TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT Dated as of November 1, 2012 among VECTREN CAPITAL, CORP., as the Borrower, VECTREN CORPORATION, as the Guarantor, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. as Administrative Agent and THE OTHER LENDERS PARTY HERETO Arranged By: J.P. MORGAN...
EXECUTION COPY
Dated as of November 1, 2012
among
VECTREN CAPITAL, CORP.,
as the Borrower,
VECTREN CORPORATION,
as the Guarantor,
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
as Administrative Agent
and
THE OTHER LENDERS PARTY HERETO
Arranged By:
X.X. XXXXXX SECURITIES LLC
as Lead Arranger and Book Manager
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS 1
1.01 | Defined Terms 1 |
1.02 | Other Interpretive Provisions 15 |
1.03 | Accounting Terms 15 |
1.04 | Rounding. 16 |
1.05 | Times of Day. 16 |
ARTICLE II THE COMMITMENTS AND LOANS 16
2.01 | Loans 16 |
2.02 | Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans 16 |
2.03 | Prepayments 17 |
2.04 | Repayment of Loans 18 |
2.05 | Interest 18 |
2.06 | [Reserved] 19 |
2.07 | Computation of Interest and Fees 19 |
2.08 | Evidence of Debt 19 |
2.09 | Payments Generally; Administrative Agent's Clawback 19 |
2.10 | Sharing of Payments by Lenders 21 |
2.11 | Defaulting Lenders 22 |
ARTICLE III TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY 23
3.01 | Taxes 23 |
3.02 | Illegality 26 |
3.03 | Inability to Determine Rates 26 |
3.04 | Increased Costs 26 |
3.05 | Compensation for Losses 28 |
3.06 | Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders 28 |
3.07 | Survival 29 |
ARTICLE IV GUARANTY 29
4.01 | The Guaranty 29 |
4.02 | Obligations Unconditional 29 |
4.03 | Reinstatement 30 |
4.04 | Certain Additional Waivers 30 |
4.05 | Remedies 30 |
4.06 | Defenses Waived 31 |
4.07 | Guarantee of Payment; Continuing Guarantee 31 |
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ARTICLE V CONDITIONS PRECEDENT 31
5.01. | Conditions of Effectiveness 31 |
ARTICLE VI REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES 32
6.01 | Existence and Standing 32 |
6.02 | Authorization and Validity 33 |
6.03 | No Conflict; Government Consent 33 |
6.04 | Financial Statements 33 |
6.05 | Material Adverse Change 33 |
6.06 | Taxes 33 |
6.07 | Litigation and Contingent Obligations 34 |
6.08 | Subsidiaries 34 |
6.09 | ERISA 34 |
6.10 | Accuracy of Information 34 |
6.11 | Regulation U 34 |
6.12 | Material Agreements 35 |
6.13 | Compliance with Laws 35 |
6.14 | Ownership of Properties 35 |
6.15 | Plan Assets; Prohibited Transactions 35 |
6.16 | Environmental Matters 35 |
6.17 | Investment Company Act 35 |
6.18 | Insurance 36 |
6.19 | Solvency 36 |
6.20 | Compliance with OFAC Rules and Regulations 36 |
6.21 | Compliance with FCPA 36 |
6.22 | Anti-Terrorism Laws 37 |
ARTICLE VII COVENANTS 37
7.01 | Financial Reporting 37 |
7.02 | Use of Proceeds 39 |
7.03 | Notice of Default 39 |
7.04 | Conduct of Business 39 |
7.05 | Taxes 39 |
7.06 | Insurance 40 |
7.07 | Compliance with Laws 40 |
7.08 | Maintenance of Properties 40 |
7.09 | Inspection 40 |
7.10 | Merger 40 |
7.11 | Sale of Assets 41 |
7.12 | Investments and Acquisitions 41 |
7.13 | Liens 41 |
7.14 | Affiliates 43 |
7.15 | Consolidated Debt to Capitalization Ratio 43 |
7.16 | Certain Restrictions 43 |
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7.17 | Indebtedness 43 |
7.18 | Dividends 44 |
ARTICLE VIII EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES 44
8.01 | Events of Default 44 |
8.02 | Remedies Upon Event of Default 46 |
8.03 | Application of Funds 47 |
ARTICLE IX ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT 48
9.01 | Appointment and Authority 48 |
9.02 | Rights as a Lender 48 |
9.03 | Exculpatory Provisions 48 |
9.04 | Reliance by Administrative Agent 49 |
9.05 | Delegation of Duties 49 |
9.06 | Resignation of Administrative Agent 49 |
9.07 | Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders 50 |
9.08 | No Other Duties; Etc. 50 |
9.09 | Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim 50 |
ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS 51
10.01 | Amendments, Etc. 51 |
10.02 | Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communications 52 |
10.03 | No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement 54 |
10.04 | Expenses; Indemnity; and Damage Waiver 55 |
10.05 | Payments Set Aside 56 |
10.06 | Successors and Assigns 56 |
10.07 | Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality 59 |
10.08 | Set-off 60 |
10.09 | Interest Rate Limitation 61 |
10.10 | Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness 61 |
10.11 | Survival of Representations and Warranties 61 |
10.12 | Severability 61 |
10.13 | Replacement of Lenders 62 |
10.14 | Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc. 62 |
10.15 | Waiver of Right to Trial by Jury 63 |
10.16 | No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility 63 |
10.17 | Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents 64 |
10.18 | USA PATRIOT Act Notice 64 |
10.19 | Press Releases and Related Matters 64 |
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SCHEDULES
2.01 Commitments and Applicable Percentages
6.08 Subsidiaries
6.14 Liens Existing on the Closing Date
7.12 Investments Existing on the Closing Date
7.16 Certain Restrictions Existing on the Closing Date
7.17 Indebtedness Existing on the Closing Date
10.02 Certain Addresses for Notices
EXHIBITS
2.02 Form of Loan Notice
2.08(a) Form of Note
5.01(e) Form of Opinion(s)
7.01 Form of Compliance Certificate
10.06(b) Form of Assignment and Assumption
10.06(b)(iv) Form of Administrative Questionnaire
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This TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of November 1, 2012 among VECTREN CAPITAL, CORP., an Indiana corporation (the "Borrower"), the Guarantor (defined herein), the Lenders (defined herein) and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent.
The Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide $100,000,000 in loans for the purposes set forth herein, and the Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
1.01 Defined Terms.
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
"Act" has the meaning specified in Section 10.18.
"Acquisition", means any transaction, or any series of related transactions, consummated on or after the date of this Agreement, by which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (i) acquires any going business or all or substantially all of the assets of any firm, corporation or limited liability company, or division thereof, whether through purchase of assets, merger or otherwise or (ii) directly or indirectly acquires (in one transaction or as the most recent transaction in a series of transactions) at least a majority (in number of votes) of the securities of a corporation which have ordinary voting power for the election of directors (other than securities having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) or a majority (by percentage or voting power) of the outstanding ownership interests of a partnership or limited liability company.
“Adjusted LIBO Rate” shall mean, with respect to each Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing, the rate per annum obtained by dividing (i) LIBOR for such Interest Period by (ii) a percentage equal to 1.00 minus the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage.
"Administrative Agent" means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. in its capacity as administrative agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent.
"Administrative Agent's Office" means the Administrative Agent's address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 10.02 or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify to the Borrower and the Lenders.
"Administrative Questionnaire" means an Administrative Questionnaire in substantially the form of Exhibit 10.06(b)(iv) or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.
CHAR21264001v6
"Aggregate Commitments" means the Commitments of all the Lenders. The initial amount of the Aggregate Commitments in effect on the Closing Date is $100,000,000.
"Agreement" means this Term Loan Credit Agreement.
"Applicable Percentage" means with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Aggregate Commitments represented by such Lender's Commitment at such time; provided that if the commitment of each Lender to make Loans have been terminated or have expired, then the Applicable Percentage of each Lender shall be determined based on the percentage (carried to the ninth decimal) of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Loans represented by such Lender’s Loans at such time. The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable. The Applicable Percentages shall be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.11.
"Applicable Rate" means from time to time, the following percentages per annum, based upon the Rating as set forth below:
Pricing Tier | Corporate Rating | Eurodollar Loans | Base Rate Loans |
I | ≥ A/A2 | 0.875% | 0% |
II | A-/A3 | 1.000% | 0% |
III | BBB+/Baa1 | 1.125% | 0.125% |
IV | BBB/Baa2 | 1.375% | 0.375% |
V | ≤ BBB- or unrated/ Baa3 or unrated | 1.625% | 0.625% |
"Corporate Rating" means, as of any date of determination, the non-credit enhanced corporate credit rating (as determined by either S&P or Xxxxx'x (collectively, the "Corporate Ratings")) of the Guarantor; provided that (a) if the respective Corporate Ratings issued by Xxxxx'x and S&P differ by one level, then the Pricing Level for the higher of such Corporate Ratings shall apply (with the Corporate Rating for Pricing Level I being the highest and the Corporate Rating for Pricing Level V being the lowest) and (b) if the respective Corporate Ratings issued by Xxxxx'x and S&P differ by more than one level, then the Pricing Level which is one level lower than the Pricing Level corresponding to the higher Corporate Rating shall apply.
Initially, the Applicable Rate shall be Pricing Level II. Thereafter, each change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a publicly announced change in the Corporate Rating shall be effective on the date of the public announcement thereof and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change.
"Approved Fund" means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.
"Arranger" means X.X. Xxxxxx Securities in its capacity as lead arranger and sole book manager.
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"Assignee Group" means two or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one another or two or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.
"Assignment and Assumption" means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 10.06(b)), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit 10.06(b) or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
"Audited Financial Statements" means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders' equity and cash flows of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries for such fiscal year, including the notes thereto.
"Base Rate" shall mean, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the highest of (i) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, (ii) the Federal Funds Rate in effect on such day, (any changes in such rate to be effective as of the date of any change in such rate) plus one-half of one percent (0.50%) and (iii) the one-month Adjusted LIBO Rate on such day, which rate shall be determined on a daily basis (any changes in such rate to be effective as of the date of any change in such rate) plus 100 basis points which rate shall be determined on a daily basis; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the Adjusted LIBO Rate for any day shall be based on the rate appearing on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or any successor or substitute page of such service) at approximately 11:00 a.m. London time on such day.
"Base Rate Loan" means a Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.
"Borrower" has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.
"Borrower Materials" has the meaning specified in Section 7.01.
"Borrowing" means a borrowing consisting of Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01.
"Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state where the Administrative Agent's Office is located.
"Capitalized Lease" of a Person means any lease of property by such Person as lessee which would be capitalized on a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP.
"Capitalized Lease Obligations" of a Person means the amount of the obligations of such Person under Capitalized Leases which would be shown as a liability on a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP.
"Cash Equivalent Investments" means (i) short-term obligations of, or fully guaranteed by, the United States of America, (ii) commercial paper rated A-1 or better by S&P or P-1 or better by Xxxxx'x, (iii) demand deposit accounts maintained in the ordinary course of business, (iv) certificates of deposit issued by and time deposits with commercial banks (whether domestic or foreign) having capital and surplus in excess of $100,000,000 and (v) money market funds which, under normal conditions, invest primarily in debt securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities and repurchase agreements fully collateralized by U.S. Treasury and U.S. government securities; provided in
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each case that the same provides for payment of both principal and interest (and not principal alone or interest alone) and is not subject to any contingency regarding the payment of principal or interest.
"Change in Law" shall mean the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement (or with respect to any Lender, if later, the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender) of any of the following: (i) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (ii) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty, or any change in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application thereof, by any Governmental Authority, or (iii) the making or issuance of any request, rules, guideline, requirement or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, for purposes of this Agreement, (x) the Xxxx-Xxxxx Xxxx Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements and directives thereunder, issued in connection therewith or in implementation thereof, and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines, requirements and directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, shall in each case be deemed to be a “Change in Law”, regardless of the date enacted, adopted, issued or implemented.
"Change of Control" means (i) the acquisition by any Person, or two or more Persons acting in concert, of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of 30% or more of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock of the Guarantor, (ii) the occurrence during any period of twelve (12) consecutive months, commencing before or after the date of this Agreement, pursuant to which individuals who on the first day of such period were directors of the Guarantor (together with any replacement or additional directors who were nominated or elected by a majority of directors then in office) cease to constitute a majority of the board of directors of the Guarantor or (iii) the Guarantor shall cease to own, free and clear of any Lien, 100% of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Borrower.
"Closing Date" means November 1, 2012.
"Commitment" means, as to each Lender, the Commitment of such Lender.
"Compliance Certificate" means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit 7.01.
"Consolidated Indebtedness" means at any time the Indebtedness of a Person and its Subsidiaries calculated on a consolidated basis as of such time; provided that Net Xxxx-to-Market Exposure of commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, commodity spot contracts or any other similar transactions relating to commodities, or any combination of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not such transactions are governed by or subject to any master agreement (including a Master Agreement) shall not be included in the calculation of Consolidated Indebtedness.
"Consolidated Net Worth" means at any time the consolidated stockholders' equity of a Person and its Subsidiaries calculated on a consolidated basis as of such time and in accordance with GAAP.
"Contingent Obligation" of a Person means any agreement, undertaking or arrangement by which such Person assumes, guarantees, endorses, contingently agrees to purchase or provide funds for the payment of, or otherwise becomes or is contingently liable upon, the obligation or liability of any other Person (other than accounts payable (which are payable on terms customary in the trade) and other obligations (until such obligation is no longer contingent) of such Person's Subsidiary arising in the ordinary course of such Subsidiary's business), or agrees to maintain the net worth or working capital or other financial condition of
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any other Person, or otherwise assures any creditor of such other Person against loss, including, without limitation, any comfort letter, operating agreement or take-or-pay contract.
"Control" means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. "Controlling" and "Controlled" have meanings correlative thereto.
"Controlled Group" means all members of a controlled group of corporations or other business entities and all trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under common control which, together with the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, are treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code.
"Debt Rating" means, as of any date of determination, the rating as determined by either S&P or Xxxxx'x of a Person's non-credit-enhanced, senior unsecured long-term debt.
"Debtor Relief Laws" means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.
"Default" means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that, with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.
"Default Rate" means (a) when used with respect to the Loans, an interest rate equal to (i) the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan plus (ii) the Applicable Rate plus (iii) 2.0% per annum, and (b) with respect to all other Obligations, an interest rate equal to (i) the Base Rate plus (ii) the Applicable Rate plus (iii) 2.0% per annum.
"Defaulting Lender" means, subject to Section 2.11(b), any Lender that, as determined by the Administrative Agent, (a) has failed to perform any of its funding obligations hereunder, including in respect of its Loans, within three Business Days of the date required to be funded by it hereunder unless such obligation is the subject of a good faith dispute, (b) has notified the Borrower or the Administrative Agent that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations or has made a public statement to that effect with respect to its funding obligations hereunder or under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (c) has failed, within three Business Days after request by the Administrative Agent, to confirm in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that it will comply with its funding obligations unless such obligation is the subject of a good faith dispute, or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or liquidation of its business or a custodian appointed for it, or (iii) taken any action in furtherance of, or indicated its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment; provided that a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any equity interest in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority.
"Dollar" and "$" mean lawful money of the United States.
"Domestic Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of any state of the United States or the District of Columbia.
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"Eligible Assignee" means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Sections 10.06(b)(iii) and (v) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 10.06(b)(iii)).
"Environmental Laws" means any and all federal, state, local and foreign statutes, laws, judicial decisions, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, plans, injunctions, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements and other governmental restrictions relating to (i) the protection of the environment, (ii) the effect of the environment on human health, (iii) emissions, discharges or releases of Hazardous Materials into surface water, ground water or land or (iv) the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials or the clean-up or other remediation thereof.
"Environmental Liability" means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.
"Equity Interests" means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests), and all of the other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are outstanding on any date of determination.
"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
“Eurodollar” when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bears interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.
“Eurodollar Reserve Percentage” shall mean the aggregate of the maximum reserve, liquid asset, fee or similar requirement (including, without limitation, any emergency, supplemental, special or other marginal reserves or other requirements) expressed as a decimal (rounded upwards to the next 1/100th of 1%) established by any central bank, monetary authority, the Board, the Financial Services Authority, the European Central Bank or other Governmental Authority for any category of deposits or liabilities customarily used to fund loans in the applicable currency. Such reserve, liquid asset, fees or similar requirements shall include those imposed pursuant to Regulation D. Eurodollar Loans shall be deemed to be subject to such reserve, liquid asset, fee or similar requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under any applicable law, rule or regulation, including Regulation D. The Eurodollar Reserve Percentage shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve, liquid asset or similar requirement.
"Event of Default" has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.
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"Excluded Taxes" means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by its overall net income (however denominated), and franchise Taxes imposed on it (in lieu of net income Taxes), by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the Laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable Lending Office is located, (b) any branch profits Taxes imposed by the United States or any similar Tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located (c) any backup withholding Tax that is required by the Internal Revenue Code to be withheld from amounts payable to a Lender that has failed to comply with clause (A) of Section 3.01(e)(ii) and (d) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 10.13), any United States withholding Tax that (i) is required to be imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender pursuant to the Laws in force at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party hereto (or designates a new Lending Office) or (ii) is attributable to such Foreign Lender's failure to comply with clause (B) of Section 3.01(e)(ii), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 3.01(a)(ii) or (c).
"Existing Indebtedness" means Indebtedness existing on the date hereof.
"FASB ASC" means the Accounting Standards Codification of the Financial Accounting Standards Board.
"Federal Funds Rate" shall mean, for any day, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100th of 1%) equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with member banks of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the next succeeding Business Day or if such rate is not so published for any Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100th of 1% of the quotations for such day on such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by the Administrative Agent.
"Foreign Lender" means any Lender that is organized under the Laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes. For purposes of this definition, the United States, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.
"Foreign Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.
"FRB" means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.
"Fund" means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities.
"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board, consistently applied and as in effect from time to time.
"Governmental Authority" means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory
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xxxx, xxxxx, xxxxxxx bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).
"Guarantee" means, as to any Person, (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation payable or performable by another Person (the "primary obligor") in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance of such Indebtedness or other obligation, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness to obtain any such Lien). The amount of any Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith. The term "Guarantee" as a verb has a corresponding meaning.
"Guarantor" means Vectren Corporation, an Indiana corporation, together with its successors and permitted assigns.
"Guaranty" means the Guaranty made by the Guarantor in favor of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders pursuant to Article IV.
"Hazardous Materials" means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.
"Indebtedness" of a Person means such Person's (i) obligations for borrowed money, (ii) obligations representing the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of such Person's business payable on terms customary in the trade), (iii) obligations, whether or not assumed, secured by Liens or payable out of the proceeds or production from property now or hereafter owned or acquired by such Person, (iv) obligations which are evidenced by notes, acceptances or other instruments, (v) obligations of such Person to purchase securities or other property arising out of or in connection with the sale of the same or substantially similar securities or property, (vi) Capitalized Lease Obligations, (vii) Contingent Obligations, (viii) reimbursement and other obligations in connection with letters of credit, (ix) Net Xxxx-to-Market Exposure of Swap Contracts, (x) Synthetic Lease Obligations and (xi) any other obligation for borrowed money or other financial accommodation which in accordance with GAAP would be shown as a liability on the consolidated balance sheet of such Person.
"Indemnified Taxes" means Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes and Other Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document.
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"Indemnitees" has the meaning specified in Section 10.04(b).
"Information" has the meaning specified in Section 10.07.
"Interest Payment Date" means (a) as to any Eurodollar Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date; provided, however, that if any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan, the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date.
"Interest Period" means, as to each Eurodollar Loan, the period commencing on the date such Eurodollar Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Loan and ending on the date one, two, three or six months thereafter, or any time period between seven (7) days and sixty (60) days as selected by the Borrower in its Loan Notice; provided that:
(i) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;
(ii) any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period;
(iii) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date;
(iv) in the case of any Borrowing for an Interest Period of less than or equal to thirty (30) days, the Adjusted LIBO Rate for Eurodollar Loans with an Interest Period of one (1) month shall apply; and
(v) in the case of any Borrowing for an Interest Period of more than thirty (30) but less than sixty (60) days, the Adjusted LIBO Rate for Eurodollar Loans with an Interest Period of two (2) months shall apply.
"Internal Revenue Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
"Investment" of a Person means any loan, advance (other than commission, travel and similar advances to officers and employees made in the ordinary course of business), extension of credit (other than accounts receivable arising in the ordinary course of business on terms customary in the trade) or contribution of capital by such Person; stocks, bonds, mutual funds, partnership interests, notes, debentures or other securities owned by such Person; any deposit accounts and certificate of deposit owned by such Person; and structured notes, derivative financial instruments and other similar instruments or contracts owned by such Person.
"IRS" means the United States Internal Revenue Service.
"X.X. Xxxxxx Securities" means X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC in its capacity as lead arranger and sole book manager.
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"Laws" means, collectively, all international, foreign, federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case whether or not having the force of law.
"Lenders" means each of the Persons identified as a "Lender" on the signature pages hereto, each other Person that becomes a "Lender" in accordance with this Agreement and their successors and assigns.
"Lending Office" means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender's Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
“LIBOR” shall mean, for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurodollar Loan, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) appearing on Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page (or any successor or substitute page of such service, or any successor to or substitute for such service, providing rate quotations comparable to those currently provided on such page of such service, as determined by the Administrative Agent from time to time for the purposes of providing quotations of interest rates applicable to deposit in Dollars in the London interbank market) at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London, England time), two (2) Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period for a term comparable to such Interest Period. If for any reason such rate is not available, LIBOR shall be, for any Interest Period, the rate per annum at which deposits in Dollars in an amount of $5,000,000 and for a term comparable to such Interest Period are offered by the principal London office of the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London, England time), two (2) Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period.
"Lien" means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or otherwise), charge, or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement in the nature of a security interest of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to real property, and any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).
"Loan" has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(a).
"Loan Documents" means this Agreement and each Note.
"Loan Notice" means a notice of (a) a Borrowing of Loans, (b) a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Eurodollar Loans, in each case pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.02.
"Loan Parties" means, collectively, the Borrower and the Guarantor.
"Material Adverse Effect" means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the operations, business, properties, liabilities (actual or contingent) or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of any Loan Party to perform its obligations under any Loan Document to which it is a party; or (c) a material adverse
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effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against any Loan Party of any Loan Document to which it is a party.
"Material Indebtedness" has the meaning specified in Section 8.01(e).
"Maturity Date" means October 30, 2015.
"Moody's" means Xxxxx'x Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.
"Mortgage Indenture" means the Mortgage and Deed of Trust, dated as of April 1, 1932, between SIGECO and Bankers Trust Company (as supplemented from time to time before or after the date hereof by various supplemental indentures thereto).
"Multiemployer Plan" means a Plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA which the Borrower or any other member of the Controlled Group is a party to or is currently, or during the preceding five years has been obligated to make contributions.
"Net Xxxx-to-Market Exposure" of a Person means, as of any date of determination, the excess (if any) of all unrealized losses over all unrealized profits of such Person arising from Swap Contracts. "Unrealized losses" means the fair market value of the cost to such Person of replacing such Swap Contract as of the date of determination (assuming the Swap Contract were to be terminated as of that date), and "unrealized profits" means the fair market value of the gain to such Person of replacing such Swap Contract as of the date of determination (assuming such Swap Contract were to be terminated as of that date).
"Note" has the meaning specified in Section 2.08(a).
"Obligations" means all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Loan Party arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding. The foregoing shall also include (a) all obligations under any Swap Contract between any Loan Party or any Subsidiary and any Lender, Affiliate of a Lender or any Person who was a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender at the time such Swap Agreement was executed and (b) all obligations under any Treasury Management Agreement between any Loan Party or any Subsidiary and any Lender, Affiliate of a Lender or any Person who was a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender at the time such Treasury Management Agreement was executed
"OFAC" means the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control.
"Organization Documents" means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.
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"Other Taxes" means all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or under any other Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
"Outstanding Amount" means with respect to any Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of any Loans occurring on such date.
"Participant" has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d).
"PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any successor thereto.
"Person" means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.
"Plan" means an employee pension benefit plan which is covered by Title IV of ERISA or subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 or Section 430 of the Code as to which the Borrower or any other member of the Controlled Group may have any liability.
"Platform" has the meaning specified in Section 7.01.
“Prime Rate” means the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in New York City; each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced as being effective.
"Public Lender" has the meaning specified in Section 7.01.
"Register" has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(c).
"Regulation U" means Regulation U of the FRB as from time to time in effect and any successor or other regulation or official interpretation of said Board of Governors relating to the extension of credit by banks for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stocks applicable to member banks of the Federal Reserve System.
"Related Parties" means, with respect to any Person, such Person's Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees and advisors of such Person and of such Person's Affiliates.
"Reportable Event" means a reportable event as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations issued under such section, with respect to a Plan, excluding, however, such events as to which the PBGC has by regulation waived the requirement of Section 4043(a) of ERISA that it be notified within 30 days of the occurrence of such event, provided, however, that a failure to meet the minimum funding standard of Section 412 or Section 430 of the Code and of Section 302 of ERISA shall be a Reportable Event regardless of the issuance of any such waiver of the notice requirement in accordance with either Section 4043(a) of ERISA or Section 412(d) of the Code.
"Request for Loan" means with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Loans, a Loan Notice.
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"Required Lenders" means, at any time, Lenders holding in the aggregate more than 50% of (a) the unfunded Commitments and the outstanding Loans, or (b) if the Commitments have been terminated, the outstanding Loans. The unfunded Commitments of, and the outstanding Loans held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.
"Responsible Officer" means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer or controller of a Loan Party, solely for purposes of the delivery of incumbency certificates pursuant to Section 5.01, the secretary or any assistant secretary of a Loan Party and, solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to Article II, any other officer or employee of the applicable Loan Party so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a notice to the Administrative Agent. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party.
"S&P" means Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw‑Hill Companies, Inc. and any successor thereto.
"Sanctioned Entity" means (a) a country or a government of a country, (b) an agency of the government of a country, (c) an organization directly or indirectly controlled by a country or its government, or (d) a person or entity resident in or determined to be resident in a country, that is subject to a country sanctions program administered and enforced by OFAC.
"Sanctioned Person" means a person named on the list of Specially Designated Nationals maintained by OFAC.
"SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.
"SIGECO" means Southern Indiana Gas and Electric Company, an Indiana corporation.
"Single Employer Plan" means a Plan maintained by the Guarantor or any other member of the Controlled Group for employees of the Guarantor or any other member of the Controlled Group.
"Subsidiary" of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of Voting Stock is at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, it is understood that the amount of economic interest that a Person may have in another Person shall have no bearing on whether on not such Person is deemed to be a Subsidiary. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a "Subsidiary" or to "Subsidiaries" shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.
"Substantial Portion" means, with respect to the property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, property which (i) represents more than 10% of the consolidated assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as would be shown in the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the beginning of the twelve-month period ending with the month in which such determination is made or (ii) is responsible for more than 10% of the consolidated net sales or of the consolidated net income of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as reflected in the financial statements referred to in clause (i) above.
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"Swap Contract" means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a "Master Agreement"), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.
"Synthetic Lease Obligation" means the monetary obligation of a Person under (i) a so-called synthetic or off-balance sheet or tax retention lease or (ii) an agreement for the use or possession of property creating obligations that do not appear on the balance sheet of such Person but which, upon the insolvency or bankruptcy of such Person, would be characterized as indebtedness of such Person (without regard to accounting treatment). The amount of Synthetic Lease Obligations of any Person under any such lease or agreement shall be the amount which would be shown as a liability on a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP if such lease or agreement were accounted for as a Capitalized Lease.
"Taxes" means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
"Threshold Amount" means $50,000,000.
"Treasury Management Agreement" means any agreement governing the provision of treasury or cash management services, including deposit accounts, overnight draft, credit or debit cards, funds transfer, automated clearinghouse, zero balance accounts, returned check concentration, controlled disbursement, lockbox, account reconciliation and reporting and trade finance services and other cash management services.
"Type" means, with respect to any Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Loan.
"Unfunded Liabilities" means the amount (if any) by which the present value of all vested and unvested accrued benefits under all Single Employer Plans exceeds the fair market value of all such Plan assets allocable to such benefits, all determined as of the then most recent valuation date for such Plans using PBGC actuarial assumptions for single employer plan terminations.
"United States" and "U.S." mean the United States of America.
"Voting Stock" means, with respect to any Person, Equity Interests issued by such Person the holders of which are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies, entitled to vote for the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of such Person, even though the right so to vote has been suspended by the happening of such a contingency.
"Wholly-Owned Subsidiary" of a Person means (i) any Subsidiary all of the outstanding Voting Stock of which shall at the time be owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more
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Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person, or by such Person and one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person, or (ii) any partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture or similar business organization 100% of the ownership interests having ordinary voting power of which shall at the time be so owned or controlled.
1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions.
With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:
(a) The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words "include," "includes" and "including" shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase "without limitation." The word "will" shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word "shall." Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document (including any Organization Document) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein or in any other Loan Document), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person's successors and assigns, (iii) the words "hereto," "herein," "hereof" and "hereunder," and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document, shall be construed to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not to any particular provision thereof, (iv) all references in a Loan Document to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or interpreting such law and any reference to any law or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and (vi) the words "asset" and "property" shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.
(b) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word "from" means "from and including;" the words "to" and "until" each mean "to but excluding;" and the word "through" means "to and including."
(c) Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
1.03 Accounting Terms.
(a) Generally. Except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein, all accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the Audited Financial Statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining compliance with any covenant (including the computation of any financial covenant) contained herein, Indebtedness
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of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be carried at 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof, (i) without giving effect to any election under FASB ASC 000-00-00 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification or Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any liabilities of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries at "fair value", as defined therein and (ii) without giving effect to any treatment of Indebtedness in respect of convertible debt instruments under Accounting Standards Codification 470-20 (or any other Accounting Standards Codification of Financial Accounting Standard having a similar result or effect) to value any such Indebtedness in a reduced or bifurcated manner as described therein, and such Indebtedness shall at all times be valued at the full stated principal amount thereof.
(b) Changes in GAAP. If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that, until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP.
1.04 Rounding.
Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Guarantor pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).
1.05 Times of Day.
Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Central time (daylight or standard, as applicable).
ARTICLE II
THE COMMITMENTS AND LOANS
THE COMMITMENTS AND LOANS
2.01 Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make term loans (each a “Loan”) to the Borrower in Dollars on the Closing Date in an aggregate amount of such Lender's Commitment. All Loans shall mature on the Maturity Date. Within the limits of each Lender's Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01 and prepay under Section 2.03. Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Loans, as further provided herein. Amounts repaid or prepaid in respect of Loans may not be reborrowed. The Commitment of each Lender shall expire and terminate on the earlier of (i) the funding of the Lender’s Commitment and (ii) at 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on the Closing Date.
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2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans.
(a) The Borrowing, the conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, and the continuation of Eurodollar Loans shall be made upon the Borrower's irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone (other than in the case of the Borrowing on the Closing Date). Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) three Business Days prior to the requested date of the Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of, Eurodollar Loans or of any conversion of Eurodollar Loans to Base Rate Loans, and (ii) on the requested date of the Borrowing of Base Rate Loans. Each telephonic notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. The Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Loans shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. The Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. Each Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall (a) specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Borrowing, a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurodollar Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Loans are to be converted, and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto and (b) in the case of any Loan Notice delivered prior to the Closing Date, such Loan Notice shall include compensation provisions substantially consistent with the terms of Section 3.05. If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of a Loan in a Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans. Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurodollar Loans. If the Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurodollar Loans in any Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month.
(b) Following receipt of a Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans as described in the preceding subsection. In the case of a Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent's Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in the applicable Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 5.01, the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of the Administrative Agent with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Borrower.
(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurodollar Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of the Interest Period for such Eurodollar Loan. During the existence of a Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as Eurodollar Loans without the consent of the Required Lenders, and the Required Lenders may demand that any or all of the then outstanding Eurodollar Loans be converted immediately to Base Rate Loans.
(d) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurodollar Loans upon determination of such interest rate. At any
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time that Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of any change in the Prime Rate used in determining the Base Rate promptly following the public announcement of such change.
2.03 Prepayments. The Borrower may, upon notice from the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (A) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (1) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurodollar Loans and (2) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans; (B) any such prepayment of Eurodollar Loans shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof (or, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding); and (C) any prepayment of Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $1,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof (or, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding). Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Loans to be prepaid and, if Eurodollar Loans are to be prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender's Applicable Percentage of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein. Any prepayment of a Eurodollar Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. Subject to Section 2.11, each such prepayment shall be applied to the Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages.
2.04 Repayment of Loans. The Borrower shall repay to the Lenders on the Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of all Loans outstanding on such date.
2.05 Interest.
(a) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) below, (i) each Eurodollar Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the sum of the Adjusted LIBO Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate; (ii) each Base Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.
(b) (i) If any amount of principal of any Loan is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
(ii) If any amount (other than principal of any Loan) payable by the Borrower under any Loan Document is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, then upon the request of the Required Lenders, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
(iii) Upon the request of the Required Lenders, while any Event of Default exists, the Borrower shall pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding Obligations hereunder at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
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(iv) Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.
(c) Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein. Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.
2.06 [Reserved].
2.07 Computation of Interest and Fees.
All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans (including Base Rate Loans determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate) shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year). Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid, provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.09(a), bear interest for one day. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
2.08 Evidence of Debt.
The Loans made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a promissory note, which shall evidence such Lender's Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each such promissory note shall be in the form of Exhibit 2.08(a) (a "Note"). Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.
2.09 Payments Generally; Administrative Agent's Clawback.
(a) General. All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the Administrative Agent's Office in Dollars and in immediately available funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Applicable Percentage (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender's Lending Office. All
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payments received by the Administrative Agent after 2:00 p.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. If any payment to be made by the Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.
(b) (i) Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing of Eurodollar Loans (or, in the case of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 12:00 noon on the date of such Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender's share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.02 (or, in the case of a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, that such Lender has made such share available in accordance with and at the time required by Section 2.02) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing, and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans. If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender's Loan included in such Borrowing. Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.
(ii) Payments by Borrower; Presumptions by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the time at which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender, in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.
A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this subsection (b) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
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(c) Failure to Satisfy Conditions Precedent. If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II, and such funds are not made available to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Loans set forth in Article V are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.
(d) Obligations of Lenders Several. The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section 10.04(c) are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan or to make any payment under Section 10.04(c) on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Loan or to make its payment under Section 10.04(c).
(e) Funding Source. Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner.
(f) Insufficient Funds. If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, toward payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, and (ii) second, toward payment of principal then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal then due to such parties.
(g) Pro Rata Treatment. Subject to Section 2.11, each Borrowing, each payment or prepayment of principal of any Borrowing, each payment of interest on the Loans, each payment of fees, each reduction of the Aggregate Commitments and each conversion of any Borrowing to or continuation of any Borrowing as a Borrowing of any Type shall be allocated pro rata among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Commitments (or, if such Commitments shall have expired or been terminated, in accordance with the respective principal amounts of their outstanding Loans).
2.7 Sharing of Payments by Lenders.
If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of the Loans made by it, resulting in such Lender's receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Loans and accrued interest thereon greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans and other amounts owing them, provided that:
(i) if any such participations or subparticipations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations or subparticipations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest; and
(ii) the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to (A) any payment made by or on behalf of the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this
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Agreement (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender) or (B) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans to any assignee or participant, other than an assignment to any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section shall apply).
Each Loan Party consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against such Loan Party rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of such Loan Party in the amount of such participation.
2.8 Defaulting Lenders.
(a) Adjustments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as that Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by applicable Law:
(i) Waivers and Amendments. That Defaulting Lender's right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in Section 10.01.
(ii) Reallocation of Payments. Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of that Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article IX or otherwise, and including any amounts made available to the Administrative Agent by that Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 10.08), shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by that Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, as the Borrower may request (so long as no Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which that Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; third, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, to be held in a non-interest bearing deposit account and released in order to satisfy obligations of that Defaulting Lender under this Agreement; fourth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lender's breach of its obligations under this Agreement; fifth, so long as no Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrower as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrower against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lender's breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and sixth, to that Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided that if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans in respect of which that Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share and (y) such Loans were made at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 5.01 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of all non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of that Defaulting Lender. Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this Section 2.11(a)(ii) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by that Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.
(b) Defaulting Lender Cure. If the Borrower and the Administrative Agent agree in writing in their sole discretion that a Defaulting Lender should no longer be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender, the
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Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein, that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Loans to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their Applicable Percentages, whereupon that Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrower while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided, further, that except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender's having been a Defaulting Lender.
ARTICLE III
TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
3.01 Taxes.
(a) Payments Free of Taxes; Obligation to Withhold; Payments on Account of Taxes. (i) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Loan Parties hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall to the extent permitted by applicable Laws be made free and clear of and without reduction or withholding for any Taxes. If, however, applicable Laws require any Loan Party or the Administrative Agent to withhold or deduct any Tax, such Tax shall be withheld or deducted in accordance with such Laws as determined by such Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, upon the basis of the information and documentation to be delivered pursuant to subsection (e) below.
(ii) If the Loan Parties or the Administrative Agent shall be required to withhold or deduct any Indemnified or Other Taxes from any payment, then (A) the Administrative Agent shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by the Administrative Agent to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e) below, (B) the Administrative Agent shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority, and (C) the sum payable by the Loan Parties shall be increased as necessary so that after any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the Administrative Agent or any Lender, as the case may be, receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such withholding or deduction been made.
(b) Payment of Other Taxes by the Loan Parties. Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) above, the Loan Parties shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Laws.
(c) Tax Indemnification. (i) Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) above, the Loan Parties shall, and do hereby, indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender, and shall make payment in respect thereof within ten days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) withheld or deducted by the Loan Parties or the Administrative Agent or paid by the Administrative Agent and such Lender, as the case may be, and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. The Loan Parties shall also, and do hereby, indemnify the Administrative Agent, and shall make payment in
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respect thereof within ten days after demand therefor, for any amount which a Lender for any reason fails to pay indefeasibly to the Administrative Agent as required by clause (ii) of this subsection. A certificate as to the amount of any such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(ii) Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) above, each Lender shall, and does hereby, indemnify the Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent, and shall make payment in respect thereof within ten days after demand therefor, against any and all Taxes and any and all related losses, claims, liabilities, penalties, interest and expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Borrower or the Administrative Agent) incurred by or asserted against the Borrower or the Administrative Agent by any Governmental Authority as a result of the failure by such Lender, as the case may be, to deliver, or as a result of the inaccuracy, inadequacy or deficiency of, any documentation required to be delivered by such Lender, as the case may be, to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (e). Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender, as the case may be, under this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this clause (ii). The agreements in this clause (ii) shall survive the resignation and/or replacement of the Administrative Agent, any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other Obligations.
(d) Evidence of Payments. Upon request by any Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, after any payment of Taxes by such Loan Party or by the Administrative Agent to a Governmental Authority as provided in this Section 3.01, such Loan Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Administrative Agent shall deliver to such Loan Party, as the case may be, the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of any return required by Law to report such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to such Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be.
(e) Status of Lenders; Tax Documentation. (i) Each Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and to the Administrative Agent, at the time or times prescribed by applicable Laws or when reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable Laws or by the taxing authorities of any jurisdiction and such other reasonably requested information as will permit the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, to determine (A) whether or not payments made hereunder or under any other Loan Document are subject to Taxes, (B) if applicable, the required rate of withholding or deduction, and (C) such Lender's entitlement to any available exemption from, or reduction of, applicable Taxes in respect of all payments to be made to such Lender by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise to establish such Lender's status for withholding tax purposes in the applicable jurisdiction.
(ii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if the Borrower is resident for tax purposes in the United States,
(A) any Lender that is a "United States person" within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 or such other documentation or information prescribed by applicable Laws or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the
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Administrative Agent, as the case may be, to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements; and
(B) each Foreign Lender that is entitled under the Internal Revenue Code or any applicable treaty to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax with respect to payments hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, but only if such Foreign Lender is legally entitled to do so), whichever of the following is applicable:
(I) executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN claiming eligibility for benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party,
(II) executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI,
(III) executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY and all required supporting documentation,
(IV) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under section 881(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, (x) a certificate to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not (A) a "bank" within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, (B) a "10 percent shareholder" of the Borrower within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, or (C) a "controlled foreign corporation" described in section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code and (y) executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN, or
(V) executed originals of any other form prescribed by applicable Laws as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in United States Federal withholding tax together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable Laws to permit the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.
(iii) Each Lender shall promptly (A) notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of any change in circumstances which would modify or render invalid any claimed exemption or reduction, and (B) take such steps as shall not be materially disadvantageous to it, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, and as may be reasonably necessary (including the re-designation of its Lending Office) to avoid any requirement of applicable Laws of any jurisdiction that the Borrower or the Administrative Agent make any withholding or deduction for taxes from amounts payable to such Lender.
(f) Treatment of Certain Refunds. Unless required by applicable Laws, at no time shall the Administrative Agent have any obligation to file for or otherwise pursue on behalf of a Lender, or have any obligation to pay to any Lender, any refund of Taxes withheld or deducted from funds paid for the account of such Lender, as the case may be. If the Administrative Agent or any Lender determines, in its reasonable discretion, that it has received a refund of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by
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any Loan Party or with respect to which any Loan Party has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section, it shall pay to such Loan Party an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by such Loan Party under this Section with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that each Loan Party, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, agrees to repay the amount paid over to such Loan Party (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent or such Lender in the event the Administrative Agent or such Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. This subsection shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes that it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other Person.
3.02 Illegality.
If any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Adjusted LIBO Rate, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars in the London interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, (i) any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Eurodollar Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to Eurodollar Loans shall be suspended and (ii) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender making or maintaining Base Rate Loans the interest rate on which is determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate component of the Base Rate, the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender, shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate component of the Base Rate, in each case until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, (x) the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), prepay or, if applicable, convert all of such Lender's Eurodollar Loans to Base Rate Loans (the interest rate on which Base Rate Loans of such Lender shall, if necessary to avoid such illegality, be determined by the Administrative Agent without reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate component of the Base Rate), either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Loans and (y) if such notice asserts the illegality of such Lender determining or charging interest rates based upon the Eurodollar, the Administrative Agent shall during the period of such suspension compute the Base Rate applicable to such Lender without reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate component thereof until the Administrative Agent is advised in writing by such Lender that it is no longer illegal for such Lender to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Adjusted LIBO Rate. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.
3.03 Inability to Determine Rates.
If the Required Lenders determine in good faith that for any reason in connection with any request for a Eurodollar Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof that (a) Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Eurodollar Loan, (b) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Adjusted LIBO Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Loan or in connection with an existing or proposed Base Rate Loan, or (c) the Adjusted LIBO Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect
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to a proposed Eurodollar Loan or in connection with a Eurodollar Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, (x) the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurodollar Loans shall be suspended and (y) in the event of a determination described in the preceding sentence with respect to the Adjusted LIBO Rate component of the Base Rate, the utilization of the Adjusted LIBO Rate component in determining the Base Rate shall be suspended, in each case until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Loans or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein.
3.04 Increased Costs.
(a) Increased Costs Generally. If any Change in Law shall:
(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted LIBO Rate);
(ii) subject the Administrative Agent or any Lender to any Tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to this Agreement, or change the basis of taxation of payments to such Lender or the Administrative Agent in respect thereof (except for Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes covered by Section 3.01 and the imposition of, or any change in the rate of, any Excluded Tax payable by such Lender); or
(iii) impose on any Lender any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement;
and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to the Administrative Agent or such Lender of making or maintaining any Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by the Administrative Agent or such Lender hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, the Borrower will pay to the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.
(b) Capital Requirements. If any Lender determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender's holding company, if any, regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender's capital or on the capital of such Lender's holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by such Lender, to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender's holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender's policies and the policies of such Lender's holding company with respect to capital adequacy and liquidity), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender's holding company for any such reduction suffered.
(c) Certificates for Reimbursement. A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (a) or (b) of this Section and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The
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Borrower shall pay such Lender, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten days after receipt thereof.
(d) Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender's right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than nine months prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender's intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the nine-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).
3.05 Compensation for Losses.
Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:
(a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Eurodollar Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise);
(b) any failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Eurodollar Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower; or
(c) any assignment of a Eurodollar Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 10.13; or
including any loss of anticipated profits and any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained. The Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.
For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this Section 3.05, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurodollar Loan made by it at the Adjusted LIBO Rate used in determining the Adjusted LIBO Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the London interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurodollar Loan was in fact so funded.
3.06 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.
(a) Designation of a Different Lending Office. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, then such Lender shall, as applicable, use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04, as the case may be, in the
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future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02, as applicable, and (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender, as the case may be, to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.
(b) Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, the Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 10.13.
3.07 Survival.
All of the Loan Parties' obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments, repayment of all other Obligations hereunder, and resignation of the Administrative Agent.
ARTICLE IV
GUARANTY
GUARANTY
4.01 The Guaranty.
The Guarantor hereby guarantees to each Lender, each Affiliate of a Lender that enters into a Swap Contract or a Treasury Management Agreement with any Loan Party or any Subsidiary, and the Administrative Agent as hereinafter provided, as primary obligor and not as surety, the prompt payment of the Obligations in full when due (whether at stated maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration, as a mandatory cash collateralization or otherwise) strictly in accordance with the terms thereof. The Guarantor hereby further agrees that if any of the Obligations are not paid in full when due (whether at stated maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration, as a mandatory cash collateralization or otherwise), the Guarantor will promptly pay the same, without any demand or notice whatsoever, and that in the case of any extension of time of payment or renewal of any of the Obligations, the same will be promptly paid in full when due (whether at extended maturity, as a mandatory prepayment, by acceleration, as a mandatory cash collateralization or otherwise) in accordance with the terms of such extension or renewal.
Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein or in any other of the Loan Documents, Swap Contracts or Treasury Management Agreements, the obligations of the Guarantor under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not exceed an aggregate amount equal to the largest amount that would not render such obligations subject to avoidance under applicable Debtor Relief Laws.
4.02 Obligations Unconditional.
The obligations of the Guarantor under Section 4.01 are absolute and unconditional, irrespective of the value, genuineness, validity, regularity or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents or other documents relating to the Obligations, or any substitution, release, impairment or exchange of any other guarantee of or security for any of the Obligations, and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, irrespective of any other circumstance whatsoever which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or guarantor, it being the intent of this Section 4.02 that the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances. The Guarantor agrees that it shall have no right of subrogation, indemnity, reimbursement or contribution against the Borrower for amounts paid
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under this Article IV until such time as the Obligations have been paid in full and the Commitments have expired or terminated. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is agreed that, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, the occurrence of any one or more of the following shall not alter or impair the liability of the Guarantor hereunder, which shall remain absolute and unconditional as described above:
(a) at any time or from time to time, without notice to the Guarantor, the time for any performance of or compliance with any of the Obligations shall be extended, or such performance or compliance shall be waived;
(b) any of the acts mentioned in any of the provisions of any of the Loan Documents or other documents relating to the Obligations shall be done or omitted;
(c) the maturity of any of the Obligations shall be accelerated, or any of the Obligations shall be modified, supplemented or amended in any respect, or any right under any of the Loan Documents or other documents relating to the Obligations shall be waived or any other guarantee of any of the Obligations or any security therefor shall be released, impaired or exchanged in whole or in part or otherwise dealt with;
(d) any Lien granted to, or in favor of, the Administrative Agent or any other holder of the Obligations as security for any of the Obligations shall fail to attach or be perfected; or
(e) any of the Obligations shall be determined to be void or voidable (including, without limitation, for the benefit of any creditor of the Guarantor) or shall be subordinated to the claims of any Person (including, without limitation, any creditor of the Guarantor).
With respect to its obligations hereunder, the Guarantor hereby expressly waives diligence, presentment, demand of payment, protest and all notices whatsoever, and any requirement that the Administrative Agent or any other holder of the Obligations exhaust any right, power or remedy or proceed against any Person under any of the Loan Documents or any other document relating to the Obligations, or against any other Person under any other guarantee of, or security for, any of the Obligations.
4.03 Reinstatement.
The obligations of the Guarantor under this Article IV shall be automatically reinstated if and to the extent that for any reason any payment by or on behalf of any Person in respect of the Obligations is rescinded or must be otherwise restored by any holder of any of the Obligations, whether as a result of any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, and the Guarantor agrees that it will indemnify the Administrative Agent and each other holder of the Obligations on demand for all reasonable costs and expenses (including, without limitation, the fees, charges and disbursements of counsel) incurred by the Administrative Agent or such holder of the Obligations in connection with such rescission or restoration, including any such costs and expenses incurred in defending against any claim alleging that such payment constituted a preference, fraudulent transfer or similar payment under any Debtor Relief Law.
4.04 Certain Additional Waivers.
The Guarantor agrees that it shall have no right of recourse to security for the Obligations, except through the exercise of rights of subrogation pursuant to Section 4.02 and through the exercise of rights of contribution pursuant to Section 4.06.
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4.05 Remedies.
The Guarantor agrees that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, as between the Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the other holders of the Obligations, on the other hand, the Obligations may be declared to be forthwith due and payable as specified in Section 8.02 (and shall be deemed to have become automatically due and payable in the circumstances specified in said Section 8.02) for purposes of Section 4.01 notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such declaration (or preventing the Obligations from becoming automatically due and payable) as against any other Person and that, in the event of such declaration (or the Obligations being deemed to have become automatically due and payable), the Obligations (whether or not due and payable by any other Person) shall forthwith become due and payable by the Guarantor for purposes of Section 4.01.
4.06 Defenses Waived.
To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Guarantor agrees that it is not a surety for purposes of the Illinois Sureties Act or any similar statutes. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Guarantor waives any right that it may have under the Illinois Sureties Act or any similar statutes to assert the applicability thereof to the provisions of this Agreement to require that Administrative Agent or any Lender commence action against Borrower or any other Person or against any assets of the Borrower or any other Person.
4.07 Guarantee of Payment; Continuing Guarantee.
The guarantee in this Article IV is a guaranty of payment and not of collection, is a continuing guarantee, and shall apply to all Obligations whenever arising.
ARTICLE V
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
5.01. Conditions of Effectiveness.
This Agreement shall be effective upon satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:
(a) Loan Documents. Receipt by the Administrative Agent of executed counterparts of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party and, in the case of this Agreement, by each Lender.
(b) No Material Adverse Change. There shall not have occurred a material adverse change since December 31, 2011 in the business, assets, liabilities (actual or contingent), operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(c) Organization Documents, Resolutions, Etc. Receipt by the Administrative Agent of the following, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent:
(i) copies of the Organization Documents of each Loan Party certified to be true and complete as of a recent date by the appropriate Governmental Authority of the state or other jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, where applicable, and certified by a secretary or assistant secretary of such Loan Party to be true and correct as of the Closing Date; and
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(ii) such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of each Loan Party as the Administrative Agent may require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Loan Party is a party.
(d) Closing Certificate. Receipt by the Administrative Agent of a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying that the conditions specified in Section 5.01(b) and Sections 5.01(h) and (i) have been satisfied.
(e) Opinions of Counsel. Receipt by the Administrative Agent of favorable opinions of legal counsel to the Loan Parties, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, dated as of the Closing Date, and in substantially the form of Exhibit 5.01(e).
(f) Certificates of Good Standing or Existence. Receipt by the Administrative Agent of such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that each Loan Party is duly organized or formed, and is validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in its state of organization or formation.
(g) Attorney Costs. The Borrower shall have paid all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent (directly to such counsel if requested by the Administrative) to the extent invoiced prior to or on the Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of such fees, charges and disbursements as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such fees, charges and disbursements incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing proceedings (provided that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent).
(h) The representations and warranties of each Loan Party contained in Article VI or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct in all material respects (or, if any such representation or warranty is qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, it shall be true and correct in all respects as drafted) on and as of the date of such Loans, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct in all material respects (or, if any such representation or warranty is qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, it shall be true and correct in all respects as drafted) as of such earlier date.
(i) No Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Loans or from the application of the proceeds thereof.
(j) The Administrative Agent shall have received a Request for Loans in accordance with the requirements hereof.
Without limiting the generality of the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 9.03, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 5.01, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.
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ARTICLE VI
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
The Loan Parties represent and warrant to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:
6.01 Existence and Standing.
Each of the Guarantor, the Borrower and the Subsidiaries of the Borrower is a corporation, partnership (in the case of Subsidiaries only) or limited liability company duly incorporated or organized, as the case may be, validly existing and (to the extent such concept applies to such entity) in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization and has all requisite authority to conduct its business in each jurisdiction in which its business is conducted.
6.02 Authorization and Validity.
Each of the Borrower and the Guarantor has the power and authority and legal right to execute and deliver the Loan Documents to which it is a party and to perform its obligations thereunder. The execution and delivery by each of the Borrower and the Guarantor of the Loan Documents to which it is a party and the performance of its obligations thereunder have been duly authorized by proper corporate proceedings, and the Loan Documents to which each of the Borrower and the Guarantor is a party constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Borrower and the Guarantor enforceable against the Borrower and the Guarantor in accordance with their terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally.
6.03 No Conflict; Government Consent.
Neither the execution or delivery by the Borrower and the Guarantor of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, nor the consummation of the transactions therein contemplated, nor compliance with the provisions thereof will violate (i) any law, rule, regulation, order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree or award binding on the Borrower, the Guarantor or any of their Subsidiaries, (ii) the Borrower's, the Guarantor's or any of their Subsidiaries' Organization Documents, or (iii) the provisions of any indenture, instrument or agreement to which the Borrower, the Guarantor or any of their Subsidiaries is a party or is subject, or by which it, or its property, is bound, or conflict with or constitute a default thereunder, or result in, or require, the creation or imposition of any Lien in, of or on the property of the Borrower, the Guarantor or any such Subsidiary pursuant to the terms of any such indenture, instrument or agreement. No order, consent, adjudication, approval, license, authorization, or validation of, or filing, recording or registration with, or exemption by, or other action in respect of any Governmental Authority which has not been obtained by the Borrower, the Guarantor or any of their Subsidiaries, is required to be obtained by the Borrower, the Guarantor or any of their Subsidiaries in connection with the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents, the borrowings under this Agreement, the payment and performance by the Borrower of the Obligations or the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents.
6.04 Financial Statements.
The Audited Financial Statements heretofore delivered to the Lenders were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in effect on the date such statements were prepared and fairly
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present the consolidated financial condition of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries at such date and the consolidated results of their operations for the period then ended.
6.05 Material Adverse Change.
Since the date of the Audited Financial Statements, there has been no change in the business, property, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.06 Taxes.
The Guarantor and its Subsidiaries have filed all United States federal Tax returns and all other tax returns which are required to be filed and have paid all Taxes due pursuant to said returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries, except such Taxes, if any, as are being contested in good faith and as to which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP and as to which no Lien exists other than Liens permitted by Section 7.13(a). No Tax Liens have been filed and no claims are being asserted with respect to any such Taxes. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries in respect of any Taxes or other governmental charges are adequate.
6.07 Litigation and Contingent Obligations.
There is no litigation, arbitration, governmental investigation, proceeding or inquiry pending or, to the knowledge of any of their officers, threatened against or affecting the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries which (i) could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) seeks to prevent, enjoin or delay the making of any Loans. Other than any liability incident to any litigation, arbitration or proceeding which (i) could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) is disclosed in the Form 10-K of the Guarantor for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, the Guarantor has no material contingent obligations not provided for or disclosed in the financial statements referred to in Section 7.01.
6.08 Subsidiaries.
Schedule 6.08 contains an accurate list of all Subsidiaries of the Borrower as of the date of this Agreement, setting forth their respective jurisdictions of organization and the percentage of their respective Equity Interests owned by the Borrower or other Subsidiaries. All of the issued and outstanding shares of Equity Interests of such Subsidiaries have been (to the extent such concepts are relevant with respect to such Equity Interests) duly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.
6.09 ERISA.
Neither the Guarantor nor any other member of the Controlled Group has incurred, or is reasonably expected to incur, any withdrawal liability to Multiemployer Plans that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each Plan complies in all material respects with all applicable requirements of law and regulations, no Reportable Event has occurred with respect to any Plan, neither the Guarantor nor any other member of the Controlled Group has withdrawn from any Plan or initiated steps to do so, and no steps have been taken to reorganize or terminate any Plan.
6.10 Accuracy of Information.
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No information, exhibit or report furnished by the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries to the Administrative Agent or to any Lender in connection with the negotiation of, or compliance with, the Loan Documents contained any material misstatement of fact or omitted to state a material fact or any fact necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading.
6.11 Regulation U.
Margin stock (as defined in Regulation U) constitutes less than 25% of the value of those assets of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries which are subject to any limitation on sale, pledge, or other restriction hereunder.
6.12 Material Agreements.
Neither the Guarantor nor any Subsidiary thereof is a party to any agreement or instrument or subject to any charter or other corporate restriction which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Guarantor nor any Subsidiary thereof is in default in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any of the obligations, covenants or conditions contained in (i) any agreement to which it is a party, which default could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) any agreement or instrument evidencing or governing Indebtedness.
6.13 Compliance with Laws.
The Guarantor and its Subsidiaries have complied with all applicable Laws except for any failure to comply with any of the foregoing which could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.14 Ownership of Properties.
Except as set forth on Schedule 6.14, on the date of this Agreement, the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries will have good title, free of all Liens other than those permitted by Section 7.13, to all of the property and assets reflected in the Guarantor's most recent consolidated financial statements provided to the Administrative Agent as owned by the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries.
6.15 Plan Assets; Prohibited Transactions.
The Borrower is not an entity deemed to hold "plan assets" within the meaning of 29 C.F.R. § 2510.3-101 of an employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) which is subject to Title I of ERISA or any plan (within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code), and neither the execution of this Agreement nor the making of Loans hereunder gives rise to a prohibited transaction within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code.
6.16 Environmental Matters.
The Guarantor and its Subsidiaries conduct in the ordinary course of business a review of the effect of existing Environmental Laws and claims alleging potential liability or responsibility for violation of any Environmental Law on their respective businesses, operations and properties, and as a result thereof the Loan Parties have reasonably concluded that such Environmental Laws and claims could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Loan Party nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice to the effect that its operations are not in material compliance with any
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of the requirements of applicable Environmental Laws or are the subject of any federal or state investigation evaluating whether any remedial action is needed to respond to a release of any toxic or hazardous waste or substance into the environment, which non-compliance or remedial action could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.17 Investment Company Act.
Neither the Guarantor nor any Subsidiary thereof is an "investment company" or a company "controlled" by an "investment company", within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
6.18 Insurance.
The properties of the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Borrower, in such amounts, with such deductibles and covering such risks as are customarily carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where the applicable Loan Party or the applicable Subsidiary operates.
6.19 Solvency.
(a) Immediately after the consummation of the transactions to occur on the date hereof and immediately following the making of each Loan, if any, made on the date hereof and after giving effect to the application of the proceeds of such Loan, (i) the fair value of the assets of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, at a fair valuation, will exceed the debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis; (ii) the present fair saleable value of the property of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis will be greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis on their debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured; (iii) the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis will be able to pay their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured; and (iv) the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis will not have unreasonably small capital with which to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged as such businesses are now conducted and are proposed to be conducted after the date hereof.
(b) The Guarantor does not intend to, or to permit any of its Subsidiaries to, and does not believe that it or any of its Subsidiaries will, incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature, taking into account the timing of and amounts of cash to be received by it or any such Subsidiary and the timing of the amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of its Indebtedness or the Indebtedness of any such Subsidiary.
6.20 Compliance with OFAC Rules and Regulations.
(a) None of the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective Affiliates is in violation of and shall not violate any of the country or list based economic and trade sanctions administered and enforced by OFAC that are described or referenced at xxxx://xxx.xxxxxxx.xxx/xxxxxxx/xxxxxxxxxxx/xxxx/ or as otherwise published from time to time.
(b) None of the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective Affiliates (i) is a Sanctioned Person or a Sanctioned Entity, (ii) has more than 10% of its assets located in Sanctioned Entities,
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or (iii) derives more than 10% of its operating income from investments in, or transactions with Sanctioned Persons or Sanctioned Entities. No proceeds of any Loan will be used nor have any been used to fund any operations in, finance any investments or activities in or make any payments to, a Sanctioned Person or a Sanctioned Entity.
6.21 Compliance with FCPA.
Each of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries is in compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 78dd-1, et seq., and any foreign counterpart thereto. None of the Guarantor or its Subsidiaries has made a payment, offering, or promise to pay, or authorized the payment of, money or anything of value (a) in order to assist in obtaining or retaining business for or with, or directing business to, any foreign official, foreign political party, party official or candidate for foreign political office, (b) to a foreign official, foreign political party or party official or any candidate for foreign political office, and (c) with the intent to induce the recipient to misuse his or her official position to direct business wrongfully to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or to any other Person, in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 78dd-1, et seq.
6.22 Anti-Terrorism Laws.
Neither the Guarantor nor any of its Subsidiaries is an "enemy" or an "ally of the enemy" within the meaning of Section 2 of the Trading with the Enemy Act of the United States of America (50 U.S.C. App. §§ 1 et seq.) (the "Trading with the Enemy Act"). Neither any of the Guarantor nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of (a) the Trading with the Enemy Act, (b) any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V) or any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto or (c) the Act. None of the Guarantor or its Subsidiaries (i) is a blocked person described in Section 1 of the Anti-Terrorism Order or (ii) to the best of its knowledge, engages in any dealings or transactions, or is otherwise associated, with any such blocked person.
ARTICLE VII
COVENANTS
COVENANTS
Until the Obligations are paid in full, and so long as any Commitment is outstanding, unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing:
7.01 Financial Reporting.
The Guarantor will maintain, for itself and each Subsidiary, a system of accounting established and administered in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and the Guarantor and/or Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders:
(a) Within 90 days after the close of each of its fiscal years, an unqualified audit report certified by independent certified public accountants acceptable to the Lenders, prepared in accordance with GAAP on a consolidated basis for the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries, including balance sheets as of the end of such period, related statements of income and retained earnings, and a consolidated statement of cash flows.
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(b) Within 45 days after the close of the first three quarterly periods of each of its fiscal years, for the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries, either (i) a consolidated unaudited balance sheet as at the close of each such period and consolidated statements of income and retained earnings and a statement of cash flows for the period from the beginning of such fiscal year to the end of such quarter, all certified by the Guarantor's Chief Financial Officer or (ii) if the Guarantor is then a "registrant" within the meaning of Rule 1-01 of Regulation S-X of the SEC and required to file a report on Form 10-Q with the SEC, a copy of the Guarantor's report on Form 10-Q for such quarterly period.
(c) Together with the financial statements required under Sections 7.01(a) and (b), a compliance certificate in substantially the form of Exhibit 7.01 signed by its Chief Financial Officer or Treasurer showing the calculations necessary to determine compliance with this Agreement and stating that no Default or Event of Default exists, or if any Default or Event of Default exists, stating the nature and status thereof.
(d) As soon as possible and in any event within 10 days after the Borrower knows that any Reportable Event has occurred with respect to any Plan, a statement, signed by the Chief Financial Officer or Treasurer of the Borrower, describing said Reportable Event and the action which the Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto.
(e) As soon as possible and in any event within 10 days after receipt by the Borrower, a copy of (a) any notice or claim to the effect that the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is or may be liable to any Person as a result of the release by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, or any other Person of any toxic or hazardous waste or substance into the environment, and (b) any notice alleging any violation of any Environmental Law by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, which, in either case, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(f) Promptly upon the furnishing thereof to the shareholders of the Guarantor, copies of all financial statements, reports and proxy statements so furnished.
(g) Promptly upon the filing thereof, copies of all registration statements (other than registration statements on Form S-8 or any successor form thereto and other than registration statements relating to shares to be issued under a dividend reinvestment plan) and annual, quarterly, monthly or other regular reports which the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries files with the SEC.
(h) Such other information (including non-financial information) as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request.
Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7.01(a), 7.01(b), 7.01(c) or 7.01(d) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower's website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 10.02; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower's behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third‑party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that: (i) the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent or any Lender upon its request to the Borrower to deliver such paper copies until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and (ii) the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender (by telecopier or electronic mail) of the posting of any such
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documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery of or to maintain paper copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with any such request by a Lender for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.
The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or X.X. Xxxxxx Securities will make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, "Borrower Materials") by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the "Platform") and (b) certain of the Lenders (each a "Public Lender") may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its Affiliates, or the respective securities of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons' securities. The Borrower hereby agrees that (w) all Borrower Materials that are to be made available to Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked "PUBLIC" which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word "PUBLIC" shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Borrower Materials "PUBLIC," the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, X.X. Xxxxxx Securities and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States federal and state securities laws (provided, however, that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 10.07); (y) all Borrower Materials marked "PUBLIC" are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated as "Public Side Information;" and (z) the Administrative Agent and X.X. Xxxxxx Securities shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked "PUBLIC" as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform that is not marked as "Public Side Information." Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall be under no obligation to xxxx any Borrower Materials "PUBLIC."
7.02 Use of Proceeds.
Use the proceeds of the Loans solely (a) for the working capital, capital expenditures and other lawful corporate purposes and (b) to pay fees and expenses in connection with this Agreement. Each of the Borrower and Guarantor will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, use any of the proceeds of the Loans to purchase or carry any "margin stock" (as defined in Regulation U).
7.03 Notice of Default.
Each of the Borrower and Guarantor will, and will cause each of their respective Subsidiaries to, give notice in writing to the Lenders of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default and of any other development, financial or otherwise, which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, in each case promptly after any officer of the Borrower or a Guarantor obtains knowledge thereof.
7.04 Conduct of Business.
Each of the Borrower and Guarantor will, and will cause each Subsidiary to:
(a) carry on and conduct its business in substantially the same manner and in substantially the same or reasonably related fields of enterprise as it is presently conducted; and
(b) preserve and keep in full force and effect the existence of the Borrower, the Guarantor and each of their Subsidiaries as a corporation, partnership or limited liability company unless, in
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the good faith judgment of the Guarantor, the termination of or failure to preserve and keep in full force and effect the existence of any Subsidiary of the Borrower or Guarantor would not individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect.
7.05 Taxes.
Each of the Borrower and Guarantor will, and will cause each of their respective Subsidiaries to, timely file complete and correct United States federal and applicable foreign, state and local Tax returns required by law and pay when due all Taxes, assessments and governmental charges and levies upon it or its income, profits or property, except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which adequate reserves have been set aside in accordance with GAAP.
7.06 Insurance.
Each of the Borrower and Guarantor will, and will cause each of their respective Subsidiaries to, maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies insurance on all their property in such amounts and covering such risks as is consistent with sound business practice, and the Borrower will furnish to any Lender upon request full information as to the insurance carried.
7.07 Compliance with Laws.
(a) Each of the Borrower and Guarantor will, and will cause each of their respective Subsidiaries to, comply with all Laws to which it may be subject including, without limitation, all Environmental Laws, except where such noncompliance, singly or in the aggregate, could not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Without limiting clause (a) above, each of the Borrower and Guarantor will, and will cause each of their respective Subsidiaries to, ensure that no person who owns a controlling interest in or otherwise controls the Borrower, the Guarantor or any Subsidiary is or shall be (i) listed on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Person List maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC"), Department of the Treasury, and/or any other similar lists maintained by OFAC pursuant to any authorizing statute, Executive Order or regulation or (ii) a person designated under Section 1(b), (c) or (d) of Executive Order No. 13224 (September 23, 2001), any related enabling legislation or any other similar Executive Orders.
(c) Without limiting clause (a) above, each of the Borrower and Guarantor will, and will cause each of their respective Subsidiaries to, comply with the Bank Secrecy Act ("BSA") and all other applicable anti-money laundering laws and regulations.
7.08 Maintenance of Properties.
Each of the Borrower and Guarantor will, and will cause each of their respective Subsidiaries to, do all things necessary to maintain, preserve, protect and keep its property in good repair, working order and condition, and make all necessary and proper repairs, renewals and replacements so that its business carried on in connection therewith may be properly conducted at all times, except where such failure, to maintain, singly or in the aggregate, could not have a Material Adverse Effect.
7.09 Inspection.
The Borrower and each Guarantor will, and will cause each of their respective Subsidiaries to, permit the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, by their respective representatives and agents, to inspect any of
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the property, books and financial records of the Borrower, Guarantor and such Subsidiaries, to examine and make copies of the books of accounts and other financial records of the Borrower, Guarantor and such Subsidiary, and to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Borrower, Guarantor and such Subsidiary with, and to be advised as to the same by, their respective officers at such reasonable times and intervals as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may designate.
7.10 Merger.
Each of the Borrower and the Guarantor will not merge or consolidate with or into any other Person, except (a) a Subsidiary of the Guarantor may merge into the Guarantor or the Borrower and (b) provided that, both prior to and immediately after giving effect to such merger or consolidation, no Default or Event of Default exists, the Borrower and the Guarantor may enter into mergers (provided that (i) the Borrower, or the Guarantor, as the case may be, is the surviving corporation of any such merger or consolidation to which such Person is a party or (ii) if the Borrower or the Guarantor is not the surviving Person, (x) the Person into which the Borrower or the Guarantor, as the case may be, shall be merged or formed by any such consolidation (1) shall be a corporation organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia and (2) shall assume the Borrower's or the Guarantor's, as applicable, obligations hereunder and under the Notes in an agreement or instrument satisfactory in form and substance to the Administrative Agent and (y) the Corporate Rating or the Debt Rating of the surviving corporation in effect immediately after giving effect to such merger or consolidation shall not be less than "Baa3" (in the case of the Xxxxx'x) and "BBB-" (in the case of the S&P)).
7.11 Sale of Assets.
The Guarantor will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary of the Guarantor to, lease, sell or otherwise dispose of its property to any other Person, except:
(a) sales of inventory in the ordinary course of business.
(b) leases, sales or other dispositions of its property that, together with all other property of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries previously leased, sold or disposed of (other than inventory in the ordinary course of business) as permitted by this Section during the twelve-month period ending with the month in which any such lease, sale or other disposition occurs, do not constitute all or substantially all of the property of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries.
(c) any Subsidiary may transfer any of its assets or properties to the Guarantor or Borrower.
7.12 Investments and Acquisitions.
The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, make or suffer to exist any Investments (including without limitation, loans and advances to, and other Investments in, Subsidiaries), or commitments therefor, or to create any Subsidiary or to become or remain a partner in any partnership or joint venture, or to make any Acquisition of any Person, except:
(a) Cash Equivalent Investments.
(b) Investments in Subsidiaries and other Investments, in each case in existence on the date hereof and described in Schedule 7.12.
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(c) Loans and advances by the Borrower to the Guarantor and Guarantor's Subsidiaries.
(d) Investments in the Guarantor's Subsidiaries of up to $5,000,000 in the aggregate outstanding at any time.
7.13 Liens.
Each of Borrower and Guarantor will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to create, incur or suffer to exist any Lien in, of, or on the Property of Borrower, Guarantor or any of their Subsidiaries, except:
(a) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies on its property if the same shall not at the time be delinquent or thereafter can be paid without penalty, or are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP shall have been set aside on its books;
(b) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers', warehousemen's and mechanics' liens and other similar liens arising in the ordinary course of business which secure payment of obligations not more than 60 days past due, and such other carriers', warehousemen's, mechanics' or other similar liens that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP shall have been set aside on its books;
(c) Liens arising out of pledges or deposits under worker's compensation laws, unemployment insurance, old age pensions, or other social security or retirement benefits, or similar legislation or to secure bid, performance, surety or similar bonds utilized in the ordinary course of business;
(d) utility easements, building restrictions and such other encumbrances or charges against real property as are of a nature generally existing with respect to properties of a similar character and which do not in any material way affect the marketability of the same or interfere with the use thereof in the business of the Guarantor or its Subsidiaries;
(e) existing Liens (including Liens securing Indebtedness of a Person existing on the date the Person becomes a Subsidiary of the Guarantor) or Liens on assets securing Indebtedness assumed by the Guarantor or a Subsidiary of the Guarantor when such assets are acquired by the Guarantor or a Subsidiary of the Guarantor), including extensions, renewals or replacements of any such Liens in connection with the extension, renewal or replacement of any related existing Indebtedness (without any increase in the amount thereof, but including the full amount of any existing commitments to provide credit that were undrawn at such time of such extension, renewal or replacement); provided that in connection with the refinancing of any such existing Indebtedness such Liens shall extend only to the property covered by such Liens immediately prior to such extension, renewal or replacement;
(f) Liens under the Mortgage Indenture on the property of SIGECO that is subject to the Mortgage Indenture (without giving effect to any amendments thereto after the date hereof that would expand the description of the collateral subject to the lien thereof).
(g) Liens in favor of the Guarantor or a Subsidiary of the Guarantor securing intercompany Indebtedness or other obligations owed to the Borrower, the Guarantor or a Subsidiary of the Guarantor by a Subsidiary of the Guarantor;
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(h) Liens incurred after the Closing Date given to secure the payment of the purchase price incurred in connection with the acquisition, construction or improvement of property (other than accounts receivable or inventory) useful and intended to be used in carrying on the business of the Guarantor or a Subsidiary of the Guarantor, including Liens existing on such property at the time of acquisition or construction thereof or Liens incurred within 360 days of such acquisition or completion of such construction or improvement, provided that (i) the Lien shall attach solely to the property acquired, purchased, constructed or improved; (ii) at the time of acquisition, construction or improvement of such property (or, in the case of any Lien incurred within three hundred sixty (360) days of such acquisition or completion of such construction or improvement, at the time of the incurrence of the Indebtedness secured by such Lien), the aggregate amount remaining unpaid on all Indebtedness secured by Liens on such property, whether or not assumed by the Guarantor or a Subsidiary of the Guarantor, shall not exceed the lesser of (y) the cost of such acquisition, construction or improvement or (z) the fair market value of such property (as determined in good faith by one or more officers of the Guarantor to whom authority to enter into the transaction has been delegated by the board of directors of the Guarantor); and (iii) at the time of such incurrence and after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default would exist; or
(i) in addition to Liens covered by (a)-(h) above, Liens securing Indebtedness not exceeding 15% of the Guarantor's Consolidated Net Worth in the aggregate outstanding at any time.
7.14 Affiliates.
Except for as permitted by Section 7.12(c), the Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, enter into any transaction (including, without limitation, the purchase or sale of any property or service) with, or make any payment or transfer to, any Affiliate (unless such Affiliate is a Loan Party) except in the ordinary course of business and pursuant to the reasonable requirements of the Borrower's or such Subsidiary's business and, upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary than the Borrower or such Subsidiary would obtain in a comparable arms'-length transaction.
7.15 Consolidated Debt to Capitalization Ratio.
The Guarantor will not permit the ratio, determined as of the end of each of its fiscal quarters, of (i) the Guarantor's Consolidated Indebtedness to (ii) the Guarantor's Consolidated Indebtedness plus the Guarantor's Consolidated Net Worth to be greater than .65 to 1.0.
7.16 Certain Restrictions.
The Guarantor shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Subsidiary to (a) pay dividends or make other distributions on its Equity Interests owned by the Guarantor or any Subsidiary, or pay any Indebtedness owed to the Guarantor or any Subsidiary (other than as described on Schedule 7.16 and other customary limits imposed by corporate law and fraudulent conveyance statutes and applicable restrictions contained in section 305(a) of the Federal Power Act, as amended), (b) make loans or advances to the Guarantor or Borrower (other than as described on Schedule 7.16) or (c) transfer any of its assets or properties to the Guarantor or Borrower, except for such encumbrances or restrictions existing by reason of or under (i) applicable law, (ii) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (iii) customary restrictions with respect to a Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement that has been entered into for the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary, (iv) restrictions binding on
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any Subsidiary on the date it becomes a Subsidiary, provided such restrictions were not created in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary or (v) restrictions set forth on Schedule 7.16.
7.17 Indebtedness.
The Borrower will not permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:
(a) Indebtedness existing on the date hereof described on Schedule 7.17 (including, but not limited to, amounts available under commitments related thereto but not yet drawn upon) (the "Existing Indebtedness") and any Indebtedness extending the maturity of, or refunding or refinancing, such Existing Indebtedness, provided that the principal amount of such Existing Indebtedness shall not be increased above the amount thereof immediately prior to such extension, refunding or refinancing (including, but not limited to, amounts available under commitments related thereto but not yet drawn upon), and the direct and contingent obligors therefor shall not be changed, as a result of or in connection with such extension, refunding or refinancing.
(b) Indebtedness incurred with respect to Treasury Management Agreements or Swap Contracts that are (A) entered into by any Subsidiary consistent with such Person's past practices and in the ordinary course of such Person's business and (B) not entered into for speculative purposes.
(c) Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $5,000,000 at any time outstanding.
(d) Indebtedness constituting loans or advances by any Subsidiary to the Borrower or Guarantor.
7.18 Dividends.
Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, declare or pay any dividends or make any distributions on its capital stock (other than dividends payable in its own capital stock) or redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire or retire any of its capital stock at any time outstanding; except that any Subsidiary may declare and pay dividends or make distributions to Borrower or to a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Borrower.
ARTICLE VIII
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
8.01 Events of Default.
Any of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:
(a) Representations and Warranties. Any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower, Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries to the Lenders or the Administrative Agent under or in connection with this Agreement, any Loan, any other Loan Document or any certificate or information delivered in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be materially false on the date as of which made.
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(b) Non-Payment. Nonpayment of principal of any Loan when due or nonpayment of interest upon any Loan or of any fees or other obligation under any of the Loan Documents within five days after the same becomes due.
(c) Specific Covenants. The breach by the Borrower or Guarantor of any of the terms or provisions of Section 7.02, 7.03, 7.10, 7.11, 7.12, 7.13, 7.14, 7.15, 7.16, 7.17 or 7.18.
(d) Other Defaults. The breach by the Borrower or Guarantor (other than a breach which constitutes an Event of Default under another Section of this Article VIII) of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement which is not remedied within thirty days after written notice from the Administrative Agent or any Lender.
(e) Cross-Default. Failure of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or the Guarantor to pay when due any Indebtedness aggregating in excess of the Threshold Amount ("Material Indebtedness"); or the default by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or the Guarantor in the performance (beyond the applicable grace period with respect thereto, if any) of any term, provision or condition contained in any agreement under which any such Material Indebtedness was created or is governed, or any other event shall occur or condition exist, the effect of which default or event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Material Indebtedness to cause, such Material Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity (other than by a regularly scheduled payment or pursuant to customary due on sale or similar clauses or as a result of the occurrence of a change of control; provided that any payment required pursuant to such due on sale or similar clause shall be paid within three Business Days of becoming due and payable); or any Material Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or the Guarantor shall be declared to be due and payable or required to be prepaid or repurchased (other than by a regularly scheduled payment) prior to the stated maturity thereof (other than by a regularly scheduled payment or pursuant to customary due on sale or similar clauses or as a result of the occurrence of a change of control; provided that any payment required pursuant to such due on sale or similar clause shall be paid within three Business Days of becoming due and payable); or the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or the Guarantor shall not pay, or admit in writing its inability to pay, its debts generally as they become due.
(f) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc.
(i) The Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or the Guarantor shall (A) have an order for relief entered with respect to it under any Debtor Relief Law as now or hereafter in effect, (B) make an assignment for the benefit of creditors, (C) apply for, seek, consent to, or acquiesce in, the appointment of a receiver, custodian, trustee, examiner, liquidator or similar official for it or any Substantial Portion of its property, (D) institute any proceeding seeking an order for relief under any Debtor Relief Laws as now or hereafter in effect or seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking dissolution, winding up, liquidation, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of it or its debts under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors or fail to file an answer or other pleading denying the material allegations of any such proceeding filed against it, (E) take any corporate or other organizational action to authorize or effect any of the foregoing actions set forth in this Section 8.01(f)(i) or (F) fail to contest in good faith any appointment or proceeding described in Section 8.01(f)(ii).
(ii) Without the application, approval or consent of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or the Guarantor, a receiver, trustee, examiner, liquidator or similar official shall be appointed for the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or the Guarantor or any Substantial Portion of
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its property, or a proceeding described in Section 8.01(f)(i)(D) shall be instituted against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or the Guarantor and such appointment continues undischarged or such proceeding continues undismissed or unstayed for a period of 60 consecutive days.
(g) Condemnation, Etc. Any court, government or governmental agency shall condemn, seize or otherwise appropriate, or take custody or control of, all or any portion of the property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or the Guarantor which, when taken together with all other property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or the Guarantor so condemned, seized, appropriated, or taken custody or control of, during the twelve-month period ending with the month in which any such action occurs, constitutes a Substantial Portion.
(h) Judgments. The Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or the Guarantor shall fail within 60 days to pay, bond or otherwise discharge any judgment or order for the payment of money in excess of the Threshold Amount, which is not stayed on appeal or otherwise being appropriately contested in good faith.
(i) ERISA.
(i) The Unfunded Liabilities of all Single Employer Plans shall have a Material Adverse Effect or be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect or any Reportable Event shall occur in connection with any Plan.
(ii) The Guarantor or any other member of the Controlled Group shall have been notified by the sponsor of a Multiemployer Plan that it has incurred withdrawal liability to such Multiemployer Plan in an amount which, when aggregated with all other amounts required to be paid to Multiemployer Plans by the Guarantor or any other member of the Controlled Group as withdrawal liability (determined as of the date of such notification), shall have a Material Adverse Effect or be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(iii) The Guarantor or any other member of the Controlled Group shall have been notified by the sponsor of a Multiemployer Plan that such Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization or is being terminated, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA, if such reorganization or termination shall have a Material Adverse Effect or be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(j) Environmental Liability. The Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries shall (a) be the subject of any proceeding or investigation pertaining to the release by the Guarantor, any of its Subsidiaries or any other Person of any Hazardous Material into the environment, or (b) violate any Environmental Law, which, in the case of an event described in clause (a) or clause (b), has a Material Adverse Effect.
(k) Change in Control. Any Change in Control shall occur.
(l) Other Loan Documents. The occurrence of any "default", as defined in any Loan Document (other than this Agreement) or the breach of any of the terms or provisions of any Loan Document (other than this Agreement), which default or breach continues beyond any period of grace therein provided.
(m) Invalidity of Guaranty. The obligations of the Guarantor under Article IV hereof shall fail to remain in full force or effect or any action shall be taken to discontinue or to assert the invalidity or unenforceability of any of such obligations, or the Guarantor shall deny that it has any further liability under such Article IV, or shall give notice to such effect.
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8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default.
If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:
(a) declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans to be terminated, whereupon such commitments shall be terminated;
(b) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower; and
(c) exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it and the Lenders under the Loan Documents or applicable Law;
provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans shall automatically terminate, the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.
8.03 Application of Funds.
After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable, any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:
First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent and amounts payable under Article III) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;
Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Lenders (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders and amounts payable under Article III), ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;
Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them; and
Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.
ARTICLE IX
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
9.01 Appointment and Authority.
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Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints XX Xxxxxx Xxxxx Bank, N.A. to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and no Loan Party shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.
9.02 Rights as a Lender.
The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term "Lender" or "Lenders" shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with any Loan Party or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.
9.03 Exculpatory Provisions.
The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:
(a) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;
(b) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law; and
(c) shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to any Loan Party or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.
The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 10.01 and 8.02) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or a Lender.
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The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article V or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.
9.04 Reliance by Administrative Agent.
The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender prior to the making of such Loan. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Loan Parties), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.
9.05 Delegation of Duties.
The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub‑agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub‑agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub‑agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub‑agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.
9.06 Resignation of Administrative Agent.
The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower, to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided that if the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (a) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and (b) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender
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directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above in this Section. Upon the acceptance of a successor's appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section). The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring Administrative Agent's resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub‑agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.
9.07 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders.
Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.
9.08 No Other Duties; Etc.
Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the book manager or arranger shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent or a Lender hereunder.
9.09 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim.
In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:
(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans and all other Obligations arising under the Loan Documents that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.06 and 10.04) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and
(b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;
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and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, if the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.06 and 10.04.
Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
MISCELLANEOUS
10.01 Amendments, Etc.
No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Borrower or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, further, that
(a) no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:
(i) extend or increase the Commitment of a Lender (or reinstate any Commitment following termination thereof) without the written consent of such Lender whose Commitment is being extended or increased (or reinstated) (it being understood and agreed that a waiver of any condition precedent set forth in Section 5.01 or of any Default or a mandatory reduction in Commitments is not considered an extension or increase in Commitments of any Lender);
(ii) postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment (excluding mandatory prepayments) of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) or any scheduled reduction of the Commitments hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender entitled to receive such payment or whose Commitments are to be reduced;
(iii) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or (subject to clause (i) of the final proviso to this Section 10.01) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender entitled to receive such amount; provided, however, that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to (A) amend the definition of "Default Rate" or waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate or (B) to amend any financial covenant hereunder (or any defined term used therein) even if the effect of such amendment would be to reduce the rate of interest on any Loan or to reduce any fee payable hereunder;
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(iv) change Section 8.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;
(v) change any provision of this Section 10.01(a) or the definition of "Required Lenders" without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; or
(vi) release the Borrower without the consent of each Lender, or, except in connection with a transaction permitted under Section 7.10 or Section 7.11, all or substantially all of the value of the Guaranty without the written consent of each Lender whose Obligations are guarantied thereby; and
(b) unless also signed by the Administrative Agent, no amendment, waiver or consent shall affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document;
provided, however, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, (i) each Lender is entitled to vote as such Lender sees fit on any bankruptcy reorganization plan that affects the Loans, and each Lender acknowledges that the provisions of Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code of the United States supersedes the unanimous consent provisions set forth herein and (ii) the Required Lenders shall determine whether or not to allow a Loan Party to use cash collateral in the context of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding and such determination shall be binding on all of the Lenders.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that (x) the Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender and (y) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects any Defaulting Lender more adversely than other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.
10.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communications.
(a) Notices Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopier as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:
(i) if to any Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.02; and
(ii) if to any other Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire (including, as appropriate, notices delivered solely to the Person designated by a Lender on its Administrative Questionnaire then in effect for the delivery of notices that may contain material non-public information relating to the Borrower).
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Notices and other communications sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices and other communications sent by telecopier shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient). Notices and other communications delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b) below, shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b).
(b) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e‑mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender pursuant to Article II if such Lender, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.
Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender's receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the "return receipt requested" function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.
(c) The Platform. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE." THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the "Agent Parties") have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower's or the Administrative Agent's transmission of Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided, however, that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).
(d) Change of Address, Etc. Each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. In addition,
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each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, telecopier number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender. Furthermore, each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the "Private Side Information" or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lender's compliance procedures and applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws, to make reference to Borrower Materials that are not made available through the "Public Side Information" portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal or state securities laws.
(e) Reliance by Administrative Agent and Lenders. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of any Loan Party even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The Loan Parties shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of a Loan Party. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.
10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement.
No failure by any Lender or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Loan Document preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided, and provided under each other Loan Document are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Loan Parties or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 8.02 for the benefit of all the Lenders; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (b) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 10.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.10), or (c) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Loan Party under any Debtor Relief Law; and provided, further, that if at any time there is no Person acting as Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 8.02 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b), (c) and (d) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.10, any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.
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10.04 Expenses; Indemnity; and Damage Waiver.
(a) Costs and Expenses. The Loan Parties shall pay (i) all reasonable out‑of‑pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent), in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated) and (ii) all reasonable out‑of‑pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent or any Lender) in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with the Loans made hereunder, including all such reasonable out‑of‑pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans.
(b) Indemnification by the Loan Parties. The Loan Parties shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an "Indemnitee") against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee) incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by any Loan Party arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, in the case of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including in respect of any matters addressed in Section 3.01), (ii) any Loan or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom, (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by any Loan Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (y) result from a claim brought by any Loan Party against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee's obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if such Loan Party has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(c) Reimbursement by Lenders. To the extent that the Loan Parties for any reason fail to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section to be paid by them to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof) or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender's Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount, provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) in
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connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.09(d).
(d) Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, no Loan Party shall assert, and each Loan Party hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee referred to in subsection (b) above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Indemnitee 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 other than for direct or actual damages resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee as determined by a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.
(e) Payments. All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than ten Business Days after demand therefor.
(f) Survival. The agreements in this Section shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.
10.05 Payments Set Aside.
To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of any Loan Party is made to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
10.06 Successors and Assigns.
(a) Successors and Assigns Generally. The provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and thereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder or thereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (f) of this Section (and
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any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d) of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
(b) Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:
(i) Minimum Amounts.
(A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender's Commitment and the related Loans at the time owing to it or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and
(B) in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A) of this Section, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the Commitment is not then in effect, the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if "Trade Date" is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000 unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, however, that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single assignee (or to an assignee and members of its Assignee Group) will be treated as a single assignment for purposes of determining whether such minimum amount has been met.
(ii) Proportionate Amounts. Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender's Loans and Commitments, and rights and obligations with respect thereto, assigned;
(iii) Required Consents. No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by subsection (b)(i)(B) of this Section and, in addition:
(A) the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; provided that the Borrower shall be deemed to have consented to any such assignment unless it shall object thereto by written notice to the Administrative Agent within five (5) Business Days after having received notice thereof; and
(B) the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for assignments in respect of any
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Commitment if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender.
(iv) Assignment and Assumption. The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment. The assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.
(v) No Assignment to Certain Persons. No such assignment shall be made to (A) the Borrower or any of the Borrower's Affiliates or Subsidiaries, (B) any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (B), or (C) a natural person.
(vi) Certain Additional Payments. In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or subparticipations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under applicable Law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.
Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05 and 10.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment). Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d) of this Section.
(c) Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower (and such agency being solely for tax purposes), shall maintain at the Administrative Agent's Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names
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and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the "Register"). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. In addition, the Administrative Agent shall maintain on the Register information regarding the designation, and revocation of designation, of any Lender as a Defaulting Lender. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
(d) Participations. Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person or the Borrower or any of the Borrower's Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a "Participant") in all or a portion of such Lender's rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender's obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in clauses (i) through (vi) of Section 10.01(a) that affects such Participant. Subject to subsection (e) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by Law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.10 as though it were a Lender.
(e) Limitation on Participant Rights. A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 3.01 or 3.04 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower's prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 3.01 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 3.01(e) as though it were a Lender.
(f) Certain Pledges. Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note, if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.
10.07 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality.
Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates' respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, advisors and representatives (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested
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by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to a Loan Party and its obligations, (g) with the consent of the Borrower or (h) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower.
For purposes of this Section, "Information" means all information received from a Loan Party or any Subsidiary relating to the Loan Parties or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by such Loan Party or any Subsidiary, provided that, in the case of information received from a Loan Party or any Subsidiary after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.
Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning a Loan Party or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws.
10.08 Set-off.
If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, after obtaining the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of any Loan Party against any and all of the obligations of such Loan Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of such Loan Party are owed to a branch or office of such Lender different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided, that in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.11 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. The rights of each Lender and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender agrees to notify
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the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.
10.09 Interest Rate Limitation.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the "Maximum Rate"). If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.
10.10 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Sections 5.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy or other electronic imaging means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
10.11 Survival of Representations and Warranties.
All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Loan, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied.
10.12 Severability.
If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.12, if and
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to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent, then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.
10.13 Replacement of Lenders.
If (i) any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, (ii) the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, (iii) a Lender (a "Non-Consenting Lender") does not consent to a proposed change, waiver, discharge or termination with respect to any Loan Document that has been approved by the Required Lenders as provided in Section 10.01 but requires unanimous consent of all Lenders or all Lenders directly affected thereby (as applicable) or (iv) any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 10.06), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:
(a) the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee specified in Section 10.06(b);
(b) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.05) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);
(c) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter;
(d) such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws; and
(e) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a Non-Consenting Lender's failure to consent to a proposed change, waiver, discharge or termination with respect to any Loan Document, the applicable replacement bank, financial institution or Fund consents to the proposed change, waiver, discharge or termination; provided that the failure by such Non-Consenting Lender to execute and deliver an Assignment and Assumption shall not impair the validity of the removal of such Non-Consenting Lender and the mandatory assignment of such Non-Consenting Lender's Commitments and outstanding Loans pursuant to this Section 10.13 shall nevertheless be effective without the execution by such Non-Consenting Lender of an Assignment and Assumption.
A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.
10.14 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.
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(a) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
(b) SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. EACH LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS SITTING IN XXXX COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH ILLINOIS STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT ANY PARTY MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST ANY PARTY OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.
(c) WAIVER OF VENUE. EACH LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN THE FIRST SENTENCE OF PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.
(d) SERVICE OF PROCESS. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 10.02. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.
10.15 Waiver of Right to Trial by Jury.
EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN
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INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
10.16 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.
In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), each of the Loan Parties acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates' understanding, that: (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent and the Arranger, are arm's-length commercial transactions between the Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Arranger, on the other hand, (B) each of the Loan Parties has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) each of the Loan Parties is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii) (A) the Administrative Agent and the Arranger each is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for the Loan Parties or any of their respective Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) neither the Administrative Agent nor the Arranger has any obligation to the Loan Parties or any of their respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent and the Arranger and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent nor the Arranger has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Loan Parties and their respective Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by Law, each of the Loan Parties hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent and the Arranger with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.
10.17 Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents.
The words "execution," "signed," "signature," and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption or in any amendment or other modification hereof (including waivers and consents) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.
10.18 USA PATRIOT Act Notice.
Each Lender that is subject to the Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the "Act"), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Act. The Borrower shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent or such Lender reasonably requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable "know your customer" and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Act.
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10.19 Press Releases and Related Matters.
The Borrower and its Affiliates agree that they will not in the future issue any press releases or other public disclosure using the name of the Administrative Agent or any Lender or their respective Affiliates or referring to this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents without the prior written consent of such Person, unless (and only to the extent that) the Borrower or such Affiliate is required to do so under Law and then, in any event, the Borrower or such Affiliate will consult with such Person before issuing such press release or other public disclosure; provided, however, the Borrower and its Affiliates shall not be required to obtain the prior written consent of any Person or consult with any Person prior to any public disclosure required (a) pursuant to any federal securities laws applicable to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) pursuant to the rules and regulations governing the New York Stock Exchange or any other stock exchange or quotation service from time to time applicable to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or (c) by any other Governmental Authority. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries consent to the publication by the Administrative Agent or any Lender of customary advertising material relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Loan Documents using the name, product photographs, logo or trademark of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.
[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.
BORROWER: VECTREN CAPITAL, CORP.,
an Indiana corporation
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Vice President, Treasurer and Asst. Secretary
GUARANTOR: VECTREN CORPORATION,
an Indiana corporation
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Treasurer and Vice President of Investor Relations
ADMINISTRATIVE
AGENT: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Zur III
Name: Xxxx X. Zur III
Title: Authorized Officer
LENDERS: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as a Lender
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Zur III
Name: Xxxx X. Zur III
Title: Authorized Officer
Schedule 2.01
COMMITMENTS AND APPLICABLE PERCENTAGES
Lender | Commitment Amount | Applicable Percentage |
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. | $100,000,000 | 100% |
TOTAL | $100,000,000 | 100% |
Schedule 6.08
SUBSIDIARIES
None.
Schedule 6.14
LIENS EXISTING ON THE CLOSING DATE
None.
Schedule 7.12
INVESTMENTS EXISTING ON THE CLOSING DATE
None other than Investments permitted under Section 7.12 of the Agreement.
Schedule 7.16
CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS
1. The payment of cash dividends on common stock of Southern Indiana Gas and Electric Company (“SIGECO”) to Vectren Utility Holdings, Inc. (“VUHI”) is, in effect, restricted by SIGECO’s First Mortgage Indenture (the “Mortgage”). The Mortgage restricts dividends to accumulated surplus available for distribution to common stock earned subsequent to December 31, 1947 if amounts deducted from earnings for current repairs and maintenance and provisions for renewals, replacements and depreciation of all the property of SIGECO are less than amounts specified in the Mortgage. (Section 1.02 of the Supplemental Indenture dated as of July 1, 1948, as supplemented.) No amount was restricted against cash dividends on common stock as of December 31, 2011 under this restriction.
2. Credit Agreement dated as of September 30, 2010 among Vectren Capital Corp., Vectren Corporation, Xxxxx Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, and the other lenders party thereto, as amended and as may be amended from time to time.
Schedule 7.17
INDEBTEDNESS EXISTING ON THE CLOSING DATE
None.
Schedule 10.02
CERTAIN ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES
Loan Parties:
Borrower:
Vectren Capital, Corp.
Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
Guarantor:
Vectren Corporation
Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
Administrative Agent:
For operational notices (borrowings, payments, etc.):
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
10 X. Xxxxxxxx Street
Floor 7, Mail Code XX0-0000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Email: Xxxxxx.Xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx
With a copy to:
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
10 X. Xxxxxxxx Street
Floor 9, Mail Code XX0-0000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxx
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Email: Xxxx.X.Xxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx
With a copy to:
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
10 X. Xxxxxxxx Street
Floor 9, Mail Code XX0-0000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Email: Xxxx.Xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx
Signature Page to Credit Agreement
Exhibit 2.02
FORM OF LOAN NOTICE
Date: ___________, 201__
To: | JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to that certain Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of November 1, 2012 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the "Agreement;" the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among Vectren Capital Corp., an Indiana corporation (the "Borrower"), the Guarantor party thereto, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent.
The undersigned hereby requests (select one):
A Borrowing of Term Loans
A conversion or continuation of Term Loans
1. On (a Business Day).
2. In the amount of $ .
3. Comprised of .
[Type of Loan requested]
[Type of Loan requested]
4. For Eurodollar Loans: with an Interest Period of ___ months.
With respect to such Borrowing, the Borrower hereby represents and warrants that the conditions specified in Sections 5.01(h) and (i) of the Credit Agreement have been satisfied on and as of the date of such Borrowing.
[To induce the Lenders to accept a Loan Notice delivered to the Administrative Agent on the date hereof with respect to a Eurodollar Loan to be made on November 1, 2012 (the “Proposed Closing Date”), the Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify the Lenders in accordance with Section 3.05 of the Credit Agreement in the form labeled “Execution Copy” as of November 1, 2012 (the “Draft Agreement”), for any loss, cost or expense incurred by it in the event that all or any portion of such Eurodollar Loan is not made on the Proposed Closing Date for any reason. The Borrower shall be bound hereby and by the terms of Section 3.05 of the Draft Agreement without regard to whether the Credit Agreement is executed and delivered by the proposed parties thereto.] 1
1 To be included in Loan Notice is delivered in connection with a request for a Eurodollar Borrowing to be made on the Closing Date.
VECTREN CAPITAL CORP.,
an Indiana corporation
By:
Name:
Title:
Exhibit 2.08(a)
FORM OF NOTE
____________, 201__
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned (the "Borrower"), hereby promises to pay to _____________________ or registered assigns (the "Lender"), in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement (as hereinafter defined), the principal amount of all Term Loans made by the Lender to the Borrower under that certain Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of November 1, 2012 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the "Agreement;" the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among the Borrower, the Guarantor party thereto, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent.
The Borrower promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Loan from the date of such Loan until such principal amount is paid in full, at such interest rates and at such times as provided in the Agreement. All payments of principal and interest shall be made to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lender in Dollars in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent's Office. If any amount is not paid in full when due hereunder, such unpaid amount shall bear interest, to be paid upon demand, from the due date thereof until the date of actual payment (and before as well as after judgment) computed at the per annum rate set forth in the Agreement.
This Note is one of the Notes referred to in the Agreement, is entitled to the benefits thereof and may be prepaid in whole or in part subject to the terms and conditions provided therein. Upon the occurrence and continuation of one or more of the Events of Default specified in the Agreement, all amounts then remaining unpaid on this Note shall become, or may be declared to be, immediately due and payable all as provided in the Agreement. Loans made by the Lender shall be evidenced by one or more loan accounts or records maintained by the Lender in the ordinary course of business. The Lender may also attach schedules to this Note and endorse thereon the date, amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.
The Borrower, for itself, its successors and assigns, hereby waives diligence, presentment, protest and demand and notice of protest, demand, dishonor and non-payment of this Note.
THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
VECTREN CAPITAL CORP.,
an Indiana corporation
By:
Name:
Title:
Exhibit 5.01(e)
FORM OF OPINION
________________, 2012
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent
00 X. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Re: Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among Vectren Capital, Corp., Vectren Corporation, the Lenders signatory thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent (the “Credit Agreement”)
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to VECTREN CAPITAL, CORP., an Indiana corporation (the “Borrower”), and VECTREN CORPORATION, an Indiana corporation (the “Guarantor”), in connection with the transactions contemplated by the above-referenced Credit Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein and not specifically defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Credit Agreement. The opinion is being delivered to you pursuant to Section 5.01(e) of the Credit Agreement.
In this connection, we have examined the Credit Agreement and the Promissory Notes issued to certain of the Lenders in connection with the Credit Agreement, dated the date hereof (the “Notes”) (collectively, the “Loan Documents”), and such records, certificates and other documents and such questions of law as we have considered necessary and appropriate for the purpose of rendering the opinion set forth below (including, without limitation, certificates of existence issued by the Indiana Secretary of State). As to questions of fact related to such opinions, we have relied solely upon certificates of officers of the Borrower and the Guarantor, certificates of public officials (including, without limitation, certificates of existence issued by the Indiana Secretary of State), and the representations and warranties of the Borrower, the Guarantor, the Administrative Agent, and the Lenders in the Credit Agreement.
For purposes of rendering this opinion, we have, with your consent and without investigation, assumed:
(a)the genuineness of the signatures of all persons (other than the officers of the Borrower and the Guarantor) signing the Loan Documents and all instruments, documents, certificates, applications, consents, filings and/or agreements related to the transactions contemplated thereby or included in the schedules thereto (collectively, the “Pertinent Documents”);
(b)the authority of the persons executing the Pertinent Documents on behalf of the parties thereto (other than the Borrower and the Guarantor);
(c)the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals;
(d)the accuracy and completeness of all corporate and public documents and records made available to us;
(e)the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified, conformed or photostatic copies;
(f)the due authorization, execution and delivery of the Pertinent Documents by the parties thereto (other than by the Borrower and the Guarantor);
(g)the legal existence of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders;
(h)that the Administrative Agent and the Lenders have acted in good faith;
(i)the compliance by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders with all laws applicable to them that affect the validity of the transactions contemplated by the Credit Agreement; and
(j)that the Pertinent Documents are binding upon all the parties thereto (other than the Borrower and the Guarantor) and that all parties thereto (other than the Borrower and the Guarantor) will act in accordance with the terms and provisions thereof.
In addition, we have assumed that:
(a)all decisional authorities, statutes, rules and regulations comprising the applicable law for which we are assuming responsibility are published or otherwise generally accessible, in each case in a manner generally available to lawyers practicing in the State of Indiana; and
(b)routine procedural matters, such as service of process or qualification to do business in the jurisdiction, will be satisfied by the party seeking to enforce any of the Loan Documents.
Based upon the foregoing and subject to the exceptions hereinafter set forth, we are of the opinion that:
1.Each of the Borrower and the Guarantor is a corporation duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of Indiana and has the corporate power and the corporate authority to execute, deliver, and perform the Loan Documents to which it is a party.
2.Each of the Borrower and the Guarantor has full corporate power and corporate authority and is duly authorized to conduct the activities in which it is now engaged. Each of the Borrower and the Guarantor is duly qualified and (where applicable) is in good standing as a foreign corporation in all jurisdictions where it is required to be so qualified, except where the failure to be so qualified could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
3.The execution, delivery, and performance of the Credit Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Borrower and the Guarantor, has been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower and the Guarantor, and the Credit Agreement constitutes a legal, valid, and binding contract of the Borrower and the Guarantor enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as the same may be limited by (i) the United States Bankruptcy Code, (ii) any applicable insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or conveyance
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent
November 1, 2012
Page 2
laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (iii) other laws, court decisions and legal and equitable doctrines, in each case, affecting the right to specific performance, injunctive relief and other equitable remedies (regardless of whether the application of such principles is considered in a proceeding in equity or law).
4.The execution, delivery, and performance of the Notes have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Borrower, have been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower, and the Notes constitute the legal, valid, and binding contracts of the Borrower enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as the same may be limited by (i) the United States Bankruptcy Code, (ii) any applicable insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or conveyance laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and (iii) other laws, court decisions and legal and equitable doctrines, in each case, affecting the right to specific performance, injunctive relief and other equitable remedies (regardless of whether the application of such principles is considered in a proceeding in equity or law).
5.The issuance of the Notes, and the execution, delivery and performance by each of the Borrower and the Guarantor of the Loan Documents to which it is a party does not conflict with or result in any breach of any of the provisions of or constitute a default under or result in the creation or imposition of any lien or encumbrance upon any of the property of either the Borrower or the Guarantor pursuant to (a) the provisions of the Organizational Documents (as hereinafter defined) of either the Borrower or the Guarantor, or (b) any Federal, Illinois or Indiana law, rule, regulation applicable to the Borrower or any of the Guarantors, or, to our knowledge, any order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, or award binding on the Borrower or the Guarantor or (c) the Agreements listed on Schedule 1 hereto (the “Loan Documents”).
6.To our knowledge there is no litigation, arbitration, governmental investigation, proceeding, or inquiry pending or threatened against the Borrower or the Guarantor which, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
7.No order, consent, adjudication, approval, license, authorization, or validation of, or filing, recording or registration with or exemption by, or other action in respect of any governmental or public body or authority, or any subdivision thereof, which has not been obtained by the Borrower or the Guarantor is required to be obtained by the Borrower or the Guarantor in connection with the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents, the Loans under the Credit Agreement, the payment and performance by the Borrower of the Obligations, or the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents.
8.Neither the Borrower nor the Guarantor is an “investment company” or an entity “controlled by” an “investment company” as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
Our opinion is subject to the following qualifications and limitations:
A.Any certificates or representations obtained by us from officers of the Borrower or the Guarantor or others with respect to matters of fact, but not legal conclusions, on which such opinions have been based have been relied upon by us without independent verification.
B.This opinion letter is limited to the current Federal laws of the United States and the current internal laws of the States of Indiana and Illinois (without giving effect to any conflict of
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent
November 1, 2012
Page 3
law principles thereof) and we have not considered, and express no opinion on, the laws of any other jurisdiction.
C.This opinion letter is dated and speaks as of the date hereof. We have no obligation to update or supplement this opinion to reflect any facts or circumstances that may hereafter come to our attention, even though the legal analysis or legal conclusions contained in this opinion letter may be affected by such changes.
D.Whenever we have stated we assumed any matter, it is intended to indicate that we have assumed such matter without making any factual, legal, or other inquiry or investigation, and without expressing any opinion or stating any conclusion of any kind concerning such matter.
E.Whenever any statement of this opinion letter is qualified by the phrase “to our knowledge,” “of which we are aware,” or a phrase of similar import, such phrase is intended to mean the actual knowledge of information by the lawyers in our firm who have been principally involved in negotiating the subject transaction, but does not include other information that might be revealed if there were to be undertaken a canvass of all lawyers in our firm, a general search of our files or any type of independent investigation. Moreover, we have not undertaken any independent investigation to determine the accuracy or completeness of such knowledge and any limited inquiries by us should not be regarded as such an investigation.
F.“Organizational Documents” means the articles of incorporation, certificate of incorporation or charter and any by-laws of a corporation.
G.We express no opinion herein as to the validity or enforceability of any provision of any Loan Document that (a) purports to waive trial by jury, (b) purports to waive or limit the right to assert any claims, remedies, defenses or rights of setoff that any of the Borrower or the Guarantors may have at law or in equity, (c) provides that waivers, consents, amendments or modifications must be in writing, (d) purports to confer, waive or consent to the jurisdiction of any court, or (e) provides for reimbursement of attorneys’ fees to the extent such attorneys’ fees are not reasonable. We express no opinion as to any provision of any Loan Document relating to severability, as applied to any portion thereof deemed by a court to be material. We further express no opinion as to the enforceability of any provision for indemnification or contribution where such indemnification or contribution is contrary to public policy or prohibited by law.
H.We express no opinion regarding the applicability or effect of or any compliance with any federal or state antitrust, securities (other than to the extent expressly set forth in paragraph 8 above), environmental, ERISA, banking, zoning, health, safety, building, land use or subdivision laws, or the rules and regulations pertaining thereto.
I.The only opinions intended to be provided herein are those which are expressly stated herein and no opinions by implication are intended or given.
J.This opinion is furnished solely for your benefit in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Credit Agreement and may not be relied upon by, or furnished to, any other person, firm, or corporation for any other purpose, without our prior written consent (other than (i) permitted participants and assigns of the Lenders, (ii) regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over any of the addressee hereof or its successors and assigns, and (iii) pursuant to valid legal process).
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent
November 1, 2012
Page 4
K.We express no opinion with respect to any future modification, extension or renewal of the Credit Agreement or the Notes.
L.In connection with the opinions contained in paragraph 5 above, we express no opinion with respect to any provision of the Loan Documents which constitutes a financial ratio or financial covenant.
Very truly yours,
Exhibit 7.01
FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
For the quarter/year ended _________________, 201__.
I, ______________________, [Title] of VECTREN CAPITAL CORP., an Indiana corporation (the "Borrower") hereby certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, with respect to that certain Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of November 1, 2012 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the "Credit Agreement"; the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined) among the Borrower, the Guarantor, the Lenders and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent:
(a) The Borrower has delivered the following financial statements:
the year-end audited financial statements required by Section 7.01(a) of the Credit Agreement for the fiscal year of the Guarantor ended as of the above date, together with the report thereon of an independent certified public accountant required by such section.
either (i) the unaudited consolidated financial statements required by Section 7.01(b) of the Credit Agreement for the fiscal quarter of the Guarantor ended as of the above date or (ii) if the Guarantor is then a "registrant" within the meaning of Rule 1-01 of Regulation S-X of the SEC and required to file a report on Form 10-Q with the SEC, a copy of the Guarantor's report on Form 10-Q for such quarterly period. Such consolidated financial statements fairly present, in all material respects, the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP as at such date and for such period, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.
(b) Since ___________ (the date of the last similar certification, or, if none, the Closing Date) no Default or Event of Default has occurred under the Credit Agreement.
(c) | Attached hereto as Schedule 1 are detailed calculations demonstrating compliance by the Loan Parties with the financial covenant contained in Section 7.15 of the Credit Agreement as of the end of the fiscal period referred to above. |
This ______ day of ___________, 201_.
VECTREN CAPITAL CORP.,
an Indiana corporation
By:
Name:
Title:
Schedule 1 to Compliance Certificate
Computation of Financial Covenants
For the quarter/year ended _________________ ("Statement Date")
I. | Consolidated Debt to Capitalization Ratio | |
A. Consolidated Indebtedness | $ | |
B. Consolidated Indebtedness+ Consolidated Net Worth | $__________________ | |
C. Consolidated Debt to Capitalization Ratio (A ÷ B) | _____________ to 1.0 | |
Maximum permitted: .65 to 1.0 |
Exhibit 10.06(b)
FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION
This Assignment and Assumption (this "Assignment and Assumption") is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between [Insert name of Assignor] (the "Assignor") and [Insert name of Assignee] (the "Assignee"). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement identified below (the "Credit Agreement"), receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by the Assignee. The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Assumption as if set forth herein in full.
For an agreed consideration, the Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to the Assignee, and the Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from the Assignor, subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions and the Credit Agreement, as of the Effective Date inserted by the Administrative Agent as contemplated below (i) all of the Assignor's rights and obligations as a Lender under the Credit Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto to the extent related to the amount and percentage interest identified below of all of such outstanding rights and obligations of the Assignor under the respective facilities identified below and (ii) to the extent permitted to be assigned under applicable law, all claims, suits, causes of action and any other right of the Assignor (in its capacity as a Lender) against any Person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in connection with the Credit Agreement, any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the loan transactions governed thereby or in any way based on or related to any of the foregoing, including, but not limited to, contract claims, tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other claims at law or in equity related to the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clause (i) above (the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above being referred to herein collectively as, the "Assigned Interest"). Such sale and assignment is without recourse to the Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and Assumption, without representation or warranty by the Assignor.
1. Assignor: ______________________________
2. | Assignee: ______________________________ |
[and is an Affiliate/Approved Fund of [identify Lender]2]
3. | Borrower: Vectren Capital Corp. |
4. | Agent: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the administrative agent under the Credit Agreement |
5. | Credit Agreement: Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of November 1, 2012 among Borrower, the Guarantor party thereto, the Lenders parties thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent |
6. | Assigned Interest: |
Facility Assigned 3 | Aggregate Amount of Commitment/Loans for all Lenders* | Amount of Commitment/Loans Assigned* | Percentage Assigned of Commitment/Loans 4 |
$ | $ | % | |
$ | $ | % | |
$ | $ | % |
2 Select as applicable.
3 Fill in the appropriate terminology for the types of facilities under the Credit Agreement that are being assigned under this Assignment (e.g. “Revolving Commitment,” etc.)
* Amount to be adjusted by the counterparties to take into account any payments or prepayments made between the Trade Date and the Effective Date.
4 Set forth, to at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Commitment/Loans of all Lenders thereunder.
[7. Trade Date: ______________]5
Effective Date: _____________ ___, 201__ [TO BE INSERTED BY AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER THEREFOR.]
The terms set forth in this Assignment and Assumption are hereby agreed to:
ASSIGNOR
[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]
By:______________________________
Title:
ASSIGNEE
[NAME OF ASSIGNEE]
By:______________________________
Title:
[Consented to and]6 Accepted:
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Agent
By_________________________________
Title:
[VECTREN CAPITAL CORP.]
By________________________________
Title:
5 To be completed if the Assignor and the Assignee intend that the minimum assignment amount is to be determined as of the Trade Date.
6 To be added only if the consent of the Administrative Agent is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.
ANNEX 1
STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR
ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION
1. Representations and Warranties.
1.1. Assignor. The Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of the Assigned Interest, (ii) the Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Loan Documents or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of any Loan Document or (iv) the performance or observance by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under any Loan Document.
1.2. Assignee. The Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it meets the requirements to be an assignee under Section 10.06(b)(iii) and (v) of the Credit Agreement (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 10.06(b)(iii) of the Credit Agreement), (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of the Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to acquire assets of the type represented by the Assigned Interest and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to acquire the Assigned Interest, is experienced in acquiring assets of such type, (v) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, and has received or has been accorded the opportunity to receive copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 7.01 thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it deems appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase the Assigned Interest, (vi) it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase the Assigned Interest, and (vii) if it is a Foreign Lender, attached hereto is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by the Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.
2. Payments. From and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments in respect of the Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to the Assignor for amounts which have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to the Assignee for amounts which have accrued from and after the Effective Date.
3. General Provisions. This Assignment and Assumption shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Assignment and
Assumption may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Assumption by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Assumption. This Assignment and Assumption shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of Illinois.
Exhibit 10.06(b)(iv)
FORM OF ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTIONNAIRE
(On file with Administrative Agent.)