CREDIT AGREEMENT by and among PORTRAIT CORPORATION OF AMERICA INC. as Parent Guarantor, PCA LLC and EACH OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES THAT ARE SIGNATORIES HERETO as Borrowers, THE LENDERS THAT ARE SIGNATORIES HERETO as the Lenders, and WELLS FARGO FOOTHILL,...
Exhibit
10.1
by
and among
PORTRAIT
CORPORATION OF AMERICA INC.
as
Parent Guarantor,
PCA
LLC
and
EACH
OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES THAT ARE SIGNATORIES HERETO
as
Borrowers,
THE
LENDERS THAT ARE SIGNATORIES HERETO
as
the Lenders,
and
XXXXX
FARGO FOOTHILL, INC.
as
the Arranger and Administrative Agent
Dated
as of July 15, 2005
THIS
CREDIT AGREEMENT (this
“Agreement”),
is
entered into as of July 15, 2005, by and among the lenders identified on the
signature pages hereof (such lenders, together with their respective successors
and permitted assigns, are referred to hereinafter each individually as a
“Lender”
and
collectively as the “Lenders”),
and
XXXXX
FARGO FOOTHILL, INC.,
a
California corporation, as the arranger and administrative agent for the Lenders
(in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns in such capacity,
“Agent”),
PCA
LLC,
a
Delaware limited liability company (“PCA”),
each
of PCA’s Subsidiaries identified on the signature pages hereof (such
Subsidiaries, together with PCA, are referred to hereinafter each individually
as a “Borrower”,
and
individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “Borrowers”)
and
PORTRAIT
CORPORATION OF AMERICA, INC.,
a
Delaware corporation (“Parent
Guarantor”).
The
parties agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS
AND CONSTRUCTION.
1.1 Definitions.
Capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings specified
therefor on Schedule 1.1.
1.2 Accounting
Terms.
All
accounting terms not specifically defined herein shall be construed in
accordance with GAAP. When used herein, the term “financial statements” shall
include the notes and schedules thereto. Any reference to any Person in respect
of a financial covenant or a related definition shall be understood to mean
such
Person and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis unless the context clearly
requires otherwise. If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the
computation of any financial covenant set forth in any Loan Document, and either
Administrative Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, Agent, the
Lenders and the Borrowers shall negotiate in good faith to amend such financial
covenant to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in
GAAP
(subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that,
until
so amended, (i) such financial covenant shall continue to be computed in
accordance with GAAP as in effect prior to such change and (ii) the
Credit
Parties shall provide to Agent financial statements and other documents required
or requested under this Agreement setting forth a reconciliation between
calculations of such financial covenant made before and after giving effect
to
such change in GAAP.
1.3 Code.
Any
terms used in this Agreement that are defined in the Code shall be construed
and
defined as set forth in the Code unless otherwise defined herein, provided,
however,
that to
the extent that the Code is used to define any term herein and such term is
defined differently in different Articles of the Code, the definition of such
term contained in Article 9
shall
govern.
1.4 Construction.
Unless
the context of this Agreement or any other Loan Document clearly requires
otherwise, references to the plural include the singular, references to the
singular include the plural, the terms “includes” and “including” are not
limiting, and the term “or” has, except where otherwise indicated, the inclusive
meaning represented by the phrase “and/or.” The words
“hereof,”“herein,”“hereby,”“hereunder,” and similar terms in this Agreement or
any other Loan Document refer to this Agreement or such other Loan Document,
as
the case may be, as a whole and not to any particular provision of this
Agreement or such other Loan Document, as the case may be. Section, subsection,
clause, schedule, and exhibit references herein are to this Agreement unless
otherwise specified. Any reference in this Agreement or in the other Loan
Documents to any agreement, instrument, or document shall include all
alterations, amendments, changes, extensions, modifications, renewals,
replacements, substitutions, joinders, and supplements, thereto and thereof,
as
applicable (subject to any restrictions on such alterations, amendments,
changes, extensions, modifications, renewals, replacements, substitutions,
joinders, and supplements set forth herein). Any reference herein to the
satisfaction or repayment in full of the Obligations shall mean the repayment
in
full in cash (or cash collateralization in accordance with the terms hereof)
of
all Obligations other than contingent indemnification Obligations and other
than
any Bank Product Obligations that, at such time, are allowed by the applicable
Bank Product Provider to remain outstanding and are not required to be repaid
or
cash collateralized pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement. Any reference
herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and
assigns. Any requirement of a writing contained herein or in the other Loan
Documents shall be satisfied by the transmission of a Record and any Record
transmitted shall constitute a representation and warranty as to the accuracy
and completeness, in all material respects, of the information contained
therein.
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1.5 Schedules
and Exhibits.
All of
the schedules and exhibits attached to this Agreement shall be deemed
incorporated herein by reference.
2. LOAN
AND TERMS OF PAYMENT.
2.1 Revolver
Advances.
(a) Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and during the term of this
Agreement, each Lender with a Commitment agrees (severally, not jointly or
jointly and severally) to make advances (“Advances”)
to
Borrowers in an amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed such Lender’s
Pro Rata Share of an amount equal to the
lesser of
(i) the
Maximum Revolver Amount less
the
sum
of (A) the Letter of Credit Usage, (B) the aggregate outstanding principal
balance of the Advances, and (C) all reserves established pursuant to
Section
2.1(b),
and
(ii) the Loan Limit less
the sum
of (A) the Letter of Credit Usage, (B) the aggregate outstanding principal
balance of the Advances, (C) all reserves established pursuant to Section
2.1(b)
and (D)
the LC Facility Letter of Credit Usage.
(b) Anything
to the contrary in this Section 2.1
notwithstanding, Agent shall have the right to establish reserves in such
amounts, and with respect to such matters, as Agent in its Permitted Discretion
shall deem necessary or appropriate, against Availability, including reserves
(i) with respect to (A) sums that any Credit Party is required
to pay
by any Section of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (such as taxes,
assessments, insurance premiums, or, in the case of leased assets, rents or
other amounts payable under such leases) and has failed to pay, and
(B) amounts owing by any Credit Party or its Subsidiaries to any Person
to
the extent secured by a Lien on, or trust over, any of the Collateral (other
than a Permitted Lien), which Lien or trust, in the Permitted Discretion of
Agent likely would have a priority superior to the Agent’s Liens (such as Liens
or trusts in favor of landlords, warehousemen, carriers, mechanics, materialmen,
laborers, or suppliers, or Liens or trusts for ad
valorem,
excise,
sales, or other taxes where given priority under applicable law) in and to
such
item of the Collateral, and (ii) after the occurrence and during the
continuance of an Event of Default, with respect to such other matters as Agent
in its Permitted Discretion shall deem necessary or appropriate.
(c) Amounts
borrowed pursuant to this Section 2.1
may be
repaid and, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, reborrowed
at
any time during the term of this Agreement.
2.2 LC
Facility Letters of Credit.
(a) Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Issuing Lender agrees to
issue letters of credit for the account of Borrowers (each, an “LC
Facility L/C”)
or to
purchase participations or execute indemnities or reimbursement obligations
(each such undertaking, an “LC
Facility L/C Undertaking”)
with
respect to letters of credit issued by an Underlying Issuer (as of the Closing
Date, the prospective Underlying Issuer is to be Xxxxx Fargo) for the account
of
Borrowers to the extent such LC Facility Letters of Credit are issued for a
Permitted Use. Each request for the issuance of an LC Facility Letter of Credit
or the amendment, renewal, or extension of any outstanding LC Facility Letter
of
Credit shall be made in writing by an Authorized Person and delivered to the
Issuing Lender and Agent via hand delivery, telefacsimile, or other electronic
method of transmission reasonably in advance of the requested date of issuance,
amendment, renewal, or extension. Each such request shall be in form and
substance satisfactory to the Issuing Lender in its Permitted Discretion and
shall specify (i) the amount of such LC Facility Letter of Credit,
(ii) the date of issuance, amendment, renewal, or extension of such
LC
Facility Letter of Credit, (iii) the expiration date of such LC Facility
Letter of Credit, (iv) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof
(or
the beneficiary of the Underlying Letter of Credit, as applicable), and
(v) such other information (including, in the case of an amendment,
renewal, or extension, identification of the outstanding LC Facility Letter
of
Credit to be so amended, renewed, or extended) as shall be necessary to prepare,
amend, renew, or extend such LC Facility Letter of Credit. If requested by
the
Issuing Lender, Borrowers also shall be an applicant under the application
with
respect to any Underlying Letter of Credit that is to be the subject of an
LC
Facility L/C Undertaking. The Issuing Lender shall have no obligation to issue
a
LC Facility Letter of Credit if any of the following would result after giving
effect to the issuance of such requested LC Facility Letter of
Credit:
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(i) the
LC
Facility Letter of Credit Usage would exceed $20,000,000,
(ii) the
LC
Facility Letter of Credit Usage would exceed the Maximum Credit Amount
less
the
sum
of (A) the outstanding amount of Advances, (B) the Letter of Credit Usage and
(C) all reserves established pursuant to Section
2.1(b),
or
(iii) the
LC
Facility Letter of Credit Usage would exceed the Loan Limit less
the
sum
of (A) the outstanding amount of Advances, (B) all reserves established pursuant
to Section
2.1(b)
and (C)
the Letter of Credit Usage.
Borrowers
and the Lender Group acknowledge and agree that certain Underlying Letters
of
Credit may be issued to support letters of credit that already are outstanding
as of the Closing Date so long as such existing letters of credit were issued
for a Permitted Use. Each LC Facility Letter of Credit (and corresponding
Underlying Letter of Credit) shall be in form and substance acceptable to the
Issuing Lender (in the exercise of its Permitted Discretion), including the
requirement that the amounts payable thereunder must be payable in Dollars.
If
Issuing Lender is obligated to advance funds under an LC Facility Letter of
Credit, Borrowers shall reimburse such LC Facility L/C Disbursement to Issuing
Lender by paying to Agent an amount equal to such LC Facility L/C Disbursement
within 24 hours (provided, that, if the end of such 24 hour period would occur
on a day that is not a Business Day, then such period shall be extended to
the
hour which would otherwise constitute the 24th hour of such initial period,
but
as it occurs on the next Business Day) after written notice (which may be sent
by either email or facsimile) of such LC Facility L/C Disbursement is provided
to Administrative Borrower, and, in the absence of such reimbursement, the
LC
Facility L/C Disbursement shall bear interest at the rate then applicable to
Advances that are Base Rate Loans under Section 2.6.
Promptly following receipt by Agent of any payment from Borrowers pursuant
to
this paragraph, Agent shall distribute such payment to the Issuing Lender or,
to
the extent that Lenders have made payments pursuant to Section 2.2(c)
to
reimburse the Issuing Lender, then to such Lenders and the Issuing Lender as
their interests may appear.
(b) Promptly
following receipt of a notice of LC Facility L/C Disbursement pursuant to
Section 2.2(a),
each
Lender with a Commitment agrees to fund its Pro Rata Share of such LC Facility
L/C Disbursement and Agent shall promptly pay to Issuing Lender the amounts
so
received by it from the Lenders. By the issuance of an LC Facility Letter of
Credit (or an amendment to an LC Facility Letter of Credit increasing the amount
thereof) and without any further action on the part of the Issuing Lender or
the
Lenders with Commitments, the Issuing Lender shall be deemed to have granted
to
each Lender with a Commitment, and each Lender with a Commitment shall be deemed
to have purchased, a participation in each LC Facility Letter of Credit, in
an
amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of the Risk Participation Liability of such
LC Facility Letter of Credit, and each such Lender agrees to pay to Agent,
for
the account of the Issuing Lender, such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of any payments
made by the Issuing Lender under such LC Facility Letter of Credit. In
consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each Lender with a Commitment
hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to Agent, for the account
of
the Issuing Lender, such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of each LC Facility L/C
Disbursement made by the Issuing Lender and not reimbursed by Borrowers on
the
date due as provided in Section 2.2(a),
or of
any reimbursement payment required to be refunded to Borrowers for any reason.
Each Lender with a Commitment acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to
deliver to Agent, for the account of the Issuing Lender, an amount equal to
its
respective Pro Rata Share of each LC Facility L/C Disbursement made by the
Issuing Lender pursuant to this Section 2.2(b)
shall be
absolute and unconditional and such remittance shall be made notwithstanding
the
occurrence or continuation of an Event of Default or Default or the failure
to
satisfy any condition set forth in Section 3
hereof.
If any such Lender fails to make available to Agent the amount of such Lender’s
Pro Rata Share of each LC Facility L/C Disbursement made by the Issuing Lender
in respect of such LC Facility Letter of Credit as provided in this Section,
such Lender shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender and Agent (for the account
of the Issuing Lender) shall be entitled to recover such amount on demand from
such Lender together with interest thereon at the Defaulting Lender Rate until
paid in full.
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(c) Each
Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify, save, defend, and hold Agent, the Issuing
Lender and the Lenders having a Commitment harmless from any loss, cost,
expense, or liability, and reasonable attorneys fees incurred by such Persons
arising out of or in connection with any LC Facility Letter of Credit;
provided,
however,
that no
Borrower shall be obligated hereunder to indemnify any such Person for any
loss,
cost, expense, or liability to the extent that it is caused by the gross
negligence or willful misconduct of such Person. Each Borrower agrees to be
bound by the Underlying Issuer’s regulations and interpretations of any
Underlying Letter of Credit or by Issuing Lender’s interpretations of any LC
Facility L/C issued by Issuing Lender to or for such Borrower’s account, even
though this interpretation may be different from such Borrower’s own, and each
Borrower understands and agrees that the Lender Group shall not be liable for
any error, negligence, or mistake, whether of omission or commission, in
following Borrowers’ instructions or those contained in the LC Facility Letter
of Credit or any modifications, amendments, or supplements thereto. Each
Borrower understands that the LC Facility L/C Undertakings may require Issuing
Lender to indemnify the Underlying Issuer for certain costs or liabilities
arising out of claims by Borrowers against such Underlying Issuer. Each Borrower
hereby agrees to indemnify, save, defend, and hold the Lender Group harmless
with respect to any loss, cost, expense (including reasonable attorneys fees),
or liability incurred by the Lender Group under any LC Facility L/C Undertaking
as a result of the Lender Group’s indemnification of any Underlying Issuer;
provided,
however,
that no
Borrower shall be obligated hereunder to indemnify for any loss, cost, expense,
or liability to the extent that it is caused by the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of the Issuing Lender or any other member of the Lender Group. Each
Borrower hereby acknowledges and agrees that neither the Lender Group nor the
Issuing Lender shall be responsible for delays, errors, or omissions resulting
from the malfunction of equipment in connection with any LC Facility Letter
of
Credit.
(d) Each
Borrower hereby authorizes and directs any Underlying Issuer to deliver to
the
Issuing Lender all instruments, documents, and other writings and property
received by such Underlying Issuer pursuant to such Underlying Letter of Credit
and to accept and rely upon the Issuing Lender’s instructions with respect to
all matters arising in connection with such Underlying Letter of Credit and
the
related application.
(e) Any
and
all issuance charges, commissions, fees, and costs incurred by the Issuing
Lender relating to Underlying Letters of Credit shall be Lender Group Expenses
for purposes of this Agreement and immediately shall be reimbursable by
Borrowers to Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender; it being acknowledged
and agreed by each Borrower that, as of the Closing Date, the issuance charge
imposed by the prospective Underlying Issuer is .825% per annum times the face
amount of each Underlying Letter of Credit, that such issuance charge may be
changed from time to time, and that the Underlying Issuer also imposes a
schedule of charges for amendments, extensions, drawings, and
renewals.
(f) If
by
reason of (i) any change after the Closing Date in any applicable law,
treaty, rule, or regulation or any change in the interpretation or application
thereof by any Governmental Authority, or (ii) compliance by the Underlying
Issuer or the Lender Group with any direction, request, or requirement
(irrespective of whether having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority
or monetary authority including, Regulation D of the Federal Reserve Board
as
from time to time in effect (and any successor thereto):
4
(i) any
reserve, deposit, or similar requirement is or shall be imposed or modified
in
respect of any LC Facility Letter of Credit issued hereunder, or
(ii) there
shall be imposed on the Underlying Issuer or the Lender Group any other
condition regarding any Underlying Letter of Credit or any LC Facility Letter
of
Credit issued pursuant hereto;
and
the
result of the foregoing is to increase, directly or indirectly, the cost to
the
Lender Group of issuing, making, guaranteeing, or maintaining any LC Facility
Letter of Credit or to reduce the amount receivable in respect thereof by the
Lender Group, then, and in any such case, Agent may, at any time within a
reasonable period not exceeding 180 days after the additional cost is incurred
or the amount received is reduced, notify Administrative Borrower, and Borrowers
shall pay within 1 Business Day of demand for such amounts as Agent may specify
to be necessary to compensate the Lender Group for such additional cost or
reduced receipt, together with interest on such amount from the date of such
demand until payment in full thereof at the rate then applicable to Base Rate
Loans hereunder. The determination by Agent of any amount due pursuant to this
Section, as set forth in a certificate setting forth, in reasonable detail,
the
calculation thereof in reasonable detail, shall, in the absence of manifest
or
demonstrable error, be final and conclusive and binding on all of the parties
hereto.
2.3 Borrowing
Procedures and Settlements.
(a) Procedure
for Borrowing.
Each
Borrowing shall be made by an irrevocable written request by an Authorized
Person delivered to Agent. Unless Swing Lender is not obligated to make a Swing
Loan pursuant to Section 2.3(b)
below,
such notice must be received by Agent no later than 1:00 p.m. (Georgia time)
on
the Business Day that is the requested Funding Date specifying (i) the
amount of such Borrowing, and (ii) the requested Funding Date, which
shall
be a Business Day; provided,
however,
that if
Swing Lender is not obligated to make a Swing Loan as to a requested Borrowing,
such notice must be received by Agent no later than 1:00 p.m. (Georgia
time) on the Business Day prior to the date that is the requested Funding Date.
At Agent’s election, in lieu of delivering the above-described written request,
any Authorized Person may give Agent telephonic notice of such request by the
required time. In such circumstances, Borrowers agree that any such telephonic
notice will be confirmed in writing within 24 hours of the giving of such
telephonic notice, but the failure to provide such written confirmation shall
not affect the validity of the request.
(b) Making
of Swing Loans.
In the
case of a request for an Advance and so long as either (i) the aggregate
amount of Swing Loans made since the last Settlement Date plus the amount of
the
requested Advance does not exceed $5,000,000, or (ii) Swing Lender,
in its
sole discretion, shall agree to make a Swing Loan notwithstanding the foregoing
limitation, Swing Lender, as a Lender, shall make an Advance in the amount
of
such Borrowing (any such Advance made solely by Swing Lender as a Lender
pursuant to this Section 2.3(b)
being
referred to as a “Swing
Loan”
and
such Advances being referred to collectively as “Swing
Loans”)
available to Borrowers on the Funding Date applicable thereto by transferring
immediately available funds to the Designated Account. Each Swing Loan shall
be
deemed to be an Advance hereunder and shall be subject to all the terms and
conditions applicable to other Advances, except that all payments on any Swing
Loan shall be payable to Swing Lender as a Lender solely for its own account.
Subject to the provisions of Section 2.3(d)(ii),
Swing
Lender as a Lender shall not make and shall not be obligated to make any Swing
Loan if Swing Lender has actual knowledge that (i) one or more of the
applicable conditions precedent set forth in Section 3
will not
be satisfied on the requested Funding Date for the applicable Borrowing (unless
such condition has been waived in accordance with the terms of this Agreement),
or (ii) the requested Borrowing would exceed the Availability on such
Funding Date. Swing Lender as a Lender shall not otherwise be required to
determine whether the applicable conditions precedent set forth in Section 3
have
been satisfied on the Funding Date applicable thereto prior to making any Swing
Loan. The Swing Loans shall be secured by the Agent’s Liens, constitute
Obligations hereunder, and bear interest at the rate applicable from time to
time to Advances that are Base Rate Loans.
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(c) Making
of Loans.
(i) In
the
event that Swing Lender is not obligated to make a Swing Loan, then promptly
after receipt of a request for a Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.3(a),
Agent
shall notify the Lenders, not later than 4:00 p.m. (Georgia time) on
the
Business Day immediately preceding the Funding Date applicable thereto, by
telecopy, telephone, or other similar form of transmission, of the requested
Borrowing. Each Lender shall make the amount of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of
the requested Borrowing available to Agent in immediately available funds,
to
Agent’s Account, not later than 1:00 p.m. (Georgia time) on the Funding
Date applicable thereto. After Agent’s receipt of the proceeds of such Advances,
Agent shall make the proceeds thereof available to Administrative Borrower
on
the applicable Funding Date by transferring immediately available funds equal
to
such proceeds received by Agent to Administrative Borrower’s Designated Account;
provided,
however,
that,
subject to the provisions of Section 2.3(d)(ii),
Agent
shall not request any Lender to make, and no Lender shall have the obligation
to
make, any Advance if Agent shall have actual knowledge that (1) one
or more
of the applicable conditions precedent set forth in Section 3
will not
be satisfied on the requested Funding Date for the applicable Borrowing unless
such condition has been waived, or (2) the requested Borrowing would
exceed
the Availability on such Funding Date.
(ii) Unless
Agent receives notice from a Lender prior to 12:00 p.m. (Georgia time)
on
the date of a Borrowing, that such Lender will not make available as and when
required hereunder to Agent for the account of Borrowers the amount of that
Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Borrowing, Agent may assume that each Lender has
made or will make such amount available to Agent in immediately available funds
on the Funding Date and Agent may (but shall not be so required), in reliance
upon such assumption, make available to Borrowers on such date a corresponding
amount. If and to the extent any Lender shall not have made its full amount
available to Agent in immediately available funds and Agent in such
circumstances has made available to Borrowers such amount, that Lender shall
on
the Business Day following such Funding Date make such amount available to
Agent, together with interest at the Defaulting Lender Rate for each day during
such period. A notice submitted by Agent to any Lender with respect to amounts
owing under this subsection shall be conclusive, absent manifest error. If
such
amount is so made available, such payment to Agent shall constitute such
Lender’s Advance on the date of Borrowing for all purposes of this Agreement. If
such amount is not made available to Agent on the Business Day following the
Funding Date, Agent will notify Administrative Borrower of such failure to
fund
and, upon demand by Agent, Borrowers shall pay such amount to Agent for Agent’s
account, together with interest thereon for each day elapsed since the date
of
such Borrowing, at a rate per annum equal to the interest rate applicable at
the
time to the Advances composing such Borrowing. The failure of any Lender to
make
any Advance on any Funding Date shall not relieve any other Lender of any
obligation hereunder to make an Advance on such Funding Date, but no Lender
shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make the Advance
to
be made by such other Lender on any Funding Date.
(iii) Agent
shall not be obligated to transfer to a Defaulting Lender any payments made
by
Borrowers to Agent for the Defaulting Lender’s benefit, and, in the absence of
such transfer to the Defaulting Lender, Agent shall transfer any such payments
to each other non-Defaulting Lender member of the Lender Group ratably in
accordance with their Commitments (but only to the extent that such Defaulting
Lender’s Advance was funded by the other members of the Lender Group) or, if so
directed by Administrative Borrower and if no Default or Event of Default had
occurred and is continuing (and to the extent such Defaulting Lender’s Advance
was not funded by the Lender Group), retain same to be re-advanced to Borrowers
as if such Defaulting Lender had made Advances to Borrowers. Subject to the
foregoing, Agent may hold and, in its Permitted Discretion, re-lend to Borrowers
for the account of such Defaulting Lender the amount of all such payments
received and retained by Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender. Solely
for the purposes of voting or consenting to matters with respect to the Loan
Documents, such Defaulting Lender shall be deemed not to be a “Lender” and such
Lender’s Commitment shall be deemed to be zero. This Section shall remain
effective with respect to such Lender until (x) the Obligations under
this
Agreement shall have been declared or shall have become immediately due and
payable, (y) the non-Defaulting Lenders, Agent, and Administrative Borrower
shall have waived such Defaulting Lender’s default in writing, or (z) the
Defaulting Lender makes its Pro Rata Share of the applicable Advance and pays
to
Agent all amounts owing by Defaulting Lender in respect thereof. The operation
of this Section shall not be construed to increase or otherwise affect the
Commitment of any Lender, to relieve or excuse the performance by such
Defaulting Lender or any other Lender of its duties and obligations hereunder,
or to relieve or excuse the performance by Borrowers of their duties and
obligations hereunder to Agent or to the Lenders other than such Defaulting
Lender. Any such failure to fund by any Defaulting Lender shall constitute
a
material breach by such Defaulting Lender of this Agreement and shall entitle
Administrative Borrower at its option, upon written notice to Agent, to arrange
for a substitute Lender to assume the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender,
such
substitute Lender to be acceptable to Agent. In connection with the arrangement
of such a substitute Lender, the Defaulting Lender shall have no right to refuse
to be replaced hereunder, and agrees to execute and deliver a completed form
of
Assignment and Acceptance in favor of the substitute Lender (and agrees that
it
shall be deemed to have executed and delivered such document if it fails to
do
so) subject only to being repaid its share of the outstanding Obligations (other
than Bank Product Obligations, but including an assumption of its Pro Rata
Share
of the Risk Participation Liability) without any premium or penalty of any
kind
whatsoever; provided however, that any such assumption of the Commitment of
such
Defaulting Lender shall not be deemed to constitute a waiver of any of the
Lender Groups’ or Borrowers’ rights or remedies against any such Defaulting
Lender arising out of or in relation to such failure to fund.
6
(d) Protective
Advances and Optional Overadvances.
(i) Agent
hereby is authorized by Borrowers and the Lenders, from time to time in Agent’s
sole discretion, (A) after the occurrence and during the continuance
of a
Default or an Event of Default, or (B) at any time that any of the other
applicable conditions precedent set forth in Section 3
are not
satisfied, to make Advances to Borrowers on behalf of the Lenders that Agent,
in
its Permitted Discretion deems necessary or desirable (1) to preserve
or
protect the Collateral, or any portion thereof, (2) to enhance the
likelihood of repayment of the Obligations (other than the Bank Product
Obligations), or (3) to pay any other amount chargeable to Borrowers
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including Lender Group Expenses and
the
costs, fees, and expenses described in Section 9
(any of
the Advances described in this Section 2.3(d)(i)
shall be
referred to as “Protective
Advances”).
(ii) Any
contrary provision of this Agreement notwithstanding, the Lenders hereby
authorize Agent or Swing Lender, as applicable, and either Agent or Swing
Lender, as applicable, may, but is not obligated to, knowingly and
intentionally, continue to make Advances (including Swing Loans) to Borrowers
notwithstanding that an Overadvance exists or thereby would be created, so
long
as (A) after giving effect to such Advances, the outstanding Revolver
Usage
does not exceed the Availability by more than $3,000,000, and (B) after
giving effect to such Advances, the outstanding Revolver Usage (except for
and
excluding amounts charged to the Loan Account for interest, fees, or Lender
Group Expenses) does not exceed the Maximum Revolver Amount. In the event Agent
obtains actual knowledge that the Revolver Usage exceeds the amounts permitted
by the immediately foregoing provisions, regardless of the amount of, or reason
for, such excess, Agent shall notify the Lenders as soon as practicable (and
prior to making any (or any additional) intentional Overadvances (except for
and
excluding amounts charged to the Loan Account for interest, fees, or Lender
Group Expenses) unless Agent determines that prior notice would result in
imminent harm to the Collateral or its value), and the Lenders with Commitments
thereupon shall, together with Agent, jointly determine the terms of
arrangements that shall be implemented with Borrowers intended to reduce, within
a reasonable time, the outstanding principal amount of the Advances to Borrowers
to an amount permitted by the preceding paragraph. In such circumstances, if
any
Lender with a Commitment disagrees over the proposed terms of reduction or
repayment of any Overadvance, the terms of reduction or repayment thereof shall
be implemented according to the determination of the Required Lenders. Each
Lender with a Commitment shall be obligated to settle with Agent as provided
in
Section 2.3(e)
for the
amount of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of any unintentional Overadvances by
Agent reported to such Lender, any intentional Overadvances made as permitted
under this Section 2.3(d)(ii),
and any
Overadvances resulting from the charging to the Loan Account of interest, fees,
or Lender Group Expenses.
7
(iii) Each
Protective Advance and each Overadvance shall be deemed to be an Advance
hereunder, except that no Protective Advance or Overadvance shall be eligible
to
be a LIBOR Rate Loan and all payments on the Protective Advances shall be
payable to Agent solely for its own account. The Protective Advances and
Overadvances shall be repayable on demand, secured by the Agent’s Liens,
constitute Obligations hereunder, and bear interest at the rate applicable
from
time to time to Advances that are Base Rate Loans. The provisions of this
Section 2.3(d)
are for
the exclusive benefit of Agent, Swing Lender, and the Lenders and are not
intended to benefit any Borrower in any way.
(e) Settlement.
It is
agreed that each Lender’s funded portion of the Advances is intended by the
Lenders to equal, at all times, such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the outstanding
Advances. Such agreement notwithstanding, Agent, Swing Lender, and the other
Lenders agree (which agreement shall not be for the benefit of any Borrower)
that in order to facilitate the administration of this Agreement and the other
Loan Documents, settlement among the Lenders as to the Advances, the Swing
Loans, and the Protective Advances shall take place on a periodic basis in
accordance with the following provisions:
(i) Agent
shall request settlement (“Settlement”)
with
the Lenders on a weekly basis, or on a more frequent basis if so determined
by
Agent, (1) on behalf of Swing Lender, with respect to each outstanding
Swing Loan, (2) for itself, with respect to the outstanding Protective
Advances, and (3) with respect to Borrowers’ or their Subsidiaries’
Collections received, as to each by notifying the Lenders by telecopy,
telephone, or other similar form of transmission, of such requested Settlement,
no later than 5:00 p.m. (Georgia time) on the Business Day immediately
prior to the date of such requested Settlement (the date of such requested
Settlement being the “Settlement
Date”).
Such
notice of a Settlement Date shall include a summary statement of the amount
of
outstanding Advances, Swing Loans, and Protective Advances for the period since
the prior Settlement Date. Subject to the terms and conditions contained herein
(including Section 2.3(b)(iii)):
(y) if a Lender’s balance of the Advances (including Swing Loans and
Protective Advances) exceeds such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Advances
(including Swing Loans and Protective Advances) as of a Settlement Date, then
Agent shall, by no later than 3:00 p.m. (Georgia time) on the Settlement
Date, transfer in immediately available funds to a Deposit Account of such
Lender (as such Lender may designate), an amount such that each such Lender
shall, upon receipt of such amount, have as of the Settlement Date, its Pro
Rata
Share of the Advances (including Swing Loans and Protective Advances), and
(z) if a Lender’s balance of the Advances (including Swing Loans and
Protective Advances) is less than such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Advances
(including Swing Loans and Protective Advances) as of a Settlement Date, such
Lender shall no later than 3:00 p.m. (Georgia time) on the Settlement
Date
transfer in immediately available funds to the Agent’s Account, an amount such
that each such Lender shall, upon transfer of such amount, have as of the
Settlement Date, its Pro Rata Share of the Advances (including Swing Loans
and
Protective Advances). Such amounts made available to Agent under clause
(z) of the immediately preceding sentence shall be applied against the
amounts of the applicable Swing Loans or Protective Advances and, together
with
the portion of such Swing Loans or Protective Advances representing Swing
Lender’s Pro Rata Share thereof, shall constitute Advances of such Lenders. If
any such amount is not made available to Agent by any Lender on the Settlement
Date applicable thereto to the extent required by the terms hereof, Agent shall
be entitled to recover for its account such amount on demand from such Lender
together with interest thereon at the Defaulting Lender Rate.
(ii) In
determining whether a Lender’s balance of the Advances, Swing Loans, and
Protective Advances is less than, equal to, or greater than such Lender’s Pro
Rata Share of the Advances, Swing Loans, and Protective Advances as of a
Settlement Date, Agent shall, as part of the relevant Settlement, apply to
such
balance the portion of payments actually received in good funds by Agent with
respect to principal, interest, fees payable by Borrowers and allocable to
the
Lenders hereunder, and proceeds of Collateral. To the extent that a net amount
is owed to any such Lender after such application, such net amount shall be
distributed by Agent to that Lender as part of such next
Settlement.
(iii) Between
Settlement Dates, Agent, to the extent no Protective Advances or Swing Loans
are
outstanding, may pay over to Swing Lender any payments received by Agent, that
in accordance with the terms of this Agreement would be applied to the reduction
of the Advances, for application to Swing Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the
Advances. If, as of any Settlement Date, Collections of Borrowers or their
Subsidiaries received since the then immediately preceding Settlement Date
have
been applied to Swing Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Advances other than to
Swing Loans, as provided for in the previous sentence, Swing Lender shall pay
to
Agent for the accounts of the Lenders, and Agent shall pay to the Lenders,
to be
applied to the outstanding Advances of such Lenders, an amount such that each
Lender shall, upon receipt of such amount, have, as of such Settlement Date,
its
Pro Rata Share of the Advances. During the period between Settlement Dates,
Swing Lender with respect to Swing Loans, Agent with respect to Protective
Advances, and each Lender (subject to the effect of agreements between Agent
and
individual Lenders) with respect to the Advances other than Swing Loans and
Protective Advances, shall be entitled to interest at the applicable rate or
rates payable under this Agreement on the daily amount of funds employed by
Swing Lender, Agent, or the Lenders, as applicable.
8
(f) Notation.
Agent
shall record on its books the principal amount of the Advances owing to each
Lender, including the Swing Loans owing to Swing Lender, and Protective Advances
owing to Agent, and the interests therein of each Lender, from time to time
and
such records shall, absent manifest error, conclusively be presumed to be
correct and accurate.
(g) Lenders’
Failure to Perform.
All
Advances (other than Swing Loans and Protective Advances) shall be made by
the
Lenders contemporaneously and in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares. It
is
understood that (i) no Lender shall be responsible for any failure by
any
other Lender to perform its obligation to make any Advance (or other extension
of credit) hereunder, nor shall any Commitment of any Lender be increased or
decreased as a result of any failure by any other Lender to perform its
obligations hereunder, and (ii) no failure by any Lender to perform
its
obligations hereunder shall excuse any other Lender from its obligations
hereunder.
2.4 Payments.
(a) Payments
by Borrowers.
(i) Except
as
otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by Borrowers shall be made
to
Agent’s Account for the account of the Lender Group and shall be made in
immediately available funds, no later than 2:00 p.m. (Georgia time)
on the
date specified herein. Any payment received by Agent later than 2:00 p.m.
(Georgia time), shall be deemed to have been received on the following Business
Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue until such
following Business Day.
(ii) Unless
Agent receives notice from Administrative Borrower prior to the date on which
any payment is due to the Lenders that Borrowers will not make such payment
in
full as and when required, Agent may assume that Borrowers have made (or will
make) such payment in full to Agent on such date in immediately available funds
and Agent may (but shall not be so required), in reliance upon such assumption,
distribute to each Lender on such due date an amount equal to the amount then
due such Lender. If and to the extent Borrowers do not make such payment in
full
to Agent on the date when due, each Lender severally shall repay to Agent on
demand such amount distributed to such Lender, together with interest thereon
at
the Defaulting Lender Rate for each day from the date such amount is distributed
to such Lender until the date repaid.
(b) Apportionment
and Application.
(i) Except
as
otherwise provided with respect to Defaulting Lenders and except as otherwise
provided in the Loan Documents (including agreements between Agent and
individual Lenders), aggregate principal and interest payments shall be
apportioned ratably among the Lenders (according to the unpaid principal balance
of the Revolver Obligations to which such payments relate held by each Lender)
and payments of fees and expenses (other than fees or expenses that are for
Agent’s separate account, after giving effect to any agreements between Agent
and individual Lenders) shall be apportioned ratably among the Lenders having
a
Pro Rata Share of the type of Commitment or Revolver Obligation to which a
particular fee relates. All payments shall be remitted to Agent and all such
payments, and all proceeds of Collateral received by Agent, shall be applied
as
follows:
9
(A) first,
to pay
all letter of credit fees and accrued interest due with respect to LC Facility
Letters of Credit until paid in full,
(B) second,
to pay
all unreimbursed LC Facility L/C Disbursements until paid in full,
(C) third,
if an
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, to Agent, to be held by Agent,
for the ratable benefit of Issuing Lender and those Lenders having a Commitment,
as cash collateral in an amount up to 105% of the LC Facility Letter of Credit
Usage until paid in full,
(D) fourth,
ratably
to pay any Lender Group Expenses then due to Agent or any of the Lenders under
the Loan Documents, until paid in full,
(E) fifth,
ratably
to pay any fees or premiums then due to Agent (for its separate account, after
giving effect to any agreements between Agent and individual Lenders) or any
of
the Lenders under the Loan Documents until paid in full,
(F) sixth,
to pay
interest due in respect of all Protective Advances until paid in
full,
(G) seventh,
to pay
the principal of all Protective Advances until paid in full,
(H) eighth,
ratably
to pay interest due in respect of the Advances (other than Protective Advances)
and the Swing Loans until paid in full,
(I) ninth,
to pay
the principal of all Swing Loans until paid in full,
(J) tenth,
so long
as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and at Agent’s election
(which election Agent agrees will not be made if an Overadvance would be created
thereby), to pay any Bank Product Obligations then due and owing, until paid
in
full,
(K) twelfth,
so long
as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, to pay the principal
of
all Advances until paid in full,
(L) thirteenth,
if an
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, ratably (i) to pay
the
principal of all Advances until paid in full, (ii) to Agent, to be held
by
Agent, for the ratable benefit of Issuing Lender and those Lenders having a
Commitment, as cash collateral in an amount up to 105% of the Letter of Credit
Usage until paid in full, and (iii) to Agent, to be held by Agent, for
the
benefit of the Bank Product Providers, as cash collateral in an amount up to
the
amount of the Bank Product Reserve established prior to the occurrence of,
and
not in contemplation of, the subject Event of Default until the Bank Product
Obligations have been paid in full or the cash collateral amount therefor has
been exhausted,
(M) fourteenth,
if an
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, to pay any other Obligations
(including the provision of amounts to Agent, to be held by Agent, for the
benefit of the Bank Product Providers, as cash collateral in an amount up to
the
amount determined by Agent in its Permitted Discretion as the amount necessary
to secure the Bank Product Obligations), and
10
(N) fifteenth,
to
Borrowers (to be wired to the Designated Account) or such other Person entitled
thereto under applicable law.
(ii) Agent
promptly shall distribute to each Lender, pursuant to the applicable wire
instructions received from each Lender in writing, such funds as it may be
entitled to receive, subject to a Settlement delay as provided in Section 2.3(e).
(iii) In
each
instance, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, this
Section 2.4(b)
shall
not apply to any payment made by Borrowers to Agent and specified by Borrowers
to be for the payment of specific Revolver Obligations then due and payable
(or
prepayable) under any provision of this Agreement.
(iv) For
purposes of the foregoing, “paid in full” means payment of all amounts owing
under the Loan Documents according to the terms thereof, including loan fees,
service fees, professional fees, interest (and specifically including interest
accrued after the commencement of any Insolvency Proceeding), default interest,
interest on interest, and expense reimbursements, whether or not any of the
foregoing would be or is allowed or disallowed in whole or in part in any
Insolvency Proceeding.
(v) In
the
event of a direct conflict between the priority provisions of this Section 2.4
and
other provisions contained in any other Loan Document, it is the intention
of
the parties hereto that such priority provisions in such documents shall be
read
together and construed, to the fullest extent possible, to be in concert with
each other. In the event of any actual, irreconcilable conflict that cannot
be
resolved as aforesaid, the terms and provisions of this Section 2.4
shall
control and govern.
(vi) In
the
event, pursuant to the provisions of Section
2.4(b)(i)
above,
Agent is holding cash collateral with respect to any LC Facility Letter of
Credit Usage and/or Letter of Credit Usage in connection with the occurrence
of
an Event of Default and such Event of Default is waived in accordance with
the
terms of this Agreement, Agent agrees, unless the terms of such waiver provide
otherwise, to release such cash collateral within 1 Business Day after the
execution of such waiver.
(c) Loan
Limit. If,
at
any time or for any reason, the aggregate outstanding principal balance of
the
Advances, Letter of Credit Usage and LC Facility Letter of Credit Usage exceeds
the Loan Limit, Borrowers
shall
immediately prepay the Advances, or if no Advances are then outstanding, provide
cash collateral with respect to the LC Facility Letters of Credit and/or the
Letters of Credit (such cash collateral to be provided in the amounts and in
the
order of priority set forth in Section
2.4(b)
above as
if an Event of Default had occurred) in the amount necessary to eliminate such
excess.
In the
event Agent is holding cash collateral with respect to any LC Facility Letter
of
Credit and/or Letter of Credit pursuant to the provisions of this Section
2.4(c),
if
thereafter the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the Advances, Letter
of Credit Usage and LC Facility Letter of Credit Usage no longer exceeds the
Loan Limit, Agent agrees to release such cash collateral within 1 Business
Day
after such compliance has been established.
2.5 Overadvances.
If, at
any time or for any reason, the amount of Obligations owed by Borrowers to
the
Lender Group pursuant to Section 2.1,
Section
2.2
or
Section 2.12
is
greater than any of the limitations set forth in Section 2.1,
Section
2.2
or
Section 2.12,
as
applicable (an “Overadvance”),
except as otherwise permitted by Section
2.3(d),
Borrowers immediately shall pay to Agent, in cash, the amount of such excess,
which amount shall be used by Agent to reduce the Obligations in accordance
with
the priorities set forth in Section 2.4(b).
In
addition, Borrowers hereby promise to pay the Obligations (including principal,
interest, fees, costs, and expenses) in Dollars in full as and when due and
payable under the terms of this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents.
11
2.6 Interest
Rates and Letter of Credit Fee: Rates, Payments, and
Calculations.
(a) Interest
Rates.
Except
as provided in Section
2.6(c)
below,
all Obligations (except for undrawn Letters of Credit and LC Facility Letters
of
Credit and except for Bank Product Obligations) that have been charged to the
Loan Account pursuant to the terms hereof shall bear interest on the Daily
Balance thereof as follows (i) if the relevant Obligation is an Advance
that is a LIBOR Rate Loan, at a per annum rate equal to the LIBOR Rate plus
the
LIBOR Rate Margin, and (ii) otherwise, at a per annum rate equal to
the
Base Rate plus the Base Rate Margin. The foregoing notwithstanding, at no time
shall any portion of the Obligations (other than Bank Product Obligations)
bear
interest on the Daily Balance thereof at a per annum rate less than 6.00%.
To
the extent that interest accrued hereunder at the rate set forth herein would
be
less than the foregoing minimum daily rate, the interest rate chargeable
hereunder for such day automatically shall be deemed increased to the minimum
rate.
(b) Letter
of Credit Fee.
Borrowers shall pay Agent (for the ratable benefit of the Lenders with the
applicable Commitment, subject to any agreements between Agent and individual
Lenders), a letter of credit fee (in addition to the charges, commissions,
fees,
and costs set forth in Sections
2.2(e)
and
2.12(e))
which
shall accrue at a per annum rate equal to the then applicable LIBOR Rate Margin
times the Daily Balance of the undrawn amount of all outstanding LC Facility
Letters of Credit and all Letters of Credit.
(c) Default
Rate.
Upon the
occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default (and at the
election of Agent or the Required Lenders),
(i) all
Obligations (except for undrawn Letters of Credit and LC Facility Letters of
Credit and except for Bank Product Obligations) that have been charged to the
Loan Account pursuant to the terms hereof shall bear interest on the Daily
Balance thereof at a per annum rate equal to 2 percentage points above the
per
annum rate otherwise applicable hereunder, and
(ii) the
letter of credit fee provided for above shall be increased to 2 percentage
points above the per annum rate otherwise applicable hereunder.
(d) Payment.
Except
as provided to the contrary in Section 2.11
or
Section 2.13(a),
interest, letter of credit fees, and all other fees payable hereunder shall
be
due and payable, in arrears, on the first day of each month at any time that
Obligations or Commitments are outstanding. Borrowers hereby authorize Agent,
from time to time, without prior notice to Borrowers, to charge all interest
and
fees (when due and payable), all Lender Group Expenses (as and when incurred),
all charges, commissions, fees, and costs provided for in Section
2.2(e)
and
Section 2.12(e)
(as and
when accrued or incurred), all fees and costs provided for in Section 2.11
(as and
when accrued or incurred), and all other payments as and when due and payable
under any Loan Document (including any amounts due and payable to the Bank
Product Providers in respect of Bank Products up to the amount of the Bank
Product Reserve) to Borrowers’ Loan Account, which amounts thereafter shall
constitute Advances hereunder and shall accrue interest at the rate then
applicable to Advances hereunder. Any interest not paid when due shall be
compounded by being charged to Borrowers’ Loan Account and shall thereafter
constitute Advances hereunder and shall accrue interest at the rate then
applicable to Advances that are Base Rate Loans hereunder.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no interest or letter of credit fees due with
respect to the LC Facility Letters of Credit shall be charged to Borrower’s Loan
Account or otherwise constitute Advances, but shall instead be payable monthly
in arrears and within 24 hours of any demand therefor by Agent, such demands
to
be made (i) on or about the first day of each month with respect to the letter
of credit fee payable pursuant to Section 2.6(b) and (ii) on or about the
fifteenth day of each month with respect to all other amounts.
(e) Computation.
All
interest and fees chargeable under the Loan Documents shall be computed on
the
basis of a 360 day year for the actual number of days elapsed. In the event
the
Base Rate is changed from time to time hereafter, the rates of interest
hereunder based upon the Base Rate automatically and immediately shall be
increased or decreased by an amount equal to such change in the Base Rate.
12
(f) Intent
to Limit Charges to Maximum Lawful Rate.
In no
event shall the interest rate or rates payable under this Agreement, plus any
other amounts paid in connection herewith, exceed the highest rate permissible
under any law that a court of competent jurisdiction shall, in a final
determination, deem applicable. Borrowers and the Lender Group, in executing
and
delivering this Agreement, intend legally to agree upon the rate or rates of
interest and manner of payment stated within it; provided, however, that,
anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, if said rate or
rates
of interest or manner of payment exceeds the maximum allowable under applicable
law, then, ipso facto, as of the date of this Agreement, Borrowers are and
shall
be liable only for the payment of such maximum as allowed by law, and payment
received from Borrowers in excess of such legal maximum, whenever received,
shall be applied to reduce the principal balance of the Obligations to the
extent of such excess. The
Lender Group and all other parties to the Loan Documents intend to contract
in
strict compliance with applicable usury law from time to time in effect. In
furtherance thereof such Persons stipulate and agree that none of the terms
and
provisions contained in the Loan Documents shall ever be construed to create
a
contract to pay, for the use, forbearance or detention of money, or interest
in
excess of the Maximum Interest. No Credit Party nor any endorsers, or other
Persons hereafter becoming liable for payment of any Obligation shall ever
be
liable for unearned interest thereon or shall ever be required to pay interest
thereon in excess of the Maximum Interest, and the provisions of this section
shall control over all other provisions of the Loan Documents which may be
in
conflict or apparent conflict herewith. The Lender Group expressly disavows
any
intention to charge or collect excessive unearned interest or finance charges
in
the event the maturity of any Obligation is accelerated. If (a) the maturity
of
any Obligation is accelerated for any reason, (b) any Obligation is prepaid
and
as a result any amounts held to constitute interest are determined to be in
excess of the Maximum Interest, or (c) any Lender or any other holder of any
or
all of the Obligations shall otherwise collect moneys which are determined
to
constitute interest which would otherwise increase the interest and other
amounts deemed interest on any or all of the Obligations to an amount in excess
of the Maximum Interest, then all sums determined to constitute interest in
excess of the Maximum Interest shall, without penalty, be promptly applied
to
reduce the then outstanding principal of the related Obligations or, at such
Lender’s or holder’s option, promptly returned to Administrative Borrower upon
such determination. In determining whether or not the interest paid or payable,
under any specific circumstance, exceeds the Maximum Interest, the Lender Group
and Borrowers shall to the greatest extent permitted under applicable law,
(x)
characterize any non-principal payment as an expense, fee or premium rather
than
as interest, (y) exclude the voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof,
and
(z) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread the total amount of interest
throughout the entire contemplated term of the instruments evidencing
Obligations in accordance with the amounts outstanding from time to time
thereunder and the Maximum Interest in order to lawfully charge the Maximum
Interest. In the event applicable law provides for an interest ceiling under
Chapter 303 of the Texas Finance Code (the “Texas
Finance Code”)
as
amended, for that day, the ceiling shall be the “weekly ceiling” as defined in
the Texas Finance Code; provided that if any applicable law permits greater
interest, the law permitting the greatest interest shall apply.
To the
extent that the interest rate or rates otherwise payable under this Agreement
plus any other amounts paid under this Agreement are limited under applicable
law, each Lender agrees to limit the interest to which it is otherwise entitled
to the Maximum
Interest.
Such
limitation for each Lender for any period shall be in an amount equal to such
Lender’s Pro Rata Share multiplied by the difference between the Applicable
Facility Interest and the Maximum Interest. For purposes of this calculation
at
any date of determination, any fees or charges included in the calculation
of
interest not directly related to each of the Advances, Letters of Credit,
and LC Facility Letters of Credit shall be allocated ratably to each based
upon
the outstanding Obligations of each compared to all Obligations.
2.7 Cash
Management.
(a) Borrowers
shall and shall cause each of their domestic Subsidiaries to (i) establish
and maintain cash management services of a type and on terms satisfactory to
Agent in its Permitted Discretion at one or more of the banks set forth on
Schedule 2.7(a)
(each a
“Cash
Management Bank”),
and
shall request in writing and otherwise take such reasonable steps to ensure
that
all of their and their domestic Subsidiaries’ Account Debtors forward payment of
the amounts owed by them directly to such Cash Management Bank, and
(ii) deposit or cause to be deposited promptly, and in any event no
later
than the first Business Day after the date of receipt thereof, all of their
Collections (including those sent directly by their Account Debtors to Borrowers
or their domestic Subsidiaries) into a bank account in Administrative Borrower’s
name and subject to the control of Agent (a “Cash
Management Account”)
at one
of the Cash Management Banks.
13
(b) Each
Cash
Management Bank shall establish and maintain Cash Management Agreements with
Agent and Borrowers, in form and substance acceptable to Agent in its Permitted
Discretion. Each such Cash Management Agreement shall provide, among other
things, that (i) the Cash Management Bank will comply with any instructions
originated by Agent directing the disposition of the funds in such Cash
Management Account without further consent by Borrowers or their Subsidiaries,
as applicable, (ii) the Cash Management Bank has no rights of setoff
or
recoupment or any other claim against the applicable Cash Management Account,
other than for payment of its service fees and other charges directly related
to
the administration of such Cash Management Account and for returned checks
or
other items of payment, and (iii) it will forward by daily sweep all
amounts in the applicable Cash Management Account to the Agent’s
Account.
(c) So
long
as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, Administrative
Borrower may amend Schedule 2.7(a)
to add
or replace a Cash Management Bank or Cash Management Account; provided,
however,
that
(i) such prospective Cash Management Bank shall be satisfactory to Agent
in
its Permitted Discretion, and (ii) prior to the time of the opening
of such
Cash Management Account, a Borrower or its Subsidiary, as applicable, and such
prospective Cash Management Bank shall have executed and delivered to Agent
a
Cash Management Agreement. Borrowers (or their Subsidiaries, as applicable)
shall close any of their Cash Management Accounts (and establish replacement
cash management accounts in accordance with the foregoing sentence) promptly
and
in any event within 30 days of notice from Agent that the creditworthiness
of
any Cash Management Bank is no longer acceptable in Agent’s reasonable judgment,
or as promptly as practicable and in any event within 60 days of notice from
Agent that the operating performance, funds transfer, or availability procedures
or performance of the Cash Management Bank with respect to Cash Management
Accounts or Agent’s liability under any Cash Management Agreement with such Cash
Management Bank is no longer acceptable in Agent’s reasonable
judgment.
(d) The
Cash
Management Accounts shall be cash collateral accounts subject to Control
Agreements.
(e) Within
the time frame specified in Section
5.20(g),
each
Credit Party and its domestic Subsidiaries which receives
Collections through credit card charges shall establish and maintain Credit
Card
Agreements with Agent and each Credit Card Processor. Each such Credit Card
Agreement shall provide, among other things, that each such Credit Card
Processor shall transfer all proceeds of credit card charges for sales by
such
Credit Party
or such
Subsidiary, as applicable, received by it (or other amounts payable by such
Credit Card Processor) into a Cash Management Account (or such other Deposit
Account as Agent may designate pursuant to any Credit Card Agreement) on a
daily
basis. No Credit Party nor any of its domestic Subsidiaries may change any
direction or designation set forth in the Credit Card Agreements regarding
payment of charges without the prior written consent of Agent. Without limiting
the foregoing or any other provision of this Agreement, in the event a Credit
Card Agreement is not in effect with respect to any credit card charge
processing arrangement of any applicable Credit Party or its Subsidiaries,
such
Credit Party or such Subsidiary (as applicable) shall, (i) instruct such Credit
Card Processor to remit all proceeds of credit card charges or sales processed
by such processor to a Cash Management Account and, except as set forth in
the
following clause (ii), shall not rescind or alter such instruction without
the
prior written consent of Agent and (ii) pursuant to a joint notice from the
applicable Credit Party or Subsidiary of a Credit Party and Agent, instruct
such
Credit Card Processor to remit all proceeds of credit card charges or sales
processed by such processor to a Cash Management Account and shall not rescind
or alter such instruction without the prior written consent of Agent.
14
2.8 Crediting
Payments.
The
receipt of any payment item by Agent (whether from transfers to Agent by the
Cash Management Banks pursuant to the Cash Management Agreements or otherwise)
shall not be considered a payment on account unless such payment item is a
wire
transfer of immediately available federal funds made to the Agent’s Account or
unless and until such payment item is honored when presented for payment. Should
any payment item not be honored when presented for payment, then Borrowers
shall
be deemed not to have made such payment and interest shall be calculated
accordingly. Anything to the contrary contained herein notwithstanding, any
payment item shall be deemed received by Agent only if it is received into
the
Agent’s Account on a Business Day on or before 2:00 p.m. (Georgia time). If
any payment item is received into the Agent’s Account on a non-Business Day or
after 2:00 p.m. (Georgia time) on a Business Day, it shall be deemed
to
have been received by Agent as of the opening of business on the immediately
following Business Day.
2.9 Designated
Account.
Agent
is authorized to make the Advances and Issuing Lender is authorized to issue
the
Letters of Credit and LC Facility Letters of Credit, under this Agreement based
upon telephonic or other instructions received from anyone purporting to be
an
Authorized Person or, without instructions, if pursuant to Section 2.6(d).
Administrative Borrower agrees to establish and maintain the Designated Account
with the Designated Account Bank for the purpose of receiving the proceeds
of
the Advances requested by Borrowers and made by Agent or the Lenders hereunder.
Unless otherwise agreed by Agent and Administrative Borrower, any Advance,
Protective Advance, or Swing Loan requested by Borrowers and made by Agent
or
the Lenders hereunder shall be made to the Designated Account.
2.10 Maintenance
of Loan Account; Statements of Obligations.
Agent
shall maintain an account on its books in the name of Borrowers (the
“Loan
Account”)
on
which Borrowers will be charged with all Advances (including Protective Advances
and Swing Loans) made by Agent, Swing Lender, or the Lenders to Borrowers or
for
Borrowers’ account, the Letters of Credit and LC Facility Letters of Credit
issued by Issuing Lender for Borrowers’ account, and with all other payment
Obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (except for Bank Product
Obligations), including, accrued interest, fees and expenses, and Lender Group
Expenses. In accordance with Section 2.8,
the
Loan Account will be credited with all payments received by Agent from Borrowers
or for Borrowers’ account, including all amounts received in the Agent’s Account
from any Cash Management Bank. Agent shall render statements regarding the
Loan
Account to Administrative Borrower, including principal, interest, fees, and
including an itemization of all charges and expenses constituting Lender Group
Expenses owing, and such statements, absent manifest error, shall be
conclusively presumed to be correct and accurate and constitute an account
stated between Borrowers and the Lender Group unless, within 30 days after
receipt thereof by Administrative Borrower, Administrative Borrower shall
deliver to Agent written objection thereto describing the error or errors
contained in any such statements.
2.11 Fees.
Borrowers shall pay to Agent, as and when due and payable under the terms of
the
Fee Letter, the fees set forth in the Fee Letter.
2.12 Letters
of Credit.
(a) Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Issuing Lender agrees to
issue letters of credit for the account of Borrowers (each, an “L/C”)
or to
purchase participations or execute indemnities or reimbursement obligations
(each such undertaking, an “L/C
Undertaking”)
with
respect to letters of credit issued by an Underlying Issuer (as of the Closing
Date, the prospective Underlying Issuer is to be Xxxxx Fargo) for the account
of
Borrowers. Each request for the issuance of a Letter of Credit or the amendment,
renewal, or extension of any outstanding Letter of Credit shall be made in
writing by an Authorized Person and delivered to the Issuing Lender and Agent
via hand delivery, telefacsimile, or other electronic method of transmission
reasonably in advance of the requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal,
or
extension. Each such request shall be in form and substance satisfactory to
the
Issuing Lender in its Permitted Discretion and shall specify (i) the
amount
of such Letter of Credit, (ii) the date of issuance, amendment, renewal,
or
extension of such Letter of Credit, (iii) the expiration date of such
Letter of Credit, (iv) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof
(or
the beneficiary of the Underlying Letter of Credit, as applicable), and
(v) such other information (including, in the case of an amendment,
renewal, or extension, identification of the outstanding Letter of Credit to
be
so amended, renewed, or extended) as shall be necessary to prepare, amend,
renew, or extend such Letter of Credit. If requested by the Issuing Lender,
Borrowers also shall be an applicant under the application with respect to
any
Underlying Letter of Credit that is to be the subject of an L/C Undertaking.
The
Issuing Lender shall have no obligation to issue a Letter of Credit if any
of
the following would result after giving effect to the issuance of such requested
Letter of Credit:
15
(i) the
Letter of Credit Usage would exceed Availability, or
(ii) the
Letter of Credit Usage would exceed $5,000,000,
(iii) the
Letter of Credit Usage would exceed the Maximum Revolver Amount less
the
sum
of (A) the outstanding amount of Advances and (B) all reserves established
pursuant to Section
2.1(b),
or
(iv) the
Letter of Credit Usage would exceed the Loan Limit less
the
sum
of (A) the outstanding amount of Advances, (B) all reserves established pursuant
to Section
2.1(b)
and (C)
the LC Facility Letter of Credit Usage.
Borrowers
and the Lender Group acknowledge and agree that certain Underlying Letters
of
Credit may be issued to support letters of credit that already are outstanding
as of the Closing Date. Each Letter of Credit (and corresponding Underlying
Letter of Credit) shall be in form and substance acceptable to the Issuing
Lender (in the exercise of its Permitted Discretion), including the requirement
that the amounts payable thereunder must be payable in Dollars. If Issuing
Lender is obligated to advance funds under a Letter of Credit, Borrowers
immediately shall reimburse such L/C Disbursement to Issuing Lender by paying
to
Agent an amount equal to such L/C Disbursement (a) not later than
2:00 p.m., Georgia time, on the date that such L/C Disbursement is made,
if
Administrative Borrower shall have received written or telephonic notice of
such
L/C Disbursement prior to 1:00 p.m., Georgia time, on the date that
such
L/C Disbursement is made, or (b) if such notice is received by Administrative
Borrower after 1:00 p.m. on the date that such L/C Disbursement is made, then
not later than 2:00 p.m., Georgia time, on the next Business Day. In
the
absence of such reimbursement, the L/C Disbursement immediately and
automatically shall be deemed to be an Advance hereunder and, thereafter, shall
bear interest at the rate then applicable to Advances that are Base Rate Loans
under Section 2.6,
provided, that, the failure to make such reimbursement shall not constitute
a
Default or Event of Default hereunder. To the extent an L/C Disbursement is
deemed to be an Advance hereunder, Borrowers’ obligation to reimburse such L/C
Disbursement shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting Advance. Promptly
following receipt by Agent of any payment from Borrowers pursuant to this
paragraph, Agent shall distribute such payment to the Issuing Lender or, to
the
extent that Lenders have made payments pursuant to Section 2.12(c)
to
reimburse the Issuing Lender, then to such Lenders and the Issuing Lender as
their interests may appear.
(b) Promptly
following receipt of a notice of L/C Disbursement pursuant to Section 2.12(a),
each
Lender with a Commitment agrees to fund its Pro Rata Share of any Advance deemed
made pursuant to the foregoing subsection on the same terms and conditions
as if
Borrowers had requested such Advance and Agent shall promptly pay to Issuing
Lender the amounts so received by it from the Lenders. By the issuance of a
Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing the amount
thereof) and without any further action on the part of the Issuing Lender or
the
Lenders with Commitments, the Issuing Lender shall be deemed to have granted
to
each Lender with a Commitment, and each Lender with a Commitment shall be deemed
to have purchased, a participation in each Letter of Credit, in an amount equal
to its Pro Rata Share of the Risk Participation Liability of such Letter of
Credit, and each such Lender agrees to pay to Agent, for the account of the
Issuing Lender, such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of any payments made by the Issuing
Lender under such Letter of Credit. In consideration and in furtherance of
the
foregoing, each Lender with a Commitment hereby absolutely and unconditionally
agrees to pay to Agent, for the account of the Issuing Lender, such Lender’s Pro
Rata Share of each L/C Disbursement made by the Issuing Lender and not
reimbursed by Borrowers on the date due as provided in clause (a) of this
Section, or of any reimbursement payment required to be refunded to Borrowers
for any reason. Each Lender with a Commitment acknowledges and agrees that
its
obligation to deliver to Agent, for the account of the Issuing Lender, an amount
equal to its respective Pro Rata Share of each L/C Disbursement made by the
Issuing Lender pursuant to this Section 2.12(b)
shall be
absolute and unconditional and such remittance shall be made notwithstanding
the
occurrence or continuation of an Event of Default or Default or the failure
to
satisfy any condition set forth in Section 3
hereof.
If any such Lender fails to make available to Agent the amount of such Lender’s
Pro Rata Share of each L/C Disbursement made by the Issuing Lender in respect
of
such Letter of Credit as provided in this Section, such Lender shall be deemed
to be a Defaulting Lender and Agent (for the account of the Issuing Lender)
shall be entitled to recover such amount on demand from such Lender together
with interest thereon at the Defaulting Lender Rate until paid in
full.
16
(c) Each
Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify, save, defend, and hold Agent, the Issuing
Lender and the Lenders having a Commitment harmless from any loss, cost,
expense, or liability, and reasonable attorneys fees incurred by such Persons
arising out of or in connection with any LC Facility Letter of Credit;
provided,
however,
that no
Borrower shall be obligated hereunder to indemnify any such Person for any
loss,
cost, expense, or liability to the extent that it is caused by the gross
negligence or willful misconduct of such Person. Each Borrower agrees to be
bound by the Underlying Issuer’s regulations and interpretations of any
Underlying Letter of Credit or by Issuing Lender’s interpretations of any L/C
issued by Issuing Lender to or for such Borrower’s account, even though this
interpretation may be different from such Borrower’s own, and each Borrower
understands and agrees that the Lender Group shall not be liable for any error,
negligence, or mistake, whether of omission or commission, in following
Borrowers’ instructions or those contained in the Letter of Credit or any
modifications, amendments, or supplements thereto. Each Borrower understands
that the L/C Undertakings may require Issuing Lender to indemnify the Underlying
Issuer for certain costs or liabilities arising out of claims by Borrowers
against such Underlying Issuer. Each Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify, save,
defend, and hold the Lender Group harmless with respect to any loss, cost,
expense (including reasonable attorneys fees), or liability incurred by the
Lender Group under any L/C Undertaking as a result of the Lender Group’s
indemnification of any Underlying Issuer; provided,
however,
that no
Borrower shall be obligated hereunder to indemnify for any loss, cost, expense,
or liability to the extent that it is caused by the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of the Issuing Lender or any other member of the Lender Group. Each
Borrower hereby acknowledges and agrees that neither the Lender Group nor the
Issuing Lender shall be responsible for delays, errors, or omissions resulting
from the malfunction of equipment in connection with any Letter of
Credit.
(d) Each
Borrower hereby authorizes and directs any Underlying Issuer to deliver to
the
Issuing Lender all instruments, documents, and other writings and property
received by such Underlying Issuer pursuant to such Underlying Letter of Credit
and to accept and rely upon the Issuing Lender’s instructions with respect to
all matters arising in connection with such Underlying Letter of Credit and
the
related application.
(e) Any
and
all issuance charges, commissions, fees, and costs incurred by the Issuing
Lender relating to Underlying Letters of Credit shall be Lender Group Expenses
for purposes of this Agreement and immediately shall be reimbursable by
Borrowers to Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender; it being acknowledged
and agreed by each Borrower that, as of the Closing Date, the issuance charge
imposed by the prospective Underlying Issuer is .825% per annum times the face
amount of each Underlying Letter of Credit, that such issuance charge may be
changed from time to time, and that the Underlying Issuer also imposes a
schedule of charges for amendments, extensions, drawings, and
renewals.
(f) If
by
reason of (i) any change after the Closing Date in any applicable law,
treaty, rule, or regulation or any change in the interpretation or application
thereof by any Governmental Authority, or (ii) compliance by the Underlying
Issuer or the Lender Group with any direction, request, or requirement
(irrespective of whether having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority
or monetary authority including, Regulation D of the Federal Reserve Board
as
from time to time in effect (and any successor thereto):
17
(i) any
reserve, deposit, or similar requirement is or shall be imposed or modified
in
respect of any Letter of Credit issued hereunder, or
(ii) there
shall be imposed on the Underlying Issuer or the Lender Group any other
condition regarding any Underlying Letter of Credit or any Letter of Credit
issued pursuant hereto;
and
the
result of the foregoing is to increase, directly or indirectly, the cost to
the
Lender Group of issuing, making, guaranteeing, or maintaining any Letter of
Credit or to reduce the amount receivable in respect thereof by the Lender
Group, then, and in any such case, Agent may, at any time within a reasonable
period after the additional cost is incurred or the amount received is reduced,
notify Administrative Borrower, and Borrowers shall pay on demand such amounts
as Agent may specify to be necessary to compensate the Lender Group for such
additional cost or reduced receipt. If such payment is not made within one
Business Day of demand therefore, such amounts immediately and automatically
shall be deemed to be an Advance hereunder and, thereafter, shall bear interest
at the rate then applicable to Advances that are Base Rate Loans under
Section 2.6,
provided, that, the failure to make such payment shall not constitute a Default
or Event of Default hereunder. The determination by Agent of any amount due
pursuant to this Section, as set forth in a certificate setting forth, in
reasonable detail, the calculation thereof in reasonable detail, shall, in
the
absence of manifest or demonstrable error, be final and conclusive and binding
on all of the parties hereto.
2.13 LIBOR
Option.
(a) Interest
and Interest Payment Dates.
In lieu
of having interest charged at the rate based upon the Base Rate, Borrowers
shall
have the option (the “LIBOR
Option”)
to
have interest on all or a portion of the Advances be charged at a rate of
interest based upon the LIBOR Rate. Interest on LIBOR Rate Loans shall be
payable on the earliest of (i) the last day of the Interest Period
applicable thereto, (provided,
however,
that,
subject to the following clauses (ii) and (iii), in the case of any Interest
Period greater than 3 months in duration, interest shall be payable at 3 month
intervals after the commencement of the applicable Interest Period and on the
last day of such Interest Period), (ii) the occurrence of an Event of
Default in consequence of which the Required Lenders or Agent on behalf thereof
have elected to accelerate the maturity of all or any portion of the
Obligations, or (iii) termination of this Agreement pursuant to the
terms
hereof. On the last day of each applicable Interest Period, unless
Administrative Borrower properly has exercised the LIBOR Option with respect
thereto, the interest rate applicable to such LIBOR Rate Loan automatically
shall convert to the rate of interest then applicable to Base Rate Loans of
the
same type hereunder. At any time that an Event of Default has occurred and
is
continuing, Borrowers no longer shall have the option to request that Advances
bear interest at a rate based upon the LIBOR Rate and Agent shall have the
right
to convert the interest rate on all outstanding LIBOR Rate Loans to the rate
then applicable to Base Rate Loans hereunder.
(b) LIBOR
Election.
(i) Administrative
Borrower may, at any time and from time to time, so long as no Event of Default
has occurred and is continuing, elect to exercise the LIBOR Option by notifying
Agent prior to 2:00 p.m. (Georgia time) at least 3 Business Days prior
to
the commencement of the proposed Interest Period (the “LIBOR
Deadline”).
Notice of Administrative Borrower’s election of the LIBOR Option for a permitted
portion of the Advances and an Interest Period pursuant to this Section shall
be
made by delivery to Agent of a LIBOR Notice received by Agent before the LIBOR
Deadline, or by telephonic notice received by Agent before the LIBOR Deadline
(to be confirmed by delivery to Agent of a LIBOR Notice received by Agent prior
to 5:00 p.m. (Georgia time) on the same day). Promptly upon its receipt
of
each such LIBOR Notice, Agent shall provide a copy thereof to each of the
Lenders having a Commitment.
18
(ii) Each
LIBOR Notice shall be irrevocable and binding on Borrowers. In connection with
each LIBOR Rate Loan, each Borrower shall indemnify, defend, and hold Agent
and
the Lenders having a Commitment harmless against any loss, cost, or expense
incurred by Agent or any such Lender as a result of (A) the payment
of any
principal of any LIBOR Rate Loan other than on the last day of an Interest
Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default),
(B) the conversion of any LIBOR Rate Loan other than on the last day
of the
Interest Period applicable thereto, or (C) the failure to borrow, convert,
continue or prepay any LIBOR Rate Loan on the date specified in any LIBOR Notice
delivered pursuant hereto (such losses, costs, and expenses, collectively,
“Funding
Losses”).
WITHOUT
LIMITATION, THE FOREGOING INDEMNITY SHALL APPLY TO EACH INDEMNIFIED PERSON
WITH
RESPECT TO INDEMNIFIED LIABILITIES WHICH IN ANY WAY OR TO ANY EXTENT IN WHOLE
OR
IN PART CAUSED BY OR ARISE OUT OF ANY NEGLIGENT ACT OR OMISSION OF SUCH
INDEMNIFIED PERSON OR OF ANY OTHER PERSON OR UNDER ANY CLAIM OR THEORY OF STRICT
LIABILITY. Funding
Losses shall, with respect to Agent or any Lender having a Commitment, be deemed
to equal the amount determined by Agent or such Lender to be the excess, if
any,
of (x) the amount of interest (excluding any LIBOR Rate Margin) that
would
have accrued on the principal amount of such LIBOR Rate Loan had such event
not
occurred, at the LIBOR Rate that would have been applicable thereto, for the
period from the date of such event to the last day of the then current Interest
Period therefor (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue,
for the period that would have been the Interest Period therefor), minus
(y) the
amount of interest that would accrue on such principal amount for such period
at
the interest rate which Agent or such Lender would be offered were it to be
offered, at the commencement of such period, Dollar deposits of a comparable
amount and period in the London interbank market. A certificate of Agent or
a
Lender delivered to Administrative Borrower setting forth, in reasonable detail,
any amount or amounts that Agent or such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant
to this Section 2.13
shall be
conclusive absent manifest error.
(iii) Borrowers
shall have not more than 5 LIBOR Rate Loans in effect at any given time.
Borrowers only may exercise the LIBOR Option for LIBOR Rate Loans of at least
$500,000 and integral multiples of $100,000 in excess thereof.
(c) Prepayments.
Borrowers may prepay LIBOR Rate Loans at any time; provided,
however,
that in
the event that LIBOR Rate Loans are prepaid on any date that is not the last
day
of the Interest Period applicable thereto, including as a result of any
automatic prepayment through the required application by Agent of proceeds
of
Borrowers’ and their Subsidiaries’ Collections in accordance with Section 2.4(b)
or for
any other reason, including early termination of the term of this Agreement
or
acceleration of all or any portion of the Obligations pursuant to the terms
hereof, each Borrower shall indemnify, defend, and hold Agent and the Lenders
and their Participants harmless against any and all Funding Losses in accordance
with clause (b)(ii)
above.
In the event Agent receives a payment with respect to the Obligations and at
such time no Obligations other than LIBOR Rate Loans are outstanding, unless
an
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, Agent shall not apply such
payment to such LIBOR Rate Loans until the last day of the Interest Period
therefor, and in such case, Agent shall hold such received funds as cash
collateral for the Obligations until so applied.
(d) Special
Provisions Applicable to LIBOR Rate.
(i) The
LIBOR
Rate may be adjusted by Agent with respect to any Lender on a prospective basis
to take into account any additional or increased costs to such Lender of
maintaining or obtaining any Eurodollar deposits or increased costs, in each
case, due to changes in applicable law occurring subsequent to the commencement
of the then applicable Interest Period, including changes in tax laws (except
changes of general applicability in corporate income tax laws) and changes
in
the reserve requirements imposed by the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System (or any successor), excluding the Reserve Percentage, which
additional or increased costs would increase the cost of funding loans bearing
interest at the LIBOR Rate. In any such event, the affected Lender shall give
Administrative Borrower and Agent notice of such a determination and adjustment
and Agent promptly shall transmit the notice to each other Lender and, upon
its
receipt of the notice from the affected Lender, Administrative Borrower may,
by
notice to such affected Lender (y) require such Lender to furnish to
Administrative Borrower a statement setting forth the basis for adjusting such
LIBOR Rate and the method for determining the amount of such adjustment, or
(z) repay the LIBOR Rate Loans with respect to which such adjustment
is
made (together with any amounts due under clause (b)(ii) above).
19
(ii) In
the
event that any change in market conditions or any law, regulation, treaty,
or
directive, or any change therein or in the interpretation of application
thereof, shall at any time after the date hereof, in the reasonable opinion
of
any Lender, make it unlawful or impractical for such Lender to fund or maintain
LIBOR Rate Loans or to continue such funding or maintaining, or to determine
or
charge interest rates at the LIBOR Rate, such Lender shall give notice of such
changed circumstances to Agent and Administrative Borrower and Agent promptly
shall transmit the notice to each other Lender and (y) in the case of
any
LIBOR Rate Loans of such Lender that are outstanding, the date specified in
such
Lender’s notice shall be deemed to be the last day of the Interest Period of
such LIBOR Rate Loans, and interest upon the LIBOR Rate Loans of such Lender
thereafter shall accrue interest at the rate then applicable to Base Rate Loans,
and (z) Borrowers shall not be entitled to elect the LIBOR Option until
such Lender determines that it would no longer be unlawful or impractical to
do
so.
(e) No
Requirement of Matched Funding.
Anything
to the contrary contained herein notwithstanding, neither Agent, nor any Lender,
nor any of their Participants, is required actually to acquire Eurodollar
deposits to fund or otherwise match fund any Obligation as to which interest
accrues at the LIBOR Rate. The provisions of this Section shall apply as if
each
Lender or its Participants had match funded any Obligation as to which interest
is accruing at the LIBOR Rate by acquiring Eurodollar deposits for each Interest
Period in the amount of the LIBOR Rate Loans, except that such Lender shall
not
be entitled to any Funding Losses.
2.14 Capital
Requirements. If,
after
the date hereof, any Lender determines that (i) the adoption of or change
in any law, rule, regulation or guideline regarding capital requirements for
banks or bank holding companies, or any change in the interpretation or
application thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the
administration thereof, or (ii) compliance by such Lender or its parent
bank holding company with any guideline, request or directive of any such entity
regarding capital adequacy (whether or not having the force of law), has the
effect of reducing the return on such Lender’s or such holding company’s capital
as a consequence of such Lender’s Commitments hereunder to a level below that
which such Lender or such holding company could have achieved but for such
adoption, change, or compliance (taking into consideration such Lender’s or such
holding company’s then existing policies with respect to capital adequacy and
assuming the full utilization of such entity’s capital) by any amount deemed by
such Lender to be material, then such Lender may notify Administrative Borrower
and Agent thereof. Following receipt of such notice, Borrowers agree to pay
such
Lender on demand the amount of such reduction of return of capital relating
to a
period not to exceed 180 days prior to such demand as and when such reduction
is
determined, payable within 90 days after presentation by such Lender of a
statement in the amount and setting forth in reasonable detail such Lender’s
calculation thereof and the assumptions upon which such calculation was based
(which statement shall be deemed true and correct absent manifest error). In
determining such amount, such Lender may use any reasonable averaging and
attribution methods.
2.15 Joint
and Several Liability of Borrowers.
(a) Each
Borrower is accepting joint and several liability hereunder and under the other
Loan Documents in consideration of the financial accommodations to be provided
by the applicable members of the Lender Group under this Agreement, for the
mutual benefit, directly and indirectly, of each Borrower and in consideration
of the undertakings of the other Borrowers to accept joint and several liability
for the Obligations.
(b) Each
Borrower, jointly and severally, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally accepts,
not merely as a surety but also as a co-debtor, joint and several liability
with
the other Borrowers, with respect to the payment and performance of all of
the
Obligations (including, without limitation, any Obligations arising under this
Section 2.15),
it
being the intention of the parties hereto that all the Obligations shall be
the
joint and several obligations of each Borrower without preferences or
distinction among them.
20
(c) If
and to
the extent that any Borrower shall fail to make any payment with respect to
any
of the Obligations as and when due or to perform any of the Obligations in
accordance with the terms thereof, then in each such event the other Borrowers
will make such payment with respect to, or perform, such Obligation.
(d) The
Obligations of each Borrower under the provisions of this Section 2.15
constitute the absolute and unconditional, full recourse Obligations of each
Borrower enforceable against each Borrower to the full extent of its properties
and assets, irrespective of the validity, regularity or enforceability of this
Agreement or any other circumstances whatsoever.
(e) Except
as
otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, each Borrower hereby waives
notice of acceptance of its joint and several liability, notice of any Advances,
Letters of Credit or LC Facility Letters of Credit issued under or pursuant
to
this Agreement, notice of the occurrence of any Default, Event of Default,
or of
any demand for any payment under this Agreement, notice of any action at any
time taken or omitted by Agent or Lenders under or in respect of any of the
Obligations, any requirement of diligence or to mitigate damages and, generally,
to the extent permitted by applicable law, all demands, notices and other
formalities of every kind in connection with this Agreement (except as otherwise
provided in this Agreement). Each Borrower hereby assents to, and waives notice
of, any extension or postponement of the time for the payment of any of the
Obligations, the acceptance of any payment of any of the Obligations, the
acceptance of any partial payment thereon, any waiver, consent or other action
or acquiescence by Agent or Lenders at any time or times in respect of any
default by any Borrower in the performance or satisfaction of any term,
covenant, condition or provision of this Agreement, any and all other
indulgences whatsoever by Agent or Lenders in respect of any of the Obligations,
and the taking, addition, substitution or release, in whole or in part, at
any
time or times, of any security for any of the Obligations or the addition,
substitution or release, in whole or in part, of any Borrower. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, each Borrower assents to any other action
or
delay in acting or failure to act on the part of any Agent or Lender with
respect to the failure by any Borrower to comply with any of its respective
Obligations, including, without limitation, any failure strictly or diligently
to assert any right or to pursue any remedy or to comply fully with applicable
laws or regulations thereunder, which might, but for the provisions of this
Section 2.15
afford
grounds for terminating, discharging or relieving any Borrower, in whole or
in
part, from any of its Obligations under this Section 2.15,
it
being the intention of each Borrower that, so long as any of the Obligations
hereunder remain unsatisfied, the Obligations of each Borrower under this
Section 2.15
shall
not be discharged except by performance and then only to the extent of such
performance. The Obligations of each Borrower under this Section 2.15
shall
not be diminished or rendered unenforceable by any winding up, reorganization,
arrangement, liquidation, reconstruction or similar proceeding with respect
to
any Borrower or any Agent or Lender.
(f) Each
Borrower represents and warrants to Agent and Lenders that such Borrower is
currently informed of the financial condition of Borrowers and of all other
circumstances which a diligent inquiry would reveal and which bear upon the
risk
of nonpayment of the Obligations. Each Borrower further represents and warrants
to Agent and Lenders that such Borrower has read and understands the terms
and
conditions of the Loan Documents. Each Borrower hereby covenants that such
Borrower will continue to keep informed of Borrowers’ financial condition, the
financial condition of other guarantors, if any, and of all other circumstances
which bear upon the risk of nonpayment or nonperformance of the
Obligations.
(g) Each
Borrower waives all rights and defenses arising out of an election of remedies
by Agent or any Lender, even though that election of remedies, such as a
nonjudicial foreclosure with respect to security for a guaranteed obligation,
has destroyed Agent’s or such Lender’s rights of subrogation and reimbursement
against such Borrower.
(h) Each
Borrower waives all rights and defenses that such Borrower may have because
the
Obligations are secured by Real Property. This means, among other
things:
21
(i) Agent
and
Lenders may collect from such Borrower without first foreclosing on any Real
or
Personal Property Collateral pledged by Borrowers.
(ii) If
Agent
or any Lender forecloses on any Real Property Collateral pledged by
Borrowers:
(A) The
amount of the Obligations may be reduced only by the price for which that
collateral is sold at the foreclosure sale, even if the collateral is worth
more
than the sale price.
(B) Agent
and
Lenders may collect from such Borrower even if Agent or Lenders, by foreclosing
on the Real Property Collateral, has destroyed any right such Borrower may
have
to collect from the other Borrowers.
This
is
an unconditional and irrevocable waiver of any rights and defenses such Borrower
may have because the Obligations are secured by Real Property.
(i) The
provisions of this Section 2.15
are made
for the benefit of Agent, Lenders and their respective successors and assigns,
and may be enforced by it or them from time to time against any or all Borrowers
as often as occasion therefor may arise and without requirement on the part
of
any such Agent, Lender, successor or assign first to marshal any of its or
their
claims or to exercise any of its or their rights against any Borrower or to
exhaust any remedies available to it or them against any Borrower or to resort
to any other source or means of obtaining payment of any of the Obligations
hereunder or to elect any other remedy. The provisions of this Section 2.15
shall
remain in effect until all of the Obligations shall have been paid in full
or
otherwise fully satisfied. If at any time, any payment, or any part thereof,
made in respect of any of the Obligations, is rescinded or must otherwise be
restored or returned by any Agent or Lender upon the insolvency, bankruptcy
or
reorganization of any Borrower, or otherwise, the provisions of this
Section 2.15
will
forthwith be reinstated in effect, as though such payment had not been
made.
(j) Each
Borrower hereby agrees that it will not enforce any of its rights of
contribution or subrogation against any other Borrower with respect to any
liability incurred by it hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents,
any
payments made by it to Agent or Lenders with respect to any of the Obligations
or any collateral security therefor until such time as all of the Obligations
have been paid in full in cash. Any claim which any Borrower may have against
any other Borrower with respect to any payments to any Agent or Lender hereunder
or under any other Loan Documents are hereby expressly made subordinate and
junior in right of payment, without limitation as to any increases in the
Obligations arising hereunder or thereunder, to the prior payment in full in
cash of the Obligations and, in the event of any insolvency, bankruptcy,
receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar proceeding under
the
laws of any jurisdiction relating to any Borrower, its debts or its assets,
whether voluntary or involuntary, all such Obligations shall be paid in full
in
cash before any payment or distribution of any character, whether in cash,
securities or other property, shall be made to any other Borrower
therefor.
(k) Each
Borrower hereby agrees that, after the occurrence and during the continuance
of
any Default or Event of Default, the payment of any amounts due with respect
to
the indebtedness owing by any Borrower to any other Borrower is hereby
subordinated to the prior payment in full in cash of the Obligations. Each
Borrower hereby agrees that after the occurrence and during the continuance
of
any Default or Event of Default, such Borrower will not demand, xxx for or
otherwise attempt to collect any indebtedness of any other Borrower owing to
such Borrower until the Obligations shall have been paid in full in cash. If,
notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, such Borrower shall collect, enforce
or
receive any amounts in respect of such indebtedness, such amounts shall be
collected, enforced and received by such Borrower as trustee for Agent, and
such
Borrower shall deliver any such amounts to Agent for application to the
Obligations in accordance with Section 2.4(b).
22
3. CONDITIONS;
TERM OF AGREEMENT.
3.1 Conditions
Precedent to the Initial Extension of Credit.
The
obligation of each Lender to make its initial extension of credit provided
for
hereunder, is subject to the fulfillment, to the satisfaction of Agent and
each
Lender of each of the conditions precedent set forth on Schedule 3.1
(the
making of such initial extension of credit by a Lender being conclusively deemed
to be its satisfaction or waiver of the conditions precedent).
3.2 Conditions
Precedent to all Extensions of Credit.
The
obligation of the Lender Group (or any member thereof) to make any Advances
hereunder at any time (or to extend any other credit hereunder) shall be subject
to the following conditions precedent:
(a) the
representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or in the other
Loan
Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the
date of such extension of credit, as though made on and as of such date (except
to the extent that such representations and warranties relate solely to an
earlier date);
(b) no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date
of
such extension of credit, nor shall either result from the making thereof;
(c) no
injunction, writ, restraining order, or other order of any nature restricting
or
prohibiting, directly or indirectly, the extending of such credit shall have
been issued and remain in force by any Governmental Authority against any
Borrower, Agent, any Lender, or any of their Affiliates; and
(d) no
Material Adverse Change shall have occurred since the date of the latest
financial statements of the Credit Parties submitted to Agent on or before
the
Closing Date.
3.3 Term.
This
Agreement shall continue in full force and effect for a term ending on May
1,
2009 (the “Maturity
Date”).
The
foregoing notwithstanding, the Lender Group, upon the election of the Required
Lenders, shall have the right to terminate its obligations under this Agreement
immediately and without notice upon the occurrence and during the continuation
of an Event of Default.
3.4 Effect
of Termination.
On the
date of termination of this Agreement, all Obligations (including contingent
reimbursement obligations of Borrowers with respect to outstanding Letters
of
Credit and LC Facility Letters of Credit and including all Bank Product
Obligations) immediately shall become due and payable without notice or demand
(including (a) either (i) providing cash collateral to be held
by
Agent for the benefit of those Lenders with a Commitment in an amount equal
to
105% of the sum of the Letter of Credit Usage and the LC Facility Letter of
Credit Usage, or (ii) causing the original Letters of Credit and LC
Facility Letters of Credit to be returned to the Issuing Lender, and
(b) providing cash collateral (in an amount determined by Agent as
sufficient to satisfy the reasonably estimated credit exposure) to be held
by
Agent for the benefit of the Bank Product Providers with respect to the Bank
Product Obligations). No termination of this Agreement, however, shall relieve
or discharge Borrowers or their Subsidiaries of their duties, Obligations,
or
covenants hereunder or under any other Loan Document and the Agent’s Liens in
the Collateral shall remain in effect until all Obligations have been paid
in
full and the Lender Group’s obligations to provide additional credit hereunder
have been terminated. When this Agreement has been terminated and all of the
Obligations have been paid in full and the Lender Group’s obligations to provide
additional credit under the Loan Documents have been terminated irrevocably,
Agent will, at Borrowers’ sole expense, execute and deliver any termination
statements, lien releases, mortgage releases, discharges of security interests,
and other similar discharge or release documents (and, if applicable, in
recordable form) as are reasonably necessary to release, as of record, the
Agent’s Liens and all notices of security interests and liens previously filed
by Agent with respect to the Obligations.
23
3.5 Early
Termination by Borrowers.
Borrowers have the option, at any time upon 30 days prior written notice by
Administrative Borrower to Agent, to terminate this Agreement by paying to
Agent, in cash, the Obligations (including (a) either (i) providing
cash collateral to be held by Agent for the benefit of those Lenders with a
Commitment in an amount equal to 105% of the sum of the Letter of Credit Usage
and LC Facility Letter of Credit Usage, or (ii) causing the original
Letters of Credit and LC Facility Letters of Credit to be returned to the
Issuing Lender, and (b) providing cash collateral (in an amount determined
by Agent as sufficient to satisfy the reasonably estimated credit exposure)
to
be held by Agent for the benefit of the Bank Product Providers with respect
to
the Bank Product Obligations), in full. If Administrative Borrower has sent
a
notice of termination pursuant to the provisions of this Section, then the
Commitments shall terminate and Borrowers shall be obligated to repay the
Obligations (including (a) either (i) providing cash collateral
to be
held by Agent for the benefit of those Lenders with a Commitment in an amount
equal to 105% of the sum of the Letter of Credit Usage and LC Facility Letter
of
Credit Usage, or (ii) causing the original Letters of Credit and LC
Facility Letters of Credit to be returned to the Issuing Lender, and
(b) providing cash collateral (in an amount determined by Agent as
sufficient to satisfy the reasonably estimated credit exposure) to be held
by
Agent for the benefit of the Bank Product Providers with respect to the Bank
Product Obligations), in full, on the date set forth as the date of termination
of this Agreement in such notice; provided,
however,
no more
than four times during the term of this Agreement, Administrative Borrower
may
revoke or extend the stated termination date in a notice of termination of
this
Agreement which has been provided to Agent.
4. REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES.
In
order
to induce the Lender Group to enter into this Agreement, each Credit Party
makes
the following representations and warranties to the Lender Group which shall
be
true, correct, and complete, in all material respects, as of the Closing Date
and at and as of the date of the making of each Advance (or other extension
of
credit) made thereafter, as though made on and as of the date of such Advance
(or other extension of credit) (except to the extent that such representations
and warranties relate solely to an earlier date) and such representations and
warranties shall survive the execution and delivery of this
Agreement:
4.1 No
Encumbrances.
Each
Credit Party and its Subsidiaries has good and indefeasible title to, or a
valid
leasehold interest in, their personal property assets and good and marketable
title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, its Real Property, in each case,
free and clear of Liens except for Permitted Liens.
4.2 Accounts.
As to
each Account that is identified by a Borrower as one of its Account in any
report submitted to Agent, such Account is (a) a bona fide existing
payment
obligation of the applicable Account Debtors created by the sale and delivery
of
Inventory or the rendition of services to such Account Debtors in the ordinary
course of such Borrower’s business, and (b) owed to such Borrower without
any known defenses, disputes, offsets, counterclaims, or rights of return or
cancellation.
4.3 Inventory.
As to
each item of Inventory that is identified by a Borrower as such Borrower’s
Inventory in any report submitted to Agent, such Inventory is of good and
merchantable quality, free from known defects.
4.4 Equipment.
Each
material item of Equipment of Borrowers and their Subsidiaries is used or held
for use in their business and is in good working order, ordinary wear and tear
and damage by casualty excepted.
4.5 Location
of Inventory and Equipment.
The
Inventory and Equipment (other than vehicles or Equipment out for repair) of
any
Credit Party or its Subsidiaries are not stored with a bailee, warehouseman,
or
similar party and are located only at, or in-transit between, the locations
identified on Schedule 4.5
(as such
Schedule may be updated pursuant to Section 5.9).
24
4.6 Inventory
Records.
Each
Borrower keeps correct and accurate records itemizing and describing the type,
quality, and quantity of its and its Subsidiaries’ Inventory and the book value
thereof.
4.7 State
of Incorporation; Location of Chief Executive Office; Organizational
Identification Number; Commercial Tort Claims.
(a) The
jurisdiction of organization of each Credit Party and each of its Subsidiaries
is set forth on Schedule 4.7(a)
(as such
Schedule may be updated in connection with any transaction permitted by this
Agreement).
(b) The
chief
executive office of each Credit Party and each of its Subsidiaries is located
at
the address indicated on Schedule 4.7(b)
(as such
Schedule may be updated pursuant to Section 5.9).
(c) Each
Credit Party’s and each of its Subsidiaries’ organizational identification
number, if any, are identified on Schedule 4.7(c)
(as such
Schedule may be updated in connection with any transaction permitted by this
Agreement).
(d) As
of the
Closing Date, no Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries holds any commercial
tort claims, except as set forth on Schedule 4.7(d)
(as such
Schedule may be updated pursuant to the terms of the Security
Agreement).
4.8 Due
Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries.
(a) Each
Credit Party is duly organized and existing and in good standing under the
laws
of the jurisdiction of its organization and qualified to do business in any
state where the failure to be so qualified reasonably could be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Change.
(b) Set
forth
on Schedule 4.8
(as such
Schedule may be updated in connection with any transaction permitted by this
Agreement), is a complete and accurate description of the authorized capital
Stock of each Credit Party, by class, and, as of the Closing Date, a description
of the number of shares of each such class that are issued and outstanding.
Other than as described on Schedule 4.8,
there
are no subscriptions, options, warrants, or calls relating to any shares of
any
Credit Party’s capital Stock, including any right of conversion or exchange
under any outstanding security or other instrument. No Credit Party is subject
to any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to repurchase or otherwise acquire
or retire any shares of its capital Stock or any security convertible into
or
exchangeable for any of its capital Stock prior to the Maturity
Date.
(c) Set
forth
on Schedule 4.8
(as such
Schedule may be updated in connection with any transaction permitted by this
Agreement), is a complete and accurate list of each Credit Party’s direct and
indirect Subsidiaries, showing: (i) the jurisdiction of their organization,
(ii) the number of shares of each class of common and preferred Stock
authorized for each of such Subsidiaries, and (iii) the number and the
percentage of the outstanding shares of each such class owned directly or
indirectly by the applicable Credit Party. All of the outstanding capital Stock
of each such Subsidiary has been validly issued and is fully paid and
non-assessable.
4.9 Due
Authorization; No Conflict.
(a) As
to
each Credit Party, the execution, delivery, and performance by such Credit
Party
of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party have
been
duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of such Credit
Party.
(b) As
to
each Credit Party, the execution, delivery, and performance by such Credit
Party
of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party do not
and
will not (i) violate any provision of federal, state, or local law or
regulation applicable to any Credit Party, the Governing Documents of any Credit
Party, or any order, judgment, or decree of any court or other Governmental
Authority binding on any Credit Party, (ii) conflict with, result in
a
breach of, or constitute (with due notice or lapse of time or both) a default
under any material contractual obligation of any Credit Party where such default
is reasonably likely to result in the termination of such contract,
(iii) result in or require the creation or imposition of any Lien of
any
nature whatsoever upon any properties or assets of any Credit Party, other
than
Permitted Liens, or (iv) require any approval of any Credit Party’s
interestholders or any approval or consent of any Person under any material
contractual obligation of any Credit Party, other than consents or approvals
that have been obtained and that are still in force and effect or where the
failure to obtain such consents or approvals is not reasonably likely to result
in the termination of any such contract.
25
(c) Other
than the filing of financing statements and the recordation of the Copyright
Security Agreement, the Patent Security Agreement, the Trademark Security
Agreement and the Mortgages, the execution, delivery, and performance by each
Credit Party of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Credit
Party is a party do not and will not require any registration with, consent,
or
approval of, or notice to, or other action with or by, any Governmental
Authority, other than consents or approvals that have been obtained and that
are
still in force and effect.
(d) As
to
each Credit Party, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such
Credit Party is a party, and all other documents contemplated hereby and
thereby, when executed and delivered by such Credit Party will be the legally
valid and binding obligations of such Credit Party, enforceable against such
Credit Party in accordance with their respective terms, except as enforcement
may be limited by equitable principles or by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws relating to or limiting creditors’
rights generally.
(e) The
Agent’s Liens are validly created, perfected (to the extent such Liens may be
perfected by the filings contemplated to be made, and agreements contemplated
to
be entered into, by the Loan Documents), and first priority Liens, subject
only
to Permitted Liens.
4.10 Litigation.
Other
than those matters disclosed on Schedule 4.10,
and
other than matters that reasonably could not be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Change, there are no actions, suits, or proceedings pending or, to
the
best knowledge of each Credit Party, threatened against any Credit Party or
any
of its Subsidiaries.
4.11 No
Material Adverse Change.
All
financial statements relating to the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries
that
have been delivered by any Credit Party to the Lender Group have been prepared
in accordance with GAAP (except, in the case of unaudited financial statements,
for the lack of footnotes and being subject to year-end audit adjustments)
and
present fairly in all material respects, the Credit Parties’ and their
respective Subsidiaries’ financial condition as of the date thereof and results
of operations for the period then ended. There has not been a Material Adverse
Change since the date of the latest financial statements submitted to Agent
on
or before the Closing Date.
4.12 Fraudulent
Transfer.
(a) As
of the
Closing Date, the Borrowers, taken as a whole, are Solvent and the Credit
Parties and their respective Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, are
Solvent.
(b) No
transfer of property is being made by any Credit Party or any of its
Subsidiaries and no obligation is being incurred by any Credit Party or any
of
its Subsidiaries in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement or the other Loan Documents with the intent to hinder, delay, or
defraud either present or future creditors of any Credit Party or its
Subsidiaries.
26
4.13 Employee
Benefits.
(a) Set
forth
on Schedule
4.13(a)
is a
complete and accurate list of all Plans that (i) meet the definition of an
“employee pension benefit plan” under Section 3(2) of ERISA, (ii) are Pension
Plans or unfunded deferred compensation plans and (iii) that are currently
maintained or contributed to by any Credit Party, any of their respective
Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates as of the Closing
Date.
(b) each
Credit Party, their respective Subsidiaries, and their respective ERISA
Affiliates are in compliance with applicable provisions and requirements of
ERISA and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder with respect
to each Plan, and have performed their obligations under each Plan, except
as
would not reasonably be expected to result in a material liability to any Credit
Party or Subsidiary of a Credit Party.
(c) No
ERISA
Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur.
(d) Except
to
the extent required under Section 4980B of the IRC, no Plan provides health
benefits (through the purchase of insurance or otherwise) for any retired or
former employee of any Credit Party, any of their respective Subsidiaries or
any
of their respective ERISA Affiliates, except as would not reasonably be expected
to result in a material liability to any Credit Party or Subsidiary of a Credit
Party.
(e) As
of the
most recent valuation date for any Pension Plan, the amount of outstanding
benefit liabilities (as defined in Section 4001(a)(18) of ERISA), individually
or in the aggregate for all Pension Plans (excluding for purposes of such
computation any Pension Plans with respect to which assets exceed benefit
liabilities), does not exceed $1,000,000.
(f) All
liabilities under each Plan are (i) funded to at least the minimum level
required by law or, if higher, to the level required by the terms governing
the
Plans, (ii) insured with a reputable insurance company, (iii) provided for
or
recognized in the financial statements most recently delivered to Agent pursuant
to Section
5.3
hereof
to the extent required by GAAP or (iv) estimated in the formal notes to the
financial statements most recently delivered to Agent pursuant to Section
5.3
hereof
to the extent required by GAAP.
(g) To
the
best knowledge of each Credit Party, there are no circumstances which are
reasonably expected to give rise to a material liability in relation to any
Plan
which is not funded, insured, provided for, recognized or estimated in the
manner described in subsection (f) above.
4.14 Environmental
Condition.
Except
as set forth on Schedule 4.14,
(a) to each Credit Party’s knowledge, no Credit Party’s or its
Subsidiaries’ properties or assets has ever been used by such Person, or by
previous owners or operators in the disposal of, or to produce, store, handle,
treat, release, or transport, any Hazardous Materials, where such use,
production, storage, handling, treatment, release or transport was in violation,
in any material respect, of any applicable Environmental Law, (b) to
each
Credit Party’s knowledge, no Credit Party’s or its Subsidiaries’ properties or
assets has ever been designated or identified in any manner pursuant to any
environmental protection statute as a Hazardous Materials disposal site,
(c) none of the Credit Parties nor any of their respective Subsidiaries
have received notice that a Lien arising under any Environmental Law has
attached to any revenues or to any Real Property owned or operated by any Credit
Party or its Subsidiaries, and (d) none of the Credit Parties nor any
of
their Subsidiaries have received a summons, citation, notice, or directive
from
the United States Environmental Protection Agency or any other federal or state
governmental agency concerning any action or omission by any Credit Party or
any
of its Subsidiaries resulting in the releasing or disposing of Hazardous
Materials into the environment.
4.15 Intellectual
Property.
Each
Credit Party and each Subsidiary of a Credit Party owns, or holds licenses
in or
otherwise has the right to use, all trademarks, trade names, copyrights,
patents, patent rights, and licenses that are reasonably necessary to the
conduct of its business as currently conducted, and attached hereto as
Schedule 4.15
(as
updated from time to time) is a true, correct, and complete listing of all
material patents, patent applications, trademarks, trademark applications,
copyright registrations and applications for registrations as to which such
Credit Party or one of its Subsidiaries is the owner or is an exclusive
licensee.
27
4.16 Leases.
Each
Credit Party and its Subsidiaries enjoy peaceful and undisturbed possession
under all leases material to their business and to which they are parties or
under which they are operating and all of such material leases are valid and
subsisting and no material default by such Credit Party or its Subsidiaries
exists under any of them.
4.17 Deposit
Accounts and Securities Accounts.
Set
forth on Schedule 4.17
(as such
Schedule may be updated from time to time) is a listing of all of each Credit
Party’s and its Subsidiaries’ Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts,
including, with respect to each bank or securities intermediary (a) the
name and address of such Person, and (b) the account numbers of the
Deposit
Accounts or Securities Accounts maintained with such Person.
4.18 Complete
Disclosure.
All
factual information other than financial projections or forecasts (taken as
a
whole) furnished by or on behalf of any Credit Party or their respective
Subsidiaries in writing to Agent or any Lender (including all information
contained in the Schedules hereto or in the other Loan Documents) for purposes
of or in connection with this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, or any
transaction contemplated herein or therein is, and all other such factual
information other than financial projections or forecasts (taken as a whole)
hereafter furnished by or on behalf of any Credit Party or their respective
Subsidiaries in writing to Agent or any Lender will be, true and accurate in
all
material respects on the date as of which such information is dated or certified
and not incomplete by omitting to state any fact necessary to make such
information (taken as a whole) not misleading in any material respect at such
time in light of the circumstances under which such information was provided.
On
the Closing Date, the Closing Date Projections represent, and as of the date
on
which any other Projections are delivered to Agent, such additional Projections
represent the Credit Parties’ good faith estimate of their and their respective
Subsidiaries’ future performance for the periods covered thereby in light of the
circumstances under which such information was provided (it being understood
that such Closing Date Projections and other Projections are uncertain by nature
and may not be realized).
4.19 Indebtedness.
Set
forth on Schedule 4.19
is a
true and complete list of all Indebtedness of each Credit Party and each
Subsidiary of a Credit Party outstanding immediately prior to the Closing Date
that is to remain outstanding after the Closing Date and such Schedule
accurately reflects the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness and
describes the principal terms thereof.
4.20 Material
Contracts.
Set
forth on Schedule
4.20
(which
Borrowers may amend from time to time pursuant to Section
5.2)
is a
complete and accurate list, as of the Closing Date, of all Material Contracts,
showing the parties and subject matter thereof and amendments and modifications
thereto. Each Material Contract (a) is in full force and effect and is binding
upon and enforceable against each Borrower, and to the Borrowers’ best
knowledge, each other Person that is a party thereto in accordance with its
terms, (b) has not been otherwise amended or modified (other than amendments
or
modifications that are not prohibited by the terms of this Agreement or any
other Loan Document), except that there have been no amendments or modifications
to the Note Documents without the requisite consent provided for hereunder,
and
(c) is not in default due to the action of any Borrower.
4.21 Note
Documents.
Credit
Parties have delivered to Agent true and correct copies of the Note Documents.
The transactions contemplated by the Note Documents will be consummated (a)
contemporaneously with the making of the initial Advances hereunder and (b)
in
accordance with their respective terms.
28
5. AFFIRMATIVE
COVENANTS.
Each
Credit Party covenants and agrees that, until termination of all of the
Commitments and payment in full of the Obligations, such Credit Party shall
and
shall cause each of their respective Subsidiaries to do all of the
following:
5.1 Accounting
System.
Maintain a system of accounting that enables the Credit Parties to produce
financial statements in accordance with GAAP and maintain records pertaining
to
the Collateral that contain information as from time to time reasonably may
be
requested by Agent. Borrowers also shall keep a reporting system that shows
all
additions, sales, claims, returns, and allowances with respect to their and
their Subsidiaries’ sales.
5.2 Collateral
Reporting.
Provide
Agent (and if so requested by Agent, with copies for each Lender) with each
of
the reports set forth on Schedule 5.2
at the
times specified therein. In addition, each Borrower agrees to cooperate fully
with Agent to facilitate and implement a system of electronic collateral
reporting in order to provide electronic reporting of each of the items set
forth above.
5.3 Financial
Statements, Reports, Certificates.
Deliver
to Agent, with copies to each Lender, each of the financial statements, reports,
or other items set forth on Schedule 5.3
at the
time specified herein. In addition, each Credit Party agrees that none of its
Subsidiaries will have a fiscal year different from that of such Credit
Party.
5.4 Credit
Party Reports.
Cause
each Credit Party to deliver its annual financial statements at the time when
Parent Guarantor provides its audited financial statements to Agent, but only
to
the extent such Credit Party’s financial statements are not consolidated with
Parent Guarantor’s financial statements.
5.5 Inspection.
Permit
Agent and each of its authorized representatives or agents to visit any of
its
properties and inspect any of its assets or books and records, to examine and
make copies of its books and records, and to discuss its affairs, finances,
and
accounts with, and to be advised as to the same by, its officers and employees
at such reasonable times and intervals as Agent may designate and, so long
as no
Default or Event of Default exists, with reasonable prior notice to and during
regular business hours of Administrative Borrower.
5.6 Maintenance
of Properties.
Maintain and preserve all of their tangible properties which are necessary
or
useful in the proper conduct to their business in good working order and
condition, ordinary wear, tear, and casualty excepted (and except where the
failure to do so could not be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change),
and comply at all times with the provisions of all material leases to which
it
is a party as lessee, so as to prevent any loss or forfeiture thereof or
thereunder.
5.7 Taxes.
Cause
all assessments and taxes, whether real, personal, or otherwise, due or payable
by, or imposed, levied, or assessed against such Credit Party, its Subsidiaries,
or any of their respective assets to be paid in full, before delinquency or
before the expiration of any extension period, except to the extent that (a)
the
validity of such assessment or tax shall be the subject of a Permitted Protest
or (b) such assessments or taxes do not exceed, in the aggregate at any one
time
owing, $50,000. Except with respect to taxes not exceeding, in the aggregate
at
any one time owing, $50,000, each Credit Party will and will cause their
Subsidiaries to make timely (after giving effect to any extensions) payment
or
deposit of all tax payments and withholding taxes required of them by applicable
laws, including those laws concerning F.I.C.A., F.U.T.A., state disability,
and
local, state, and federal income taxes, and will, upon request, furnish Agent
with proof satisfactory to Agent in its Permitted Discretion indicating that
the
applicable Credit Party or Subsidiary of a Credit Party has made such payments
or deposits.
29
5.8 Insurance.
(a) At
the
Credit Parties’ expense, maintain insurance respecting their respective, and
their respective Subsidiaries’, assets wherever located, covering loss or damage
by fire, theft, explosion, and all other hazards and risks as ordinarily are
insured against by other Persons engaged in the same or similar businesses.
Borrowers also shall maintain business interruption, general liability, and
product liability insurance, as well as insurance against larceny, embezzlement,
and criminal misappropriation as ordinarily are insured against by other Persons
engaged in the same or similar businesses. All such policies of insurance shall
be in such amounts and with such insurance companies as are reasonably
satisfactory to Agent. In accordance with Section
5.20,
the
Credit Parties shall deliver certified copies of all such policies to Agent
with
an endorsement naming Agent as a loss payee (under a satisfactory lender’s loss
payable endorsement) or additional insured, as appropriate. Each policy of
insurance or endorsement shall contain a clause requiring the insurer to give
not less than 30 days prior written notice to Agent in the event of cancellation
of the policy for any reason whatsoever.
(b) Administrative
Borrower shall give Agent prompt notice of any loss exceeding $250,000 (for
any
one occurrence or series of related occurrences) covered by such insurance.
So
long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the applicable
Credit Party shall have the exclusive right to adjust any losses payable under
any such insurance policies (other than workers’ compensation insurance) which
are less than $500,000 (for any one occurrence or series of related
occurrences). Following the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event
of Default, or in the case of any losses payable under such insurance exceeding
$500,000, Agent shall have the exclusive right to adjust any losses payable
under any such insurance policies, without any liability to any Credit Party
whatsoever in respect of such adjustments. Any monies received as payment for
any loss under any insurance policy mentioned above (other than liability
insurance policies) or as payment of any award or compensation for condemnation
or taking by eminent domain, shall be paid over to Agent to be applied at the
option of the Required Lenders either to the prepayment of the Obligations
or to
be disbursed to Administrative Borrower under staged payment terms reasonably
satisfactory to the Required Lenders for application to the cost of repairs,
replacements, or restorations; provided,
however,
that,
with respect to any such monies in an aggregate amount during any 12 consecutive
month period not in excess of $1,000,000, so long as (A) no Default
or
Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing, (B) Borrowers’
Excess Availability is greater than $5,000,000, (C) Administrative Borrower
shall have given Agent prior written notice of the applicable Credit Party’s or
its applicable Subsidiary’s intention to apply such monies to the costs of
repairs, replacement, or restoration of the property which is the subject of
the
loss, destruction, or taking by condemnation, (D) the monies are held
in a
cash collateral account in which Agent has a perfected first-priority security
interest, and (E) the applicable Credit Party or its applicable Subsidiary
completes such repairs, replacements, or restoration within 180 days after
the
initial receipt of such monies, the applicable Credit Party or its applicable
Subsidiary shall have the option to apply such monies to the costs of repairs,
replacement, or restoration of the property which is the subject of the loss,
destruction, or taking by condemnation unless and to the extent that such
applicable period shall have expired without such repairs, replacements, or
restoration being made, in which case, any amounts remaining in the cash
collateral account shall be paid to Agent and applied as set forth above.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Section
5.8(b)
shall
not apply to the insurance claims set forth on Schedule
5.8(b)
hereto.
(c) The
Credit Parties shall obtain and maintain, at their sole cost and expense, key
man life insurance, on terms and issued by a company satisfactory to Agent
in
its Permitted Discretion, with respect to Xxxxx Xxxx and Xxx Xxxxxxxxxx in
an
amount no less than $5,000,000 in the aggregate. The Credit Parties shall,
and
shall cause their Subsidiaries to, collaterally assign all key man life
insurance policies owned by any of them to Agent pursuant to documentation
acceptable to Agent in its Permitted Discretion.
5.9 Location
of Inventory and Equipment.
Except
for Inventory and Equipment having a book value of less than $250,000 in the
aggregate for all Credit Parties and their respective Subsidiaries (inclusive
of
Inventory and Equipment permitted to be stored with bailees, warehousemen and
similar parties pursuant to Section
6.15),
keep
the Credit Parties’ and their Subsidiaries’ Inventory and Equipment (other than
vehicles and Equipment out for repair or refurbishment or in transit) only
at
the locations identified on Schedule 4.5
and
their chief executive offices only at the locations identified on Schedule 4.7(b);
provided,
however,
that
Administrative Borrower may amend Schedule 4.5
or
Schedule 4.7
so long
as such amendment occurs by written notice to Agent not less than 30 days prior
to the date on which such Inventory or Equipment is moved to such new location
or such chief executive office is relocated, so long as, with respect to assets
of the Credit Parties and their domestic Subsidiaries, such new location is
within the continental United States, and at the time of such written
notification, the applicable Credit Party provides Agent a Collateral Access
Agreement with respect thereto.
30
5.10 Compliance
with Laws.
Comply
with the requirements of all applicable laws, rules, regulations, and orders
of
any Governmental Authority, other than laws, rules, regulations, and orders
the
non-compliance with which, individually or in the aggregate, could not
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
5.11 Leases.
Pay
when due all rents and other amounts payable under any material leases to which
such Credit Party or any Subsidiary of such Credit Party is a party or by which
any Credit Party’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ properties and assets are bound,
unless such payments are the subject of a Permitted Protest.
5.12 Existence.
Except
as otherwise expressly permitted by this Agreement, at all times preserve and
keep in full force and effect each Credit Party’s and each of its Subsidiaries’
valid existence and good standing and any rights and franchises material to
their businesses.
5.13 Environmental.
(a) Keep
any
property either owned or operated by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of
a
Credit Party free of any material Environmental Liens or post bonds or other
financial assurances sufficient to satisfy the obligations or liability
evidenced by such Environmental Liens, (b) comply, in all material
respects, with Environmental Laws and provide to Agent documentation of such
compliance which Agent reasonably requests, (c) promptly notify Agent
of
any release of a Hazardous Material in any reportable quantity from or onto
property owned or operated by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit
Party and take any Remedial Actions required to xxxxx said release or otherwise
to come into material compliance with applicable Environmental Law, and
(d) promptly, but in any event within 5 days of its receipt thereof,
provide Agent with written notice of any of the following: (i) notice
that
an Environmental Lien has been filed against any of the real or personal
property of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party,
(ii) commencement of any Environmental Action or notice that an
Environmental Action will be filed against any Credit Party or any Subsidiary
of
a Credit Party, and (iii) notice of a violation, citation, or other
administrative order which reasonably could be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Change.
5.14 Disclosure
Updates.
Promptly and in no event later than 5 Business Days after obtaining knowledge
thereof, notify Agent if any written information, exhibit, or report furnished
to the Lender Group contained, at the time it was furnished and taken as a
whole
with all other such information so furnished, any untrue statement of a material
fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary to make the statements
contained therein not misleading in light of the circumstances in which made.
The foregoing to the contrary notwithstanding, any notification pursuant to
the
foregoing provision will not cure or remedy the effect of the prior untrue
statement of a material fact or omission of any material fact nor shall any
such
notification have the effect of amending or modifying this Agreement or any
of
the Schedules hereto.
5.15 Control
Agreements.
Take
all reasonable steps in order for Agent to obtain control in accordance with
Sections 8-106, 9-104, 9-105, 9-106, and 9-107 of the Code with respect
to
(subject to the proviso contained in Section 6.12)
all of
its Securities Accounts, Deposit Accounts, electronic chattel paper, investment
property, and letter of credit rights.
31
5.16 Formation
of Subsidiaries.
At the
time that any Credit Party forms any direct or indirect Subsidiary or acquires
any direct or indirect Subsidiary after the Closing Date, such Credit Party
shall, as Agent may request in its Permitted Discretion, (a) cause such
new
Subsidiary to provide to Agent a joinder hereto, to the Guaranty and the
Security Agreement, together with such other security documents (including
Mortgages with respect to any owned Real Property of such new Subsidiary having
a fair market value of $500,000 or more for any one location or $1,000,000
in
the aggregate for all such Real Property) and joinders to such other Loan
Documents as Agent may request in its Permitted Discretion, as well as
appropriate financing statements (and with respect to all property subject
to a
Mortgage, fixture filings), all in form and substance satisfactory to Agent
in
its Permitted Discretion (including being sufficient to grant Agent a first
priority Lien (subject to Permitted Liens) in and to the assets of such newly
formed or acquired Subsidiary), (b) provide to Agent a pledge agreement
and
appropriate certificates and powers and/or financing statements, pledging all
of
the direct or beneficial ownership interest in such new Subsidiary, in form
and
substance satisfactory to Agent in its Permitted Discretion, and
(c) provide to Agent all other documentation, including one or more
opinions of counsel satisfactory to Agent in its Permitted Discretion with
respect to the execution and delivery of the applicable documentation referred
to above (including policies of title insurance or other documentation with
respect to all property subject to a Mortgage). Any document, agreement, or
instrument executed or issued pursuant to this Section 5.16
shall be
a Loan Document.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Subsidiary that is so formed or acquired
is
a Controlled Foreign Corporation, then clause (a) of the immediately preceding
sentence shall not be applicable and, with respect to clause (b) of the
immediately preceding sentence, such pledge shall be limited to 65% of the
voting power of all classes of capital Stock of such Subsidiary entitled to
vote; provided,
that
immediately upon any amendment of the IRC that would allow the pledge of a
greater percentage of the voting power of capital Stock in such Subsidiary
without adverse tax consequences, such pledge shall include such greater
percentage of capital Stock of such Subsidiary from that time
forward.
5.17 ERISA
Compliance.
(a) Each
Credit Party shall do, and shall cause each of their respective Subsidiaries
and
ERISA Affiliates to do, each of the following: (i) maintain each Plan in
compliance with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the IRC and each other
applicable federal or state law, except as would not reasonably be expected
to
result in a material liability to any Credit Party or Subsidiary of a Credit
Party; (ii) cause each Qualified Plan to maintain its qualified status under
Section 401(a) of the IRC, except as would not reasonably be expected to result
in a material liability to any Credit Party or Subsidiary of a Credit Party;
(iii) make all required contributions to each Plan, except as would not
reasonably be expected to result in a material liability to any Credit Party
or
Subsidiary of a Credit Party; (iv) not become a party to any Multiemployer
Plan,
except as would not reasonably be expected to result in a material liability
to
any Credit Party or Subsidiary of a Credit Party; (v) ensure that all
liabilities under each Plan are (A) funded to at least the minimum level
required by law or, if higher, to the level required by the terms governing
such
Plan; (B) insured with a reputable insurance company; or (C) provided for or
recognized in the financial statements most recently delivered to Agent under
Section
5.3
(to the
extent required by GAAP); and (vi) ensure that the contributions or premium
payments to or in respect of each Plan are and continue to be promptly paid
at
no less than the rates required under the rules of such Plan and in accordance
with the most recent actuarial advice received in relation to such Plan and
applicable law.
(b) Deliver
to Agent such certifications or other evidence of compliance with the provisions
of Section
4.13
as Agent
may from time to time reasonably request, in each case within ten (10) days
of
such request.
(c) Promptly
notify Agent of each of the following events affecting any Credit Party, any
of
their respective Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliates (but in no event more
than
ten (10) days after such Credit Party becomes aware of such event), together
with a copy of each notice with respect to such event that may be required
to be
filed with a Governmental Authority and each notice delivered by a Governmental
Authority to any Credit Party, any of their respective Subsidiaries or any
ERISA
Affiliates with respect to such event:
32
(i) an
ERISA
Event;
(ii) the
adoption of any new Pension Plan by any Credit Party, any of their respective
Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliates;
(iii) the
adoption of any amendment to a Pension Plan, if such amendment will result
in a
material increase in benefits or unfunded benefit liabilities (as defined in
Section 4001(a)(18) of ERISA); or
(iv) the
commencement of contributions by any Credit Party, any of their respective
Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate to any Plan that is subject to Title IV
of
ERISA or section 412 of the IRC;
(d) Promptly,
but in any event within ten (10) days of the filing or sending thereof or the
making of such request (as applicable), deliver to Agent copies of the following
documents, to the extent applicable; (i) any Schedule B (Actuarial Information)
to the annual report (Form 5500 Series) filed by any Credit Party, any of their
respective Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliates with the Internal Revenue
Service with respect to any Pension Plan; (ii) all notices received by any
Credit Party, any of their respective Subsidiaries or any of their respective
ERISA Affiliates from a Multiemployer Plan sponsor concerning an ERISA Event;
and (iii) such other documents or governmental reports or filings relating
to
any Plan as Agent shall reasonably request.
5.18 Note
Documents.
(a) Contemporaneously
with the initial extensions of credit hereunder: (i) cause all transactions
contemplated by the Note Documents to be consummated; and (ii) furnish to Agent
evidence thereof in form and content satisfactory to Agent, as well as certified
(as of the Closing Date) true and complete copies of the Note Documents which
shall be in compliance with all applicable laws and all necessary approvals
shall have been obtained in connection therewith.
(b) Promptly
provide Agent with true and complete copies of any and all material documents
delivered to any Person pursuant to, or in connection with, the Note
Documents.
5.19 Further
Assurances.
Take
such action and execute, acknowledge and deliver, and cause each of its
Subsidiaries to take such action and execute, acknowledge and deliver, at its
sole cost and expense, such agreements, instruments or other documents as are
necessary, or as Agent may reasonably request, from time to time in order
(a) to carry out more effectively the purposes of this Agreement and
the
other Loan Documents, (b) to subject to valid and perfected first priority
Liens (subject only to Permitted Liens) any of the Collateral or any other
property of any Credit Party and its domestic Subsidiaries now or by agreement
of the parties hereafter intended to be subject to Agent’s Liens under this
Agreement or any other Loan Document, (c) to establish and maintain
the
validity and effectiveness of any of the Loan Documents and the validity,
perfection and priority of the Liens now or by agreement of the parties
hereafter intended to be created thereby, and (d) to better assure,
convey,
grant, assign, transfer and confirm unto Agent and each Lender the rights now
or
by agreement of the parties hereafter intended to be granted to it under this
Agreement or any other Loan Document.
5.20 Post-Closing
Conditions.
33
(a) Use
their
commercially reasonable efforts to deliver to Agent, within 5 Business Days
after the Closing Date, evidence of either (i) the termination, as of record,
of
UCC
financing statement number 22979957
filed November 16, 2002 with the Delaware Secretary of State by Congress
Financial Corporation (now known as Wachovia Capital Finance Corporation) as
secured party against Hometown Threads LLC as debtor (the “Congress
UCC”)
or
(ii) the amendment, as of record, of the Congress UCC such that the debtor
listed therein is not Hometown Threads LLC.
(b) Within
10
Business Days after the Closing Date, deliver to Agent consolidated and
consolidating financial statements of Parent Guarantor and its Subsidiaries
for
their fiscal year ended January 30, 2005, audited by independent certified
public accountants reasonably acceptable to Agent and certified, without any
qualifications (including any (i) “going concern” or like qualification or
exception, (ii) qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit,
or (iii) qualification which relates to the treatment or classification
of
any item and which, as a condition to the removal of such qualification, would
require an adjustment to such item, the effect of which would be to cause any
noncompliance with the provisions of Section 6.16),
by
such accountants to have been prepared in accordance with GAAP (such audited
financial statements to include a balance sheet, income statement, and statement
of cash flow and, if prepared, such accountants’ letter to
management).
(c) Within
10
Business Days after the Closing Date, deliver to Agent the Life Insurance
Assignments, each in form and substance satisfactory to Agent in its Permitted
Discretion, together with such documentation in respect thereof as Agent may
request to effectuate the transactions contemplated thereby, including, without
limitation, evidence of the filing thereof with the issuers of all life
insurance policies referred to therein and copies of all life insurance policies
referred to therein (or, if necessary for Agent to collect any proceeds of
such
policies, the original life insurance policies referred to
therein).
(d) Within
10
Business Days after the Closing Date, deliver to Agent a Collateral Access
Agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent in its Permitted
Discretion, with respect to the Credit Parties’ location at Lakemont West,
Building IV, 00000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx., Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000.
(e) Within
10
Business Days after the Closing Date, deliver to Agent all certificates
representing the shares of Stock pledged under the Security Agreement along
with
Stock powers with respect thereto endorsed in blank.
(f) Within
20
days after the Closing Date, deliver to Agent a Control Agreement, each in
form
and substance satisfactory to Agent in its Permitted Discretion, with respect
to
the Credit Parties’ Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts (if any) maintained
with Bank of America, N.A., Scotiabank and Banco Popular.
(g) Within
20
days after the Closing Date, deliver to Agent a Credit Card Agreement, each
in
form and substance satisfactory to Agent in its Permitted Discretion, with
respect to the Credit Parties’ credit card processing arrangements with each of
NOVA Information Systems, Inc. and Paymentech.
(h) Except
as
otherwise required pursuant to Schedule
3.1
within
30 days after the Closing Date, deliver certified copies of all insurance
policies required to be maintained by the Credit Parties pursuant to
Section
5.8
to Agent
with an endorsement naming Agent as a loss payee (under a lender’s loss payable
endorsement satisfactory to Agent in its Permitted Discretion) or additional
insured, as appropriate.
(i) Within
thirty (30) days after the Closing Date, deliver to Agent, in form satisfactory
to Agent in its Permitted Discretion, the unaudited financial statements,
including consolidated balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash
flow, covering Parent Guarantor’s and its Subsidiaries’ operations during each
of their fiscal months ended in June 5, 2005 and July 3, 2005.
(j) Within
60
days after the Closing Date, deliver to Agent (i) appraisals of the
Real
Property Collateral satisfactory to Agent in its Permitted Discretion,
(ii) mortgagee title insurance policies (or marked commitments to issue
the
same) for the Real Property Collateral issued by a title insurance company
satisfactory to Agent in its Permitted Discretion (each a “Mortgage
Policy”
and,
collectively, the “Mortgage
Policies”)
in
amounts satisfactory to Agent in its Permitted Discretion assuring Agent that
the Mortgages on such Real Property Collateral are valid and enforceable first
priority mortgage Liens on such Real Property Collateral free and clear of
all
defects and encumbrances except Permitted Liens, and the Mortgage Policies
otherwise shall be in form and substance satisfactory to Agent in its Permitted
Discretion, (iii) a phase-I environmental report and a real estate survey with
respect to each parcel composing the Real Property Collateral, with the
environmental consultants and surveyors retained for such reports or surveys,
the scope of the reports or surveys, and the results thereof being acceptable
to
Agent in its Permitted Discretion.
34
6. NEGATIVE
COVENANTS.
Each
Credit Party covenants and agrees that, until termination of all of the
Commitments and payment in full of the Obligations, such Credit Party will
not
and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to do any of the
following:
6.1 Indebtedness.
Create,
incur, assume, suffer to exist, guarantee, or otherwise become or remain,
directly or indirectly, liable with respect to any Indebtedness, except, in
each
case to the extent also permitted under the terms of any document or agreement
governing or giving rise to any Specified Indebtedness which is then
outstanding:
(a) Indebtedness
evidenced by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, together with
Indebtedness owed to Underlying Issuers with respect to Underlying Letters
of
Credit,
(b) Indebtedness
set forth on Schedule 4.19,
(c) Permitted
Purchase Money Indebtedness,
(d) refinancings,
renewals, or extensions of Indebtedness permitted under clauses (b) and (c)
of
this Section 6.1
(and
continuance or renewal of any Permitted Liens associated therewith) so long
as:
(i) such refinancings, renewals, or extensions do not result in an increase
in the principal amount of, or interest rate by more than 2 percentage points
with respect to, the Indebtedness so refinanced, renewed, or extended or add
one
or more Credit Parties as liable with respect thereto if such additional Credit
Parties were not liable with respect to the original Indebtedness,
(ii) such refinancings, renewals, or extensions do not result in a
shortening of the average weighted maturity of the Indebtedness so refinanced,
renewed, or extended, nor are they on terms or conditions, that, taken as a
whole, are materially more burdensome or restrictive to any Credit Party,
(iii) if the Indebtedness that is refinanced, renewed, or extended was
subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations, then the terms and
conditions of the refinancing, renewal, or extension Indebtedness must include
subordination terms and conditions that are at least as favorable to the Lender
Group as those that were applicable to the refinanced, renewed, or extended
Indebtedness, (iv) the Indebtedness that is refinanced, renewed, or
extended is not recourse to any Person that is liable on account of the
Obligations other than those Persons which were obligated with respect to the
Indebtedness that was refinanced, renewed, or extended, and (v) such
refinancing, renewal or extension is permitted under the terms of any document
or agreement governing or giving rise to any Specified Indebtedness to the
extent such Specified Indebtedness will remain outstanding after giving effect
to such refinancing, renewal or extension hereunder,
(e) endorsement
of instruments or other payment items for deposit,
(f) Indebtedness
comprising Permitted Investments,
35
(g) to
the
extent subject to the Note Subordination Agreement and not exceeding $50,000,000
in the aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time, the Indebtedness
arising under the Note Documents,
(h) to
the
extent subject to the Agfa Subordination Agreement and subject to Section
6.7,
Indebtedness owing to Agfa,
(i) Indebtedness
arising in connection with (i) surety bonds, (ii) unsecured indemnities and
(iii) maintenance of Deposit Accounts,
(j) to
the
extent subject to the Intercompany Subordination Agreement, Indebtedness owing
by a Credit Party or one of its Subsidiaries to another Credit Party or
Subsidiary of a Credit Party,
(k) Indebtedness
and obligations of the Borrowers in respect of Hedging Agreements entered into
in the ordinary course of business to manage existing or anticipated risks
and
not for speculative purposes, and
(l) obligations
of a Credit Party to repay any purchase price adjustment, upfront payment or
rebate payment received pursuant to a supply contract or other contract (each
such supply contract or other contract to be in form and substance acceptable
to
the Agent).
6.2 Liens.
Create,
incur, assume, or suffer to exist, directly or indirectly, any Lien on or with
respect to any of its assets, of any kind, whether now owned or hereafter
acquired, or any income or profits therefrom, except for, in each case to the
extent also permitted under the terms of any document or agreement governing
or
giving rise to any Specified Indebtedness which is then outstanding, Permitted
Liens (including Liens that are replacements of Permitted Liens to the extent
that the original Indebtedness is refinanced, renewed, or extended under
Section 6.1(d)
and so
long as the replacement Liens only encumber those assets that secured the
refinanced, renewed, or extended Indebtedness).
6.3 Restrictions
on Fundamental Changes.
(a) Enter
into any merger, consolidation, reorganization, or recapitalization, or
reclassify its Stock; provided,
however,
that,
so long as no Event of Default would be directly or indirectly caused as a
result thereof, and in each case to the extent also permitted under the terms
of
any document or agreement governing or giving rise to any Specified Indebtedness
which is then outstanding, a Credit Party (other than the Parent Guarantor)
or
any Subsidiary of any Credit Party may merge or consolidate with another Credit
Party (other than the Parent Guarantor), provided, that (i) if the Borrower
is a
party thereto, the Borrower shall be the surviving corporation and (ii) if
one
of the parties thereto is a Credit Party, such Credit Party shall be the
surviving corporation,
(b) Liquidate,
wind up, or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution);
provided,
however,
in each
case to the extent also permitted under the terms of any document or agreement
governing or giving rise to any Specified Indebtedness which is then
outstanding, a wholly-owned Subsidiary of a Credit Party (other than a Borrower)
may liquidate or dissolve so long as all proceeds thereof and assets of such
Subsidiary are received by such Credit Party; and provided,
further,
in each
case to the extent also permitted under the terms of any document or agreement
governing or giving rise to any Specified Indebtedness which is then
outstanding, any Borrower may liquidate or dissolve so long as all proceeds
thereof and assets of such Borrower are received by another
Borrower,
(c) Convey,
sell, lease, license, assign, transfer, or otherwise dispose of, in one
transaction or a series of transactions, all or any substantial part of its
assets; provided,
however,
in each
case to the extent also permitted under the terms of any document or agreement
governing or giving rise to any Specified Indebtedness which is then
outstanding, a wholly-owned Subsidiary of a Credit Party (other than a Borrower)
may convey, sell, lease, license, assign, transfer, or otherwise dispose of,
in
one transaction or a series of transactions, all or any substantial part of
its
assets so long as all such assets are received by such Credit Party;
and provided,
further,
in each
case to the extent also permitted under the terms of any document or agreement
governing or giving rise to any Specified Indebtedness which is then
outstanding, any Borrower may convey, sell, lease, license, assign, transfer,
or
otherwise dispose of, in one transaction or a series of transactions, all or
any
substantial part of its assets so long as all such assets are received by
another Borrower, or
36
(d) Suspend
or go out of a substantial portion of its or their business.
6.4 Disposal
of Assets.
Other
than Permitted Dispositions which are permitted to be made pursuant to the
agreements and documents governing or giving rise to any Specified Indebtedness
which is then outstanding, convey, sell, lease, license, assign, transfer,
or
otherwise dispose of any of the assets of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary
of
a Credit Party.
6.5 Change
Name.
Change
any Credit Party’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ name, organizational
identification number, state of organization, or organizational identity;
provided,
however,
that a
Credit Party or a Subsidiary of a Credit Party may change its name upon at
least
30 days prior written notice by Administrative Borrower to Agent of such change
and so long as (a) at the time of such written notification, such Credit Party
or such Subsidiary, as applicable, provides any financing statements necessary
to perfect and continue perfected the Agent’s Liens and (b) immediately after
such name change, such Credit Party or such Subsidiary, as applicable, provides
Agent with evidence of such name change (including copies of any related public
filings).
6.6 Nature
of Business.
Make
any change in the principal nature of their business from that conducted on
the
Closing Date and any business similar, ancillary or related thereto or any
reasonable extension thereof.
6.7 Payments
and Amendments.
Except
in connection with a refinancing permitted by Section 6.1(d),
(a) optionally
prepay, redeem, defease, purchase, or otherwise acquire any Indebtedness of
any
Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party, other than (i) the Obligations
in accordance with this Agreement and (ii) pursuant to the deposit of no more
than $10,000,000 with The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. in escrow for
payment of interest due August 1, 2005 with respect to the Notes (the
“Interest
Escrow”),
(b) make
any
payment on account of the Subordinated Indebtedness if such payment is not
permitted at such time under this Agreement or the Subordination Agreement
applicable to such Indebtedness,
(c) directly
or indirectly, amend, modify, alter, increase, or change any of the terms or
conditions of any of the Subordinated Indebtedness or any agreement, instrument,
document, indenture, or other writing evidencing or concerning Indebtedness
permitted under Section 6.1(b);
provided,
however,
terms
and conditions of any of the Subordinated Indebtedness or agreements related
thereto may be amended if expressly permitted under the Subordination Agreement
related thereto,
(d) make
any
payment on account of any Specified Indebtedness other than (i) with respect
to
Indebtedness arising under the Xxxxxxx Holdco Notes, payments of interest made
in kind and (ii) with respect to all other Specified Indebtedness regularly
scheduled interest payments, or
37
(e) make
any
payment with respect to any Qualified Vendor Payables unless such Qualified
Vendor Payable is replaced by another Qualified Vendor Payable so that in no
event will the aggregate amount of Qualified Vendor Payables be less than
$20,000,000, as reduced from time to time in accordance with the following
provision. The Borrowers shall be permitted to reduce their outstanding
Qualified Vendor Payables; provided,
however,
that
during any twelve month period the aggregate reductions of Qualified Vendor
Payables shall not exceed $5,000,000 and before making any such payment (i)
no
Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur after
giving effect to such payment, (ii) the Credit Parties’“Consolidated EBITDA” (as
defined in the Indenture) for the most recent Four-Quarter Period is at least
$50,000,000, and (iii) Excess Availability is at least $5,000,000 before and
after giving effect to such payment.
6.8 Change
of Control.
Cause,
permit, or suffer, directly or indirectly, any Change of Control.
6.9 Consignments.
Consign
any of their Inventory or sell any of their Inventory on xxxx and hold, sale
or
return, sale on approval, or other conditional terms of sale.
6.10 Distributions.
Other
than Permitted Distributions which are permitted to be made pursuant to the
agreements and documents governing or giving rise to any Specified Indebtedness
which is then outstanding, make any distribution or declare or pay any dividends
(in cash or other property, other than Stock) on, or purchase, acquire, redeem,
or retire any of any Credit Party’s Stock, of any class, whether now or
hereafter outstanding.
6.11 Accounting
Methods.
Modify
or change their fiscal year or their method of accounting (other than as may
be
required by any Governmental Authority or to conform to GAAP) or enter into,
modify, or terminate any agreement currently existing, or at any time hereafter
entered into with any third party accounting firm or service bureau for the
preparation or storage of any Credit Party’s or its Subsidiaries’ accounting
records without said accounting firm or service bureau agreeing to provide
Agent, to the same extent previously available to Agent, information regarding
such Credit Party’s and its Subsidiaries’ financial condition.
6.12 Investments.
Except
for Permitted Investments which are permitted to be made pursuant to the
agreements and documents governing or giving rise to any Specified Indebtedness
which is then outstanding, directly or indirectly, make or acquire any
Investment, or incur any liabilities (including contingent obligations) for
or
in connection with any Investment unless such liabilities are permitted or
not
prohibited pursuant to Section
6.1;
provided,
however,
that
(a) no Credit Party or any of its domestic Subsidiaries shall have cash, Cash
Equivalents and other Permitted Investments (other than in the Cash Management
Accounts) in Deposit Accounts or Securities Accounts in an aggregate amount
in
excess of $10,000 at any one time unless such Credit Party or such Subsidiary,
as applicable, and the applicable securities intermediary or bank have entered
into Control Agreements governing such cash, Cash Equivalents and other
Permitted Investments in order to perfect (and further establish) the Agent’s
Liens therein and (b) no foreign Subsidiary of any Credit Party shall have
cash,
Cash Equivalents and other Permitted Investments in Deposit Accounts or
Securities Accounts in an aggregate amount in excess of $100,000 at any one
time; provided,
further,
however,
so long
as any Deposit Account of a Credit Party is utilized solely for payment of
payroll expenses, such Deposit Account shall not be required to be subject
to a
Control Agreement.
Subject
to the foregoing proviso, the Credit Parties shall not and shall not permit
their respective Subsidiaries to establish or maintain any Deposit Account
or
Securities Account unless Agent shall have received a Control Agreement in
respect of such Deposit Account or Securities Account.
6.13 Transactions
with Affiliates.
Directly or indirectly enter into or permit to exist any transaction with any
Affiliate of any Credit Party except for, in each case to the extent also
permitted under the terms of any document or agreement governing or giving
rise
to any Specified Indebtedness which is then outstanding: (a) transactions that
(i) are upon fair and reasonable terms, (ii) if they involve
one or
more payments by any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of
$250,000, are fully disclosed to Agent, and (iii) are no less favorable
to
such Credit Party or its Subsidiaries, as applicable, than would be obtained
in
an arm’s length transaction with a non-Affiliate, and (b) making payments for
which Permitted Distributions are permitted to be made or otherwise constituting
transactions that are expressly permitted by this Agreement and the agreements
and documents governing or giving rise to any Specified Indebtedness which
is
then outstanding; provided,
that,
notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section
6.13
shall
not prohibit or otherwise limit customary agreements or arrangements between
any
Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any of its
employees, officers or directors, on the other hand, relating to compensation
or
benefits, stock options, warrants or other equity-based compensation plans,
fee
and expense reimbursements, indemnification or insurance.
38
6.14 Use
of Proceeds.
Use the
proceeds of the Advances for any purpose other than (a) on the Closing
Date, (i) to repay in full the outstanding principal, accrued interest,
and
accrued fees and expenses owing to Existing Lender, and (ii) to pay
transactional fees, costs, and expenses incurred in connection with this
Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby
and
thereby, and (b) thereafter, consistent with the terms and conditions
hereof, for its lawful and permitted general corporate purposes.
6.15 Inventory
and Equipment with Bailees.
Except
for Inventory and Equipment having a book value of less than $250,000 in the
aggregate for all Credit Parties and their respective Subsidiaries (inclusive
of
Inventory and Equipment permitted to be located at facilities not listed on
Schedule
4.5),
store
the Inventory or Equipment of any Credit Party or its Subsidiaries at any time
now or hereafter with a bailee, warehouseman, or similar party.
6.16 Financial
Covenants.
Fail to
maintain a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio equal to or greater than the ratio set
forth in the table below when measured as of the date set forth opposite
thereto:
Applicable
Ratio
|
Measurement
Date
|
0.30:1.00
|
October
30, 2005
|
0.40:1.00
|
January
29, 2006
|
0.35:1.00
|
April
30, 2006
|
0.45:1.00
|
July
30, 2006
|
0.55:1.00
|
October
29, 2006
|
0.70:1.00
|
January
28, 2007
|
0.75:1.00
|
April
29, 2007
|
0.75:1.00
|
July
29, 2007
|
0.80:1.00
|
October
28, 2007
|
0.80:1.00
|
February
3, 2008
|
0.85:1.00
|
May
4, 2008
|
0.85:1.00
|
August
3, 2008
|
0.85:1.00
|
November
2, 2008
|
0.95:1.00
|
February
1, 2009 and the last day
of
each fiscal quarter thereafter
|
39
6.17 ERISA.
Terminate
or permit any of their ERISA Affiliates to, (a) terminate any Pension Plan
so as
to result in any material liability to any Credit Party or Subsidiary of a
Credit Party, (b) permit to exist any ERISA Event, or any other event or
condition, which presents the risk of a material liability to any Credit Party
or Subsidiary of a Credit Party, (c) make a complete or partial withdrawal
(within the meaning of ERISA Section 4201) from any Multiemployer Plan so as
to
result in any material liability to any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a
Credit Party, (d) enter into any new Plan or modify any existing Plan so as
to
increase its obligations thereunder which could result in any material liability
to Credit Party or Subsidiary of a Credit Party, (e) permit the present value
of
all nonforfeitable accrued benefits under any Pension Plan (using the actuarial
assumptions utilized by the PBGC upon termination of a Pension Plan) materially
to exceed the fair market value of Pension Plan assets allocable to such
benefits, all determined as of the most recent valuation date for each such
Pension Plan, or (f) engage in any transaction which would cause any obligation,
or action taken or to be taken, hereunder (or the exercise by Agent or any
Lender of any of their rights under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents)
to be a non-exempt (under a statutory or administrative class exemption)
prohibited transaction under ERISA or Section 4975 of the IRC, which would
reasonably be expected to result in a material liability to any Credit Party
or
Subsidiary of a Credit Party.
6.18 Material
Contracts.
Directly or indirectly, replace, restate, amend, modify, alter, increase, or
change any of the terms or conditions of any Material Contract in any manner
materially adverse to any Credit Party or the Lender Group; provided,
however,
that
(a) no such restatement, amendment, modification, alteration, increase, or
change shall be permitted with respect to the Note Documents unless expressly
permitted under the Note Subordination Agreement and (b) no Material Contract
which contains provisions for a Lien on any assets of the Credit Parties or
their respective Subsidiaries which is subject to any Subordination Agreement
may be replaced if such replacement contract also provides for a Lien on any
assets of the Credit Parties or their respective Subsidiaries and such Lien
is
not also subordinated in favor of Agent pursuant to a Subordination Agreement
substantially identical to such existing Subordination Agreement relating to
such Material Contract or otherwise in form and substance satisfactory to Agent
in its Permitted Discretion.
7. EVENTS
OF DEFAULT.
Any
one
or more of the following events shall constitute an event of default (each,
an
“Event
of Default”)
under
this Agreement:
7.1 If
any
Borrower fails to pay when due and payable, or when declared due and payable,
(a) all or any portion of the Obligations consisting of interest, fees,
or
charges due the Lender Group, reimbursement of Lender Group Expenses, or other
amounts (other than any portion thereof constituting principal) constituting
Obligations (including any portion thereof that accrues after the commencement
of an Insolvency Proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in
whole
or in part as a claim in any such Insolvency Proceeding), and such failure
continues for a period of 3 Business Days, or (b) all or any portion
of the
principal of the Obligations);
40
7.2 If
any
Credit Party or any Subsidiary of any Credit Party:
(a) fails
to
perform or observe any covenant or other agreement contained in any of
Sections 2.7,
5.2,
5.3,
5.4,
5.5,
5.8,
5.12,
5.13,
5.14,
5.16,
5.17,
5.20
and
6.1
through
Error!
Reference source not found.
of this
Agreement, Sections
6,
8
or
10
of the
Security Agreement or Sections
4,
6
or
9.01
of the
Mortgages;
(b) fails
to
perform or observe any covenant or other agreement contained in any of
Sections 5.6,
5.7,
5.9,
5.10,
5.11,
5.15,
5.18
and
5.19
of this
Agreement or Sections
2, 3, 5, 7, 9.02
or
9.03
of the
Mortgages and such failure continues for a period of 10 days after the earlier
of (i) the date on which such failure shall first become known to any
officer of the applicable Credit Party or Subsidiary or (ii) written
notice
thereof is given to Administrative Borrower by Agent; or
(c) fails
to
perform or observe any covenant or other agreement contained in this Agreement,
or in any of the other Loan Documents to which such Credit Party is a party
(subject to applicable grace or cure periods, if any); in each case, other
than
any such covenant or agreement that is the subject of another provision of
this
Section 7
(in
which event such other provision of this Section 7
shall
govern), and such failure continues for a period of 20 days after the earlier
of
(i) the date on which such failure shall first become known to any officer
of such Credit Party or (ii) written notice thereof is given to
Administrative Borrower by Agent;
7.3 If
any
material portion of any Credit Party’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ assets is
attached, seized, subjected to a writ or distress warrant, or is levied upon,
or
comes into the possession of any third Person and the same is not discharged
before the earlier of 30 days after the date it first arises or 5 days prior
to
the date on which such property or asset is subject to forfeiture by such Credit
Party or the applicable Subsidiary;
7.4 If
an
Insolvency Proceeding is commenced by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of
a
Credit Party;
7.5 If
an
Insolvency Proceeding is commenced against any Credit Party or any Subsidiary
of
a Credit Party, and any of the following events occur: (a) the applicable
Credit Party or Subsidiary consents to the institution of such Insolvency
Proceeding against it, (b) the petition commencing the Insolvency
Proceeding is not timely controverted, (c) the petition commencing the
Insolvency Proceeding is not dismissed within 60 calendar days of the date
of
the filing thereof; (d) an interim trustee is appointed to take possession
of all or any substantial portion of the properties or assets of, or to operate
all or any substantial portion of the business of, any Credit Party or any
Subsidiary of a Credit Party, or (e) an order for relief shall have
been
issued or entered therein;
7.6 If
any
Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Borrower is enjoined, restrained, or in
any
way prevented by court order from continuing to conduct all or any material
part
of its business affairs;
7.7 If
one or
more judgments, orders, or awards involving an aggregate amount of $1,000,000,
or more (except to the extent paid or fully covered by insurance pursuant to
which the insurer has accepted liability therefor in writing) shall be entered
or filed against any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of any Credit Party or
with
respect to any of their respective assets, and the same is not released,
discharged, bonded against, or stayed pending appeal before the earlier of
30
days after the date it first arises or 5 days prior to the date on which such
asset is subject to being forfeited by the applicable Credit Party or the
applicable Subsidiary;
41
7.8 If
(a)
any Subordinated Indebtedness or Existing Indenture Indebtedness shall be
required to be prepaid or redeemed (other than by a regularly scheduled required
prepayment or redemption permitted to be made under the terms of the Loan
Documents), prior to the stated maturity thereof; or (b) with respect to any
other Indebtedness of any Credit Party or Subsidiary of any Credit Party
involving an aggregate amount of $1,000,000 or more, (i) there is a default
in
one or more agreements to which any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit
Party is a party with one or more third Persons relative to such Indebtedness,
and such default (A) occurs at the final maturity of the obligations
thereunder, or (B) results in a right by such third Person(s), irrespective
of whether exercised, to accelerate the maturity of the applicable Credit
Party’s or Subsidiary’s obligations thereunder or (ii) any such Indebtedness
shall be required to be prepaid or redeemed (other than by a regularly scheduled
required prepayment or redemption permitted to be made under the terms of the
Loan Documents), prior to the stated maturity thereof;
7.9 If
any
warranty, representation, statement, or Record made herein or in any other
Loan
Document or delivered to Agent or any Lender in connection with this Agreement
or any other Loan Document proves to be untrue in any respect as of the date
of
issuance or making or deemed making thereof;
7.10 If
the
obligation of any Guarantor under the Guaranty is limited or terminated by
operation of law or by such Guarantor;
7.11 If
the
Security Agreement or any other Loan Document that purports to create a Lien,
shall, for any reason, fail or cease to create a valid and, except to the extent
permitted by the terms hereof or thereof, perfected and first priority Lien
on
or security interest in the Collateral covered hereby or thereby, except as
a
result of a disposition of the applicable Collateral in a transaction permitted
under this Agreement; or
7.12 Any
provision of any Loan Document shall at any time for any reason be declared
to
be null and void, or the validity or enforceability thereof shall be contested
by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party, or a proceeding shall
be commenced by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party, or by
any
Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over any Credit Party or any
Subsidiary of a Credit Party, seeking to establish the invalidity or
unenforceability thereof, or any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit
Party shall deny that it has any liability or obligation purported to be created
under any Loan Document.
7.13 If
there
occurs one or more ERISA Events which individually or in the aggregate results
in or otherwise is associated with liability of any Credit Party, any of its
Subsidiaries, or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates in excess of
$1,000,000 during the term of this Agreement;
or
there exists, an amount of unfunded benefit liabilities (as defined in Section
4001(a)(18) of ERISA), individually or in the aggregate for all Pension Plans
(excluding for purposes of such computation any Pension Plans with respect
to
which assets exceed benefit liabilities) which exceeds $1,000,000.
7.14 If
(a)
any default or event of default occurs under or with respect to any Material
Contract (or replacement thereof entered into in accordance with the terms
of
this Agreement) set forth on Schedule
7.14
hereto
which is not cured or waived upon such occurrence or within any cure period
provided therunder after such occurrence or (b) any Material Contract is
terminated without establishment of a reasonable (in the business judgment
of
the Credit Parties) replacement therefor.
7.15 If
any
bank at which any Cash Management Account is maintained or any bank at which
any
Deposit Account of any Credit Party containing deposits in excess of $10,000
is
maintained shall fail to comply with any of the material terms of any Cash
Management Agreement or Control Agreement to which such bank is a party or
any
securities intermediary, commodity intermediary or other financial institution
at any time in custody, control or possession of any investment property of
any
Credit Party in excess of $10,000 shall fail to comply with any of the material
terms of any Control Agreement to which such Person is a party and,
in
each case, the applicable Credit Party has not closed such Cash Management
Accounts, Deposit Accounts or Securities Accounts and established replacements
therefor subject to satisfactory (as determined by Agent in its Permitted
Discretion) Cash Management Agreements or other Control Agreements within 30
days of such failure.
42
7.16 If
(a) there shall occur and be continuing any "Event of Default" (or any
comparable term) by any Credit Party under, and as defined in any document
evidencing or governing any Subordinated Indebtedness, (b) the Obligations
arising with respect to the Advances and Letters of Credit for any reason shall
cease to be "Senior Indebtedness" or "Designated Senior Indebtedness" (or any
comparable terms) under, and as defined in any document evidencing or governing
any Subordinated Indebtedness, (c) any Indebtedness other than the Obligations
arising with respect to the Advances and Letters of Credit and the Indebtedness
arising under the Notes shall constitute "Designated Senior Indebtedness" (or
any comparable term) under, and as defined in, any document evidencing or
governing any Subordinated Indebtedness, (d) any holder of any Subordinated
Indebtedness shall fail to perform or comply with any of the subordination
provisions of the documents evidencing or governing such Indebtedness (if any)
or with the provisions of any applicable Subordination Agreement, or (e) the
subordination provisions (if any) of any document evidencing or governing any
Subordinated Indebtedness shall, in whole or in part, terminate, cease to be
effective or cease to be legally valid, binding and enforceable against any
holder of such Indebtedness.
8. THE
LENDER GROUP’S RIGHTS AND REMEDIES.
8.1 Rights
and Remedies.
Upon
the occurrence, and during the continuation, of an Event of Default, the
Required Lenders (at their election but without notice of their election and
without demand) may authorize and instruct Agent to do any one or more of the
following on behalf of the Lender Group (and Agent, acting upon the instructions
of the Required Lenders, shall do the same on behalf of the Lender Group),
all
of which are authorized by each Credit Party:
(a) Declare
all or any portion of the Obligations, whether evidenced by this Agreement,
by
any of the other Loan Documents, or otherwise, immediately due and
payable;
(b) Cease
advancing money or extending credit to or for the benefit of Borrowers under
this Agreement, under any of the Loan Documents, or under any other agreement
between Borrowers and the Lender Group;
(c) Terminate
this Agreement and any of the other Loan Documents as to any future liability
or
obligation of the Lender Group, but without affecting any of the Agent’s Liens
in the Collateral and without affecting the Obligations; and
(d) The
Lender Group shall have all other rights and remedies available at law or in
equity or pursuant to any other Loan Document.
The
foregoing to the contrary notwithstanding, upon the occurrence of any Event
of
Default described in Section 7.4
or
Section 7.5,
in
addition to the remedies set forth above, without any notice to any Credit
Party
or any other Person or any act by the Lender Group, the Commitments shall
automatically terminate and the Obligations then outstanding, together with
all
accrued and unpaid interest thereon and all fees and all other amounts due
under
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, shall automatically and immediately
become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest, or notice of
any
kind, all of which are expressly waived by each Credit Party.
8.2 Remedies
Cumulative.
The
rights and remedies of the Lender Group under this Agreement, the other Loan
Documents, and all other agreements shall be cumulative. The Lender Group shall
have all other rights and remedies not inconsistent herewith as provided under
the Code, by law, or in equity. No exercise by the Lender Group of one right
or
remedy shall be deemed an election, and no waiver by the Lender Group of any
Event of Default shall be deemed a continuing waiver. No delay by the Lender
Group shall constitute a waiver, election, or acquiescence by it.
43
9. TAXES
AND EXPENSES.
If
any
Credit Party or any of their respective Subsidiaries fails to pay any monies
(whether taxes, assessments, insurance premiums, or, in the case of leased
properties or assets, rents or other amounts payable under such leases) due
to
third Persons, or fails to make any deposits or furnish any required proof
of
payment or deposit, all as required under the terms of this Agreement, then,
Agent, in its sole discretion and without prior notice to any such Credit Party
or Subsidiary, may do any or all of the following: (a) make payment
of the
same or any part thereof, (b) set up such reserves against the Availability
as Agent deems necessary to protect the Lender Group from the exposure created
by such failure, or (c) in the case of the failure to comply with
Section 5.8
hereof,
obtain and maintain insurance policies of the type described in Section 5.8
and take
any action with respect to such policies as Agent deems prudent. Any such
amounts paid by Agent shall constitute Lender Group Expenses and any such
payments shall not constitute an agreement by the Lender Group to make similar
payments in the future or a waiver by the Lender Group of any Event of Default
under this Agreement. Agent need not inquire as to, or contest the validity
of,
any such expense, tax, or Lien and the receipt of the usual official notice
for
the payment thereof shall be conclusive evidence that the same was validly
due
and owing.
10. WAIVERS;
INDEMNIFICATION.
10.1 Demand;
Protest; etc.
Each
Credit Party waives demand, protest, notice of protest, notice of default or
dishonor, notice of payment and nonpayment, nonpayment at maturity, release,
compromise, settlement, extension, or renewal of documents, instruments, chattel
paper, and guaranties at any time held by the Lender Group on which any such
Credit Party may in any way be liable.
10.2 The
Lender Group’s Liability for Collateral.
Each
Credit Party hereby agrees that: (a) so long as Agent complies with
its
obligations, if any, under the Code or other applicable law, the Lender Group
shall not in any way or manner be liable or responsible for: (i) the
safekeeping of the Collateral, (ii) any loss or damage thereto occurring
or
arising in any manner or fashion from any cause, (iii) any diminution
in
the value thereof, or (iv) any act or default of any carrier, warehouseman,
bailee, forwarding agency, or other Person, and (b) all risk of loss,
damage, or destruction of the Collateral shall be borne by the Credit
Parties.
10.3 Indemnification.
Each
Credit Party shall jointly and severally pay, indemnify, defend, and hold the
Agent-Related Persons, the Lender-Related Persons, and each Participant (each,
an “Indemnified
Person”)
harmless (to the fullest extent permitted by law) from and against any and
all
claims, demands, suits, actions, investigations, proceedings, and damages,
and
all reasonable attorneys fees and disbursements and other costs and expenses
actually incurred in connection therewith or in connection with the enforcement
of this indemnification (as and when they are incurred and irrespective of
whether suit is brought), at any time asserted against, imposed upon, or
incurred by any of them (a) in connection with or as a result of or
related
to the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance, or administration
(including any restructuring or workout with respect hereto) of this Agreement,
any of the other Loan Documents, or the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby or the monitoring of any Credit Party’s or its Subsidiaries’ compliance
with the terms of the Loan Documents, (b) with respect to any
investigation, litigation, or proceeding related to this Agreement, any other
Loan Document, or the use of the proceeds of the credit provided hereunder
(irrespective of whether any Indemnified Person is a party thereto), or any
act,
omission, event, or circumstance in any manner related thereto and (c) in
connection with or arising out of any presence or release of Hazardous Materials
at, on, under, to or from any assets or properties owned, leased or operated
by
any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries or any Environmental Actions,
Environmental Liabilities and Costs or Remedial Actions related in any way
to
any such assets or properties of any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries
(all the foregoing, collectively, the “Indemnified
Liabilities”).
The
foregoing to the contrary notwithstanding, the Credit Parties shall have no
obligation to any Indemnified Person under this Section 10.3
with
respect to any Indemnified Liability that a court of competent jurisdiction
finally determines to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of such Indemnified Person. This provision shall survive the
termination of this Agreement and the repayment of the Obligations. If any
Indemnified Person makes any payment to any other Indemnified Person with
respect to an Indemnified Liability as to which the Credit Parties were required
to indemnify the Indemnified Person receiving such payment, the Indemnified
Person making such payment is entitled to be indemnified and reimbursed by
the
Credit Parties with respect thereto. WITHOUT
LIMITATION, THE FOREGOING INDEMNITY SHALL APPLY TO EACH INDEMNIFIED PERSON
WITH
RESPECT TO INDEMNIFIED LIABILITIES WHICH IN ANY WAY OR TO ANY EXTENT IN WHOLE
OR
IN PART CAUSED BY OR ARISE OUT OF ANY NEGLIGENT ACT OR OMISSION OF SUCH
INDEMNIFIED PERSON OR OF ANY OTHER PERSON OR UNDER ANY CLAIM OR THEORY OF STRICT
LIABILITY.
44
10.4 Waiver
of Consequential Damages, Etc.
To the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law, no Credit Party shall assert, and
each Credit Party hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnified Person,
on
any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive
damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection
with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any
agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated
hereby or thereby, any Advance, Letter of Credit or LC Facility Letter of Credit
or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnified Person shall be liable for
any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information
or
other materials distributed by it through telecommunications, electronic or
other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or
the
other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby.
11. NOTICES.
Unless
otherwise provided in this Agreement, all notices or demands by any Credit
Party
or Agent to the other relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document
shall be in writing and (except for financial statements and other informational
documents which may be sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid) shall be
personally delivered or sent by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid,
return receipt requested), overnight courier, electronic mail (at such email
addresses as Administrative Borrower or Agent, as applicable, may designate
to
each other in accordance herewith), or telefacsimile to Borrowers in care of
Administrative Borrower or to Agent, as the case may be, at its address set
forth below:
If
to any Credit Party, in care of
Administrative
Borrower at:
|
PCA
LLC
000
Xxxxxxxx-Xxxx Xxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attn:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, CFO
Fax
No.: 000.000.0000
|
with
copies to:
|
JUPITER
PARTNERS II L.P.
00
Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn:
Xxxx X. Xxxxx
Fax
No.: 000.000.0000
|
and
to:
|
XXXX,
WEISS, RIFKIND, XXXXXXX &
XXXXXXXX
LLP
0000
Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Fax
No.: 000.000.0000
|
If
to Agent:
|
XXXXX
FARGO FOOTHILL, INC.
000
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx Center
0000
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attn:
Business Finance Division Manager
Fax
No.: 000.000.0000
|
with
copies to:
|
XXXXXXXX
& XXXXXXXX LLP
000
Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
Fax
No.: 000.000.0000
|
45
Agent
and
the Credit Parties may change the address at which they are to receive notices
hereunder, by notice in writing in the foregoing manner given to the other
parties. All notices or demands sent in accordance with this Section 11,
other
than notices by Agent in connection with enforcement rights against the
Collateral under the provisions of the Code, shall be deemed received on the
earlier of the date of actual receipt or 3 Business Days after the deposit
thereof in the mail. Each Credit Party acknowledges and agrees that notices
sent
by the Lender Group in connection with the exercise of enforcement rights
against Collateral under the provisions of the Code shall be deemed sent when
deposited in the mail or personally delivered, or, where permitted by law,
transmitted by telefacsimile or any other method set forth above.
12. CHOICE
OF LAW AND VENUE; JURY TRIAL WAIVER.
(a) THE
VALIDITY OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS (UNLESS EXPRESSLY
PROVIDED TO THE CONTRARY IN ANOTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN RESPECT OF SUCH OTHER
LOAN
DOCUMENT), THE CONSTRUCTION, INTERPRETATION, AND ENFORCEMENT HEREOF AND THEREOF,
AND THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES HERETO AND THERETO WITH RESPECT TO ALL MATTERS
ARISING HEREUNDER OR THEREUNDER OR RELATED HERETO OR THERETO SHALL BE DETERMINED
UNDER, GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE
OF
NEW YORK.
(b) THE
PARTIES AGREE THAT ALL ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS ARISING IN CONNECTION WITH THIS
AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS SHALL BE TRIED AND LITIGATED ONLY IN
THE
STATE AND TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, FEDERAL COURTS LOCATED
IN
THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, COUNTY OF NEW YORK, STATE OF NEW YORK,
PROVIDED,
HOWEVER,
THAT ANY SUIT SEEKING ENFORCEMENT AGAINST ANY COLLATERAL OR OTHER PROPERTY
MAY
BE BROUGHT, AT AGENT’S OPTION, IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION WHERE AGENT
ELECTS TO BRING SUCH ACTION OR WHERE SUCH COLLATERAL OR OTHER PROPERTY MAY
BE
FOUND. EACH CREDIT PARTY AND EACH MEMBER OF THE LENDER GROUP WAIVE, TO THE
EXTENT PERMITTED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT EACH MAY HAVE TO ASSERT THE
DOCTRINE OF FORUM
NON CONVENIENS
OR TO OBJECT TO VENUE TO THE EXTENT ANY PROCEEDING IS BROUGHT IN ACCORDANCE
WITH
THIS SECTION 12(b).
46
(c) EACH
CREDIT PARTY AND EACH MEMBER OF THE LENDER GROUP HEREBY WAIVE THEIR RESPECTIVE
RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING
OUT
OF ANY OF THE LOAN DOCUMENTS OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREIN,
INCLUDING CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS, BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS, AND ALL OTHER
COMMON LAW OR STATUTORY CLAIMS. EACH CREDIT PARTY AND EACH MEMBER OF THE LENDER
GROUP REPRESENT THAT EACH HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER AND EACH KNOWINGLY AND
VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL
COUNSEL. IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE FILED
AS A
WRITTEN CONSENT TO A TRIAL BY THE COURT.
13. ASSIGNMENTS
AND PARTICIPATIONS; SUCCESSORS.
13.1 Assignments
and Participations.
(a) Any
Lender may assign and delegate to one or more assignees (each an “Assignee”)
that
are Eligible Transferees all, or any ratable part of all, of the Obligations,
the Commitments and the other rights and obligations of such Lender hereunder
and under the other Loan Documents, in a minimum amount of $5,000,000;
provided,
however,
that
Borrowers and Agent may continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender
in
connection with the interest so assigned to an Assignee until (i) written
notice of such assignment, together with payment instructions, addresses, and
related information with respect to the Assignee, have been given to
Administrative Borrower and Agent by such Lender and the Assignee,
(ii) such Lender and its Assignee have delivered to Administrative Borrower
and Agent an Assignment and Acceptance, and (iii) the assigning Lender
or
Assignee has paid to Agent for Agent’s separate account a processing fee in the
amount of $3,500. Anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding,
the
payment of any fees shall not be required and the Assignee need not be an
Eligible Transferee if such assignment is in connection with any merger,
consolidation, sale, transfer, or other disposition of all or any substantial
portion of the business or loan portfolio of the assigning Lender.
(b) From
and
after the date that Agent notifies the assigning Lender (with a copy to
Administrative Borrower) that it has received an executed Assignment and
Acceptance and payment of the above-referenced processing fee, (i) 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, shall have the rights and obligations of a Lender under the Loan
Documents, provided that, other than as a result of any change in law or other
event occurring thereafter which is not in the control of such Assignee, no
Assignee (including an Assignee that is already a Lender hereunder at the time
of such assignment) shall be entitled to receive any greater amount pursuant
to
Section
15.11
than
that to which the Assigning Lender would have been entitled to receive had
no
such assignment occurred, and (ii) the assigning Lender shall, to the
extent that rights and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents
have been assigned by it pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance, relinquish
its rights (except with respect to Section 10.3
hereof)
and be released from any future 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 and the other
Loan Documents, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto and thereto),
and
such assignment shall effect a novation between Borrowers and the Assignee;
provided,
however,
that
nothing contained herein shall release any assigning Lender from obligations
that survive the termination of this Agreement, including such assigning
Lender’s obligations under Article 16
and
Section 16.7
of this
Agreement.
(c) By
executing and delivering an Assignment and Acceptance, the assigning Lender
thereunder and the Assignee thereunder confirm to and agree with each other
and
the other parties hereto as follows: (1) 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 Loan Document furnished pursuant hereto,
(2) such assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes
no responsibility with respect to the financial condition of any Credit Party
or
its Subsidiaries or the performance or observance by any Credit Party or its
Subsidiaries of any of its obligations under this Agreement or any other Loan
Document furnished pursuant hereto, (3) such Assignee confirms that
it has
received a copy of this Agreement and the Subordination Agreements, together
with 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, (4) such Assignee will, independently and without reliance
upon
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,
(5) such Assignee appoints and authorizes Agent to take such actions
and to
exercise such powers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as are
delegated to Agent, by the terms hereof, together with such powers as are
reasonably incidental thereto, (6) such Assignee agrees that it will
perform all of the obligations which by the terms of this Agreement are required
to be performed by it as a Lender, and (7) such Assignee expressly assumes
all
rights and obligations of such assigning Lender under the Subordination
Agreements and agrees to be bound by the terms thereof.
47
(d) Immediately
upon Agent’s receipt of the required processing fee payment and the fully
executed Assignment and Acceptance, this Agreement shall be deemed to be amended
to the extent, but only to the extent, necessary to reflect the addition of
the
Assignee and the resulting adjustment of the Commitments arising therefrom.
The
Commitment allocated to each Assignee shall reduce such Commitments of the
assigning Lender pro
tanto.
(e) The
Agent
shall, on behalf of the Borrowers, maintain at its address a copy of each
Assignment and Acceptance delivered to it and a register (the “Register”)
for
the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders and the Commitment
of,
and principal amount of the Obligations owing to, each Lender from time to
time.
The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, in the absence of manifest
error, and the Borrowers, Agent and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose
name is recorded in the Register as the owner of the Obligations and any notes
evidencing such Obligations recorded therein for all purposes of this Agreement.
Any assignment of any portion of the Obligations, whether or not evidenced
by a
note, shall be effective only upon appropriate entries with respect thereto
being made in the Register (and each note shall expressly so provide). Any
assignment or transfer of all or part of the Obligations evidenced by a note
shall be registered on the Register only upon surrender for registration of
assignment or transfer of the note evidencing such Obligations, accompanied
by a
duly executed Assignment and Acceptance; thereupon one or more new notes in
the
same aggregate principal amount shall be issued to the designated assignee,
and
the old notes shall be returned by the Agent to the Administrative Borrower
marked “canceled.” The Register shall be available for inspection by the
Borrowers and each Lender (with respect to any entry relating to such Lender’s
portion of the Obligations) at any reasonable time and from time to time upon
reasonable prior notice.
(f) Any
Lender may at any time sell to one or more commercial banks, financial
institutions, or other Persons (a “Participant”)
participating interests in its Obligations, the Commitment, and the other rights
and interests of that Lender (the “Originating
Lender”)
hereunder and under the other Loan Documents; provided,
however,
that
(i) the Originating Lender shall remain a “Lender” for all purposes of this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the Participant receiving the
participating interest in the Obligations, the Commitments, and the other rights
and interests of the Originating Lender hereunder shall not constitute a
“Lender” hereunder or under the other Loan Documents and the Originating
Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) the
Originating Lender shall remain solely responsible for the performance of such
obligations, (iii) Borrowers, Agent, and the Lenders shall continue
to deal
solely and directly with the Originating Lender in connection with the
Originating Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other
Loan Documents, (iv) no Lender shall transfer or grant any participating
interest under which the Participant has the right to approve any amendment
to,
or any consent or waiver with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan
Document, except to the extent such amendment to, or consent or waiver with
respect to this Agreement or of any other Loan Document would (A) extend
the final maturity date of the Obligations hereunder in which such Participant
is participating, (B) reduce the interest rate applicable to the
Obligations hereunder in which such Participant is participating,
(C) release all or substantially all of the Collateral or guaranties
(except to the extent expressly provided herein or in any of the Loan Documents)
supporting the Obligations hereunder in which such Participant is participating,
(D) postpone the payment of, or reduce the amount of, the interest or
fees
payable to such Participant through such Lender, or (E) change the amount
or due dates of scheduled principal repayments or prepayments or premiums,
and
(v) all amounts payable by Borrowers hereunder shall be determined as
if
such Lender had not sold such participation, except that, if amounts outstanding
under this Agreement are due and unpaid, or shall have been declared or shall
have become due and payable upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, each
Participant shall be deemed to have the right of set off in respect of its
participating interest in amounts owing under this Agreement to the same extent
as if the amount of its participating interest were owing directly to it as
a
Lender under this Agreement. The rights of any Participant only shall be
derivative through the Originating Lender with whom such Participant
participates and no Participant shall have any rights under this Agreement
or
the other Loan Documents or any direct rights as to the other Lenders, Agent,
Borrowers, the Collections of Borrowers or their Subsidiaries, the Collateral,
or otherwise in respect of the Obligations. No Participant shall have the right
to participate directly in the making of decisions by the Lenders among
themselves.
48
(g) In
connection with any such assignment or participation or proposed assignment
or
participation, a Lender may, subject to the provisions of Section 16.7,
disclose all documents and information which it now or hereafter may have
relating to the Credit Parties and their respective Subsidiaries and their
respective businesses.
(h) Any
other
provision in this Agreement notwithstanding, any Lender may at any time create
a
security interest in, or pledge, all or any portion of its rights under and
interest in this Agreement in favor of any Federal Reserve Bank in accordance
with Regulation A of the Federal Reserve Bank or U.S. Treasury Regulation 31
CFR
§ 203.24, and such Federal Reserve Bank may enforce such pledge or security
interest in any manner permitted under applicable law.
13.2 Successors.
This
Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the respective successors
and
assigns of each of the parties; provided,
however,
that no
Credit Party may assign this Agreement or any of its rights or duties hereunder
without the Lenders’ prior written consent and any prohibited assignment shall
be absolutely void ab
initio.
No
consent to assignment by the Lenders shall release any Credit Party from its
obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document. A Lender may assign
this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents and its rights and duties hereunder
and
thereunder pursuant to Section 13.1
hereof
and, except as expressly required pursuant to Section 13.1
hereof,
no consent or approval by any Credit Party is required in connection with any
such assignment.
14. AMENDMENTS;
WAIVERS.
14.1 Amendments
and Waivers.
No
amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan
Document (other than Bank Product Agreements), and no consent with respect
to
any departure by any Credit Party or a Subsidiary of a Credit Party therefrom,
shall be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the
Required Lenders (or by Agent at the written request of the Required Lenders)
and then any such waiver or consent shall be effective, but only in the specific
instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided,
however,
that no
such waiver, amendment, or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by all
of
the Lenders affected thereby, do any of the following:
(a) increase
or extend any Commitment of any Lender,
(b) postpone
or delay any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any
payment of principal, interest, fees, or other amounts due hereunder or under
any other Loan Document,
49
(c) reduce
the principal of, or the rate of interest on, any loan or other extension of
credit hereunder, or reduce any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or
under
any other Loan Document,
(d) change
the Pro Rata Share that is required to take any action hereunder,
(e) amend
or
modify this Section or any provision of this Agreement providing for consent
or
other action by all Lenders,
(f) other
than as permitted by Section 15.12,
release
Agent’s Lien in and to all or any substantial portion of the
Collateral,
(g) change
the definition of Required Lenders or Pro Rata Share,
(h) contractually
subordinate any of the Agent’s Liens,
(i) release
any Credit Party from any obligation for the payment of money,
(j) change
the definition of Maximum Credit Amount, Maximum Revolver Amount, or change
Section 2.1(b),
or
(k) amend
any
of the provisions of Section 14.
provided
further,
however,
that no
amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by Agent,
Issuing Lender, or Swing Lender, as applicable, affect the rights or duties
of
Agent, Issuing Lender, or Swing Lender, as applicable, under this Agreement
or
any other Loan Document; and
provided further,
however,
any
amendment or modification that directly affects or alters the express rights
or
obligations of any Credit Party shall also require the consent or agreement
of
such Credit Party (which, in the case of any Borrower, may be given by the
Administrative Borrower). The foregoing notwithstanding, any amendment,
modification, waiver, consent, termination, or release of, or with respect
to,
any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document that relates only
to
the relationship of the Lender Group among themselves, and that does not affect
the rights or obligations of any Credit Party, shall not require consent by
or
the agreement of any Credit Party.
14.2 Replacement
of Holdout Lender.
(a) If
any
action to be taken by the Lender Group or Agent hereunder requires the unanimous
consent, authorization, or agreement of all Lenders, and a Lender (“Holdout
Lender”)
fails
to give its consent, authorization, or agreement, then Agent, upon at least
5
Business Days prior irrevocable notice to the Holdout Lender, may permanently
replace the Holdout Lender with one or more substitute Lenders (each, a
“Replacement
Lender”),
and
the Holdout Lender shall have no right to refuse to be replaced hereunder.
Such
notice to replace the Holdout Lender shall specify an effective date for such
replacement, which date shall not be later than 15 Business Days after the
date
such notice is given.
(b) Prior
to
the effective date of such replacement, the Holdout Lender and each Replacement
Lender shall execute and deliver an Assignment and Acceptance, subject only
to
the Holdout Lender being repaid its share of the outstanding Obligations
(including an assumption of its Pro Rata Share of the Risk Participation
Liability) without any premium or penalty of any kind whatsoever. If the Holdout
Lender shall refuse or fail to execute and deliver any such Assignment and
Acceptance prior to the effective date of such replacement, the Holdout Lender
shall be deemed to have executed and delivered such Assignment and Acceptance.
The replacement of any Holdout Lender shall be made in accordance with the
terms
of Section 13.1.
Until
such time as the Replacement Lenders shall have acquired all of the Obligations,
the Commitments, and the other rights and obligations of the Holdout Lender
hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the Holdout Lender shall remain
obligated to make the Holdout Lender’s Pro Rata Share of Advances and to
purchase a participation in each Letter of Credit and LC Facility Letter of
Credit, in an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of the Risk Participation
Liability of such Letter of Credit and such LC Facility Letter of
Credit.
50
14.3 No
Waivers; Cumulative Remedies.
No
failure by Agent or any Lender to exercise any right, remedy, or option under
this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or delay by Agent or any Lender
in
exercising the same, will operate as a waiver thereof. No waiver by Agent or
any
Lender will be effective unless it is in writing, and then only to the extent
specifically stated. No waiver by Agent or any Lender on any occasion shall
affect or diminish Agent’s and each Lender’s rights thereafter to require strict
performance by the Credit Parties of any provision of this Agreement. Agent’s
and each Lender’s rights under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents will
be cumulative and not exclusive of any other right or remedy that Agent or
any
Lender may have.
15. AGENT;
THE LENDER GROUP.
15.1 Appointment
and Authorization of Agent.
Each
Lender hereby designates and appoints WFF as its representative under this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents and each Lender hereby irrevocably
authorizes Agent to execute and deliver each of the other Loan Documents on
its
behalf and to take such other action on its behalf under the provisions of
this
Agreement and each other Loan Document and to exercise such powers and perform
such duties as are expressly delegated to Agent by the terms of this Agreement
or any other Loan Document, together with such powers as are reasonably
incidental thereto. Agent agrees to act as such on the express conditions
contained in this Section 15.
The
provisions of this Section 15
(other
than the proviso to Section 15.11(a))
are
solely for the benefit of Agent and the Lenders, and the Credit Parties and
their respective Subsidiaries shall have no rights as third party beneficiaries
of any of the provisions contained herein. Any provision to the contrary
contained elsewhere in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document
notwithstanding, Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities, except
those expressly set forth herein, nor shall Agent have or be deemed to have
any
fiduciary relationship with any Lender, and no implied covenants, functions,
responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this
Agreement or any other Loan Document or otherwise exist against Agent; it being
expressly understood and agreed that the use of the word “Agent” is for
convenience only, that WFF is merely the representative of the Lenders, and
only
has the contractual duties set forth herein. Except as expressly otherwise
provided in this Agreement, Agent shall have and may use its sole discretion
with respect to exercising or refraining from exercising any discretionary
rights or taking or refraining from taking any actions that Agent expressly
is
entitled to take or assert under or pursuant to this Agreement and the other
Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, or of any
other provision of the Loan Documents that provides rights or powers to Agent,
Lenders agree that Agent shall have the right to exercise the following powers
as long as this Agreement remains in effect: (a) maintain, in accordance
with its customary business practices, ledgers and records reflecting the status
of the Obligations, the Collateral, the Collections of Borrowers and their
Subsidiaries, and related matters, (b) execute or file any and all
financing or similar statements or notices, amendments, renewals, supplements,
documents, instruments, proofs of claim, notices and other written agreements
with respect to the Loan Documents, (c) make Advances, for itself or
on
behalf of Lenders as provided in the Loan Documents, (d) exclusively
receive, apply, and distribute the Collections of Borrowers and their
Subsidiaries as provided in the Loan Documents, (e) open and maintain
such
bank accounts and cash management arrangements as Agent deems necessary and
appropriate in accordance with the Loan Documents for the foregoing purposes
with respect to the Collateral and the Collections of Borrowers and their
Subsidiaries, (f) perform, exercise, and enforce any and all other rights
and remedies of the Lender Group with respect to the Credit Parties, the
Obligations, the Collateral, the Collections of Borrowers and their
Subsidiaries, or otherwise related to any of same as provided in the Loan
Documents, and (g) incur and pay such Lender Group Expenses as Agent
may
deem necessary or appropriate for the performance and fulfillment of its
functions and powers pursuant to the Loan Documents.
51
15.2 Delegation
of Duties.
Agent
may execute any of its duties under this Agreement or any other Loan Document
by
or through agents, employees or attorneys in fact and shall be entitled to
advice of counsel concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. Agent shall
not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agent or attorney
in
fact that it selects as long as such selection was made without gross negligence
or willful misconduct.
15.3 Liability
of Agent.
None of
the Agent Related Persons shall (a) be liable for any action taken or
omitted to be taken by any of them under or in connection with this Agreement
or
any other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby (except for
its
own gross negligence or willful misconduct), or (b) be responsible in
any
manner to any of the Lenders for any recital, statement, representation or
warranty made by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of any Credit
Party, or any officer or director thereof, contained in this Agreement or in
any
other Loan Document, or in any certificate, report, statement or other document
referred to or provided for in, or received by Agent under or in connection
with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or the validity, effectiveness,
genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan
Document, or for any failure of any Credit Party or any other party to any
Loan
Document to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder. No Agent Related
Person shall be under any obligation to any Lender to ascertain or to inquire
as
to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or
conditions of, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or to inspect the
books and records or properties of any Credit Party or its Subsidiaries or
Affiliates.
15.4 Reliance
by Agent.
Agent
shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any
writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram,
telefacsimile or other electronic method of transmission, telex or telephone
message, statement or other document or conversation believed by it to be
genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent, or made by the proper Person
or Persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including counsel
to any Credit Party or counsel to any Lender), independent accountants and
other
experts selected by Agent. Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing
to take any action under this Agreement or any other Loan Document unless Agent
shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Lenders as it deems
appropriate and until such instructions are received, Agent shall act, or
refrain from acting, as it deems advisable. If Agent so requests, it shall
first
be indemnified to its reasonable satisfaction by the Lenders against any and
all
liability and expense that may be incurred by it by reason of taking or
continuing to take any such action. Agent shall in all cases be fully protected
in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement or any other
Loan
Document in accordance with a request or consent of the requisite Lenders and
such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall
be
binding upon all of the Lenders.
15.5 Notice
of Default or Event of Default.
Agent
shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default
or Event of Default, except with respect to defaults in the payment of
principal, interest, fees, and expenses required to be paid to Agent for the
account of the Lenders and, except with respect to Events of Default of which
Agent has actual knowledge, unless Agent shall have received written notice
from
a Lender or Administrative Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing
such
Default or Event of Default, and stating that such notice is a “notice of
default.” Agent promptly will notify the Lenders of its receipt of any such
notice or of any Event of Default of which Agent has actual knowledge. If any
Lender obtains actual knowledge of any Event of Default, such Lender promptly
shall notify the other Lenders and Agent of such Event of Default. Each Lender
shall be solely responsible for giving any notices to its Participants, if
any.
Subject to Section 15.4,
Agent
shall take such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default as
may
be requested by the Required Lenders in accordance with Section 8;
provided,
however,
that
unless and until Agent has received any such request, Agent may (but shall
not
be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with
respect to such Default or Event of Default as it shall deem
advisable.
15.6 Credit
Decision.
Each
Lender acknowledges that none of the Agent Related Persons has made any
representation or warranty to it, and that no act by Agent hereinafter taken,
including any review of the affairs of any Credit Party or its Subsidiaries
or
Affiliates, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by
any
Agent-Related Person to any Lender. Each Lender represents to Agent that it
has,
independently and without reliance upon any Agent-Related Person and based
on
such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own
appraisal of and investigation into the business, prospects, operations,
property, financial and other condition and creditworthiness of any Credit
Party
or any other Person party to a Loan Document, and all applicable bank regulatory
laws relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, and made its own decision
to enter into this Agreement and to extend credit to Borrowers. Each Lender
also
represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon any
Agent-Related Person and based on such documents and information as it shall
deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit analysis,
appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement
and
the other Loan Documents, and to make such investigations as it deems necessary
to inform itself as to the business, prospects, operations, property, financial
and other condition and creditworthiness of any Credit Party or any other Person
party to a Loan Document. Except for notices, reports, and other documents
expressly herein required to be furnished to the Lenders by Agent, Agent shall
not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or
other information concerning the business, prospects, operations, property,
financial and other condition or creditworthiness of any Credit Party or any
other Person party to a Loan Document that may come into the possession of
any
of the Agent Related Persons.
52
15.7 Costs
and Expenses; Indemnification.
Agent
may incur and pay Lender Group Expenses to the extent Agent reasonably deems
necessary or appropriate for the performance and fulfillment of its functions,
powers, and obligations pursuant to the Loan Documents, including court costs,
attorneys fees and expenses, fees and expenses of financial accountants,
advisors, consultants, and appraisers, costs of collection by outside collection
agencies, auctioneer fees and expenses, and costs of security guards or
insurance premiums paid to maintain the Collateral, whether or not any Credit
Party is obligated to reimburse Agent or Lenders for such expenses pursuant
to
this Agreement or otherwise. Agent is authorized and directed to deduct and
retain sufficient amounts from the Collections of any Credit Party and their
Subsidiaries received by Agent to reimburse Agent for such out-of-pocket costs
and expenses prior to the distribution of any amounts to Lenders. In the event
Agent is not reimbursed for such costs and expenses from the Collections of
Borrowers and their Subsidiaries received by Agent, each Lender hereby agrees
that it is and shall be obligated to pay to or reimburse Agent for the amount
of
such Lender’s Pro Rata Share thereof. Whether or not the transactions
contemplated hereby are consummated, the Lenders shall indemnify upon demand
the
Agent Related Persons (to the extent not reimbursed by or on behalf of any
Credit Party and without limiting the obligation of any Credit Party to do
so),
according to their Pro Rata Shares, from and against any and all Indemnified
Liabilities; provided,
however,
that no
Lender shall be liable for the payment to any Agent Related Person of any
portion of such Indemnified Liabilities resulting solely from such Person’s
gross negligence or willful misconduct nor shall any Lender be liable for the
obligations of any Defaulting Lender in failing to make an Advance or other
extension of credit hereunder. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender
shall reimburse Agent upon demand for such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of any costs
or out of pocket expenses (including attorneys, accountants, advisors, and
consultants fees and expenses) incurred by 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,
any other Loan Document, or any document contemplated by or referred to herein,
to the extent that Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by or on behalf
of
any Credit Party. The undertaking in this Section shall survive the payment
of
all Obligations hereunder and the resignation or replacement of
Agent.
15.8 Agent
in Individual Capacity.
WFF and
its Affiliates may make loans to, issue letters of credit for the account of,
accept deposits from, acquire equity interests in, and generally engage in
any
kind of banking, trust, financial advisory, underwriting, or other business
with
any Credit Party or its Subsidiaries and Affiliates and any other Person party
to any Loan Documents as though WFF were not Agent hereunder, and, in each
case,
without notice to or consent of the other members of the Lender Group. The
other
members of the Lender Group acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities,
WFF
or its Affiliates may receive information regarding the Credit Parties or their
respective Affiliates and any other Person party to any Loan Documents that
is
subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of such Credit Parties,
Affiliates or such other Person and that prohibit the disclosure of such
information to the Lenders, and the Lenders acknowledge that, in such
circumstances (and in the absence of a waiver of such confidentiality
obligations, which waiver Agent will use its reasonable best efforts to obtain),
Agent shall not be under any obligation to provide such information to them.
The
terms “Lender” and “Lenders” include WFF in its individual capacity.
53
15.9 Successor
Agent.
Agent
may resign as Agent upon 45 days notice to the Lenders. If Agent resigns under
this Agreement, the Required Lenders shall appoint a successor Agent for the
Lenders. If no successor Agent is appointed prior to the effective date of
the
resignation of Agent, Agent may appoint, after consulting with the Lenders,
a
successor Agent. If Agent has materially breached or failed to perform any
material provision of this Agreement or of applicable law, the Required Lenders
may agree in writing to remove and replace Agent with a successor Agent from
among the Lenders. In any such event, upon the acceptance of its appointment
as
successor Agent hereunder, such successor Agent shall succeed to all the rights,
powers, and duties of the retiring Agent and the term “Agent” shall mean such
successor Agent and the retiring Agent’s appointment, powers, and duties as
Agent shall be terminated. After any retiring Agent’s resignation hereunder as
Agent, the provisions of this Section 16
shall
inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while
it was Agent under this Agreement. If no successor Agent has accepted
appointment as Agent by the date which is 45 days following a retiring Agent’s
notice of resignation, the retiring Agent’s resignation shall nevertheless
thereupon become effective and the Lenders shall perform all of the duties
of
Agent hereunder until such time, if any, as the Lenders appoint a successor
Agent as provided for above.
15.10 Lender
in Individual Capacity.
Any
Lender and its respective Affiliates may make loans to, issue letters of credit
for the account of, accept deposits from, acquire equity interests in and
generally engage in any kind of banking, trust, financial advisory, underwriting
or other business with any Credit Party or its Subsidiaries and Affiliates
and
any other Person party to any Loan Documents as though such Lender were not
a
Lender hereunder without notice to or consent of the other members of the Lender
Group. The other members of the Lender Group acknowledge that, pursuant to
such
activities, such Lender and its respective Affiliates may receive information
regarding a Credit Party or its Affiliates and any other Person party to any
Loan Documents that is subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of such
Credit Party or such other Person and that prohibit the disclosure of such
information to the Lenders, and the Lenders acknowledge that, in such
circumstances (and in the absence of a waiver of such confidentiality
obligations, which waiver such Lender will use its reasonable best efforts
to
obtain), such Lender shall not be under any obligation to provide such
information to them. With respect to the Swing Loans and Protective Advances,
Swing Lender 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 sub-agent
of
Agent.
15.11 Withholding
Taxes.
(a) All
payments made by any Borrower hereunder or under any note or other Loan Document
will be made without setoff, counterclaim, or other defense. In addition, all
such payments will be made free and clear of, and without deduction or
withholding for, any present or future Taxes, and in the event any deduction
or
withholding of Taxes is required, each Borrower shall comply with the
penultimate sentence of this Section 15.11(a).
“Taxes”
shall
mean, any taxes, levies, imposts, duties, fees, assessments or other charges
of
whatever nature now or hereafter imposed by any jurisdiction or by any political
subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein with respect to such
payments, and all interest, penalties or similar liabilities with respect
thereto, but excluding (A) any tax imposed by any jurisdiction or by
any
political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein measured by or
based on the net income or net profits of Lender, or franchise taxes (imposed
in
lieu of net income taxes) and backup withholding taxes, (B) any branch
profits taxes imposed by the United States or any similar tax imposed by any
other jurisdiction described in clause (A) above, (C) any taxes
that
are attributable to such Lender’s failure to comply with the requirements of
Section 15.11(c)
or
Section 15.11(d),
or
(D) any taxes that are imposed as a result of any event occurring after
the
Lender becomes a Lender other than a change in law or regulation or the
introduction of any law or regulation or a change in interpretation or
administration of any law. If any Taxes are so levied or imposed, each Borrower
agrees to pay the full amount of such Taxes and such additional amounts as
may
be necessary so that every payment of all amounts due under this Agreement,
any
note, or Loan Document, including any amount paid pursuant to this Section 15.11(a)
after
withholding or deduction for or on account of any Taxes, will not be less than
the amount provided for herein; provided,
however,
that
Borrowers shall not be required to increase any such amounts if the increase
in
such amount payable results from Agent’s or such Lender’s own willful misconduct
or gross negligence (as finally determined by a court of competent
jurisdiction). Each Borrower will furnish to Lender as promptly as possible
after the date the payment of any Tax is due pursuant to applicable law
certified copies of tax receipts evidencing such payment by any
Borrower.
54
(b) Each
Non-U.S. Lender agrees with and in favor of Agent and any Borrower, to deliver
to Administrative Borrower and Agent:
(i) if
such
Non-U.S. Lender claims an exemption from United States withholding tax pursuant
to its portfolio interest exception, (A) a statement of such Non-U.S.
Lender, signed under penalty of perjury, that it is not a (I) a “bank” as
described in Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the IRC, (II) a 10% shareholder
of any Borrower (within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the IRC),
or
(III) a controlled foreign corporation related to any Borrower within
the
meaning of Section 864(d)(4) of the IRC, and (B) a properly completed
and executed IRS Form W-8BEN, before receiving its first payment under this
Agreement and at any other time reasonably requested by Agent or Administrative
Borrower;
(ii) if
such
Non-U.S. Lender claims an exemption from, or a reduction of, withholding tax
under a United States tax treaty, two copies of properly completed and executed
IRS Form W-8BEN before receiving its first payment under this Agreement and
at
any other time reasonably requested by Agent or Administrative
Borrower;
(iii) if
such
Non-U.S. Lender claims that interest paid under this Agreement is exempt from
United States withholding tax because it is effectively connected with a United
States trade or business of such Non-U.S. Lender, two properly completed and
executed copies of IRS Form W-8ECI before receiving its first payment under
this
Agreement and at any other time reasonably requested by Agent or Administrative
Borrower; or
(iv) such
other form or forms, including IRS Form W-9, as may be required under the IRC
or
other laws of the United States as a condition to exemption from, or reduction
of, United States withholding or backup withholding tax before receiving its
first payment under this Agreement and at any other time reasonably requested
by
Agent or Administrative Borrower. Each Non-U.S. Lender agrees promptly to notify
Agent and Administrative Borrower of any change in circumstances which would
modify or render invalid or obsolete any claimed exemption or
reduction.
(c) If
a
Non-U.S. Lender claims an exemption from withholding tax in a jurisdiction
other
than the United States, such Non-U.S. Lender agrees with and in favor of Agent
and Borrowers, to deliver to Agent any such form or forms, as may be required
under the laws of such jurisdiction as a condition to exemption from, or
reduction of, foreign withholding or backup withholding tax before receiving
its
first payment under this Agreement and at any other time reasonably requested
by
Agent or Administrative Borrower.
Each
Non-U.S. Lender agrees promptly to notify Agent and Administrative Borrower
of
any change in circumstances which would modify or render invalid any claimed
exemption or reduction.
(d) If
any
Non-U.S. Lender claims exemption from, or reduction of, withholding tax and
such
Non-U.S. Lender sells, assigns, grants a participation in, or otherwise
transfers all or part of the Obligations owing to such Non-U.S. Lender, such
Non-U.S. Lender agrees to notify Agent and Administrative Borrower of the
percentage amount in which it is no longer the beneficial owner of Obligations
of the Borrowers owing to such Non-U.S. Lender. To the extent of such percentage
amount, Agent and Borrowers will treat such Non-U.S. Lender’s documentation
provided pursuant to Sections 15.11(b)
or
15.11(c)
as no
longer valid. With respect to such percentage amount, such Non-U.S. Lender
may
provide new documentation, pursuant to Sections 15.11(b)
or
15.11(c),
if
applicable.
55
(e) If
any
Non-U.S. Lender is entitled to a reduction in the applicable withholding tax,
Agent may withhold from any interest payment to such Non-U.S. Lender an amount
equivalent to the applicable withholding tax after taking into account such
reduction. If the forms or other documentation required by
subsection (b)
or
(c)
of this
Section 15.11
are not
delivered to Agent, then Agent may withhold from any interest payment to such
Non-U.S. Lender not providing such forms or other documentation an amount
equivalent to the applicable withholding tax.
(f) If
the
IRS or any other Governmental Authority of the United States or other
jurisdiction asserts a claim that Agent did not properly withhold tax from
amounts paid to or for the account of any Lender due to a failure on the part
of
the Lender (because the appropriate form was not delivered, was not properly
executed, or because such Lender failed to notify Agent of a change in
circumstances which rendered the exemption from, or reduction of, withholding
tax ineffective, or for any other reason) such Lender shall indemnify and hold
Agent harmless for all amounts paid, directly or indirectly, by Agent, as tax
or
otherwise, including penalties and interest, and including any taxes imposed
by
any jurisdiction on the amounts payable to Agent under this Section 15.11,
together with all costs and expenses (including attorneys fees and expenses).
The obligation of the Lenders under this subsection shall survive the payment
of
all Obligations and the resignation or replacement of Agent.
(g) Each
Lender agrees that, upon the occurrence of any event giving rise to the
operation of Section 15.11
with
respect to such Lender, it will, if requested by the Administrative Borrower,
use reasonable efforts (subject to overall policy considerations of such Lender)
to designate another lending office for any Obligations affected by such event
with the object of avoiding the consequences of such event; provided, that
such
designation is made on terms that, in the sole judgment of such Lender, cause
such Lender and its lending office(s) to suffer no economic, legal or regulatory
disadvantage, and provided, further, that nothing in this Section 15.11(g)
shall
affect or postpone any of the obligations of the Borrowers or the rights of
any
Lender pursuant to Section
15.11.
15.12 Collateral
Matters.
(a) The
Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize Agent, at its option and in its sole
discretion, to release any Lien on any Collateral (i) upon the termination
of the Commitments and payment and satisfaction in full of all Obligations,
(ii) constituting property being sold or disposed of if a release is
required or desirable in connection therewith and if Administrative Borrower
certifies to Agent that the sale or disposition is permitted under Section 6.4
of this
Agreement or the other Loan Documents (and Agent may rely conclusively on any
such certificate, without further inquiry), (iii) constituting property
in
which no Credit Party or its Subsidiaries owned any interest at the time the
Agent’s Lien was granted nor at any time thereafter, or (iv) constituting
property leased to a Credit Party or its Subsidiaries under a lease that has
expired or is terminated in a transaction permitted under this Agreement. Except
as provided above, Agent will not execute and deliver a release of any Lien
on
any Collateral without the prior written authorization of (y) if the
release is of all or substantially all of the Collateral, all of the Lenders,
or
(z) otherwise, the Required Lenders. Upon request by Agent or
Administrative Borrower at any time, the Lenders will confirm in writing Agent’s
authority to release any such Liens on particular types or items of Collateral
pursuant to this Section 15.12;
provided,
however,
that
(1) Agent shall not be required to execute any document necessary to
evidence such release on terms that, in Agent’s opinion, would expose Agent to
liability or create any obligation or entail any consequence other than the
release of such Lien without recourse, representation, or warranty, and
(2) such release shall not in any manner discharge, affect, or impair
the
Obligations or any Liens (other than those expressly being released) upon (or
obligations of any Credit Party in respect of) all interests retained by the
applicable Credit Party, including, the proceeds of any sale, all of which
shall
continue to constitute part of the Collateral.
56
(b) Agent
shall have no obligation whatsoever to any of the Lenders to assure that the
Collateral exists or is owned by any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries
or
is cared for, protected, or insured or has been encumbered, or that the Agent’s
Liens have been properly or sufficiently or lawfully created, perfected,
protected, or enforced or are entitled to any particular priority, or to
exercise at all or in any particular manner or under any duty of care,
disclosure or fidelity, or to continue exercising, any of the rights,
authorities and powers granted or available to Agent pursuant to any of the
Loan
Documents, it being understood and agreed that in respect of the Collateral,
or
any act, omission, or event related thereto, subject to the terms and conditions
contained herein, Agent may act in any manner it may deem appropriate, in its
sole discretion given Agent’s own interest in the Collateral in its capacity as
one of the Lenders and that Agent shall have no other duty or liability
whatsoever to any Lender as to any of the foregoing, except as otherwise
provided herein.
15.13 Restrictions
on Actions by Lenders; Sharing of Payments.
(a) Each
of
the Lenders agrees that it shall not, without the express written consent of
Agent, and that it shall, to the extent it is lawfully entitled to do so, upon
the written request of Agent, set off against the Obligations, any amounts
owing
by such Lender to any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries or any deposit
accounts of such Credit Party or Subsidiary now or hereafter maintained with
such Lender. Each of the Lenders further agrees that it shall not, unless
specifically requested to do so in writing by Agent, take or cause to be taken
any action, including, the commencement of any legal or equitable proceedings,
to foreclose any Lien on, or otherwise enforce any security interest in, any
of
the Collateral.
(b) If,
at
any time or times any Lender shall receive (i) by payment, foreclosure,
setoff, or otherwise, any proceeds of Collateral or any payments with respect
to
the Obligations, except for any such proceeds or payments received by such
Lender from Agent pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, or (ii) payments
from Agent in excess of such Lender’s ratable portion of all such distributions
by Agent, such Lender promptly shall (1) turn the same over to Agent,
in
kind, and with such endorsements as may be required to negotiate the same to
Agent, or in immediately available funds, as applicable, for the account of
all
of the Lenders and for application to the Obligations in accordance with the
applicable provisions of this Agreement, or (2) purchase, without recourse
or warranty, an undivided interest and participation in the Obligations owed
to
the other Lenders so that such excess payment received shall be applied ratably
as among the Lenders in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares; provided,
however, that to the extent that such excess payment received by the purchasing
party is thereafter recovered from it, those purchases of participations shall
be rescinded in whole or in part, as applicable, and the applicable portion
of
the purchase price paid therefor shall be returned to such purchasing party,
but
without interest except to the extent that such purchasing party is required
to
pay interest in connection with the recovery of the excess payment.
15.14 Agency
for Perfection.
Agent
hereby appoints each other Lender as its agent (and each Lender hereby accepts
such appointment) for the purpose of perfecting the Agent’s Liens in assets
which, in accordance with Article 8 or Article 9, as applicable, of
the
Code can be perfected only by possession or control. Should any Lender obtain
possession or control of any such Collateral, such Lender shall notify Agent
thereof, and, promptly upon Agent’s request therefor shall deliver possession or
control of such Collateral to Agent or in accordance with Agent’s
instructions.
15.15 Payments
by Agent to the Lenders.
All
payments to be made by Agent to the Lenders shall be made by bank wire transfer
of immediately available funds pursuant to such wire transfer instructions
as
each party may designate for itself by written notice to Agent. Concurrently
with each such payment, Agent shall identify whether such payment (or any
portion thereof) represents principal, premium, fees, or interest of the
Obligations.
15.16 Concerning
the Collateral and Related Loan Documents.
Each
member of the Lender Group authorizes and directs Agent to enter into this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Each member of the Lender Group agrees
that any action taken by Agent in accordance with the terms of this Agreement
or
the other Loan Documents relating to the Collateral and the exercise by Agent
of
its powers set forth therein or herein, together with such other powers that
are
reasonably incidental thereto, shall be binding upon all of the
Lenders.
57
15.17 Field
Audits and Examination Reports; Confidentiality; Disclaimers by Lenders; Other
Reports and Information.
By
becoming a party to this Agreement, each Lender:
(a) is
deemed
to have requested that Agent furnish such Lender, promptly after it becomes
available, a copy of each field audit or examination report (each a
“Report”
and
collectively, “Reports”)
prepared by or at the request of Agent, and Agent shall so furnish each Lender
with such Reports,
(b) expressly
agrees and acknowledges that Agent does not (i) make any representation
or
warranty as to the accuracy of any Report, and (ii) shall not be liable
for
any information contained in any Report,
(c) expressly
agrees and acknowledges that the Reports are not comprehensive audits or
examinations, that Agent or other party performing any audit or examination
will
inspect only specific information regarding a Credit Party and will rely
significantly upon the books and records of the Credit Parties and their
respective Subsidiaries, as well as on representations of such Person’s
personnel,
(d) agrees
to
keep all Reports and other material, non-public information regarding the Credit
Parties and their respective Subsidiaries and their operations, assets, and
existing and contemplated business plans in a confidential manner in accordance
with Section 16.7,
and
(e) without
limiting the generality of any other indemnification provision contained in
this
Agreement, agrees: (i) to hold Agent and any such other Lender preparing
a
Report harmless from any action the indemnifying Lender may take or fail to
take
or any conclusion the indemnifying Lender may reach or draw from any Report
in
connection with any loans or other credit accommodations that the indemnifying
Lender has made or may make to Borrowers, or the indemnifying Lender’s
participation in, or the indemnifying Lender’s purchase of, a loan or loans of
Borrowers; and (ii) to pay and protect, and indemnify, defend and hold
Agent, and any such other Lender preparing a Report harmless from and against,
the claims, actions, proceedings, damages, costs, expenses, and other amounts
(including, attorneys fees and costs) incurred by Agent and any such other
Lender preparing a Report as the direct or indirect result of any third parties
who might obtain all or part of any Report through the indemnifying
Lender.
In
addition to the foregoing: (x) any Lender may from time to time request
of
Agent in writing that Agent provide to such Lender a copy of any report or
document provided by any Credit Party to Agent that has not been
contemporaneously provided by such Credit Party to such Lender, and, upon
receipt of such request, Agent promptly shall provide a copy of same to such
Lender, (y) to the extent that Agent is entitled, under any provision
of
the Loan Documents, to request additional reports or information from any Credit
Party or its Subsidiaries, any Lender may, from time to time, reasonably request
Agent to exercise such right as specified in such Lender’s notice to Agent,
whereupon Agent promptly shall request of Administrative Borrower the additional
reports or information reasonably specified by such Lender, and, upon receipt
thereof from Administrative Borrower, Agent promptly shall provide a copy of
same to such Lender, and (z) any time that Agent renders to Administrative
Borrower a statement regarding the Loan Account, Agent shall send a copy of
such
statement to each Lender.
15.18 Several
Obligations; No Liability.
Notwithstanding that certain of the Loan Documents now or hereafter may have
been or will be executed only by or in favor of Agent in its capacity as such,
and not by or in favor of the Lenders, any and all obligations on the part
of
Agent (if any) to make any credit available hereunder shall constitute the
several (and not joint) obligations of the respective Lenders on a ratable
basis, according to their respective Commitments, to make an amount of such
credit not to exceed, in principal amount, at any one time outstanding, the
amount of their respective Commitments. Nothing contained herein shall confer
upon any Lender any interest in, or subject any Lender to any liability for,
or
in respect of, the business, assets, profits, losses, or liabilities of any
other Lender. Each Lender shall be solely responsible for notifying its
Participants of any matters relating to the Loan Documents to the extent any
such notice may be required, and no Lender shall have any obligation, duty,
or
liability to any Participant of any other Lender. Except as provided in
Section 15.7,
no
member of the Lender Group shall have any liability for the acts of any other
member of the Lender Group. No Lender shall be responsible to any Credit Party
or any other Person for any failure by any other Lender to fulfill its
obligations to make credit available hereunder, nor to advance for it or on
its
behalf in connection with its Commitment, nor to take any other action on its
behalf hereunder or in connection with the financing contemplated
herein.
58
15.19 Bank
Product Providers.
Each
Bank Product Provider shall be deemed a party hereto for purposes of any
reference in a Loan Document to the parties for whom Agent is acting; it being
understood and agreed that the rights and benefits of such Bank Product Provider
under the Loan Documents consist exclusively of such Bank Product Provider’s
right to share in payments and collections out of the Collateral as more fully
set forth herein. In connection with any such distribution of payments and
collections, Agent shall be entitled to assume no amounts are due to any Bank
Product Provider unless such Bank Product Provider has notified Agent in writing
of the amount of any such liability owed to it prior to such
distribution.
16. GENERAL
PROVISIONS.
16.1 Effectiveness.
This
Agreement shall be binding and deemed effective when executed by the Credit
Parties, Agent, and each Lender whose signature is provided for on the signature
pages hereof.
16.2 Section
Headings.
Headings and numbers have been set forth herein for convenience only. Unless
the
contrary is compelled by the context, everything contained in each Section
applies equally to this entire Agreement.
16.3 Interpretation.
Neither
this Agreement nor any uncertainty or ambiguity herein shall be construed
against the Lender Group or the Credit Parties, whether under any rule of
construction or otherwise. On the contrary, this Agreement has been reviewed
by
all parties and shall be construed and interpreted according to the ordinary
meaning of the words used so as to accomplish fairly the purposes and intentions
of all parties hereto.
16.4 Severability
of Provisions.
Each
provision of this Agreement shall be severable from every other provision of
this Agreement for the purpose of determining the legal enforceability of any
specific provision.
16.5 Counterparts;
Electronic Execution.
This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties
on separate counterparts, each of which, when executed and delivered, shall
be
deemed to be an original, and all of which, when taken together, shall
constitute but one and the same Agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart
of this Agreement by telefacsimile or other electronic method of transmission
shall be equally as effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart
of
this Agreement. Any party delivering an executed counterpart of this Agreement
by telefacsimile or other electronic method of transmission also shall deliver
an original executed counterpart of this Agreement but the failure to deliver
an
original executed counterpart shall not affect the validity, enforceability,
and
binding effect of this Agreement. The foregoing shall apply to each other Loan
Document mutatis mutandis.
16.6 Revival
and Reinstatement of Obligations.
If the
incurrence or payment of the Obligations by any Credit Party or the transfer
to
the Lender Group of any property should for any reason subsequently be declared
to be void or voidable under any state or federal law relating to creditors’
rights, including provisions of the Bankruptcy Code relating to fraudulent
conveyances, preferences, or other voidable or recoverable payments of money
or
transfers of property (collectively, a “Voidable
Transfer”),
and
if the Lender Group is required to repay or restore, in whole or in part, any
such Voidable Transfer, or elects to do so upon the reasonable advice of its
counsel, then, as to any such Voidable Transfer, or the amount thereof that
the
Lender Group is required or elects to repay or restore, and as to all reasonable
costs, expenses, and attorneys fees of the Lender Group related thereto, the
liability of all Credit Parties automatically shall be revived, reinstated,
and
restored and shall exist as though such Voidable Transfer had never been
made.
59
16.7 Confidentiality.
Agent
and Lenders each individually (and not jointly or jointly and severally) agree
that material, non-public information regarding the Credit Parties and their
respective Subsidiaries, their operations, assets, and existing and contemplated
business plans shall be treated by Agent and the Lenders in a confidential
manner, and shall not be disclosed by Agent and the Lenders to Persons who
are
not parties to this Agreement, except: (a) to attorneys for and other
advisors, accountants, auditors, and consultants to any member of the Lender
Group provided that any such Person shall have agreed to receive such
information hereunder subject to the terms of this Section 16.7,
(b) to Subsidiaries and Affiliates of any member of the Lender Group
(including the Bank Product Providers), provided that any such Subsidiary or
Affiliate shall have agreed to receive such information hereunder subject to
the
terms of this Section 16.7,
(c) as may be required by statute, decision, or judicial or administrative
order, rule, or regulation, (d) as may be agreed to in advance by such
Person or as requested or required by any Governmental Authority pursuant to
any
subpoena or other legal process, (e) as to any such information that
is or
becomes generally available to the public (other than as a result of prohibited
disclosure by Agent or the Lenders), (f) in connection with any assignment,
prospective assignment, sale, prospective sale, participation or prospective
participations, or pledge or prospective pledge of any Lender’s interest under
this Agreement, provided that any such assignee, prospective assignee,
purchaser, prospective purchaser, participant, prospective participant, pledgee,
or prospective pledgee shall have agreed in writing to receive such information
hereunder subject to the terms of this Section, and (g) in connection
with
any litigation or other adversary proceeding involving parties hereto which
such
litigation or adversary proceeding involves claims related to the rights or
duties of such parties under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents. The
provisions of this Section 16.7
shall
survive for 2 years after the payment in full of the Obligations.
16.8 Integration.
This
Agreement, together with the other Loan Documents, reflects the entire
understanding of the parties with respect to the transactions contemplated
hereby and shall not be contradicted or qualified by any other agreement, oral
or written, before the date hereof.
16.9 PCA
as Agent for Borrowers.
Each
Borrower hereby irrevocably appoints PCA as the borrowing agent and
attorney-in-fact for all Borrowers (the “Administrative
Borrower”)
which
appointment shall remain in full force and effect unless and until Agent shall
have received prior written notice signed by each Borrower that such appointment
has been revoked and that another Borrower has been appointed Administrative
Borrower. Each Borrower hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the
Administrative Borrower (i) to provide Agent with all notices with respect
to Advances, Letters of Credit and LC Facility Letters of Credit obtained for
the benefit of any Borrower and all other notices and instructions under this
Agreement and (ii) to take such action as the Administrative Borrower
deems
appropriate on its behalf to obtain Advances, Letters of Credit and LC Facility
Letters of Credit and to exercise such other powers as are reasonably incidental
thereto to carry out the purposes of this Agreement. It is understood that
the
handling of the Loan Account and Collateral of Borrowers in a combined fashion,
as more fully set forth herein, is done solely as an accommodation to Borrowers
in order to utilize the collective borrowing powers of Borrowers in the most
efficient and economical manner and at their request, and that no member of
the
Lender Group shall (unless arising out of the willful misconduct or gross
negligence of such member of the Lender Group) incur liability to any Borrower
or any other Credit Party as a result hereof . Each Borrower expects to derive
benefit, directly or indirectly, from the handling of the Loan Account and
the
Collateral in a combined fashion since the successful operation of each Borrower
is dependent on the continued successful performance of the integrated group.
To
induce the Lender Group to do so, and in consideration thereof, each Borrower
hereby jointly and severally agrees to indemnify each member of the Lender
Group
and hold each member of the Lender Group harmless against any and all liability,
expense, loss or claim of damage or injury, made against the Lender Group by
any
Borrower or by any third party whosoever, arising from or incurred by reason
of
(a) the handling of the Loan Account and Collateral of Borrowers as
herein
provided, (b) the Lender Group’s relying on any instructions of the
Administrative Borrower, or (c) any other action taken by the Lender
Group
hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, except that Borrowers will have
no
liability to the relevant Agent-Related Person or Lender-Related Person under
this Section 16.9
with
respect to any liability that has been finally determined by a court of
competent jurisdiction to have resulted solely from the gross negligence or
willful misconduct of such Agent-Related Person or Lender-Related Person, as
the
case may be.
60
16.10 Public
Disclosure.
Each
Credit Party agrees that neither it nor any of its Affiliates will issue any
press release or other public disclosure using the name of Agent, any Lender
or
any of their respective Affiliates or referring to this Agreement or any other
Loan Document without the prior written consent of Agent and such Lender, except
to the extent that such Credit Party or such Affiliate is required to do so
under applicable law or a material contractual obligation of such Credit Party
or Affiliate (in which event, such Credit Party or such Affiliate, as
applicable, will consult with Agent and such Lender before issuing such press
release or other public disclosure). Each Credit Party hereby authorizes Agent
and each Lender, after consultation with Administrative Borrower, to advertise
the closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and to make
appropriate announcements of the financial arrangements entered into among
the
parties hereto, as Agent and the Lenders shall deem appropriate, including
announcements commonly known as tombstones, in such trade publications, business
journals, newspapers of general circulation and to such selected parties as
Agent or such Lender shall deem appropriate.
[Signature
pages follow.]
61
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF,
the
parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed and delivered as of
the
date first above written.
PARENT
GUARANTOR:
|
PORTRAIT
CORPORATION OF AMERICA, INC.,
a
Delaware corporation
By: /s/
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Its: Executive
Vice President and
Chief
Financial Officer
|
BORROWERS:
|
PCA
LLC,
a
Delaware limited liability company
By: /s/
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Its: Executive
Vice President and
Chief
Financial Officer
|
AMERICAN
STUDIOS, INC.,
a
North Carolina corporation
By: /s/
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Its: Executive
Vice President and
Chief
Financial Officer
|
|
PCA
PHOTO CORPORATION OF CANADA, INC.,
a
North Carolina corporation
By: /s/
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Its: Executive
Vice President and
Chief
Financial Officer
|
|
PCA
NATIONAL LLC,
a
Delaware limited liability company
By: /s/
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Its: Executive
Vice President and
Chief
Financial Officer
|
|
HOMETOWN
THREADS LLC,
a
Delaware limited liability company
By: /s/
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Its: Executive
Vice President and
Chief
Financial Officer
|
|
PCA
NATIONAL OF TEXAS L.P.,
a
Texas limited partnership
By:PCA
NATIONAL LLC,
a
Delaware limited liability company
Its:General
Partner
By:
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Its:
Executive
Vice President and
Chief
Financial Officer
|
|
AGENT
AND A LENDER:
|
XXXXX
FARGO FOOTHILL, INC.,
a
California corporation
By: /s/
Xxxxx XxxXxxxxx
Its: Vice
President
|
62
Table of Contents
Page
|
||
1
|
DEFINITIONS
AND CONSTRUCTION
|
1
|
1.1
|
Definitions
|
1
|
1.2
|
Accounting
Terms
|
1
|
1.3
|
Code
|
1
|
1.4
|
Construction
|
1
|
1.5
|
Schedules
and Exhibits
|
2
|
2
|
LOAN
AND TERMS OF PAYMENT
|
2
|
2.1
|
Revolver
Advances
|
2
|
2.2
|
LC
Facility Letters of Credit
|
2
|
2.3
|
Borrowing
Procedures and Settlements
|
5
|
2.4
|
Payments
|
9
|
2.5
|
Overadvances
|
11
|
2.6
|
Interest
Rates and Letter of Credit Fee: Rates, Payments, and
Calculations
|
12
|
2.7
|
Cash
Management
|
13
|
2.8
|
Crediting
Payments
|
15
|
2.9
|
Designated
Account
|
15
|
2.1
|
Maintenance
of Loan Account; Statements of Obligations
|
15
|
2.11
|
Fees
|
15
|
2.12
|
Letters
of Credit
|
15
|
2.13
|
LIBOR
Option
|
18
|
2.14
|
Capital
Requirements
|
20
|
2.15
|
Joint
and Several Liability of Borrowers
|
20
|
3
|
CONDITIONS;
TERM OF AGREEMENT
|
23
|
3.1
|
Conditions
Precedent to the Initial Extension of Credit
|
23
|
3.2
|
Conditions
Precedent to all Extensions of Credit
|
23
|
3.3
|
Term
|
23
|
3.4
|
Effect
of Termination
|
23
|
3.5
|
Early
Termination by Borrowers
|
24
|
4
|
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
|
24
|
4.1
|
No
Encumbrances
|
24
|
4.2
|
Accounts
|
24
|
4.3
|
Inventory
|
24
|
4.4
|
Equipment
|
24
|
4.5
|
Location
of Inventory and Equipment
|
24
|
4.6
|
Inventory
Records
|
25
|
4.7
|
State
of Incorporation; Location of Chief Executive Office; Organizational
Identification Number; Commercial Tort Claims
|
25
|
4.8
|
Due
Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries
|
25
|
4.9
|
Due
Authorization; No Conflict
|
25
|
4.1
|
Litigation
|
26
|
4.11
|
No
Material Adverse Change
|
26
|
4.12
|
Fraudulent
Transfer
|
26
|
4.13
|
Employee
Benefits
|
27
|
4.14
|
Environmental
Condition
|
27
|
4.15
|
Intellectual
Property
|
27
|
4.16
|
Leases
|
28
|
4.17
|
Deposit
Accounts and Securities Accounts
|
28
|
4.18
|
Complete
Disclosure
|
28
|
4.19
|
Indebtedness
|
28
|
4.2
|
Material
Contracts
|
28
|
4.21
|
Note
Documents
|
28
|
5
|
AFFIRMATIVE
COVENANTS
|
29
|
5.1
|
Accounting
System
|
29
|
5.2
|
Collateral
Reporting
|
29
|
5.3
|
Financial
Statements, Reports, Certificates
|
29
|
5.4
|
Credit
Party Reports
|
29
|
5.5
|
Inspection
|
29
|
5.6
|
Maintenance
of Properties
|
29
|
5.7
|
Taxes
|
29
|
5.8
|
Insurance
|
30
|
5.9
|
Location
of Inventory and Equipment
|
30
|
5.1
|
Compliance
with Laws
|
31
|
5.11
|
Leases
|
31
|
5.12
|
Existence
|
31
|
5.13
|
Environmental
|
31
|
5.14
|
Disclosure
Updates
|
31
|
5.15
|
Control
Agreements
|
31
|
5.16
|
Formation
of Subsidiaries
|
32
|
5.17
|
ERISA
Compliance
|
32
|
5.18
|
Note
Documents
|
33
|
5.19
|
Further
Assurances
|
33
|
5.2
|
Post-Closing
Conditions
|
33
|
6
|
NEGATIVE
COVENANTS
|
35
|
6.1
|
Indebtedness
|
35
|
6.2
|
Liens
|
36
|
6.3
|
Restrictions
on Fundamental Changes
|
36
|
6.4
|
Disposal
of Assets
|
37
|
6.5
|
Change
Name
|
37
|
6.6
|
Nature
of Business
|
37
|
6.7
|
Payments
and Amendments
|
37
|
6.8
|
Change
of Control
|
38
|
6.9
|
Consignments
|
38
|
6.1
|
Distributions
|
38
|
6.11
|
Accounting
Methods
|
38
|
6.12
|
Investments
|
38
|
6.13
|
Transactions
with Affiliates
|
38
|
6.14
|
Use
of Proceeds
|
39
|
6.15
|
Inventory
and Equipment with Bailees
|
39
|
6.16
|
Financial
Covenants
|
39
|
6.17
|
ERISA
|
40
|
6.18
|
Material
Contracts
|
40
|
7
|
EVENTS
OF DEFAULT
|
40
|
8
|
THE
LENDER GROUP’S RIGHTS AND REMEDIES
|
43
|
8.1
|
Rights
and Remedies
|
43
|
8.2
|
Remedies
Cumulative
|
43
|
9
|
TAXES
AND EXPENSES
|
44
|
10
|
WAIVERS;
INDEMNIFICATION
|
44
|
10.1
|
Demand;
Protest; etc
|
44
|
10.2
|
The
Lender Group’s Liability for Collateral
|
44
|
10.3
|
Indemnification
|
44
|
10.4
|
Waiver
of Consequential Damages, Etc
|
45
|
11
|
NOTICES
|
45
|
12
|
CHOICE
OF LAW AND VENUE; JURY TRIAL WAIVER
|
46
|
13
|
ASSIGNMENTS
AND PARTICIPATIONS; SUCCESSORS
|
47
|
13.1
|
Assignments
and Participations
|
47
|
13.2
|
Successors
|
49
|
14
|
AMENDMENTS;
WAIVERS
|
49
|
14.1
|
Amendments
and Waivers
|
49
|
14.2
|
Replacement
of Holdout Lender
|
50
|
14.3
|
No
Waivers; Cumulative Remedies
|
50
|
15
|
AGENT;
THE LENDER GROUP
|
51
|
15.1
|
Appointment
and Authorization of Agent
|
51
|
15.2
|
Delegation
of Duties
|
51
|
15.3
|
Liability
of Agent
|
51
|
15.4
|
Reliance
by Agent
|
52
|
15.5
|
Notice
of Default or Event of Default
|
52
|
15.6
|
Credit
Decision
|
52
|
15.7
|
Costs
and Expenses; Indemnification
|
53
|
15.8
|
Agent
in Individual Capacity
|
53
|
15.9
|
Successor
Agent
|
53
|
15.1
|
Lender
in Individual Capacity
|
54
|
15.11
|
Withholding
Taxes
|
54
|
15.12
|
Collateral
Matters
|
56
|
15.13
|
Restrictions
on Actions by Lenders; Sharing of Payments
|
57
|
15.14
|
Agency
for Perfection
|
57
|
15.15
|
Payments
by Agent to the Lenders
|
57
|
15.16
|
Concerning
the Collateral and Related Loan Documents
|
57
|
15.17
|
Field
Audits and Examination Reports; Confidentiality; Disclaimers by
Lenders;
Other Reports and Information
|
57
|
15.18
|
Several
Obligations; No Liability
|
58
|
15.19
|
Bank
Product Providers
|
59
|
16
|
GENERAL
PROVISIONS
|
59
|
16.1
|
Effectiveness
|
59
|
16.2
|
Section
Headings
|
59
|
16.3
|
Interpretation
|
59
|
16.4
|
Severability
of Provisions
|
59
|
16.5
|
Counterparts;
Electronic Execution
|
59
|
16.6
|
Revival
and Reinstatement of Obligations
|
59
|
16.7
|
Confidentiality
|
59
|
16.8
|
Integration
|
60
|
16.9
|
PCA
as Agent for Borrowers
|
60
|
16.1
|
Public
Disclosure
|
60
|
-i-
|
TABLE
OF CONTENTS(continued)
EXHIBITS
AND SCHEDULES
Exhibit
A-1
|
Form
of Assignment and Acceptance
|
Exhibit
C-1
|
Form
of Compliance Certificate
|
Exhibit
L-1
|
Form
of LIBOR Notice
|
Exhibit
L-2
|
Form
of Loan Limit Certificate
|
Exhibit
S-1
|
Form
of Solvency Certificate
|
Schedule
A-1
|
Agent’s
Account
|
Schedule
C-1
|
Commitments
|
Schedule
D-1
|
Designated
Account
|
Schedule
P-1
|
Permitted
Liens
|
Schedule
P-2
|
Permitted
Investments
|
Schedule
R-1
|
Real
Property Collateral
|
Schedule
1.1
|
Definitions
|
Schedule
2.7(a)
|
Cash
Management Banks
|
Schedule
3.1
|
Conditions
Precedent
|
Schedule
4.5
|
Locations
of Inventory and Equipment
|
Schedule
4.7(a)
|
States
of Organization
|
Schedule
4.7(b)
|
Chief
Executive Offices
|
Schedule
4.7(c)
|
Organizational
Identification Numbers
|
Schedule
4.7(d)
|
Commercial
Tort Claims
|
Schedule
4.8
|
Capitalization
of Credit Parties and Subsidiaries
|
Schedule
4.10
|
Litigation
|
Schedule
4.13(a)
|
Certain
Employee Pension Benefit Plans
|
Schedule
4.13(d)
|
Certain
Employee Health Benefit Plans
|
Schedule
4.14
|
Environmental
Matters
|
Schedule
4.15
|
Intellectual
Property
|
Schedule
4.17
|
Deposit
Accounts and Securities Accounts
|
Schedule
4.19
|
Permitted
Indebtedness
|
Schedule
4.20
|
Material
Contracts
|
Schedule
5.2
|
Collateral
Reporting
|
Schedule
5.3
|
Financial
Statements, Reports, Certificates
|
Schedule
5.8(b)
|
Excluded
Insurance Claims
|
Schedule
7.14
|
Certain
Material Contracts
|