U.S. $1,100,000,000 FIVE YEAR CREDIT AGREEMENT Dated as of December 8, 2006 Among THE HERSHEY COMPANY, as Borrower, and THE INITIAL LENDERS NAMED HEREIN, as Initial Lenders, and CITIBANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as...
Exhibit
10.1
EXECUTION
COPY
U.S.
$1,100,000,000
Dated
as
of December 8, 2006
Among
THE
HERSHEY COMPANY,
as Borrower,
and
THE
INITIAL LENDERS NAMED HEREIN,
as Initial Lenders,
and
CITIBANK,
N.A.,
as Administrative Agent,
and
BANK
OF
AMERICA, N.A.,
as Syndication Agent,
and
UBS
LOAN
FINANCE LLC,
as Documentation Agent,
and
CITIGROUP
GLOBAL MARKETS INC.,
and
BANC
OF
AMERICA SECURITIES LLC,
as
Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Book Managers,
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE
I DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
|
||
SECTION
1.01.
|
Certain
Defined Terms
|
1
|
SECTION
1.02.
|
Computation
of Time Periods
|
13
|
SECTION
1.03.
|
Accounting
Terms
|
14
|
ARTICLE
II AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF THE ADVANCES
|
||
SECTION
2.01.
|
The
Revolving Credit Advances
|
14
|
SECTION
2.02.
|
Making
the Revolving Credit Advances
|
14
|
SECTION
2.03.
|
The
Competitive Bid Advances
|
16
|
SECTION
2.04.
|
Fees
|
20
|
SECTION
2.05.
|
Termination,
Reduction or Increase of the Commitments
|
20
|
SECTION
2.06.
|
Repayment
of Revolving Credit Advances
|
23
|
SECTION
2.07.
|
Interest
on Revolving Credit Advances
|
23
|
SECTION
2.08.
|
Interest
Rate Determination
|
24
|
SECTION
2.09.
|
Optional
Conversion of Revolving Credit Advances
|
26
|
SECTION
2.10.
|
Optional
Prepayments of Revolving Credit Advances
|
26
|
SECTION
2.11.
|
Increased
Costs
|
26
|
SECTION
2.12.
|
Illegality
|
28
|
SECTION
2.13.
|
Payments
and Computations
|
28
|
SECTION
2.14.
|
Taxes
|
29
|
SECTION
2.15.
|
Sharing
of Payments, Etc
|
31
|
SECTION
2.16.
|
Use
of Proceeds
|
31
|
SECTION
2.17.
|
Mandatory
Assignment by a Lender; Mitigation
|
32
|
SECTION
2.18.
|
Evidence
of Debt
|
32
|
SECTION
2.19.
|
Extension
of Termination Date
|
33
|
i
ARTICLE
III CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVENESS AND LENDING
|
||
SECTION
3.01.
|
Conditions
Precedent to Effectiveness of Sections 2.01 and 2.03
|
35
|
SECTION
3.02.
|
Initial
Borrowing of Each Designated Subsidiary
|
37
|
SECTION
3.03.
|
Conditions
Precedent to Each Revolving Credit Borrowing
|
38
|
SECTION
3.04.
|
Conditions
Precedent to Each Competitive Bid Borrowing
|
38
|
SECTION
3.05.
|
Determinations
Under Section 3.01
|
39
|
ARTICLE
IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
|
||
SECTION
4.01.
|
Representations
and Warranties of the Company
|
39
|
ARTICLE
V COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
|
||
SECTION
5.01.
|
Affirmative
Covenants
|
42
|
SECTION
5.02.
|
Negative
Covenants
|
45
|
SECTION
5.03.
|
Financial
Covenant
|
46
|
ARTICLE
VI EVENTS OF DEFAULT
|
||
SECTION
6.01.
|
Events
of Default
|
46
|
ARTICLE
VII GUARANTY
|
||
SECTION
7.01.
|
Guaranty
|
49
|
SECTION
7.02.
|
Guaranty
Absolute
|
49
|
SECTION
7.03.
|
Waivers
and Acknowledgments
|
50
|
SECTION
7.04.
|
Subrogation
|
50
|
SECTION
7.05.
|
Continuing
Guaranty; Assignments Under the Credit Agreement
|
51
|
SECTION
7.06.
|
No
Stay
|
51
|
ARTICLE
VIII THE AGENT
|
||
SECTION
8.01.
|
Authorization
and Action
|
51
|
SECTION
8.02.
|
Agent's
Reliance, Etc.
|
52
|
SECTION
8.03.
|
Citibank
and Affiliates
|
52
|
ii
SECTION
8.04.
|
Lender
Credit Decision
|
53
|
SECTION
8.05.
|
Indemnification
|
53
|
SECTION
8.06.
|
Successor
Agent
|
53
|
ARTICLE
IX MISCELLANEOUS
|
||
SECTION
9.01.
|
Amendments,
Etc.
|
54
|
SECTION
9.02.
|
Notices,
Etc.
|
54
|
SECTION
9.03.
|
No
Waiver; Remedies
|
55
|
SECTION
9.04.
|
Costs
and Expenses
|
55
|
SECTION
9.05.
|
Right
of Set-off
|
57
|
SECTION
9.06.
|
Binding
Effect
|
57
|
SECTION
9.07.
|
Assignments,
Designations and Participations
|
58
|
SECTION
9.08.
|
Designated
Subsidiaries
|
60
|
SECTION
9.09.
|
Confidentiality
|
61
|
SECTION
9.10.
|
Governing
Law
|
62
|
SECTION
9.11.
|
Execution
in Counterparts
|
62
|
SECTION
9.12.
|
Jurisdiction,
Etc.
|
62
|
SECTION
9.13.
|
Patriot
Act
|
62
|
SCHEDULES
Schedule
I
|
-
|
List
of Applicable Lending Offices
|
Schedule
3.01(b)
|
-
|
Disclosed
Litigation
|
Schedule
4.01(c)
|
-
|
Required
Authorizations and Approvals
|
EXHIBITS
Exhibit
A-1
|
-
|
Form
of Revolving Credit Note
|
Exhibit
A-2
|
-
|
Form
of Competitive Bid Note
|
Exhibit
B-1
|
-
|
Form
of Notice of Revolving Credit Borrowing
|
iii
Exhibit
B-2
|
-
|
Form
of Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing
|
Exhibit
C
|
-
|
Form
of Assignment and Acceptance
|
Exhibit
D
|
-
|
Form
of Assumption Agreement
|
Exhibit
E
|
-
|
Form
of Designation Letter
|
Exhibit
F
|
-
|
Form
of Acceptance by Process Agent
|
Exhibit
G
|
-
|
Form
of Opinion of Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Senior Vice President, General
Counsel and
Secretary of the Company
|
Exhibit
H
|
-
|
Form
of Opinion of Counsel to a Designated
Subsidiary
|
iv
Dated
as
of December 8, 2006
THE
HERSHEY COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
the
banks, financial institutions and other institutional lenders (the "Initial
Lenders")
listed
on the signature pages hereof, CITIBANK, N.A. ("Citibank"),
as
administrative agent (the "Agent")
for
the Lenders (as hereinafter defined), BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as syndication
agent, UBS LOAN FINANCE LLC, as documentation agent, and CITIGROUP GLOBAL
MARKETS INC. and BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC, as joint lead arrangers and
joint book managers (the "Arrangers"),
agree
as follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
SECTION
1.01. Certain
Defined Terms.
As used
in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings (such
meanings to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of
the
terms defined):
"Advance"
means a
Revolving Credit Advance or a Competitive Bid Advance.
"Affiliate"
means,
as to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, controls,
is
controlled by or is under common control with such Person or is a director
or
officer of such Person. For purposes of this definition, the term "control"
(including the terms "controlling", "controlled by" and "under common control
with") of a Person means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to
vote 5% or more of the Voting Stock of such Person or to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the
ownership of Voting Stock, by contract or otherwise.
"Agent's
Account"
means
the account of the Agent maintained by the Agent at Citibank with its office
at
Xxx Xxxx'x Xxx, Xxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, Account No. 00000000,
Attention: Bank Loan Syndications.
"Applicable
Lending Office"
means,
with respect to each Lender, such Lender's Domestic Lending Office in the case
of a Base Rate Advance and such Lender's Eurodollar Lending Office in the case
of a Eurodollar Rate Advance and, in the case of a Competitive Bid Advance,
the
office of such Lender notified by such Lender to the Agent as its Applicable
Lending Office with respect to such Competitive Bid Advance.
2
"Applicable
Margin"
means
(a) for Base Rate Advances, 0% per annum and (b) for Eurodollar Rate
Advances, as of any date, a percentage per annum determined by reference to
the
Level in effect on such date as set forth below:
Level
|
Applicable
Margin for Eurodollar Rate Advances
|
Xxxxx
0
|
0.110%
|
Xxxxx
0
|
0.135%
|
Xxxxx
0
|
0.150%
|
Xxxxx
0
|
0.190%
|
Xxxxx
0
|
0.270%
|
Xxxxx
0
|
0.350%
|
"Applicable
Percentage"
means,
as of any date, a percentage per annum determined by reference to the Level
in
effect on such date as set forth below:
Xxxxx
|
Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx
|
Xxxxx
0
|
0.040%
|
Xxxxx
0
|
0.040%
|
Xxxxx
0
|
0.050%
|
Xxxxx
0
|
0.060%
|
Xxxxx
0
|
0.080%
|
Xxxxx
0
|
0.100%
|
"Applicable
Utilization Fee"
means,
as of any date that the aggregate Advances exceed 50% of the aggregate
Commitments, a percentage per annum determined by reference to the Level in
effect on such date as set forth below:
Level
|
Applicable
Utilization
Fee
|
Xxxxx
0
|
0.025%
|
Xxxxx
0
|
0.025%
|
Xxxxx
0
|
0.050%
|
Xxxxx
0
|
0.050%
|
Xxxxx
0
|
0.100%
|
Xxxxx
0
|
0.100%
|
"Assignment
and Acceptance"
means
an assignment and acceptance entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee,
and accepted by the Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit C
hereto.
"Assuming
Lender"
means
an Eligible Assignee not previously a Lender that becomes a Lender hereunder
pursuant to Section 2.05(c) or 2.19(c).
3
"Assumption
Agreement"
means
an agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit D hereto by which an
Eligible Assignee agrees to become a Lender hereunder pursuant to Section
2.05(c), agreeing to be bound by all obligations of a Lender
hereunder.
"Base
Rate"
means a
fluctuating interest rate per annum in effect from time to time, which rate
per
annum shall at all times be equal to the higher of:
(a) the
rate
of interest announced publicly by Citibank in New York, New York, from
time to time, as Citibank's base rate; and
(b) 1/2
of
one percent per annum above the Federal Funds Rate.
"Base
Rate Advance"
means a
Revolving Credit Advance that bears interest as provided in
Section 2.07(a)(i).
"Borrower"
means
the Company or any Designated Subsidiary, as the context requires.
"Borrowing"
means a
Revolving Credit Borrowing or a Competitive Bid Borrowing.
"Business
Day"
means a
day of the year on which banks are not required or authorized by law to close
in
New York City and, if the applicable Business Day relates to any Eurodollar
Rate Advance or LIBO Rate Advance, on which dealings are carried on in the
London interbank market.
"Change
of Control"
means a
change in the voting power of Hershey Trust Company, as trustee for the Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx School (the "Hershey
Trust"),
such
that either (A) (i) it no longer controls a majority of the voting
power of the Company's Voting Stock and (ii) at the same time, another
Person or group of Persons within the meaning of Section 13 or 14 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, controls a percentage of the voting
power of the Company's Voting Stock in excess of the percentage controlled
by
the Hershey Trust or (B) it no longer controls at least 30% of the voting power
of the Company's Voting Stock.
"Commitment"
has the
meaning specified in Section 2.01.
"Commitment
Increase"
has the
meaning specified in Section 2.05(c)(i).
"Commitment
Increase Date"
has the
meaning specified in Section 2.05(c)(i).
"Competitive
Bid Advance"
means
an advance by a Lender to any Borrower as part of a Competitive Bid Borrowing
resulting from the competitive bidding procedure described in Section 2.03
and refers to a Fixed Rate Advance or a LIBO Rate Advance.
"Competitive
Bid Borrowing"
means a
borrowing consisting of simultaneous Competitive Bid Advances from each of
the
Lenders whose offer to make one or more
4
Competitive
Bid Advances as part of such borrowing has been accepted under the competitive
bidding procedure described in Section 2.03.
"Competitive
Bid Note"
means a
promissory note of any Borrower payable to the order of any Lender, in
substantially the form of Exhibit A-2 hereto, evidencing the indebtedness
of such Borrower to such Lender resulting from a Competitive Bid Advance made
by
such Lender to such Borrower.
"Competitive
Bid Reduction"
has the
meaning specified in Section 2.01.
"Confidential
Information"
means
any non-public or proprietary information disclosed by any Borrower to the
Agent
or any Lender that such Borrower indicates is to be treated confidentially,
but
does not include any such information that is or becomes generally available
to
the public or that is or becomes available to the Agent or such Lender on a
non-confidential basis from a source other than such Borrower, which source
is
not, to the best knowledge of the Agent or such Lender, subject to a
confidentiality agreement with such Borrower.
"Consenting
Lender"
has the
meaning specified in Section 2.19(b).
"Consolidated"
refers
to the consolidation of accounts in accordance with GAAP.
"Consolidated
Interest Expense"
means,
for any period with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries, net interest
expense plus
capitalized interest for such period, in each case determined on a Consolidated
basis in accordance with GAAP.
"Consolidated
Net Interest Expense"
means,
for any period with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries, interest
expense minus
capitalized interest and interest income for such period, in each case
determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
"Convert",
"Conversion"
and
"Converted"
each
refers to a conversion of Revolving Credit Advances of one Type into Revolving
Credit Advances of the other Type pursuant to Section 2.08 or
2.09.
"Debt"
means,
with respect to any Person: (a) indebtedness for borrowed money, (b) obligations
evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (c)
obligations to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other
than trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business), (d)
obligations as lessee under leases which shall have been or should be, in
accordance with GAAP, recorded as capital leases, (e) all obligations,
contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of acceptances, letters
of
credit (other than trade letters of credit) or similar extensions of credit
and
(f) obligations under direct or indirect guaranties in respect of, and
obligations, contingent or otherwise, to purchase or otherwise acquire, or
otherwise to assure a creditor against loss in respect of, indebtedness or
obligations of any other Person of the kinds referred to in clauses (a) through
(d) above.
5
"Default"
means
any Event of Default or any event that would constitute an Event of Default
but
for the requirement that notice be given or time elapse or both.
"Designated
Subsidiary"
means
any corporate Subsidiary of the Company designated for borrowing privileges
under this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.08.
"Designation
Letter"
means,
with respect to any Designated Subsidiary, a letter in the form of Exhibit
E
hereto signed by such Designated Subsidiary and the Company.
"Disclosed
Litigation"
has the
meaning specified in Section 3.01(b).
"Domestic
Lending Office"
means,
with respect to any Initial Lender, the office of such Lender specified as
its
"Domestic Lending Office" opposite its name on Schedule I hereto or, with
respect to any other Lender, the office of such Lender specified as its
"Domestic Lending Office" in the Assumption Agreement or in the Assignment
and
Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender, or such other office of such
Lender as such Lender may from time to time specify to the Company and the
Agent.
"Effective
Date"
has the
meaning specified in Section 3.01.
"Eligible
Assignee"
means
(a) a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender which is principally engaged in the
commercial banking business, and (b) any bank or other financial institution,
or
any other Person, that has been approved in writing by the Company (so
long as no Event of Default has occured and is continuing) and the Agent as
an
Eligible Assignee for purposes of this Agreement; provided,
however,
that
neither the Company's nor the Agent's approval shall be unreasonably withheld;
and provided further,
however,
that
the Company (whether or not an Event of Default has occured and is continuing)
may withhold its approval if the Company reasonably believes that an assignment
to such Eligible Assignee pursuant to Section 9.07 will result in the incurrence
of increased costs payable by any Borrower pursuant to Section 2.11 or
2.14.
"Environmental
Action"
means
any administrative, regulatory or judicial action, suit, demand, demand letter,
claim, notice, investigation, proceeding, consent order or consent agreement
relating to any Environmental Law, Environmental Permit or Hazardous Materials
or arising from alleged injury to health, safety or the
environment.
"Environmental
Law"
means
any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, ordinance, rule, regulation,
code, order, judgment, decree or judicial or agency interpretation, policy
or
guidance relating to pollution or protection of the environment, health, safety
or natural resources, including, without limitation, those relating to the
use,
handling, transportation, treatment, storage, disposal, release or discharge
of
Hazardous Materials.
"Environmental
Permit"
means
any permit, approval, identification number, license or other authorization
required under any Environmental Law.
6
"ERISA"
means
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time
to
time, and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued
thereunder.
"ERISA
Affiliate"
means
any Person that for purposes of Title IV of ERISA is a member of the
Company's controlled group, or under common control with the Company, within
the
meaning of Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code.
"ERISA
Event"
means
(a) (i) the occurrence of a reportable event, within the meaning of
Section 4043 of ERISA, with respect to any Plan unless the 30-day notice
requirement with respect to such event has been waived by the PBGC, or (ii)
the
requirements of subsection (1) of Section 4043(b) of ERISA (without regard
to
subsection (2) of such Section) are met with a contributing sponsor, as defined
in Section 4001(a)(13) of ERISA, of a Plan, and an event described in
paragraph (9), (10), (11), (12) or (13) of Section 4043(c) of ERISA is
reasonably expected to occur with respect to such Plan within the following
30
days; (b) the application for a minimum funding waiver with respect to a
Plan; (c) the provision by the administrator of any Plan of a notice of
intent to terminate such Plan pursuant to Section 4041(a)(2) of ERISA
(including any such notice with respect to a plan amendment referred to in
Section 4041(e) of ERISA); (d) the cessation of operations at a
facility of the Company or any ERISA affiliate in the circumstances described
in
Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (e) the withdrawal by the Company or any
ERISA Affiliate from a Multiple Employer Plan during a plan year for which
it
was a substantial employer, as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA;
(f) the conditions for the imposition of a lien under Section 302(f)
of ERISA shall have been met with respect to any Plan; (g) the adoption of
an amendment to a Plan requiring the provision of security to such Plan pursuant
to Section 307 of ERISA; or (h) the institution by the PBGC of
proceedings to terminate a Plan pursuant to Section 4042 of ERISA, or the
occurrence of any event or condition described in Section 4042 of ERISA
that constitutes grounds for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee
to administer, such Plan.
"Eurocurrency
Liabilities"
has the
meaning assigned to that term in Regulation D of the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System, as in effect from time to time.
"Eurodollar
Lending Office"
means,
with respect to any Initial Lender, the office of such Lender specified as
its
"Eurodollar Lending Office" opposite its name on Schedule I hereto or, with
respect to any other Lender, the office of such Lender specified as its
"Eurodollar Lending Office" in the Assumption Agreement or in the Assignment
and
Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender (or, if no such office is
specified, its Domestic Lending Office), or such other office of such Lender
as
such Lender may from time to time specify to the Company and the
Agent.
"Eurodollar
Rate"
means,
for any Interest Period for each Eurodollar Rate Advance comprising part of
the
same Revolving Credit Borrowing, an interest rate per annum equal to the rate
per annum (rounded upward to the nearest whole multiple of 1/16 of 1% per annum)
appearing on Moneyline Telerate Markets Page 3750 (or any successor page) as
the
London interbank offered rate for deposits in U.S. dollars at approximately
7
11:00
A.M. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest
Period for a term comparable to such Interest Period or, if for any reason
such
rate is not available, the average (rounded upward to the nearest whole
multiple of 1/16 of 1% per annum, if such average is not such a multiple) of
the
rate per annum at which deposits in U.S. dollars are offered by
the principal office of each of the Reference Banks in London, England to prime
banks in the London interbank market at 11:00 A.M. (London time) two
Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period in an amount
substantially equal to such Reference Bank's Eurodollar Rate Advance comprising
part of such Revolving Credit Borrowing to be outstanding during such Interest
Period and for a period equal to such Interest Period. If Moneyline Telerate
Markets Page 3750 (or any successor page) is unavailable, the Eurodollar Rate
for any Interest Period for each Eurodollar Rate Advance comprising part of
the
same Revolving Credit Borrowing shall be determined by the Agent on the basis
of
applicable rates furnished to and received by the Agent from the Reference
Banks
two Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period, subject,
however, to the provisions of Section 2.08.
"Eurodollar
Rate Advance"
means a
Revolving Credit Advance that bears interest as provided in
Section 2.07(a)(ii).
"Eurodollar
Rate Reserve Percentage"
with
respect to any Lender for any Interest Period for all Eurodollar Rate Advances
or LIBO Rate Advances comprising part of the same Borrowing means the reserve
percentage applicable during such Interest Period (or, if more than one such
percentage shall be so applicable, the daily average of such percentages for
those days in such Interest Period during which any such percentage shall be
so
applicable) under regulations issued from time to time by the Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) for determining the reserve
requirement (including, without limitation, any emergency, supplemental or
other
marginal reserve requirement) actually imposed on such Lender with respect
to
liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency Liabilities (or
with respect to any other category of liabilities that includes deposits by
reference to which the interest rate on Eurodollar Rate Advances or LIBO Rate
Advances is determined) having a term equal to such Interest
Period.
"Events
of Default"
has the
meaning specified in Section 6.01.
"Excluded
Taxes"
has the
meaning specified in Section 2.14(a).
"Extension
Date"
has the
meaning specified in Section 2.19(b).
"Federal
Funds Rate"
means,
for any period, a fluctuating interest rate per annum equal for each day during
such period 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 that is a
Business Day, the average of the quotations for such day on such transactions
received by the Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing
selected by it.
8
"Fixed
Rate Advances"
has the
meaning specified in Section 2.03(a)(i).
"GAAP"
has the
meaning specified in Section 1.03.
"Guaranty"
means
the guaranty made by the Company to the Lenders and the Agent pursuant to
Article VII.
"Guaranteed
Obligations"
has the
meaning specified in Section 7.01(a).
"Hazardous
Materials"
means
(a) petroleum and petroleum products, byproducts or breakdown products,
radioactive materials, asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls
and radon gas and (b) any other chemicals, materials or substances designated,
classified or regulated as hazardous or toxic or as a pollutant or contaminant
under any Environmental Law.
"Increasing
Lender"
has the
meaning specified in Section 2.05(c)(i).
"Insufficiency"
means,
with respect to any Plan, the amount, if any, of its unfunded benefit
liabilities, as defined in Section 4001(a)(18) of ERISA.
"Interest
Period"
means,
for each Eurodollar Rate Advance comprising part of the same Revolving Credit
Borrowing and each LIBO Rate Advance comprising part of the same Competitive
Bid
Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Eurodollar Rate Advance
or
LIBO Rate Advance or the date of the Conversion of any Base Rate Advance into
such Eurodollar Rate Advance and ending on the last day of the period selected
by the Borrower that requested such Borrowing pursuant to the provisions below
and, thereafter, with respect to Eurodollar Rate Advances, each subsequent
period commencing on the last day of the immediately preceding Interest Period
and ending on the last day of the period selected by such Borrower pursuant
to
the provisions below. The duration of each such Interest Period shall be one,
two, three or six months, as the applicable Borrower may, upon notice received
by the Agent not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the
third Business Day prior to the first day of such Interest Period, select;
provided,
however,
that:
(i)
such
Borrower may not select any Interest Period that ends after the Termination
Date;
(ii)
Interest
Periods commencing on the same date for Eurodollar Rate Advances comprising
part
of the same Revolving Credit Borrowing or for LIBO Rate Advances comprising
part
of the same Competitive Bid Borrowing shall be of the same
duration;
(iii) whenever
the last day of any Interest Period would otherwise occur on a day other
than a
Business Day, the last day of such Interest Period shall be extended to occur
on
the next succeeding Business Day, provided,
however,
that,
if such extension would cause the last day of such Interest Period to occur
in
the next following calendar month, the last day of such Interest Period shall
occur on the next preceding Business Day; and
9
(iv) whenever
the first day of any Interest Period occurs on a day of an initial calendar
month for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar
month
that succeeds such initial calendar month by the number of months
equal to the number of months in such Interest Period, such Interest Period
shall end on the last Business Day of such succeeding calendar
month.
"Internal
Revenue Code"
means
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the
regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder.
"Lenders"
means,
collectively, each of the banks, financial institutions and other institutional
lenders listed on Schedule I hereto, each Assuming Lender that shall become
a
party hereto pursuant to Section 2.05(c) or 2.19 and each Eligible Assignee
that
shall become a party hereto pursuant to Section 9.07.
"Level"
means,
as of any date, the lowest of Xxxxx 0, Xxxxx 0, Xxxxx 0,
Xxxxx 0, Xxxxx 5 or Level 6 then applicable to the Public Debt
Rating.
"Level 1"
means
that either (a) S&P shall have assigned a rating of at least AA- or (b)
Moody's shall have assigned a rating of at least Aa3.
"Level 2"
means
that either (a) S&P shall have assigned a rating lower than AA- but at least
A+ or (b) Moody's shall have assigned a rating lower than Aa3 but at least
A1.
"Level 3"
means
that either (a) S&P shall have assigned a rating lower than A+ but at least
A or (b) Moody's shall have assigned a rating lower than A1 but at least A2.
"Level 4"
means
that either (a) S&P shall have assigned a rating lower than A but at least
A- or (b) Moody's shall have assigned a rating lower than A2 but at least
A3.
"Level 5"
means
that either (a) S&P shall have assigned a rating lower than A- but at least
BBB+ or (b) Moody's shall have assigned a rating lower than A3 but at least
Baa1.
"Level
6"
means
that the Company has not met the criteria for Xxxxx 0, Xxxxx 0, Xxxxx 0, Xxxxx
4
and Level 5.
"LIBO
Rate"
means,
for any Interest Period for all LIBO Rate Advances comprising part of the same
Competitive Bid Borrowing, an interest rate per annum equal to the rate per
annum (rounded upward to the nearest whole multiple of 1/16 of 1% per annum)
appearing on Moneyline Telerate Markets Page 3750 (or any successor page) as
the
London interbank offered rate for deposits in U.S. dollars at approximately
11:00 A.M. (London time) two Business Days prior to the first day of such
Interest Period for a term comparable to such Interest Period or, if for any
reason such rate is not available, the average (rounded upward to the
nearest whole multiple of 1/16 of 1% per annum, or if there is no nearest whole
multiple of 1/16 of 1% per annum, then rounded upward to the nearest whole
multiple of 1/16 of 1% per annum, if such average is not such a multiple) of
the
rate per annum at which deposits in U.S. dollars are offered by the principal
office
10
of
each of the Reference Banks in London, England to prime banks in the London
interbank market at 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Business Days before the
first day of such Interest Period in an amount substantially equal to the amount
that would be such Reference Bank's respective ratable share of such Borrowing
if such Borrowing were to be a Revolving Credit Borrowing to be outstanding
during such Interest Period and for a period equal to such Interest Period.
If
Moneyline Telerate Markets Page 3750 (or any successor page) is unavailable,
the
LIBO Rate for any Interest Period for each LIBO Rate Advance comprising part
of
the same Competitive Bid Borrowing shall be determined by the Agent on the
basis
of applicable rates furnished to and received by the Agent from the Reference
Banks two Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period,
subject, however, to the provisions of
Section 2.08.
"LIBO
Rate Advances"
has the
meaning specified in Section 2.03(a)(i).
"Lien"
means
any mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest, conditional sale or other title
retention agreement or other similar charge or encumbrance.
"Majority
Lenders"
means
at any time Lenders owed at least 51% of the then aggregate unpaid principal
amount of the Revolving Credit Advances owing to Lenders, or, if no such
principal amount is then outstanding, Lenders having at least 51% of the
Commitments.
"Material
Adverse Change"
means
any material adverse change in the business, financial condition, operations,
performance or principal manufacturing properties of the Company and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
"Material
Adverse Effect"
means a
material adverse effect on (a) the business, financial condition,
operations, performance or principal manufacturing properties of the Company
and
its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the rights and remedies of the Agent
or the Lenders under this Agreement or any Note or (c) the ability of any
Borrower to perform its obligations (other than payment obligations) under
this
Agreement or any Note.
"Material
Subsidiary"
means,
at any date of determination, a Subsidiary of the Company that, either
individually or together with its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, has total
assets exceeding $300,000,000 on such date.
"Moody's"
means
Xxxxx'x Investors Service, Inc., or its successor.
"Multiemployer
Plan"
means a
multiemployer plan, as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the
Company or any ERISA Affiliate is making or accruing an obligation to make
contributions, or has within any of the preceding five plan years made or
accrued an obligation to make contributions.
"Multiple
Employer Plan"
means a
single employer plan, as defined in Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA, that
(a) is maintained for employees of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate and
at least one Person other than the Company and the ERISA Affiliates or
(b) was so maintained and in respect of which the Company or any ERISA
11
Affiliate
could have liability under
Section 4064 or 4069 of ERISA in the event such plan has been or were to be
terminated.
"Non-Consenting
Lender"
has the
meaning specified in Section 2.19(b).
"Note"
means a
Revolving Credit Note or a Competitive Bid Note.
"Notice
of Revolving Credit Borrowing"
has the
meaning specified in Section 2.02(a).
"Notice
of Competitive Bid Borrowing"
has the
meaning specified in Section 2.03(a).
"Other
Taxes"
has the
meaning specified in Section 2.14(b).
"PBGC"
means
the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (or any successor).
"Permitted
Liens"
means
such of the following as to which no enforcement, collection, execution, levy
or
foreclosure proceeding shall have been commenced: (a) Liens for taxes,
assessments and governmental charges or levies to the extent not required to
be
paid under Section 5.01(b) hereof; (b) Liens imposed by law, such as
materialmen's, mechanics', carriers', workmen's and repairmen's Liens and other
similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business; (c) pledges or
deposits to secure obligations under workers' compensation laws or similar
legislation or to secure public or statutory obligations; (d) easements,
rights of way and other encumbrances on title to real property that do not
render title to the property encumbered thereby unmarketable or materially
adversely affect the use of such property for its present purposes; (e) Liens
arising under leases or subleases granted to others that would not be reasonably
likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries
taken as a whole; (f) Liens granted in connection with any interest rate or
foreign currency options, commodity contracts, futures or similar agreements
entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course
of
business; and (g) Liens granted in connection with corporate-owned life
insurance programs of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
"Person"
means
an individual, partnership, corporation (including a business trust), joint
stock company, trust, unincorporated association, limited liability company
or
other entity, or a government or any political subdivision or agency
thereof.
"Plan"
means a
Single Employer Plan or a Multiple Employer Plan.
"Pre-Tax
Income from Continuing Operations"
means,
for any period with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries, net income
(or
net loss) from operations (determined without giving effect to extraordinary
or
non-recurring gains or losses) plus
the sum
of (a) Consolidated Net Interest Expense, (b) income tax expense and (c)
non-recurring non-cash charges (including the cumulative effect of accounting
changes, restructuring charges and gains or losses from the sale of businesses),
in each case determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP;
provided,
however,
that
the LIFO adjustment to the determination of Pre-Tax Income from Continuing
12
Operations
for purposes of the quarterly financial
statements and the compliance certificate delivered pursuant to Section
5.01(h)(i) shall be made in accordance with the Company's best
estimation.
"Process
Agent"
has the
meaning specified in Section 9.12(a).
"Public
Debt Rating"
means,
as of any date, the lowest rating that has been most recently and officially
announced by either S&P or Xxxxx'x, as the case may be, for any class of
non-credit enhanced long-term senior unsecured debt issued by the Company.
For
purposes of the foregoing, (a) if only one of S&P and Xxxxx'x shall
have in effect a Public Debt Rating for the Company, the Applicable Margin,
the
Applicable Percentage and the Applicable Utilization Fee shall be determined
by
reference to the available rating; (b) if neither S&P nor Xxxxx'x shall
have in effect a Public Debt Rating for the Company, the Applicable Margin,
the
Applicable Percentage and the Applicable Utilization Fee will be set in
accordance with Level 6 under the definition of "Applicable
Margin",
"Applicable
Percentage"
or
"Applicable
Utilization Fee",
as the
case may be; (c) if the ratings established by S&P and Xxxxx'x shall
fall within different levels, the Applicable Margin, the Applicable Percentage
and the Applicable Utilization Fee shall be based upon the higher rating,
provided
that if
the lower of such ratings is more than one level below the higher of such
ratings, the Applicable Margin, the Applicable Percentage and the Applicable
Utilization Fee shall be determined by reference to the level that is one level
above such lower rating; (d) if any rating established by S&P or
Xxxxx'x shall be changed, such change shall be effective as of the date on
which
such change is first announced publicly by the rating agency making such change
(regardless of the effective date thereof); and (e) if S&P or Xxxxx'x
shall change the basis on which ratings are established, each reference to
the
Public Debt Rating announced by S&P or Xxxxx'x, as the case may be, shall
refer to the then equivalent rating by S&P or Xxxxx'x, as the case may
be.
"Reference
Banks"
means
Citibank, Bank of America, N.A. and UBS AG, Stamford Branch, or, in the event
that less than two of such Lenders remain Lenders hereunder at any time, any
other commercial bank designated by the Company and approved by the Majority
Lenders as constituting a "Reference Bank" hereunder.
"Register"
has the
meaning specified in Section 9.07(d).
"Revolving
Credit Advance"
means
an advance by a Lender to any Borrower as part of a Revolving Credit Borrowing
by such Borrower and refers to a Base Rate Advance or a Eurodollar Rate Advance
(each of which shall be a "Type"
of
Revolving Credit Advance).
"Revolving
Credit Borrowing"
means a
borrowing consisting of simultaneous Revolving Credit Advances of the same
Type
made by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01.
"Revolving
Credit Note"
means a
promissory note of any Borrower payable to the order of any Lender, delivered
pursuant to a request made under 2.18(a) in substantially
13
the
form of Exhibit A-1 hereto, evidencing the
aggregate indebtedness of such Borrower to such Lender resulting from the
Revolving Credit Advances made by such Lender to such Borrower.
"S&P"
means
Standard & Poor's Rating Services, a division of the XxXxxx-Xxxx Companies,
Inc., or its successor.
"Single
Employer Plan"
means a
single employer plan, as defined in Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA, that
(a) is maintained for employees of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate and
no Person other than the Company and the ERISA Affiliates or (b) was so
maintained and in respect of which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate could
have
liability under Section 4069 of ERISA in the event such plan has been or
were to be terminated.
"Subsidiary"
of any
Person means any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust
or
estate of which (or in which) more than 50% of (a) the issued and
outstanding capital stock having ordinary voting power to elect a majority
of
the Board of Directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether at the
time
capital stock of any other class or classes of such corporation shall or might
have voting power upon the occurrence of any contingency), (b) the interest
in the capital or profits of such limited liability company or partnership
or
(c) the beneficial interest in such trust or estate is at the time directly
or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person, by such Person and one or
more
of its other Subsidiaries or by one or more of such Person's other
Subsidiaries.
"Taxes"
has the
meaning specified in Section 2.14(a).
"Termination
Date"
means
the earlier of (a) December 8, 2011, subject to the extension thereof pursuant
to Section 2.19 and (b) the date of termination in whole of the Commitments
pursuant to Section 2.05(a), 2.05(b) or 6.01; provided,
however,
that
the Termination Date of any Lender that is a Non-Consenting Lender to any
requested extension pursuant to Section 2.19 shall be the Termination Date
in
effect immediately prior to the applicable Extension Date for all purposes
of
this Agreement.
"Voting
Stock"
means
capital stock issued by a corporation, or equivalent interests in any other
Person, the holders of which are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies,
entitled to vote for the election of directors (or persons performing similar
functions) of such Person, even if the right so to vote has been suspended
by
the happening of such a contingency.
"Withdrawal
Liability"
has the
meaning specified in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of
ERISA.
SECTION
1.02. Computation
of Time Periods.
In this
Agreement in the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a
later
specified date, the word "from" means "from and including" and the words "to"
and "until" each mean "to but excluding".
14
SECTION
1.03. Accounting
Terms.
All
accounting terms not specifically defined herein shall be construed in
accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States
consistent with those applied in the preparation of the financial statements
referred to in Section 4.01(e) ("GAAP").
ARTICLE
II
AMOUNTS
AND TERMS OF THE ADVANCES
SECTION
2.01. The
Revolving Credit Advances.
Each
Lender severally agrees, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth,
to
make Revolving Credit Advances to any Borrower from time to time on any Business
Day during the period from the Effective Date until the Termination Date
applicable to such Lender in an aggregate amount for all Borrowers not to exceed
at any time outstanding (a) the amount set forth opposite such Lender's name
on
Schedule I hereto or (b) if such Lender has become a Lender hereunder pursuant
to an Assumption Agreement or has increased its Commitment pursuant to Section
2.05(c), or if such Lender has entered into any Assignment and Acceptance,
the
amount set forth for such Lender in the Register maintained by the Agent
pursuant to Section 9.07(d), in each case as such amount may be reduced
pursuant to Section 2.05(a) or (b) (such Lender's "Commitment"),
provided
that the
aggregate amount of the Commitments of the Lenders shall be deemed used from
time to time to the extent of the aggregate amount of the Competitive Bid
Advances then outstanding and such deemed use of the aggregate amount of the
Commitments shall be allocated among the Lenders ratably according to their
respective Commitments (such deemed use of the aggregate amount of the
Commitments being a "Competitive
Bid Reduction").
Each
Revolving Credit Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount of $5,000,000 or
an
integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof (or, if less, an aggregate
amount equal to the amount by which the aggregate amount of a proposed
Competitive Bid Borrowing requested by any Borrower exceeds the aggregate amount
of Competitive Bid Advances offered to be made by the Lenders and accepted
by
such Borrower in respect of such Competitive Bid Borrowing, if such Competitive
Bid Borrowing is made on the same date and by the same Borrower as such
Revolving Credit Borrowing) and shall consist of Revolving Credit Advances
of
the same Type made on the same day by the Lenders ratably according to their
respective Commitments. Within the limits of each Lender's Commitment, any
Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01, prepay pursuant to
Section 2.10 and reborrow under this Section 2.01.
SECTION
2.02. Making
the Revolving Credit Advances.
(a)
Each
Revolving Credit Borrowing shall be made on notice, given not later than
(i) 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day
prior to the date of the proposed Revolving Credit Borrowing in the case of
a
Revolving Credit Borrowing consisting of Eurodollar Rate Advances or (ii) 11:00
A.M. (New York City time) on the day of the proposed Revolving Credit Borrowing
in the case of a Revolving Credit Borrowing consisting of Base Rate Advances,
by
any Borrower to the Agent, which shall give to each Lender prompt notice thereof
by telecopier. Each such notice of a Revolving Credit Borrowing (a "Notice
of Revolving Credit Borrowing")
shall
be by telephone, confirmed immediately in writing, or telecopier in
substantially the form of Exhibit B-1 hereto, specifying therein the
requested (w) date of such Revolving Credit Borrowing, (x) Type of
Advances comprising such Revolving Credit Borrowing, (y) aggregate amount
of such Revolving Credit Borrowing, and (z) in the case of a Revolving
Credit Borrowing consisting of
15
Eurodollar
Rate Advances, initial Interest Period for each such Revolving Credit Advance.
Each Lender shall, before (i) in the case of a Eurodollar Rate Advance,
11:00 A.M. (New York City time) or (ii) in the case of a Base Rate
Advance, 1:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the date of such Revolving Credit
Borrowing, make available for the account of its Applicable Lending Office
to
the Agent at the Agent's Account, in same day funds, such Lender's ratable
portion of such Revolving Credit Borrowing. After the Agent's receipt of such
funds and upon fulfillment of the applicable conditions set forth in
Article III, the Agent will make such funds available to the Borrower
requesting the Revolving Credit Borrowing at the Agent's address referred to
in
Section 9.02.
(b) Anything
herein to the contrary notwithstanding, a Borrower may not select Eurodollar
Rate Advances for any Revolving Credit Borrowing if the obligation of the
Lenders to make Eurodollar Rate Advances shall then be suspended pursuant to
Section 2.08 or 2.12.
(c) Each
Notice of Revolving Credit Borrowing of any Borrower shall be irrevocable and
binding on such Borrower. In the case of any Revolving Credit Borrowing that
the
related Notice of Revolving Credit Borrowing specifies is to be comprised of
Eurodollar Rate Advances, the Borrower requesting such Revolving Credit
Borrowing shall indemnify each Lender, after receipt of a written request by
such Lender setting forth in reasonable detail the basis for such request,
against any loss, cost or expense actually incurred by such Lender as a result
of any failure by such Borrower to fulfill on or before the date specified
in
such Notice of Revolving Credit Borrowing for such Revolving Credit Borrowing
the applicable conditions set forth in Article III, including, without
limitation, any loss (other than loss of anticipated profits), cost or expense
actually incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits
or
other funds acquired by such Lender to fund the Revolving Credit Advance to
be
made by such Lender as part of such Revolving Credit Borrowing when such
Revolving Credit Advance, as a result of such failure, is not made on such
date.
(d) Unless
the Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the date of any
Revolving Credit Borrowing comprised of Eurodollar Rate Advances or prior to
the
time of the proposed disbursement of any Revolving Credit Borrowing comprised
of
Base Rate Advances that such Lender will not make available to the Agent such
Lender's ratable portion of such Revolving Credit Borrowing, the Agent may
assume that such Lender has made such portion available to the Agent on the
date
of such Revolving Credit Borrowing in accordance with subsection (a) of
this Section 2.02 and the Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make
available to the Borrower requesting such Revolving Credit Borrowing on such
date a corresponding amount. If and to the extent that such Lender shall not
have so made such ratable portion available to the Agent, such Lender and such
Borrower severally agree to repay to the Agent forthwith on demand such
corresponding amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the
date
such amount is made available to such Borrower until the date such amount is
repaid to the Agent, at (i) in the case of such Borrower, the interest rate
applicable at the time to Revolving Credit Advances comprising such Revolving
Credit Borrowing and (ii) in the case of such Lender, the Federal Funds
Rate. If such Lender shall repay to the Agent such corresponding amount, such
amount so repaid shall constitute such Lender's Revolving Credit Advance as
part
of such Revolving Credit Borrowing for purposes of this Agreement.
16
(e) The
failure of any Lender to make the Revolving Credit Advance to be made by
it as
part of any Revolving Credit Borrowing shall not relieve any other Lender
of its
obligation, if any, hereunder to make its Revolving Credit Advance on the
date
of such Revolving Credit Borrowing, but no Lender shall be responsible for
the
failure of any other Lender to make the Revolving Credit Advance to be made
by
such other Lender on the date of any Revolving Credit Borrowing.
SECTION
2.03. The
Competitive Bid Advances.
(a)
Each
Lender severally agrees that any Borrower may make Competitive Bid Borrowings
under this Section 2.03 from time to time on any Business Day during the
period from the date hereof until the date occurring 30 days prior to the latest
Termination Date in the manner set forth below; provided
that,
following the making of each Competitive Bid Borrowing, the aggregate amount
of
the Advances then outstanding shall not exceed the aggregate amount of the
Commitments of the Lenders (computed without regard to any Competitive Bid
Reduction).
(i) A
Borrower may request a Competitive Bid Borrowing under this Section 2.03 by
delivering to the Agent, by telecopier, a notice of a Competitive Bid Borrowing
(a "Notice
of Competitive Bid Borrowing"),
in
substantially the form of Exhibit B-2 hereto, specifying therein the
requested (u) date of such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing,
(v) aggregate amount of such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing, (w)
interest rate basis (LIBO Rate or fixed rate) to be offered by the Lenders,
(x) in the case of a Competitive Bid Borrowing consisting of LIBO Rate
Advances, Interest Period of each Competitive Bid Advance to be made as part
of
such Competitive Bid Borrowing, or in the case of a Competitive Bid Borrowing
Consisting of Fixed Rate Advances, maturity date for repayment of each Fixed
Rate Advance to be made as part of such Competitive Bid Borrowing (which
maturity date may not be earlier than the date occurring 7 days after the date
of such Competitive Bid Borrowing or later than the earlier of (I) 180 days
after the date of such Competitive Bid Borrowing and (II) the latest
Termination Date), (y) interest payment date or dates relating thereto, and
(z) other terms (if any) to be applicable to such Competitive Bid
Borrowing, not later than 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) (A) at
least one Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Competitive Bid
Borrowing, if such Borrower shall specify in the Notice of Competitive Bid
Borrowing that the rates of interest to be offered by the Lenders shall be
fixed
rates per annum (the Advances comprising any such Competitive Bid Borrowing
being referred to herein as "Fixed
Rate Advances")
and
(B) at least four Business Days prior to the date of the proposed
Competitive Bid Borrowing, if such Borrower shall instead specify in the Notice
of Competitive Bid Borrowing that the rates of interest to be offered by the
Lenders are to be based on the LIBO Rate (the Advances comprising such
Competitive Bid Borrowing being referred to herein as "LIBO
Rate Advances").
Each
Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing of a Borrower shall be irrevocable and
binding on such Borrower. Any Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing by a
Designated Subsidiary shall be given to the Agent in accordance with the
preceding sentence through the Company on behalf of such Designated Subsidiary.
The Agent shall in turn promptly notify each Lender of each request for a
Competitive Bid Borrowing received by it from a Borrower by sending such Lender
a copy of the related Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing.
17
(ii) Each
Lender may, if, in its sole discretion, it elects to do so, irrevocably
offer to
make one or more Competitive Bid Advances to the Borrower proposing the
Competitive Bid Borrowing as part of such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing
at
a rate or rates of interest specified by such Lender in its sole discretion,
by
notifying the Agent (which shall give prompt notice thereof to such Borrower),
before 9:30 A.M. (New York City time) on the date of such proposed
Competitive Bid Borrowing, in the case of a Competitive Bid Borrowing consisting
of Fixed Rate Advances and before 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) three
Business
Days before the date of such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing, in the
case of
a Competitive Bid Borrowing consisting of LIBO Rate Advances, of the minimum
amount and maximum amount of each Competitive Bid Advance which such Lender
would be willing to make as part of such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing
(which amounts may, subject to the proviso to the first sentence of this
Section 2.03(a), exceed such Lender's Commitment, if any), the rate or
rates of interest therefor and such Lender's Applicable Lending Office
with
respect to such Competitive Bid Advance; provided
that if
the Agent in its capacity as a Lender shall, in its sole discretion, elect
to
make any such offer, it shall notify such Borrower of such offer at least
30
minutes before the time and on the date on which notice of such election
is to
be given to the Agent by the other Lenders. If any Lender shall elect not
to
make such an offer, such Lender shall so notify the Agent, before
10:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the date on which notice of such
election is to be given to the Agent by the other Lenders, and such Lender
shall
not be obligated to, and shall not, make any Competitive Bid Advance as
part of
such Competitive Bid Borrowing; provided
that the
failure by any Lender to give such notice shall not cause such Lender to
be
obligated to make any Competitive Bid Advance as part of such proposed
Competitive Bid
Borrowing.
(iii) The
Borrower proposing the Competitive Bid Borrowing shall, in turn, before
10:30 A.M. (New York City time) on the date of such proposed
Competitive Bid Borrowing, in the case of a Competitive Bid Borrowing consisting
of Fixed Rate Advances and before 11:00 A.M. (New York City time)
three Business Days before the date of such proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing,
in the case of a Competitive Bid Borrowing consisting of LIBO Rate Advances,
either:
(x) cancel
such Competitive Bid Borrowing by giving the Agent notice to that effect,
or
(y) accept
one or more of the offers made by any Lender or Lenders pursuant to paragraph
(ii) above, in its sole discretion, by giving notice to the Agent of the amount
of each Competitive Bid Advance (which amount shall be equal to or greater
than
the minimum amount, and equal to or less than the maximum amount, notified
to
such Borrower by the Agent on behalf of such Lender for such Competitive Bid
Advance pursuant to paragraph (ii) above) to be made by each Lender as part
of such Competitive Bid Borrowing, and reject any remaining offers made by
Lenders pursuant to paragraph (ii) above by giving the Agent notice to that
effect; provided,
however,
that
such Borrower shall not accept any offer in excess of the requested bid amount
for any maturity. Such Borrower shall accept the offers made by any Lender
or
Lenders to make
18
Competitive
Bid Advances in order of the lowest to the highest rates of
interest offered by such Lenders. If two or more Lenders have offered the same
interest rate, the amount to be borrowed at such interest rate will be allocated
among such Lenders in proportion to the amount that each such Lender offered
at
such interest rate.
(iv) If
the
Borrower proposing the Competitive Bid Advance notifies the Agent that such
Competitive Bid Borrowing is cancelled pursuant to paragraph (iii)(x)
above, the Agent shall give prompt notice thereof to the Lenders and such
Competitive Bid Borrowing shall not be made.
(v) If
the
Borrower proposing the Competitive Bid Advance accepts one or more of the offers
made by any Lender or Lenders pursuant to paragraph (iii)(y) above, the
Agent shall in turn promptly notify (A) each Lender that has made an offer
as described in paragraph (ii) above, of the date and aggregate amount of
such Competitive Bid Borrowing and whether or not any offer or offers made
by
such Lender pursuant to paragraph (ii) above have been accepted by such
Borrower, (B) each Lender that is to make a Competitive Bid Advance as part
of such Competitive Bid Borrowing, of the amount of each Competitive Bid Advance
to be made by such Lender as part of such Competitive Bid Borrowing, and
(C) each Lender that is to make a Competitive Bid Advance as part of such
Competitive Bid Borrowing, upon receipt, that the Agent has received forms
of
documents appearing to fulfill the applicable conditions set forth in Article
III. Each Lender that is to make a Competitive Bid Advance as part of such
Competitive Bid Borrowing shall, before 12:00 Noon (New York City
time) on the date of such Competitive Bid Borrowing specified in the notice
received from the Agent pursuant to clause (A) of the preceding sentence or
any later time when such Lender shall have received notice from the Agent
pursuant to clause (C) of the preceding sentence, make available for the
account of its Applicable Lending Office to the Agent at the Agent's Account,
in
same day funds, such Lender's portion of such Competitive Bid Borrowing. Upon
fulfillment of the applicable conditions set forth in Article III and after
receipt by the Agent of such funds, the Agent will make such funds available
to
such Borrower at the Agent's address referred to in Section 9.02. Promptly
after each Competitive Bid Borrowing the Agent will notify each Lender of the
amount of the Competitive Bid Borrowing, the consequent Competitive Bid
Reduction and the dates upon which such Competitive Bid Reduction commenced
and
will terminate.
(vi) If
the
Borrower proposing the Competitive Bid Advance notifies the Agent that it
accepts one or more of the offers made by any Lender or Lenders pursuant to
paragraph (iii)(y) above, such notice of acceptance shall be irrevocable
and binding on such Borrower. Such Borrower shall indemnify each Lender, after
receipt of a written request by such Lender setting forth in reasonable detail
the basis for such request, against any loss, cost or expense actually incurred
by such Lender as a result of any failure by such Borrower to fulfill on or
before the date specified in the related Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing
for
such Competitive Bid Borrowing the applicable conditions set forth in
Article III, including, without limitation, any loss (other than loss of
anticipated profits), cost or expense actually incurred by reason of the
liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by such Lender
to fund the
19
Competitive
Bid Advance to be made by such Lender as part of such Competitive Bid Borrowing
when such Competitive Bid Advance, as a result of such failure, is not made
on
such date.
(b) Each
Competitive Bid Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or
an
integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and, following the making
of
each Competitive Bid Borrowing, the Borrower that has borrowed through such
Competitive Bid Borrowing shall be in compliance with the limitation set forth
in the proviso to the sentence of subsection (a) above.
(c) Within
the limits and on the conditions set forth in this Section 2.03, each
Borrower may from time to time borrow under this Section 2.03, repay or
prepay pursuant to subsection (d) below, and reborrow under this
Section 2.03.
(d) Each
Borrower that has borrowed through a Competitive Bid Borrowing shall repay
to
the Agent for the account of each Lender that has made a Competitive Bid
Advance, on the maturity date of such Competitive Bid Advance (such maturity
date being that specified by such Borrower for repayment of such Competitive
Bid
Advance in the related Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing delivered pursuant
to
subsection (a)(i) above and provided in the Competitive Bid Note evidencing
such Competitive Bid Advance), the then unpaid principal amount of such
Competitive Bid Advance. A Borrower shall have no right to prepay any principal
amount of any Competitive Bid Advance without the consent of the Lender that
has
made such Competitive Bid Advance or as is specified in the Notice of
Competitive Bid Borrowing.
(e) Each
Borrower that has borrowed through a Competitive Bid Borrowing shall pay
interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Competitive Bid Advance from
the
date of such Competitive Bid Advance comprising such Competitive Bid Borrowing
to the date the principal amount of such Competitive Bid Advance is repaid
in
full, at the rate of interest for such Competitive Bid Advance specified by
the
Lender making such Competitive Bid Advance in its notice with respect thereto
delivered pursuant to subsection (a)(ii) above, payable on the interest
payment date or dates specified by such Borrower for such Competitive Bid
Advance in the related Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing delivered pursuant
to
subsection (a)(i) above, as provided in the Competitive Bid Note evidencing
such Competitive Bid Advance. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance
of
an Event of Default under Section 6.01(a), each Borrower that has borrowed
through a Competitive Bid Borrowing shall pay interest on the amount of unpaid
principal of and interest on each Competitive Bid Advance comprising such
Competitive Bid Borrowing that is owing to a Lender, payable in arrears on
the
date or dates interest is payable thereon, at a rate per annum equal at all
times to 2% per annum above the rate per annum required to be paid on such
Competitive Bid Advance under the terms of the Competitive Bid Note evidencing
such Competitive Bid Advance unless otherwise agreed in such Competitive Bid
Note.
(f) The
indebtedness of any Borrower resulting from each Competitive Bid Advance made
to
such Borrower as part of a Competitive Bid Borrowing shall be evidenced by
a
separate Competitive Bid Note of such Borrower payable to the order of the
Lender making such Competitive Bid Advance.
20
SECTION
2.04. Fees. (a) Facility Fee. The Company agrees
to pay to the Agent for the account of each Lender a facility fee on the
aggregate amount of such Lender's Commitment from the date hereof in the case
of
each Initial Lender and from the effective date specified in the Assumption
Agreement or the Assignment and Acceptance, as the case may be, pursuant to
which it became a Lender in the case of each other Lender until the Termination
Date applicable to such Lender at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable
Percentage in effect from time to time, payable in arrears quarterly on the
last
day of each March, June, September and December, commencing December 31, 2006,
and on the latest Termination Date.
(b) Agent's
Fees.
The
Company shall pay to the Agent for its own account such fees as may from time
to
time be agreed in writing between the Company and the Agent.
SECTION
2.05. Termination,
Reduction or Increase of the Commitments.
(a) Termination
or Ratable Reduction by the Company.
The
Company shall have the right, upon at least three Business Days' notice to
the
Agent, to terminate in whole or reduce ratably in part the unused portions
of
the respective Commitments of the Lenders, provided
that
each partial reduction shall be in the aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or an
integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and provided,
further,
that
the aggregate amount of the Commitments of the Lenders shall not be reduced
to
an amount that is less than the aggregate principal amount of the Competitive
Bid Advances then outstanding. The aggregate amount of the Commitments, once
reduced or terminated as provided in this Section 2.05(a), may not be
reinstated, except as provided in Section 2.05(c) below.
(b) Termination
by the Majority Lenders upon Change of Control.
In the
event that a Change of Control occurs, (i) the Agent shall at the request,
or may with the consent, of the Majority Lenders, by notice to the Company
given
not later than 10 Business Days after receipt by the Lenders and the Agent
of
notice from the Company of such Change of Control pursuant to Section
5.01(h)(iv), declare the Commitments (determined without giving effect to any
Competitive Bid Reduction) to be terminated in whole, effective as of the date
set forth in such notice, provided,
however,
that
such date shall be no earlier than 10 Business Days after the Company's receipt
of such notice of termination and (ii) each Borrower's right to make a
Borrowing under this Agreement shall thereupon be suspended and shall remain
suspended until 10 Business Days after receipt by the Lenders and the Agent
of
notice from the Company of such Change of Control pursuant to Section
5.01(h)(iv) unless the Majority Lenders shall have exercised their right to
terminate the Commitments as provided in clause (i) of this Section 2.05(b),
in
which case each Borrower's right to make a Borrowing under this Agreement shall
remain suspended until the effective date of such termination. A notice of
termination pursuant to this Section 2.05(b) shall have the effect of
accelerating the outstanding Advances of the Lenders and the Notes of the
Lenders and each Borrower shall, on or prior to the effective date of the
termination of the Commitments, prepay or cause to be prepaid the outstanding
principal amount of all Advances owing by any such Borrower to the Lenders,
together with accrued interest thereon to the date of such payment, any facility
fees or other fees payable to the Lenders pursuant to the provisions of Section
2.04, and all other amounts payable to the Lenders under this Agreement
(including, but not limited to, any increased costs or other amounts owing
under
Section 2.11 and any indemnification for Taxes under Section 2.14). Upon such
prepayment and the termination of the Commitments in accordance with this
Section 2.05(b), the obligations of the Lenders under this Agreement shall,
by
the provisions hereof, be released and discharged.
21
(c) Increase
by the Company.
(i)
The
Company may at any time, by notice to the Agent, propose that the aggregate
amount of the Commitments be increased (each such proposed increase being
a
"Commitment
Increase")
by up
to $400,000,000 in excess of the aggregate of the Commitments as of the
Effective Date, effective as at a date (the "Commitment
Increase Date")
that
shall be specified in such notice and that shall be (A) prior to the latest
Termination Date and (B) at least 15 Business Days after the date of such
notice; provided,
however,
that
(1) the Company may not propose more than one Commitment Increase during
any
calendar year, (2) the minimum proposed Commitment Increase for each
Commitment Increase Date shall be $50,000,000, (3) in no event shall the
aggregate amount of the Commitments at any time exceed $1,500,000,000, (4)
the
representations and warranties in Section 4.01 shall be true and correct on
such Commitment Increase Date and (5) no Default shall have occurred and be
continuing on such Commitment Increase Date or shall result from such Commitment
Increase. The Agent shall notify the Lenders and any Eligible Assignees
requested by the Company and acceptable to the Agent as potential Assuming
Lenders hereunder of the proposed Commitment Increase promptly upon the Agent's
receipt of any such notice. It shall be in each Lender's sole discretion
whether
to increase its Commitment hereunder in connection with the proposed Commitment
Increase. No later than 10 Business Days after its receipt of the Company's
notice, each Lender that is willing to increase its Commitment hereunder
(each
such Lender being an "Increasing
Lender")
shall
deliver to the Agent a notice in which such Lender shall set forth the maximum
increase in its Commitment to which such Lender is willing to agree, and
the
Agent shall promptly provide to the Company a copy of such Increasing Lender's
notice. The Agent shall cooperate with the Company in discussions with the
Lenders and Eligible Assignees with a view to arranging the proposed Commitment
Increase through the increase of the Commitments of one or more of the Lenders
and/or the addition of one or more Eligible Assignees acceptable to the Company
and the Agent as Assuming Lenders and as parties to this Agreement; provided,
however,
that
the minimum Commitment of each such Assuming Lender that becomes a party
to this
Agreement pursuant to this Section 2.05(c) shall be $10,000,000; and
provided further
that any
allocations of Commitments shall be determined by the
Company.
(ii) If
agreement is reached prior to the relevant Commitment Increase Date with any
Increasing Lenders and Assuming Lenders as to a Commitment Increase (the amount
of which may be less than (subject to the limitation set forth in clause (i)(x)
of this Section 2.05(c)) but not greater than that amount specified in the
applicable notice from the Company), the Company shall deliver, no later than
one Business Day prior to the Commitment Increase Date, a notice thereof in
reasonable detail to the Agent (and the Agent shall give notice thereof to
the
Lenders, including any Assuming Lenders). The Assuming Lenders, if any, shall
become Lenders hereunder as of the Commitment Increase Date and the Commitments
of any Increasing Lenders and such Assuming Lenders shall become or be, as
the
case may be, as of the Commitment Increase Date, the amounts specified in the
notice delivered by the Company to the Agent; provided,
however,
that:
(x) the
Agent
shall have received on or prior to 9:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the
Commitment Increase Date (A) if requested by an Assuming Lender or an Increasing
Lender in accordance with Section 2.18(a), a duly executed Revolving Credit
Note
from each Borrower, dated as of the Commitment Increase Date and in
substantially the form of Exhibit A-1 hereto for such Assuming Lender, and
dated
the date to which interest on the existing Revolving Credit Note of such
Borrower shall have been paid and
22
in
substantially the form of Exhibit A-1 hereto for such Increasing Lender, in
each
case in an amount equal to the Commitment of such Assuming Lender and such
Increasing Lender after giving effect to such Commitment Increase, (B) a
certificate of a duly authorized officer of the Company stating that no event
has occurred and is continuing, or would result from such Commitment Increase,
that constitutes a Default, and that each of the other applicable
conditions to such Commitment Increase set forth in this Section 2.05(c) to
be
fulfilled by the Company has been satisfied and (C) an opinion of counsel for
the Company in substantially the form of Exhibit G hereto, dated the Commitment
Increase Date (with copies for each Lender, including each Assuming
Lender);
(y) with
respect to each Assuming Lender, the Agent shall have received, on or prior
to
9:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the Commitment Increase Date, an appropriate
Assumption Agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit D hereto, duly
executed by such Assuming Lender and the Company, and acknowledged by the Agent;
and
(z) each
Increasing Lender shall have delivered to the Agent, on or prior to 9:00 A.M.
(New York City time) on the Commitment Increase Date, (A) its existing Revolving
Credit Note or Notes, if any, and (B) confirmation in writing satisfactory
to
the Agent as to its increased Commitment, with a copy of such confirmation
to
the Company.
(iii) Upon
its
receipt of confirmation from a Lender that it is increasing its Commitment
hereunder, together with the appropriate Revolving Credit Note or Notes, if
any,
certificate and opinion referred to in clause (ii)(x) above, the Agent shall
(A)
record the information contained therein in the Register and (B) give prompt
notice thereof to the Company. Upon its receipt of an Assumption Agreement
executed by an Assuming Lender representing that it is an Eligible Assignee,
together with the appropriate Revolving Credit Note or Notes, certificate and
opinion referred to in clause (ii)(x) above, the Agent shall, if such Assumption
Agreement has been completed and is in substantially the form of Exhibit D
hereto, (x) accept such Assumption Agreement, (y) record the information
contained therein in the Register and (z) give prompt notice thereof to the
Company.
(iv) In
the
event that the Agent shall not have received notice from the Company as to
such
agreement on or prior to the Commitment Increase Date or the Company shall,
by
notice to the Agent prior to the Commitment Increase Date, withdraw its proposal
for a Commitment Increase or any of the actions provided for above in clauses
(ii)(x) through (ii)(z) shall not have occurred by 9:00 A.M. (New York City
time) on the Commitment Increase Date, such proposal by the Company shall be
deemed not to have been made. In such event, any actions theretofore taken
under
clauses (ii)(x) through (ii)(z) above shall be deemed to be of no effect and
all
the rights and obligations of the parties shall continue as if no such proposal
had been made.
(v) In
the
event that the Agent shall have received notice from the Company as to such
agreement on or prior to the Commitment Increase Date and each of the actions
provided for in clauses (ii)(x) through (ii)(z) above shall have occurred by
9:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the Commitment Increase Date, the Agent shall
notify the Lenders (including any
23
Assuming
Lenders) of the occurrence of the Commitment Increase Date promptly and in
any
event by 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) on such date by telecopier. Each
Increasing Lender and each Assuming Lender shall, before 11:00 A.M. (New York
City time) on the Commitment Increase Date, make available for the account
of
its Applicable Lending Office to the Agent at the Agent's Account, in same
day
funds, in the case of such Assuming Lender, an amount equal to such Assuming
Lender's ratable portion of the Revolving Credit Borrowings then outstanding
(calculated based on its Commitment as a percentage of the aggregate Commitments
outstanding after giving effect to the relevant Commitment Increase) and, in
the
case of such Increasing Lender, an amount equal to the excess of (i) such
Increasing Lender's ratable portion of the Revolving Credit Borrowings then
outstanding (calculated based on its Commitment as a percentage of the aggregate
Commitments outstanding after giving effect to the relevant Commitment Increase)
over (ii) such Increasing Lender's ratable portion of the Revolving Credit
Borrowings then outstanding (calculated based on its Commitment (without giving
effect to the relevant Commitment Increase) as a percentage of the aggregate
Commitments without giving effect to the relevant Commitment Increase). After
the Agent's receipt of such funds from each such Increasing Lender and each
such
Assuming Lender, the Agent will promptly thereafter cause to be distributed
like
funds to the other Lenders for the account of their respective Applicable
Lending Offices in an amount to each other Lender such that the aggregate amount
of the outstanding Revolving Credit Advances owing to each Lender after giving
effect to such distribution equals such Lender's ratable portion of the
Revolving Credit Borrowings then outstanding (calculated based on such Lender's
Commitment as a percentage of the aggregate Commitments outstanding after giving
effect to the relevant Commitment Increase). If the Commitment Increase Date
shall occur on a date that is not the last day of the Interest Period for all
Eurodollar Rate Advances then outstanding, (a) the Company shall pay any amounts
owing pursuant to Section 9.04(d) as a result of the distributions to Lenders
under this Section 2.05(c)(v) and (b) for each Revolving Credit Borrowing
comprised of Eurodollar Rate Advances, the respective Revolving Credit Advances
made by the Increasing Lenders and the Assuming Lenders pursuant to this Section
2.05(c)(v) shall be Base Rate Advances until the last day of the then existing
Interest Period for such Revolving Credit Borrowing.
SECTION
2.06. Repayment
of Revolving Credit Advances.
Each
Borrower shall repay to the Agent for the ratable account of each Lender on
the
Termination Date applicable to such Lender the aggregate principal amount of
the
Revolving Credit Advances then outstanding in respect of such
Borrower.
SECTION
2.07. Interest
on Revolving Credit Advances.
(a) Scheduled
Interest.
Each
Borrower shall pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Revolving
Credit Advance owing by such Borrower to each Lender from the date of such
Revolving Credit Advance until such principal amount shall be paid in full,
at
the following rates per annum:
(i) Base
Rate Advances.
During
such periods as such Revolving Credit Advance is a Base Rate Advance, a rate
per
annum equal at all times to the sum of (x) the Base Rate in effect from
time to time plus
(y) the Applicable Margin in effect from time to time plus
(z) the Applicable Utilization Fee, if any, in effect from time to time,
payable in arrears quarterly on the last day of each March, June, September
and
December during such periods and on the date such Base Rate Advance shall be
Converted or paid in full.
24
(ii) Eurodollar
Rate Advances.
During
such periods as such Revolving Credit Advance is a Eurodollar Rate Advance,
a
rate per annum equal at all times during each Interest Period for such Revolving
Credit Advance to the sum of (x) the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest
Period for such Revolving Credit Advance plus
(y) the Applicable Margin in effect from time to time plus
(z) the Applicable Utilization Fee, if any, in effect from
time
to time, payable in arrears on the last day of such Interest Period and,
if such
Interest Period has a duration of more than three months, on each day that
occurs during such Interest Period every three months from the first day
of such
Interest Period and on the date such Eurodollar Rate Advance shall be Converted
or paid in full.
(b) Default
Interest.
Upon
the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default under Section
6.01(a), each Borrower shall pay interest on (i) the unpaid principal
amount of each Revolving Credit Advance owing by such Borrower to each Lender,
payable in arrears on the dates referred to in clause (a)(i) or (a)(ii)
above, at a rate per annum equal at all times to 2% per annum above the rate
per
annum required to be paid on such Revolving Credit Advance pursuant to
clause (a)(i) or (a)(ii) above and (ii) to the fullest extent
permitted by law, the amount of any interest, fee or other amount payable
hereunder by such Borrower that is not paid when due, from the date such amount
shall be due until such amount shall be paid in full, payable in arrears on
the
date such amount shall be paid in full and on demand, at a rate per annum equal
at all times to 2% per annum above the rate per annum required to be paid on
Base Rate Advances pursuant to clause (a)(i) above.
(c) Additional
Interest on Eurodollar Rate Advances.
The
applicable Borrower shall pay to each Lender, so long as such Lender shall
be
required under regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting
of
or including Eurocurrency Liabilities, additional interest on the unpaid
principal amount of each Eurodollar Rate Advance of such Lender to such
Borrower, from the date of such Advance until such principal amount is paid
in
full, at an interest rate per annum equal at all times to the remainder obtained
by subtracting (i) the Eurodollar Rate for the applicable Interest Period for
such Advance from (ii) the rate obtained by dividing such Eurodollar Rate by
a
percentage equal to 100% minus
the
Eurodollar Rate Reserve Percentage of such Lender for such Interest Period,
payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Advance. Such
additional interest shall be determined by such Lender and notified in
reasonable detail to such Borrower through the Agent.
SECTION
2.08. Interest
Rate Determination.
(a)
Each
Reference Bank agrees to furnish to the Agent timely information for the purpose
of determining each Eurodollar Rate and each LIBO Rate. If any one or more
of
the Reference Banks shall not furnish such timely information to the Agent
for
the purpose of determining any such interest rate, the Agent shall determine
such interest rate on the basis of timely information furnished by the remaining
Reference Banks. The Agent shall give prompt notice to the relevant Borrowers
and the Lenders of the applicable interest rate determined by the Agent for
purposes of Section 2.07(a)(i) or (ii), and the rate, if any, furnished by
each Reference Bank for the purpose of determining the interest rate under
Section 2.07(a)(ii).
(b) If,
with
respect to any Eurodollar Rate Advances, the Majority Lenders notify the Agent
that the Eurodollar Rate for any Interest Period for such Advances will not
adequately
25
reflect
the cost to such Majority Lenders of making, funding or maintaining their
respective Eurodollar Rate Advances for such Interest Period (which cost each
such Lender reasonably determines in good faith is material), the Agent shall
forthwith so notify each Borrower and the Lenders, whereupon (i) each
Eurodollar Rate Advance will automatically, on the last day of the then existing
Interest Period therefor, Convert into a Base Rate Advance, and (ii) the
obligation of the Lenders to make, or to Convert Revolving Credit Advances
into,
Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be suspended until the Agent shall notify each
Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances causing such suspension no
longer exist.
(c) If
any
Borrower, in requesting a Revolving Credit Borrowing comprised of Eurodollar
Rate Advances, shall fail to select the duration of the Interest Period for
such
Eurodollar Rate Advances in accordance with the provisions contained in the
definition of "Interest Period" in Section 1.01, the Agent will forthwith
so notify such Borrower and the Lenders and such Advances will automatically,
on
the last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, Convert into Base
Rate Advances.
(d) On
the
date on which the aggregate unpaid principal amount of Eurodollar Rate Advances
comprising any Borrowing shall be reduced, by payment or prepayment or
otherwise, to less than $5,000,000, such Advances shall automatically, on the
last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, Convert into Base Rate
Advances.
(e) Upon
the
occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, (i) each
Eurodollar Rate Advance will automatically, on the last day of the then existing
Interest Period therefor, Convert into a Base Rate Advance and (ii) the
obligation of the Lenders to make, or to Convert Advances into, Eurodollar
Rate
Advances shall be suspended.
(f) If
Moneyline Telerate Markets Page 3750 is unavailable and fewer than two Reference
Banks furnish timely information to the Agent for determining the Eurodollar
Rate or LIBO Rate for any Eurodollar Rate Advances or LIBO Rate Advances, as
the
case may be, such Eurodollar Rate or LIBO Rate shall be the interest rate per
annum determined by the Agent to be the offered rate per annum at which deposits
in U.S. dollars for a maturity comparable to the Interest Period for such
Eurodollar Rate Advances or LIBO Rate Advances, as the case may be, appears
on
the Telerate Page 3750 (or any successor page) as of 11:00 A.M. (London time)
two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period (the
"Telerate");
provided
that if
the Telerate is not then available:
(i) the
Agent
shall forthwith notify the relevant Borrower and the Lenders that the interest
rate cannot be determined for such Eurodollar Rate Advances or LIBO Rate
Advances, as the case may be;
(ii) with
respect to Eurodollar Rate Advances, each such Advance will automatically,
on
the last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, Convert into a
Base
Rate Advance (or if such Advance is then a Base Rate Advance, will continue
as a
Base Rate Advance); and
(iii) the
obligation of the Lenders to make Eurodollar Rate Advances or LIBO Rate Advances
or to Convert Revolving Credit Advances into Eurodollar Rate Advances
26
shall
be suspended until the Agent shall notify each Borrower and the
Lenders that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer
exist.
SECTION
2.09. Optional Conversion of Revolving Credit Advances. Any
Borrower may on any Business Day, upon notice given to the Agent not later
than
11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the
date of the proposed Conversion and
subject to the provisions of Sections 2.08 and 2.12, Convert all Revolving
Credit Advances of one Type comprising the same Borrowing into Revolving Credit
Advances of the other Type; provided,
however,
that
any Conversion of Eurodollar Rate Advances into Base Rate Advances shall be
made
only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate Advances.
Each such notice of a Conversion shall, within the restrictions specified above,
specify (i) the date of such Conversion, (ii) the Revolving Credit
Advances to be Converted, and (iii) if such Conversion is into Eurodollar
Rate Advances, the duration of the initial Interest Period for each such
Advance. Each notice of Conversion shall be irrevocable and binding on the
relevant Borrower.
SECTION
2.10. Optional
Prepayments of Revolving Credit Advances.
Any
Borrower may, upon notice to the Agent stating the proposed date and aggregate
principal amount of the prepayment, given not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York
City time) on the second Business Day prior to the date of such proposed
prepayment, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Advances, and not later than 11:00
A.M. (New York City time) on the day of such proposed prepayment, in the case
of
Base Rate Advances, and, if such notice is given such Borrower shall, prepay
the
outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Credit Advances comprising part
of
the same Revolving Credit Borrowing in whole or ratably in part, together with
accrued interest to the date of such prepayment on the principal amount prepaid;
provided,
however,
that
(x) each partial prepayment shall be in an aggregate principal amount of
$10,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and
(y) in the event of any such prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Advance, such
Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the Lenders in respect thereof pursuant
to Section 9.04(d). Each notice of prepayment by a Designated Subsidiary
shall be given to the Agent through the Company.
SECTION
2.11. Increased
Costs.
(a)
If,
after the date hereof, due to either (i) the introduction of or any change
(other than any change by way of imposition or increase of reserve requirements
included in the Eurodollar Rate Reserve Percentage) in or in the interpretation
of any law or regulation or (ii) the compliance with any guideline or
request from any central bank or other governmental authority having
jurisdiction over any Lender (whether or not having the force of law), there
shall be any increase in the cost to any Lender (which cost such Lender
reasonably determines in good faith is material) of agreeing to make or making,
funding or maintaining Eurodollar Rate Advances or LIBO Rate Advances (excluding
for purposes of this Section 2.11 any such increased costs resulting from (i)
Taxes or Other Taxes (as to which Section 2.14 shall govern) and (ii) Excluded
Taxes), then the Borrower of such Advances shall from time to time, upon demand
by such Lender made not later than 60 days after such Lender obtains knowledge
of such increased costs (with a copy of such demand to the Agent), pay to the
Agent for the account of such Lender additional amounts sufficient to compensate
such Lender for such increased cost. Each Lender agrees that if such Lender
requests compensation for any amounts owing from a Borrower for such increased
cost under this Section 2.11(a), such Lender shall, prior to a Borrower being
required to pay such increased costs, furnish to such Borrower a
27
certificate
of a senior financial officer of such Lender verifying that
such increased cost was actually incurred by such Lender and the amount of
such
increased cost and setting forth in reasonable detail the basis therefore (with
a copy of such certificate to the Agent); provided,
however,
that
such certificate shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent
manifest error.
(b) If,
after
the date hereof, any Lender determines that compliance with any law or
regulation or any guideline or request from any central bank or other
governmental authority having jurisdiction over any Lender (whether or not
having the force of law) affects or would affect the amount of capital required
or expected to be maintained by such Lender or any corporation controlling
such
Lender and that the amount of such capital is increased by or based upon the
existence of such Lender's commitment to lend hereunder and other commitments
of
this type, then, upon demand by such Lender made not later than 60 days after
such Lender obtains knowledge of such increase in capital (with a copy of such
demand to the Agent), the Company shall pay to the Agent for the account of
such
Lender, from time to time as specified by such Lender, additional amounts
sufficient to compensate such Lender or such corporation in the light of such
circumstances, to the extent that such Lender reasonably determines such
increase in capital to be allocable to the existence of such Lender's commitment
to lend hereunder. Each Lender agrees that if such Lender requests compensation
for any amounts owing from the Company for such increase in capital under this
Section 2.11(b), such Lender shall, prior to a Borrower being required to
compensate such Lender for such increase in capital, furnish to the Company
a
certificate of a senior financial officer of such Lender verifying that such
increase in capital was actually required by such Lender and the amount of
such
increase in capital and setting forth in reasonable detail the basis therefore
(with a copy of such certificate to the Agent); provided,
however,
that
such certificate shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent
manifest error.
(c) No
Borrower shall be obligated to pay under this Section 2.11 any amounts which
relate to costs or increases of capital incurred prior to the 12 months
immediately preceding the date of demand for payment of such amounts, unless
the
applicable law, regulation, guideline or request resulting in such costs or
increases of capital is imposed retroactively. In the case of any law,
regulation, guideline or request which is imposed retroactively, the Lender
making demand for payment of any amount under this Section 2.11 shall notify
the
related Borrower not later than 12 months from the date that such Lender should
reasonably have known (but promptly upon gaining knowledge of such increase)
of
such law, regulation, guideline or request and such Borrower's obligation to
compensate such Lender for such amount is contingent upon such Lender's so
notifying such Borrower; provided,
however,
that
any failure by such Lender to provide such notice shall not affect such
Borrower's obligations under this Section 2.11 with respect to amounts resulting
from costs or increases of capital incurred after the date which occurs 12
months immediately preceding the date on which such Lender notified such
Borrower of such law, regulation, guideline or request.
(d) If
any
Lender shall subsequently recoup any costs (other than from a Borrower) for
which such Lender has theretofore been compensated by a Borrower under this
Section 2.11, such Lender shall remit to such Borrower an amount equal to the
amount of such recoupment as reasonably determined by such Lender.
28
SECTION
2.12. Illegality. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, if any Lender shall after the date hereof, notify the Agent that
the
introduction of or any change in or in the interpretation of any law or
regulation makes it unlawful, or any central bank or other governmental
authority having jurisdiction over any Lender asserts that it is unlawful,
for
any Lender or its Eurodollar Lending Office to perform its obligations hereunder
to make Eurodollar Rate Advances or LIBO Rate Advances or to fund or maintain
Eurodollar Rate Advances or LIBO Rate Advances hereunder, (i) each
Eurodollar Rate Advance or LIBO Rate Advance, as the case may be, will
automatically, upon such demand, Convert into a Base Rate Advance or an Advance
that bears interest at the rate set forth in Section 2.07(a)(i), as the
case may be, and (ii) the obligation of the Lenders to make Eurodollar Rate
Advances or LIBO Rate Advances or to Convert Revolving Credit Advances into
Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be suspended until the Agent shall notify
each
Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances causing such suspension no
longer exist.
SECTION
2.13. Payments
and Computations.
(a)
Each
Borrower shall make each payment hereunder and relating to the Advances not
later than 1:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the day when due in U.S.
dollars to the Agent at the Agent's Account in same day funds. The Agent will
promptly thereafter cause to be distributed like funds relating to the payment
of principal or interest or facility fees ratably (other than amounts payable
pursuant to Section 2.03, 2.05(c), 2.07(c), 2.11, 2.14 or 9.04(d)) to the
Lenders for the account of their respective Applicable Lending Offices, and
like
funds relating to the payment of any other amount payable to any Lender to
such
Lender for the account of its Applicable Lending Office, in each case to be
applied in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Upon its acceptance
of
an Assignment and Acceptance and recording of the information contained therein
in the Register pursuant to Section 9.07(c), from and after the effective
date specified in such Assignment and Acceptance, the Agent shall make all
payments hereunder and relating to the Advances in respect of the interest
assigned thereby to the Lender assignee thereunder, and the parties to such
Assignment and Acceptance shall make all appropriate adjustments in such
payments for periods prior to such effective date directly between themselves.
Upon any Assuming Lender becoming a Lender hereunder as a result of the
effectiveness of a Commitment Increase pursuant to Section 2.05(c) or an
extension of the Termination Date pursuant to Section 2.19, and upon the Agent's
receipt of such Lender's Assumption Agreement and recording the information
contained therein in the Register, from and after the relevant Increase Date
or
Extension Date, as the case may be, the Agent shall make all payments hereunder
and relating to the Advances in respect of the interest assumed thereby to
such
Assuming Lender.
(b) All
computations of interest based on the Base Rate shall be made by the Agent
on
the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and all computations
of interest based on the Eurodollar Rate or the Federal Funds Rate and of
facility fees shall be made by the Agent on the basis of a year of 360 days,
in
each case for the actual number of days (including the first day but excluding
the last day) occurring in the period for which such interest or facility fees
are payable. Each determination by the Agent of an interest rate hereunder
shall
be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
(c) Whenever
any payment hereunder or relating to the Advances shall be stated to be due
on a
day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding
Business Day, and such extension of time shall in such case be included in
the
29
computation
of payment of interest or facility fee, as the case may be;
provided,
however,
that,
if such extension would cause payment of interest on or principal of Eurodollar
Rate Advances or LIBO Rate Advances to be made in the next following calendar
month, such payment shall be made on the next preceding Business
Day.
(d) Unless
the Agent shall have received notice from a Borrower prior to the date on which
any payment is due to the Lenders from such Borrower hereunder that such
Borrower will not make such payment in full, the Agent may assume that such
Borrower has made such payment in full to the Agent on such date and the Agent
may, in reliance upon such assumption, cause to be distributed to each Lender
on
such due date an amount equal to the amount then due such Lender. If and to
the
extent such Borrower shall not have so made such payment in full to the Agent,
each Lender shall repay to the Agent forthwith on demand such amount distributed
to such Lender together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such
amount is distributed to such Lender until the date such Lender repays such
amount to the Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate.
SECTION
2.14. Taxes.
(a)
Any and
all payments by each Borrower hereunder or relating to the Advances shall be
made, in accordance with Section 2.13, free and clear of and without
deduction for any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, deductions,
charges or withholdings, and all liabilities with respect thereto, excluding,
in the
case of each Lender and the Agent, taxes imposed on its overall net income,
and
franchise taxes imposed on it in lieu of net income taxes, by the jurisdiction
under the laws of which such Lender or the Agent (as the case may be) is
organized or any political subdivision thereof or by any jurisdiction in which
such Lender or the Agent (as the case may be) is doing business that is
unrelated to this Agreement and such net income taxes or franchise taxes that
would not have been imposed if such Lender or the Agent (as the case may be)
had
not been conducting such unrelated business and, in the case of each Lender,
taxes imposed on its overall net income, and franchise taxes imposed on it
in
lieu of net income taxes, by the jurisdiction of such Lender's Applicable
Lending Office or any political subdivision thereof (all such excluded taxes
being hereinafter referred to as "Excluded
Taxes"
and all
such non-excluded taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges, withholdings
and
liabilities in respect of payments hereunder or relating to the Advances being
hereinafter referred to as "Taxes").
If
any Borrower shall be required by law to deduct any Taxes from or in respect
of
any sum payable hereunder or relating to the Advances to any Lender or the
Agent, (i) the sum payable shall be increased as may be necessary so that
after making all required deductions for Taxes (including deductions for Taxes
applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.14) such Lender
or the Agent (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would
have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) such Borrower shall
make such deductions and (iii) such Borrower shall pay the full amount
deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance
with applicable law.
(b) In
addition, each Borrower agrees to pay any present or future stamp or documentary
taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies that
arise from any payment made hereunder or relating to the Advances or from the
execution, delivery or registration of, performing under, or otherwise with
respect to, this Agreement or relating to the Advances (hereinafter referred
to
as "Other
Taxes").
30
(c)
Each Borrower shall indemnify each Lender and the Agent for the full amount
of
Taxes or Other Taxes (including, without limitation, any taxes imposed by
any
jurisdiction on amounts payable under this Section 2.14) imposed on or paid
by such Lender or the Agent (as the case may be) and any liability for
penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect
thereto. This indemnification shall be made within 30 days from the date
such
Lender or the Agent (as the case may be) makes written demand therefor;
provided that such Lender shall, prior to a Borrower being required
to indemnify such Lender pursuant to this Section 2.14(c), furnish to such
Borrower a certificate of a senior financial officer of such Lender verifying
that such Taxes or Other Taxes were actually incurred by such Lender and
the
amount of such Taxes or Other Taxes and setting forth in reasonable detail
the
basis therefor (with a copy of such certificate to the Agent), provided,
however, that such certificate shall be conclusive and binding for
all
purposes, absent manifest error.
(d) Within
30
days after the date of any payment of Taxes, each Borrower shall furnish to
the
Agent, at its address referred to in Section 9.02, the original or a
certified copy of a receipt evidencing payment thereof. In the case of any
payment hereunder or relating to the Advances by or on behalf of any Borrower
through an account or branch outside the United States or by or on behalf of
any
Borrower by a payor that is not a United States person, if such Borrower
determines that no Taxes are payable in respect thereof, such Borrower shall
furnish, or shall cause such payor to furnish, to the Agent, at such address,
an
opinion of counsel acceptable to the Agent stating that such payment is exempt
from Taxes. For purposes of this subsection (d) and subsection (e), the terms
"United
States"
and
"United
States person"
shall
have the meanings specified in Section 7701 of the Internal Revenue
Code.
(e) Each
Lender organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States,
on
or prior to the date of its execution and delivery of this Agreement in the
case
of each Initial Lender and on the date of the Assignment and Acceptance or
the
Assumption Agreement, as the case may be, pursuant to which it becomes a Lender
in the case of each other Lender, and from time to time thereafter as requested
in writing by any Borrower (but only so long as such Lender remains lawfully
able to do so), shall provide the Agent and each Borrower with two original
Internal Revenue Service forms 8ECI or 8BEN, as appropriate, or any
successor or other form prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service, certifying
that such Lender is exempt from or entitled to a reduced rate of United States
withholding tax on payments pursuant to this Agreement or relating to the
Advances. If the forms provided by a Lender at the time such Lender first
becomes a party to this Agreement indicates a United States interest withholding
tax rate in excess of zero, withholding tax at such rate shall be considered
excluded from Taxes unless and until such Lender provides the appropriate forms
certifying that a lesser rate applies, whereupon withholding tax at such lesser
rate only shall be considered excluded from Taxes for periods governed by such
form; provided,
however,
that,
if at the date of the Assignment and Acceptance or the Assumption Agreement,
as
the case may be, pursuant to which a Lender assignee becomes a party to this
Agreement, the Lender assignor was entitled to payments under
subsection (a) in respect of United States withholding tax with respect to
interest paid at such date, then, to such extent, the term Taxes shall include
(in addition to withholding taxes that may be imposed in the future or other
amounts otherwise includable in Taxes) United States withholding tax, if any,
applicable with respect to the Lender assignee on such date.
31
(f) For
any period with respect to which a Lender has failed to provide each Borrower
with the appropriate form described in Section 2.14(e)
(other than if such failure is due to a change in law
occurring subsequent to the date on which a form originally was required
to be
provided, or if such form otherwise is not required under the first sentence
of
subsection (e) above), such Lender shall not be entitled to indemnification
under Section 2.14(a) or (c) with respect to Taxes imposed by the United
States by reason of such failure; provided, however, that should a
Lender become subject to Taxes because of its failure to deliver a form required
hereunder, each Borrower agrees to take such steps as such Lender shall
reasonably request to assist such Lender to recover such Taxes.
(g) If
any
Lender determines, in its sole discretion, that it has actually and finally
realized, by reason of a refund, deduction or credit of any Taxes or Other
Taxes
paid or reimbursed by a Borrower pursuant to subjection (a) or (c) above in
respect of payments under the Credit Agreement or relating to the Advances,
a
current monetary benefit that it would otherwise not have obtained, and that
would result in the total payments under this Section 2.14 exceeding the amount
needed to make such Lender whole, such Lender shall pay to such Borrower, with
reasonable promptness following the date on which it actually realizes such
benefit, an amount equal to the lesser of the amount of such benefit or the
amount of such excess, in each case net of all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
in securing such refund, deduction or credit.
SECTION
2.15. Sharing
of Payments, Etc.
If
any
Lender shall obtain any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the
exercise of any right of set-off, or otherwise) on account of the Revolving
Credit Advances owing to it (other than pursuant to Section 2.05(c), 2.07(c),
2.11, 2.14 or 9.04(d)) in excess of its ratable share of payments on account
of
the Revolving Credit Advances obtained by all the Lenders, such Lender shall
forthwith purchase from the other Lenders such participations in the Revolving
Credit Advances owing to them as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing
Lender to share the excess payment ratably with each of them; provided,
however,
that if
all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from such
purchasing Lender, such purchase from each Lender shall be rescinded and such
Lender shall repay to the purchasing Lender the purchase price to the extent
of
such recovery together with an amount equal to such Lender's ratable share
(according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such Lender's required
repayment to (ii) the total amount so recovered from the purchasing Lender)
of any interest or other amount paid or payable by the purchasing Lender in
respect of the total amount so recovered. Each Borrower agrees that any Lender
so purchasing a participation from another Lender pursuant to this
Section 2.15 may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all its
rights of payment (including the right of set-off) with respect to such
participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct creditor of such
Borrower in the amount of such participation.
SECTION
2.16. Use
of
Proceeds.
The
proceeds of the Advances shall be available (and each Borrower agrees that
it
shall use such proceeds) solely (i) for general corporate purposes of such
Borrower and its Subsidiaries and (ii) for acquisitions by such Borrower that
have been approved by the Board of Directors (or comparable governing group)
of
the Person that is to be acquired by such Borrower.
32
SECTION
2.17. Mandatory
Assignment by a Lender; Mitigation.
If any
Lender requests from a Borrower either payment of additional interest on
Eurodollar Rate Advances pursuant to Section 2.07(c), or reimbursement for
increased costs pursuant to Section 2.11, or payment of or reimbursement for
Taxes pursuant to Section 2.14, or if any Lender notifies the Agent that it
is
unlawful for such Lender or its Eurodollar Lending Office to perform its
obligations hereunder pursuant to Section 2.12, (i) such Lender will, upon
three
Business Days' notice by such Borrower to such Lender and the Agent, to the
extent not inconsistent with such Lender's internal policies and applicable
legal and regulatory restrictions, use reasonable efforts to make, fund
or maintain its Eurodollar Rate Advances through another Eurodollar Lending
Office of such Lender if (A) as a result thereof the additional amounts required
to be paid pursuant to Section 2.07(c), 2.11 or 2.14, as applicable, in respect
of such Eurodollar Rate Advances would be materially reduced or the provisions
of Section 2.12 would not apply to such Lender, as applicable, and (B) as
determined by such Lender in good faith but in its sole discretion, the making
or maintaining of such Eurodollar Rate Advances through such other Eurodollar
Lending Office would not otherwise materially and adversely affect such
Eurodollar Rate Advances or such Lender and (ii) unless such Lender has
therefore taken steps to remove or cure, and has removed or cured (to the extent
not inconsistent with internal policies and applicable legal and regulatory
restrictions), the conditions creating such obligation to pay such additional
amounts or the circumstances described in Section 2.12, such Lender will, upon
at least five Business Days' notice from the Company to such Lender and the
Agent, assign, pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of Section
9.07, to one or more Eligible Assignees designated by the Company all, but
not
less than all, of the Revolving Credit Advances then owing to such Lender and
all, but not less than all, of such Lender's rights and obligations hereunder
(other than rights in respect of such Lender's outstanding Competitive Bid
Advance), without recourse to or warranty by, or expense to, such Lender, for
a
purchase price equal to the outstanding principal amount of each such Advance
then owing to such Lender plus
any
accrued but unpaid interest thereon and any accrued but unpaid facility fees
owing thereto and, in addition, all additional costs reimbursements, expense
reimbursements and indemnities, if any, owing in respect of such Lender's
Commitment hereunder at such time shall be paid to such Lender.
SECTION
2.18. Evidence
of Debt.
(a) Each
Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or
accounts evidencing the indebtedness of each Borrower to such Lender resulting
from each Revolving Credit Advance owing to such Lender from time to time,
including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender
from time to time hereunder in respect of Revolving Credit Advances. Each
Borrower agrees that upon reasonable notice by any Lender to such Borrower
(with
a copy of such notice to the Agent) to the effect that a Revolving Credit Note
is required or appropriate in order for such Lender to evidence (whether for
purposes of pledge, enforcement or otherwise) the Revolving Credit Advances
owing to, or to be made by, such Lender, such Borrower shall promptly execute
and deliver to such Lender a Revolving Credit Note payable to the order of
such
Lender in a principal amount up to the Commitment of such Lender.
(b) The
Register maintained by the Agent pursuant to Section 9.07(d) shall include
a control account, and a subsidiary account for each Lender, in which accounts
(taken together) shall be recorded (i) the date and amount of each
Borrowing made hereunder, the type of Advances comprising such Borrowing and,
if
appropriate, the Interest Period applicable
33
thereto,
(ii) the terms of each Assumption Agreement and each Assignment and
Acceptance delivered to and accepted by it, (iii) the amount of any
principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from such
Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iv) the amount of any sum received
by the Agent from each Borrower hereunder and each Lender's share thereof.
(c)
Entries made in good faith by the Agent in the Register pursuant to
subsection (b) above, and by each Lender in its account or accounts
pursuant to subsection (a) above, shall be prima facie
evidence of the amount of principal and interest due and payable or to become
due and payable from each Borrower to, in the case of the Register, each
Lender
and, in the case of such account or accounts, such Lender, under this Agreement,
absent manifest error; provided, however, that the failure of the
Agent or such Lender to make an entry, or any finding that an entry is
incorrect, in the Register or such account or accounts shall not limit or
otherwise affect the obligations of any Borrower under this
Agreement.
SECTION
2.19. Extension
of Termination Date.
(a) At
least 30 days but not more than 60 days prior to either or both of the first
or
second anniversary of the Effective Date, the Company, by written notice to
the
Agent, may request an extension of the Termination Date in effect at such time
by one year from its then scheduled expiration. The Agent shall promptly notify
each Lender of such request, and each Lender shall in turn, in its sole
discretion, not later than 20 days prior to such anniversary date, notify the
Company and the Agent in writing as to whether such Lender will consent to
such
extension. If any Lender shall fail to notify the Agent and the Company in
writing of its consent to any such request for extension of the Termination
Date
at least 20 days prior to the applicable anniversary date, such Lender shall
be
deemed to be a Non-Consenting Lender with respect to such request. The Agent
shall notify the Company not later than 15 days prior to the applicable
anniversary date of the decision of the Lenders regarding the Company's request
for an extension of the Termination Date.
(b)
If
all
the Lenders consent in writing to any such request in accordance with subsection
(a) of this Section 2.19, the Termination Date in effect at such time shall,
effective as at the applicable anniversary date (the "Extension
Date"),
be
extended for one year; provided
that on
each Extension Date the representations and warranties of the Company contained
in Section 4.01 are correct on and as of the date of such extension of the
Termination Date, before and after giving effect thereto, as though made on
and
as of such date, and no Default shall have occurred and be continuing. If less
than all of the Lenders consent in writing to any such request in accordance
with subsection (a) of this Section 2.19, the Termination Date in effect at
such
time shall, effective as at the applicable Extension Date and subject to
subsection (d) of this Section 2.19, be extended as to those Lenders that so
consented (each a "Consenting
Lender")
but
shall not be extended as to any other Lender (each a "Non-Consenting
Lender").
To
the extent that the Termination Date is not extended as to any Lender pursuant
to this Section 2.19 and the Commitment of such Lender is not assumed in
accordance with subsection (c) of this Section 2.19 on or prior to the
applicable Extension Date, the Commitment of such Non-Consenting Lender shall
automatically terminate in whole on such unextended Termination Date without
any
further notice or other action by the Company, such Lender or any other Person;
provided
that
such Non-Consenting Lender's rights under Sections 2.11, 2.14 and 9.04, and
its
obligations under Section 8.05, shall survive the Termination Date for such
Lender as to matters occurring prior to such date. It is understood and agreed
that no Lender shall have
34
any
obligation whatsoever to agree to any request made by the Company for any
requested extension of the Termination Date.
(c)
If less than all of the Lenders consent to any such request pursuant to
subsection (a) of this Section 2.19, the Agent shall promptly so notify the
Consenting Lenders, and each Consenting Lender may, in its sole discretion,
give
written notice to the Agent not later than 10 days prior to the Extension
Date
of the amount of the Non-Consenting Lenders' Commitments for which it is
willing
to accept an assignment. If the Consenting Lenders notify the Agent that
they
are willing to accept assignments of Commitments in an aggregate amount that
exceeds the amount of the Commitments of the Non-Consenting Lenders, such
Commitments shall be allocated among the Consenting Lenders willing to accept
such assignments in such amounts as are agreed between the Company and the
Agent. If after giving effect to the assignments of Commitments described
above
there remains any Commitments of Non-Consenting Lenders, the Company may
arrange
for one or more Consenting Lenders or other Eligible Assignees as Assuming
Lenders to assume, effective as of the Extension Date, any Non-Consenting
Lender's Commitment and all of the obligations of such Non-Consenting Lender
under this Agreement thereafter arising, without recourse to or warranty
by, or
expense to, such Non-Consenting Lender; provided, however, that
the amount of the Commitment of any such Assuming Lender as a result of such
substitution shall in no event be less than $10,000,000 unless the amount
of the
Commitment of such Non-Consenting Lender is less than $10,000,000, in which
case
such Assuming Lender shall assume all of such lesser amount; and provided
further that:
(i)
any
such
Consenting Lender or Assuming Lender shall have paid to such Non-Consenting
Lender (A) the aggregate principal amount of, and any interest accrued and
unpaid to the effective date of the assignment on, the outstanding Advances,
if
any, of such Non-Consenting Lender plus
(B) any
accrued but unpaid facility fees owing to such Non-Consenting Lender as of
the
effective date of such assignment;
(ii)
all
additional costs reimbursements, expense reimbursements and indemnities payable
to such Non-Consenting Lender, and all other accrued and unpaid amounts owing
to
such Non-Consenting Lender hereunder, as of the effective date of such
assignment shall have been paid to such Non-Consenting Lender; and
(iii)
with
respect to any such Assuming Lender, the applicable processing and recordation
fee required under Section 9.07(a) for such assignment shall have been
paid;
provided further
that
such Non-Consenting Lender's rights under Sections 2.11, 2.14 and 9.04, and
its
obligations under Section 8.05, shall survive such substitution as to matters
occurring prior to the date of substitution. At least three Business Days prior
to any Extension Date, (A) each such Assuming Lender, if any, shall have
delivered to the Company and the Agent an Assumption Agreement, duly executed
by
such Assuming Lender, such Non-Consenting Lender, the Company and the Agent,
(B)
any such Consenting Lender shall have delivered confirmation in writing
satisfactory to the Company and the Agent as to the increase in the amount
of
its Commitment and (C) each Non-Consenting Lender being replaced pursuant to
this Section 2.19 shall have delivered to the Agent any Note or Notes held
by
such Non-Consenting Lender. Upon the payment or prepayment of all amounts
referred to in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of the
35
immediately
preceding sentence, each such Consenting Lender or Assuming Lender, as of the
Extension Date, will be substituted for such Non-Consenting Lender under this
Agreement and shall be a Lender for all purposes of this Agreement, without
any
further acknowledgment by or the consent of the other Lenders, and the
obligations of each such Non-Consenting Lender hereunder shall, by the
provisions hereof, be released and discharged.
(d)
If (after giving effect to any assignments or assumptions pursuant to subsection
(c) of this Section 2.19) Lenders having Commitments equal to at least 50%
of
the Commitments in effect immediately prior to the Extension Date consent
in
writing to a requested extension (whether by execution or delivery of an
Assumption Agreement or otherwise) not later than one Business Day prior
to such
Extension Date, the Agent shall so notify the Company, and, subject to the
representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 4.01
being correct on and as of the date of such extension of the Termination
Date,
before and after giving effect thereto, as though made on and as of such
date,
and no Default having occurred and be continuing, the Termination Date then
in
effect shall be extended for the additional one-year period as described
in
subsection (a) of this Section 2.19, and all references in this Agreement,
and
in the Notes, if any, to the "Termination Date" shall, with respect to
each Consenting Lender and each Assuming Lender for such Extension Date,
refer
to the Termination Date as so extended. Promptly following each Extension
Date,
the Agent shall notify the Lenders (including, without limitation, each Assuming
Lender) of the extension of the scheduled Termination Date in effect immediately
prior thereto and shall thereupon record in the Register the relevant
information with respect to each such Consenting Lender and each such Assuming
Lender.
ARTICLE
III
CONDITIONS
TO EFFECTIVENESS AND LENDING
SECTION
3.01. Conditions
Precedent to Effectiveness of Sections 2.01 and 2.03.
Sections 2.01 and 2.03 of this Agreement shall become effective on and as
of the first date (the "Effective
Date")
on
which the following conditions precedent have been satisfied:
(a) There
shall have occurred no Material Adverse Change since December 31, 2005
except as disclosed by the Company in writing to the Lenders prior to the date
of execution of this Agreement.
(b) There
shall exist no action, suit, investigation, litigation or proceeding affecting
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pending or threatened before any court,
governmental agency or arbitrator that (i) would be reasonably likely to
have a Material Adverse Effect other than the matters described on
Schedule 3.01(b) hereto (the "Disclosed
Litigation")
or
(ii) purports to affect the legality, validity or enforceability of this
Agreement or any Note or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby, and there shall have been no material adverse change in the status,
or
financial effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, of the
Disclosed Litigation from that described on Schedule 3.01(b)
hereto.
36
(c) All
governmental and third party consents and approvals necessary in connection
with
the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been obtained (without the
imposition of any conditions that are not acceptable to the Lenders) and
shall
remain in effect, and no law or regulation shall be applicable in the reasonable
judgment of the Lenders that restrains, prevents or imposes materially adverse
conditions upon the transactions contemplated hereby.
(d) The
Company shall have notified the Agent in writing as to the proposed Effective
Date.
(f) On
the
Effective Date, the following statements shall be true and the Agent shall
have
received for the account of each Lender a certificate signed by a duly
authorized officer of the Company, dated the Effective Date, stating
that:
(i) The
representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 4.01 are
correct on and as of the Effective Date, and
(ii) No
event
has occurred and is continuing that constitutes a Default.
(g) The
Agent
shall have received on or before the Effective Date the following, each dated
such day, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and (except
for the Revolving Credit Notes) in sufficient copies for each
Lender:
(i) The
Revolving Credit Notes of the Company to the order of the Lenders, respectively,
to the extent requested by any Lender pursuant to Section 2.18.
(ii) Certified
copies of the resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company approving
this Agreement (including the Commitment Increase contemplated by Section
2.05(c)) and the Notes of the Company, and of all documents evidencing other
necessary corporate action and governmental approvals, if any, with respect
to
this Agreement and such Notes.
(iii) A
certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company certifying
the names and true signatures of the officers of the Company authorized to
sign
this Agreement and the Notes of the Company and the other documents to be
delivered hereunder.
(iv) A
favorable opinion of Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Senior Vice President, General Counsel
and Secretary of the Company, substantially in the form of Exhibit G hereto
and as to such other matters as any Lender through the Agent may reasonably
request.
37
(v) A
favorable opinion of Shearman & Sterling LLP, counsel for the Agent, in
form and substance satisfactory to the Agent.
(vi) Such
other approvals, opinions or documents as any Lender, through the Agent,
may
reasonably request prior to the Effective Date.
(h) The
Company shall have terminated the commitments, and paid in full all Debt,
interest, fees and other amounts outstanding, under the $900,000,000 Five-Year
Credit Agreement dated as of November 12, 2004 (as amended, amended and
restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the
"Five-Year
Credit Agreement")
among
the Company, as borrower, the lenders and arrangers parties thereto and
Citibank, as administrative agent, and each of the Lenders that is a party
to
such credit facility hereby waives, upon execution of this Agreement, the
three
Business Days' notice required by Section 2.05 of the Five-Year Credit Agreement
relating to the termination of commitments thereunder.
SECTION
3.02. Initial
Borrowing of Each Designated Subsidiary.
The
obligation of each Lender to make an initial Advance to each Designated
Subsidiary following any designation of such Designated Subsidiary as a Borrower
hereunder pursuant to Section 9.08 is subject to the Agent's receipt on or
before the date of such Initial Advance of each of the following, in form and
substance satisfactory to the Agent and dated such date, and (except for the
Revolving Credit Notes) in sufficient copies for each Lender:
(a) The
Revolving Credit Notes of such Borrower to the order of the Lenders,
respectively, to the extent requested by any Lender pursuant to Section
2.18.
(b) Certified
copies of the resolutions of the Board of Directors of such Borrower approving
this Agreement and the Notes of such Borrower, and of all documents evidencing
other necessary corporate action and governmental approvals, if any, with
respect to this Agreement and such Notes.
(c) A
certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of such Borrower
certifying the names and true signatures of the officers of such Borrower
authorized to sign this Agreement and the Notes of such Borrower and the other
documents to be delivered hereunder.
(d) A
certificate signed by a duly authorized officer of the Company, dated as of
the
date of such initial Advance, certifying that such Borrower shall have obtained
all governmental and third party authorizations, consents, approvals (including
exchange control approvals) and licenses required under applicable laws and
regulations necessary for such Borrower to execute and deliver this Agreement
and the Notes of such Borrower and to perform its obligations
thereunder.
(e) The
Designation Letter of such Designated Subsidiary, substantially in the form
of
Exhibit E hereto.
(f) With
respect to each Designated Subsidiary that has its principal place of business
outside of the United States of America, evidence of the Process Agent's
38
acceptance of its appointment pursuant to Section 9.12(a) as the agent of such
Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit F hereto.
(g) A
favorable opinion of counsel to such Designated Subsidiary, dated the date
of
such Initial Advance, substantially in the form of Exhibit H
hereto.
(h) Such
other approvals, opinions or documents as any Lender, through the Agent,
may
reasonably request.
SECTION
3.03. Conditions
Precedent to Each Revolving Credit Borrowing.
The
obligation of each Lender to make a Revolving Credit Advance on the occasion
of
each Revolving Credit Borrowing shall be subject to the conditions precedent
that the Effective Date shall have occurred and on the date of such Revolving
Credit Borrowing the following statements shall be true (and each of the giving
of the applicable Notice of Revolving Credit Borrowing and the acceptance by
the
Borrower requesting such Revolving Credit Borrowing of the proceeds of such
Revolving Credit Borrowing shall constitute a representation and warranty by
such Borrower that on the date of such Borrowing such statements are
true):
(i) the
representations and warranties of the Company contained in
Section 4.01(except the representations set forth in the last sentence of
subsection (e) thereof and in subsection (f) thereof (other than
clause (i)(B) thereof)) are correct on and as of the date of such Revolving
Credit Borrowing, before and after giving effect to such Revolving Credit
Borrowing and to the application of the proceeds therefrom, as though made
on
and as of such date, and, if such Borrower is a Designated Subsidiary, the
representations and warranties of such Borrower contained in its Designation
Letter are correct on and as of the date of such Revolving Credit Borrowing,
before and after giving effect to such Revolving Credit Borrowing and to the
application of the proceeds therefrom, as though made on and as of such date,
and
(ii) no
event
has occurred and is continuing, or would result from such Revolving Credit
Borrowing or from the application of the proceeds therefrom, that constitutes
a
Default.
SECTION
3.04. Conditions
Precedent to Each Competitive Bid Borrowing.
The
obligation of each Lender that is to make a Competitive Bid Advance on the
occasion of a Competitive Bid Borrowing to make such Competitive Bid Advance
as
part of such Competitive Bid Borrowing is subject to the conditions precedent
that (a) the Agent shall have received the written confirmatory Notice of
Competitive Bid Borrowing with respect thereto, (b) on or before the date
of such Competitive Bid Borrowing, but prior to such Competitive Bid Borrowing,
the Agent shall have received a Competitive Bid Note payable to the order of
such Lender for each of the one or more Competitive Bid Advances to be made
by
such Lender as part of such Competitive Bid Borrowing, in a principal amount
equal to the principal amount of the Competitive Bid Advance to be evidenced
thereby and otherwise on such terms as were agreed to for such Competitive
Bid
Advance in accordance with Section 2.03, and (c) on the date of such
Competitive Bid Borrowing the following statements shall be true (and each
of
the giving of the applicable Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing and the
acceptance by the Borrower requesting such Competitive Bid Borrowing of the
proceeds of such Competitive Bid Borrowing
39
shall
constitute a representation and warranty by such Borrower that on the date
of
such Competitive Bid Borrowing such statements are true):
(i) the
representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 4.01
(except the representations set forth in the last sentence of
subsection (e) thereof and in subsection (f) thereof (other than
clause (i)(B) thereof)) are correct on and as of the date of such
Competitive Bid Borrowing, before and after giving effect to such Competitive
Bid Borrowing and to the application of the proceeds therefrom, as though
made
on and as of such date, and, if such Borrower is a Designated Subsidiary,
the
representations and warranties of such Borrower contained in its Designation
Letter are correct on and as of the date of such Competitive Bid Borrowing,
before and after giving effect to such Competitive Bid Borrowing and to the
application of the proceeds therefrom, as though made on and as of such
date,
(ii) no
event
has occurred and is continuing, or would result from such Competitive Bid
Borrowing or from the application of the proceeds therefrom, that constitutes
a
Default, and
(iii) no
event
has occurred and no circumstance exists as a result of which the information
concerning such Borrower that has been provided to the Agent and each Lender
by
such Borrower in connection herewith would include an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact or any fact necessary to make
the statements contained therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading.
SECTION
3.05. Determinations
Under Section 3.01.
For
purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in
Section 3.01, each Lender shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or
accepted or to be satisfied with each document or other matter required
thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory
to
the Lenders unless an officer of the Agent responsible for the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement shall have received notice from such Lender
prior
to the date that the Company, by notice to the Lenders, designates as the
proposed Effective Date, specifying its objection thereto. The Agent shall
promptly notify the Lenders of the occurrence of the Effective
Date.
ARTICLE
IV
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
SECTION
4.01. Representations
and Warranties of the Company.
The
Company represents and warrants as follows:
(a) The
Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the State of Delaware.
(b) The
execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the
Notes of the Company to be delivered by it, and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby, are within the Company's corporate powers,
have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, and do not
contravene (i) the
40
Company's
charter or by-laws or (ii) any law or any contractual restriction binding
on or affecting the Company, except where such contravention would not be
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) No
authorization or approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with,
any governmental authority or regulatory body or any other third party is
required for the due execution, delivery and performance by the Company of
this
Agreement or the Notes of the Company to be delivered by it, except for those
authorizations, approvals, actions, notices and filings (i) listed on
Schedule 4.01(c) hereto, all of which have
been
duly obtained, taken, given or made and are in full force and effect and (ii)
where the Company's failure to receive, take or make such authorization,
approval, action, notice or filing would not have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(d) This
Agreement has been, and each of the Notes of the Company to be delivered by
it
when delivered hereunder will have been, duly executed and delivered by the
Company. This Agreement is, and each of the Notes of the Company when delivered
hereunder will be, the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company
enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms,
subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or
similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and general principles of
equity.
(e) The
Consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at
December 31, 2005, and the related Consolidated statements of income and
cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year then ended,
accompanied by an opinion of KPMG LLP, independent public accountants, and
the
Consolidated condensed balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as
at
July 2, 2006, and the related Consolidated statements of income and condensed
cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the six months then ended,
duly certified by the chief financial officer of the Company, copies of which
have been furnished to each Lender, fairly present, subject, in the case of
said
balance sheet as at July 2, 2006, and said statements of income and cash flows
for the six months then ended, to audit adjustments, the Consolidated financial
condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at such dates and the
Consolidated results of the operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries
for
the periods ended on such dates, all in accordance with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States consistently applied; provided,
however,
that
said balance sheet and statements of income and cash flows for the six months
ended as at July 2, 2006 are instead prepared in accordance with applicable
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Since
December 31, 2005, there has been no Material Adverse Change.
(f) (i)
There
is no pending or, to the Company's knowledge, threatened action, suit,
investigation, litigation or proceeding, including, without limitation, any
Environmental Action, affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries before
any court, governmental agency or arbitrator that (A) would be reasonably
likely to have a Material Adverse Effect (other than the Disclosed Litigation)
or (B) purports to affect the legality, validity or enforceability of this
Agreement or any Note or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby, and (ii) there has been no adverse change in the status,
41
or
financial effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, of the
Disclosed Litigation from that described on Schedule 3.01(b) hereto.
(g)
No proceeds of any Advance will be applied in any manner that will violate
or
cause any Lender to violate Regulation U or Regulation G issued by the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
(h)
The Company is not, and immediately after the application by the Company
of the
proceeds of each Advance will not be, an "investment company", or a
company "controlled" by an "investment company", as such terms are defined
in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(i)
The Company and each of its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable
laws, rules, regulations and orders, including, without limitation, ERISA and
Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits, except where the failure to so
comply would not be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(j)
To
the
Company's knowledge, (i) all past non-compliance with any Environmental Laws
and
Environmental Permits has been resolved without ongoing obligations or costs
except where the failure to so comply would not be reasonably likely to have
a
Material Adverse Effect and (ii) no circumstances exist that would be reasonably
likely to (A) form the basis of an Environmental Action against the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their properties that would be reasonably
likely to have a Material Adverse Effect or (B) cause any such property to
be subject to any restrictions on ownership, occupancy, use or transferability
under any Environmental Law that would be reasonably likely to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(k)
No
ERISA
Event that would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect has
occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any
Plan.
(l)
Schedule
B (Actuarial Information) to the most recent annual report (Form 5500 Series)
for each Plan whose "funded current liability percentage" is less than 90%
and
whose "unfunded current liability" exceeds $5,000,000 (as such terms are defined
in Section 302(d)(8) of ERISA), copies of which have been filed with the
Internal Revenue Service and furnished to the Lenders, is complete and accurate
and fairly presents in all material respects the funding status of such
Plan.
(m)
Neither
the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has outstanding liability with respect
to,
or is reasonably expected to incur any Withdrawal Liability to, any
Multiemployer Plan that would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(n)
Neither
the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has been notified by the sponsor of a
Multiemployer Plan that such Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization or has
been
terminated, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA, and no such
Multiemployer Plan is reasonably expected to be in reorganization or to be
terminated, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA, where such
reorganization or termination would be reasonably likely to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
42
(o)
Except
as
set forth in the financial statements referred to in Section 4.01(e) and in
Section 5.01(h), the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole have no
material liability with respect to "expected post retirement benefit
obligations" within the meaning of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 106.
ARTICLE
V
COVENANTS
OF THE COMPANY
SECTION
5.01. Affirmative
Covenants.
So long
as any Advance shall remain unpaid or any Lender shall have any Commitment
hereunder, the Company will:
(a) Compliance
with Laws, Obligations, Etc.
Comply,
and cause each of its Subsidiaries to comply, in all material respects, with
all
applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders, such compliance to include,
without limitation, compliance with ERISA and Environmental Laws as provided
in
Section 5.01(i), except where the failure to so comply would not be
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Payment
of Taxes, Etc.
Pay and
discharge, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay and discharge, before
the
same shall become delinquent if the failure to so pay and discharge would be
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) all taxes,
assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed upon it or upon its
property and (ii) all lawful claims that, if unpaid, will by law become a
Lien upon its property; provided,
however,
that
neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to pay or
discharge any such tax, assessment, charge or claim that is being contested
in
good faith and by proper proceedings and as to which appropriate reserves are
being maintained.
(c) Maintenance
of Insurance.
Maintain, and cause each of its Material Subsidiaries to maintain, insurance
with responsible and reputable insurance companies or associations (or continue
to maintain self-insurance) in such amounts and covering such risks as is
usually carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar
properties in the same general areas in which the Company or such Subsidiary
operates.
(d) Preservation
of Corporate Existence, Etc.
Preserve and maintain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to preserve and
maintain, its corporate existence, rights (charter and statutory) and
franchises; provided,
however,
that
the Company and its Subsidiaries may consummate any merger or consolidation
permitted under Section 5.02(b) and provided further
that
neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to preserve
any right or franchise if the Board of Directors of the Company or such
Subsidiary shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable
in the conduct of the business of the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case
may be, and that the loss thereof would not be reasonably likely to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
(e) Authorizations.
Obtain,
and cause each Designated Subsidiary with a principal place of business outside
the United States to obtain, at any time and from time
43
to
time all authorizations, licenses, consents or
approvals (including exchange control approvals) as shall now or hereafter
be
necessary or desirable under applicable law or regulations in
connection with such Designated Subsidiary's making and performance of this
Agreement and, upon the request of any Lender, promptly furnish to such Lender
copies thereof.
(f) Keeping
of Books.
Keep,
and cause each of its Material Subsidiaries with a principal place of business
in the United States to keep, proper books of record and account, in which
full
and correct entries in all material respects shall be made of all financial
transactions and the assets and business of the Company and each such Subsidiary
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in effect from
time
to time.
(g) Maintenance
of Properties, Etc.
Maintain and preserve, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain and
preserve, all of its properties that are used in the conduct of its business
in
good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, except where
the failure to do so would not be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(h) Reporting
Requirements.
Furnish
to the Lenders:
(i) as
soon
as available and in any event within 45 days after the end of each of the first
three quarters of each fiscal year of the Company, Consolidated condensed
balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such quarter
and Consolidated statements of income and Consolidated condensed statements
of
cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the period commencing at
the
end of the previous fiscal year and ending with the end of such quarter, duly
certified (subject to audit adjustments) by the chief financial officer of
the
Company as having been prepared in accordance with applicable rules and
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and certificates of the
chief financial officer of the Company as to compliance with the terms of this
Agreement;
(ii) as
soon
as available and in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year
of the Company, a copy of the annual report for such year for the Company and
its Subsidiaries, containing Consolidated balance sheet of the Company and
its
Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal year and Consolidated statements
of
income and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such fiscal year,
in each case accompanied by an opinion of KPMG LLP or other nationally
recognized independent public accountants;
(iii) as
soon
as possible and in any event within five days after the occurrence of each
Default continuing on the date of such statement, a statement of the chief
financial officer of the Company setting forth the details of such Default
and
the action that the Company has taken and proposes to take with respect
thereto;
44
(iv)
as soon as possible and in any event within three days after the
occurrence of a Change of Control, notice of such Change of Control setting
forth the details of such Change of Control;
(v)
promptly after the sending or filing thereof, copies of all reports that
the
Company sends to any of its public securityholders, and copies of all reports
and registration statements that the Company or any Subsidiary files with
the
Securities and Exchange Commission or any national securities
exchange;
(vi)
(a) promptly and in any event within 20 days after the Company or any
ERISA Affiliate has actual knowledge that an event that is an ERISA Event
that
has resulted or that would be reasonably likely to result in a liability
of the
Company or any ERISA Affiliate in an amount in excess of $25,000,000 has
occurred, a statement of the chief financial officer or other authorized
officer
of the Company describing such ERISA Event and the action, if any, that the
Company or such ERISA Affiliate has taken and proposes to take with respect
thereto and (b) on the date any records, documents or other information must
be
furnished to the PBGC with respect to any Plan pursuant to Section 4010 of
ERISA, a copy of such records, documents and information;
(vii)
promptly
and in any event within three Business Days after receipt thereof by the Company
or any ERISA Affiliate, copies of each notice from the PBGC stating its
intention to terminate any Plan or to have a trustee appointed to administer
any
Plan, where such notice, termination or appointment has resulted or would be
reasonably likely to result in a liability of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate
in an amount in excess of $25,000,000;
(viii) promptly
and in any event within 30 days after filing thereof with the Internal Revenue
Services, copies of each Schedule B (Actuarial Information) to the annual report
(Form 5500 Series) with respect to each Plan whose "funded current liability
percentage" is less than 90% and whose "unfunded current liability" exceeds
$5,000,000 (as such terms are defined in Section 302(d)(8) of
ERISA);
(ix)
promptly
and in any event within five Business Days after receipt thereof by the Company
or any ERISA Affiliate from the sponsor of a Multiemployer Plan, copies of
each
notice concerning (A) the imposition of Withdrawal Liability by any such
Multiemployer Plan, (B) the reorganization or termination, within the
meaning of Title IV of ERISA, of any such Multiemployer Plan or
(C) the amount of liability incurred, or that may be incurred, by the
Company or any ERISA Affiliate in connection with any event described in
clause (A) or (B), where such imposition, reorganization or termination has
resulted or would be reasonably likely to result in a liability of the Company
or any ERISA Affiliate in an amount exceeding $25,000,000;
45
(x)
promptly
after the commencement thereof, notice of all actions and proceedings before
any
court, governmental agency or arbitrator affecting the Company or any of
its
Subsidiaries of the type described in Section 4.01(f); and
(xi)
such
other information respecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as any
Lender through the Agent may from time to time reasonably request.
(i) Compliance
with Environmental Laws.
Comply,
and cause each of its Subsidiaries and all lessees and other Persons operating
or occupying its properties, to comply with all applicable Environmental Laws
and Environmental Permits except where the failure to so comply would not be
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION
5.02. Negative
Covenants.
So long
as any Advance shall remain unpaid or any Lender shall have any Commitment
hereunder, the Company will not:
(a) Liens,
Etc.
Create
or suffer to exist, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to create or suffer to
exist, any Lien on or with respect to any of its properties, whether now owned
or hereafter acquired, or assign, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to assign,
any right to receive income, other than:
(i) Permitted
Liens,
(ii) purchase
money Liens upon or in any real property or equipment acquired or held by the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in the
ordinary course of business to secure the purchase price of such property or
equipment or to secure Debt incurred solely for the purpose of financing the
acquisition of such property or equipment, or Liens existing on such property
or
equipment at the time of its acquisition (other than any such Liens created
in
contemplation of such acquisition that were not incurred to finance the
acquisition of such property) or extensions, renewals or replacements of any
of
the foregoing for the same or a lesser amount, provided,
however,
that no
such Lien shall extend to or cover any properties of any character other than
the real property or equipment being acquired, and no such extension, renewal
or
replacement shall extend to or cover any properties not theretofore subject
to
the Lien being extended, renewed or replaced,
(iii) any
assignment of any right to receive income existing on the Effective Date and
any
Liens existing on the Effective Date,
(iv) Liens
on
property of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged into or
consolidated with the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or becomes a
Subsidiary of the Company; provided
that
such Liens do not extend to any assets other than those of the Person so merged
into or consolidated with the Company or such Subsidiary or acquired by the
Company or such Subsidiary,
46
(v) other
Liens or any other assignment of any right to receive income (in addition to
the
Liens and assignments permitted under clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv)
or (vi)) securing Debt in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed
$450,000,000, and
(vi) the
replacement, extension or renewal of any Lien or any assignment of any right
to
receive income permitted by clause (iii) or (iv) above upon or in the same
property theretofore subject thereto or the replacement, extension or renewal
(without increase in the amount or change in any direct or contingent obligor)
of the Debt secured thereby.
(b) Mergers,
Etc.
Merge
or consolidate with or into, or convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose
of
(whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially
all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to, any Person,
or
permit any of its Subsidiaries to do so, except that (i) any Subsidiary of
the
Borrower may merge or consolidate with or into, or dispose of assets to, any
other Subsidiary of the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary of the Company may merge
into or dispose of assets to the Company and (iii) the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries may merge with any other Person so long as the Company or such
Subsidiary is the surviving entity, provided,
in each
case, that no Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of
such
proposed transaction or would result therefrom.
(c) Change
in Nature of Business.
Make,
or permit any of its Subsidiaries to make, any material change in the nature
of
its business as carried on at the date hereof.
SECTION
5.03. Financial
Covenant.
So long
as any Advance shall remain unpaid or any Lender shall have any Commitment
hereunder, the Company shall maintain, as of the end of each fiscal quarter,
a
ratio of (a) Pre-Tax Income from Continuing Operations for the four fiscal
quarters then ended to (b) Consolidated Interest Expense for such four
fiscal quarters of not less than 2.0 to 1.0.
ARTICLE
VI
EVENTS
OF
DEFAULT
SECTION
6.01. Events
of Default.
If any
of the following events ("Events
of Default")
shall
occur and be continuing:
(a) Any
Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Advance within one Business
Day
after the same becomes due and payable; or any Borrower shall fail to pay any
interest on any Advance or make any other payment of fees or other amounts
payable under this Agreement or any Note within three Business Days after the
same becomes due and payable; or
(b) Any
representation or warranty made by any Company herein or, if such Borrower
is a
Designated Subsidiary, in such Borrower's Designation Letter, or by any Borrower
in connection with this Agreement shall prove to have been incorrect in any
material respect when made; or
47
(c) (i) The
Company shall fail to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement
contained in Section 5.01(d) or (h)(iii), (iv) or (vi)-(ix), 5.02 or 5.03,
or (ii) the Company or any other Borrower shall fail to perform or observe
any
term, covenant or agreement contained in Section 5.01(h)(i), (ii), (v), (x)
or
(xi) if such failure shall remain unremedied for 10 days after written notice
thereof shall have been given to the relevant Borrower by the Agent or any
Lender, or (iii) the Company or any other Borrower shall fail to perform or
observe any other term, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement
on its part to be performed or observed if such failure shall remain unremedied
for 30 days after written notice thereof shall have been given to the relevant
Borrower by the Agent or any Lender; or
(d) Any
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall fail to pay any principal of or
premium or interest on any Debt that is outstanding in a principal or notional
amount of at least $125,000,000 in the aggregate (but excluding Debt outstanding
hereunder) of such Borrower or such Subsidiary (as the case may be), when the
same becomes due and payable (whether by scheduled maturity, required
prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise), and such failure shall continue
after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in the agreement or
instrument relating to such Debt; or any other event shall occur or condition
shall exist under any agreement or instrument relating to any such Debt and
shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in such
agreement or instrument, if the effect of such event or condition is to
accelerate the maturity of such Debt; or any such Debt shall be declared to
be
due and payable, or required to be prepaid or redeemed (other than by a
regularly scheduled required prepayment or redemption), purchased or defeased,
or an offer to prepay, redeem, purchase or defease such Debt shall be required
to be made, in each case prior to the stated maturity thereof, unless the event
giving rise to such prepayment, redemption, purchase or defeasance is not
related directly to any action taken by, or the condition (financial or
otherwise) or operations of, the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or any of
their respective properties; or
(e) Any
Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries shall generally not pay its debts
as such debts become due, or shall admit in writing its inability to pay its
debts generally, or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of
creditors; or any proceeding shall be instituted by or against any Borrower
or
any of its Material Subsidiaries seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or
insolvent, or seeking liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement,
adjustment, protection, relief, or composition of it or its debts under any
law
relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors,
or
seeking the entry of an order for relief or the appointment of a receiver,
trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for any substantial
part
of its property and, in the case of any such proceeding instituted against
it
(but not instituted by it), either such proceeding shall remain undismissed
or
unstayed for a period of 60 days, or any of the actions sought in such
proceeding (including, without limitation, the entry of an order for relief
against, or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar
official for, it or for any substantial part of its property) shall occur;
or
any Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries shall take any corporate action
to authorize any of the actions set forth above in this subsection (e);
or
48
(f) Any
judgment or order for the payment of money in excess of $125,000,000 shall
be
rendered against any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and there shall be
any
period of 30 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such
judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be
in
effect; or
(g) The
Company or any ERISA Affiliate shall incur, or, in the reasonable opinion of
the
Majority Lenders, shall be reasonably likely to incur liability in excess
of $125,000,000
in the aggregate as a result of one or more of the following: (i) the
occurrence of any ERISA Event; (ii) the partial or complete withdrawal of
the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates from a Multiemployer Plan; or
(iii) the reorganization or termination of a Multiemployer Plan;
or
(h) Any
ERISA
Event shall have occurred with respect to a Plan and the sum (determined as
of
the date of occurrence of such ERISA Event) of the Insufficiency of such Plan
and the Insufficiency of any and all other Plans with respect to which an ERISA
Event shall have occurred and then exist (or the liability of the Company and
the ERISA Affiliates related to such ERISA Event) exceeds $125,000,000;
or
(i) The
Company or any ERISA Affiliate shall have been notified by the sponsor of a
Multiemployer Plan that it has incurred Withdrawal Liability to such
Multiemployer Plan in an amount that, when aggregated with all other amounts
required to be paid to Multiemployer Plans by the Company and the ERISA
Affiliates as Withdrawal Liability (determined as of the date of such
notification), exceeds $125,000,000; or
(j) The
Company or any ERISA Affiliate shall have been notified by the sponsor of a
Multiemployer Plan that such Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization or is
being
terminated, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA, and as a result of
such reorganization or termination the aggregate annual contributions of the
Company and the ERISA Affiliates to all Multiemployer Plans that are then in
reorganization or being terminated have been or will be increased over the
amounts contributed to such Multiemployer Plans for the plan years of such
Multiemployer Plans immediately preceding the plan year in which such
reorganization or termination occurs by an amount exceeding $125,000,000 in
the
aggregate;
then,
and
in any such event, the Agent (i) shall at the request, or may with the
consent, of the Majority Lenders, by notice to the Company and each other
Borrower, declare the obligation of each Lender to make Advances to be
terminated, whereupon the same shall forthwith terminate, and (ii) shall at
the request, or may with the consent, of the Majority Lenders, by notice to
the
Company and each other Borrower, declare the Advances, all interest thereon
and
all other amounts payable under this Agreement to be forthwith due and payable,
whereupon the Advances, all such interest and all such amounts shall become
and
be forthwith due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or further
notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrowers;
provided,
however,
that in
the event of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect
to
any Borrower under the Federal Bankruptcy Code, (A) the obligation of each
Lender to make Advances to such Borrower (or, if such event has occurred in
respect of the Company, to make Advances to any Borrower) shall automatically
be
terminated and (B) the Advances, all such interest and all such amounts
owing by such Borrower
49
(or,
if
such event has occurred in respect of the Company, owing by all of the
Borrowers) shall automatically become and be due and payable, without
presentment, demand, protest or any notice of any kind, all of which are hereby
expressly waived by the Borrowers.
ARTICLE
VII
GUARANTY
SECTION
7.01. Guaranty.
For
valuable consideration, receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, and to induce
each Lender to make Advances to the Designated Subsidiaries and to induce the
Agent to act hereunder, the Company hereby unconditionally and irrevocably
guarantees to each Lender and the Agent the punctual payment when due, whether
at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, of all obligations of the
Designated Subsidiaries now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or the
Notes, whether for principal, interest, fees, indemnities, expenses or otherwise
(such obligations being the "Guaranteed
Obligations"),
and
agrees to pay any and all reasonable and documented expenses (including
reasonable counsel fees and expenses) incurred by the Agent or any Lender in
enforcing any rights under this Guaranty. Without limiting the generality of
the
foregoing, the Company's liability shall extend to all amounts that constitute
part of the Guaranteed Obligations and that would be owed by any Designated
Subsidiary to the Agent or any Lender under this Agreement and the Notes but
for
the fact that such Guaranteed Obligations are unenforceable or not allowable
due
to the existence of a bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding involving
such Designated Subsidiary.
SECTION
7.02. Guaranty
Absolute.
The
Company guarantees that the Guaranteed Obligations will be paid strictly in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement regardless of any law, regulation
or
order now or hereafter in effect in any jurisdiction affecting any of such
terms
or the rights of the Agent or any Lender with respect thereto. The obligations
of the Company under this Guaranty are independent of the Guaranteed Obligations
or any other obligations of any Designated Subsidiary under this Agreement
and
the Notes, and a separate action or actions may be brought and prosecuted
against the Company to enforce the obligations of the Company under this
Guaranty, irrespective of whether any action is brought against any Borrower
or
whether any Borrower is joined in any such action or actions. The liability
of
the Company under this Guaranty shall be irrevocable, absolute and unconditional
irrespective of, and the Company hereby irrevocably waives any defenses it
may
now or hereafter have in any way relating to, any or all of the
following:
(a) any
lack
of validity or enforceability of this Agreement or the Notes, or any other
agreement or instrument relating thereto;
(b) any
change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of,
all
or any of the Guaranteed Obligations or any other obligations of any Designated
Subsidiary under this Agreement or the Notes, or any other amendment or waiver
of or any consent to departure from this Agreement or any Note, including,
without limitation, any increase in the Guaranteed Obligations resulting from
the extension of additional credit to any Designated Subsidiary or any of its
Subsidiaries or otherwise;
50
(c) any
taking, release or amendment or waiver of or consent to departure from any
other
guaranty, for all or any of the Guaranteed Obligations;
(d) any
change, restructuring or termination of the corporate structure or existence
of
any Designated Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries;
(e) any
failure of the Agent or any Lender to disclose to the Company or any Designated
Subsidiary any information relating to the financial condition, operations,
properties or prospects of any Designated Subsidiary now or in the future
known
to the Agent or such Lender, as the case may be (the Company waiving any
duty on
the part of the Agent or the Lenders to disclose such information);
or
(f) any
other
circumstance (including, without limitation, any statute of limitations) or
any
existence of or reliance on any representation by the Agent or any Lender that
might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any
Designated Subsidiary or the Company or any other guarantor or
surety.
This
Guaranty shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be,
if
at any time any payment of any of the Guaranteed Obligations is rescinded or
must otherwise be returned by the Agent or any Lender upon the insolvency,
bankruptcy or reorganization of any Designated Subsidiary or otherwise, all
as
though such payment had not been made.
SECTION
7.03. Waivers
and Acknowledgments.
(a)
The
Company hereby waives promptness, diligence, notice of acceptance and any other
notice with respect to any of the Guaranteed Obligations and this Guaranty
and
any requirement that the Agent or any Lender exhaust any right or take any
action against any Designated Subsidiary or any other Person, and all other
notices and demands whatsoever.
(b) The
Company hereby waives any right to revoke this Guaranty, and acknowledges that
this Guaranty is continuing in nature and applies to all Guaranteed Obligations,
whether existing now or in the future.
(c) The
Company acknowledges that it will receive substantial direct and indirect
benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated by this Agreement and
the
Notes and that the waivers set forth in this Section 7.03 are knowingly made
in
contemplation of such benefits.
SECTION
7.04. Subrogation.
The
Company will not exercise any rights that it may now or hereafter acquire
against any Designated Subsidiary or any other insider guarantor that arise
from
the existence, payment, performance or enforcement of the Company's obligations
under this Guaranty or any provision of this Agreement or the Notes, including,
without limitation, any right of subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration,
contribution or indemnification and any right to participate in any claim or
remedy of the Agent or any Lender against such Designated Subsidiary or any
other insider guarantor or any collateral, whether or not such claim, remedy
or
right arises in equity or under contract, statute or common law, including,
without limitation, the right to take or receive from such Designated Subsidiary
or any other insider guarantor, directly or indirectly, in cash or other
property or by set-off or in any other manner, payment or security on account
of
such claim, remedy or right, unless and until all of the Guaranteed Obligations
and all other amounts payable under this Guaranty shall have been
51
paid
in
full in cash and the Commitments shall have expired or terminated. If any amount
shall be paid to the Company in violation of the preceding sentence at any
time
prior to the later of the payment in full in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations
and all other amounts payable under this Guaranty and the latest Termination
Date, such amount shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Agent and
Lenders and shall forthwith be paid to the Agent to be credited and applied
to
the Guaranteed Obligations and all other amounts payable under this Guaranty,
whether matured or unmatured, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and
any Notes, or to be held as collateral for any Guaranteed Obligations or other
amounts payable under this Guaranty thereafter arising. If (i) the Company
shall make payment to the Agent or any Lender of all or any part of the
Guaranteed Obligations, (ii) all of the Guaranteed Obligations and all
other amounts payable under this Guaranty shall be paid in full in cash and
(iii) the latest Termination Date shall have occurred, the Agent and the
Lenders will, at the Company's request and expense, execute and deliver to
the
Company appropriate documents, without recourse and without representation
or
warranty, necessary to evidence the transfer by subrogation to the Company
of an
interest in the Guaranteed Obligations resulting from such payment by the
Company.
SECTION
7.06. No
Stay.
The
Company agrees that, as between (a) the Company and (b) the Lenders and the
Agent, the Guaranteed Obligations of any Designated Subsidiary guaranteed by
the
Company hereunder may be declared to be forthwith due and payable as provided
in
Article VI hereof for purposes of this Guaranty by declaration to the Company
as
guarantor notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing
such declaration as against such Designated Subsidiary and that, in the event
of
such declaration to the Company as guarantor, such Guaranteed Obligations
(whether or not due and payable by such Designated Subsidiary), shall forthwith
become due and payable by the Company for purposes of this
Guaranty.
ARTICLE
VIII
THE
AGENT
SECTION
8.01. Authorization
and Action.
Each
Lender hereby appoints and authorizes the Agent to take such action as agent
on
its behalf and to exercise such powers and discretion under this Agreement
as
are delegated to the Agent by the terms hereof, together with such powers and
discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto. As to any matters not
expressly
52
provided
for by this Agreement (including, without limitation, enforcement or collection
of the Advances), the Agent shall not be required to exercise any discretion
or
take any action, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and
shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the
instructions of the Majority Lenders, and such instructions shall be binding
upon all Lenders and all holders of Advances; provided,
however,
that
the Agent shall not be required to take any action that exposes the Agent
to personal liability or that is contrary to this Agreement or applicable law.
The Agent agrees to give to each Lender prompt notice of each notice given
to it
by any Borrower pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
SECTION
8.02. Agent's
Reliance, Etc.
Neither
the Agent nor any of its directors, officers, agents or employees shall be
liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it or them under or in
connection with this Agreement, except for its or their own gross negligence
or
willful misconduct. Without limitation of the generality of the foregoing,
the
Agent: (a) may treat the Lender that made any Advance as the holder of the
Debt resulting therefrom until the Agent receives and accepts an Assumption
Agreement entered into by an Assuming Lender as provided in Section 2.05(c)
or
2.19, as the case may be, or an Assignment and Acceptance entered into by such
Lender, as assignor, and an Eligible Assignee, as assignee, as provided in
Section 9.07; (b) may consult with legal counsel (including counsel
for any Borrower), independent public accountants and other experts selected
by
it and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good
faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or
experts; (c) makes no warranty or representation to any Lender and shall
not be responsible to any Lender for any statements, warranties or
representations (whether written or oral) made in or in connection with this
Agreement; (d) shall not have any duty to ascertain or to inquire as to the
performance or observance of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of this
Agreement on the part of any Borrower or to inspect the property (including
the
books and records) of any Borrower; (e) shall not be responsible to any
Lender for the due execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness,
sufficiency or value of this Agreement or any other instrument or document
furnished pursuant hereto; and (f) shall incur no liability under or in
respect of this Agreement by acting upon any notice, consent, certificate or
other instrument or writing (which may be by telecopier) believed by it to
be
genuine and signed or sent by the proper party or parties.
SECTION
8.03. Citibank
and Affiliates.
With
respect to its Commitment, the Advances made by it and the Note issued to it,
Citibank shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any
other
Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Agent; and the term
"Lender" or "Lenders" shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated, include
Citibank in its individual capacity. Citibank and its Affiliates may accept
deposits from, lend money to, act as trustee under indentures of, accept
investment banking engagements from and generally engage in any kind of business
with, the Company, any of its Subsidiaries and any Person who may do business
with or own securities of the Company or any such Subsidiary, all as if Citibank
were not the Agent and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.
The
Agent shall have no duty to disclose any information obtained or received by
it
or any of its Affiliates relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
to
the extent such information was obtained or received in any capacity other
than
as Agent. In
the
event that Citibank or any of its Affiliates shall be or become an indenture
trustee under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (as amended, the “Trust Indenture
Act”) in respect of any securities issued or guaranteed by the Company,
the
parties hereto acknowledge and agree that any payment or property received
in
53
satisfaction
of or in respect of any obligation of the Company hereunder
or under any Note by or on behalf of Citibank in its capacity as the Agent
for
the benefit of any Lender under this Agreement or any Note (other than Citibank
or an Affiliate of Citibank) and which is applied in accordance with this
Agreement shall be deemed to be exempt from the requirements of Section 311
of
the Trust Indenture Act pursuant to Section 311(b)(3) of the Trust Indenture
Act.
SECTION
8.04. Lender
Credit Decision.
Each
Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the
Agent or any other Lender and based on the financial statements referred to
in
Section 4.01 and such other documents and information as it has deemed
appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this
Agreement. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without
reliance upon the Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and
information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its
own
credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this
Agreement.
SECTION
8.05. Indemnification.
The
Lenders agree to indemnify the Agent (to the extent not reimbursed by a
Borrower), ratably according to the respective principal amounts of the
Revolving Credit Notes then held by each of them (or if no Revolving Credit
Notes are at the time outstanding or if any Revolving Credit Notes are held
by
Persons that are not Lenders, ratably according to the respective amounts of
their Commitments), from and against any and all liabilities, obligations,
losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or
disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever that may be imposed on, incurred
by, or asserted against the Agent in any way relating to or arising out of
this
Agreement or any action taken or omitted by the Agent under this Agreement,
provided
that no
Lender shall be liable for any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses,
damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements
resulting from the Agent's gross negligence or willful misconduct. Without
limitation of the foregoing, each Lender agrees to reimburse the Agent promptly
upon demand for its ratable share of any out-of-pocket expenses (including
counsel fees) incurred by the Agent 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, to the
extent that the Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by a
Borrower.
SECTION
8.06. Successor
Agent.
The
Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Lenders
and
each Borrower and may be removed at any time with or without cause by the
Majority Lenders and such resignation or removal shall be effective upon the
appointment of a successor Agent. Upon any such resignation or removal, the
Majority Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Agent, subject
to
the Company's approval (which shall not be unreasonably withheld). If no
successor Agent shall have been so appointed by the Majority Lenders, and shall
have accepted such appointment, within 30 days after the retiring Agent's giving
of notice of resignation or the Majority Lenders' removal of the retiring Agent,
then the retiring Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor
Agent, which shall be a commercial bank organized under the laws of the United
States of America or of any State thereof and having a combined capital and
surplus of at least $250,000,000, subject to the Company's approval (which
shall
not be unreasonably withheld). Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Agent
hereunder by a successor Agent, such successor Agent shall thereupon succeed
to
and become vested with all the rights, powers, discretion, privileges and duties
of the retiring Agent, and the
54
retiring
Agent, and the retiring Agent shall be
discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement. After any
retiring Agent's resignation or removal hereunder as Agent, the provisions
of
this Article VIII shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or
omitted to be taken by it while it was Agent under this Agreement.
ARTICLE
IX
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION
9.01. Amendments,
Etc.
No
amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or the Revolving Credit
Notes, nor consent to any departure by any Borrower therefrom, shall in any
event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the
Majority Lenders, 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 all the
Lenders, do any of the following: (a) increase the Commitment of any Lender
(other than as provided for in Section 2.05(c)) or subject any Lender to any
additional monetary obligations, (b) reduce the principal of, or interest
on, the Revolving Credit Notes or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder,
(c) postpone any date fixed for any payment of principal of, or interest
on, the Revolving Credit Notes or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder,
(d) release the Company from any of its obligations under Article VII or limit
the liability of the Company thereunder or (e) amend or waive this
Section 9.01 or the definition of "Majority Lenders"; and provided further
that no
amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Agent
in
addition to the Lenders required above to take such action, affect the rights
or
duties of the Agent under this Agreement or any Note.
SECTION
9.02. Notices,
Etc.
(a) All
notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing
(including telecopier or other electronic communication) and mailed, telecopied
or delivered, if to the Company or to any Designated Subsidiary, at the
Company's address at Corporate Headquarters, 000 Xxxxxxx X Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00000-0000, Attention: Treasury Department, Fax No. (000) 000-0000;
if to any Initial Lender, at its Domestic Lending Office specified opposite
its
name on Schedule I hereto; if to any other Lender, at its Domestic Lending
Office specified in the Assumption Agreement or the Assignment and Acceptance,
as the case may be, pursuant to which it became a Lender; and if to the Agent,
at its address at Xxx Xxxx'x Xxx, Xxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, Attention: Bank
Loan Syndications, Fax No. (000) 000-0000; or, as to any Borrower or the Agent,
at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice
to the other parties and, as to each other party, at such other address as
shall
be designated by such party in a written notice to the Company and the Agent;
provided
that
materials as may be agreed between the Borrowers and the Agent may be delivered
to the Agent in accordance with clause (b) below. All such notices and
communications shall, when mailed or telecopied, be effective when deposited
in
the mails or telecopied, respectively, except that notices and communications
to
the Agent pursuant to Article II, III or VIII shall not be effective until
received by the Agent. Delivery by telecopier or other electronic communication
of an executed counterpart of any amendment or waiver of any provision of this
Agreement or the Notes or of any Exhibit hereto to be executed and delivered
hereunder shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart
thereof.
55
(b) So
long
as Citibank or any of its Affiliates is the Agent, such materials as may be
agreed between the Borrowers and the Agent may be delivered to the Agent in
an
electronic medium in a format acceptable to the Agent and the Lenders by e-mail
at xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx. The Borrowers agree that the Agent may make
such materials (collectively, the "Communications")
available to the Lenders by posting such notices on
Intralinks or a substantially similar electronic system (the "Platform"). The
Borrowers acknowledge that (i) the distribution of material through an
electronic medium is not necessarily secure and that there are confidentiality
and other risks associated with such distribution, (ii) the Platform is provided
"as is" and "as available" and (iii) neither the Agent nor any of its Affiliates
warrants the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of the Communications or the
Platform and each expressly disclaims liability for errors or omissions in
the
Communications or the Platform. No warranty of any kind, express, implied or
statutory, including, without limitation, any warranty of merchantability,
fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement of third party rights or
freedom from viruses or other code defects, is made by the Agent or any of
its
Affiliates in connection with the Platform.
(c) Each
Lender agrees that notice to it (as provided in the next sentence) (a
"Notice")
specifying that any Communications have been posted to the Platform shall
constitute effective delivery of such information, documents or other materials
to such Lender for purposes of this Agreement; provided
that if
requested by any Lender the Agent shall deliver a copy of the Communications
to
such Lender by email or telecopier. Each Lender agrees (i) to notify the Agent
in writing of such Lender's e-mail address to which a Notice may be sent by
electronic transmission (including by electronic communication) on or before
the
date such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement (and from time to time
thereafter to ensure that the Agent has on record an effective e-mail address
for such Lender) and (ii) that any Notice may be sent to such e-mail
address.
SECTION
9.03. No
Waiver; Remedies.
No
failure on the part of any Lender or the Agent to exercise, and no delay in
exercising, any right hereunder or under any Note shall operate as a waiver
thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right preclude
any
other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right. The
remedies herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies
provided by law.
SECTION
9.04. Costs
and Expenses.
(a)
The
Company agrees to pay or cause to be paid on demand all reasonable and
documented costs and expenses of the Agent in connection with the preparation,
execution, delivery, administration, modification and amendment of this
Agreement, the Notes and the other documents to be delivered hereunder,
including, without limitation, (A) all due diligence, syndication
(including printing, distribution and bank meetings), transportation, computer,
duplication, messenger costs and expenses and (B) the reasonable fees and
expenses of counsel for the Agent with respect thereto and with respect to
advising the Agent as to its rights and responsibilities under this Agreement.
The Company further agrees to pay or cause to be paid on demand all reasonable
and documented costs and expenses of the Agent and the Lenders, if any
(including, without limitation, reasonable counsel fees and expenses), in
connection with the enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings
or otherwise) of this Agreement, the Notes and the other documents to be
delivered hereunder, including, without limitation, reasonable fees and
expenses
56
of
counsel for the Agent and each Lender in connection with the enforcement of
rights under this Section 9.04(a).
(b) The
Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Agent and each Lender and
each
of their Affiliates and their officers, directors, employees, agents and
advisors (each, an "Indemnified
Party")
from
and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities and
expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and expenses of
counsel) that may be incurred by or asserted or awarded against any Indemnified
Party, in each case arising out of or in connection with or by reason of, or
in
connection with the preparation for a defense of, any investigation, litigation
or proceeding arising out of, related to or in connection with the Notes, this
Agreement, any of the transactions contemplated herein or the actual or proposed
use of the proceeds of the Advances whether or not such investigation,
litigation or proceeding is brought by any Borrower or the directors,
shareholders or creditors of any Borrower or an Indemnified Party or any other
Person or any Indemnified Party is otherwise a party thereto and whether or
not
the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, except to the extent
such
claim, damage, loss, liability or expense results from such Indemnified Party's
gross negligence or willful misconduct.
(c) Promptly
after receipt by an Indemnified Party of notice of the commencement of any
action or proceeding involving any claim, damage, loss or liability referred
to
in paragraph (b) above, such Indemnified Party will, if a claim in respect
thereof is to be made against any Borrower, give written notice to such Borrower
of the commencement of such action; provided
that the
failure of any Indemnified Party to give notice as provided in this Section
9.04(c) shall not relieve such Borrower of its obligations under paragraph
(b)
above, except only to the extent that such Borrower actually suffers damage
solely as a result of such failure to give notice. In the event that any such
action or proceeding is brought against an Indemnified Party, unless in such
Indemnified Party's sole judgment (based on advise of counsel) a conflict of
interest between such Indemnified Party and a Borrower may exist in respect
thereof, such Borrower shall be entitled to participate in and to assume the
defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party.
After notice from such Borrower to such Indemnified Party of its election to
assume the defense thereof, such Borrower shall not be liable to such
Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by
such
Indemnified Party in connection with the defense thereof (other than reasonable
costs of investigation). No Borrower shall consent to the entry of any dismissal
or judgment, or enter into any settlement of any pending or threatened action
or
proceeding against any Indemnified Party that is or could have been a party
and
for whom indemnity could have been sought under paragraph (b) above without
the
consent of such Indemnified Party unless such judgment, dismissal or settlement
includes as an unconditional term thereof the giving of a release from all
liability in respect of such action or proceeding to such Indemnified Party;
provided
that
each Indemnified Party agrees that, if a Borrower reconfirms to such Indemnified
Party that it is indemnified from all liability in respect of any such action
or
proceeding referred to in the preceding sentence, such Indemnified Party will
not enter into any settlement of any such action or proceeding without the
consent of such Borrower (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld).
In
addition to the foregoing, each Borrower shall not, in assuming the defense
of
any Indemnified Party, agree to any dismissal or settlement without the prior
written consent of such Indemnified Party if such dismissal or settlement (A)
would require any admission or
57
acknowledgement
of culpability or wrongdoing by such Indemnified Party or (B) would provide
for
any nonmonetary relief to any Persons to be performed by such Indemnified
Party.
(d) If
any
payment of principal of, or Conversion of, any Eurodollar Rate Advance or LIBO
Rate Advance is made by any Borrower to or for the account of a Lender other
than on the last day of the Interest Period for such Advance, as a result of
(i) a payment or Conversion pursuant to Section 2.03(d), 2.10 or 2.12,
(ii) a Commitment Increase pursuant to Section
2.05(c), (iii) acceleration of the maturity of the Advances pursuant to
Section 6.01 or for any other reason, or (iv) by an Eligible Assignee to a
Lender other than on the last day of the Interest Period for such Advance upon
an assignment of rights and obligations under this Agreement pursuant to Section
9.07(a) as a result of a demand by the Company pursuant to Section 2.17,
such Borrower shall, upon demand by such Lender (with a copy of such demand
to
the Agent), pay to the Agent for the account of such Lender any amounts required
to compensate such Lender for any additional losses, costs or expenses that
it
may reasonably and actually incur as a result of such payment or Conversion,
including, without limitation, any loss (other than loss of anticipated
profits), cost or expense incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment
of deposits or other funds acquired by any Lender to fund or maintain such
Advance.
(e) Without
prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of any Borrower hereunder,
the
agreements and obligations of such Borrower contained in Sections 2.11,
2.14 and 9.04 shall survive the payment in full of principal, interest and
all
other amounts payable hereunder and relating to the Advances.
SECTION
9.05. Right
of Set-off.
Upon
(a) the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default and
(b) the making of the request or the granting of the consent specified by
Section 6.01 to authorize the Agent to declare the Advances due and payable
pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.01, each Lender is hereby
authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted
by
law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or
demand, provisional or final but excluding trust accounts) at any time held
and
other indebtedness at any time owing by such Lender to or for the credit or
the
account of any Borrower against any and all of the obligations of such Borrower
now or hereafter existing under this Agreement and the Note of such Borrower
held by such Lender, whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand
under
this Agreement or such Note. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the relevant
Borrower after any such set-off and application, provided
that the
failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and
application. The rights of each Lender under this Section are in addition to
other rights and remedies (including, without limitation, other rights of
set-off) that such Lender may have.
SECTION
9.06. Binding
Effect.
This
Agreement shall become effective (other than Sections 2.01 and 2.03, which
shall only become effective upon satisfaction of the conditions precedent set
forth in Section 3.01) when it shall have been executed by the Company and
the Agent and when the Agent shall have been notified by each Initial Lender
that such Initial Lender has executed it and thereafter shall be binding upon
and inure to the benefit of each Borrower, the Agent and each Lender and their
respective successors and assigns, except that no Borrower shall have the right
to assign its rights hereunder or any interest herein without the prior written
consent of the Lenders.
58
SECTION
9.07. Assignments,
Designations and Participations.
(a)
Each
Lender may at any time, and if demanded by the Company pursuant to Section
2.17,
shall assign to one or more Persons all or a portion of its rights and
obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation, all or a
portion of its Commitment, the Revolving Credit Advances owing to it and the
Revolving Credit Note or Notes held by it); provided,
however,
that
(i) each such assignment shall be of a constant, and not a varying,
percentage of all rights and obligations under
this Agreement (other than any right to make Competitive Bid Advances,
Competitive Bid Advances owing to it and Competitive Bid Notes),
(ii) except in the case of an assignment to a Person that, immediately
prior to such assignment, was a Lender or an assignment of all of a Lender's
rights and obligations under this Agreement, the amount of the Commitment of
the
assigning Lender being assigned pursuant to each such assignment (determined
as
of the date of the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment)
shall in no event be less than $10,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000
in excess thereof, (iii) each such assignment shall be to an Eligible
Assignee, (iv) each such assignment made as a result of a demand by the Company
pursuant to Section 2.17 shall be arranged by the Company after consultation
with the Agent and shall be either an assignment of all of the rights and
obligations of the assigning Lender under this Agreement or an assignment of
a
portion of such rights and obligations made concurrently with another such
assignment or other such assignments that together cover all of the rights
and
obligations of the assigning Lender under this Agreement, (v) no Lender
shall be obligated to make any such assignment as a result of a demand by the
Company pursuant to Section 2.17 (A) so long as a Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, (B) unless and until such Lender shall have
received one or more payments from either the Company, any other Borrower or
one
or more Eligible Assignees in an aggregate amount at least equal to the
aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Advances owing to such Lender,
together with accrued interest thereon to the date of payment of such principal
amount and all other amounts payable to such Lender under this Agreement
(including, but not limited to, any amounts owing under Section 2.11 and Section
2.14), and the Company shall have satisfied all of its other obligations under
this Agreement as of the effective date of the assignment and (C) if any such
Eligible Assignee is not an existing Lender, the Company shall have paid to
the
Agent a processing and recordation fee of $1,000, (vi) the parties to each
such assignment shall execute and deliver to the Agent, for its acceptance
and
recording in the Register, an Assignment and Acceptance, together with any
Revolving Credit Note subject to such assignment and, if such assignment does
not occur as a result of a demand by the Company pursuant to Section 2.17 (in
which case the Company shall pay the fee required by clause (v)(C) of this
Section 9.07(a)), a processing and recordation fee of $3,500, and (vii) in
the
case of an assignment to any Affiliate of such Lender that is engaged in the
business of commercial banking, notice thereof shall have been given to the
Company and the Agent. Upon such execution, delivery, acceptance and recording,
from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance,
(x) the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent that
rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned to it pursuant to such
Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender hereunder
and (y) the Lender assignor thereunder shall, to the extent that rights and
obligations hereunder have been assigned by it pursuant to such Assignment
and
Acceptance, relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations under
this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all
or
the remaining portion of an assigning Lender's rights and obligations under
this
Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto).
59
(b) By
executing and delivering an Assignment and Acceptance, the Lender assignor
thereunder and the assignee thereunder confirm to and agree with each other
and
the other parties hereto as follows: (i) other than as provided in such
Assignment and Acceptance, such assigning Lender makes no representation or
warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements,
warranties or representations made in or in connection with this Agreement
or
the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency
or
value of
this
Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto;
(ii) such assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes
no responsibility with respect to the financial condition of any Borrower or
the
performance or observance by any Borrower of any of its obligations under this
Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto;
(iii) such assignee confirms that it has received a copy of this Agreement,
together with copies of the financial statements referred to in
Section 4.01(e), the most recent financial statements referred to in
Section 5.01(h) and such other documents and information as it has deemed
appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into such
Assignment and Acceptance; (iv) such assignee will, independently and
without reliance upon the Agent, such assigning Lender or any other Lender
and
based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the
time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action
under this Agreement; (v) such assignee confirms that it is an Eligible
Assignee; (vi) such assignee appoints and authorizes the Agent to take such
action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers and discretion under
this Agreement as are delegated to the Agent by the terms hereof, together
with
such powers and discretion as are reasonably incidental thereto; and
(vii) such assignee agrees that it will perform in accordance with their
terms all of the obligations that by the terms of this Agreement are required
to
be performed by it as a Lender.
(c) Upon
its
receipt of an Assignment and Acceptance executed by an assigning Lender and
an
assignee representing that it is an Eligible Assignee, together with any
Revolving Credit Note or Notes subject to such assignment, the Agent shall,
if
such Assignment and Acceptance has been completed and is in substantially the
form of Exhibit C hereto, (i) accept such Assignment and Acceptance,
(ii) record the information contained therein in the Register and
(iii) give prompt notice thereof to each Borrower.
(d) The
Agent
shall maintain at its address referred to in Section 9.02 a copy of each
Assignment and Acceptance delivered to and accepted by it and a register for
the
recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders and the Commitment of,
and
principal amount of the Advances owing to, each Lender from time to time (the
"Register").
The
entries in the Register shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent
manifest error, and each Borrower, the Agent and the Lenders may treat each
Person whose name is recorded in the Register as a Lender hereunder for all
purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection
by
any Borrower or any Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time upon
reasonable prior notice.
(e) Each
Lender may sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (other
than any Borrower or any of its Affiliates) in or to all or a portion of its
rights and obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation,
all
or a portion of its Commitment, the Advances owing to it and any Note or Notes
held by it); provided,
however,
that
(i) such Lender's obligations under this Agreement (including, without
limitation, its
60
Commitment
to any Borrower hereunder) shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall
remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of
such obligations, (iii) such Lender shall remain the holder of any such
Note for all purposes of this Agreement, (iv) each Borrower, the Agent and
the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender
in
connection with such Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement and
(v) no participant under any such participation shall have any right to
approve any amendment or waiver
of
any provision of this Agreement or any Note, or any consent to any departure
by
any Borrower therefrom, except to the extent that such amendment, waiver or
consent would reduce the principal of, or interest on, the Advances or any
fees
or other amounts payable hereunder, in each case to the extent subject to such
participation, or postpone any date fixed for any payment of principal of,
or
interest on, the Advances or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder, in
each case to the extent subject to such participation. Each Lender agrees that,
promptly upon selling any such participation in accordance with this Section
9.07(e), such Lender shall deliver written notice thereof to the
Company.
(f) Any
Lender may, in connection with any assignment or participation or proposed
assignment or participation pursuant to this Section 9.07, disclose to the
assignee, or participant or proposed assignee, or participant, any information
relating to the Company or any other Borrower furnished to such Lender by or
on
behalf of such Borrower; provided
that,
prior to any such disclosure, the assignee, or participant or proposed assignee
or participant shall agree to preserve the confidentiality of any Confidential
Information relating to such Borrower received by it from such
Lender.
(g) Notwithstanding
any other provision set forth in this Agreement, any Lender may at any time
create a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this
Agreement (including, without limitation, the Advances owing to it and any
Note
or Notes held by it) in favor of any Federal Reserve Bank in accordance with
Regulation A of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System.
SECTION
9.08. Designated
Subsidiaries.
(a) Designation.
The
Company may at any time, and from time to time, upon
not
less than 15 Business Days’ notice, notify the Agent that the Company intends to
designate a Subsidiary
as a "Designated Subsidiary" for purposes of this Agreement. On or after the
date that is 15 Business Days after such notice, upon
delivery
to the Agent and each Lender of
a
Designation Letter duly executed by the Company and the respective Subsidiary
and substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto, such Subsidiary shall
thereupon become a "Designated Subsidiary" for purposes of this Agreement and,
as such, shall have all of the rights and obligations of a Borrower hereunder.
The Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the Company’s notice of such
pending designation by the Company and the identity of the respective
Subsidiary. Following
the giving of any notice pursuant to this Section 9.08(a), if the designation
of
such Designated Subsidiary obligates the Agent or any Lender to comply with
"know your customer" or similar identification procedures in circumstances
where
the necessary information is not already available to it, the Company shall,
promptly upon the request of the Agent or any Lender, supply such documentation
and other evidence as is reasonably requested by the Agent or any Lender in
order for the Agent or such Lender to carry out and be satisfied it has complied
with the results of all necessary "know your customer" or other similar checks
under all applicable laws and regulations.
61
If
the
Company shall designate as a Designated Subsidiary hereunder any Subsidiary
not
organized under the laws of the United States or any State thereof, any Lender
may, with notice to the Agent and the Company, fulfill its Commitment by causing
an Affiliate of such Lender organized in the same jurisdiction as such
Designated Subsidiary or another foreign jurisdiction agreed to by such Lender
and the Company, to act as the Lender in respect of such Designated Subsidiary,
and such Lender shall, to the extent of Advances made to such Designated
Subsidiary, be deemed for all purposes hereof to have satisfied its Commitment
hereunder in respect of such Designated Subsidiary.
As
soon
as practicable after receiving notice from the Company or the Agent of the
Company's intent to designate a Subsidiary as a Designated Subsidiary, and
in
any event no later than five Business Days after the delivery of such notice,
for a Designated Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction
other than of the United States or a political subdivision thereof, any Lender
that may not legally lend to, establish credit for the account of and/or do
any
business whatsoever with such Designated Subsidiary directly or through an
Affiliate of such Lender as provided in the immediately preceding paragraph
(a
"Protesting Lender") shall so notify the Company and the Agent in writing.
With
respect to each Protesting Lender, the Company shall, effective on or before
the
date that such Designated Subsidiary shall have the right to borrow hereunder,
either (A) notify the Agent and such Protesting Lender that the Commitments
of
such Protesting Lender shall be terminated; provided
that
such Protesting Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the
outstanding principal of its Advances, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees
and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent
of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Company
or
the relevant Designated Subsidiary (in the case of all other amounts), or (B)
cancel its request to designate such Subsidiary as a "Designated Subsidiary"
hereunder.
(b) Termination.
Upon
the payment and performance in full of all of the indebtedness, liabilities
and
obligations under this Agreement and relating to the Advances of any Designated
Subsidiary then, so long as at the time no Notice of Revolving Credit Borrowing
or Notice of Competitive Bid Borrowing in respect of such Designated Subsidiary
is outstanding, such Subsidiary's status as a "Designated Subsidiary" shall
terminate upon notice to such effect from the Agent to the Lenders (which notice
the Agent shall give promptly upon its receipt of a request therefor from the
Company). Thereafter, the Lenders shall be under no further obligation to make
any Advance hereunder to such Designated Subsidiary.
SECTION
9.09. Confidentiality.
Neither
the Agent nor any Lender shall disclose any Confidential Information to any
other Person without the consent of the relevant Borrower, other than
(a) to the Agent's or such Lender's Affiliates and their respective
officers, directors, employees, agents and advisors and, as contemplated by
Section 9.07(f), to actual or prospective assignees and participants, and
then only on a need-to-know and confidential basis in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (b) pursuant to subpoena or other
legal process or as otherwise required by law (provided that the Person making
such disclosure shall, to the extent permitted by law, provide the Company
with
notice thereof), and (c) as requested or required by any state, federal or
foreign authority or examiner regulating banks or banking having jurisdiction
over any Lender.
62
SECTION
9.10. Governing
Law.
This
Agreement and the Notes shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with,
the laws of the State of New York.
SECTION
9.11. Execution
in Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties
hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed
to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and
the
same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page
to
this
Agreement by telecopier or other electronic communication shall be effective
as
delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
SECTION
9.12. Jurisdiction,
Etc. (a)
Each of
the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the
exclusive jurisdiction only of any New York State court or federal court of
the United States of America sitting in New York City, and any appellate court
from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to
this
Agreement or the Notes, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment,
and
each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that
all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and
determined only in any such New York State court or, to the extent
permitted by law, in such federal court. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence,
each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action
or
proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by
suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. Each Designated
Subsidiary that has its principal place of business outside of the United States
of America hereby agrees that service of process in any such action or
proceeding may be made upon the Company at its offices specified in Section
9.02
(the "Process
Agent")
and
each such Designated Subsidiary hereby irrevocably appoints the Process Agent
its authorized agent to accept such service of process, and agrees that the
failure of the Process Agent to give any notice of any such service shall not
impair or affect the validity of such service or of any judgment rendered in
any
action or proceeding based thereon. Each Borrower hereby further irrevocably
consents to the service of process in any action or proceeding in such courts
by
the mailing thereof by any parties hereto by registered or certified mail,
postage prepaid, to such Borrower at its address set forth in Section 9.02.
Nothing in this Agreement shall affect any right that any party may otherwise
have to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by law. To the extent
that any Designated Subsidiary has or hereafter may acquire any immunity from
jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service
or
notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, execution
or otherwise) with respect to itself or its property, such Designated Subsidiary
hereby irrevocably waives such immunity in respect of its obligations under
this
Agreement.
(b) Each
of
the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent
it may legally and effectively do so, any objection that it may now or hereafter
have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of
or
relating to this Agreement or the Notes in any New York State or federal
court of the United States of America sitting in New York City. Each of the
parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by
law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action
or
proceeding in any such court.
SECTION
9.13. Patriot
Act.
Each
Lender hereby notifies each Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the
USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law
63
October
26, 2001)) (the "Act"), it is required to obtain, verify and record information
that identifies each borrower, guarantor or grantor (the "Loan Parties"), which
information includes the name and address of each Loan Party and other
information that will allow such Lender to identify such Loan Party in
accordance with the Act.
[THE
REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
64
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed
by
their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the date first
above
written.
THE
HERSHEY COMPANY
|
|
By:
/s/
Xxxxx X. Xxxx
Title:
Sr. Vice President, CFO
|
|
By:
/s/
Xxxx X. Xxxxx
Title:
Vice President, Treasurer
|
|
CITIBANK,
N.A.,
as
Administrative Agent
|
|
By:
/s/
Xxxxx X. Xxxx
Title:
Vice President
|
|
Lenders
|
|
CITIBANK,
N.A.
|
|
By:
/s/
Xxxxx X. Xxxx
Title:
Vice President
|
|
BANK
OF AMERICA, N.A.
|
|
By:
/s/
J. Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title:
Vice President
|
|
UBS
LOAN FINANCE LLC
|
|
By:
/s/
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title:
Director
|
|
By:
/s/
Xxxx X. Xxxx
Title:
Associate Director
|
|
PNC
BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
|
|
By:
/s/
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, CFA
Title:
Vice President
|
|
SUMITOMO
MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION
|
|
By:
/s/
Xxxxx X. Xxxx
Title:
Senior Vice President
|
65
BARCLAYS
BANK PLC
|
|
By:
/s/
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx
Title:
Director
|
|
NORTHERN
TRUST COMPANY
|
|
By:
/s/
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Title:
Vice President
|
|
U.S.
AGBANK, FCB, AS DISCLOSED AGENT
|
|
By:
/s/
Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Title:
Vice President
|
|
JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, N.A.
|
|
By:
/s/
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Title:
Vice President
|
|
CIBC
INC.
|
|
By:
/s/
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title:
Executive Director
|
SCHEDULE
I TO THE AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT
COMMITMENTS
AND APPLICABLE LENDING OFFICES
Name
of Initial Lender
|
Commitment
|
Domestic
Lending Office
|
Eurodollar
Lending Office
|
Bank
of America, N.A.
|
$200,000,000
|
000
Xxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx
Xxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attn:
Xxx Xxxxx
T:
(000) 000-0000
F:
(000) 000-0000
|
000
Xxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx
Xxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attn:
Xxx Xxxxx
T:
(000) 000-0000
F:
(000) 000-0000
|
Barclays
Bank PLC
|
$80,000,000
|
000
Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attn:
Xxx Xxxxxx
T:
(000) 000 0000
F:
(973) 576 3014
|
000
Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attn:
Xxx Xxxxxx
T:
(000) 000 0000
F:
(000) 000 0000
|
CIBC
Inc.
|
$50,000,000
|
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
000
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
T:
(000) 000-0000
F:
(212) 856-3991
|
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
000
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
T:
(000) 000-0000
F:
(000) 000-0000
|
Citibank,
N.A.
|
$200,000,000
|
Xxx
Xxxxx Xxx
Xxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn:
Bank Loan Syndications
T:
(000) 000-0000
F:
(000) 000-0000
|
Xxx
Xxxxx Xxx
Xxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn:
Bank Loan Syndications
T:
(000) 000-0000
F:
(000) 000-0000
|
JPMorgan
Chase Bank, N.A.
|
$50,000,000
|
000
Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
T:
(000) 000.0000
F:
(000) 000.0000
|
000
Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
T:
(000) 000.0000
F:
(000) 000.0000
|
Northern
Trust Company
|
$75,000,000
|
00
X. XxXxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attn:
Xxxxx Honda
T:
(000) 000-0000
F:
(312) 630-1566
|
00
X. XxXxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attn:
Xxxxx Honda
T:
(000) 000-0000
F:
(000) 000-0000
|
PNC
Bank, National Association
|
$85,000,000
|
000
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attn:
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
T:
(000) 000-0000
F:
(000) 000-0000
|
000
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attn:
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
T:
(000) 000-0000
F:
(000) 000-0000
|
Sumitomo
Mitsui Banking Corporation
|
$85,000,000
|
000
Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn:
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx-Xxxxxx
T:
(000) 000-0000
F:
(212) 224-5197
|
000
Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn:
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx-Xxxxxx
T:
(000) 000-0000
F:
(000) 000-0000
|
UBS
Loan Finance LLC
|
$200,000,000
|
000
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx.
Xxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attn:
Xxxxxx Xxxxx
T:
(000) 000-0000
F:
(203) 719-3888
|
000
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx.
Xxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attn:
Xxxxxx Xxxxx
T:
(000) 000-0000
F:
(000) 000-0000
|
U.S.
AgBank, FCB, as Disclosed Agent
|
$75,000,000
|
000
Xxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attn:
Xxxxx Xxxxx
T:
(000) 000-0000
F:
(316) 291-5085
|
000
Xxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attn:
Xxxxx Xxxxx
T:
(000) 000-0000
F:
(000) 000-0000
|
TOTAL
OF
$1,100,000,000
COMMITMENTS
SCHEDULE
3.01(b)
DISCLOSED
LITIGATION
TO
BE
UPDATED BY COMPANY
NONE
SCHEDULE
4.01(c)
REQUIRED
AUTHORIZATIONS AND APPROVALS
TO
BE
UPDATED BY COMPANY
NONE
EXHIBIT
A-1 - FORM OF
REVOLVING
CREDIT
PROMISSORY
NOTE
U.S.$_______________
Dated:
December 8, 2006
FOR
VALUE
RECEIVED, the undersigned, [NAME OF BORROWER], a _________________________
corporation (the "Borrower"),
HEREBY PROMISES TO PAY to the order of _________________________ (the
"Lender")
for
the account of its Applicable Lending Office on the Termination Date (each
as
defined in the Credit Agreement referred to below) the principal sum of
U.S.$[amount of the Lender's Commitment in figures] or, if less, the aggregate
principal amount of the Revolving Credit Advances (as defined in the Credit
Agreement referred to below) made by the Lender to the Borrower pursuant
to the
Five Year Credit Agreement dated as of December 8, 2006 among The Hershey
Company, the Lender and certain other lenders party thereto, Citibank, N.A.,
as
administrative agent (the "Agent")
for
the Lender and such other lenders, Bank of America, N.A., as syndication
agent,
UBS Loan Finance LLC, as documentation agent, and Citigroup Global Markets
Inc.
and Banc America Securities LLC, as joint lead arrangers and joint book managers
(as amended or modified from time to time, the "Credit
Agreement";
the
terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), outstanding
on the
Termination Date.
The
Borrower promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each
Revolving Credit Advance from the date of such Revolving Credit Advance until
such principal amount is paid in full, at such interest rates, and payable
at
such times, as are specified in the Credit Agreement.
Both
principal and interest are payable in lawful money of the United States of
America to Citibank, N.A., as Agent, at the Agent's Account in same day funds.
Each Revolving Credit Advance owing to the Lender by the Borrower pursuant
to
the Credit Agreement, and all payments made on account of principal thereof,
shall be recorded by the Lender and, prior to any transfer hereof, endorsed
on
the grid attached hereto which is part of this Promissory Note.
This
Promissory Note is one of the Revolving Credit Notes referred to in, and
is
entitled to the benefits of, the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement,
among
other things, (i) provides for the making of Revolving Credit Advances by
the Lender to the Borrower and each other "Borrower" thereunder from time
to
time in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the U.S.
dollar amount first above mentioned, the indebtedness of the Borrower resulting
from each such Revolving Credit Advance being evidenced by this Promissory
Note,
and (ii) contains provisions in Sections 6.01 and 2.10, respectively, for
acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the happening of certain stated
events
and also for prepayments on account of principal hereof prior to the maturity
hereof upon the terms and conditions therein specified.
The
Borrower hereby waives presentment, demand, protest and notice of any kind.
No
failure to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any rights hereunder on
the
part of the holder hereof shall operate as a waiver of such rights.
2
This
promissory note shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with the
laws
of the State of New York.
[NAME
OF
BORROWER]
By____________________________
Title:
ADVANCES
AND PAYMENTS OF PRINCIPAL
Date
|
Amount
of
Advance
|
Interest
Rate
|
Interest
Period
|
Amount
of
Principal
Paid
or
Prepaid
|
Unpaid
Principal
Balance
|
Notation
Made
By
|
EXHIBIT
A-2 - FORM OF
COMPETITIVE
BID
PROMISSORY
NOTE
U.S.$_______________
Dated:
_______________
FOR
VALUE
RECEIVED, the undersigned, [NAME OF BORROWER], a _________________________
corporation (the "Borrower"),
HEREBY PROMISES TO PAY to the order of _________________________ (the
"Lender")
for
the account of its Applicable Lending Office (as defined in the Five Year
Credit
Agreement dated as of December 8, 2006 among The Hershey Company, the Lender
and
certain other lenders party thereto, Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent
(the "Agent")
for
the Lender and such other lenders, Bank of America, N.A., as syndication
agent,
UBS Loan Finance LLC, as documentation agent, and Citigroup Global Markets
Inc.
and Banc America Securities LLC, as joint lead arrangers and joint book managers
(as amended or modified from time to time, the "Credit
Agreement";
the
terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined)), on
_______________, the principal amount of U.S.$_______________.
The
Borrower promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount hereof from
the
date hereof until such principal amount is paid in full, at the interest
rate
and payable on the interest payment date or dates provided below:
Interest
Rate: _____% per annum (calculated on the basis of a year of _____ days for
the
actual number of days elapsed).
Both
principal and interest are payable in lawful money of the United States of
America to Citibank, N.A. for the account of the Lender at the Agent's Account
in same day funds.
This
Promissory Note is one of the Competitive Bid Notes referred to in, and is
entitled to the benefits of, the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement,
among
other things, contains provisions in Section 6.01 for acceleration of the
maturity hereof upon the happening of certain stated events.
The
Borrower hereby waives presentment, demand, protest and notice of any kind.
No
failure to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any rights hereunder on
the
part of the holder hereof shall operate as a waiver of such rights.
This
Promissory Note shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the
laws
of the State of New York.
[NAME
OF
BORROWER]
By_______________________________
Title:
EXHIBIT
B-1 - FORM OF NOTICE OF
REVOLVING
CREDIT BORROWING
Citibank,
N.A., as Agent
for the Lenders party
to the Credit Agreement
referred to below
Two
Penn’s Way
New
Castle, Delaware 19720
[Date]
Attention:
Bank Loan Syndications
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
The
undersigned, [Name of Borrower], refers to the Five Year Credit Agreement,
dated
as of December 8, 2006 (as amended or modified from time to time, the
"Credit
Agreement",
the
terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among The Hershey
Company, certain Lenders party thereto, Citibank, N.A., as administrative
agent
(the "Agent")
for
said Lenders, Bank of America, N.A., as syndication agent, UBS Loan Finance
LLC,
as documentation agent, and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Banc America
Securities LLC, as joint lead arrangers and joint book managers, and hereby
gives you notice, irrevocably, pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Credit
Agreement that the undersigned hereby requests a Revolving Credit Borrowing
under the Credit Agreement, and in that connection sets forth below the
information relating to such Revolving Credit Borrowing (the "Proposed
Revolving Credit Borrowing")
as
required by Section 2.02(a) of the Credit Agreement:
(i)
The
Business Day of the Proposed Revolving Credit Borrowing is
_______________.
(ii)
The
Type of Advances comprising the Proposed Revolving Credit Borrowing is [Base
Rate Advances] [Eurodollar Rate Advances].
(iii)
The
aggregate amount of the Proposed Revolving Credit Borrowing is
$_______________.
[(iv)
The
initial Interest Period for each Eurodollar Rate Advance made as part of
the
Proposed Revolving Credit Borrowing is _____ month[s].]
The
undersigned hereby certifies that the following statements are true on the
date
hereof, and will be true on the date of the Proposed Revolving Credit
Borrowing:
(A)
the
representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 4.01 of
the Credit Agreement (except the representations set forth in the last sentence
of subsection (e) thereof and in subsection (f) thereof (other than
clause (i)(B) thereof) are correct, before and after giving effect to the
Proposed Revolving Credit Borrowing and to the application of the proceeds
therefrom, as though made on and as of such date* [and
the
____________________________________
*
This language should be added only if the Borrower is a Designated
Subsidiary.
2
representations
and warranties contained in the Designation Letter of the undersigned is
correct, before and after giving effect to the Proposed Revolving Credit
Borrowing and to the application of the proceeds therefrom, as though made
on
and as of such date]; and
(B)
no
event has occurred and is continuing, or would result from such Proposed
Revolving Credit Borrowing or from the application of the proceeds therefrom,
that constitutes a Default.
Very
truly yours,
[NAME
OF
BORROWER]
By_________________________
Title:
EXHIBIT
B-2 - FORM OF NOTICE OF
COMPETITIVE
BID BORROWING
Citibank,
N.A., as Agent
for the Lenders party
to the Credit Agreement
referred to below
Two
Penn’s Way
New
Castle, Delaware 19720
[Date]
Attention:
Bank Loan Syndications
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
The
undersigned, [Name of Borrower], refers to the Five Year Credit Agreement,
dated
as of December 8, 2006 (as amended or modified from time to time, the
"Credit
Agreement",
the
terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among The Hershey
Company, certain Lenders party thereto, Citibank, N.A., as administrative
agent
(the "Agent")
for
said Lenders, Bank of America, N.A., as syndication agent, UBS Loan Finance
LLC,
as documentation agent, and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Banc America
Securities LLC, as joint lead arrangers and joint book managers, and hereby
gives you notice, irrevocably, pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Credit
Agreement that the undersigned hereby requests a Competitive Bid Borrowing
under
the Credit Agreement, and in that connection sets forth the terms on which
such
Competitive Bid Borrowing (the "Proposed
Competitive Bid Borrowing")
is
requested to be made:
(A) Date
of
Competitive Bid
Borrowing ________________________
(B) Principal
Amount
of
Competitive Bid Borrowing
_____________________
(C) [Maturity
Date] [Interest Period]* _____________________
(D) Interest
Rate Basis
(LIBO
Rate or Fixed
Rate)
________________________
(E) Interest
Payment
Date(s) ________________________
(F) ___________________ ________________________
(G) ___________________ ________________________
(H) ___________________
________________________
__________________________________
*
Which
shall be subject to the definition
of "Interest Period" and end on or before the Termination
Date.
2
The
undersigned hereby certifies that the following statements are true on the
date
hereof, and will be true on the date of the Proposed Competitive Bid
Borrowing:
(a)
the representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section
4.01 (except the representations set forth in the last sentence of subsection
(e) thereof and in subsection (f) thereof (other than clause (i)(B)
thereof)) are correct, before and after giving effect to the Proposed
Competitive Bid Borrowing and to the application of the proceeds therefrom,
as
though made on and as of such date** [and
the
representations and warranties contained in the Designation Letter of the
undersigned is correct, before and after giving effect to the Proposed
Competitive Bid Borrowing and to the application of the proceeds therefrom,
as
though made on and as of such date];
(b)
no
event has occurred and is continuing, or would result from the Proposed
Competitive Bid Borrowing or from the application of the proceeds therefrom,
that constitutes a Default;
(c)
no
event has occurred and no circumstance exists as a result of which the
information concerning the undersigned that has been provided to the Agent
and
each Lender by the undersigned in connection with the Credit Agreement would
include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact or any fact necessary to make the statements contained therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
and
(d)
the
aggregate amount of the Proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing and all other
Borrowings to be made on the same day under the Credit Agreement is within
the
aggregate amount of the unused Commitments of the Lenders.
The
undersigned hereby confirms that the Proposed Competitive Bid Borrowing is
to be
made available to it in accordance with Section 2.03(a)(v) of the Credit
Agreement.
Very
truly yours,
[NAME
OF
BORROWER]
By_____________________________
Title:
___________________________________
*
* This language should be added only if the Borrower is a Designated
Subsidiary.
EXHIBIT
C
- FORM OF
ASSIGNMENT
AND ACCEPTANCE
[Date]
Reference
is made to the Five Year Credit Agreement dated as of December 8, 2006 (as
amended or modified from time to time, the "Credit
Agreement")
among
The Hershey Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
the
Lenders (as defined in the Credit Agreement), Citibank, N.A., as administrative
agent (the "Agent")
for
the Lenders, Bank of America, N.A., as syndication agent, UBS Loan Finance
LLC,
as documentation agent, and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Banc America
Securities LLC, as joint lead arrangers and joint book managers. Terms defined
in the Credit Agreement are used herein with the same meaning.
The
"Assignor" and the "Assignee" referred to on Schedule I hereto agree as
follows:
1.
The
Assignor hereby sells and assigns to the Assignee, and the Assignee hereby
purchases and assumes from the Assignor, an interest in and to the Assignor's
rights and obligations under the Credit Agreement as of the date hereof (other
than in respect of Competitive Bid Advances and Competitive Bid Notes) equal
to
the percentage interest specified on Schedule 1 hereto of all outstanding
rights
and obligations under the Credit Agreement (other than in respect of Competitive
Bid Advances and Competitive Bid Notes). After giving effect to such sale
and
assignment, the Assignee's Commitment and the amount of the Revolving Credit
Advances owing to the Assignee will be as set forth on Schedule 1
hereto.
2.
The
Assignor (i) represents and warrants that it is the legal and beneficial
owner of the interest being assigned by it hereunder and that such interest
is
free and clear of any adverse claim; (ii) makes no representation or
warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements,
warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement
or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency
or value of the Credit Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished
pursuant thereto; (iii) makes no representation or warranty and assumes no
responsibility with respect to the financial condition of any Borrower or
the
performance or observance by any Borrower of any of its obligations under
the
Credit Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto;
and (iv) attaches each Revolving Credit Note of a Borrower held by the
Assignor and requests that the Agent exchange each Revolving Credit Note
for a
new Revolving Credit Note of such Borrower payable to the order of the Assignee
in an amount equal to the Commitment assumed by the Assignee pursuant hereto
or
new Revolving Credit Notes of such Borrower payable to the order of the Assignee
in an amount equal to the Commitment assumed by the Assignee pursuant hereto
and
the Assignor in an amount equal to the Commitment retained by the Assignor
under
the Credit Agreement, respectively, as specified on Schedule 1
hereto.
3.
The
Assignee (i) represents and warrants that it is legally authorized to enter
into this Assignment and Acceptance; (ii) confirms that it has received a
copy
of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the financial statements
referred to in Section 4.01(e) thereof,
2
the
most
recent financial statements referred to in Section 5.01(h) thereof and such
other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its
own
credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Acceptance;
(iii) agrees that it will, independently and without reliance upon the
Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender and based on such documents and
information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its
own
credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Credit Agreement;
(iv) confirms that it is an Eligible Assignee; (v) appoints and
authorizes the Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise
such powers and discretion under the Credit Agreement as are delegated to
the
Agent by the terms thereof, together with such powers and discretion as are
reasonably incidental thereto; (vi) agrees that it will perform in
accordance with their terms all of the obligations that by the terms of the
Credit Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender; and
(vii) attaches any U.S. Internal Revenue Service forms required under
Section 2.14 of the Credit Agreement.
4.
Following
the execution of this Assignment and Acceptance, it will be delivered to
the
Agent for acceptance and recording by the Agent pursuant to Section 9.07
of the
Credit Agreement. The effective date for this Assignment and Acceptance (the
"Effective
Date")
shall
be the date of acceptance hereof by the Agent, unless otherwise specified
on
Schedule 1 hereto.
5.
Upon
such
acceptance and recording by the Agent, from and after the Effective Date,
(i) the Assignee shall be a party to the Credit Agreement and, to the
extent provided in this Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and
obligations of a Lender thereunder and (ii) the Assignor shall, to the
extent provided in this Assignment and Acceptance, relinquish its rights
and be
released from its obligations under the Credit Agreement.
6.
Upon
such
acceptance and recording by the Agent, from and after the Effective Date,
the
Agent shall make all payments under the Credit Agreement and the Revolving
Credit Notes in respect of the interest assigned hereby (including, without
limitation, all payments of principal, interest and facility fees with respect
thereto) to the Assignee. The Assignor and Assignee shall make all appropriate
adjustments in payments under the Credit Agreement and the Revolving Credit
Notes for periods prior to the Effective Date directly between
themselves.
7.
This
Assignment and Acceptance shall be governed by, and construed in accordance
with, the laws of the State of New York.
8.
This
Assignment and Acceptance may be executed in any number of counterparts and
by
different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so
executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together
shall
constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart
of
Schedule 1 to this Assignment and Acceptance by telecopier shall be effective
as
delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and
Acceptance.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Assignor and the Assignee have caused Schedule 1 to
this Assignment and Acceptance to be executed by their officers thereunto
duly
authorized as of the date specified thereon.
Schedule
1
to
Assignment
and Acceptance
Percentage
interest
assigned:
_______%
Assignee's
Commitment:
$__________
Aggregate
outstanding principal amount of Revolving Credit Advances $__________
assigned:
Principal
amount of Revolving Credit Note payable to Assignee: $__________
Principal
amount of Revolving Credit Note payable to Assignor: $__________
Effective
Date* : _______________
[NAME
OF
ASSIGNOR], as Assignor
By
_____________________
Title:
Dated:
_______________
[NAME
OF
ASSIGNEE], as Assignee
By
______________________
Title:
Dated:
_______________
Domestic
Lending Office:
[Address]
Eurodollar
Lending Office:
[Address]
_______________________________________
*
This date should be no earlier than five Business
Days after the delivery of this Assignment and Acceptance to the
Agent.
2
Accepted
and Approved this
__________
day of _______________
CITIBANK,
N.A., as Agent
By_______________________________
Title:
Approved
this __________ day
of
_______________
THE
HERSHEY COMPANY
By_________________________________
Title:
EXHIBIT
D
- FORM OF
ASSUMPTION
AGREEMENT
Dated:
________
The
Hershey Company
Corporate
Headquarters
Hershey,
Pennsylvania 17033-0810
Attention:
Treasury Department
Citibank,
N. A.
as Agent
Two
Penn’s Way
New
Castle, Delaware 19720
Attention:
Bank Loan Syndications
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
Reference
is made to the Five Year Credit Agreement, dated as of December 8, 2006 (as
amended or modified from time to time, the "Credit
Agreement"),
among
The Hershey Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
the
Lenders (as defined in the Credit Agreement) party thereto, Citibank, N.A.,
as
administrative agent for such Lenders (the "Agent"),
Bank
of America, N.A., as syndication agent, UBS Loan Finance LLC, as documentation
agent, and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Banc America Securities LLC,
as
joint lead arrangers and joint book managers. Terms defined in the Credit
Agreement are used herein with the same meaning.
The
undersigned (the "Assuming
Lender")
proposes to become an Assuming Lender pursuant to Section 2.05(c) of the
Credit
Agreement and, in that connection, hereby agrees that it shall become a Lender
for purposes of the Credit Agreement on [applicable Commitment Increase Date]
and that its Commitment shall as of such date be $__________.
The
undersigned (i) confirms that it has received a copy of the Credit
Agreement, together with copies of the financial statements referred to in
Section 4.01(e) thereof, the most recent financial statements referred to
in Section 5.01(h) thereof and such other documents and information as it
has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter
into this Assumption Agreement; (ii) agrees that it will, independently and
without reliance upon the Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents
and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make
its
own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Credit Agreement;
(iii) appoints and authorizes the Agent to take such action as agent on its
behalf and to exercise such powers under the Credit Agreement as are delegated
to the Agent by the terms thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably
incidental thereto; (iv) agrees that it will perform in accordance with
their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Credit Agreement
are required to be performed by it as a Lender; (v) confirms that it
2
is
an
Eligible Assignee; (vi) specifies as its Applicable Lending Offices (and
address for notices) the offices set forth beneath its name on the signature
pages hereof; and (vii) attaches the forms prescribed by the Internal
Revenue Service of the United States required under Section 2.14 of the Credit
Agreement.
The
effective date for this Assumption Agreement shall be [applicable Commitment
Increase Date.] Upon delivery of this Assumption Agreement to the Company
and
the Agent, and satisfaction of all conditions imposed under Section 2.05(c)
as
of [date specified above], the undersigned shall be a party to the Credit
Agreement and shall have all of the rights and obligations of a Lender
thereunder. As of [date specified above], the Agent shall make all payments
under the Credit Agreement in respect of the interest assigned hereby
(including, without limitation, all payments of principal, interest and facility
fees) to the Assuming Lender.
This
Assumption Agreement may be executed in counterparts and by different parties
hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be
deemed
to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and
the
same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart by telecopier shall be
effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assumption
Agreement.
This
Assumption Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with,
the
laws of the State of New York.
Very
truly yours,
[NAME
OF
ASSUMING LENDER]
By________________________
Name:
Title:
Domestic
Lending Office
(and
address for notices):
[Address]
Eurodollar
Lending Office
[Address]
Acknowledged
and Agreed to:
THE
HERSHEY COMPANY
By______________________
Name:
Title:
CITIBANK,
N.A.,
As
Agent
By______________________
Name:
Title:
EXHIBIT
E
- FORM OF
DESIGNATION
LETTER
[DATE]
To
Citibank, N.A.,
as Agent for the Lenders
party to the Credit Agreement
referred to below
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
Reference
is made to the Five Year Credit Agreement dated as of December 8, 2006 (the
"Credit
Agreement")
among
The Hershey Company (the "Company"),
the
Lenders named therein, Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent (the
"Agent")
for
said Lenders, Bank of America, N.A., as syndication agent, UBS Loan Finance
LLC,
as documentation agent, and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Banc America
Securities LLC, as joint lead arrangers and joint book managers. For convenience
of reference, terms used herein and defined in the Credit Agreement shall
have
the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Credit
Agreement.
Please
be
advised that the Company hereby designates its undersigned Subsidiary,
____________ (the "Designated
Subsidiary"),
as a
"Designated Subsidiary" under and for all purposes of the Credit
Agreement.
The
Designated Subsidiary, in consideration of each Lender's agreement to extend
credit to it under and on the terms and conditions set forth in the Credit
Agreement, does hereby assume each of the obligations imposed upon a "Designated
Subsidiary" and a "Borrower" under the Credit Agreement and agrees to be
bound
by the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement. In furtherance of the
foregoing, the Designated Subsidiary hereby represents and warrants to each
Lenders as follows:
1.
The
Designated Subsidiary is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing
and
in good standing under the laws of __________________ and is duly qualified
to
transact business in all jurisdictions in which such qualification is
required.
2.
The
execution, delivery and performance by the Designated Subsidiary of this
Designation Letter, the Credit Agreement and the Notes of such Designated
Subsidiary, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby,
are
within the Designated Subsidiary's corporate powers, have been duly authorized
by all necessary corporate action, and do not and will not contravene (i)
the
charter or by-laws of the Designated Subsidiary or (ii) law or any contractual
restriction binding on or affecting the Designated Subsidiary.
3.
This
Designation Agreement and each of the Notes of the Designated Subsidiary,
when
delivered, will have been duly executed and delivered, and this Designation
Letter, the Credit Agreement and each of the Notes of the Designated Subsidiary,
when delivered, will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations
of the
Designated Subsidiary enforceable against the Designated Subsidiary in
accordance with
2
their
respective terms except to the extent that such enforcement may be limited
by
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and other similar laws affecting creditors'
rights generally.
4.
There
is
no pending or threatened action, suit, investigation, litigation or proceeding
including, without limitation, any Environmental Action, affecting the
Designated Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries before any court, governmental
agency or arbitrator that (i) could be reasonably likely to have a Material
Adverse Effect, or (ii) purports to effect the legality, validity or
enforceability of this Designation Letter, the Credit Agreement, any Note
of the
Designated Subsidiary or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
thereby.
5.
No
authorization or approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing
with,
any governmental authority or administrative or regulatory body or any other
third party are required in connection with the execution, delivery or
performance by the Designated Subsidiary of this Designation Letter, the
Credit
Agreement or the Notes of the Designated Subsidiary except for such
authorizations, consents, approvals, licenses, filings or registrations as
have
heretofore been made, obtained or effected and are in full force and
effect.
6.
The
Designated Subsidiary is not, and immediately after the application by
the
Designated Subsidiary of the proceeds of each Advance will not be, an
"investment company", or an "affiliated person" of, or "promotor" or "principal
underwriter" for, an "investment company", as such terms are defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
Very
truly yours,
The
Hershey Company
By_________________________
Title:
[THE
DESIGNATED SUBSIDIARY]
By__________________________
Title:
EXHIBIT
F
- FORM OF
ACCEPTANCE
BY COMPANY AS PROCESS AGENT
[Date]
To
each
of the Lenders party
to
the
Credit Agreement (as defined
below)
and to Citibank, N.A.,
as
Agent
for said Lenders
[Name
of Designated Subsidiary]
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
Reference
is made to (i) that certain Five Year Credit Agreement, dated as of December
8,
2006, among The Hershey Company (the "Company"),
the
Lenders named therein, Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent (the
"Agent")
for
said Lenders, Bank of America, N.A., as syndication agent, UBS Loan Finance
LLC,
as documentation agent, and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Banc America
Securities LLC, as joint lead arrangers and joint book managers (as hereafter
amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the "Credit
Agreement";
the
terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), and (ii) to
the Designation Letter, dated _________, pursuant to which __________ has
become
a Borrower under the Credit Agreement.
Pursuant
to Section 9.12(a) of the Credit Agreement, __________ has appointed the
Company
(with an office on the date hereof at Corporate Headquarters, 000 Xxxxxxx
X
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00000-0000, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx) as Process Agent
to
receive on behalf of ______________ service of copies of the summons and
complaint and any other process which may be served in any action or proceeding
in any New York State or Federal court of the United States of America sitting
in New York City arising out of or relating to the Credit
Agreement.
The
Company hereby accepts such appointment as Process Agent and agrees with
each of
you that (i) the undersigned will not terminate or abandon the undersigned
agency as such Process Agent without at least six months' prior notice to
the
Agent (and hereby acknowledges that the undersigned has been retained for
its
services as Process Agent through __________), (ii) the undersigned will
maintain an office in the United States through such date and will give the
Agent prompt notice of any change of address of the undersigned, (iii) the
undersigned will perform its duties as Process Agent to receive on behalf
of
______________ service of copies of the summons and complaint and any other
process which may be served in any action or proceeding in any New York State
or
Federal court of the United States of America sitting in New York City arising
out of or relating to the Credit Agreement and (iv) the undersigned will
forward forthwith to ______________ at its address at ________________ or,
if
different, its then current address, copies of any summons, complaint and
other
process which the undersigned receives in connection with its appointment
as
Process Agent.
2
This
acceptance and agreement shall be binding upon the undersigned and all
successors of the undersigned.
Very
truly yours,
THE
HERSHEY COMPANY
By_______________________
EXHIBIT
G
- FORM OF
OPINION
OF XXXXXX X. XXXXXX, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT,
GENERAL
COUNSEL AND SECRETARY
OF
THE
COMPANY
[Effective
Date]
To
each
of the Lenders party
to the Credit Agreement referred
to below and to Citibank, N.A., as
Agent for such Lenders
The
Hershey Company
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
This
opinion is furnished to you pursuant to Section 3.01(g)(iv) of the Five
Year Credit Agreement, dated as of December 8, 2006 (the "Credit
Agreement"),
among
The Hershey Company (the "Company"),
the
Lenders party thereto, Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent (the
"Agent")
for
said Lenders, Bank of America, N.A., as syndication agent, UBS Loan Finance
LLC,
as documentation agent, and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Banc America
Securities LLC, as joint lead arrangers and joint book managers. Terms defined
in the Credit Agreement are used herein as therein defined.
I
am the
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the Company, and
I have
acted as counsel for the Company in connection with the preparation, execution
and delivery of the Credit Agreement.
In
that
connection, I have examined:
(1)
the
Credit Agreement and the Revolving Credit Notes of the Company;
(2)
the
documents furnished by the Company pursuant to Article III of the Credit
Agreement;
(3)
the
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company and all
amendments thereto (the "Charter");
and
(4)
The
by-laws of the Company and all amendments thereto (the "By-laws").
I
have
also examined the originals, or copies certified to my satisfaction, of such
other corporate records of the Company, certificates of public officials
and of
officers of the Company, and agreements, instruments and other documents,
as I
have deemed necessary as a basis for the opinions expressed below. In making
such examinations, I have assumed the
2
genuineness
of all signatures (other than those on behalf of the Company), the authenticity
of all documents submitted to me as originals and the conformity to authentic
original documents of all documents submitted to me as certified, conformed
or
photographic copies. As to questions of fact material to such opinions, I
have,
when relevant facts were not independently established by me, relied upon
certificates of the Company or its officers or of public officials and as
to
questions of fact and law, on opinions or statements by other lawyers reporting
to me. I have assumed the due execution and delivery, pursuant to due
authorization, of the Credit Agreement by the Initial Lenders and the
Agent.
My
opinions expressed below are limited to the law of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, and, where applicable, the General Corporation Law of the State
of
Delaware and the Federal law of the United States.
Based
upon the foregoing and upon such investigation as I have deemed necessary,
I am
of the following opinion:
1.
The
Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the State of Delaware.
2.
The
execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Credit Agreement
and
the Notes, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby,
are
within the Company's corporate powers, have been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate action, and do not contravene (i) the Charter or the
By-laws or (ii) any law, rule or regulation applicable to the Company
(including, without limitation, Regulation X of the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System) or (iii) any contractual or legal restriction
binding on or affecting the Company or, to the best of my knowledge, contained
in any other similar document, except where such contravention would not
be
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Credit Agreement
and
the Revolving Credit Notes of the Company have been duly executed and delivered
on behalf of the Company.
3.
No
authorization, approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with,
any
governmental authority or regulatory body or any other third party is required
for the due execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Credit
Agreement and the Notes, or for the consummation of the transactions
contemplated thereby, except for the authorizations, approvals, actions,
notices
and filings (i) listed on Schedule 4.01(c) to the Credit Agreement, all of
which have been duly obtained, taken, given or made and are in full force
and
effect and (ii) where the Company's failure to receive, take or make such
authorization, approval, action, notice or filing would not have a Material
Adverse Effect.
4.
There
(i)
are no pending or, to the best of my knowledge, threatened actions,
investigations, litigations or proceedings against the Company or any of
its
Subsidiaries before any court, governmental agency or arbitrator that (a)
would
be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect (other than the Disclosed
Litigation) or (b) purport to affect the legality, validity, binding effect
or
enforceability of the Credit Agreement or any of the Notes or the consummation
of the transactions contemplated
3
thereby,
and (ii) there has been no adverse change in the status, or financial effect
on
the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, of the Disclosed Litigation
from that described on Schedule 3.01(b) thereto.
This
opinion letter may be relied upon by you only in connection with the transaction
being consummated pursuant to the Credit Agreement and may not be used or
relied
upon by any other person for any other purpose.
Very
truly yours,
EXHIBIT
H
- FORM OF OPINION OF COUNSEL
TO
A
DESIGNATED SUBSIDIARY
[Date]
To
each
of the Lenders party
to
the
Credit Agreement
referred
to below,
and
to
Citibank, N.A., as Agent
for
said
Lenders
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
In
my
capacity as counsel to _____________________ ("Designated
Subsidiary"),
I
have reviewed that certain Five Year Credit Agreement, dated as of December
8,
2006 (the "Credit
Agreement"),
among
The Hershey Company (the "Company"),
the
Lenders party thereto, Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent (the
"Agent")
for
said Lenders, Bank of America, N.A., as syndication agent, UBS Loan Finance
LLC,
as documentation agent, and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Banc America
Securities LLC, as joint lead arrangers and joint book managers. Terms defined
in the Credit Agreement are used herein as therein defined. In connection
therewith, I have also examined the following documents:
(i)
The
Designation Letter (as defined in the Credit Agreement) executed by the
Designated Subsidiary.
[such
other documents as counsel may wish to refer to]
I
have
also reviewed such matters of law and examined the original, certified,
conformed or photographic copies of such other documents, records, agreements
and certificates as I have considered relevant hereto. As to questions of
fact
material to such opinions, we have, when relevant facts were not independently
established by us, relied upon certificates of the Designated Subsidiary
or of
its officers or of public officials and as to questions of fact and law,
on
opinions or statements by other lawyers reporting to me. I have assumed
(i) the due execution and delivery, pursuant to due authorization, of each
of the documents referred to above by all parties thereto other than the
Designated Subsidiary, (ii) the authenticity of all such documents
submitted to us as originals and (iii) the conformity to originals of all
such documents submitted to me as certified, conformed or photographic
copies.
My
opinions expressed below are limited to ________________ and the State of
New
York.
Based
upon the foregoing, and upon such investigation as I have deemed necessary,
I am
of the following opinion:
2
1.
The
Designated Subsidiary (a) is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing
and in good standing under the laws of _________________________, (b) is
duly qualified in each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases property
or
in which the conduct of its business requires it to so qualify or be licensed
and (c) has all requisite corporate power and authority to own or lease and
operate its properties and to carry on its business as now conducted and
as
proposed to be conducted.
2.
The
execution, delivery and performance by the Designated Subsidiary of its
Designation Letter, the Credit Agreement and its Revolving Credit Notes,
and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, are within the Designated
Subsidiary's corporate powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action, and do not contravene (i) any provision of the charter or
by-laws or other constituent documents of the Designated Subsidiary,
(ii) any law, rule or regulation applicable to the Designated Subsidiary or
(iii) any contractual or legal obligation or restriction binding on or
affecting the Designated Subsidiary, except where such contravention would
not
be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Designation Letter
and each Revolving Credit Note of the Designated Subsidiary has been duly
executed and delivered on behalf of the Designated Subsidiary.
3.
The
Designation Letter of the Designated Subsidiary, the Credit Agreement and
the
Revolving Credit Notes of the Designated Subsidiary are, and each other Note
of
the Designated Subsidiary when executed and delivered under the Credit Agreement
will be, legal, valid and binding obligations of the Designated Subsidiary
enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, except as the
enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization
or moratorium or other similar laws relating to the enforcement of creditors'
rights generally or by the application of general principles of equity
(regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding
in
equity or at law), and except that I express no opinion as to (i) the
subject matter jurisdiction of the District Courts of the United States of
America to adjudicate any controversy relating to the Credit Agreement, the
Designation Letter of the Designated Subsidiary or the Notes of the Designated
Subsidiary or (ii) the effect of the law of any jurisdiction (other than
the
State of New York) wherein any Lender or Applicable Lending Office may be
located or wherein enforcement of the Credit Agreement, the Designation Letter
of the Designated Subsidiary or the Notes of the Designated Subsidiary may
be
sought which limits rates of interest which may be charged or collected by
such
Lender.
4.
There
is
no pending, or to the best of my knowledge, threatened action, investigation,
litigation or proceeding at law or in equity against the Designated Subsidiary
before any court, governmental agency or arbitrator that would be reasonably
likely to have a Material Adverse Effect or that purports to affect the
legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of the Designation Letter
of the Designated Subsidiary, the Credit Agreement or any Revolving Credit
Note
of the Designated Subsidiary, or the consummation of the transactions
contemplated thereby.
3
5.
No
authorization, approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with,
any
governmental authority or regulatory body or any other third party is required
for the due execution, delivery and performance by the Designated Subsidiary
of
its Designation Letter, the Credit Agreement or the Notes of the Designated
Subsidiary except for such authorizations, consents, approvals, actions,
notices
or filings as have heretofore been made, obtained or affected and are in
full
force and effect.
This
opinion letter may be relied upon by you only in connection with the transaction
being consummated pursuant to the Credit Agreement and may not be used or
relied
upon by any other person for any other purpose.
Very
truly yours,