” shall mean a Pension Plan which is a multiemployer plan as defined in
Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
“OMC”
shall have the meaning set forth in Preamble to this Agreement.
“Net
Income” shall mean for any period of determination the net income (or loss) of
the Sterling and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period, as determined
in
accordance with GAAP.”
13
“Notes”
shall mean the Revolving Credit Notes and the Swing Line Note.
“PBGC”
shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any successor
thereto.
“Pension
Plan” shall mean any plan established and maintained by a Credit Party, or
contributed to by a Credit Party, which is qualified under Section 401(a)
of the
Internal Revenue Code and subject to the minimum funding standards of Section
412 of the Internal Revenue Code.
“Percentage”
shall mean the Revolving Credit Percentage.
“Permitted
Acquisition” shall mean any acquisition by any Borrower or any Guarantor of all
or substantially all of the assets of another Person, or of a division or
line
of business of another Person, or any Equity Interests of another Person
which
satisfies and/or is conducted in accordance with the following
requirements:
|
(a)
|
Such
acquisition is of a business or Person engaged in a line of business
which
is compatible with, or complementary to, the business of the Borrowers
or
such Guarantor;
|
|
(b)
|
If
such acquisition is structured as an acquisition of the Equity
Interests
of any Person, then the Person so acquired shall (X) become a direct
Subsidiary of a Borrower or of a Guarantor and the applicable Borrower
or
the applicable Guarantor shall cause such acquired Person to comply
with
Section 7.13 hereof, provided, further, that after such acquisition
the
Person so acquired shall be consolidated in accordance with GAAP
with
Sterling and its other Consolidated Subsidiaries or (Y) provided
that the
Credit Parties continue to comply with Section 7.4(a) hereof, be
merged
with and into such a Borrower or such a Guarantor (and, in the
case of
such a Borrower, with the applicable Borrower being the surviving
entity);
|
|
(c)
|
If
such acquisition is structured as the acquisition of assets, such
assets
shall be acquired directly by a Borrower or a Guarantor (subject
to
compliance with Section 7.4(a)
hereof);
|
|
(d)
|
Borrowers
shall have delivered to Agent not less than ten (10) (or such shorter
period of time agreed to by the Agent) nor more than ninety (90)
days
prior to the date of such acquisition, notice of such acquisition
together
with Pro Forma Projected Financial Information, copies of all material
documents relating to such acquisition (including the acquisition
agreement and any related document), and historical financial information
(including income statements, balance sheets and cash flows) covering
at
least two (2) complete Fiscal Years of the acquisition target,
if
available, prior to the effective date of the acquisition or the
entire
credit history of the acquisition target, whichever period is shorter,
in
each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Agent;
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14
|
(e)
|
Both
immediately before and after the consummation of such acquisition
and
after giving effect to the Pro Forma Projected Financial Information,
no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing;
|
|
(f)
|
Intentionally
omitted;
|
|
(g)
|
The
board of directors (or other Person(s) exercising similar functions)
of
the seller of the assets or issuer of the Equity Interests being
acquired
shall not have disapproved such transaction or recommended that
such
transaction be disapproved;
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|
(h)
|
All
governmental, quasi-governmental, agency, regulatory or similar
licenses,
authorizations, exemptions, qualifications, consents and approvals
necessary under any laws applicable to the Borrower or Guarantor
that is
making the acquisition, or the acquisition target (if applicable)
for or
in connection with the proposed acquisition and all necessary
non-governmental and other third-party approvals which, in each
case, are
material to such acquisition shall have been obtained, and all
necessary
or appropriate declarations, registrations or other filings with
any
court, governmental or regulatory authority, securities exchange
or any
other Person, which in each case, are material to the consummation
of such
acquisition or to the acquisition target, if applicable, have been
made,
and evidence thereof reasonably satisfactory in form and substance
to
Agent shall have been delivered, or caused to have been delivered,
by
Borrowers to Agent;
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|
(i)
|
There
shall be no actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge
of
any Credit Party threatened against or affecting the acquisition
target in
any court or before or by any governmental department, agency or
instrumentality, which could reasonably be expected to be decided
adversely to the acquisition target and which, if decided adversely,
could
reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the
business,
operations, properties or financial condition of the acquisition
target
and its subsidiaries (taken as a whole) or would materially adversely
affect the ability of the acquisition target to enter into or perform
its
obligations in connection with the proposed acquisition, nor shall
there
be any actions, suits, or proceedings pending, or to the knowledge
of any
Credit Party threatened against the Credit Party that is making
the
acquisition which would materially adversely affect the ability
of such
Credit Party to enter into or perform its obligations in connection
with
the proposed acquisition; and
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15
|
(j)
|
The
purchase price of such proposed new acquisition, computed on the
basis of
total acquisition consideration paid or incurred, or required to
be paid
or incurred, with respect thereto, including the amount of Debt
(such Debt
being otherwise permitted under this Agreement) assumed or to which
such
assets, businesses or business or Equity Interests, or any Person
so
acquired is subject and including any portion of the purchase price
allocated to any non-compete agreements, (X) is less than Five
Million
Dollars ($5,000,000), (Y) when added to the purchase price for
each other
acquisition consummated hereunder as a Permitted Acquisition during
the
same Fiscal Year as the applicable acquisition (not including acquisitions
specifically consented to which fall outside of the terms of this
definition), does not exceed Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000)
and (Z)
when added to the purchase price for each other acquisition consummated
hereunder as a Permitted Acquisition during the term of this agreement
(not including acquisitions specifically consented to which fall
outside
the terms of this definition), does not exceed Ten Million Dollars
($10,000,000).
|
“Permitted
Investments” shall mean with respect to any Person:
|
(a)
|
Governmental
Obligations;
|
|
(b)
|
Obligations
of a state or commonwealth of the United States or the obligations
of the
District of Columbia or any possession of the United States, or
any
political subdivision of any of the foregoing, which are described
in
Section 103(a) of the Internal Revenue Code and are graded in any
of the
highest three (3) major grades as determined by at least one Rating
Agency; or secured, as to payments of principal and interest, by
a letter
of credit provided by a financial institution or insurance provided
by a
bond insurance company which in each case is itself or its debt
is rated
in one of the highest three (3) major grades as determined by at
least one
Rating Agency;
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|
(c)
|
Banker’s
acceptances, commercial accounts, demand deposit accounts, certificates
of
deposit, other time deposits or depository receipts issued by or
maintained with any Lender or any Affiliate thereof, or any bank,
trust
company, savings and loan association, savings bank or other financial
institution whose deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation and whose reported capital and surplus equal at least
$250,000,000, provided that such minimum capital and surplus requirement
shall not apply to demand deposit accounts maintained by any Credit
Party
in the ordinary course of business;
|
|
(d)
|
Commercial
paper rated at the time of purchase within the two highest classifications
established by not less than two Rating Agencies, and which matures
within
270 days after the date of issue;
|
|
(e)
|
Secured
repurchase agreements against obligations itemized in paragraph
(a) above,
and executed by a bank or trust company or by members of the association
of primary dealers or other recognized dealers in United States
government
securities, the market value of which must be maintained at levels
at
least equal to the amounts advanced;
and
|
16
|
(f)
|
Any
fund or other pooling arrangement which exclusively purchases and
holds
the investments itemized in (a) through (e)
above.
|
“Permitted
Liens” shall mean with respect to any Person:
|
(a)
|
Liens
for (i) taxes or governmental assessments or charges or (ii) customs
duties in connection with the importation of goods to the extent
such
Liens attach to the imported goods that are the subject of the
duties, in
each case (x) to the extent not yet due, (y) as to which the period
of
grace, if any, related thereto has not expired or (z) which are
being
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, provided that
in the
case of any such contest, any proceedings for the enforcement of
such
liens have been suspended and adequate reserves with respect thereto
are
maintained on the books of such Person in conformity with
GAAP;
|
|
(b)
|
carriers’,
warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s, processor’s,
landlord’s liens or other like liens arising in the ordinary course of
business which secure obligations that are not overdue for a period
of
more than 30 days or which are being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings, provided that in the case of any such
contest,
(x) any proceedings commenced for the enforcement of such Liens
have been
suspended and (y) appropriate reserves with respect thereto are
maintained
on the books of such Person in conformity with
GAAP;
|
|
(c)
|
any
attachment or judgment lien that remains unpaid, unvacated, unbonded
or
unstayed by appeal or otherwise for a period ending on the earlier
of (i)
thirty (30) consecutive days from the date of its attachment or
entry (as
applicable) or (ii) the commencement of enforcement steps with
respect
thereto, other than the filing of notice thereof in the public
record;
|
|
(d)
|
minor
survey exceptions or minor encumbrances, easements or reservations,
or
rights of others for rights-of-way, utilities and other similar
purposes,
or zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real properties,
or any
interest of any lessor or sublessor under any lease permitted hereunder
which, in each case, does not materially interfere with the business
of
such Person;
|
|
(e)
|
Liens
arising in connection with worker’s compensation, unemployment insurance,
old age pensions and social security benefits and similar statutory
obligations (excluding Liens arising under ERISA), provided that
no
enforcement proceedings in respect of such Liens are pending and
provisions have been made for the payment of such liens on the
books of
such Person as may be required by GAAP;
and
|
|
(f)
|
continuations
of Liens that are permitted under subsections (a)-(e) hereof, provided
such continuations do not violate the specific time periods set
forth in
subsections (b) and (c) and provided further that such Liens do
not extend
to any additional property or assets of any Credit Party or secure
any
additional obligations of any Credit
Party.
|
17
Regardless
of the language set forth in this definition, no Lien over the Equity Interests
of any Credit Party granted to any Person other than to Agent for the benefit
of
the Lenders shall be deemed a “Permitted Lien” under the terms of this
Agreement.
“Person”
shall mean a natural person, corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, limited liability partnership, trust, incorporated or
unincorporated organization, joint venture, joint stock company, firm or
association or a government or any agency or political subdivision thereof
or
other entity of any kind.
“Pledge
Agreement(s)” shall mean any pledge agreement executed and delivered by a Credit
Party on the Effective Date pursuant to Section 5.1 hereof, if any, and executed
and delivered from time to time after the Effective Date by any Credit Party
pursuant to Section 7.13 hereof or otherwise, and any agreements, instruments
or
documents related thereto, in each case in form and substance satisfactory
to
Agent amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Pricing
Leverage Ratio” shall mean as of any date of determination, a ratio the
numerator of which is Average Total Debt of Sterling and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries as of such date minus cash and cash equivalents of Sterling
and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries and the denominator of which is EBITDA for the
Applicable Measuring Period as of such date, in each case as determined in
accordance with GAAP.
“Prime-based
Advance” shall mean an Advance which bears interest at the Prime-based
Rate.
“Prime-based
Rate” shall mean, for any day, that rate of interest which is equal to the sum
of the Applicable Margin plus the greater of (i) the Prime Rate, and (ii)
the
Alternate Base Rate.
“Prime
Rate” shall mean the per annum rate of interest announced by the Agent, at its
main office from time to time as its “prime rate” (it being acknowledged that
such announced rate may not necessarily be the lowest rate charged by the
Agent
to any of its customers), which Prime Rate shall change simultaneously with
any
change in such announced rate.
“Pro
Forma Projected Financial Information” shall mean, as to any proposed
acquisition, a statement executed by the Borrower undertaking the acquisition
(supported by reasonable detail) setting forth the total consideration to
be
paid or incurred in connection with the proposed acquisition, and pro forma
combined projected financial information for the Credit Parties and the
acquisition target (if applicable), consisting of projected balance sheets
as of
the proposed effective date of the acquisition and as of the end of at least
the
next succeeding two (2) Fiscal Years following the acquisition and projected
statements of income and cash flows for each of those years, including
sufficient detail to permit calculation of the ratios described in Section
7.9
hereof, as projected as of the effective date of the acquisition and as of
the
ends of those Fiscal Years and accompanied by (i) a statement setting forth
a
calculation of the ratio so described, (ii) a statement in reasonable detail
specifying all material assumptions underlying the projections and (iii)
such
other information as the Agent or the Lenders shall reasonably
request.
18
“Purchasing
Lender” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13.12.
“Quoted
Rate” shall mean the rate of interest per annum offered by the Swing Line Lender
in its sole discretion with respect to a Swing Line Advance and accepted
by the
Borrowers.
“Quoted
Rate Advance” means any Swing Line Advance which bears interest at the Quoted
Rate.
“Rating
Agency” shall mean Xxxxx’x Investor Services, Inc., Standard and Poor’s Ratings
Services, their respective successors or any other nationally recognized
statistical rating organization which is acceptable to the Agent.
“Register”
is defined in Section 13.8(g) hereof.
“Reimbursement
Obligation(s)” shall mean the aggregate amount of all unreimbursed drawings
under all Letters of Credit (excluding for the avoidance of doubt, reimbursement
obligations that are deemed satisfied pursuant to a deemed disbursement under
Section 3.6(a)).
“Request
for Advance” shall mean a Request for Revolving Credit Advance or a Request for
Swing Line Advance, as the context may indicate or otherwise
require.
“Request
for Revolving Credit Advance” shall mean a request for a Revolving Credit
Advance issued by the Borrowers under Section 2.3 of this Agreement in the
form
attached hereto as Exhibit A.
“Request
for Swing Line Advance” shall mean a request for a Swing Line Advance issued by
the Borrowers under Section 2.5(b) of this Agreement in the form attached
hereto
as Exhibit D.
“Requirement
of Law” shall mean as to any Person, the certificate of incorporation and
bylaws, the partnership agreement or other organizational or governing documents
of such Person and any law, treaty, rule or regulation or determination of
an
arbitration or a court or other governmental authority, in each case applicable
to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person
or
any of its property is subject.
“Responsible
Officer” shall mean, with respect to any Person, the chief executive officer,
chief financial officer, treasurer, president or controller of such Person,
or
with respect to compliance with financial covenants, the chief financial
officer
or the treasurer of such Person, or any other officer of such Person having
substantially the same authority and responsibility.
“Revolving
Credit” shall mean the revolving credit loans to be advanced to Borrowers by the
applicable Revolving Credit Lenders pursuant to Article 2 hereof, in an
aggregate amount (subject to the terms hereof), not to exceed, at any one
time
outstanding, the Revolving Credit Aggregate Commitment.
19
“Revolving
Credit Advance” shall mean a borrowing requested by Borrowers and made by the
Revolving Credit Lenders under Section 2.1 of this Agreement, including without
limitation any readvance, refunding or conversion of such borrowing pursuant
to
Section 2.3 hereof and any deemed disbursement of an Advance in respect of
a
Letter of Credit under Section 3.6(a) hereof, and may include, subject to
the
terms hereof, Eurodollar-based Advances and Prime-based Advances.
“Revolving
Credit Aggregate Commitment” shall mean Seventy-Five Million Dollars
($75,000,000), subject to reduction or termination under Sections 2.11 or
9.2
hereof.
“Revolving
Credit Commitment Amount” shall mean with respect to any Revolving Credit
Lender, (i) if the Revolving Credit Aggregate Commitment has not been
terminated, the amount specified opposite such Revolving Credit Lender’s name in
the column entitled “Revolving Credit Commitment Amount” on Schedule 1.2, as
adjusted from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof; and (ii)
if the
Revolving Credit Aggregate Commitment has been terminated (whether by maturity,
acceleration or otherwise), the amount equal to its Percentage of the aggregate
principal amount outstanding under the Revolving Credit (including the
outstanding Letter of Credit Obligations and any outstanding Swing Line
Advances).
“Revolving
Credit Facility Fee” shall mean the fee payable to Agent for distribution to the
Revolving Credit Lenders in accordance with Section 2.9 hereof.
“Revolving
Credit Lenders” shall mean the financial institutions from time to time parties
hereto as lenders of the Revolving Credit.
“Revolving
Credit Maturity Date” shall mean the earlier to occur of (i) October 31, 2012,
and (ii) the date on which the Revolving Credit Aggregate Commitment shall
terminate in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
“Revolving
Credit Notes” shall mean the revolving credit notes described in Section 2.2
hereof, made by Borrowers to each of the Revolving Credit Lenders in the
form
attached hereto as Exhibit B, as such notes may be amended or supplemented
from
time to time, and any other notes issued in substitution, replacement or
renewal
thereof from time to time.
“Revolving
Credit Percentage” means, with respect to any Revolving Credit Lender, the
percentage specified opposite such Revolving Credit Lender’s name in the column
entitled “Revolving Credit Percentage” on Schedule 1.2, as adjusted from time to
time in accordance with the terms hereof.
“RHBL”
shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of “Borrowers” in this
Agreement.
“RHBI”
shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of “Borrowers” in this
Agreement.
“Security
Agreement” shall mean, collectively, the security agreement(s) executed and
delivered by Borrowers and the Guarantors on the Effective Date pursuant
to
Section 5.1 hereof, and any such agreements executed and delivered after
the
Effective Date (whether by execution of a joinder agreement to any existing
security agreement or otherwise) pursuant to Section 7.13 hereof or otherwise,
in the form of the Security Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit F, as amended,
restated or otherwise modified from time to time.
20
“Sellers”
shall mean Xx. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx and Xxxxxx Sand & Gravel Co.
“Sterling”
shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble to this Agreement.
“Subordinated
Debt” shall mean any Funded Debt of any Credit Party and other obligations under
the Subordinated Debt Documents and any other Funded Debt of any Credit Party,
the terms of which are acceptable to the Agent and which has been subordinated
in right of payment and priority to the Indebtedness, all on terms and
conditions satisfactory to the Agent.
“Subordinated
Debt Documents” shall mean and include any documents evidencing any Subordinated
Debt, in each case, as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time in compliance with the terms of this
Agreement.
“Subordination
Agreements” shall mean any subordination agreements entered into by any Person
from time to time in favor of Agent in connection with any Subordinated Debt,
the terms of which are acceptable to the Agent, in each case as the same
may be
amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, and “Subordination
Agreement” shall mean any one of them.
“Subsidiary(ies)”
shall mean any other corporation, association, joint stock company, business
trust, limited liability company, partnership or any other business entity
of
which more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting stock, share
capital, membership, partnership or other interests, as the case may be,
is
owned either directly or indirectly by any Person or one or more of its
Subsidiaries, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly,
or
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by any Person and/or
its
Subsidiaries. Unless otherwise specified to the contrary herein or the context
otherwise requires, Subsidiary(ies) shall refer to the Subsidiary(ies) of
Sterling.
“Surety
Agreement(s)” shall mean the Travelers Indemnity Agreement, the Liberty Mutual
Indemnity Agreement, and any other surety indemnity agreement which contains
substantially similar terms and conditions as the Travelers Indemnity Agreement
and which is for the benefit of a surety company that has been rated by A.M.
Best (or another generally accepted rating company) with a financial strength
rating and issuer credit ratings comparable to or better than Travelers Casualty
and Surety Company of America and which surety company has delivered a “comfort
letter” to Agent which is substantially similar to the letter delivered pursuant
to Section 5.1(a)(iii) hereof.
“Sweep
Agreement” means any agreement relating to the “Sweep to Loan” automated system
of the Agent or any other cash management arrangement which any Borrower
and the
Agent have executed for the purposes of effecting the borrowing and repayment
of
Swing Line Advances.
“Swing
Line” shall mean the revolving credit loans to be advanced to Borrowers by the
Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.5 hereof, in an aggregate amount
(subject to the terms hereof), not to exceed, at any one time outstanding,
the
Swing Line Maximum Amount.
21
“Swing
Line Advance” shall mean a borrowing requested by Borrowers and made by Swing
Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.5 hereof and may include, subject to the
terms
hereof, Quoted Rate-Advances and Prime-based Advances.
“Swing
Line Lender” shall mean Comerica Bank in its capacity as lender of the Swing
Line under Section 2.5 of this Agreement, or its successor as subsequently
designated hereunder.
“Swing
Line Maximum Amount” shall mean Seven Million Five Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($7,500,000).
“Swing
Line Note” shall mean the swing line note which may be issued by Borrowers to
Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.5(b)(ii) hereof in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit C, as such note may be amended or supplemented from time
to
time, and any note or notes issued in substitution, replacement or renewal
thereof from time to time.
“Swing
Line Participation Certificate” shall mean the Swing Line Participation
Certificate delivered by Agent to each Revolving Credit Lender pursuant to
Section 2.5(e)(ii) hereof in the form attached hereto as Exhibit M.
“Tangible
Net Worth” shall mean as of any date of determination, for any Person (a) the
net book value of all assets of such Person (excluding patent rights,
trademarks, tradenames, franchises, copyrights, licenses, goodwill and all
other
intangible assets of such Person) after all appropriate deductions in accordance
with GAAP (including, without limitation, reserves for doubtful receivables,
obsolescence, depreciation and amortization) less (b) all the total liabilities
of such Person reported on the balance sheet of such Person under GAAP at
such
time.
“Target”
shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of “Borrowers” in this
Agreement.
“Travelers
Indemnity Agreement” shall mean that certain General Agreement of Indemnity by
and among Sterling and certain of its Subsidiaries for the benefit of Traveler’s
Casualty and Surety Company of America dated as of January 26,
2006.
“TSC”
shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble to this Agreement.
“Uniform
Commercial Code” or “UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in
any applicable state; provided that, unless specified otherwise or the context
otherwise requires, such terms shall refer to the Uniform Commercial Code
as in
effect in the State of Texas.
“USA
Patriot Act” is defined in Section 6.7.
“Withdrawal
Liability” shall mean 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.
22
2.
|
REVOLVING
CREDIT.
|
2.1
Commitment. Subject to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement (including without limitation Section
2.3
hereof), each Revolving Credit Lender severally and for itself alone agrees
to
make Advances of the Revolving Credit in Dollars to Borrowers from time to
time
on any Business Day during the period from the Effective Date hereof until
(but
excluding) the Revolving Credit Maturity Date in an aggregate amount, not
to
exceed at any one time outstanding such Lender’s Revolving Credit Percentage of
the Revolving Credit Aggregate Commitment. Subject to the terms and conditions
set forth herein, advances, repayments and readvances may be made under the
Revolving Credit
2.2
Accrual
of Interest and Maturity; Evidence of Indebtedness.
|
(a)
|
Each
Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay, jointly and severally,
to
the Agent for the account of each Revolving Credit Lender the then
unpaid
principal amount of each Revolving Credit Advance (plus all accrued
and
unpaid interest) of such Revolving Credit Lender to Borrowers on
the
Revolving Credit Maturity Date and on such other dates and in such
other
amounts as may be required from time to time pursuant to this Agreement.
Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Revolving Credit
Advance
shall, from time to time from and after the date of such Advance
(until
paid), bear interest at its Applicable Interest
Rate.
|
|
(b)
|
Each
Revolving Credit Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual
practice an account or accounts evidencing indebtedness of Borrowers
to
the appropriate lending office of such Revolving Credit Lender
resulting
from each Revolving Credit Advance made by such lending office
of such
Revolving Credit Lender from time to time, including the amounts
of
principal and interest payable thereon and paid to such Revolving
Credit
Lender from time to time under this
Agreement.
|
|
(c)
|
The
Agent shall maintain the Register pursuant to Section 13.8(g),
and a
subaccount therein for each Revolving Credit Lender, in which Register
and
subaccounts (taken together) shall be recorded (i) the amount of
each
Revolving Credit Advance made hereunder, the type thereof and each
Eurodollar-Interest Period applicable to any Eurodollar-based Advance,
(ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or
to become
due and payable, jointly and severally from Borrowers to each Revolving
Credit Lender hereunder in respect of the Revolving Credit Advances
and
(iii) both the amount of any sum received by the Agent hereunder
from
Borrower in respect of the Revolving Credit Advances and each Revolving
Credit Lender’s share thereof.
|
23
|
(d)
|
The
entries made in the Register maintained pursuant to paragraph (c)
of this
Section 2.2 shall, absent manifest error, to the extent permitted
by
applicable law, be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts
of
the obligations of Borrowers therein recorded; provided,
however, that the failure of any Revolving Credit Lender or the
Agent to maintain the Register or any account, as applicable, or
any error
therein, shall not in any manner affect the obligation of Borrowers
to
repay the Revolving Credit Advances (and all other amounts owing
with
respect thereto) made to Borrowers by the Revolving Credit Lenders
in
accordance with the terms of this
Agreement.
|
|
(e)
|
Each
Borrower agrees that, upon written request to the Agent by any
Revolving
Credit Lender, such Borrower will execute and deliver, to such
Revolving
Credit Lender, at such Borrower’s own expense, a Revolving Credit Note
evidencing the outstanding Revolving Credit Advances owing to such
Revolving Credit Lender.
|
2.3
Requests for and Refundings and Conversions of
Advances. Borrowers may request an Advance of the
Revolving Credit, a refund of any Revolving Credit Advance in the same type
of
Advance or to convert any Revolving Credit Advance to any other type of
Revolving Credit Advance only by delivery to Agent of a Request for Revolving
Credit Advance executed by an Authorized Signer for the Borrower Representative,
subject to the following:
|
(a)
|
each
such Request for Revolving Credit Advance shall set forth the information
required on the Request for Revolving Credit Advance, including
without
limitation:
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|
(i)
|
the
proposed date of such Revolving Credit Advance (or the refunding
or
conversion of an outstanding Revolving Credit Advance), which must
be a
Business Day;
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(ii)
|
whether
such Advance is a new Revolving Credit Advance or a refunding or
conversion of an outstanding Revolving Credit Advance;
and
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(iii)
|
whether
such Revolving Credit Advance is to be a Prime-based Advance or
a
Eurodollar-based Advance, and, except in the case of a Prime-based
Advance, the first Eurodollar-Interest Period applicable thereto,
provided, however, that the initial Revolving Credit Advance made
under
this Agreement shall be a Prime-based Advance, which may then be
converted
into a Eurodollar-based Advance in compliance with this
Agreement.
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(b)
|
each
such Request for Revolving Credit Advance shall be delivered to
Agent by
12:00 p.m. (Detroit time) three (3) Business Days prior to the
proposed
date of the Revolving Credit Advance, except in the case of a Prime-based
Advance, for which the Request for Revolving Credit Advance must
be
delivered by 12:00 p.m. (Detroit time) on the proposed date for
such
Revolving Credit Advance;
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24
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(c)
|
on
the proposed date of such Revolving Credit Advance, the sum of
(x) the
aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Credit Advances and
Swing Line
Advances outstanding on such date (including, without duplication)
the
Advances that are deemed to be disbursed by Agent under Section
3.6(a)
hereof in respect of Borrowers’ Reimbursement Obligations hereunder), plus
(y) the Letter of Credit Obligations as of such date, in each case
after
giving effect to all outstanding requests for Revolving Credit
Advances
and Swing Line Advances and for the issuance of any Letters of
Credit,
shall not exceed the Revolving Credit Aggregate
Commitment;
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(d)
|
in
the case of a Prime-based Advance, the principal amount of the
initial
funding of such Advance, as opposed to any refunding or conversion
thereof, shall be at least $1,000,000 or the remainder available
under the
Revolving Credit Aggregate Commitment if less than
$1,000,000;
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(e)
|
in
the case of a Eurodollar-based Advance, the principal amount of
such
Advance, plus the amount of any other outstanding Revolving Credit
Advance
to be then combined therewith having the same Eurodollar-Interest
Period,
if any, shall be at least $2,000,000 (or a larger integral multiple
of
$100,000) or the remainder available under the Revolving Credit
Aggregate
Commitment if less than $2,000,000 and at any one time there shall
not be
in effect more than three (3) different Eurodollar-Interest
Periods;
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(f)
|
a
Request for Revolving Credit Advance, once delivered to Agent,
shall not
be revocable by Borrowers and shall constitute a certification
by
Borrowers as of the date thereof
that:
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(v)
|
all
conditions to the making of Revolving Credit Advances set forth
in this
Agreement have been satisfied, and shall remain satisfied to the
date of
such Revolving Credit Advance (both before and immediately after
giving
effect to such Revolving Credit
Advance);
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(vi)
|
there
is no Default or Event of Default in existence, and none will exist
upon
the making of such Revolving Credit Advance (both before and immediately
after giving effect to such Revolving Credit Advance);
and
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(vii)
|
the
representations and warranties of the Credit Parties contained
in this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents are true and correct in
all
material respects and shall be true and correct in all material
respects
as of the date of the making of such Revolving Credit Advance (both
before
and immediately after giving effect to such Revolving Credit Advance),
other than any representation or warranty that expressly speaks
only as of
a different date;
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25
Agent,
acting on behalf of the Revolving Credit Lenders, may also, at its option,
lend
under this Section 2.3 upon the telephone or email request of an Authorized
Signer of the Borrower Representative to make such requests and, in the event
Agent, acting on behalf of the Revolving Credit Lenders, makes any such Advance
upon a telephone or email request, an Authorized Signer shall fax or deliver
by
electronic file to Agent, on the same day as such telephone or email request,
an
executed Request for Revolving Credit Advance. Each Borrower hereby authorizes
Agent to disburse Advances under this Section 2.3 pursuant to the telephone
or
email instructions of any person purporting to be an Authorized Signer.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Borrowers acknowledge that Borrowers shall
bear
all risk of loss resulting from disbursements made upon any telephone or
email
request. Each telephone or email request for an Advance from an Authorized
Signer for the Borrower Representative shall constitute a certification by
the
Borrowers of the matters set forth in the Request for Revolving Credit Advance
form as of the date of such requested Advance.
2.4 Disbursement
of Advances.
(a) Upon
receiving any Request for Revolving Credit Advance from Borrowers under Section
2.3 hereof, Agent shall promptly notify each Revolving Credit Lender by wire,
telex or telephone (confirmed by wire, telecopy or telex) of the amount of
such
Advance being requested and the date such Revolving Credit Advance is to
be made
by each Revolving Credit Lender in an amount equal to its Revolving Credit
Percentage of such Advance. Unless such Revolving Credit Lender’s commitment to
make Revolving Credit Advances hereunder shall have been suspended or terminated
in accordance with this Agreement, each such Revolving Credit Lender shall
make
available the amount of its Revolving Credit Percentage of each Revolving
Credit
Advance in immediately available funds to Agent, as follows:
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(i)
|
for
Prime-based Advances, at the office of Agent located at Xxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, not later than 1:00 p.m. (Detroit
time)
on the date of such Advance; and
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(ii)
|
for
Eurodollar-based Advances, at the Agent’s Correspondent for the account of
the Eurodollar Lending Office of the Agent, not later than 12:00
p.m. (the
time of the Agent’s Correspondent) on the date of such
Advance.
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(b) Subject
to submission of an executed Request for Revolving Credit Advance by Borrowers
without exceptions noted in the compliance certification therein, Agent shall
make available to Borrowers the aggregate of the amounts so received by it
from
the Revolving Credit Lenders in Dollars:
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(i)
|
for
Prime-based Advances, not later than 4:00 p.m. (Detroit time) on
the date
of such Revolving Credit Advance, by credit to an account of Borrowers
maintained with Agent or to such other account or third party as
Borrowers
may reasonably direct in writing, provided such direction is timely
given;
and
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26
|
(ii)
|
for
Eurodollar-based Advances, not later than 4:00 p.m. (the time of
the
Agent’s Correspondent) on the date of such Revolving Credit Advance,
by
credit to an account of Borrowers maintained with Agent’s Correspondent or
to such other account or third party as Borrowers may direct, provided
such direction is timely given.
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(c) Agent
shall deliver the documents and papers received by it for the account of
each
Revolving Credit Lender to such Revolving Credit Lender. Unless Agent shall
have
been notified by any Revolving Credit Lender prior to the date of any proposed
Revolving Credit Advance that such Revolving Credit Lender does not intend
to
make available to Agent such Revolving Credit Lender’s Percentage of such
Advance, Agent may assume that such Revolving Credit Lender has made such
amount
available to Agent on such date, as aforesaid. Agent may, but shall
not be obligated to, make available to Borrowers the amount of such payment
in
reliance on such assumption. If such amount is not in fact made available
to
Agent by such Revolving Credit Lender, as aforesaid, Agent shall be entitled
to
recover such amount on demand from such Revolving Credit Lender. If such
Revolving Credit Lender does not pay such amount forthwith upon Agent’s demand
therefor and the Agent has in fact made a corresponding amount available
to
Borrowers, the Agent shall promptly notify Borrowers and Borrowers shall
pay
such amount to Agent, if such notice is delivered to Borrowers prior to 1:00
p.m. (Detroit time) on a Business Day, on the day such notice is received,
and
otherwise on the next Business Day, and such amount paid by Borrowers shall
be
applied as a prepayment of the Revolving Credit (without any corresponding
reduction in the Revolving Credit Aggregate Commitment), reimbursing Agent
for
having funded said amounts on behalf of such Revolving Credit
Lender. The Borrowers shall retain their claims against such
Revolving Credit Lender with respect to the amounts repaid by it to Agent
and,
if such Revolving Credit Lender subsequently makes such amounts available
to
Agent, Agent shall promptly make such amounts available to the Borrowers
as a
Revolving Credit Advance. Agent shall also be entitled to recover from such
Revolving Credit Lender or Borrowers, as the case may be, but without
duplication, interest on such amount in respect of each day from the date
such
amount was made available by Agent to Borrowers, to the date such amount
is
recovered by Agent, at a rate per annum equal to:
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(i)
|
in
the case of such Revolving Credit Lender, for the first two (2)
Business
Days such amount remains unpaid, the Federal Funds Effective Rate,
and
thereafter, at the rate of interest then applicable to such Revolving
Credit Advances; and
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|
(ii)
|
in
the case of Borrowers, the rate of interest then applicable to
such
Advance of the Revolving Credit.
|
Until
such Revolving Credit Lender has paid Agent such amount, such Revolving Credit
Lender shall have no interest in or rights with respect to such Advance for
any
purpose whatsoever. The obligation of any Revolving Credit Lender to
make any Revolving Credit Advance hereunder shall not be affected by the
failure
of any other Revolving Credit Lender to make any Advance hereunder, and no
Revolving Credit Lender shall have any liability to the Borrowers or any
of
their respective Subsidiaries, the Agent, any other Revolving Credit Lender,
or
any other party for another Revolving Credit Lender’s failure to make any loan
or Advance hereunder.
27
2.5
Swing Line Advances (a) Commitment.
The Swing Line Lender may, on the terms and subject to the conditions
hereinafter set forth (including without limitation Section 2.5(c) hereof),
but
shall not be required to, make one or more Advances (each such advance being
a
“Swing Line Advance”) to the Borrowers from time to time on any Business Day
during the period from the Effective Date hereof until (but excluding) the
Revolving Credit Maturity Date in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any
one
time outstanding the Swing Line Maximum Amount. Subject to the terms set
forth
herein, advances, repayments and readvances may be made under the Swing
Line.
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(b)
|
Accrual
of Interest and Maturity; Evidence of
Indebtedness.
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|
(i)
|
Swing
Line Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice
an
account or accounts evidencing indebtedness of the Borrowers to
Swing Line
Lender resulting from each Swing Line Advance from time to time,
including
the amount and date of each Swing Line Advance, its Applicable
Interest
Rate, its Interest Period, if any, and the amount and date of any
repayment made on any Swing Line Advance from time to time. The
entries
made in such account or accounts of Swing Line Lender shall be
prima facie
evidence, absent manifest error, of the existence and amounts of
the
obligations of the Borrowers therein recorded; provided, however,
that the
failure of Swing Line Lender to maintain such account, as applicable,
or
any error therein, shall not in any manner affect the obligation
of the
Borrowers to repay the Swing Line Advances (and all other amounts
owing
with respect thereto) in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement.
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|
(ii)
|
Each
Borrower agrees that, upon the written request of Swing Line Lender,
the
Borrowers will execute and deliver to Swing Line Lender a Swing
Line
Note.
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(iii)
|
Each
Borrower unconditionally promises to pay, jointly and severally,
to the
Swing Line Lender the then unpaid principal amount of such Swing
Line
Advance (plus all accrued and unpaid interest) on the Revolving
Credit
Maturity Date and on such other dates and in such other amounts
as may be
required from time to time pursuant to this Agreement. Subject
to the terms and conditions hereof, each Swing Line Advance shall,
from
time to time after the date of such Advance (until paid), bear
interest at
its Applicable Interest Rate.
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|
(c)
|
Requests
for Swing Line Advances. Borrowers may request a Swing Line
Advance by the delivery to Swing Line Lender of a Request for Swing
Line
Advance executed by an Authorized Signer for the Borrower Representative,
subject to the following:
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|
(i)
|
each
such Request for Swing Line Advance shall set forth the information
required on the Request for Advance, including without limitation,
(A) the
proposed date of such Swing Line Advance, which must be a Business
Day,
(B) whether such Swing Line Advance is to be a Prime-based Advance
or a
Quoted Rate Advance, and (C) in the case of a Quoted Rate Advance,
the
duration of the Interest Period applicable
thereto;
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28
|
(ii)
|
on
the proposed date of such Swing Line Advance, after giving effect
to all
outstanding requests for Swing Line Advances made by Borrowers
as of the
date of determination, the aggregate principal amount of all Swing
Line
Advances outstanding on such date shall not exceed the Swing Line
Maximum
Amount;
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|
(iii)
|
on
the proposed date of such Swing Line Advance, after giving effect
to all
outstanding requests for Revolving Credit Advances and Swing Line
Advances
and Letters of Credit requested by the Borrowers on such date of
determination (including, without duplication, Advances that are
deemed
disbursed pursuant to Section 3.6(a) hereof in respect of the Borrowers’
Reimbursement Obligations hereunder), the sum of (x) the aggregate
principal amount of all Revolving Credit Advances and the Swing
Line
Advances outstanding on such date plus (y) the Letter of Credit
Obligations on such date shall not exceed the Revolving Credit
Aggregate
Commitment;
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|
(iv)
|
(A)
in the case of a Swing Line Advance that is a Prime-based Advance,
the
principal amount of the initial funding of such Advance, as opposed
to any
refunding or conversion thereof, shall be
at least Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000) or such
lesser
amount as may be agreed to by the Swing Line Lender, and (B) in
the case
of a Swing Line Advance that is a Quoted Rate Advance, the principal
amount of such Advance, plus any other outstanding Swing Line Advances
to
be then combined therewith having the same Interest Period, if
any, shall
be at least Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000) or such
lesser
amount as may be agreed to by the Swing Line Lender, and at any
time there
shall not be in effect more than three (3) Interest Rates and Interest
Periods;
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|
(v)
|
each
such Request for Swing Line Advance shall be delivered to the Swing
Line
Lender by 3:00 p.m. (Detroit time) on the proposed date of the
Swing Line
Advance;
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|
(vi)
|
each
Request for Swing Line Advance, once delivered to Swing Line Lender,
shall
not be revocable by Borrowers, and shall constitute and include
a
certification by Borrowers as of the date thereof
that:
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29
|
(A)
|
all
conditions to the making of Swing Line Advances set forth in this
Agreement shall have been satisfied and shall remain satisfied
to the date
of such Swing Line Advance (both before and immediately after giving
effect to such Swing Line Advance);
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|
(B)
|
there
is no Default or Event of Default in existence, and none will exist
upon
the making of such Swing Line Advance (both before and immediately
after
giving effect to such Swing Line Advance);
and
|
|
(C)
|
the
representations and warranties of the Credit Parties contained
in this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents are true and correct in
all
material respects and shall be true and correct in all material
respect as
of the date of the making of such Swing Line Advance (both before
and
immediately after giving effect to such Swing Line Advance), other
than
any representation or warranty that expressly speaks only as of
a
different date;
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|
(vii)
|
At
the option of the Agent, subject to revocation by Agent at any
time and
from time to time and so long as the Agent is the Swing Line Lender,
Borrowers may utilize the Agent’s “Sweep to Loan” automated system for
obtaining Swing Line Advances and making periodic repayments. At
any time
during which the “Sweep to Loan” system is in effect, Swing Line Advances
shall be advanced to fund borrowing needs pursuant to the terms
of the
Sweep Agreement. Each time a Swing Line Advance is made using the
“Sweep
to Loan” system, Borrowers shall be deemed to have certified to the Agent
and the Lenders each of the matters set forth in clause (vi) of
this
Section 2.5(b). Principal and interest on Swing Line Advances
requested, or deemed requested, pursuant to this Section shall
be paid
pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Sweep Agreement without
any
deduction, setoff or counterclaim whatsoever. Unless sooner
paid pursuant to the provisions hereof or the provisions of the
Sweep
Agreement, the principal amount of the Swing Loans shall be paid
in full,
together with accrued interest thereon, on the Revolving Credit
Maturity
Date. Agent may suspend or revoke Borrowers’ privilege to use
the “Sweep to Loan” system at any time and from time to time for any
reason and, immediately upon any such revocation, the “Sweep to Loan”
system shall no longer be available to Borrowers for the funding
of Swing
Line Advances hereunder (or otherwise), and the regular procedures
set
forth in this Section 2.5 for the making of Swing Line Advances
shall be
deemed immediately to apply. Agent may, at its option, also elect
to make
Swing Line Advances upon the Borrower Representative’s telephone requests
on the basis set forth in the last paragraph of Section 2.3, provided
that
the Borrowers comply with the provisions set forth in this Section
2.5.
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30
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(d)
|
Disbursement
of Swing Line Advances. Upon receiving any executed Request
for Swing Line Advance from the Borrowers and the satisfaction
of the
conditions set forth in Section 2.5(c) hereof, Swing Line Lender
shall
make available to Borrowers the amount so requested in Dollars
not later
than 4:00 p.m. (Detroit time) on the date of such Advance, by credit
to an
account of Borrowers maintained with Agent or to such other account
or
third party as the Borrowers may reasonably direct in writing,
subject to
applicable law, provided such direction is timely given. Swing
Line Lender
shall promptly notify Agent of any Swing Line Advance by telephone,
telex
or telecopier.
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|
(e)
|
Refunding
of or Participation Interest in Swing Line
Advances.
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|
(i)
|
The
Agent, at any time in its sole and absolute discretion, may, in
each case
on behalf of the Borrowers (which hereby irrevocably directs the
Agent to
act on their behalf) request each of the Revolving Credit Lenders
(including the Swing Line Lender in its capacity as a Revolving
Credit
Lender) to make an Advance of the Revolving Credit to Borrowers,
in an
amount equal to such Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Credit Percentage
of the aggregate principal amount of the Swing Line Advances outstanding
on the date such notice is given (the “Refunded Swing Line Advances”);
provided however that the Swing Line Advances carried at the Quoted
Rate
which are refunded with Revolving Credit Advances at the request
of the
Swing Line Lender at a time when no Default or Event of Default
has
occurred and is continuing shall not be subject to Section 11.1
and no
losses, costs or expenses may be assessed by the Swing Line Lender
against
the Borrowers or the Revolving Credit Lenders as a consequence
of such
refunding. The applicable Revolving Credit Advances used to refund
any
Swing Line Advances shall be Prime-based Advances. In connection
with the
making of any such Refunded Swing Line Advances or the purchase
of a
participation interest in Swing Line Advances under Section 2.5(e)(ii)
hereof, the Swing Line Lender shall retain its claim against Borrowers
for
any unpaid interest or fees in respect thereof accrued to the date
of such
refunding. Unless any of the events described in Section 9.1(i)
hereof
shall have occurred (in which event the procedures of Section 2.5(e)(ii)
shall apply) and regardless of whether the conditions precedent
set forth
in this Agreement to the making of a Revolving Credit Advance are
then
satisfied (but subject to Section 2.5(e)(iii)), each Revolving
Credit
Lender shall make the proceeds of its Revolving Credit Advance
available
to the Agent for the benefit of the Swing Line Lender at the office
of the
Agent specified in Section 2.4(a) hereof prior to 11:00 a.m. Detroit
time
on the Business Day next succeeding the date such notice is given,
in
immediately available funds. The proceeds of such Revolving Credit
Advances shall be immediately applied to repay the Refunded Swing
Line
Advances, subject to Section 11.1
hereof.
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31
|
(ii)
|
If,
prior to the making of an Advance of the Revolving Credit pursuant
to
Section 2.5(e)(i) hereof, one of the events described in Section
9.1(i)
hereof shall have occurred, each Revolving Credit Lender will,
on the date
such Advance of the Revolving Credit was to have been made, purchase
from
the Swing Line Lender an undivided participating interest in each
Swing
Line Advance that was to have been refunded in an amount equal
to its
Revolving Credit Percentage of such Swing Line Advance. Each Revolving
Credit Lender within the time periods specified in Section 2.5(e)(i)
hereof, as applicable, shall immediately transfer to the Agent,
for the
benefit of the Swing Line Lender, in immediately available funds,
an
amount equal to its Revolving Credit Percentage of the aggregate
principal
amount of all Swing Line Advances outstanding as of such
date. Upon receipt thereof, the Agent will deliver to such
Revolving Credit Lender a Swing Line Participation Certificate
evidencing
such participation.
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|
(iii)
|
Each
Revolving Credit Lender’s obligation to make Revolving Credit Advances to
refund Swing Line Advances, and to purchase participation interests,
in
accordance with Section 2.5(e)(i) and (ii), respectively, shall
be
absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance,
including, without limitation, (A) any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment,
defense or other right which such Revolving Credit Lender may have
against
Swing Line Lender, Borrowers or any other Person for any reason
whatsoever; (B) the occurrence or continuance of any Default or
Event of
Default; (C) any adverse change in the condition (financial or
otherwise)
of Borrowers or any other Person; (D) any breach of this Agreement
or any
other Loan Document by Borrowers or any other Person; (E) any inability
of
Borrowers to satisfy the conditions precedent to borrowing set
forth in
this Agreement on the date upon which such Revolving Credit Advance
is to
be made or such participating interest is to be purchased; (F)
the
termination of the Revolving Credit Aggregate Commitment hereunder;
or (G)
any other circumstance, happening or event whatsoever, whether
or not
similar to any of the foregoing. If any Revolving Credit Lender
does not
make available to the Agent the amount required pursuant to Section
2.5(e)(i) or (ii) hereof, as the case may be, the Agent on behalf
of the
Swing Line Lender, shall be entitled to recover such amount on
demand from
such Revolving Credit Lender, together with interest thereon for
each day
from the date of non-payment until such amount is paid in full
(x) for the
first two (2) Business Days such amount remains unpaid, at the
Federal
Funds Effective Rate and (y) thereafter, at the rate of interest
then
applicable to such Swing Line Advances. The obligation of any Revolving
Credit Lender to make available its pro rata portion of the amounts
required pursuant to Section 2.5(e)(i) or (ii) hereof shall not
be
affected by the failure of any other Revolving Credit Lender to
make such
amounts available, and no Revolving Credit Lender shall have any
liability
to any Credit Party, the Agent, the Swing Line Lender, or any other
Revolving Credit Lender or any other party for another Revolving
Credit
Lender’s failure to make available the amounts required under Section
2.5(e)(i) or (ii) hereof.
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32
|
(iv)
|
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, no Revolving Credit Lender shall be required to
make any
Revolving Credit Advance to refund a Swing Line Advance or to purchase
a
participation in a Swing Line Advance if at least two (2) Business
Days
prior to the making of such Swing Line Advance by the Swing Line
Lender,
the officers of the Swing Line Lender immediately responsible for
matters
concerning this Agreement shall have received written notice from
Agent or
any Lender that Swing Line Advances should be suspended based on
the
occurrence and continuance of a Default or Event of Default and
stating
that such notice is a “notice of default”; provided, however that the
obligation of the Revolving Credit Lenders to make such
Revolving Credit Advances (or purchase such participations) shall
be
reinstated upon the date on which such Default or Event of Default
has
been waived by the requisite
Lenders.
|
2.6
Interest
Payments; Default Interest
(a) Interest
on the unpaid balance of all Prime-based Advances of the Revolving Credit
and
the Swing Line from time to time outstanding shall accrue from the date of
such
Advance to the date repaid, at a per annum interest rate equal to the
Prime-based Rate, and shall be payable in immediately available funds commencing
on December 1, and on the first day of each calendar month thereafter. Whenever
any payment under this Section 2.6(a) shall become due on a day which is
not a
Business Day, the date for payment thereof shall be extended to the next
Business Day. Interest accruing at the Prime-based Rate shall be computed
on the
basis of a 360 day year and assessed for the actual number of days elapsed,
and
in such computation effect shall be given to any change in the interest rate
resulting from a change in the Prime-based Rate on the date of such change
in
the Prime-based Rate.
(b) Interest
on each Eurodollar-based Advance of the Revolving Credit shall accrue at
its
Eurodollar-based Rate and shall be payable in immediately available funds
on the
last day of the Eurodollar-Interest Period applicable thereto (and, if any
Eurodollar-Interest Period shall exceed three months, then on the last Business
Day of the third month of such Eurodollar-Interest Period, and at three month
intervals thereafter). Interest accruing at the Eurodollar-based Rate shall
be
computed on the basis of a 360 day year and assessed for the actual number
of
days elapsed from the first day of the Eurodollar-Interest Period applicable
thereto to but not including the last day thereof.
33
(c) Interest
on each Quoted Rate Advance of the Swing Line shall accrue at its Quoted
Rate
and shall be payable in immediately available funds on the last day of the
Interest Period applicable thereto. Interest accruing at the Quoted Rate
shall
be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and assessed for the actual number
of
days elapsed from the first day of the Interest Period applicable thereto
to,
but not including, the last day thereof.
(d) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in the preceding sections, all accrued and unpaid
interest on any Revolving Credit Advance refunded or converted pursuant to
Section 2.3 hereof and any Swing Line Advance refunded pursuant to Section
2.5(e) hereof, shall be due and payable in full on the date such Advance
is
refunded or converted.
(e) In
the case of any Event of Default under Section 9.1(i), immediately upon the
occurrence thereof, and in the case of any other Event of Default, immediately
upon receipt by Agent of notice from the Majority Revolving Credit Lenders,
interest shall be payable on demand on all Revolving Credit Advances and
Swing
Line Advances from time to time outstanding at a per annum rate equal to
the
Applicable Interest Rate in respect of each such Advance plus, in the case
of
Eurodollar-based Advances and Quoted Rate Advances, two percent (2%) for
the
remainder of the then existing Interest Period, if any, and at all other
such
times, and for all Prime-based Advances from time to time outstanding, at
a per
annum rate equal to the Prime-based Rate plus two percent (2%).
2.7
Optional Prepayments.
(a) (i)
The Borrowers may prepay all or part of the outstanding principal of any
Prime-based Advance(s) of the Revolving Credit at any time, provided that,
unless the “Sweep to Loan” system shall be in effect in respect of the Revolving
Credit, after giving effect to any partial prepayment, the aggregate balance
of
Prime-based Advance(s) of the Revolving Credit remaining outstanding shall
be at
least One Million Dollars ($1,000,000), and (ii) subject to Section 2.10(c)
hereof, the Borrowers may prepay all or part of the outstanding principal
of any
Eurodollar-based Advance of the Revolving Credit at any time (subject to
not
less than five (5) Business Day’s notice to Agent) provided that, after giving
effect to any partial prepayment, the unpaid portion of such Advance which
is to
be refunded or converted under Section 2.3 hereof shall be at least Two Million
Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,500,000).
(b) (i)
The Borrowers may prepay all or part of the outstanding principal of any
Swing
Line Advance carried at the Prime-based Rate at any time, provided that after
giving effect to any partial prepayment, the aggregate balance of such
Prime-based Swing Line Advances remaining outstanding shall be at least One
Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) and (ii) subject to Section 2.10(c) hereof,
the Borrowers may prepay all or part of the outstanding principal of any
Swing
Line Advance carried at the Quoted Rate at any time (subject to not less
than
one (1) day’s notice to the Swing Line Lender) provided that after giving effect
to any partial prepayment, the aggregate balance of such Quoted Rate Swing
Line
Advances remaining outstanding shall be at least Two Hundred Fifty Thousand
Dollars ($250,000).
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(c) Any
prepayment of a Prime-based Advance made in accordance with this Section
shall
be without premium or penalty and any prepayment of any other type of Advance
shall be subject to the provisions of Section 11.1 hereof, but otherwise
without
premium or penalty.
2.8
Prime-based Advance in Absence of Election or
Upon Default. If, (a) as to any outstanding Eurodollar-based
Advance of the Revolving Credit or any outstanding Quoted Rate Advance of
the
Swing Line, Agent has not received payment of all outstanding principal and
accrued interest on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto,
or
does not receive a timely Request for Advance meeting the requirements of
Section 2.3 or 2.5 hereof with respect to the refunding or conversion of
such
Advance, or (b) if on the last day of the
applicable Interest Period a Default or an Event of Default shall have occurred
and be continuing, then, on the last day of the applicable Interest Period
the
principal amount of any Eurodollar-based Advance or Quoted Rate Advance,
as the
case may be, which has not been prepaid shall, absent a contrary election
of the
Majority Revolving Credit Lenders, be converted automatically to a Prime-based
Advance and the Agent shall thereafter promptly notify Borrowers of said
action. All accrued and unpaid interest on any Advance converted to a
Prime-based Advance under this Section 2.8 shall be due and payable in full
on
the date such Advance is converted.
2.9
Revolving Credit Facility
Fee. From the Effective Date to the Revolving Credit
Maturity Date, the Borrowers shall pay, jointly and severally, to the Agent
for
distribution to the Lenders pro-rata in accordance with their respective
Percentages, a Revolving Credit Facility Fee quarterly in arrears commencing
January 1, 2008 and on the first day of each calendar quarter thereafter
(in
respect of the prior three months or any portion thereof). The Revolving
Credit
Facility Fee payable to each Lender shall be determined by multiplying the
Applicable Fee Percentage times such Lender’s Revolving Credit Percentage of the
Revolving Credit Aggregate Commitment then in effect (whether used or unused).
The Revolving Credit Facility Fee shall be computed on the basis of a year
of
three hundred sixty (360) days and assessed for the actual number of days
elapsed. Whenever any payment of the Revolving Credit Facility Fee shall
be due
on a day which is not a Business Day, the date for payment thereof shall
be
extended to the next Business Day. Upon receipt of such payment, Agent shall
make prompt payment to each Lender of its share of the Revolving Credit Facility
Fee based upon its respective Percentage. It is expressly understood that
the
Revolving Credit Facility Fees described in this Section are not
refundable.
2.10 Mandatory
Repayment of Revolving Credit Advances.
(a) If
at any time and for any reason the aggregate outstanding principal amount
of
Revolving Credit Advances plus Swing Line Advances, plus the outstanding
Letter
of Credit Obligations, shall exceed the Revolving Credit Aggregate Commitment,
Borrowers shall immediately reduce any pending request for a Revolving Credit
Advance on such day by the amount of such excess and, to the extent any excess
remains thereafter, repay any Revolving Credit Advances and Swing Line Advances
in an amount equal to the lesser of the outstanding amount of such Advances
and
the amount of such remaining excess, with such amounts to be applied between
the
Revolving Credit Advances and Swing Line Advances as determined by the Agent
and
then, to the extent that any excess remains after payment in full of all
Revolving Credit Advances and Swing Line Advances, to provide cash collateral
in
support of any Letter of Credit Obligations in an amount equal to the lesser
of
(x) 105% of the amount of such Letter of Credit Obligations and (y) the amount
of such remaining excess, with such cash collateral to be provided on the
basis
set forth in Section 9.2 hereof. Each Borrower acknowledges that, in connection
with any repayment required hereunder, it shall also be responsible for the
reimbursement of any prepayment or other costs required under Section 11.1
hereof. Any payments made pursuant to this Section shall be applied
first to outstanding Prime-based Advances under the Revolving Credit, next
to
Swing Line Advances carried at the Prime-based Rate and then to Eurodollar-based
Advances of the Revolving Credit, and then to Swing Line Advances carried
at the
Quoted Rate.
35
(b) Intentionally
omitted.
(c) To
the extent that, on the date any mandatory repayment of the Revolving Credit
Advances under this Section 2.10 or payment pursuant to the terms of any
of the
Loan Documents is due, the Indebtedness under the Revolving Credit or any
other
Indebtedness to be prepaid is being carried, in whole or in part, at the
Eurodollar-based Rate and no Default or Event of Default has occurred and
is
continuing, Borrowers may deposit the amount of such mandatory prepayment
in a
cash collateral account to be held by the Agent, for and on behalf of the
Revolving Credit Lenders, on such terms and conditions as are reasonably
acceptable to Agent and upon such deposit the obligation of Borrowers to
make
such mandatory prepayment shall be deemed satisfied. Subject to the terms
and
conditions of said cash collateral account, sums on deposit in said cash
collateral account shall be applied (until exhausted) to reduce the principal
balance of the Revolving Credit on the last day of each Eurodollar-Interest
Period attributable to the Eurodollar-based Advances of such Revolving Advance,
thereby avoiding breakage costs under Section 11.1 hereof; provided, however,
that if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred at any time while
sums
are on deposit in the cash collateral account, Agent may, in its sole
discretion, elect to apply such sums to reduce the principal balance of such
Eurodollar-based Advances prior to the last day of the applicable
Eurodollar-Interest Period, and the Borrowers will be obligated to pay any
resulting breakage costs under Section 11.1.
2.11 Optional
Reduction or Termination of Revolving Credit Aggregate Commitment.
Borrowers may, upon at least five (5) Business Days’ prior written notice to
the Agent, permanently reduce the Revolving Credit Aggregate Commitment in
whole
at any time, or in part from time to time, without premium or penalty, provided
that: (i) each partial reduction of the Revolving Credit Aggregate Commitment
shall be in an aggregate amount equal to One Million Dollars ($1,000,000)
or a
larger integral multiple of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000); (ii)
each
reduction shall be accompanied by the payment of the Revolving Credit Facility
Fee, if any, accrued and unpaid to the date of such reduction; (iii) Borrowers
shall prepay in accordance with the terms hereof the amount, if any, by which
the aggregate unpaid principal amount of Revolving Credit Advances and Swing
Line Advances (including, without duplication, any deemed Advances made under
Section 3.6 hereof) outstanding hereunder, plus the Letter of Credit
Obligations, exceeds the amount of the then applicable Revolving Credit
Aggregate Commitment as so reduced, together with interest thereon to the
date
of prepayment; (iv) no reduction shall reduce the Revolving Credit Aggregate
Commitment to an amount which is less than the aggregate undrawn amount of
any
Letters of Credit outstanding at such time; and (v) no such reduction shall
reduce the Swing Line Maximum Amount unless Borrowers so elect, provided
that
the Swing Line Maximum Amount shall at no time be greater than the Revolving
Credit Aggregate Commitment; provided, however that if the termination or
reduction of the Revolving Credit Aggregate Commitment requires the prepayment
of a Eurodollar-based Advance or a Quoted Rate Advance and such termination
or
reduction is made on a day other than the last Business Day of the then current
Interest Period applicable to such Eurodollar-based Advance or such Quoted
Rate
Advance, then, pursuant to Section 11.1, Borrowers shall compensate the
Revolving Credit Lenders and/or the Swing Line Lender for any losses or,
so long
as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, Borrowers
may
deposit the amount of such prepayment in a collateral account as provided
in
Section 2.10(c). Reductions of the Revolving Credit Aggregate Commitment
and any
accompanying prepayments of Advances of the Revolving Credit shall be
distributed by Agent to each Revolving Credit Lender in accordance with such
Revolving Credit Lender’s Revolving Percentage thereof, and will not be
available for reinstatement by or readvance to Borrowers and any accompanying
prepayments of Advances of the Swing Line shall be distributed by Agent to
the
Swing Line Lender and will not be available for reinstatement by or readvance
to
the Borrowers. Any reductions of the Revolving Credit Aggregate Commitment
hereunder shall reduce each Revolving Credit Lender’s portion thereof
proportionately (based on the applicable Percentages), and shall be permanent
and irrevocable. Any payments made pursuant to this Section shall be applied
first to outstanding Prime-based Advances under the Revolving Credit, next
to
Swing Line Advances carried at the Prime-based Rate and then to Eurodollar-based
Advances of the Revolving Credit, and then to Swing Line Advances carried
at the
Quoted Rate.
36
2.12 Use
of Proceeds of Advances. Advances of the Revolving Credit shall
be used to finance working capital, to refinance existing Debt and to consummate
the Acquisition and other lawful corporate purposes.
3.
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LETTERS
OF CREDIT.
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3.1
Letters of Credit. Subject to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement, Issuing Lender may through the Issuing
Office, at any time and from time to time from and after the date hereof
until
thirty (30) days prior to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, upon the written
request of Borrowers accompanied by a duly executed Letter of Credit Agreement
and such other documentation related to the requested Letter of Credit as
the
Issuing Lender may require, issue Letters of Credit in Dollars for the account
of Borrowers, in an aggregate amount for all Letters of Credit issued hereunder
at any one time outstanding not to exceed the Letter of Credit Maximum Amount.
Each Letter of Credit shall be in a minimum face amount of One Hundred Thousand
Dollars ($100,000) (or such lesser amount as may be agreed to by Issuing
Lender)
and each Letter of Credit (including any renewal thereof) shall expire not
later
than the first to occur of (i) thirteen months after the date of issuance
thereof and (ii) ten (10) Business Days prior to the Revolving Credit Maturity
Date in effect on the date of issuance thereof, provided, however, with the
consent of the Issuing Lender, a Letter of Credit may provide that such Letter
of Credit shall automatically renew at the end of such term unless Issuing
Lender shall have given written notice at least thirty (30) days prior to
the
expiration of such Letter of Credit. The submission of all
applications in respect of and the issuance of each Letter of Credit hereunder
shall be subject in all respects to the International Standby Practices 98,
and
any successor documentation thereto and to the extent not inconsistent
therewith, the laws of the State of Michigan. In the event of any conflict
between this Agreement and any Letter of Credit Document other than any Letter
of Credit, this Agreement shall control.
37
3.2
Conditions to Issuance. No Letter of Credit
shall be issued at the request and for the account of Borrowers unless, as
of
the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit:
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(a)
|
(i)
after giving effect to the Letter of Credit requested, the Letter
of
Credit Obligations do not exceed the Letter of Credit Maximum Amount;
and
(ii) after giving effect to the Letter of Credit requested, the
Letter of
Credit Obligations on such date plus the aggregate amount of all
Revolving
Credit Advances and Swing Line Advances (including all Advances
deemed
disbursed by Agent under Section 3.6(a) hereof in respect of Borrowers’
Reimbursement Obligations) hereunder requested or outstanding on
such date
do not exceed the Revolving Credit Aggregate
Commitment;
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(b)
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the
representations and warranties of the Credit Parties contained
in this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents are true and correct in
all
material respects and shall be true and correct in all material
respects
as of date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit (both before
and
immediately after the issuance of such Letter of Credit), other
than any
representation or warranty that expressly speaks only as of a different
date;
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(c)
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there
is no Default or Event of Default in existence, and none will exist
upon
the issuance of such Letter of
Credit;
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(d)
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Borrowers
shall have delivered to Issuing Lender at its Issuing Office, not
less
than three (3) Business Days prior to the requested date for issuance
(or
such shorter time as the Issuing Lender, in its sole discretion,
may
permit), the Letter of Credit Agreement related thereto, together
with
such other documents and materials as may be required pursuant
to the
terms thereof, and the terms of the proposed Letter of Credit shall
be
reasonably satisfactory to Issuing
Lender;
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(e)
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no
order, judgment or decree of any court, arbitrator or governmental
authority shall purport by its terms to enjoin or restrain Issuing
Lender
from issuing the Letter of Credit requested, or any Revolving Credit
Lender from taking an assignment of its Revolving Credit Percentage
thereof pursuant to Section 3.6 hereof, and no law, rule, regulation,
request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) shall
prohibit the Issuing Lender from issuing, or any Revolving Credit
Lender
from taking an assignment of its Revolving Credit Percentage of,
the
Letter of Credit requested or letters of credit
generally;
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(f)
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there
shall have been (i) no introduction of or change in the interpretation
of
any law or regulation, (ii) no declaration of a general banking
moratorium
by banking authorities in the United States, Michigan or the respective
jurisdictions in which the Revolving Credit Lenders, the Borrowers
and the
beneficiary of the requested Letter of Credit are located, and
(iii) no
establishment of any new restrictions by any central bank or other
governmental agency or authority on transactions involving letters
of
credit or on banks generally that, in any case described in this
clause
(e), would make it unlawful or unduly burdensome for the Issuing
Lender to
issue or any Revolving Credit Lender to take an assignment of its
Revolving Credit Percentage of the requested Letter of Credit or
letters
of credit generally; and
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38
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(g)
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Issuing
Lender shall have received the issuance fees required in connection
with
the issuance of such Letter of Credit pursuant to Section 3.4
hereof.
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Each
Letter of Credit Agreement submitted to Issuing Lender pursuant hereto shall
constitute the certification by Borrowers of the matters set forth in Sections
5.2 hereof. The Agent shall be entitled to rely on such certification without
any duty of inquiry.
3.3
Notice. The Issuing
Lender shall deliver to the Agent, concurrently with or promptly following
its
issuance of any Letter of Credit, a true and complete copy of each Letter
of
Credit. Promptly upon its receipt thereof, Agent shall give notice,
substantially in the form attached as Exhibit E, to each Revolving Credit
Lender
of the issuance of each Letter of Credit, specifying the amount thereof and
the
amount of such Revolving Credit Lender’s Percentage thereof.
3.4
Letter of Credit Fees; Increased
Costs. (a) Borrowers shall pay letter of credit fees
as follows:
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(i)
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A
per annum letter of credit fee with respect to the undrawn amount
of each
Letter of Credit issued pursuant hereto (based on the amount of
each
Letter of Credit) in the amount of the Applicable Fee Percentage
(determined with reference to Schedule 1.1 to this Agreement) shall
be
paid to the Agent for distribution to the Revolving Credit Lenders
in
accordance with their Percentages.
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(ii)
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A
letter of credit facing fee on the face amount of each Letter of
Credit
shall be paid to the Agent for distribution to the Issuing Lender
for its
own account, in accordance with the terms of the applicable Fee
Letter.
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(b)
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All
payments by Borrowers to the Agent for distribution to the Issuing
Lender
or the Revolving Credit Lenders under this Section 3.4 shall be
made in
Dollars in immediately available funds at the Issuing Office or
such other
office of the Agent as may be designated from time to time by written
notice to Borrowers by the Agent. The fees described in clauses
(a)(i) and
(ii) above (i) shall be nonrefundable under all circumstances,
(ii) in the
case of fees due under clause (a)(i) above, shall be payable semi-annually
in advance and (iii) in the case of fees due under clause (a)(ii)
above,
shall be payable upon the issuance of such Letter of Credit and
upon any
amendment thereto or extension thereof. The fees due under
clause (a)(i) above shall be determined by multiplying the Applicable
Fee
Percentage times the undrawn amount of the face amount of each
such Letter
of Credit on the date of determination, and shall be calculated
on the
basis of a 360 day year and assessed for the actual number of days
from
the date of the issuance thereof to the stated expiration thereof.
The
parties hereto acknowledge that, unless the Issuing Lender otherwise
agrees, any material amendment and any extension to a Letter of
Credit
issued hereunder shall be treated as a new Letter of Credit for
the
purposes of the letter of credit facing
fee.
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39
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(c)
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If
any change in any law or regulation or in the interpretation thereof
by
any court or administrative or governmental authority charged with
the
administration thereof, adopted after the date hereof, shall either
(i)
impose, modify or cause to be deemed applicable any reserve, special
deposit, limitation or similar requirement against letters of credit
issued or participated in by, or assets held by, or deposits in
or for the
account of, Issuing Lender or any Revolving Credit Lender or (ii)
impose
on Issuing Lender or any Revolving Credit Lender any other condition
regarding this Agreement, the Letters of Credit or any participations
in
such Letters of Credit, and the result of any event referred to
in clause
(i) or (ii) above shall be to increase the cost or expense to Issuing
Lender or such Revolving Credit Lender of issuing or maintaining
or
participating in any of the Letters of Credit (which increase in
cost or
expense shall be determined by the Issuing Lender’s or such Revolving
Credit Lender’s reasonable allocation of the aggregate of such cost
increases and expenses resulting from such events), then, upon
demand by
the Issuing Lender or such Revolving Credit Lender, as the case
may be,
Borrowers shall, within thirty (30) days following demand for payment,
pay
to Issuing Lender or such Revolving Credit Lender, as the case
may be,
from time to time as specified by the Issuing Lender or such Revolving
Credit Lender, additional amounts which shall be sufficient to
compensate
the Issuing Lender or such Revolving Credit Lender for such increased
cost
and expense (together with interest on each such amount from ten
days
after the date such payment is due until payment in full thereof
at the
Prime-based Rate), provided that if the Issuing Lender or such
Revolving
Credit Lender could take any reasonable action, without cost or
administrative or other burden or restriction to such Lender, to
mitigate
or eliminate such cost or expense, it agrees to do so within a
reasonable
time after becoming aware of the foregoing matters. Each demand
for
payment under this Section 3.4(c) shall be accompanied by a certificate
of
Issuing Lender or the applicable Revolving Credit Lender setting
forth the
amount of such increased cost or expense incurred by the Issuing
Lender or
such Revolving Credit Lender, as the case may be, as a result of
any event
mentioned in clause (i) or (ii) above, and in reasonable detail,
the
methodology for calculating and the calculation of such amount,
which
certificate shall be prepared in good faith and shall be conclusive
evidence, absent manifest error, as to the amount
thereof.
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40
3.5
Other Fees. In connection
with the Letters of Credit, and in addition to the Letter of Credit Fees,
Borrowers shall pay, for the sole account of the Issuing Lender, standard
documentation, administration, payment and cancellation charges assessed
by
Issuing Lender or the Issuing Office, at the times, in the amounts and on
the
terms set forth or to be set forth from time to time in the standard fee
schedule of the Issuing Office in effect from time to time.
3.6
Drawings and Demands for Payment Under
Letters of Credit.
(a) If
the Issuing Lender shall honor a draft or other demand for payment presented
or
made under any Letter of Credit, each Borrower agrees to pay to the Issuing
Lender an amount equal to the amount paid by the Issuing Lender in respect
of
such draft or other demand under such Letter of Credit and all reasonable
expenses paid or incurred by the Agent relative thereto not later than 1:00
p.m.
(Detroit time), on (i) the Business Day that Borrowers receive notice of
such
presentment and honor, if such notice is received prior to 11:00 a.m. (Detroit
time) or (ii) the Business Day immediately following the day that Borrowers
received such notice, if such notice is received after 11:00 a.m. (Detroit
time). Unless Borrowers shall have made such payment to the Agent for the
account of the Issuing Lender on such day, the Agent shall be deemed to have
disbursed to Borrowers and to have elected to substitute for the reimbursement
obligation, with respect to the applicable Letter of Credit honored by the
Issuing Lender, a Prime-based Advance of the Revolving Credit (which Advance
may
be subsequently converted at any time into a Eurodollar-based Advance pursuant
to Section 2.3 hereof) on behalf of and for the account of the Revolving
Credit
Lenders in an aggregate amount equal to the amount so paid by the Issuing
Lender
in respect of such draft or other demand under such Letter of Credit. Such
Prime-based Advance shall be deemed disbursed notwithstanding any failure
to
satisfy any conditions for disbursement of any Advance set forth in Section
2
hereof and, to the extent of the Advances so disbursed, the reimbursement
obligation of Borrowers under this Section 3.6 shall be deemed
satisfied.
(b) If
the Issuing Lender shall honor a draft or other demand for payment presented
or
made under any Letter of Credit, the Issuing Lender shall provide notice
thereof
to Borrowers on the date such draft or demand is honored, and to each Revolving
Credit Lender on such date unless Borrowers shall have satisfied their
reimbursement obligations under Section 3.6(a) hereof by payment to the Agent
(for the benefit of the Issuing Lender) on such date. The Issuing Lender
shall
further use reasonable efforts to provide notice to Borrowers prior to honoring
any such draft or other demand for payment, but such notice, or the failure
to
provide such notice, shall not affect the rights or obligations of the Issuing
Lender with respect to any Letter of Credit or the rights and obligations
of the
parties hereto, including without limitation the obligations of Borrowers
under
Section 3.6(a) hereof.
41
(c) Upon
issuance by the Issuing Lender of each Letter of Credit hereunder, each
Revolving Credit Lender shall automatically acquire a pro rata participation
interest in such Letter of Credit and each related Letter of Credit Payment
based on its respective Revolving Credit Percentage. Each Revolving Credit
Lender, on the date a draft or demand under any Letter of Credit is honored
(or
the next succeeding Business Day if the notice required to be given by Issuing
Lender to the Revolving Credit Lenders under Section 3.6(b) hereof is not
given
to the Revolving Credit Lenders prior to 2:00 p.m. (Detroit time) on such
date
of draft or demand), shall make its Revolving Credit Percentage of the amount
paid by the Issuing Lender, and not reimbursed by Borrowers on such day,
in
immediately available funds at the principal office of the Agent for the
account
of Issuing Lender. If and to the extent such Revolving Credit Lender shall
not
have made such pro rata portion available to the Agent, such Revolving Credit
Lender agrees to pay to the Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender
forthwith on demand such amount together with interest thereon, for each
day
from the date such amount was paid by the Issuing Lender until such amount
is so
made available to the Agent at the Federal Funds Rate for the first three
days
and thereafter at a Prime-based Rate applicable during such period to the
related Advance deemed to have been disbursed under Section 3.6(a) in respect
of
the reimbursement obligation of Borrowers. If such Revolving Credit
Lender shall pay such amount to the Agent for the account of Issuing Lender
together with such interest, if any, such amount so paid shall be deemed
to
constitute an Advance by such Revolving Credit Lender disbursed in respect
of
the reimbursement obligation of Borrowers under Section 3.6(a) hereof for
purposes of this Agreement, effective as of the dates applicable under said
Section 3.6(a). The failure of any Revolving Credit Lender to make its pro
rata
portion of any such amount paid by the Issuing Lender available to the Agent
for
the account of Issuing Lender shall not relieve any other Revolving Credit
Lender of its obligation to make available its pro rata portion of such amount,
but no Revolving Credit Lender shall be responsible for failure of any other
Revolving Credit Lender to make such pro rata portion available to the Agent
for
the account of Issuing Lender.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing however no Revolving Credit Lender shall be deemed to have
acquired a participation in a Letter of Credit if the officers of the Issuing
Lender immediately responsible for matters concerning this Agreement shall
have
received written notice from Agent or any Lender at least two (2) Business
Days
prior to the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit that the issuance
of
Letters of Credit should be suspended based on the occurrence and continuance
of
a Default or Event of Default and stating that such notice is a “notice of
default”; provided, however that the Revolving Credit Lenders shall be deemed to
have acquired such a participation upon the date on which such Default or
Event
of Default has been waived by the requisite Revolving Credit Lenders, as
applicable. In the event that the Issuing Lender receives such a
notice, the Issuing Lender shall have no obligation to issue any Letter of
Credit until such notice is withdrawn by Agent or such Lender or until the
requisite Lenders have waived such Default or Event of Default in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement.
(d) Nothing
in this Agreement shall be construed to require or authorize any Revolving
Credit Lender to issue any Letter of Credit, it being recognized that the
Issuing Lender shall be the sole issuer of Letters of Credit under this
Agreement.
3.7 Obligations
Irrevocable. The obligations of Borrowers to make payments to
Agent for the account of Issuing Lender or the Revolving Credit Lenders with
respect to Letter of Credit Obligations under Section 3.6 hereof, shall be
unconditional and irrevocable and not subject to any qualification or exception
whatsoever, including, without limitation:
42
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(a)
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Any
lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit, any
Letter of
Credit Agreement, any other documentation relating to any Letter
of
Credit, this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents (the
“Letter of
Credit Documents”);
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(b)
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Any
amendment, modification, waiver, consent, or any substitution,
exchange or
release of or failure to perfect any interest in collateral or
security,
with respect to or under any Letter of Credit
Document;
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(c)
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The
existence of any claim, setoff, defense or other right which Borrowers
may
have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of any
Letter
of Credit (or any persons or entities for whom any such beneficiary
or any
such transferee may be acting), the Agent, the Issuing Lender or
any
Revolving Credit Lender or any other Person, whether in connection
with
this Agreement, any of the Letter of Credit Documents, the transactions
contemplated herein or therein or any unrelated
transactions;
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|
(d)
|
Any
draft or other statement or document presented under any Letter
of Credit
proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any
respect
or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any
respect;
|
|
(e)
|
Payment
by the Issuing Lender to the beneficiary under any Letter of Credit
against presentation of documents which do not comply with the
terms of
such Letter of Credit, including failure of any documents to bear
any
reference or adequate reference to such Letter of
Credit;
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(f)
|
Any
failure, omission, delay or lack on the part of the Agent, Issuing
Lender
or any Revolving Credit Lender or any party to any of the Letter
of Credit
Documents to enforce, assert or exercise any right, power or remedy
conferred upon the Agent, Issuing Lender, any Revolving Credit
Lender or
any such party under this Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents
or
any of the Letter of Credit Documents, or any other acts or omissions
on
the part of the Agent, Issuing Lender, any Revolving Credit Lender
or any
such party; or
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|
(g)
|
Any
other event or circumstance that would, in the absence of this
Section
3.7, result in the release or discharge by operation of law or
otherwise
of Borrowers from the performance or observance of any obligation,
covenant or agreement contained in Section 3.6
hereof.
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No
setoff, counterclaim, reduction or diminution of any obligation or any defense
of any kind or nature which any Borrower has or may have against the beneficiary
of any Letter of Credit shall be available hereunder to such Borrower against
the Agent, Issuing Lender or any Revolving Credit Lender. With respect to
any
Letter of Credit, nothing contained in this Section 3.7 shall be deemed to
prevent any Borrower, after satisfaction in full of the absolute and
unconditional obligations of Borrowers hereunder with respect to such Letter
of
Credit, from asserting in a separate action any claim, defense, set off or
other
right which they (or any of them) may have against Agent, Issuing Lender
or any
Revolving Credit Lender in connection with such Letter of
Credit.
43
3.8
Risk Under Letters of Credit.
(a) In
the administration and handling of Letters of Credit and any security therefor,
or any documents or instruments given in connection therewith, Issuing Lender
shall have the sole right to take or refrain from taking any and all actions
under or upon the Letters of Credit.
(b) Subject
to other terms and conditions of this Agreement, Issuing Lender shall issue
the
Letters of Credit and shall hold the documents related thereto in its own
name
and shall make all collections thereunder and otherwise administer the Letters
of Credit in accordance with Issuing Lender’s regularly established practices
and procedures and will have no further obligation with respect thereto.
In the
administration of Letters of Credit, Issuing Lender shall not be liable for
any
action taken or omitted on the advice of counsel, accountants, appraisers
or
other experts selected by Issuing Lender with due care and Issuing Lender
may
rely upon any notice, communication, certificate or other statement from
Borrowers, beneficiaries of Letters of Credit, or any other Person which
Issuing
Lender believes to be authentic. Issuing Lender will, upon request, furnish
the
Revolving Credit Lenders with copies of Letter of Credit Documents related
thereto.
(c) In
connection with the issuance and administration of Letters of Credit and
the
assignments hereunder, Issuing Lender makes no representation and shall have
no
responsibility with respect to (i) the obligations of Borrowers or the validity,
sufficiency or enforceability of any document or instrument given in connection
therewith, or the taking of any action with respect to same, (ii) the financial
condition of, any representations made by, or any act or omission of Borrowers
or any other Person, or (iii) any failure or delay in exercising any rights
or
powers possessed by Issuing Lender in its capacity as issuer of Letters of
Credit in the absence of its gross negligence or willful misconduct. Each
of the
Revolving Credit Lenders expressly acknowledges that it has made and will
continue to make its own evaluations of Borrowers’ creditworthiness without
reliance on any representation of Issuing Lender or Issuing Lender’s officers,
agents and employees.
(d) If
at any time Issuing Lender shall recover any part of any unreimbursed amount
for
any draw or other demand for payment under a Letter of Credit, or any interest
thereon, Agent or Issuing Lender, as the case may be, shall receive same
for the
prorata benefit of the Revolving Credit Lenders in accordance with
their respective Percentages and shall promptly deliver to each Revolving
Credit
Lender its share thereof, less such Revolving Credit Lender’s pro rata share of
the costs of such recovery, including court costs and attorney’s fees. If at any
time any Revolving Credit Lender shall receive from any source whatsoever
any
payment on any such unreimbursed amount or interest thereon in excess of
such
Revolving Credit Lender’s Percentage of such payment, such Revolving Credit
Lender will promptly pay over such excess to Agent, for redistribution in
accordance with this Agreement.
3.9
Indemnification. Each Borrower
hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold harmless the Revolving Credit Lenders,
the
Issuing Lender and the Agent and their respective Affiliates, and the respective
officers, directors, employees and agents of such Persons (each an “L/C
Indemnified Person”), from and against any and all claims, damages, losses,
liabilities, costs or expenses of any kind or nature whatsoever which the
Revolving Credit Lenders, the Issuing Lender or the Agent or any such Person
may
incur or which may be claimed against any of them by reason of or in connection
with any Letter of Credit (collectively, the “L/C Indemnified Amounts”), and
none of the Issuing Lender, any Revolving Credit Lender or the Agent or any
of
their respective officers, directors, employees or agents shall be liable
or
responsible for:
44
|
(a)
|
the
use which may be made of any Letter of Credit or for any acts or
omissions
of any beneficiary in connection
therewith;
|
|
(b)
|
the
validity, sufficiency or genuineness of documents or of any endorsement
thereon, even if such documents should in fact prove to be in any
or all
respects invalid, insufficient, fraudulent or
forged;
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|
(c)
|
payment
by the Issuing Lender to the beneficiary under any Letter of Credit
against presentation of documents which do not strictly comply
with the
terms of any Letter of Credit (unless such payment resulted from
the gross
negligence or willful misconduct of the Issuing Lender), including
failure
of any documents to bear any reference or adequate reference to
such
Letter of Credit;
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|
(d)
|
any
error, omission, interruption or delay in transmission, dispatch
or
delivery of any message or advice, however transmitted, in connection
with
any Letter of Credit; or
|
|
(e)
|
any
other event or circumstance whatsoever arising in connection with
any
Letter of Credit.
|
It
is
understood that in making any payment under a Letter of Credit the Issuing
Lender will rely on documents presented to it under such Letter of Credit
as to
any and all matters set forth therein without further investigation and
regardless of any notice or information to the contrary.
With
respect to subparagraphs (a) through (e) hereof, (i) no Borrower shall be
required to indemnify any L/C Indemnified Person for any L/C Indemnified
Amounts
to the extent such amounts result from the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of such L/C Indemnified Person or any officer, director, employee
or
agent of such L/C Indemnified Person and (ii) the Agent and the Issuing Lender
shall be liable to each Borrower to the extent, but only to the extent, of
any
direct, as opposed to consequential or incidental, damages suffered by such
Borrower which were caused by the gross negligence or willful misconduct
of the
Issuing Lender or any officer, director, employee or agent of the Issuing
Lender
or by the Issuing Lender’s wrongful dishonor of any Letter of Credit after the
presentation to it by the beneficiary thereunder of a draft or other demand
for
payment and other documentation strictly complying with the terms and conditions
of such Letter of Credit.
3.10 Right
of Reimbursement. Each Revolving Credit Lender agrees to
reimburse the Issuing Lender on demand, pro rata in accordance with its
respective Revolving Credit Percentage, for (i) the reasonable out-of-pocket
costs and expenses of the Issuing Lender to be reimbursed by Borrowers pursuant
to any Letter of Credit Agreement or any Letter of Credit, to the extent
not
reimbursed by Borrowers or any other Credit Party and (ii) any and all
liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments,
suits,
costs, fees, reasonable out-of-pocket expenses or disbursements of any kind
and
nature whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against
Issuing Lender in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement
(including Section 3.6(c) hereof), any Letter of Credit, any documentation
or
any transaction relating thereto, or any Letter of Credit Agreement, to the
extent not reimbursed by Borrowers, except to the extent that such liabilities,
losses, costs or expenses were incurred by Issuing Lender as a result of
Issuing
Lender’s gross negligence or willful misconduct or by the Issuing Lender’s
wrongful dishonor of any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by
the
beneficiary thereunder of a draft or other demand for payment and other
documentation strictly complying with the terms and conditions of such Letter
of
Credit.
45
4.
|
INTENTIONALLY
OMITTED.
|
5.
|
CONDITIONS.
|
The
obligations of the Lenders to make Advances or loans pursuant to this Agreement
and the obligation of the Issuing Lender to issue Letters of Credit are subject
to the following conditions:
5.1
Conditions of Initial Advances. The
obligations of the Lenders to make initial Advances or loans pursuant to
this
Agreement and the obligation of the Issuing Lender to issue initial Letters
of
Credit, in each case, on the Effective Date only, are subject to the following
conditions:
(a) This
Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Borrowers shall have
executed and delivered this Agreement; and each Credit Party shall have executed
and delivered the other Loan Documents to which such Credit Party is required
to
be a party (including all schedules and other documents to be delivered pursuant
hereto); and such Notes (if any), this Agreement and the other Loan Documents
shall be in full force and effect.
(b)
Corporate Authority. Agent shall have
received, with a counterpart thereof for each Lender, from each Credit Party,
a
certificate of its Secretary or Assistant Secretary dated as of the Effective
Date as to:
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(i)
|
corporate
resolutions (or the equivalent) of each Credit Party authorizing
the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents
approval of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, in each
case to
which such Credit Party is party, and authorizing the execution
and
delivery of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and in
the case
of Borrowers, authorizing the execution and delivery of requests
for
Advances and the issuance of Letters of Credit
hereunder,
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(ii)
|
the
incumbency and signature of the officers or other authorized persons
of
such Credit Party executing any Loan Document and in the case of
the
Borrowers, the officers who are authorized to execute any Requests
for
Advance, or requests for the issuance of Letters of
Credit,
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46
|
(iii)
|
a
certificate of good standing or continued existence (or the equivalent
thereof) from the state of its incorporation or formation, and
from every
state or other jurisdiction where such Credit Party is qualified
to do
business, which jurisdictions are listed on Schedule 5.2 attached
hereto,
and
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|
(iv)
|
copies
of such Credit Party’s articles of incorporation and bylaws or other
constitutional documents, as in effect on the Effective
Date.
|
(c) Collateral
Documents and other Loan Documents. The Agent shall have received
the following documents, each in form and substance satisfactory to Agent
and
fully executed by each party thereto:
|
(i)
|
The
following Collateral Documents, each in form and substance acceptable
to
Agent and fully executed by each party thereto and dated as of
the
Effective Date:
|
|
(A)
|
the
Security Agreement;
|
|
(B)
|
the
Collateral Assignment;
|
|
(C)
|
the
Escrow Agreement Acknowledgement;
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|
(ii)
|
The
Comerica Intercreditor Agreement in form and substance acceptable
to the
Agent and fully executed by the Term Debt Lender and the Revolving
Credit
Agent (in each case as defined therein and dated as of the Effective
Date;
|
|
(iii)
|
A
Letter from Travelers Indemnity and Surety Company of America to
the Agent
in form and substance acceptable to the Agent and fully executed
by each
party thereto and dated on or prior to the Effective
Date;
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|
(iv)
|
Evidence
of the filing of a UCC-3 termination statement over any “all asset” filing
for the benefit of National City
Bank;
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|
(v)
|
Intentionally
omitted;
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(vi)
|
(A)
Certified copies of uniform commercial code requests for information,
or a
similar search report certified by a party acceptable to the Agent,
dated
a date reasonably prior to the Effective Date, listing all effective
financing statements in the jurisdiction noted on Schedule 5.1(c)
which
name any Credit Party or Target (under their present names or under
any
previous names used within five (5) years prior to the date hereof)
as
debtors, together with (x) copies of such financing statements,
and (y)
authorized Uniform Commercial Code (Form UCC-3) Termination Statements,
if
any, necessary to release all Liens and other rights of any Person
in any
Collateral described in the Collateral Documents previously granted
by any
Person (other than Liens permitted by Section 8.2 of this Agreement)
and
(B) intellectual property search reports results from the United
States
Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office
for the
Credit Parties and Target dated a date reasonably prior to the
Effective
Date.
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47
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(vii)
|
Any
documents (including, without limitation, financing statements,
amendments
to financing statements and assignments of financing statements,
stock
powers executed in blank and any endorsements) requested by Agent
and
reasonably required to be provided in connection with the Collateral
Documents to create, in favor of the Agent (for and on behalf of
the
Lenders), a first priority perfected security interest in the Collateral
thereunder shall have been filed, registered or recorded, or shall
have
been delivered to Agent in proper form for filing, registration
or
recordation.
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(c) Acquisition. On
or before the Effective Date, the Agent shall have received evidence
satisfactory to it that (i) all conditions to effectiveness of the Acquisition
have been satisfied, other than payment of the purchase price, on terms
reasonably acceptable to the Agent and in compliance with the Acquisition
Documents delivered to the Agent (which Acquisition Documents are in form
and
substance reasonably acceptable to the Agent), (ii) that the purchase price
to
be paid (including any Debt assumed) in connection with the Acquisition is
not
in excess of $60,000,000; (iii) any material consents from any third party
necessary to the consummation of the Acquisition have been obtained and (iv)
fully executed copies of all material Acquisition Documents, including all
schedules and exhibits thereto as in effect on the Effective Date, certified
true and correct by Sterling shall have been delivered to the
Agent.
(d) Intentionally
Omitted.
(e) Compliance
with Certain Documents and Agreements. Each Credit Party shall
have each performed and complied in all material respects with all agreements
and conditions contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents,
to the
extent required to be performed or complied with by such Credit Party. No
Person
(other than Agent, Lenders and Issuing Lender) party to this Agreement or
any
other Loan Document shall be in material default in the performance or
compliance with any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement or the other
Loan Documents or shall be in material default in the performance or compliance
with any of the material terms or material provisions of, in each case to
which
such Person is a party.
(f) Opinions
of Counsel. The Credit Parties shall furnish Agent prior to the
initial Advance under this Agreement, with signed copies for each Lender,
opinions of counsel to the Credit Parties, including opinions of local counsel
to the extent deemed necessary by the Agent, in each case dated the Effective
Date and covering such matters as reasonably required by and otherwise
reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Agent and each of the
Lenders.
48
(g) Payment
of Fees. Borrowers shall have paid to Comerica Bank any fees due
under the terms of the Fee Letter, along with any other fees, costs or expenses
due and outstanding to the Agent or the Lenders as of the Effective Date
(including reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel to
Agent).
(h) Financial
Statements. Borrowers shall have delivered to the Lenders and the
Agent, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent: (a) any updates of the
pro
forma unaudited combined consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2007 and
statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2006 and the six
months
ended June 30, 2007 of the Credit Parties, and forecasts through December
31,
2008, which statements shall evidence no material adverse change from the
information provided to the Agent prior to the execution and delivery of
the
Commitment Letter.
(i)
Appraisals; Due Diligence. Agent and Lenders shall have
received, in each case in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, (a)
appraisals of all material machinery and equipment of the Credit Parties
performed by an appraiser and using appraisal methodology satisfactory to
the
Agent and which establish an aggregate value of such property on an orderly
liquidation value basis in amounts satisfactory to the Agent, and (b) such
other
reports or due diligence materials as Agent and the Majority Lenders may
reasonably request, including such due diligence materials as Agent and the
Majority Banks may request in connection with the Acquisition, including
any new
environmental reports obtained for the real estate acquired in the
Acquisition.
(j)
Intentionally Omitted.
(k) Bond
Documents. Agent shall have received copies of the Travelers
Indemnity Agreement and the Liberty Mutual Indemnity Agreement in effect
as of
the date hereof.
(l)
Governmental and Other Approvals. Agent shall have received
copies of all authorizations, consents, approvals, licenses, qualifications
or
formal exemptions, filings, declarations and registrations with, any court,
governmental agency or regulatory authority or any securities exchange or
any
other person or party (whether or not governmental) received by any Credit
Party
in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents to
occur
on the Effective Date.
(m) Closing
Certificate. The Agent shall have received, with a signed
counterpart for each Lender, a certificate of a Responsible Officer of Borrower
Representative dated the Effective Date (or, if different, the date of the
initial Advance hereunder), stating that to the best of his or her respective
knowledge after due inquiry, (a) the conditions set forth in this Section
5 have
been satisfied to the extent required to be satisfied by any Credit Party;
(b)
the representations and warranties made by the Credit Parties in this Agreement
or any of the other Loan Documents, as applicable, are true and correct in
all
material respects; (c) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred
and be
continuing; (d) since June 30, 2007, nothing shall have occurred which has
had,
or could reasonably be expected to have, a material adverse change on the
business, results of operations, conditions, property or prospects (financial
or
otherwise) of Borrowers or any other Credit Party; and (e) there shall have
been
no material adverse change to the pro forma financial information and
projections delivered to Agent prior to the execution and delivery of the
Commitment Letter.
49
5.2 Continuing
Conditions. The obligations of each Lender to make
Advances (including the initial Advance) under this Agreement and the obligation
of the Issuing Lender to issue any Letters of Credit shall be subject to
the
continuing conditions that:
(a) No
Default or Event of Default shall exist as of the date of the Advance or
the
request for the Letter of Credit, as the case may be; and
(b) Each
of the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement and in
each of
the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects
as
of the date of the Advance or Letter of Credit (as the case may be) as if
made
on and as of such date (other than any representation or warranty that expressly
speaks only as of a different date).
6.
|
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES.
|
Each
Borrower represents and warrants to the Agent, the Lenders, the Swing Line
Lender and the Issuing Lender as follows:
6.1 Corporate
Authority. Each Credit Party is a corporation (or other
business entity) duly organized and existing in good standing under the laws
of
the state or jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation, as applicable,
and
each Credit Party is duly qualified and authorized to do business as a foreign
corporation in each jurisdiction where the character of its assets or the
nature
of its activities makes such qualification and authorization necessary except
where failure to be so qualified or be in good standing could not reasonably
be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each Credit Party has all requisite
corporate, limited liability or partnership power and authority to own all
its
property (whether real, personal, tangible or intangible or of any kind
whatsoever) and to carry on its business.
6.2 Due
Authorization. Execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement, and the other Loan Documents, to which each Credit Party is party,
and the issuance of the Notes by Borrowers (if requested) are within such
Person’s corporate, limited liability or partnership power, have been duly
authorized, are not in contravention of any law applicable to such Credit
Party
or the terms of such Credit Party’s organizational documents and, except as have
been previously obtained or as referred to in Section 6.10, below, do not
require the consent or approval of any governmental body, agency or authority
or
any other third party except to the extent that such consent or approval
is not
material to the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents.
6.3 Good
Title; Leases; Assets; No Liens. (a) Each
Credit Party, to the extent applicable, has good and valid title (or, in
the
case of real property, good and marketable title) to all assets owned by
it,
subject only to the Liens permitted under section 8.2 hereof, and each Credit
Party has a valid leasehold or interest as a lessee or a licensee in all
of its
leased real property;
(b) Schedule
6.3(b) hereof identifies all of the real property owned by the Credit Parties
on
the Effective Date;
50
(c)
The Credit Parties will collectively own or collectively have
a valid leasehold interest in all assets that were owned or leased (as lessee)
by the Credit Parties immediately prior to the Effective Date to the extent
that
such assets are necessary for the continued operation of the Credit Parties’
businesses in substantially the manner as such businesses were operated
immediately prior to the Effective Date;
(d)
Each Credit Party owns or has a valid leasehold interest in all real
property necessary for its continued operations and, to the best knowledge
of
Borrowers, no material condemnation, eminent domain or expropriation action
has
been commenced or threatened against any such owned or leased real property;
and
(e)
There are no Liens on and no financing statements on
file with respect to any of the assets owned by the Credit Parties, except
for
the Liens permitted pursuant to Section 8.2 of this Agreement.
6.4
Taxes. Except as
set forth on Schedule 6.4 hereof, each Credit Party has filed on or before
their
respective due dates or within the applicable grace periods, all United States
federal, state, local and other tax returns which are required to be filed
or
has obtained extensions for filing such tax returns and is not delinquent
in
filing such returns in accordance with such extensions and has paid all material
taxes which have become due pursuant to those returns or pursuant to any
assessments received by any such Credit Party, as the case may be, to the
extent
such taxes have become due, except to the extent such taxes are being contested
in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and with respect
to which adequate provision has been made on the books of such Credit Party
as
may be required by GAAP.
6.5
No Defaults. No Credit Party is
in default under or with respect to any agreement, instrument or undertaking
to
which it is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound which
would
cause or would reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse
Effect.
6.6
Enforceability of Agreement and Loan
Documents. This Agreement and each of the other Loan
Documents to which any Credit Party is a party (including without limitation,
each Request for Advance), have each been duly executed and delivered by
its
duly authorized officers and constitute the valid and binding obligations
of
such Credit Party, enforceable against such Credit Party in accordance with
their respective terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by
applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance,
moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditor’s rights,
generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement
is considered in a proceeding in law or equity).
6.7
Compliance with Laws. (a)
Except as disclosed on Schedule 6.7, each Credit Party has complied with
all
applicable federal, state and local laws, ordinances, codes, rules, regulations
and guidelines (including consent decrees and administrative orders) including
but not limited to Hazardous Material Laws, and is in compliance with any
Requirement of Law, except to the extent that failure to comply therewith
could
not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (b) neither
the extension of credit made pursuant to this Agreement or the use of the
proceeds thereof by the Credit Parties will violate the Trading with the
Enemy
Act, as amended, or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the
United
States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) or
any
enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto, or The United and
Strengthening America by providing appropriate Tools Required to Intercept
and
Obstruct Terrorism (“USA Patriot Act”) Act of 2001, Public Law 10756, October
26, 2001 or Executive Order 13224 of September 23, 2001 issued by the
President of the United States (66 Fed. Reg. 49049 (2001)).
51
6.8
Non-contravention. The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents (including each Request for Advance) to which each Credit Party
is a
party are not in contravention of the terms of any indenture, agreement or
undertaking to which such Credit Party is a party or by which it or its
properties are bound where such violation could reasonably be expected to
have a
Material Adverse Effect.
6.9
Litigation. Except as set forth
on Schedule 6.9 hereof, there is no suit, action, proceeding, including,
without
limitation, any bankruptcy proceeding or governmental investigation pending
against or to the knowledge of Borrowers, threatened against any Credit Party
(other than any suit, action or proceeding in which a Credit Party is the
plaintiff and in which no counterclaim or cross-claim against such Credit
Party
has been filed), or any judgment, decree, injunction, rule, or order of any
court, government, department, commission, agency, instrumentality or arbitrator
outstanding against any Credit Party, nor is any Credit Party in violation
of
any applicable law, regulation, ordinance, order, injunction, decree or
requirement of any governmental body or court which could in any of the
foregoing events reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
6.10 Consents,
Approvals and Filings, Etc. Except as set forth on
Schedule 6.10 hereof, no material authorization, consent, approval, license,
qualification or formal exemption from, nor any filing, declaration or
registration with, any court, governmental agency or regulatory authority
or any
securities exchange or any other Person (whether or not governmental) is
required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance: (a)
by any
Credit Party of this Agreement and any of the other Loan Documents or
Acquisition Documents to which such Credit Party is a party or (b) by the
Credit
Parties of the grant of Liens granted, conveyed or otherwise established
(or to
be granted, conveyed or otherwise established) by or under this Agreement
or the
other Loan Documents, as applicable, except in each case for (i) such matters
which have been previously obtained, and (ii) such filings to be made
concurrently herewith or promptly following the Effective Date as are required
by the Collateral Documents to perfect Liens in favor of the Agent. All such
material authorizations, consents, approvals, licenses, qualifications,
exemptions, filings, declarations and registrations which have previously
been
obtained or made, as the case may be, are in full force and effect and, to
the
best knowledge of Borrowers, are not the subject of any attack or threatened
attack (in each case in any material respect) by appeal or direct proceeding
or
otherwise.
6.11 Agreements
Affecting Financial Condition. No Credit Party is party to
any agreement or instrument or subject to any charter or other corporate
restriction which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
6.12 No
Investment Company or Margin Stock. No Credit Party is an
“investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended. No Credit Party is engaged principally, or as one of its important
activities, directly or indirectly, in the business of extending credit for
the
purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock. None of the proceeds of any
of
the Advances will be used by any Credit Party to purchase or carry margin
stock.
Terms for which meanings are provided in Regulation U of the Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System or any regulations substituted therefore, as
from
time to time in effect, are used in this paragraph with such
meanings.
52
6.13 ERISA. No
Credit Party maintains or contributes to any Pension Plan subject to Title
IV of
ERISA, except as set forth on Schedule 6.13 hereto or otherwise disclosed
to the
Agent in writing. There is no accumulated funding deficiency within
the meaning of Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code or Section 302 of
ERISA,
or any outstanding liability with respect to any Pension Plans owed to the
PBGC
other than future premiums due and owing pursuant to Section 4007 of ERISA,
and
no “reportable event” as defined in Section 4043(c) of ERISA has occurred with
respect to any Pension Plan other than an event for which the notice requirement
has been waived by the PBGC. None of the Credit Parties has engaged
in a prohibited transaction with respect to any Pension Plan, other than
a
prohibited transaction for which an exemption is available and has been
obtained, which could subject such Credit Parties to a material tax or penalty
imposed by Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code or Section 502(i) of
ERISA. Each Pension Plan is being maintained and funded in accordance
with its terms and is in material compliance with the requirements of the
Internal Revenue Code and ERISA. No Credit Party has had a complete
or partial withdrawal from any Multiemployer Plan that has resulted or could
reasonably be expected to have resulted in any Withdrawal Liability and,
except
as notified to Agent in writing following the Effective Date, no such
Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization (within the meaning of Section 4241
of
ERISA) or insolvent (within the meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA).
6.14 Conditions
Affecting Business or Properties. Neither the respective
businesses nor the properties of any Credit Party is affected by any fire,
explosion, accident, strike, lockout or other dispute, drought, storm, hail,
earthquake, embargo, Act of God, or other casualty (except to the extent
such
event is covered by insurance sufficient to ensure that upon application
of the
proceeds thereof, no Material Adverse Effect could reasonably be expected
to
occur) which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
6.15 Environmental
and Safety Matters. Except as set forth in Schedules 6.9,
6.10 and 6.15:
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(a)
|
all
facilities and property owned or leased by the Credit Parties are
in
compliance with all Hazardous Material Laws in all material
respects;
|
|
(b)
|
to
the best knowledge of Borrowers, there have been no unresolved
and
outstanding past, and there are no pending or
threatened:
|
|
(i)
|
claims,
complaints, notices or requests for information received by any
Credit
Party with respect to any alleged violation of any Hazardous Material
Law
which, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to
have a
Material Adverse Effect, or
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53
|
(ii)
|
written
complaints, notices or inquiries to any Credit Party regarding
potential
liability of any Credit Parties under any Hazardous Material Law
which, if
adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect; and
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|
(c)
|
to
the best knowledge of Borrowers, no conditions exist at, on or
under any
property now or previously owned or leased by any Credit Party
which, with
the passage of time, or the giving of notice or both, are reasonably
likely to give rise to liability under any Hazardous Material Law
which
solely or together with any other such conditions could reasonably
be
expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
|
6.16 Subsidiaries. Except
as disclosed on Schedule 6.16 hereto as of the Effective Date, and thereafter,
except as disclosed to the Agent in writing from time to time, no Credit
Party
has any Subsidiaries.
6.17 Intentionally
Omitted.
6.18 Intentionally
Omitted.
6.19 Franchises,
Patents, Copyrights, Tradenames, etc. The Credit Parties
possess all franchises, patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade names, licenses
and permits, and rights in respect of the foregoing, adequate for the conduct
of
their business substantially as now conducted without known conflict with
any
rights of others except where the failure to possess such rights could not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Schedule
6.19 contains a true and accurate list of all trade names and any and all
other
names used by any Credit Party during the five-year period ending as of the
Effective Date.
6.20 Capital
Structure. Schedule 6.20 attached hereto sets forth all issued
and outstanding Equity Interests of each Credit Party, including the number
of
authorized, issued and outstanding Equity Interests of each Credit Party,
the
par value of such Equity Interests and, other than for Sterling, the holders
of
such Equity Interests, all on and as of the Effective Date. All issued and
outstanding Equity Interests of each Credit Party are duly authorized and
validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable, and, except for the Equity Interests
of Sterling, free and clear of all Liens (except for the benefit of Agent)
and
such Equity Interests were issued in compliance with all applicable state,
federal and foreign laws concerning the issuance of
securities. Except as disclosed on Schedule 6.20, there are no
preemptive or other outstanding rights, options, warrants, conversion rights
or
similar agreements or understandings for the purchase or acquisition from
any
Credit Party, of any Equity Interests of any Credit Party.
6.21 Accuracy
of Information. (a) The audited financial
statements for the Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2006, furnished to Agent
and
the Lenders prior to the Effective Date fairly present in all material respects
the financial condition of Sterling and its Subsidiaries covered thereby
and the
results of their operations for the periods covered thereby, and have been
prepared in accordance with GAAP. The projections and the other pro forma
financial information delivered to the Agent prior to the Effective Date
are
based upon good faith estimates and assumptions believed by management of
the
Borrowers to be accurate and reasonable at the time made, it being recognized
by
the Lenders that such financial information as it relates to future events
is
not to be viewed as fact and that actual results during the period or periods
covered by such financial information may differ from the projected results
set
forth therein.
54
(b) From
June 30, 2007 through the Effective Date, there has been no material adverse
change in the business, operations, condition, property or prospects (financial
or otherwise) of the Credit Parties, taken as a whole.
(c) To
the best knowledge of the Credit Parties, as of the Effective Date, (i) the
Credit Parties do not have any material contingent obligations (including
any
liability for taxes) not disclosed by or reserved against in the opening
balance
sheet to be delivered hereunder and (ii) there are no unrealized or anticipated
losses from any present commitment of the Credit Parties which contingent
obligations and losses in the aggregate could reasonably be expected to have
a
Material Adverse Effect.
6.22 Solvency. After
giving effect to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and other Loan Documents and the Acquisition Documents, each Credit
Party will be solvent, able to pay its indebtedness as it matures and will
have
capital sufficient to carry on its businesses and all business in which it
is
about to engage. This Agreement is being executed and delivered by the Borrowers
to Agent and the Lenders in good faith and in exchange for fair, equivalent
consideration. The Credit Parties do not intend to nor does management of
the
Credit Parties believe the Credit Parties will incur debts beyond their ability
to pay as they mature. No Credit Party contemplates filing a petition in
bankruptcy or for an arrangement or reorganization under the Bankruptcy Code
or
any similar law of any jurisdiction now or hereafter in effect relating to
any
Credit Party, nor does any Credit Party have any knowledge of any threatened
bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against a Credit Party.
6.23 Employee
Matters. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.23, there are
no strikes, slowdowns, work stoppages, unfair labor practice complaints,
grievances, arbitration proceedings or controversies pending or, to the best
knowledge of the Borrowers, threatened against any Credit Party by any employees
of any Credit Party, other than non-material employee grievances or
controversies arising in the ordinary course of business. Set forth on Schedule
6.23 are all union contracts or agreements to which any Credit Party is party
as
of the Effective Date and the related expiration dates of each such
contract.
6.24 No
Misrepresentation. Neither this Agreement nor any other
Loan Document, certificate, information or report furnished or to be furnished
by or on behalf of a Credit Party to Agent or any Lender in connection with
any
of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, contains a misstatement
of
material fact, or omits to state a material fact required to be stated in
order
to make the statements contained herein or therein, taken as a whole, not
misleading in the light of the circumstances under which such statements
were
made. There is no fact, other than information known to the public
generally, known to any Credit Party after diligent inquiry, that could
reasonably be expect to have a Material Adverse Effect that has not expressly
been disclosed to Agent in writing.
55
6.25 Corporate
Documents and Corporate Existence. As to each Credit
Party, (a) it is an organization as described on Schedule 1.3 hereto and
has
provided the Agent and the Lenders with complete and correct copies of its
articles of incorporation, by-laws and all other applicable charter and other
organizational documents, and, if applicable, a good standing certificate
and
(b) its correct legal name, business address, type of organization and
jurisdiction of organization, tax identification number and other relevant
identification numbers are set forth on Schedule 1.3 hereto.
6.26 Acquisition
Documents.
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(a)
|
Each
Acquisition Document to which any Credit Party is a party has been
duly
authorized and validly executed, constitutes the valid and binding
obligation of such Credit Party and is enforceable against such
Credit
Party in accordance with its terms except as enforcement thereof
may be
limited by applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, fraudulent
conveyance, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement
of
creditor’s rights, generally and by general principles of equity
(regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding
in law or
equity). No Acquisition Document to which any Credit Party is a
party has been modified, amended, altered or changed in any manner
except
in compliance with this Agreement, and there are no unwaived defaults,
other than such defaults which, either singly or in the aggregate,
could
not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, existing
under the Acquisition Documents by any Credit Party that is a party
thereto, or, to the best of the knowledge of any Credit Party,
by any
other party thereto;
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|
(b)
|
The
Credit Parties will keep and perform or cause to be kept and performed
all
of their respective material obligations under the Acquisition
Documents;
|
|
(c)
|
No
Credit Party shall have granted a collateral assignment of, or
a security
interest over the Acquisition Documents (other than in favor of
Agent for
the benefit of the Lenders) and, no Credit Party shall have sold,
transferred or assigned any Acquisition Document to any Person
(other than
to or in favor of Agent) without the consent of the Agent;
and
|
(d)
|
Upon
the consummation of the Acquisition, the Borrowers and Sellers
shall have
obtained all material third party consents reasonably deemed necessary
by
Agent or otherwise required in connection with the Acquisition
and shall
have delivered copies to Agent of all additional assignment or
assumption
agreements entered into in connection therewith, except to the
extent
waived or extended pursuant to the terms hereof and
thereof.
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7.
|
AFFIRMATIVE
COVENANTS.
|
Each
Borrower covenants and agrees, so long as any Lender has any commitment to
extend credit hereunder, or any of the Indebtedness remains outstanding and
unpaid, that it will, and, as applicable, it will cause each of its Subsidiaries
to:
56
7.1
Financial Statements. Furnish
to the Agent, in form and detail satisfactory to Agent, with sufficient copies
for each Lender, the following documents:
|
(a)
|
as
soon as available, but in any event within one hundred twenty (120)
days
after the end of each Fiscal Year, a copy of the audited Consolidated
and
unaudited Consolidating financial statements of the Sterling and
its
Consolidated Subsidiaries as at the end of such Fiscal Year and
the
related audited Consolidated and unaudited Consolidating statements
of
income, stockholders equity, and cash flows of Sterling and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year or partial Fiscal
Year and
underlying assumptions, setting forth in each case in comparative
form the
figures for the previous Fiscal Year, certified as being fairly
stated in
all material respects by an independent, nationally recognized
certified
public accounting firm reasonably satisfactory to the Agent;
and
|
|
(b)
|
as
soon as available, but in any event within forty-five (45) days
after the
end of each fiscal quarter of Sterling (except the last quarter
of each
Fiscal Year), Borrower prepared unaudited Consolidated and Consolidating
balance sheets of Sterling and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as
at the end
of such quarter and the related stockholders equity and cash flows,
jobs-in-progress report, backlog report, and accounts receivable
and
payable statements, and a statement of the Average Total Debt for
the
Applicable Measuring Period of Sterling and its Consolidated Subsidiaries
for the portion of the Fiscal Year through the end of such quarter,
setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for
the
corresponding periods in the previous Fiscal Year, and certified
by a
Responsible Officer of the Borrower Representative as being fairly
stated
in all material respects;
|
all
such
financial statements to be complete and correct in all material respects
and to
be prepared in reasonable detail and in accordance with GAAP throughout the
periods reflected therein and with prior periods (except as approved by a
Responsible Officer of the Borrower Representative and disclosed therein),
provided however that the financial statements delivered pursuant to clause
(b)
hereof will not be required to include footnotes and will be subject to change
from audit and year-end adjustments.
7.2
Certificates; Other
Information. Furnish to the Agent, in form and detail
acceptable to Agent, with sufficient copies for each Lender, the following
documents:
|
(a)
|
Concurrently
with the delivery of the financial statements described in Sections
7.1(a)
and 7.1(b) of this Agreement for each fiscal year-end and fiscal
quarter-end, respectively, a Covenant Compliance Report duly executed
by a
Responsible Officer of the Borrower Representative and, as required
by the
Security Agreement, all original vehicle titles for vehicles acquired
by
any Credit Party during the prior fiscal
quarter;
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57
|
(b)
|
Deliver
(i) no later than November 15, 2007, a pro forma opening balance
sheet for
Sterling and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (including the Target)
and (ii)
no later than December 15, 2007, an actual opening balance sheet
(the
“Balance Sheet”) for Sterling and its Consolidated Subsidiaries (including
Target), each such balance sheet to be in form and substance reasonably
acceptable to the Agent;
|
|
(c)
|
Promptly
upon receipt thereof, copies of all significant reports submitted
by the
Credit Parties’ firm(s) of certified public accountants in connection with
each annual, interim or special audit or review of any type of
the
financial statements or related internal control systems of the
Credit
Parties made by such accountants, including any comment letter
submitted
by such accountants to management in connection with their
services;
|
|
(d)
|
Any
financial reports, statements, press releases, other material information
or written notices delivered to the holders of the Subordinated
Debt
pursuant to any applicable Subordinated Debt Documents (to the
extent not
otherwise required hereunder), as and when delivered to such
Persons;
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|
(e)
|
Within
sixty (60) days after the end of each Fiscal Year, projections
for the
Credit Parties for the next succeeding Fiscal Year, substantially
in the
form provided to the Agent prior to Effective Date, except as otherwise
requested by or agreed to by the Agent, such projections certified
by a
Responsible Officer of the Borrower Representative as being based
on
reasonable estimates and assumptions taking into account all facts
and
information known (or reasonably available to any Credit Party)
by a
Responsible Officer of the Borrower
Representative;
|
|
(f)
|
Promptly
upon the filing thereof, any 10-K or 10-Q filings made with the
Securities
and Exchange Commission or any national securities
exchange;
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|
(g)
|
Any
additional information as required by any Loan Document, and such
additional schedules, certificates and reports respecting all or
any of
the Collateral, the items or amounts received by the Credit Parties
in
full or partial payment thereof, and any goods (the sale or lease
of which
shall have given rise to any of the Collateral) possession of which
has
been obtained by the Credit Parties, all to such extent as Agent
may
reasonably request from time to time, any such schedule, certificate
or
report to be certified as true and correct in all material respects
by a
Responsible Officer of the applicable Credit Party and shall be
in such
form and detail as Agent may reasonably specify;
and
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|
(h)
|
Such
additional financial and/or other information as Agent or any Lender
may
from time to time reasonably request, promptly following such
request.
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58
7.3
Intentionally Omitted.
7.4
Conduct of Business and Maintenance of
Existence; Compliance with Laws.
(a) Not
engage in any business that is substantially different from the business
conducted by the Credit Parties immediately prior to the Effective Date and
businesses reasonably related or complementary thereto;
(b) Preserve,
renew and keep in full force and effect its existence and maintain its
qualifications to do business in each jurisdiction where such qualifications
are
necessary for its operations, except as otherwise permitted pursuant to Section
8.4;
(c) Take
all action it deems necessary in its reasonable business judgment to maintain
all rights, privileges and franchises necessary for the normal conduct of
its
business except where the failure to so maintain such rights, privileges
or
franchises could not, either singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(d) Comply
with all Requirements of Law, except to the extent that failure to comply
therewith could not, either singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect; and
(e) (i)
Continue to be a Person whose property or interests in property is not blocked
or subject to blocking pursuant to Section 1 of Executive Order 13224 of
September 23, 2001 Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons
Who Commit, Threaten to Commit or Support Terrorism (66 Fed. Reg. 49079 (2001))
(the “Order”), (ii) not engage in the transactions prohibited by Section 2 of
that Order or become associated with Persons such that a violation of Section
2
of the Order would arise, and (iii) not become a Person on the list of Specially
Designated National and Blocked Persons, or (iv) otherwise not become subject
to
the limitation of any OFAC regulation or executive order.
7.5 Maintenance
of Property; Insurance. (a) Keep all material
property it deems, in its reasonable business judgment, useful and necessary
in
its business in working order (ordinary wear and tear excepted); (b) maintain
insurance coverage with financially sound and reputable insurance companies
on
physical assets and against other business risks in such amounts and of such
types as are customarily carried by companies similar in size and nature
(including without limitation casualty and public liability and property
damage
insurance), and in the event of acquisition of additional property, real
or
personal, or of the incurrence of additional risks of any nature, increase
such
insurance coverage in such manner and to such extent as prudent business
judgment and present practice or any applicable Requirements of Law would
dictate; (c) in the case of all insurance policies covering any Collateral,
such
insurance policies shall provide that the loss payable thereunder shall be
payable to the applicable Credit Party, and to the Agent (as mortgagee, or,
in
the case of personal property interests, lender loss payee) as their respective
interests may appear; (d) in the case of all public liability
insurance policies, such policies shall list the Agent as an additional insured,
as Agent may reasonably request; and (e) if requested by Agent, certificates
evidencing such policies, including all endorsements thereto, to be deposited
with Agent, such certificates being in form and substance reasonably acceptable
to Agent.
59
7.6
Inspection of Property; Books and
Records, Discussions. Permit Agent and each Lender,
through their authorized attorneys, accountants and representatives (a) at
all
reasonable times during normal business hours, upon the request of Agent
or such
Lender, to examine each Credit Party’s books, accounts, records, ledgers and
assets and properties; (b) from time to time, during normal business hours,
upon
the request of the Agent, to conduct appraisals of all or a portion of the
material fixed assets of the Credit Parties, such appraisals to be completed
by
an appraiser as may be selected by Agent and consented to by the Borrower
Representative (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld), with all
reasonable costs and expenses of such appraisals to be reimbursed by the
Credit
Parties, provided that so long as no Event of Default or Default exists,
Borrowers shall not be required to reimburse Agent for such audits or appraisals
more frequently than once each Fiscal Year; (c) during normal business hours
and
at their own risk, to enter onto the real property owned or leased by any
Credit
Party to conduct inspections, investigations or other reviews of such real
property; and (d) at reasonable times during normal business hours and at
reasonable intervals, to visit all of the Credit Parties’ offices, discuss each
Credit Party’s respective financial matters with their respective officers, as
applicable, and, by this provision, each Borrower authorizes, and will cause
each of their respective Subsidiaries to authorize, its independent certified
or
chartered public accountants to discuss the finances and affairs of any Credit
Party and examine any of such Credit Party’s books, reports or records held by
such accountants.
7.7
Notices. Promptly
give written notice to the Agent of:
|
(a)
|
the
occurrence of any Default or Event of Default of which any Credit
Party
has knowledge;
|
|
(b)
|
any
(i) litigation or proceeding existing at any time between any Credit
Party
and any Governmental Authority or other third party, or any investigation
of any Credit Party conducted by any Governmental Authority, which
in any
case if adversely determined would have a Material Adverse Effect
or (ii)
any material adverse change in the financial condition of any Credit
Party
since the date of the last audited financial statements delivered
pursuant
to Section 7.1(a) hereof;
|
|
(c)
|
the
occurrence of any event which any Credit Party believes could reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, promptly after concluding
that such event could reasonably be expected to have such a Material
Adverse Effect;
|
|
(d)
|
promptly
after becoming aware thereof, the taking by the Internal Revenue
Service
or any foreign taxing jurisdiction of a written tax position (or
any such
tax position taken by any Credit Party in a filing with the Internal
Revenue Service or any foreign taxing jurisdiction) which could
reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, setting forth the
details
of such position and the financial impact
thereof;
|
|
(e)
|
(i)
all jurisdictions in which any Credit Party proposes to become
qualified
after the Effective Date to transact business, (ii) the acquisition
or
creation of any new Subsidiaries, (iii) any material change after
the
Effective Date in the authorized and issued Equity Interests of
any Credit
Party or any other material amendment to any Credit Party’s charter,
by-laws or other organizational documents, such notice, in each
case, to
identify the applicable jurisdictions, capital structures or amendments
as
applicable, provided that such notice shall be given not less than
ten
(10) Business Days prior to the proposed effectiveness of such
changes,
acquisition or creation, as the case may be (or such shorter period
to
which Agent may consent);
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60
|
(f)
|
not
less than fifteen (15) Business Days (or such other shorter period
to
which Agent may agree) prior to the proposed effective date thereof,
any
proposed material amendments, restatements or other modifications
to any
Subordinated Debt Documents; and
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|
(g)
|
any
default or event of default by any Person under any Subordinated
Debt
Document, Acquisition Document or Bond Document concurrently with
delivery
or promptly after receipt (as the case may be) of any notice of
default or
event of default under the applicable document, as the case may
be.
|
Each
notice pursuant to this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of a
Responsible Officer of the Borrower Representative setting forth details
of the
occurrence referred to therein and, in the case of notices referred to in
clauses (a), (b), (c), (d) and (g) hereof stating what action the applicable
Credit Party has taken or proposes to take with respect thereto.
7.8
Hazardous Material Laws.
(a) Use
and operate all of its facilities and properties in material compliance with
all
applicable Hazardous Material Laws, keep all material required permits,
approvals, certificates, licenses and other authorizations required under
such
Hazardous Material Laws in effect and remain in compliance therewith, and
handle
all Hazardous Materials in material compliance with all applicable Hazardous
Material Laws;
(b) (i)
Promptly notify Agent and provide copies upon receipt of all written claims,
complaints, notices or inquiries received by any Credit Party relating to
its
facilities and properties or compliance with Hazardous Material Laws which,
if
adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect and (ii) promptly cure and have dismissed with prejudice to the
reasonable satisfaction of Agent and the Majority Lenders any material actions
and proceedings relating to compliance with Hazardous Material Laws to which
any
Credit Party is named a party, other than such actions or proceedings being
contested in good faith and with the establishment of reasonable
reserves;
(c) To
the extent necessary to comply in all material respects with Hazardous Material
Laws, remediate or monitor contamination arising from a release or disposal
of
Hazardous Material, which solely, or together with other releases or disposals
of Hazardous Materials could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect;
(d) Provide
such information and certifications which Agent or any Lender may reasonably
request from time to time to evidence compliance with this Section
7.8.
61
7.9
Financial
Covenants.
(a) Commencing
with the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2007, maintain as of the end
of each
fiscal quarter a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of not less than 1.25 to
1.00.
(b) Commencing
with the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2007, maintain as of the end
of each
fiscal quarter a Leverage Ratio of not more (i) than 2.25 to 1.00 for the
fiscal
quarters ending December 31, 2007 and March 31, 2008 and (ii) 2.00 to 1.00
for
each fiscal quarter thereafter:
(c) Commencing
on the Effective Date (after giving effect to the Acquisition), maintain
a
Tangible Net Worth of Sterling and its Consolidated Subsidiaries equal to
(i)
the Tangible Net Worth of Sterling and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as
calculated based on the Balance Sheet less $3,000,000 plus (ii) 50% of each
subsequent fiscal quarter’s positive Net Income, without reduction for
losses.
(d) Commencing
on the Effective Date (after giving effect to the Acquisition), maintain
an
Asset Coverage Ratio of at least 1.25 to 1.00.
(e) At
no time shall Sterling and its Consolidated Subsidiaries have Net Income
for any
two consecutive fiscal quarters which is less than ($500,000) in the aggregate
for such two consecutive fiscal quarters.
7.10 Governmental
and Other Approvals. Apply for, obtain and/or maintain in effect,
as applicable, all authorizations, consents, approvals, licenses,
qualifications, exemptions, filings, declarations and registrations (whether
with any court, governmental agency, regulatory authority, securities exchange
or otherwise) which are necessary or reasonably requested by Agent in connection
with the execution, delivery and performance by any Credit Party of, as
applicable, this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the Subordinated Debt
Documents or any other documents or instruments to be executed and/or delivered
by any Credit Party, as applicable in connection therewith or herewith, except
where the failure to so apply for, obtain or maintain could not reasonably
be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
7.11 Compliance
with ERISA; ERISA Notices. (a) Comply in all
material respects with all material requirements imposed by ERISA and the
Internal Revenue Code, including, but not limited to, the minimum funding
requirements for any Pension Plan, except to the extent that any noncompliance
could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Promptly
notify Agent upon the occurrence of any of the following events in writing:
(i)
the termination, other than a standard termination, as defined in ERISA,
of any
Pension Plan subject to Subtitle C of Title IV of ERISA by any Credit Party;
(ii) the appointment of a trustee by a United States District Court to
administer any Pension Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA; (iii) the commencement
by the PBGC, of any proceeding to terminate any Pension Plan subject to Title
IV
of ERISA; (iv) the failure of any Credit Party to make any payment in respect
of
any Pension Plan required under Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code
or
Section 302 of ERISA; (v) the withdrawal of any Credit Party from any
Multiemployer Plan if any Credit Party reasonably believes that such withdrawal
would give rise to the imposition of Withdrawal Liability with respect thereto;
or (vi) the occurrence of (x) a “reportable event” which is required to be
reported by a Credit Party under Section 4043 of ERISA other than any event
for
which the reporting requirement has been waived by the PBGC or (y) a “prohibited
transaction” as defined in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Internal
Revenue Code other than a transaction for which a statutory exemption is
available or an administrative exemption has been obtained.
62
7.12 Defense
of Collateral. Defend the Collateral from any Liens other
than Liens permitted by Section 8.2.
7.13 Future
Subsidiaries; Additional Collateral.
(a) With
respect to each Person which becomes a Domestic Subsidiary of a Borrower
(directly or indirectly) subsequent to the Effective Date, whether by Permitted
Acquisition or otherwise, cause such new Domestic Subsidiary to execute and
deliver to the Agent, for and on behalf of each of the Lenders (unless waived
by
Agent):
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(i)
|
Within
thirty (30) days after the date such Person becomes a Domestic
Subsidiary
(or such longer time period as the Agent may determine), a joinder
agreement to this Agreement, whereby such Domestic Subsidiary shall
become
a co-Borrower hereunder; and
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|
(ii)
|
within
thirty (30) days after the date such Person becomes a Domestic
Subsidiary
(or such longer time period as the Agent may determine), a joinder
agreement to the Security Agreement whereby such Domestic Subsidiary
grants a Lien over its assets (other than Equity Interests which
should be
governed by (b) of this Section 7.13) as set forth in the Security
Agreement, and such Domestic Subsidiary shall take such additional
actions
as may be necessary to ensure a valid first priority perfected
Lien over
such assets of such Domestic Subsidiary as are specified in the
Security
Agreement, subject only to the other Liens permitted pursuant to
Section
8.2 of this Agreement;
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(iii)
|
within
the time period specified in and to the extent required under clause
(c)
of this Section 7.13, any Mortgage, Collateral Access Agreements
and/or
other documents required to be delivered in connection
therewith;
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(b) With
respect to the Equity Interests of each Person which becomes (whether by
Permitted Acquisition or otherwise) (i) a Domestic Subsidiary subsequent
to the
Effective Date, cause the Credit Party that holds such Equity Interests to
execute and deliver such Pledge Agreements, and take such actions as may
be
necessary to ensure a valid first priority perfected Lien over one hundred
percent (100%) of the Equity Interests of such Domestic Subsidiary held by
a
Credit Party, such Pledge Agreements to be executed and delivered (unless
waived
by Agent) within thirty (30) days after the date such Person becomes a Domestic
Subsidiary (or such longer time period as Agent may determine); and (ii)
a
Foreign Subsidiary subsequent to the Effective Date, the Equity Interests
of
which is held directly by a Borrower or one of its Domestic Subsidiaries,
cause
the Credit Party that holds such Equity Interests to execute and deliver
such
Pledge Agreements and take such actions as may be necessary to ensure a valid
first priority perfected Lien over sixty-five percent (65%) of the Equity
Interests of such Subsidiary, such Pledge Agreements to be executed and
delivered (unless waived by Agent) within thirty (30) days after the date
such
Person becomes a Foreign Subsidiary (or such longer time period as Agent
may
determine); and
63
(c) (i)
With respect to the acquisition of a fee interest in real property by any
Credit
Party after the Effective Date (whether by Permitted Acquisition or otherwise)
where the fair market value of such real property is in excess of $1,000,000
or
the fair market value of such real property, together with all other real
property owned by the Credit Parties and not encumbered by a lien in the
name of
the Agent for the benefit of the Lenders is in excess of $2,500,000, not
later
than thirty (30) days after the acquisition is consummated or the owner of
such
property becomes a Domestic Subsidiary (or such longer time period as Agent
may
determine), such Credit Party shall execute or cause to be executed (unless
waived by Agent), a Mortgage (or an amendment to an existing mortgage, where
appropriate) covering such real property, together with such additional real
estate documentation, environmental reports, title policies and surveys as
may
be reasonably required by Agent; and (ii) with respect to the acquisition
of any
leasehold interest in real property by any Credit Party after the Effective
Date
(whether by Permitted Acquisition or otherwise), not later than thirty (30)
days
after the acquisition is consummated or the owner of the applicable leasehold
interest becomes a Domestic Subsidiary (or such longer time period as Agent
may
determine), the applicable Credit Party shall deliver to the Agent a copy
of the
applicable lease agreement and shall execute or cause to be executed, at
Agent’s
option, unless otherwise waived by Agent, a Collateral Access Agreement in
form
and substance reasonably acceptable to Agent together with such other
documentation as may be reasonably required by Agent, provided, however the
requirement of delivering such Collateral Access Agreements shall only apply
to
permanent leased facilities, and not to any temporary leased locations relating
solely to jobs-in-progress;
in
each
case in form reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, in its reasonable discretion,
together with such supporting documentation, including without limitation
corporate authority items, certificates and opinions of counsel, as reasonably
required by the Agent. Upon the Agent’s request, Credit Parties shall
take, or cause to be taken, such additional steps as are necessary or advisable
under applicable law to perfect and ensure the validity and priority of the
Liens granted under this Section 7.13.
7.14 Accounts. Maintain
all deposit accounts and securities accounts of any Credit Party with Agent,
provided, however that the Credit Parties may maintain other deposit accounts
with a bank other than Agent provided that the aggregate amount held in such
other deposit accounts at any time shall not exceed $250,000.
7.15 Use
of Proceeds. Use all Advances of the Revolving Credit as
set forth in Section 2.12 hereof. No Borrower shall use any portion of the
proceeds of any such advances for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any
“margin stock” (as defined in Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System) in any manner which violates the provisions of
Regulation T, U or X of said Board of Governors or for any other purpose
in
violation of any applicable statute or regulation.
64
7.16 Post-Closing
Items. Within the time periods specified below
(unless such time period is otherwise extended by the Agent in its sole
discretion), the Borrowers shall provide the following materials to the
Agent:
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(a)
|
Within
thirty (30) days of the Effective Date, execute and deliver Mortgages,
in
form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Agent for that
certain
real property located at (i) 00000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx
00000,
(ii) Xxxx 00000 Xxxx 000, Xxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Texas,
(iii)
64.839 acres on Xxxxx Road, Cypress, Xxxxxx County, Texas, (iv)
50.7 acres on St. Hedwig Street (FM1346), San
Antonio, Bexar County, Texas; (v) 4.466 acres at 0000 Xxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxx (XX 274), Grand Prairie, Dallas County, Texas and (vi) 5.0
acres at
00000 Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx, together with all
related
documentation as Agent may request.
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(b)
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On
the Effective Date, (i) the Joinder Agreement executed by Target;
(ii) for
any Lender requesting them, Revolving Credit Notes and for the
Swing Line
Lender, the Swing Note, executed by the Borrowers; (iii) officers’
certificates of the Target in the form required by Section 5.1(b)
hereof;
(iv) that certain Comerica Bank Merger Acknowledgment, executed
by the
Borrowers; (v) that certain Agreement re: No Oral Agreements, executed
by
the Borrowers; (vi) that certain Acknowledgment of Pledge executed
by RHBL
and (vii) that certain Acknowledgment of the Borrowers to the Comerica
Intercreditor Agreement.
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|
(c)
|
Within
thirty (30) days of the Effective Date, amend the loan documents
relating
to the Comerica Debt in form and substance reasonably acceptable
to the
Agent;
|
|
(d)
|
Within
fifteen (15) days of the Effective Date, deliver certificates of
foreign
qualification for OMC in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and
for TSC in
the State of Arizona;
|
|
(e)
|
Within
fifteen (15) days of the Effective Date, deliver casualty and liability
insurance certificates in form and substance reasonably acceptable
to the
Agent;
|
|
(f)
|
Within
fifteen (15) days of the Effective Date, deliver an opinion as
to the
Target from counsel to the Borrowers in the State of Nevada, in
form and
substance reasonably acceptable to the
Agent;
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(g)
|
Within
fifteen (15) days of the Effective Date, to the extent there is
any
outstanding intercompany Debt among any Credit Parties, execute
Intercompany Notes evidencing such Debt and deliver such Intercompany
Notes to the Agent;
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65
|
(h)
|
Unless
within sixty (60) days of the Effective Date, any investment accounts
held
with Comerica Securities, Inc. have been closed, the applicable
Credit
Parties shall, upon the request of the Agent, execute and deliver
an
account control agreement regarding such accounts in form and substance
reasonably acceptable to the Agent together with such other documents
related thereto as Agent may reasonably request;
and
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|
(i)
|
Within
thirty (30) days of the Effective Date, all vehicle titles for
vehicles
owned by the Borrowers.
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7.17 Further
Assurances and Information. (a) Take such
actions as the Agent or Majority Lenders may from time to time reasonably
request to establish and maintain first priority perfected security interests
in
and Liens on all of the Collateral, subject only to those Liens permitted
under
Section 8.2 hereof, including executing and delivering such additional pledges,
assignments, mortgages, lien instruments or other security instruments covering
any or all of the Credit Parties’ assets as Agent may reasonably require, such
documentation to be in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Agent,
and
prepared at the expense of the Borrowers; and
(b) Execute
and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered to Agent within a reasonable
time following Agent’s request, and at the expense of the Borrowers, such other
documents or instruments as Agent may reasonably require to effectuate more
fully the purposes of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents.
(c) Provide
the Agent and the Lenders with any other information required by Section
326 of
the Patriot Act or necessary for the Agent and the Lenders to verify the
identity of any Credit Party as required by Section 326 of the Patriot
Act.
8.
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NEGATIVE
COVENANTS.
|
Each
Borrower covenants and agrees that, so long as any Lender has any commitment
to
extend credit hereunder, or any of the Indebtedness remains outstanding and
unpaid, it will not, and, as applicable, it will not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to:
8.1
Limitation on
Debt. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Debt,
except:
|
(a)
|
Indebtedness
of any Credit Party to Agent and the Lenders under this Agreement
and/or
the other Loan Documents;
|
|
(b)
|
any
Debt existing on the Effective Date and set forth in Schedule 8.1
attached
hereto and any renewals or refinancing of such Debt (provided that
(i) the
aggregate principal amount of such renewed or refinanced Debt shall
not
exceed the aggregate principal amount of the original Debt outstanding
on
the Effective Date (less any principal payments and the amount
of any
commitment reductions made thereon on or prior to such renewal
or
refinancing), (ii) the renewal or refinancing of such Debt shall
be on
substantially the same or better terms as in effect with respect
to such
Debt on the Effective Date, and shall otherwise be in
compliance with this Agreement, and (iii) at the time of such renewal
or
refinancing no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing
or would result from the renewal or refinancing of such
Debt;
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66
|
(c)
|
any
Debt of Borrowers or any Subsidiary incurred to finance the acquisition
of
fixed or capital assets, whether pursuant to a loan or a Capitalized
Lease
provided that both at the time of and immediately after giving
effect to
the incurrence thereof (i) no Default or Event of Default shall
have
occurred and be continuing, and (ii) the aggregate amount of all
such Debt
at any one time outstanding (including, without limitation, any
Debt of
the type described in this clause (c) which is set forth on Schedule
8.1
hereof) shall not exceed $5,000,000, and any renewals or refinancings
of
such Debt on terms substantially the same or better than those
in effect
at the time of the original incurrence of such
Debt;
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|
(d)
|
Debt
under any Hedging Transactions, provided that such transaction
is entered
into for risk management purposes and not for speculative
purposes;
|
|
(e)
|
Debt
arising from judgments or decrees not deemed to be a Default or
Event of
Default under subsection (g) of Section
9.1;
|
|
(f)
|
Debt
owing to a Person that is a Credit Party, but only to the extent
permitted
under Section 8.7 hereof;
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|
(g)
|
the
Comerica Debt and the Subordinated
Debt;
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|
(h)
|
Debt
arising under the Surety Agreements, provided that the Borrowers
shall
promptly terminate the Liberty Mutual Indemnity Agreement and any
other
Bond Documents related thereto following the completion of the
construction projects set forth on Schedule
8.1(i);
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|
(i)
|
additional
unsecured Debt not otherwise described above, provided that both
at the
time of and immediately after giving effect to the incurrence thereof
(i)
no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing
or
result therefrom and (ii) the aggregate amount of all such Debt
shall not
exceed $1,000,000 at any one time
outstanding.
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8.2
Limitation on Liens. Create, incur,
assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues,
whether now owned or hereafter acquired, except for:
|
(a)
|
Permitted
Liens;
|
|
(b)
|
Liens
securing Debt permitted by Section 8.1(c), provided that (i) such
Liens
are created upon fixed or capital assets acquired by the applicable
Credit
Party, (ii) any such Lien is created solely for the purpose of
securing
indebtedness representing or incurred to finance the cost of the
acquisition of the item of property subject thereto, (iii) the
principal
amount of the Debt secured by any such Lien shall at no time exceed
100%
of the sum of the purchase price or cost of the applicable property,
equipment or improvements and the related costs and charges imposed
by the
vendors thereof and (iv) the Lien does not cover any property other
than
the fixed or capital asset acquired; provided, however, that no
such Lien
shall be created over any owned real property of any Credit Party
for
which Agent has received a Mortgage or for which such Credit Party
is
required to execute a Mortgage pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement;
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67
|
(c)
|
Liens
created pursuant to the Loan
Documents;
|
|
(d)
|
Liens
securing the Comerica Debt, as in effect on the Effective Date,
and
subject to the terms of the Comerica Intercreditor
Agreement;
|
|
(e)
|
Liens
arising under the Surety Agreements, provided that (i) no public
filing of
such Lien has been made, (ii) no action has been taken or threatened
to be
taken to perfect or enforce such Lien; and (iii) none of the surety
companies party to the Surety Agreements have required that any
Credit
Party establish a cash collateral account or otherwise put cash
on deposit
for their benefit;
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|
(f)
|
other
Liens, existing on the Effective Date, set forth on Schedule 8.2
and
renewals, refinancings and extensions thereof on substantially
the same or
better terms as in effect on the Effective Date and otherwise in
compliance with this Agreement.
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Regardless
of the provisions of this Section 8.2, no Lien over the Equity Interests
of
Borrowers (other than Sterling) or any Subsidiary of any Borrower (except
for
those Liens for the benefit of Agent and the Lenders) shall be permitted
under
the terms of this Agreement.
8.3
Acquisitions. Except
for the Acquisition, Permitted Acquisitions and acquisitions permitted under
Section 8.7, if any, purchase or otherwise acquire or become obligated for
the
purchase of all or substantially all or any material portion of the assets
or
business interests or a division or other business unit of any Person, or
any
Equity Interest of any Person, or any business or going concern.
8.4
Limitation on Mergers, Dissolution
or Sale of Assets. Enter into any merger or consolidation
or convey, sell, lease, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its
property, business or assets (including, without limitation, Equity Interests,
receivables and leasehold interests), whether now owned or hereafter acquired
or
liquidate, wind up or dissolve, except:
|
(a)
|
inventory
leased or sold in the ordinary course of
business;
|
|
(b)
|
obsolete,
damaged, uneconomic or worn out machinery, parts, property or equipment,
or property or equipment no longer used or useful in the conduct
of the
applicable Credit Party’s business;
|
|
(c)
|
Permitted
Acquisitions;
|
68
|
(d)
|
mergers
or consolidations of any Subsidiary of a Borrower with or into
a Borrower
or any Guarantor so long as such Borrower or such Guarantor shall
be the
continuing or surviving entity; provided that at the time of each
such
merger or consolidation, both before and after giving effect thereto,
no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing
or
result from such merger or
consolidation;
|
|
(e)
|
any
Subsidiary of a Borrower may liquidate or dissolve into a Borrower
or a
Guarantor if such Borrower determines in good faith that such liquidation
or dissolution is in the best interests of such Borrower, so long
as no
Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would
result
therefrom;
|
|
(f)
|
sales
or transfers, including without limitation upon voluntary liquidation
from
any Credit Party to a Borrower or a Guarantor, provided that the
applicable Borrower or Guarantor takes such actions as Agent may
reasonably request to ensure the perfection and priority of the
Liens in
favor of the Lenders over such transferred
assets;
|
|
(g)
|
(i)
Asset Sales (exclusive of asset sales permitted pursuant to all
other
subsections of this Section 8.4) in which the sales price is at
least
equal to the fair market value of the assets sold and the consideration
received is cash or cash equivalents or Debt of any Credit Party
being
assumed by the purchaser, provided that, (A) for Asset Sales for
assets
other than real property, the aggregate amount of such Asset Sales
does
not exceed $2,000,000 in any Fiscal Year and (B) no Default or
Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of each such
sale (both
before and after giving effect to such Asset Sale), and (ii) other
Asset
Sales approved by the Majority Lenders in their sole
discretion;
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(h)
|
the
sale or disposition of Permitted Investments and other cash equivalents
in
the ordinary course of business;
and
|
|
(i)
|
dispositions
of owned or leased vehicles in the ordinary course of
business.
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The
Lenders hereby consent and agree to the release by Agent of any and all Liens
on
the property sold or otherwise disposed of in compliance with this Section
8.4.
8.5
Restricted
Payments. Declare or make any distributions, dividend,
payment or other distribution of assets, properties, cash, rights, obligations
or securities (collectively, “Distributions”) on account of any of its Equity
Interests, as applicable, or purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire for value
any
of its Equity Interests, as applicable, or any warrants, rights or options
to
acquire any of its Equity Interests, now or hereafter outstanding (collectively,
“Purchases”), except that:
|
(a)
|
each
Credit Party may pay cash Distributions to the
Borrowers;
|
69
|
(b)
|
each
Credit Party may declare and make Distributions payable in the
Equity
Interests of such Credit Party, provided that the issuance of such
Equity
Interests does not otherwise violate the terms of this Agreement
and no
Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the
time of
making such Distribution or would result from the making of such
Distribution; and
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|
(c)
|
RBHL
may make cash Distributions to Xx. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx at the times
and in
the amounts set forth in the Purchase Agreement as in effect on
the date
hereof, provided that no Default or Event of Default has occurred
and is
continuing or could reasonably be expected to result
therefrom.
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8.6
Put and Call. Make any
payments to Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx in respect of the Put (as defined in the
Acquisition Documents) or otherwise exercise the Call (as defined in the
Purchase Agreement) if a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing or could reasonably be expected to result therefrom.
8.7 Limitation
on Investments, Loans and Advances. Make or allow to
remain outstanding any Investment in, or any loans or advances to, any Person
other than:
|
(a)
|
Permitted
Investments;
|
|
(b)
|
Investments
existing on the Effective Date and listed on Schedule 8.7
hereof;
|
|
(c)
|
sales
on open account in the ordinary course of
business;
|
|
(d)
|
intercompany
loans or intercompany Investments made amongst the Borrowers, provided,
further, that in each case, no Default or Event of Default shall
have
occurred and be continuing at the time of making such intercompany
loan or
intercompany Investment or result from such intercompany loan or
intercompany Investment being made and that any intercompany loans
shall
be evidenced by and funded under an Intercompany Note pledged to
the Agent
under the appropriate Collateral
Documents;
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(e)
|
Investments
in respect of Hedging Transactions provided that such transaction
is
entered into for risk management purposes and not for speculative
purposes;
|
|
(f)
|
loans
and advances to employees, officers and directors of any Credit
Party for
moving, entertainment, travel and other similar expenses in the
ordinary
course of business not in excess of $250,000 in the aggregate amount
at
any time outstanding;
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(g)
|
Permitted
Acquisitions and Investments in any Person acquired pursuant to
a
Permitted Acquisition;
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70
|
(h)
|
Investments
constituting deposits made in connection with the purchase of goods
or
services in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate amount
for
such deposits not to exceed $3,000,000 at any one time
outstanding;
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|
(i)
|
other
Investments not described above provided that both at the time
of and
immediately after giving effect to any such Investment (i) no Default
or
Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or shall
result
from the making of such Investment and (ii) the aggregate amount
of all
such Investments shall not exceed $250,000 at any time
outstanding.
|
In
valuing any Investments for the purpose of applying the limitations set forth
in
this Section 8.7 (except as otherwise expressly provided herein), such
Investment shall be taken at the original cost thereof, without allowance
for
any subsequent write-offs or appreciation or depreciation, but less any amount
repaid or recovered on account of capital or principal.
8.8
Transactions with
Affiliates. Except as set forth in Schedule 8.8, enter into any
transaction, including, without limitation, any purchase, sale, lease or
exchange of property or the rendering of any service, with any Affiliates
of the
Credit Parties except: (a) transactions with Affiliates that are the Borrowers
or Guarantors; (b) transactions otherwise permitted under this Agreement;
and
(c) transactions in the ordinary course of a Credit Party’s business and upon
fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to such Credit Party than it
would
obtain in a comparable arms length transaction from unrelated third
parties.
8.9
Sale-Leaseback Transactions; Sale of Accounts
or Notes Receivables; Synthetic Leases. Enter into any
arrangement with any Person providing for (a) the leasing by a Credit Party
of
real or personal property which has been or is to be sold or transferred
by such
Credit Party to such Person or to any other Person to whom funds have been
or
are to be advanced by such Person on the security of such property or rental
obligations of such Credit Party, as the case may be, (b) sell any accounts
or
notes receivable or (c) enter into any synthetic lease (being an operating
lease
which has been structured so that it is not recorded as a liability on the
balance sheet of any of the Credit Parties).
8.10 Limitations
on Other Restrictions. Except for this Agreement or any
other Loan Document, enter into any agreement, document or instrument which
would (i) restrict the ability of any Subsidiary of the Borrowers to pay
or make
dividends or distributions in cash or kind to Borrowers or any Guarantor,
to
make loans, advances or other payments of whatever nature to any Credit Party,
or to make transfers or distributions of all or any part of its assets to
any
Credit Party; or (ii) restrict or prevent any Credit Party from granting
Agent
on behalf of Lenders Liens upon, security interests in and pledges of their
respective assets, except to the extent such restrictions exist in documents
creating Liens permitted by Section 8.2(b) hereunder.
8.11 Prepayment
of Debt. Make any prepayment (whether optional or mandatory),
repurchase, redemption, defeasance or any other payment in respect of any
Subordinated Debt, provided, however, that the applicable
Credit Party may make certain payments in respect of the Subordinated Debt
but
only to the extent permitted under the applicable Subordinated Debt Documents
and the applicable Subordination Agreement.
71
8.12 Amendment
of Certain Documents. Amend, modify or otherwise alter (or
suffer to be amended, modified or altered) the Subordinated Debt Documents,
the
Acquisition Documents or the Surety Agreements except as permitted in the
applicable Subordinated Debt Documents and Subordination Agreements, or if
no
such restrictions exist in the applicable Subordinated Debt Documents or
Subordination Agreements, without the prior written consent of the
Agent.
8.13 Modification
of Certain Agreements. Make, permit or consent to any
amendment or other modification to the constitutional documents of any Credit
Party or any of the Bond Documents (other than the Surety Agreements which
are
subject to Section 8.12 above) except to the extent that any such amendment
or
modification (i) does not violate the terms and conditions of this Agreement
or
any of the other Loan Documents, (ii) does not materially adversely affect
the
interest of the Lenders as creditors and/or secured parties under any Loan
Document and (iii) could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
8.14 Management
Fees. Pay or otherwise advance, directly or indirectly,
any management, consulting or other fees to an Affiliate (other than an
Affiliate which is a Borrower or a Guarantor), other than fees not in excess
of
$250,000 in the aggregate amount in any year.
8.15 Fiscal
Year. Permit the Fiscal Year of any Credit Party to end on
a day other than December 31.
9.
|
DEFAULTS.
|
9.1
Events of Default. The occurrence of any of the
following events shall constitute an Event of Default hereunder:
|
(a)
|
non-payment
when due of (i) the principal or interest on the Indebtedness under
the
Revolving Credit (including the Swing Line) or (ii) any Reimbursement
Obligation;
|
|
(b)
|
non-payment
of any other amounts due and owing by any Borrower under this Agreement
or
by any Credit Party under any of the other Loan Documents to which
it is a
party, other than as set forth in subsection (a) above, within
three (3)
Business Days after the same is due and
payable;
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|
(c)
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default
in the observance or performance of any of the conditions, covenants
or
agreements of any Borrower set forth in Sections 7.1, 7.2, 7.4(a)
and (e),
7.5 (provided, however, if Credit Parties’ failure to comply with Section
7.5 arises from the Agent’s determination that the Credit Parties’
insurance is not of the kind customarily carried by similar companies,
a
failure to comply with Section 7.5 hereof shall not be an Event
of Default
until 30 days following Agent’s notification to the Borrower
Representative that the Credit Parties’ insurance is not adequate), 7.6,
7.7, 7.9, 7.13, 7.14, 7.15, 7.16, 7.17 or Article 8 in its
entirety, provided that an Event of Default arising from a breach
of
Sections 7.1 or 7.2 shall be deemed to have been cured upon delivery
of
the required item; and provided further that any Event of Default
arising
solely due to a breach of Section 7.7(a) shall be deemed cured
upon the
earlier of (x) the giving of the notice required by Section 7.7(a)
and (y)
the date upon which the Default or Event of Default giving rise
to the
notice obligation is cured or
waived;
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(d)
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default
in the observance or performance of any of the other conditions,
covenants
or agreements set forth in this Agreement or any of the other Loan
Documents by any Credit Party and continuance
thereof for a period of thirty (30) consecutive days;
;
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(e)
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any
representation or warranty made by any Credit Party herein or in
any
certificate, instrument or other document submitted pursuant hereto
proves
untrue or misleading in any material adverse respect when
made;
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(f)
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(i)
default by any Credit Party in the payment of any indebtedness
for
borrowed money, whether under a direct obligation or guaranty (other
than
Indebtedness hereunder) of any Credit Party in excess of One Million
Dollars ($1,000,000) (or the equivalent thereof in any currency
other than
Dollars) individually or in the aggregate when due and continuance
thereof
beyond any applicable period of cure and or (ii) failure to comply
with
the terms of any other obligation of any Credit Party with respect
to any
indebtedness for borrowed money (other than Indebtedness hereunder)
in
excess of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) (or the equivalent thereof
in
any currency other than Dollars) individually or in the aggregate,
which
continues beyond any applicable period of cure and which would
permit the
holder or holders thereto to accelerate such other indebtedness
for
borrowed money, or require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption
or
defeasance of such indebtedness;
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(g)
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the
rendering of any judgment(s) (not covered by adequate insurance
from a
solvent carrier which is defending such action without reservation
of
rights) for the payment of money in excess of the sum of One Million
Dollars ($1,000,000) (or the equivalent thereof in
any currency other than Dollars) individually or in the aggregate
against
any Credit Party, and such judgments shall remain unpaid, unvacated,
unbonded or unstayed by appeal or otherwise for a period of forty-five
(45) consecutive days from the date of its
entry;
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(h)
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the
occurrence of (i) a “reportable event”, as defined in ERISA, which is
determined by the PBGC to constitute grounds for a distress termination
of
any Pension Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA maintained or contributed
to
by or on behalf of any Credit Party for the benefit of any of its
employees or for the appointment by the appropriate United States
District
Court of a trustee to administer such Pension Plan and such reportable
event is not corrected and such determination is not revoked within
sixty
(60) days after notice thereof has been given to the plan administrator
of
such Pension Plan (without limiting any of Agent’s or any Lender’s other
rights or remedies hereunder), or (ii) the termination or the institution
of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate any such Pension Plan,
or (iii)
the appointment of a trustee by the appropriate United States District
Court to administer any such Pension Plan, or (iv) the reorganization
(within the meaning of Section 4241 of ERISA) or insolvency (within
the
meaning of Section 4245 of ERISA) of any Multiemployer Plan, or
receipt of
notice from any Multiemployer Plan that it is in reorganization
or
insolvency, or the complete or partial withdrawal by any Credit
Party from
any Multiemployer Plan, which in the case of any of the foregoing,
could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect;
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(i)
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except
as expressly permitted under this Agreement, any Credit Party shall
be
dissolved (other than a dissolution of a Subsidiary of a Borrower
which is
not a Guarantor or a Borrower) or liquidated (or any judgment,
order or
decree therefor shall be entered) except as otherwise permitted
herein; or
if a creditors’ committee shall have been appointed for the business of
any Credit Party; or if any Credit Party shall have made a general
assignment for the benefit of creditors or shall have been adjudicated
bankrupt and if not an adjudication based on a filing by a Credit
Party,
it shall not have been dismissed within sixty (60) days, or shall
have
filed a voluntary petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization
or to
effect a plan or arrangement with creditors or shall fail to pay
its debts
generally as such debts become due in the ordinary course of business
(except as contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves
are
made in such party’s financial statements); or shall file an answer to a
creditor’s petition or other petition filed against it, admitting the
material allegations thereof for an adjudication in bankruptcy
or for
reorganization; or shall have applied for or permitted the appointment
of
a receiver or trustee or custodian for any of its property or assets;
or
such receiver, trustee or custodian shall have been appointed for
any of
its property or assets (otherwise than upon application or consent
of a
Credit Party ) and shall not have been removed within sixty (60)
days; or
if an order shall be entered approving any petition for reorganization
of
any Credit Party and shall not have been reversed or dismissed
within
sixty (60) days;
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(j)
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(i)
any Person either alone or together with any of its Subsidiaries,
shall
acquire more than fifty percent (50%) of the issued and outstanding
Equity
Interests of Sterling, (ii) Sterling shall directly or indirectly
cease to
hold one hundred percent (100%) (or in the case of RHBL, at
least 91%) of
the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of any other Borrower
or any
Guarantor; (iii) any Person either alone or together with any of
its
Affiliates shall have the ability to elect a controlling majority
of the
Board of Directors of Sterling or (iv) any “change of control” or “change
in control” occurs as defined in any Subordinated Debt
Documents;
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(k)
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A
default or event of default shall have occurred under any Bond
Documents;
or
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(l)
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any
Loan Document shall at any time for any reason cease to be in full
force
and effect (other than in accordance with the terms thereof or
the terms
of any other Loan Document), as applicable, or the validity, binding
effect or enforceability thereof shall be contested by any party
thereto
(other than any Lender, Agent, Issuing Lender or Swing Line Lender),
or
any Person shall deny that it has any or further liability or obligation
under any Loan Document, or any such Loan Document shall be terminated
(other than in accordance with the terms thereof or the terms of
any other
Loan Document), invalidated, revoked or set aside or in any way
cease to
give or provide to the Lenders and the Agent the benefits purported
to be
created thereby, or any Loan Document purporting to xxxxx x Xxxx
to secure
any Indebtedness shall, at any time after the delivery of such
Loan
Document, fail to create a valid and enforceable Lien on any Collateral
purported to be covered thereby or such Lien shall fail to cease
to be a
perfected Lien with the priority required in the relevant Loan
Document.
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9.2
Exercise of
Remedies. If an Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing hereunder: (a) the Agent may, and shall, upon being directed to
do so
by the Majority Revolving Credit Lenders, declare the Revolving Credit Aggregate
Commitment terminated; (b) the Agent may, and shall, upon being directed
to do
so by the Majority Lenders, upon notice to the Borrower Representative, declare
the entire unpaid principal Indebtedness, including the Notes, immediately
due
and payable, without presentment, notice (other than as set forth in this
Section) or demand, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrowers;
(c) upon the occurrence of any Event of Default specified in Section 9.1(i)
and
notwithstanding the lack of any declaration by Agent under preceding clauses
(a)
or (b), the entire unpaid principal Indebtedness shall become automatically
and
immediately due and payable, and the Revolving Credit Aggregate Commitment
shall
be automatically and immediately terminated; (d) the Agent shall, upon being
directed to do so by the Majority Revolving Credit Lenders, demand immediate
delivery of cash collateral, and each Borrower agrees to deliver such cash
collateral upon demand, in an amount equal to 105% of the maximum amount
that
may be available to be drawn at any time prior to the stated expiry of all
outstanding Letters of Credit, for deposit into an account controlled by
the
Agent; (e) the Agent may, and shall, upon being directed to do so by the
Majority Lenders, notify Borrowers or any Credit Party that interest shall
be
payable on demand on all Indebtedness (other than Revolving Credit Advances
and
Swing Line Advances with respect to which Sections 2.6 hereof shall govern)
owing from time to time to the Agent or any Lender, at a per annum rate equal
to
the then applicable Prime-based Rate plus two percent (2%); and (f) the Agent
may, and shall, upon being directed to do so by the Majority Lenders or the
Lenders, as applicable (subject to the terms hereof), exercise any remedy
permitted by this Agreement, the other Loan Documents or law.
9.3
Rights Cumulative. No delay or
failure of Agent and/or Lenders in exercising any right, power or privilege
hereunder shall affect such right, power or privilege, nor shall any single
or
partial exercise thereof preclude any further exercise thereof, or the exercise
of any other power, right or privilege. The rights of Agent and Lenders under
this Agreement are cumulative and not exclusive of any right or remedies
which
Lenders would otherwise have.
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9.4
Waiver by Borrowers of Certain
Laws. To the extent permitted by applicable law, each
Borrower hereby agrees to waive, and does hereby absolutely and irrevocably
waive and relinquish the benefit and advantage of any valuation, stay,
appraisement, extension or redemption laws now existing or which may hereafter
exist, which, but for this provision, might be applicable to any sale made
under
the judgment, order or decree of any court, on any claim for interest on
the
Notes, or any security interest or mortgage contemplated by or granted under
or
in connection with this Agreement. These waivers have been voluntarily given,
with full knowledge of the consequences thereof.
9.5
Waiver of Defaults. No Event of Default shall be
waived by the Lenders except in a writing signed by an officer of the Agent
in
accordance with Section 13.10 hereof. No single or partial exercise of any
right, power or privilege hereunder, nor any delay in the exercise thereof,
shall preclude other or further exercise of their rights by Agent or the
Lenders. No waiver of any Event of Default shall extend to any other or further
Event of Default. No forbearance on the part of the Agent or the Lenders
in
enforcing any of their rights shall constitute a waiver of any of their rights.
Each Borrower expressly agrees that this Section may not be waived or modified
by the Lenders or Agent by course of performance, estoppel or
otherwise.
9.6
Set Off. Upon the occurrence and during the
continuance of any Event of Default, each Lender may at any time and from
time
to time, without notice to Borrowers but subject to the provisions of Section
10.3 hereof (any requirement for such notice being expressly waived by
Borrowers), setoff and apply against any and all of the obligations of Borrowers
now or hereafter existing under this Agreement, whether owing to such Lender,
any Affiliate of such Lender or any other Lender or the Agent, any and all
deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any
time
held and other indebtedness at any time owing by such Lender to or for the
credit or the account of Borrowers and any property of Borrowers from time
to
time in possession of such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such deposits
held or indebtedness owing by such Lender may be contingent and unmatured
and
regardless of whether any Collateral then held by Agent or any Lender is
adequate to cover the Indebtedness. Promptly following any such setoff, such
Lender shall give written notice to Agent and Borrowers of the occurrence
thereof. Each Borrower hereby grants to the Lenders and the Agent a lien
on and
security interest in all such deposits, indebtedness and property as collateral
security for the payment and performance of all of the obligations of Borrowers
under this Agreement. The rights of each Lender under this Section 9.6 are
in
addition to the other rights and remedies (including, without limitation,
other
rights of setoff) which such Lender may have.
10.
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PAYMENTS,
RECOVERIES AND
COLLECTIONS.
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10.1 Payment
Procedure.
(a) All
payments to be made by Borrowers shall be made without condition or deduction
for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as
otherwise provided herein, all payments made by the Borrowers of principal,
interest or fees hereunder shall be made without setoff or counterclaim on
the
date specified for payment under this Agreement and must be received by Agent
not later than 1:00 p.m. (Detroit time) on the date such payment is required
or
intended to be made in Dollars in immediately available funds to Agent at
Agent’s office located at Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000 for
the ratable benefit of the Revolving Credit Lenders in the case of payments
in
respect of the Revolving Credit and any Letter of Credit Obligations. Any
payment received by the Agent after 1:00 p.m. (Detroit time) shall be deemed
received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest
or fee
shall continue to accrue. Upon receipt of each such payment, the
Agent shall make prompt payment to each applicable Lender, or, in respect
of
Eurodollar-based Advances, such Lender’s Eurodollar Lending Office, in like
funds and currencies, of all amounts received by it for the account of such
Lender.
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(b) Unless
the Agent shall have been notified in writing by Borrowers at least two (2)
Business Days prior to the date on which any payment to be made by Borrowers
is
due that no Borrower intends to remit such payment, the Agent may, in its
sole
discretion and without obligation to do so, assume that Borrowers have remitted
such payment when so due and the Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption,
make available to each Revolving Credit Lender, on such payment date an amount
equal to such Lender’s share of such assumed payment. If Borrowers have not in
fact remitted such payment to the Agent, each Lender shall forthwith on demand
repay to the Agent the amount of such assumed payment made available or
transferred to such Lender, together with the interest thereon, in respect
of
each day from and including the date such amount was made available by the
Agent
to such Lender to the date such amount is repaid to the Agent at a rate per
annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate for the first two (2) Business
Days that such amount remains unpaid, and thereafter at a rate of interest
then
applicable to such Revolving Credit Advances.
(c) Subject
to the definition of “Interest Period” in Section 1 of this Agreement, whenever
any payment to be made hereunder shall otherwise be due on a day which is
not a
Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business
Day and
such extension of time shall be included in computing interest, if any, in
connection with such payment.
(d) All
payments to be made by Borrowers under this Agreement or any of the Notes
(including without limitation payments under the Swing Line and/or Swing
Line
Note) shall be made without setoff or counterclaim, as aforesaid, and, subject
to full compliance by each Lender (and each assignee and participant pursuant
to
Section 13.8) with Section 13.13, without deduction for or on account of
any
present or future withholding or other taxes of any nature imposed by any
governmental authority or of any political subdivision thereof or any federation
or organization of which such governmental authority may at the time of payment
be a member (other than any taxes on the overall income, net income, net
profits
or net receipts or similar taxes (or any franchise taxes imposed in lieu
of such
taxes) on the Agent or any Lender (or any branch maintained by Agent or a
Lender) as a result of a present or former connection between the Agent or
such
Lender and the governmental authority, political subdivision, federation
or
organization imposing such taxes), unless Borrowers are compelled by law
to make
payment subject to such tax. In such event, Borrowers shall:
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(i)
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pay
to the Agent for Agent’s own account and/or, as the case may be, for the
account of the Lenders such additional amounts as may be necessary
to
ensure that the Agent and/or such Lender or Lenders (including
the Swing
Line Lender) receive a net amount equal to the full amount which
would
have been receivable had payment not been made subject to such
tax;
and
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(ii)
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remit
such tax to the relevant taxing authorities according to applicable
law,
and send to the Agent or the applicable Lender or Lenders (including
the
Swing Line Lender), as the case may be, such certificates or certified
copy receipts as the Agent or such Lender or Lenders shall reasonably
require as proof of the payment by Borrowers of any such taxes
payable by
Borrowers.
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As
used
herein, the terms “tax”, “taxes” and “taxation” include all taxes, levies,
imposts, duties, fees, deductions and withholdings or similar charges together
with interest (and any taxes payable upon the amounts paid or payable pursuant
to this Section 10.1) thereon. Each Borrower shall be reimbursed by the
applicable Lender for any payment made by such Borrower under this Section
10.1
if the applicable Lender is not in compliance with its obligations under
Section
13.13 at the time of such Borrower’s payment.
10.2 Application
of Proceeds of Collateral. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in this Agreement, in the case of any Event of Default under Section
9.1(i), immediately following the occurrence thereof, and in the case of
any
other Event of Default, upon the termination of the Revolving Credit Aggregate
Commitment, the acceleration of any Indebtedness arising under this Agreement
and/or the exercise of any other remedy in each case by the requisite Lenders
under Section 9.2 hereof, the Agent shall apply the proceeds of any Collateral,
together with any offsets, voluntary payments by any Credit Party or others
and
any other sums received or collected in respect of the Indebtedness first,
to
pay all incurred and unpaid fees and expenses of the Agent under the Loan
Documents and any protective advances made by Agent with respect to the
Collateral under or pursuant to the terms of any Loan Document, next, to
pay any
fees and expenses owed to the Issuing Lender hereunder, next, to the
Indebtedness under the Revolving Credit (including the Swing Line and any
Reimbursement Obligations), any obligations owing by any Credit party under
any
Hedging Agreements or in connection with any Lender Products on a pro rata
basis, next, to any other Indebtedness on a pro rata basis, and then, if
there
is any excess, to the Credit Parties or as otherwise required under applicable
law, as the case may be.
10.3 Pro-rata
Recovery. If any Lender shall obtain any payment or other
recovery (whether voluntary, involuntary, by application of setoff or otherwise)
on account of principal of, or interest on, any of the Advances made by it,
or
the participations in Letter of Credit Obligations or Swing Line Advances
held
by it in excess of its pro rata share of payments then or thereafter obtained
by
all Lenders upon principal of and interest on all such Indebtedness, such
Lender
shall purchase from the other Lenders such participations in the Revolving
Credit and/or the Letter of Credit Obligation held by them as shall be necessary
to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment or other recovery
ratably in accordance with the applicable Percentages of the Lenders; provided,
however, that if all or any portion of the excess payment or other recovery
is
thereafter recovered from such purchasing holder, the purchase shall be
rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery,
but
without interest.
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11.
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CHANGES
IN LAW OR CIRCUMSTANCES; INCREASED
COSTS.
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11.1 Reimbursement
of Prepayment Costs. If (i) Borrowers make any payment of
principal with respect to any Eurodollar-based Advance or Quoted Rate Advance
on
any day other than the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto
(whether voluntarily, pursuant to any mandatory provisions hereof, by
acceleration, or otherwise); (ii) Borrowers convert or refund (or attempt
to
convert or refund) any such Advance on any day other than the last day of
the
Interest Period applicable thereto (except as described in Section 2.5(e));
(iii) Borrowers fail to borrow, refund or convert any Eurodollar-based Advance
or Quoted Rate Advance after notice has been given by Borrowers to Agent
in
accordance with the terms hereof requesting such Advance; or (iv) or if the
Borrowers fail to make any payment of principal in respect of a Eurodollar-based
Advance or Quoted Rate Advance when due, the Borrowers shall jointly and
severally reimburse Agent for itself and/or on behalf of any Lender, as the
case
may be, within ten (10) Business Days of written demand therefor for any
resulting loss, cost or expense incurred (excluding the loss of any Applicable
Margin) by Agent and Lenders, as the case may be, as a result thereof,
including, without limitation, any such loss, cost or expense incurred in
obtaining, liquidating, employing or redeploying deposits from third parties,
whether or not Agent and Lenders, as the case may be, shall have funded or
committed to fund such Advance. The amount payable hereunder by Borrowers
(jointly and severally) and to Agent for itself and/or on behalf of any Lender,
as the case may be, shall be deemed to equal an amount equal to the excess,
if
any, of (a) the amount of interest which would have accrued on the amount
so
prepaid, or not so borrowed, refunded or converted, for the period from the
date
of such prepayment or of such failure to borrow, refund or convert, through
the
last day of the relevant Interest Period, at the applicable rate of interest
for
said Advance(s) provided under this Agreement, over (b) the amount of interest
(as reasonably determined by Agent and Lenders, as the case may be) which
would
have accrued to Agent and Lenders, as the case may be, on such amount by
placing
such amount on deposit for a comparable period with leading banks in the
interbank eurocurrency market. Calculation of any amounts payable to any
Lender
under this paragraph shall be made as though such Lender shall have actually
funded or committed to fund the relevant Advance through the purchase of
an
underlying deposit in an amount equal to the amount of such Advance and having
a
maturity comparable to the relevant Interest Period; provided, however, that
any
Lender may fund any Eurodollar-based Advance or Quoted Rate Advance, as the
case
may be, in any manner it deems fit and the foregoing assumptions shall be
utilized only for the purpose of the calculation of amounts payable under
this
paragraph. Upon the written request of Borrower Representative, Agent and
Lenders shall deliver to Borrower Representative a certificate setting forth
the
basis for determining such losses, costs and expenses, which certificate
shall
be conclusively presumed correct, absent manifest error.
11.2 Eurodollar
Lending Office. For any Eurodollar Advance, if Agent or a
Lender, as applicable, shall designate a Eurodollar Lending Office which
maintains books separate from those of the rest of Agent or such Lender,
Agent
or such Lender, as the case may be, shall have the option of maintaining
and
carrying the relevant Advance on the books of such Eurodollar Lending
Office.
11.3 Circumstances
Affecting Eurodollar-based Rate Availability. If, with respect to
any Eurodollar-Interest Period, Agent or the Majority Lenders (after
consultation with Agent) shall determine in good faith that, by reason of
circumstances affecting the foreign exchange and interbank markets generally,
deposits in eurodollars in the applicable amounts are not being offered to
the
Agent or such Lenders for such Eurodollar-Interest Period, then Agent shall
forthwith give notice thereof to Borrower Representative. Thereafter, until
Agent notifies the Borrower Representative that such circumstances no longer
exist, (i) the obligation of Lenders to make Eurodollar-based Advances, and
the
right of Borrowers to convert an Advance to or refund an Advance as a
Eurodollar-based Advance, as the case may be, shall be suspended, and (ii)
effective upon the last day of each Eurodollar-Interest Period related to
any
existing Eurodollar-based Advance, each such Eurodollar-based Advance shall
automatically be converted into a Prime-based Advance (without regard to
satisfaction of any conditions to conversion contained elsewhere
herein).
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11.4 Laws
Affecting Eurodollar-based Advance Availability. If, after
the date of this Agreement, the adoption or introduction of, or any change
in,
any applicable law, rule or regulation or in the interpretation or
administration thereof by any governmental authority charged with the
interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any of the Lenders
(or any of their respective Eurodollar Lending Offices) with any request
or
directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any such authority,
shall
make it unlawful or impossible for any of the Lenders (or any of their
respective Eurodollar Lending Offices) to honor its obligations hereunder
to
make or maintain any Advance with interest at the Eurodollar-based Rate,
such
Lender shall forthwith give notice thereof to Borrower Representative and
to
Agent. Thereafter, (a) the obligations of the applicable Lenders to make
Eurodollar-based Advances and the right of Borrowers to convert an Advance
into
or refund an Advance as a Eurodollar-based Advance shall be suspended and
thereafter Borrowers may select as Applicable Interest Rates only those which
remain available and which are permitted to be selected hereunder, and (b)
if
any of the Lenders may not lawfully continue to maintain an Advance to the
end
of the then current Eurodollar-Interest Period applicable thereto as a
Eurodollar-based Advance, the applicable Advance shall immediately be converted
to a Prime-based Advance and the Prime-based Rate shall be applicable thereto
for the remainder of such Eurodollar-Interest Period. For purposes of this
Section, a change in law, rule, regulation, interpretation or administration
shall include, without limitation, any change made or which becomes effective
on
the basis of a law, rule, regulation, interpretation or administration presently
in force, the effective date of which change is delayed by the terms of such
law, rule, regulation, interpretation or administration.
11.5 Increased
Cost of Eurodollar-based Advances. If, after the date of
this Agreement, the adoption or introduction of, or any change in, any
applicable law, rule or regulation or in the interpretation or administration
thereof by any governmental authority, central bank or comparable agency
charged
with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any of
the
Lenders (or any of their respective Eurodollar Lending Offices) with any
request
or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any such authority,
central bank or comparable agency:
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(a)
|
shall
subject any of the Lenders (or any of their respective Eurodollar
Lending
Offices) to any tax, duty or other charge with respect to any Advance
or
shall change the basis of taxation of payments to any of the Lenders
(or
any of their respective Eurodollar Lending Offices) of the principal
of or
interest on any Advance or any other amounts due under this Agreement
in
respect thereof (except for changes in the rate of tax on the overall
net
income of any of the Lenders or any of their respective Eurodollar
Lending
Offices); or
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(b)
|
shall
impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve (including, without
limitation, any imposed by the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve
System), special deposit or similar requirement against assets
of,
deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any
of the
Lenders (or any of their respective Eurodollar Lending Offices)
or shall
impose on any of the Lenders (or any of their respective Eurodollar
Lending Offices) or the foreign exchange and interbank markets
any other
condition affecting any Advance;
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and
the
result of any of the foregoing matters is to increase the costs to any of
the
Lenders of maintaining any part of the Indebtedness hereunder as a
Eurodollar-based Advance or to reduce the amount of any sum received or
receivable by any of the Lenders under this Agreement in respect of a
Eurodollar-based Advance, then such Lender shall promptly notify Agent, and
Agent shall promptly notify Borrower Representative of such fact and demand
compensation therefor and, within ten (10) Business Days after such notice,
Borrowers jointly and severally agree to pay to such Lender or Lenders such
additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or Lenders for
such
increased cost or reduction, provided that each Lender agrees to take any
reasonable action, to the extent such action could be taken without cost
or
administrative or other burden or restriction to such Lender, to mitigate
or
eliminate such cost or reduction, within a reasonable time after becoming
aware
of the foregoing matters. Agent will promptly notify Borrower Representative
of
any event of which it has knowledge which will entitle Lenders to compensation
pursuant to this Section, or which will cause Borrowers to incur additional
liability under Section 11.1 hereof, provided that Agent shall incur no
liability whatsoever to the Lenders or Borrowers in the event it fails to
do so.
A certificate of Agent (or such Lender, if applicable) setting forth the
basis
for determining such additional amount or amounts necessary to compensate
such
Lender or Lenders shall accompany such demand and shall be conclusively presumed
to be correct absent manifest error.
11.6 Capital
Adequacy and Other Increased Costs.
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(a)
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If,
after the date of this Agreement, the adoption or introduction
of, or any
change in any applicable law, treaty, rule or regulation (whether
domestic
or foreign) now or hereafter in effect and whether or not presently
applicable to any Lender or Agent, or any interpretation or administration
thereof by any governmental authority charged with the interpretation
or
administration thereof, or compliance by any Lender or Agent with
any
guideline, request or directive of any such authority (whether
or not
having the force of law), including any risk based capital guidelines,
affects or would affect the amount of capital required to be maintained
by
such Lender or Agent (or any corporation controlling such Lender
or Agent)
and such Lender or Agent, as the case may be, determines that the
amount
of such capital is increased by or based upon the existence of
such
Lender’s or Agent’s obligations or Advances hereunder and such increase
has the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or Agent’s
(or such controlling corporation’s) capital as a consequence of such
obligations or Advances hereunder to a level below that which such
Lender
or Agent (or such controlling corporation) could have achieved
but for
such circumstances (taking into consideration its policies with
respect to
capital adequacy) by an amount deemed by such Lender or Agent to
be
material (collectively, “Increased Costs”), then Agent or such Lender
shall notify the Borrower Representative, and thereafter Borrowers
shall
pay, jointly and severally, to such Lender or Agent, as the case
may be,
within ten (10) Business Days of written demand therefor from such
Lender
or Agent, additional amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender
or Agent
(or such controlling corporation) for any increase in the amount
of
capital and reduced rate of return which such Lender or Agent reasonably
determines to be allocable to the existence of such Lender’s or Agent’s
obligations or Advances hereunder. A statement setting forth the
amount of
such compensation, the methodology for the calculation and the
calculation
thereof which shall also be prepared in good faith and in reasonable
detail by such Lender or Agent, as the case may be, shall be submitted
by
such Lender or by Agent to Borrower Representative, reasonably
promptly
after becoming aware of any event described in this Section 11.6(a)
and
shall be conclusively presumed to be correct, absent manifest
error.
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81
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(b)
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Notwithstanding
the foregoing, however, Borrowers shall not be required to pay
any
increased costs under Sections 11.5, 11.6 or 3.4(c) for any period
ending
prior to the date that is 180 days prior to the making of a Lender’s
initial request for such additional amounts unless the applicable
change
in law or other event resulting in such increased costs is effective
retroactively to a date more than 180 days prior to the date of
such
request, in which case a Lender’s request for such additional amounts
relating to the period more than 180 days prior to the making of
the
request must be given not more than 180 days after such Lender
becomes
aware of the applicable change in law or other event resulting
in such
increased costs.
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11.7 Right
of Lenders to Fund through Branches and Affiliates. Each
Lender (including without limitation the Swing Line Lender) may, if it so
elects, fulfill its commitment as to any Advance hereunder by designating
a
branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Advance; provided that (a)
such
Lender shall remain solely responsible for the performances of its obligations
hereunder and (b) no such designation shall result in any material increased
costs to Borrowers.
11.8 Margin
Adjustment. Adjustments to the Applicable Margins and the
Applicable Fee Percentages, based on Schedule 1.1, shall be implemented on
a
quarterly basis as follows:
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(a)
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Such
adjustments shall be given prospective effect only, effective as
to all
Advances outstanding hereunder, the Applicable Fee Percentage and
the
Letter of Credit Fee, upon the date of delivery of the financial
statements under Sections 7.1(a) and 7.1(b) hereunder and the Covenant
Compliance Report under Section 7.2(a) hereof, in each case establishing
applicability of the appropriate adjustment and in each case with
no
retroactivity or claw-back. In the event Borrowers shall fail timely
to
deliver such financial statements or the Covenant Compliance Report
and
such failure continues for three (3) days, then (but without affecting
the
Event of Default resulting therefrom) from the date delivery of
such
financial statements and report was required until such financial
statements and report are delivered, the Applicable Margins and
Applicable
Fee Percentages shall be at the highest level on the Pricing Matrix
attached to this Agreement as Schedule
1.1.
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82
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(b)
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From
the Effective Date until the required date of delivery (or, if
earlier,
delivery) of the financial statements under Section 7.1(a) or 7.1(b)
hereof, as applicable, and the Covenant Compliance Report under
Section
7.2(a) hereof, for the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2007,
the
Applicable Margins and Applicable Fee Percentages shall be those
set forth
under the Level II column of the pricing matrix attached to this
Agreement
as Schedule 1.1. Thereafter, Applicable Margins and Applicable
Fee
Percentages shall be based upon the quarterly financial statements
and
Covenant Compliance Reports, subject to recalculation as provided
in
Section 11.8(a) above.
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(c)
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Notwithstanding
the foregoing, however, if, prior to the payment and discharge
in full (in
cash) of the Indebtedness and the termination of any and all commitments
hereunder, as a result of any restatement of or adjustment to the
financial statements of Sterling and any of its Subsidiaries (relating
to
the current or any prior fiscal period) or for any other miscalculation
or
error, Agent determines that the Applicable Margin and/or the Applicable
Fee Percentages as calculated by Borrowers as of any applicable
date of
determination were inaccurate in any respect and a proper calculation
thereof would have resulted in different pricing for any fiscal
period,
then (x) if the proper calculation thereof would have resulted
in higher
pricing for any such period, Borrowers shall automatically and
retroactively be jointly and severally obligated to pay to Agent,
promptly
upon demand by Agent or the Majority Lenders, an amount equal to
the
excess of the amount of interest and fees that should have been
paid for
such period over the amount of interest and fees actually paid
for such
period and, if the current fiscal period is affected thereby, the
Applicable Margin and/or the Applicable Fee Percentages for the
current
period shall be adjusted based on such recalculation; and (y) if
the
proper calculation thereof would have resulted in lower pricing
for such
period, Agent and Lenders shall have no obligation to recalculate
such
interest or fees or to repay any interest or fees to the
Borrowers.
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12.
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AGENT.
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12.1 Appointment
of Agent. Each Lender and the holder of each Note (if
issued) irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Agent to act on behalf of
such
Lender or holder under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and to
exercise such powers hereunder and thereunder as are specifically delegated
to
Agent by the terms hereof and thereof, together with such powers as may be
reasonably incidental thereto, including without limitation the power to
execute
or authorize the execution of financing or similar statements or notices,
and
other documents. In performing its functions and duties under this Agreement,
the Agent shall act solely as agent of the Lenders and does not assume and
shall
not be deemed to have assumed any obligation towards or relationship of agency
or trust with or for any Credit Party.
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12.2 Deposit
Account with Agent. Each Borrower authorizes Agent, in
Agent’s sole discretion, upon notice to the Borrower Representative to charge
its general deposit account(s), if any, maintained with the Agent for the
amount
of any principal, interest, or other amounts or costs due under this Agreement
when the same become due and payable under the terms of this Agreement or
the
Notes.
12.3 Scope
of Agent’s Duties. The Agent shall have no duties or
responsibilities except those expressly set forth herein, and shall not,
by
reason of this Agreement or otherwise, have a fiduciary relationship with
any
Lender (and no implied covenants or other obligations shall be read into
this
Agreement against the Agent). None of Agent, its Affiliates nor any of their
respective directors, officers, employees or agents shall be liable to any
Lender for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it or them under this
Agreement or any document executed pursuant hereto, or in connection herewith
or
therewith with the consent or at the request of the Majority Lenders (or
all of
the Lenders for those acts requiring consent of all of the Lenders) (except
for
its or their own willful misconduct or gross negligence), nor be responsible
for
or have any duties to ascertain, inquire into or verify (a) any recitals
or
warranties made by the Credit Parties or any Affiliate of the Credit Parties,
or
any officer thereof contained herein or therein, (b) the effectiveness,
enforceability, validity or due execution of this Agreement or any document
executed pursuant hereto or any security thereunder, (c) the performance
by the
Credit Parties of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder, or
(d)
the satisfaction of any condition hereunder or thereunder, including without
limitation in connection with the making of any Advance or the issuance of
any
Letter of Credit. Agent and its Affiliates shall be entitled to rely upon
any
certificate, notice, document or other communication (including any cable,
telegraph, telex, facsimile transmission or oral communication) believed
by it
to be genuine and correct and to have been sent or given by or on behalf
of a
proper person. Agent may treat the payee of any Note as the holder thereof.
Agent may employ agents and may consult with legal counsel, independent public
accountants and other experts selected by it and shall not be liable to the
Lenders (except as to money or property received by them or their authorized
agents), for the negligence or misconduct of any such agent selected by it
with
reasonable care or for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good
faith in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or
experts.
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12.4 Successor
Agent. Agent may resign as such at any time upon at least
thirty (30) days prior notice to Borrower Representative and each of the
Lenders. If Agent at any time shall resign or if the office of Agent shall
become vacant for any other reason, Majority Lenders shall, by written
instrument, appoint successor agent(s) (“Successor Agent”)
satisfactory to such Majority Lenders and, so long as no Default or Event
of
Default has occurred and is continuing, to Borrower Representative (which
approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, however
that
any such successor Agent shall be a bank or a trust company or other financial
institution which maintains an office in the United States, or a commercial
bank
organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof, or any
Affiliate of such bank or trust company or other financial institution which
is
engaged in the banking business, and shall have a combined capital and surplus
of at least $500,000,000. Such Successor Agent shall thereupon become the
Agent
hereunder, as applicable, and Agent shall deliver or cause to be delivered
to
any successor agent such documents of transfer and assignment as such Successor
Agent may reasonably request. If a Successor Agent is not so appointed or
does
not accept such appointment before the resigning Agent’s resignation becomes
effective, the resigning Agent may appoint a temporary successor to act until
such appointment by the Majority Lenders and, if applicable, Borrower
Representative, is made and accepted, or if no such temporary successor is
appointed as provided above by the resigning Agent, the Majority Lenders
shall
thereafter perform all of the duties of the resigning Agent hereunder until
such
appointment by the Majority Lenders and, if applicable, Borrower Representative,
is made and accepted. Such Successor Agent shall succeed to all of the rights
and obligations of the resigning Agent as if originally named. The resigning
Agent shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such Successor Agent all
moneys
at the time held by the resigning Agent hereunder after deducting therefrom
its
expenses for which it is entitled to be reimbursed hereunder. Upon such
succession of any such Successor Agent, the resigning Agent shall be discharged
from its duties and obligations, in its capacity as Agent hereunder, except
for
its gross negligence or willful misconduct arising prior to its resignation
hereunder, and the provisions of this Article 12 shall continue in effect
for
the benefit of the resigning Agent in respect of any actions taken or omitted
to
be taken by it while it was acting as Agent.
12.5 Credit
Decisions. Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently of
Agent and each other Lender and based on the financial statements of Borrowers
and such other documents, information and investigations as it has deemed
appropriate, made its own credit decision to extend credit hereunder from
time
to time. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently of Agent
and
each other Lender and based on such other documents, information and
investigations as it shall deem appropriate at any time, continue to make
its
own credit decisions as to exercising or not exercising from time to time
any
rights and privileges available to it under this Agreement, any Loan Document
or
any other document executed pursuant hereto.
12.6 Authority
of Agent to Enforce This Agreement. Each Lender, subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, grants the Agent full power
and
authority as attorney-in-fact to institute and maintain actions, suits or
proceedings for the collection and enforcement of any Indebtedness outstanding
under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and to file such proofs of
debt
or other documents as may be necessary to have the claims of the Lenders
allowed
in any proceeding relative to any Credit Party, or their respective creditors
or
affecting their respective properties, and to take such other actions which
Agent considers to be necessary or desirable for the protection, collection
and
enforcement of the Notes, this Agreement or the other Loan
Documents.
85
12.7 Indemnification
of Agent. The Lenders agree (which agreement shall survive
the expiration or termination of this Agreement) to indemnify the Agent and
its
Affiliates (to the extent not reimbursed by Borrowers, but without limiting
any
obligation of Borrowers to make such reimbursement), ratably according to
their
respective Percentages, from and against any and all claims, damages, losses,
liabilities, costs or expenses of any kind or nature whatsoever (including,
without limitation, reasonable fees and expenses of house and outside counsel)
which may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against the Agent and its
Affiliates in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement, any of
the
other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or any action
taken
or omitted by the Agent and its Affiliates under this Agreement or any of
the
Loan Documents; provided, however, that no Lender shall be liable for any
portion of such claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses
resulting from the Agent’s or its Affiliate’s gross negligence or willful
misconduct. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender agrees to reimburse
the Agent and its Affiliates promptly upon demand for its ratable share of
any
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable
fees and expenses of house and outside counsel) incurred by the Agent and
its
Affiliates in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery,
administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through
negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect
of
rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement or any of the other Loan
Documents, to the extent that the Agent and its Affiliates are not reimbursed
for such expenses by Borrowers, but without limiting the obligation of Borrowers
to make such reimbursement. Each Lender agrees to reimburse the Agent and
its
Affiliates promptly upon demand for its ratable share of any amounts owing
to
the Agent and its Affiliates by the Lenders pursuant to this Section, provided
that, if the Agent or its Affiliates are subsequently reimbursed by Borrowers
for such amounts, they shall refund to the Lenders on a pro rata basis the
amount of any excess reimbursement. If the indemnity furnished to the Agent
and
its Affiliates under this Section shall become impaired as determined in
the
Agent’s reasonable judgment or Agent shall elect in its sole discretion to have
such indemnity confirmed by the Lenders (as to specific matters or otherwise),
Agent shall give notice thereof to each Lender and, until such additional
indemnity is provided or such existing indemnity is confirmed, the Agent
may
cease, or not commence, to take any action. Any amounts paid by the Lenders
hereunder to the Agent or its Affiliates shall be deemed to constitute part
of
the Indebtedness hereunder.
12.8 Knowledge
of Default. It is expressly understood and agreed that the
Agent shall be entitled to assume that no Default or Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing, unless the officers of the Agent immediately
responsible for matters concerning this Agreement shall have received a written
notice from a Lender or a Borrower specifying such Default or Event of Default
and stating that such notice is a “notice of default”. Upon receiving such a
notice, the Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of such Default or Event
of
Default and provide each Lender with a copy of such notice and shall endeavor
to
provide such notice to the Lenders within three (3) Business Days (but without
any liability whatsoever in the event of its failure to do so).
12.9 Agent’s
Authorization; Action by Lenders. Except as otherwise
expressly provided herein, whenever the Agent is authorized and empowered
hereunder on behalf of the Lenders to give any approval or consent, or to
make
any request, or to take any other action on behalf of the Lenders (including
without limitation the exercise of any right or remedy hereunder or under
the
other Loan Documents), the Agent shall be required to give such approval
or
consent, or to make such request or to take such other action only when so
requested in writing by the Majority Lenders or the Lenders, as applicable
hereunder. Action that may be taken by the Majority Lenders, any other specified
Percentage of the Lenders or all of the Lenders, as the case may be (as provided
for hereunder) may be taken (i) pursuant to a vote of the requisite percentages
of the Lenders as required hereunder at a meeting (which may be held by
telephone conference call), provided that Agent exercises good faith, diligent
efforts to give all of the Lenders reasonable advance notice of the meeting,
or
(ii) pursuant to the written consent of the requisite percentages of the
Lenders
as required hereunder, provided that all of the Lenders are given reasonable
advance notice of the requests for such consent.
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12.10 Enforcement
Actions by the Agent. Except as otherwise expressly
provided under this Agreement or in any of the other Loan Documents and subject
to the terms hereof, Agent will take such action, assert such rights and
pursue
such remedies under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as the Majority
Lenders or all of the Lenders, as the case may be (as provided for hereunder),
shall direct; provided, however, that the Agent shall not be required to
act or
omit to act if, in the reasonable judgment of the Agent, such action or omission
may expose the Agent to personal liability for which Agent has not been
satisfactorily indemnified hereunder or is contrary to this Agreement, any
of
the Loan Documents or applicable law. Except as expressly provided above
or
elsewhere in this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, no Lender (other
than
the Agent, acting in its capacity as agent) shall be entitled to take any
enforcement action of any kind under this Agreement or any of the other Loan
Documents.
12.11 Collateral
Matters.
(a) The
Agent is authorized on behalf of all the Lenders, without the necessity of
any
notice to or further consent from the Lenders, from time to time to take
any
action with respect to any Collateral or the Collateral Documents which may
be
necessary to perfect and maintain a perfected security interest in and Liens
upon the Collateral granted pursuant to the Loan Documents.
(b) The
Lenders irrevocably authorize the Agent, in its reasonable discretion, to
the
full extent set forth in the post-amble to Section 13.10 hereof, (1) to release
or terminate any Lien granted to or held by the Agent upon any Collateral
(a)
upon termination of the Revolving Credit Aggregate Commitment and payment
in
full of all Indebtedness payable under this Agreement and under any other
Loan
Document; (b) constituting property (including, without limitation, Equity
Interests in any Person) sold or to be sold or disposed of as part of or
in
connection with any disposition (whether by sale, by merger or by any other
form
of transaction and including the property of any Subsidiary that is disposed
of
as permitted hereby) permitted in accordance with the terms of this Agreement;
(c) constituting property in which a Credit Party owned no interest at the
time
the Lien was granted or at any time thereafter; or (d) if approved, authorized
or ratified in writing by the Majority Lenders, or all the Lenders, as the
case
may be, as provided in Section 13.10; (2) to subordinate the Lien granted
to or
held by Agent on any Collateral to any other holder of a Lien on such Collateral
which is permitted by Section 8.2(b) hereof; and (3) if all of the Equity
Interests held by the Credit Parties in any Person are sold or otherwise
transferred to any transferee other than a Borrower or a Subsidiary of a
Borrower as part of or in connection with any disposition (whether by sale,
by
merger or by any other form of transaction) permitted in accordance with
the
terms of this Agreement, to release such Person from all of its obligations
under the Loan Documents (including, without limitation, under any Guaranty).
Upon request by the Agent at any time, the Lenders will confirm in writing
the
Agent’s authority to release particular types or items of Collateral pursuant to
this Section 12.11(b).
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12.12 Agents
in their Individual Capacities. Comerica Bank and its
Affiliates, successors and assigns shall each have the same rights and powers
hereunder as any other Lender and may exercise or refrain from exercising
the
same as though such Lender were not the Agent. Comerica Bank and its Affiliates
may (without having to account therefor to any Lender) accept deposits from,
lend money to, and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust, financial
advisory or other business with the Credit Parties as if such Lender were
not
acting as the Agent hereunder, and may accept fees and other consideration
therefor without having to account for the same to the Lenders.
12.13 Agent’s
Fees. Until the Indebtedness has been repaid and
discharged in full and no commitment to extend any credit hereunder is
outstanding, Borrowers are obligated, on a joint and several basis to pay
to the
Agent, as applicable, any agency or other fee(s) set forth (or to be set
forth
from time to time) in the applicable Fee Letter on the terms set forth therein.
The agency fees referred to in this Section 12.13 shall not be refundable
under
any circumstances.
12.14 Documentation
Agent or other Titles. Any Lender identified on the facing
page or signature page of this Agreement or in any amendment hereto or as
designated with consent of the Agent in any assignment agreement as Lead
Arranger, Documentation Agent, Syndications Agent or any similar titles,
shall
not have any right, power, obligation, liability, responsibility or duty
under
this Agreement as a result of such title other than those applicable to all
Lenders as such. Without limiting the foregoing, the Lenders so identified
shall
not have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender
as a
result of such title. Each Lender acknowledges that it has not relied, and
will
not rely, on the Lender so identified in deciding to enter into this Agreement
or in taking or not taking action hereunder.
12.15 No
Reliance on Agent’s Customer Identification
Program.
(a) Each
Lender acknowledges and agrees that neither such Lender, nor any of its
Affiliates, participants or assignees, may relay on the Agent to carry out
such
Lender’s, Affiliate’s, participant’s or assignee’s customer identification
program, or other obligations required or imposed under or pursuant to the
Patriot Act or the regulations thereunder, including the regulations contained
in 31 CFR 103.121 (as hereafter amended or replaced, the “CIP Regulations”), or
any other Anti-Terrorism Law, including any programs involving any of the
following items relating to or in connection with Borrowers or any of their
Subsidiaries, any of their respective Affiliates or agents, the Loan Documents
or the transactions hereunder: (i) any identify verification procedures,
(ii)
any record keeping, (iii) any comparisons with government lists, (iv) any
customer notices or (v) any other procedures required under the CIP Regulations
or such other laws.
(b) Each
Lender or assignee or participant of a Lender that is not organized under
the
laws of the United States or a state thereof (and is not excepted from the
certification requirement contained in Section 313 of the USA Patriot Act
and
the applicable regulations because it is both (i) an affiliate of a depository
institution or foreign bank that maintains a physical presence in the United
States or foreign country, and (ii) subject to provision by a banking authority
regulating such affiliated depository institution or foreign bank) shall
deliver
to the Administrative Agent the certification, or, if applicable,
recertification, certifying that such Lender is not a “shell” and certifying to
other matters as required by Section 313 of the Patriot Act and the applicable
regulations: (x) within 10 days after the Effective Date, and (y) at such
other
times as are required under the Patriot Act.
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13.
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MISCELLANEOUS.
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13.1 Accounting
Principles. Where the character or amount of any asset or
liability or item of income or expense is required to be determined or any
consolidation or other accounting computation is required to be made for
the
purposes of this Agreement, it shall be done, unless otherwise specified
herein,
in accordance with GAAP.
13.2 Consent
to Jurisdiction. The Borrowers, the Agent and Lenders
hereby irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any United
States
Federal Court or Texas state court sitting in Dallas, Texas in any action
or
proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the Loan
Documents and the Borrowers, Agent and Lenders hereby irrevocably agree that
all
claims in respect of such action or proceeding may be heard and determined
in
any such United States Federal Court or Texas state court. Chapter 346 of
the
Texas Finance Code (which regulates certain revolving credit loan accounts
and
revolving tri-party accounts) does not apply to this Agreement or the Notes.
Each Borrower irrevocably consents to the service of any and all process
in any
such action or proceeding brought in any court in or of the State of Texas
by
the delivery of copies of such process to it at the applicable addresses
specified on the signature page hereto or by certified mail directed to such
address or such other address as may be designated by it in a notice to the
other parties that complies as to delivery with the terms of Section 13.6.
Nothing in this Section shall affect the right of the Lenders and the Agent
to
serve process in any other manner permitted by law or limit the right of
the
Lenders or the Agent (or any of them) to bring any such action or proceeding
against any Credit Party or any of their property in the courts with subject
matter jurisdiction of any other jurisdiction. Each Borrower irrevocably
waives
any objection to the laying of venue of any such suit or proceeding in the
above
described courts.
13.3 Law
of Texas. This Agreement, the Notes and, the other Loan Documents
shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws
of
the State of Texas. Whenever possible each provision of this Agreement shall
be
interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable
law,
but if any provision of this Agreement shall be prohibited by or invalid
under
applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such
prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision
or the remaining provisions of this Agreement.
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13.4 Interest. Agent,
Lenders, Borrowers and any other parties to the Loan Documents intend to
contract in strict compliance with applicable usury law from time to time
in
effect. In furtherance thereof such Persons stipulate and agree that
none of the terms and provisions contained in the Loan Documents shall ever
be
construed to create a contract to pay, for the use, forbearance or detention
of
money, interest in excess of the maximum amount of interest permitted to
be
charged by applicable law from time to time in effect. Neither
Borrowers, any other party to the Loan Documents nor any present or future
guarantors, endorsers, or other Persons hereafter becoming liable for payment
of
any Indebtedness shall ever be liable for unearned interest thereon or shall
ever be required to pay interest thereon in excess of the maximum amount
that
may be lawfully contracted for, charged, or received under applicable law
from
time to time in effect, and the provisions of this section shall control
over
all other provisions of the Loan Documents which may be in conflict or apparent
conflict herewith. Agent and Lenders expressly disavow any intention
to contract for, charge, or collect excessive unearned interest or finance
charges in the event the maturity of any Indebtedness is
accelerated. If (a) the maturity of any Indebtedness is
accelerated for any reason, (b) any Indebtedness is prepaid and as a result
any
amounts held to constitute interest are determined to be in excess of the
legal
maximum, or (c) Agent or any Lender or any other holder of any or all of
the
Indebtedness shall otherwise collect moneys which are determined to constitute
interest which would otherwise increase the interest on any or all of the
Indebtedness to an amount in excess of that permitted to be charged by
applicable law then in effect, then all sums determined to constitute interest
in excess of such legal limit shall, without penalty, be promptly applied
to
reduce the then outstanding principal of the related Indebtedness or, at
such
Lender’s or holder’s option, promptly returned to Borrower or the other payor
thereof upon such determination. In determining whether or not the
interest paid or payable, under any specific circumstance, exceeds the maximum
amount permitted under applicable law, Agent, Lenders, Borrowers (and any
other
payors thereof) shall to the greatest extent permitted under applicable Law,
(i)
characterize any non-principal payment as an expense, fee or premium rather
than
as interest, (ii) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof,
and
(iii) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread the total amount of interest
throughout the entire contemplated term of the instruments evidencing the
Obligations in accordance with the amounts outstanding from time to time
thereunder and the maximum legal rate of interest from time to time in effect
under applicable law in order to lawfully contract for, charge, or receive
the
maximum amount of interest permitted under applicable Law. In the
event applicable Law provides for an interest ceiling under Chapter 303 of
the
Texas Finance Code (the “Texas Finance Code”) as amended, for that day, the
ceiling shall be the “weekly ceiling” as defined in the Texas Finance Code,
provided that if any applicable Law permits greater interest, the Law permitting
the greatest interest shall apply. As used in this section the term “applicable
law” means the laws of the State of Texas or the laws of the United States of
America, whichever laws allow the greater interest, as such laws now exist
or
may be changed or amended or come into effect in the future.
13.5 Closing
Costs and Other Costs; Indemnification.
(a) Borrowers
shall pay or reimburse, on a joint and several basis, (a) Agent and its
Affiliates for payment of, on demand, all reasonable costs and expenses,
including, by way of description and not limitation, reasonable in-house
and
outside attorney fees and advances, appraisal and accounting fees, lien search
fees, and required travel costs, incurred by Agent and its Affiliates in
connection with the commitment, consummation and closing of the loans
contemplated hereby, or in connection with the administration or enforcement
of
this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (including the obtaining of legal
advice regarding the rights and responsibilities of the parties hereto) or
any
refinancing or restructuring of the loans or Advances provided under this
Agreement or the other Loan Documents, or any amendment or modification thereof
requested by Borrowers, and (b) Agent and its Affiliates and each of the
Lenders, as the case may be, for all stamp and other taxes and duties payable
or
determined to be payable in connection with the execution, delivery, filing
or
recording of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the consummation
of
the transactions contemplated hereby, and any and all liabilities with respect
to or resulting from any delay in paying or omitting to pay such taxes or
duties. Furthermore, all reasonable costs and expenses, including without
limitation attorney fees, incurred by Agent and its Affiliates and, after
the
occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, by the Lenders
in
revising, preserving, protecting, exercising or enforcing any of its or any
of
the Lenders’ rights against Borrowers or any other Credit Party, or otherwise
incurred by Agent and its Affiliates and the Lenders in connection with any
Event of Default or the enforcement of the loans (whether incurred through
negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise), including by way of description
and not limitation, such charges in any court or bankruptcy proceedings or
arising out of any claim or action by any person against Agent, its Affiliates,
or any Lender which would not have been asserted were it not for Agent’s or such
Affiliate’s or Lender’s relationship with Borrowers hereunder or otherwise,
shall also be paid, on a joint and several basis, by Borrowers. All of said
amounts required to be paid by Borrowers hereunder and not paid forthwith
upon
demand, as aforesaid, shall bear interest, from the date incurred to the
date
payment is received by Agent, at the Prime-based Rate, plus two percent
(2%).
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(b) Borrowers
jointly and severally agree to indemnify and hold Agent and each of the Lenders
(and their respective Affiliates) harmless from all loss, cost, damage,
liability or expenses, including reasonable house and outside attorneys’ fees
and disbursements (but without duplication of such fees and disbursements
for
the same services), incurred by Agent and each of the Lenders by reason of
an
Event of Default, or enforcing the obligations of any Credit Party under
this
Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, as applicable, or in the
prosecution or defense of any action or proceeding concerning any matter
growing
out of or connected with this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents, excluding,
however, any loss, cost, damage, liability or expenses to the extent arising
as
a result of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the party seeking
to
be indemnified under this Section 13.5(b), provided that, the Borrowers shall
be
obligated to reimburse Agent and the Lenders for only a single financial
consultant selected by Agent in consultation with the Lenders.
(c) The
Borrowers agree on a joint and several basis to defend, indemnify and hold
harmless Agent and each Lender (and their respective Affiliates), and their
respective employees, agents, officers and directors from and against any
and
all claims, demands, penalties, fines, liabilities, settlements, damages,
costs
or expenses of whatever kind or nature (including without limitation, reasonable
attorneys and consultants fees, investigation and laboratory fees, environmental
studies required by Agent or any Lender in connection with the violation
of
Hazardous Material Laws), court costs and litigation expenses, arising out
of or
related to (i) the presence, use, disposal, release or threatened release
of any
Hazardous Materials on, from or affecting any premises owned or occupied
by any
Credit Party in violation of or the non-compliance with applicable Hazardous
Material Laws, (ii) any personal injury (including wrongful death) or property
damage (real or personal) arising out of or related to such Hazardous Materials,
(iii) any lawsuit or other proceeding brought or threatened, settlement reached
or governmental order or decree relating to such Hazardous Materials, and/or
(iv) complying or coming into compliance with all Hazardous Material Laws
(including the cost of any remediation or monitoring required in connection
therewith) or any other Requirement of Law; provided, however, that the
Borrowers shall have no obligations under this Section 13.5(c) with respect
to
claims, demands, penalties, fines, liabilities, settlements, damages, costs
or
expenses to the extent arising as a result of the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of the Agent or such Lender, as the case may be. The obligations
of
Borrowers under this Section 13.5(c) shall be in addition to any and all
other
obligations and liabilities Borrowers may have to Agent or any of the Lenders
at
common law or pursuant to any other agreement.
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13.6 Notices.
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(a)
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Except
as expressly provided otherwise in this Agreement (and except as
provided
in clause (b) below), all notices and other communications provided
to any
party hereto under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall
be in
writing and shall be given by personal delivery, by mail, by reputable
overnight courier or by facsimile and addressed or delivered to
it at its
address set forth on Schedule 13.6 or at such other address as
may be
designated by such party in a notice to the other parties that
complies as
to delivery with the terms of this Section 13.6 or posted to an
E-System
set up by or at the direction of Agent (as set forth below). Any
notice,
if personally delivered or if mailed and properly addressed with
postage
prepaid and sent by registered or certified mail, shall be deemed
given
when received or when delivery is refused; any notice, if given
to a
reputable overnight courier and properly addressed, shall be deemed
given
two (2) Business Days after the date on which it was sent, unless
it is
actually received sooner by the named addressee; and any notice,
if
transmitted by facsimile, shall be deemed given when received.
The Agent
may, but, except as specifically provided herein, shall not be
required
to, take any action on the basis of any notice given to it by telephone,
but the giver of any such notice shall promptly confirm such notice
in
writing, by facsimile, and such notice will not be deemed to have
been
received until such confirmation is deemed received in accordance
with the
provisions of this Section set forth above. If such telephonic
notice
conflicts with any such confirmation, the terms of such telephonic
notice
shall control. Any notice given by the Agent or any Lender to the
Borrower
Representative shall be deemed to be a notice to all of the Credit
Parties.
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(b)
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Notices
and other communications provided to the Agent and the Lenders
party
hereto under this Agreement or any other Loan Document may be delivered
or
furnished by electronic communication (including email and Internet
or
intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the
Agent. The Agent or any Borrower may, in its discretion, agree
to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic
communications (including email and any E-System) pursuant to procedures
approved by it. Unless otherwise agreed to in a writing by and
among the parties to a particular communication, (i) notices and
other
communications sent to an email address shall be deemed received
upon the
sender’s receipt of an acknowledgment from the intended recipient (such
as
by the “return receipt requested” function, return email, or other written
acknowledgment) and (ii) notices and other communications posted
to any
E-System shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the
intended
recipient at its email address as described in the foregoing clause
(i) of
notification that such notice or other communication is available
and
identifying the website address
therefore.
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13.7 Further
Action. Borrowers, from time to time, upon written request
of Agent will make, execute, acknowledge and deliver or cause to be made,
executed, acknowledged and delivered, all such further and additional
instruments, and take all such further action as may reasonably be required
to
carry out the intent and purpose of this Agreement or the Loan Documents,
and to
provide for Advances under and payment of the Notes, according to the intent
and
purpose herein and therein expressed.
13.8 Successors
and Assigns; Participations; Assignments.
(a) This
Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Borrowers
and the Lenders and their respective successors and assigns.
(b) The
foregoing shall not authorize any assignment by any Borrower of its rights
or
duties hereunder, and, except as otherwise provided herein, no such assignment
shall be made (or be effective) without the prior written approval of the
Lenders.
(c) No
Lenders may at any time assign or grant participations in such Lender’s rights
and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents except (i) by
way
of assignment to any Eligible Assignee in accordance with clause (d) of this
Section, (ii) by way of a participation in accordance with the provisions
of
clause (e) of this Section or (iii) by way of a pledge or assignment of a
security interest subject to the restrictions of clause (f) of this Section
(and
any other attempted assignment or transfer by any Lender shall be deemed
to be
null and void).
(d) Each
assignment by a Lender of all or any portion of its rights and obligations
hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, shall be subject to the following
terms and conditions:
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(i)
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each
such assignment shall be made on a pro rata basis, and shall be
in a
minimum amount of the lesser of (x) Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000)
or
such lesser amount as the Agent shall agree and (y) the entire
remaining
amount of assigning Lender’s aggregate interest in the Revolving Credit
(and participations in any outstanding Letters of Credit); provided
however that, after giving effect to such assignment, in no event
shall
the entire remaining amount (if any) of assigning Lender’s aggregate
interest in the Revolving Credit (and participations in any outstanding
Letters of Credit) be less than $5,000,000;
and
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(ii)
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the
parties to any assignment shall execute and deliver to Agent an
Assignment
Agreement substantially (as determined by Agent) in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit H (with appropriate insertions acceptable to
Agent),
together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount, if
any,
required as set forth in the Assignment Agreement (provided however
that
such Lender need not deliver an Assignment Agreement in connection
with
assignments to such Lender’s Affiliates or to a Federal Reserve
Bank).
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Until
the
Assignment Agreement becomes effective in accordance with its terms, and
Agent
has confirmed that the assignment satisfies the requirements of this Section
13.8, the Borrowers and the Agent shall be entitled to continue to deal solely
and directly with the assigning Lender in connection with the interest so
assigned. From and after the effective date of each Assignment
Agreement that satisfies the requirements of this Section 13.8, the assignee
thereunder shall be deemed to be a party to this Agreement, such assignee
shall
have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement and the
other
Loan Documents (including without limitation the right to receive fees payable
hereunder in respect of the period following such assignment) and the assigning
Lender shall relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations under
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
Upon
request, Borrowers shall execute and deliver to the Agent, new Note(s) payable
to the order of the assignee in an amount equal to the amount assigned to
the
assigning Lender pursuant to such Assignment Agreement, and with respect
to the
portion of the Indebtedness retained by the assigning Lender, to the extent
applicable, new Note(s) payable to the order of the assigning Lender in an
amount equal to the amount retained by such Lender hereunder. The Agent,
the
Lenders and each Borrower acknowledges and agrees that any such new Note(s)
shall be given in renewal and replacement of the Notes issued to the assigning
lender prior to such assignment and shall not effect or constitute a novation
or
discharge of the Indebtedness evidenced by such prior Note, and each such
new
Note may contain a provision confirming such agreement.
(e) The
Borrowers and the Agent acknowledge that each of the Lenders may at any time
and
from time to time, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, grant
participations in such Lender’s rights and obligations hereunder (on a pro rata
basis only) and under the other Loan Documents to any Person (other than
a
natural person or to any Borrower or any of Borrower’s Affiliates or
Subsidiaries); provided that any participation permitted hereunder shall
comply
with all applicable laws and shall be subject to a participation agreement
that
incorporates the following restrictions:
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(i)
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such
Lender shall remain the holder of its Notes hereunder (if such
Notes are
issued), notwithstanding any such
participation;
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(ii)
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a
participant shall not reassign or transfer, or grant any
sub-participations in its participation interest hereunder or any
part
thereof; and
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(iii)
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such
Lender shall retain the sole right and responsibility to enforce
the
obligations of the Credit Parties relating to the Notes and the
other Loan
Documents, including, without limitation, the right to proceed
against any
Guarantors, or cause the Agent to do so (subject to the terms and
conditions hereof), and the right to approve any amendment, modification
or waiver of any provision of this Agreement without the consent
of the
participant (unless such participant is an Affiliate of such Lender),
except for those matters covered by Section 13.10(a) through (e)
hereof
(provided that a participant may exercise any of the approval rights
granted above in this clause (iii) only on an indirect basis, acting
through such Lender and the Credit Parties, Agent and the other
Lenders
may continue to deal directly with such Lender in connection with
such
Lender’s rights and duties hereunder). Notwithstanding the foregoing,
however, in the case of any participation granted by any Lender
hereunder,
the participant shall not have any rights under this Agreement
or any of
the other Loan Documents against the Agent, any other Lender or
any Credit
Party; provided, however that the participant may have rights against
such
Lender in respect of such participation as may be set forth in
the
applicable participation agreement and all amounts payable by the
Credit
Parties hereunder shall be determined as if such Lender had not
sold such
participation. Each such participant shall be
entitled to the benefits of Article 11 of this Agreement to the
same
extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by
assignment
pursuant to clause (d) of this Section, provided that no participant
shall
be entitled to receive any greater amount pursuant to such the
provisions
of Article 11 than the issuing Lender would have been entitled
to receive
in respect of the amount of the participation transferred by such
issuing
Lender to such participant had no such transfer occurred and each
such
participant shall also be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.6
hereof
as though it were a Lender, provided that such participant agrees
to be
subject to Section 10.3 hereof as though it were a
Lender.
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(f) Any
Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any
portion of its rights under this Agreement (including its Notes, if any)
to
secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to
secure
obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such pledge or
assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder
or
substitute any such pledge or assignee for such Lender as a party
hereto.
(g) The
Agent shall maintain at its principal office a copy of each Assignment Agreement
delivered to it and a register (the “Register”) for the recordation of the names
and addresses of the Lenders, the Percentages of such Lenders and the principal
amount of each type of Advance owing to each such Lender from time to time.
The
entries in the Register shall be conclusive evidence, absent manifest error,
and
the Borrowers, the Agent, and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name
is
recorded in the Register as the owner of the Advances recorded therein for
all
purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection
by
the Borrowers or any Lender upon reasonable notice to the Agent and a copy
of
such information shall be provided to any such party on their prior written
request. The Agent shall give prompt written notice to the Borrower
Representative of the making of any entry in the Register or any change in
such
entry.
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(h) Each
Borrower authorizes each Lender to disclose to any prospective assignee or
participant which has satisfied the requirements hereunder, any and all
financial information in such Lender’s possession concerning the Credit Parties
which has been delivered to such Lender pursuant to this Agreement, provided
that each such prospective assignee or participant shall execute a
confidentiality agreement consistent with the terms of Section 13.11 hereof
or
shall otherwise agree to be bound by the terms thereof.
(i) Nothing
in this Agreement, the Notes or the other Loan Documents, expressed or implied,
is intended to or shall confer on any Person other than the respective parties
hereto and thereto and their successors and assignees and participants permitted
hereunder and thereunder any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy
or
other claim under this Agreement, the Notes or the other Loan
Documents.
13.9 Counterparts;
Execution. This Agreement may be executed in several
counterparts, and each executed copy shall constitute an original instrument,
but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same
instrument. This Agreement (and each other Loan Document) may be
delivered by facsimile or electronic (e.g., .pdf or .tif file) transmission
with
the same effect as if an originally executed version of this Agreement (or
such
other Loan Document) had been personally delivered to each of the parties
hereto, whether or not an original remains in existence.
13.10 Amendment
and Waiver. No amendment or waiver of any provision of
this Agreement or any other Loan Document, nor consent to any departure by
any
Credit Party therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall
be
in writing and signed by the Agent and the Majority Lenders (or by the Agent
at
the written request of the Majority Lenders) or, if this Agreement expressly
so
requires with respect to the subject matter thereof, by all Lenders (and,
with
respect to any amendments to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents,
by any
Credit Party or the Guarantors that are signatories thereto), and then such
waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for
the
specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that no amendment, waiver
or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Lender or Lenders affected
thereby, do any of the following: (a) increase the stated amount of such
Lender’s commitment hereunder, (b) reduce the principal
of, or interest on, any outstanding Indebtedness or any Fees or other amounts
payable hereunder, (c) postpone any date fixed for any payment of principal
of,
or interest on, any outstanding Indebtedness or any Fees or other amounts
payable hereunder, (d) except as expressly permitted hereunder or under the
Collateral Documents, release all or substantially all of the Collateral
(provided that neither Agent nor any Lender shall be prohibited thereby from
proposing or participating in a consensual or nonconsensual debtor-in-possession
or similar financing), or release any material guaranty provided by any Person
in favor of Agent and the Lenders, provided however that Agent shall be
entitled, without notice to or any further action or consent of the Lenders,
to
release any Collateral which any Credit Party is permitted to sell, assign
or
otherwise transfer in compliance with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents
or release any guaranty to the extent expressly permitted in this Agreement
or
any of the other Loan Documents (whether in connection with the sale, transfer
or other disposition of the applicable Guarantor or otherwise), (e) terminate
or
modify any indemnity provided to the Lenders hereunder or under the other
Loan
Documents, except as shall be otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement
or
any other Loan Document, or (f) change the definitions of “Revolving Credit
Percentage”, “Percentage”, “Interest Periods”, “Majority Lenders”, “Majority
Revolving Credit Lenders”, Sections 10.2 or 10.3 hereof or this Section 13.10;
provided, further, that notwithstanding the foregoing, the Revolving Credit
Maturity Date may be postponed or extended, only with the consent of all
of the
Revolving Credit Lenders, and provided further, that no amendment, waiver
or
consent shall, unless in a writing signed by the Swing Line Lender, do any
of
the following: (x) reduce the principal of, or interest on, the Swing Line
Note
(y) postpone any date fixed for any payment of principal of, or interest
on, the
Swing Line Note or (z) alter the rights and duties of the Swing Line Lender
hereunder and provided further, that no amendment, waiver or consent shall,
unless in a writing signed by Issuing Lender affect the rights or duties
of
Issuing Lender under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents and
no
amendment, waiver, or consent shall, unless in a writing signed by the Agent
affect the rights or duties of the Agent under this Agreement or any other
Loan
Document. All references in this Agreement to “Lenders” or “the Lenders” shall
refer to all Lenders, unless expressly stated to refer to Majority Lenders
(or
the like).
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The
Agent
shall, upon the written request of the Borrower Representative, execute and
deliver to the Credit Parties such documents as may be necessary to evidence
(1)
the release of any Lien granted to or held by the Agent upon any Collateral:
(a)
upon termination of the Revolving Credit Aggregate Commitment and payment
in
full of all Indebtedness payable under this Agreement and under any other
Loan
Document; (b) which constitutes property (including, without limitation,
Equity
Interests in any Person) sold or to be sold or disposed of as part of or
in
connection with any disposition (whether by sale, by merger or by any other
form
of transaction and including the property of any Subsidiary that is disposed
of
as permitted hereby) permitted in accordance with the terms of this Agreement;
(c) which constitutes property in which a Credit Party owned no interest
at the
time the Lien was granted or at any time thereafter; or (d) if approved,
authorized or ratified in writing by the Majority Lenders, or all the Lenders,
as the case may be, as provided in this Section 13.10; or (2) the release
of any
Person from its obligations under the Loan Documents (including without
limitation the Guaranty) if all of the Equity Interests of such Person that
were
held by a Credit Party are sold or otherwise transferred to any transferee
other
than a Borrower or a Subsidiary of a Borrower as part of or in connection
with
any disposition (whether by sale, by merger or by any other form of transaction)
permitted in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; provided that
(i) Agent shall not be required to execute any such release or subordination
agreement under clauses (1) or (2) above on terms which, in the Agent’s opinion,
would expose the Agent to liability or create any obligation or entail any
consequence other than the release of such Liens without recourse or warranty
or
such release shall not in any manner discharge, affect or impair the
Indebtedness or any Liens upon any Collateral retained by any Credit Party,
including (without limitation) the proceeds of the sale or other disposition,
all of which shall constitute and remain part of the Collateral.
13.11 Confidentiality. Each
Lender agrees that it will not disclose without the prior consent of the
Borrower Representative (other than to its employees, its Subsidiaries, another
Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or to its auditors or counsel) any information
with respect to the Credit Parties which is furnished pursuant to this Agreement
or any of the other Loan Documents; provided that any Lender may disclose
any
such information (a) as has become generally available to the public or has
been
lawfully obtained by such Lender from any third party under no duty of
confidentiality to any Credit Party, (b) as may be required or appropriate
in
any report, statement or testimony submitted to, or in respect to any inquiry,
by, any municipal, state or federal regulatory body having or claiming to
have
jurisdiction over such Lender, including the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System of the United States, the Office of the Comptroller of the
Currency or the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or similar organizations
(whether in the United States or elsewhere) or their successors, (c) as may
be
required or appropriate in respect to any summons or subpoena or in connection
with any litigation, (d) in order to comply with any law, order, regulation,
ruling or other requirement of law applicable to such Lender, and (e) to
any
prospective assignee or participant in accordance with Section 13.8(f)
hereof.
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13.12 Substitution
of Lenders. If (a) any Lender has failed to fund its
Revolving Credit Percentage of any Revolving Credit Advance, or to fund a
Revolving Credit Advance to repay a Swing Line Advance or any Reimbursement
Obligations, (b) the obligation of any Lender to make Eurodollar-based Advances
has been suspended pursuant to Section 11.3 or 11.4, (c) any Lender has demanded
compensation under Section 3.4(c), 11.5 or 11.6 or (d) any Lender has not
approved an amendment, waiver or other modification of this Agreement, if
such
amendment or waiver has been approved by the Majority Lenders and the consent
of
such Lender is required (in each case, an “Affected Lender”), then the Agent or
the Borrowers shall have the right to make written demand on the Affected
Lender
(with a copy to the Borrower Representative in the case of a demand by the
Agent
or with a copy to the Agent in the case of a demand by the Borrowers) to
assign
and the Affected Lender shall assign, to one or more financial institutions
that
comply with the provisions of Section 13.8 hereof (the “Purchasing Lender” or
“Purchasing Lenders”) to purchase the Advances of the Revolving Credit and/or
Swing Line, as the case may be, of such Affected Lender (including, without
limitation, its participating interests in outstanding Swing Line Advances
and
Letters of Credit) and assume the commitment of the Affected Lender to extend
credit under the Revolving Credit (including without limitation its obligation
to purchase participations interest in Swing Line Advances and Letters of
Credit) under this Agreement. The Affected Lender shall be obligated to sell
its
Advances of the Revolving Credit and/or Swing Line, as the case may be, and
assign its commitment to extend credit under the Revolving Credit (including
without limitation its obligations to purchase participations in Swing Line
Advances and Letters of Credit) to such Purchasing Lender or Purchasing Lenders
within ten (10) days after receiving notice from the Borrowers requiring
it to
do so, at an aggregate price equal to the outstanding principal amount thereof,
plus unpaid interest accrued thereon up to but excluding the date of the
sale.
In connection with any such sale, and as a condition thereof, the Borrowers
shall pay to the Affected Lender all fees accrued for its account hereunder
to
but excluding the date of such sale, plus, if demanded by the Affected Lender
within ten (10) Business Days after such sale, (i) the amount of any
compensation which would be due to the Affected Lender under Section 11.1
if the
Borrowers had prepaid the outstanding Eurodollar-based Advances of the Affected
Lender on the date of such sale and (ii) any additional compensation accrued
for
its account under Sections 3.4(c), 11.5 and 11.6 to but excluding said date.
Upon such sale, the Purchasing Lender or Purchasing Lenders shall assume
the
Affected Lender’s commitment, and the Affected Lender shall be released from its
obligations hereunder to a corresponding extent. If any Purchasing Lender
is not
already one of the Lenders, the Affected Lender, as assignor, such Purchasing
Lender, as assignee, the Borrower Representative and the Agent, shall enter
into
an Assignment Agreement pursuant to Section 13.8 hereof, whereupon such
Purchasing Lender shall be a Lender party to this Agreement, shall be deemed
to
be an assignee hereunder and shall have all the rights and obligations of
a
Lender with a Revolving Credit Percentage equal to its ratable share of the
then
applicable Revolving Credit Aggregate Commitment of the Affected Lender.
In
connection with any assignment pursuant to this Section 13.12, the Borrowers
or
the Purchasing Lender shall pay to the Agent the administrative fee for
processing such assignment referred to in Section 13.8.
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13.13 Withholding
Taxes. If any Lender is not a “united states person”
within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue
Code, such
Lender shall promptly (but in any event prior to the initial payment of interest
hereunder or prior to its accepting any assignment under Section 13.8 hereof,
as
applicable) deliver to the Agent two executed copies of (i) Internal Revenue
Service Form W-8BEN or any successor form specifying the applicable tax treaty
between the United States and the jurisdiction of such Lender’s domicile which
provides for the exemption from withholding on interest payments to such
Lender,
(ii) Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI or any successor form evidencing
that
the income to be received by such Lender hereunder is effectively connected
with
the conduct of a trade or business in the United States or (iii) other evidence
satisfactory to the Agent that such Lender is exempt from United States income
tax withholding with respect to such income; provided, however, that such
Lender
shall not be required to deliver to Agent the aforesaid forms or other evidence
with respect to Advances to Borrowers, if such Lender has assigned its entire
interest hereunder (including its Revolving Credit Commitment Amount, any
outstanding Advances hereunder and participations in Letters of Credit issued
hereunder and any Notes issued to it by Borrowers), to an Affiliate which
is
incorporated under the laws of the United States or a state thereof, and
so
notifies the Agent. Such Lender shall amend or supplement any such form or
evidence as required to insure that it is accurate, complete and non-misleading
at all times. Promptly upon notice from the Agent of any determination by
the
Internal Revenue Service that any payments previously made to such Lender
hereunder were subject to United States income tax withholding when made,
such
Lender shall pay to the Agent the excess of the aggregate amount required
to be
withheld from such payments over the aggregate amount actually withheld by
the
Agent. In addition, from time to time upon the reasonable request and the
sole
expense of Borrower, each Lender and the Agent shall (to the extent it is
able
to do so based upon applicable facts and circumstances), complete and provide
Borrowers with such forms, certificates or other documents as may be reasonably
necessary to allow Borrowers, as applicable, to make any payment under this
Agreement or the other Loan Documents without any withholding for or on the
account of any tax under Section 10.1(d) hereof (or with such withholding
at a
reduced rate), provided that the execution and delivery of such forms,
certificates or other documents does not adversely affect or otherwise restrict
the rights and benefits (including without limitation economic benefits)
available to such Lender or the Agent, as the case may be, under this Agreement
or any of the other Loan Documents, or under or in connection with any
transactions not related to the transactions contemplated hereby.
13.14 Taxes
and Fees. Should any tax (other than as a result of a
Lender’s failure to comply with Section 13.13 or a tax based upon the net income
or capitalization of any Lender or the Agent by any jurisdiction where a
Lender
or the Agent is or has been located), or recording or filing fee become payable
in respect of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or any
amendment, modification or supplement hereof or thereof, Borrowers agrees
to pay
the same, together with any interest or penalties thereon arising from any
Borrower’s actions or omissions, and agrees to hold the Agent and the Lenders
harmless with respect thereto provided, however, that Borrowers shall not
be
responsible for any such interest or penalties which were incurred prior
to the
date that notice is given to the Credit Parties of such tax or
fees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained in
this Section 13.14 shall affect or reduce the rights of any Lender or the
Agent
under Section 11.5 hereof.
99
13.15 WAIVER
OF JURY TRIAL. THE LENDERS, THE AGENT AND THE BORROWERS
KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVE ANY RIGHT ANY OF THEM MAY
HAVE TO
A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LITIGATION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT
OR
ANY RELATED INSTRUMENT OR AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED
BY
THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT, DEALING, STATEMENTS (WHETHER ORAL
OR
WRITTEN) OR ACTION OF ANY OF THEM. NEITHER THE LENDERS, THE AGENT NOR THE
BORROWERS SHALL SEEK TO CONSOLIDATE, BY COUNTERCLAIM OR OTHERWISE, ANY SUCH
ACTION IN WHICH A JURY TRIAL HAS BEEN WAIVED WITH ANY OTHER ACTION IN WHICH
A
JURY TRIAL CANNOT BE OR HAS NOT BEEN WAIVED. THESE PROVISIONS SHALL NOT BE
DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN MODIFIED IN ANY RESPECT OR RELINQUISHED BY THE LENDERS
AND
THE AGENT OR THE BORROWER EXCEPT BY A WRITTEN INSTRUMENT EXECUTED BY ALL
OF
THEM.
13.16 Patriot
Act Notice. Pursuant to Section 326 of the USA
Patriot Act, the Agent and the Lenders hereby notify the Credit Parties that
if
they or any of their Subsidiaries open an account, including any loan, deposit
account, treasury management account, or other extension of credit with Agent
or
any Lender, the Agent or the applicable Lender will request the applicable
Person’s name, tax identification number, business address and other information
necessary to identify such Person (and may request such Person’s organizational
documents or other identifying documents) to the extent necessary for the
Agent
and the applicable Lender to comply with the USA Patriot Act.
13.17 Complete
Agreement; Conflicts. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER “LOAN
AGREEMENTS” (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 26.02(A)(2) OF THE TEXAS BUSINESS &
COMMERCE CODE, AS AMENDED) REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES,
AND THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER WRITTEN LOAN AGREEMENTS MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED
BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN
THE
PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE
PARTIES. In the event of any conflict between the terms of this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents, this Agreement shall
govern.
13.18 Severability. In
case any one or more of the obligations of the Credit Parties under this
Agreement, the Notes or any of the other Loan Documents shall be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity, legality and
enforceability of the remaining obligations of the Credit Parties shall not
in
any way be affected or impaired thereby, and such invalidity, illegality
or
unenforceability in one jurisdiction shall not affect the validity, legality
or
enforceability of the obligations of the Credit Parties under this Agreement,
the Notes or any of the other Loan Documents in any other
jurisdiction.
13.19 Table
of Contents and Headings; Section References. The table of
contents and the headings of the various subdivisions hereof are for convenience
of reference only and shall in no way modify or affect any of the terms or
provisions hereof and references herein to “sections,” “subsections,” “clauses,”
“paragraphs,” “subparagraphs,” “exhibits” and “schedules” shall be to sections,
subsections, clauses, paragraphs, subparagraphs, exhibits and schedules,
respectively, of this Agreement unless otherwise specifically provided herein
or
unless the context otherwise clearly indicates.
100
13.20 Construction
of Certain Provisions. If any provision of this Agreement
or any of the Loan Documents refers to any action to be taken by any Person,
or
which such Person is prohibited from taking, such provision shall be applicable
whether such action is taken directly or indirectly by such Person, whether
or
not expressly specified in such provision.
13.21 Independence
of Covenants. Each covenant hereunder shall be given
independent effect (subject to any exceptions stated in such covenant) so
that
if a particular action or condition is not permitted by any such covenant
(taking into account any such stated exception), the fact that it would be
permitted by an exception to, or would be otherwise within the limitations
of,
another covenant shall not avoid the occurrence of a Default or an Event
of
Default.
13.22 Electronic
Transmissions.
|
(a)
|
Each
of the Agent, the Credit Parties, the Lenders, and each of their
Affiliates is authorized (but not required) to transmit, post or
otherwise
make or communicate, in its sole discretion, Electronic Transmissions
in
connection with any Loan Document and the transactions contemplated
therein. Each Borrower and each other Credit Party hereby
acknowledges and agrees that the use of Electronic Transmissions
is not
necessarily secure and that there are risks associated with such
use,
including risks of interception, disclosure and abuse and each
indicates
it assumes and accepts such risks by hereby authorizing the transmission
of Electronic Transmissions.
|
|
(b)
|
All
uses of an E-System shall be governed by and subject to, in addition
to
Section 13.6 and this Section 13.22, separate terms and conditions
posted
or referenced in such E-System and related contractual obligations
executed by the Agent, the Credit Parties and the Lenders in connection
with the use of such E-System.
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|
(c)
|
All
E-Systems and Electronic Transmissions shall be provided “as is” and “as
available”. None of the Agent or any of its Affiliates warrants
the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of any E-Systems or Electronic
Transmission, and each disclaims all liability for errors or omissions
therein. No warranty of any kind is made by the Agent or any of
its Affiliates in connection with any E Systems or Electronic
Transmission, including any warranty of merchantability, fitness
for a
particular purpose, non-infringement of third-party rights or freedom
from
viruses or other code defects. The Agent, the Credit Parties
and the Lenders agree that the Agent has no responsibility for
maintaining
or providing any equipment, software, services or any testing required
in
connection with any Electronic Transmission or otherwise required
for any
E-System.
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101
|
(d)
|
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, any notice of Default, Event of Default or acceleration
must be transmitted to the Borrower Representative either by mail,
by
reputable overnight courier, by facsimile or by email in accordance
with
Section 13.6.
|
13.23 Advertisements. The
Agent and the Lenders may disclose the names of the Credit Parties and the
existence of the Indebtedness in general advertisements and trade
publications.
13.24 Reliance
on and Survival of Provisions. All terms, covenants,
agreements, representations and warranties of the Credit Parties to any of
the
Loan Documents made herein or in any of the Loan Documents or in any
certificate, report, financial statement or other document furnished by or
on
behalf of any Credit Party in connection with this Agreement or any of the
Loan
Documents shall be deemed to have been relied upon by the Lenders,
notwithstanding any investigation heretofore or hereafter made by any Lender
or
on such Lender’s behalf, and those covenants and agreements of the Borrowers set
forth in Section 13.5 hereof (together with any other indemnities of any
Credit
Party contained elsewhere in this Agreement or in any of the other Loan
Documents) and of Lenders set forth in Section 12.7 hereof shall survive
the
repayment in full of the Indebtedness and the termination of any commitment
to
extend credit.
13.25 Joint
and Several Liability.
|
(a)
|
Each
of the Borrowers acknowledges and agrees that it is the intent
of the
parties that each such Borrower be primarily liable for the obligations
as
a joint and several obligor. It is the intention of the parties
that with
respect to liability of any Borrower hereunder arising solely by
reason of
its being jointly and severally liable for Advances and other extensions
of credit taken by Borrower, the obligations of such Borrower shall
be
absolute, unconditional and irrevocable irrespective
of:
|
|
(i)
|
any
lack of validity, legality or enforceability of this Agreement
or any Note
as to any Borrower, as the case may
be;
|
|
(ii)
|
the
failure of any Lender or any holder of any
Note:
|
(a) to
enforce any right or remedy against any Borrower, as the case may be, or
any
other Person (including any Guarantor) under the provisions of this Agreement,
such Note, or otherwise, or
(b) to
exercise any right or remedy against any guarantor of, or collateral securing,
any obligations;
|
(iii)
|
any
change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other
term
of, all or any of the Indebtedness, or any other extension, compromise
or
renewal of any Indebtedness;
|
102
|
(iv)
|
any
reduction, limitation, impairment or termination of any Indebtedness
with
respect to any Borrower, as the case may be, for any reason, including
any
claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise,
and shall
not be subject to (and each of the Borrowers hereby waives any
right to or
claim of) any defense (other than the defense of payment in full
of the
Indebtedness) or setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination
whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality, nongenuineness,
irregularity, compromise, unenforceability of, or any other event
or
occurrence affecting, any Indebtedness with respect to any Borrower,
as
the case may be;
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|
(v)
|
any
addition, exchange, release, surrender or nonperfection of any
collateral,
or any amendment to or waiver or release or addition of, or consent
to
departure from, any guaranty, held by any Lender or any holder
of the
Notes securing any of the Indebtedness;
or
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|
(vi)
|
any
other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a defense (other
than
the defense of payment in full of the Indebtedness) available to,
or a
legal or equitable discharge of, any Borrower, as the case may
be, any
surety or any guarantor.
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|
(b)
|
Each
of the Borrowers agrees that its joint and several liability hereunder
shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may
be, if at
any time any payment (in whole or in part) of any of the Indebtedness
is
rescinded or must be restored by any Lender or any holder of any
Note,
upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of any Borrower,
as the
case may be, as though such payment had not been
made;
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(c)
|
Each
of the Borrowers hereby expressly waives: (i) notice of the Lenders’
acceptance of this Agreement; (ii) notice of the existence or creation
or
non payment of all or any of the Indebtedness other than notices
expressly
provided for in this Agreement; (iii) presentment, demand, notice
of
dishonor, protest, and all other notices whatsoever other than
notices
expressly provided for in this Agreement; (iv) any claim or defense
based
on an election of remedies; and (v) all diligence in collection
or
protection of or realization upon the Indebtedness or any part
thereof,
any obligation hereunder, or any security for or guaranty of any
of the
foregoing.
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(d)
|
No
delay on any of the Lenders part in the exercise of any right or
remedy
shall operate as a waiver thereof, and no single or partial exercise
by
any of the Lenders of any right or remedy shall preclude other
or further
exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or remedy.
No action
of any of the Lenders permitted hereunder shall in any way affect
or
impair any such Lenders’ rights or any Borrower’s Indebtedness under this
Agreement.
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103
|
(e)
|
Each
of the Borrowers hereby represents and warrants to each of the
Lenders
that it now has and will continue to have independent means of
obtaining
information concerning the Borrowers’ affairs, financial condition and
business. Lenders shall not have any duty or responsibility to
provide any
Borrower with any credit or other information concerning such Borrower’s
affairs, financial condition or business which may come into the
Lenders’
possession.
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(f)
|
Each
of the Borrowers represents and warrants (i) that the business
operations
of the Borrowers are interrelated and that the business operations
of the
Borrowers complement one another, and such entities have a common
business
purpose, and (ii) that, to permit their uninterrupted and continuous
operations, such entities now require and will from time to time
hereafter
require funds and credit accommodations for general business purposes
and
that (iii) the proceeds of advances under the Revolving Credit,
the Swing
Line, and the other credit facilities extended hereunder will directly
or
indirectly benefit the Borrowers hereunder, severally and jointly,
regardless of which Borrower receives part or all of the proceeds
of such
Advances.
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(g)
|
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, it is the intention
of the
Borrowers, Agent and the Lenders that the amount of the respective
Borrowers’ obligations hereunder shall be in, but not in excess of, the
maximum amount thereof not subject to avoidance or recovery by
operation
of applicable law governing bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement,
adjustment of debts, relief of debtors, dissolution, insolvency,
fraudulent transfers or conveyances or other similar laws (collectively,
“Applicable Insolvency Laws”). To that end, but only in the event and to
the extent that the Borrowers’ respective obligations hereunder or any
payment made pursuant thereto would, but for the operation of the
foregoing proviso, be subject to avoidance or recovery under Applicable
Insolvency Laws, the amount of the Borrowers’ respective obligations
hereunder shall be limited to the largest amount which, after giving
effect thereto, would not, under Applicable Insolvency Laws, render
the
Borrower’s respective obligations hereunder unenforceable or avoidable or
subject to recovery under Applicable Insolvency Laws. To the extent
any
payment actually made hereunder exceeds the limitation contained
in this
Section 13.25(g), then the amount of such excess shall, from and
after the
time of payment by the Borrowers (or any of them), be reimbursed
by the
Lenders upon demand by such Borrowers. The foregoing proviso is
intended
solely to preserve the rights of the Agent and the Lenders hereunder
against the Borrowers to the maximum extent permitted by Applicable
Insolvency Laws and neither any Borrower nor any Guarantor nor
any other
Person shall have any right or claim under this Section 13.25(g)
that
would not otherwise be available under Applicable Insolvency
Laws.
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[Signatures
Follow On Succeeding Page]
104
WITNESS
the due execution hereof as of the day and year first above
written.
COMERICA
BANK,
as
Administrative Agent
By:
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||
Its:
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105
STERLING
CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC.
|
||
By:
|
||
Its:
|
||
TEXAS
STERLING CONSTRUCTION CO.
|
||
By:
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||
Its:
|
||
OAKHURST
MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
|
||
By:
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||
Its:
|
106
COMERICA
BANK,
as
a
Lender, as Issuing Lender
and
as
Swing Line Lender
By:
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||
Its:
|
107
EXHIBIT
G
JOINDER
AGREEMENT
This
Joinder Agreement (this “Joinder Agreement”) is executed and delivered as of the
31st day of
October, 2007 by each of the undersigned
WHEREAS,
Sterling Construction Company, Inc., Texas Sterling Construction Co. and
Oakhurst Management Corporation and Comerica Bank as Administrative Agent
(“Agent”) and the other financial institutions party thereto from time to time
(the “Lenders”) have executed and delivered that certain Sterling Construction
Company, Inc. Credit Agreement dated as of October 31, 2007 (as the same
may be
amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit
Agreement”; capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the
meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement), pursuant to which the Lenders
have
made and has agreed to make certain Advances pursuant to the terms and
conditions set forth therein; and
WHEREAS,
each of the undersigned have requested that they also be able to request
Advances and receive extensions of credit under the Credit Agreement, and
the
Lenders have agreed to such request;
NOW,
THEREFORE, in
consideration of the provisions contained herein and in the Credit Agreement,
each of the undersigned hereby agrees as follows:
1. By
execution and delivery of this Joinder Agreement, each of the undersigned
shall,
and does hereby, become a Borrower under the Credit Agreement and a Debtor
under
the Security Agreement, in each case as if an original signatory thereto,
and
agrees to execute and deliver any such additional agreements, documents and
instruments in connection therewith as Agent shall reasonably
request.
2. Each
of the undersigned (a) acknowledges and agrees that the undersigned has
completely read and understands the Credit Agreement, the Security Agreement
and
any other Loan Documents; (b) consents to and agrees to be bound by all of
the
provisions of the Credit Agreement, the Security Agreement and any other
Loan
Documents executed in connection therewith relating to undersigned; (c)
represents and warrants that (i) all of the representations and warranties
set
forth in the Credit Agreement, the Security Agreement and any other Loan
Documents are, as to the undersigned, true and correct in all material respects
as of the date hereof and (ii) the Acquisition has been consummated on the
terms
set forth in the Credit Agreement, and (d) acknowledges and agrees that this
Agreement, the Credit Agreement, the Security Agreement and the other Loan
Documents to which such undersigned is a party have been freely executed
without
duress and after an opportunity was provided to the undersigned for review
by
competent legal counsel of the undersigned's choice.
108
3. Each
of the undersigned acknowledges and agrees that it shall be jointly and
severally liable with the other Borrowers for all of the loans and advances
made
by Agent and any of the Lenders and all of the indebtedness, obligations
and
liabilities to Agent and the Lenders under and pursuant to the terms of the
Credit Agreement, the Security Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents,
together with all of the Borrowers’ other indebtedness, obligations and
liabilities whatsoever to Agent or any other Lender arising under or in
connection with the Credit Agreement, the Security Agreement or any other
Loan
Documents, whether matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, direct
or
indirect, absolute or contingent, joint or several, due or to become due,
now
existing or hereafter arising.
4. This
Joinder Agreement may be executed in counterparts which, taken together,
shall
constitute an original. This Joinder Agreement may be delivered by
facsimile or electronic (e.g., .pdf or .tif file) transmission with the same
effect as if an originally executed version of this Fee Letter had been
personally delivered to each of the parties hereto, whether or not an original
remains in existence.
109
ROAD
AND HIGHWAY BUILDERS, INC.
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|||
By:
|
|||
Its:
|
|||
ROAD
AND HIGHWAY BUILDERS, LLC
|
|||
By: Sterling
Construction Company, Inc., its sole manager
|
|||
By:
|
|||
Its:
|
110
Schedule
1.1
pplicable
Margin Grid
Credit
Agreement
(basis
points per annum)
Basis
for Pricing
|
Level
I
|
Level
II
|
Level
III
|
Pricing
Leverage Ratio*
|
<1.00
|
>1.00
but <1.75
|
>1.75
|
Revolving
Credit Eurodollar Margin
|
125.00
|
175.00
|
225.00
|
Revolving
Credit Prime-Based Rate Margin
|
0.00
|
25.00
|
50.00
|
Revolving
Credit Facility Fee
|
25.00
|
25.00
|
25.00
|
Letter
of Credit Fees (exclusive of facing fees)
|
125.00
|
175.00
|
225.00
|
*
Definition as set forth in the Credit
Agreement.
**
Level
II pricing shall be in effect until the delivery of the financial statements
for
the quarter ending December 31, 2007, after which time the pricing grid shall
govern.
Schedule
1.2
Percentages
and Allocations
Credit
Agreement
LENDERS
|
REVOLVING
CREDIT
PERCENTAGE
|
REVOLVING
CREDIT
ALLOCATIONS
|
Comerica
Bank
|
100%
|
$75,000,000
|
TOTALS
|
100%
|
$75,000,000
|
Schedule
1.3
Compliance
Information
Correct
Legal Name
|
Address
|
Type
of Organization
|
Jurisdiction
of Organization
|
Tax
identification number and other identification
numbers
|