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EXHIBIT 10.17
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INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT
AMONG
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Collateral Agent
AND
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
individually, and as Administrative Agent for the other Lenders
AND
THE NOTEHOLDERS WHICH ARE PARTIES HERETO
RE: QUANTA SERVICES, INC.
Dated as of March 23, 2000
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION HEADING PAGE
Parties......................................................................1
Recitals.....................................................................1
SECTION 1. DEFINED TERMS..................................................2
SECTION 2. APPOINTMENT OF COLLATERAL AGENT................................8
SECTION 3. DECISIONS RELATING TO ADMINISTRATION AND EXERCISE OF
REMEDIES VESTED IN THE MAJORITY BENEFITED PARTIES..............8
SECTION 4. APPLICATION OF MONIES AND PROCEEDS............................10
SECTION 5. PREFERENTIAL PAYMENTS AND SPECIAL TRUST ACCOUNT...............11
SECTION 6. INFORMATION...................................................12
SECTION 7. ADDITIONAL PARTIES............................................13
SECTION 8. DISCLAIMERS, INDEMNITY, ETC...................................14
SECTION 9. INVALIDATED PAYMENTS..........................................16
SECTION 10. MISCELLANEOUS.................................................17
Signature Page..............................................................20
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INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT
This INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT (as amended, restated or otherwise
modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof, this
"Agreement") is dated as of March 23, 2000 and entered into among the
Noteholders (as hereinafter defined), and Bank of America, N.A., as the
Collateral Agent (as hereinafter defined) individually, and as Agent (as
hereinafter defined). This Agreement is consented to, as evidenced by their
execution of the acknowledgment hereto, by Quanta Services, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Issuer"), and by the subsidiaries of the Issuer (each a
"Subsidiary Guarantor") which have executed Guaranties (as hereinafter defined).
The Issuer and each Subsidiary Guarantor are individually referred to as an
"Obligor" and collectively as the "Obligors."
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Issuer has entered into that certain Third Amended and
Restated Secured Credit Agreement dated as of June 14, 1999 (said agreement, as
amended prior hereto and as it may hereafter be amended, restated, refinanced,
or otherwise modified (including any increase in or reduction in the principal
amount thereof) from time to time the "Existing Credit Agreement" and together
with any Successor Credit Agreement, as hereinafter defined, the "Credit
Agreement") among the Issuer and the Lenders from time to time parties thereto
(each a "Lender" and collectively the "Lenders"), and Bank of America, N.A. as
administrative agent for the Lenders.
WHEREAS, the Subsidiary Guarantors have or will guaranty the
obligations of the Issuer under the Credit Agreement pursuant to one or more
Subsidiary Guaranties (the "Bank Guaranties").
WHEREAS, the obligations of the Issuer under the Credit Agreement and
in respect of certain Hedging Transactions (as defined below) and the
obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors under the Bank Guaranties are secured
pursuant to certain Bank Security Documents (as hereinafter defined), among the
Obligors and the Collateral Agent, pursuant to which the Obligors have granted a
security interest to the Collateral Agent (on behalf of the Lenders) in
substantially all of their personal property to secure the Credit Obligations.
WHEREAS, the Issuer has entered into a Note Purchase Agreement dated as
of March 1, 2000 (said agreement as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time, the "Note Agreement"), between the Issuer and the
Purchasers named therein (the "Existing Noteholders") pursuant to which the
Existing Noteholders purchased or will purchase the Issuer's (i) $73,000,000
8.46% Series 2000-A Senior Secured Notes, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇ ▇▇▇▇, (▇▇)
$41,500,000 8.55% Series 2000-A Senior Secured Notes, Tranche 2, due March 1,
2007 and (iii) $35,500,000 8.61% Senior Secured Notes, Tranche 3, due March 1,
2010 (collectively, the "Existing Senior Notes").
WHEREAS, it is contemplated that additional series of senior notes may
be issued from time to time pursuant to one or more supplements to the Note
Agreement to institutional investors (which may include the Existing
Noteholders) such additional senior notes together
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with the Existing Senior Notes being hereinafter referred to collectively as the
"Senior Notes"). The purchasers of such additional Senior Notes which become
Parties hereto being hereinafter together with the Existing Noteholders
collectively referred to as the "Noteholders".
WHEREAS, the Parties desire that the Proceeds from the commencement of
Enforcement (as hereinafter defined) proceedings with respect to the collateral
under the Security Documents shall be shared equally and ratably among the
Benefited Parties (as hereinafter defined) in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement.
WHEREAS, the Subsidiary Guarantors have or will guaranty the
obligations of the Issuer under the Note Agreement and the Senior Notes pursuant
to one or more Subsidiary Guaranties (the "Noteholder Guaranties").
WHEREAS, the obligations of the Issuer under the Note Agreement and the
Senior Notes and the obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors under the
Noteholder Guaranties are secured pursuant to certain Noteholder Security
Documents (as hereinafter defined), among the Obligors and the Collateral Agent,
as collateral agent for the Noteholders, pursuant to which the Obligors have
granted a security interest to the Collateral Agent (on behalf of the
Noteholders) in substantially all of their personal property to secure the
Senior Note Obligations.
WHEREAS, the Noteholders, the Lenders and the Collateral Agent
(individually a "Party" and collectively the "Parties") desire to enter into
this Intercreditor Agreement and further desire that Bank of America, N.A. act
as the collateral agent on behalf of all Parties regarding the Collateral, all
as more fully provided herein; and the Parties have entered into this Agreement
to, among other things, further define the rights, duties, authority and
responsibilities of the Collateral Agent and the relationship between the
Parties regarding their pari passu interests in the Collateral.
WHEREAS, it is contemplated that the Lenders or other financial
institutions (the "Successor Lenders") may enter into one or more agreements
with the Obligors either extending the maturity of or refinancing all or any
portion of the Credit Obligations (as hereinafter defined) (including an
increase or decrease in the principal amount thereof).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and other good and
valuable consideration, the sufficiency and receipt of which are hereby
acknowledged, the Parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1. DEFINED TERMS.
As used in this Agreement the following terms have the following
meanings:
"Acceleration Premium Obligations" means all obligations of the Issuer
to pay a "Make Whole Amount" (as defined in the Note Agreement) to the
Noteholders as a result of the acceleration of their respective Senior Note
Obligations payable under the Note Agreement.
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"Affiliate," as applied to any Person, means any other Person directly
or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, that
Person. For the purposes of this definition, "control" (including with
correlative meanings, the terms "controlling," "controlled by" and "under common
control with"), as applied to any Person, means the possession, directly or
indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and
policies of that Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or
by contract or otherwise.
"Agent" means Bank of America, N.A. in its capacity as Administrative
Agent under the Credit Agreement and any successor Administrative Agent under
the Credit Agreement.
"Agreement" has the meaning ascribed to that term in the introductory
paragraph hereto.
"Bank Documents" means the Credit Agreement, the Bank Guaranties, the
Bank Security Documents, and any other document or instrument whether now
existing or hereafter given to the Collateral Agent or any Lender in respect of
the Credit Obligations.
"Bank Guaranties" has the meaning ascribed to that term in the recitals
hereto.
"Bank Security Documents" means any security agreement, hypothec,
mortgage, deed of trust, pledge agreement or other agreement or instrument
pursuant to which any Obligor grants a Lien to secure the Credit Obligations
whether now existing or hereafter incurred.
"Bankruptcy Proceeding" means, with respect to any Person, a general
assignment by such Person for the benefit of its creditors, or the institution
by or against such Person of any proceeding seeking relief as debtor, or seeking
to adjudicate such Person as bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking reorganization,
arrangement, adjustment or composition of such Person or its debts, under any
law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or relief of debtors, or
seeking appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official
for such Person or for any substantial part of its property.
"Benefited Obligations" means (a) all Credit Obligations, (b) all
Senior Note Obligations, (c) all Hedging Exposure and other obligations of the
Issuer under or arising in connection with any Interest Rate Protection
Agreement, and (d) all other amounts payable by any Obligor under this
Agreement, any Guaranty and the Security Documents (including, without
limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of the Collateral Agent).
"Benefited Parties" means the holders, from time to time, of the
Benefited Obligations.
"Code" means the Uniform Commercial Code as the same may from time to
time be in effect in the appropriate jurisdiction.
"Collateral" means all property and interests in property of any
Obligor in which a Lien has been created under the Security Documents.
"Collateral Agent" means Bank of America, N.A., in its capacity as
collateral agent hereunder and any successor collateral agent appointed pursuant
to Section 8 hereof.
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"Credit Agreement" has the meaning ascribed to that term in the
recitals hereto.
"Credit Obligations" means all outstanding and unpaid obligations of
every nature of the Obligors (including L/C Obligations) from time to time to
the Lenders or any of them under the Credit Agreement and any other Bank
Documents.
"Directing Party" means, with respect to any particular instruction
given to the Collateral Agent, each Party (and each Benefited Party represented
by such Party) that has given such instruction to the Collateral Agent.
"Enforcement" means the commencement of enforcement, collection
(including judicial or non-judicial foreclosure) or similar proceedings with
respect to the Collateral.
"Event of Default" means an "Event of Default" or "Default" as defined
in any Financing Agreement.
"Existing Credit Agreement" has the meaning ascribed to that term in
the recitals hereto.
"Existing Noteholders" has the meaning ascribed to that term in the
recitals hereto.
"Existing Senior Notes" has the meaning ascribed to that term in the
recitals hereto.
"Financing Agreements" means the Bank Documents, the Noteholder
Documents, any Interest Rate Protection Agreement, this Agreement, the Security
Documents, and any other instruments, documents or agreements entered into in
connection with any Benefited Obligation or Financing Agreement.
"Guaranty" means any Bank Guaranty or any Noteholder Guaranty and
"Guaranties" means the Bank Guaranties and the Noteholder Guaranties.
"Hedging Exposure" means, on any date of determination for any Hedging
Transaction, the amount, as calculated in good faith and in a commercially
reasonable manner by the Lender that is the Issuer's counterpart for such
Hedging Transaction, which such Lender would pay to a third party (such amount
being expressed as a negative number) or receive from a third party (such amount
being expressed as a positive number) in an arm's-length transaction as
consideration for the third party's entering into a new transaction with such
Lender in which: (a) such Lender holds the same position in the Hedging
Transaction as it currently holds; (b) the third party holds the same position
as the Issuer currently holds; and (c) the new transaction has economic and
other terms and conditions identical in all respects to such Hedging Transaction
except that (i) the date of calculation shall be deemed to be the date of
commencement of the new transaction and (ii) all period end dates shall
correspond to all period end dates, if any, for such Hedging Transaction.
"Hedging Transaction" means each interest rate swap transaction, basis
swap transaction, forward rate transaction, commodity swap transaction, equity
index transaction, foreign exchange transaction, cap transaction, floor
transaction, collar transaction, currency swap
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transaction or any other similar transaction (including any option with respect
to any of these transactions and any combination of any of the foregoing)
entered into by the Issuer from time to time pursuant to an Interest Rate
Protection Agreement; provided that such transaction is entered into for risk
management purposes and not for speculative purposes.
"Interest Rate Protection Agreement" means any interest rate swap, cap,
floor, collar, forward rate agreement, or other rate protection transaction, or
any combination of such transactions or agreements or any option with respect to
any such transactions or agreements now existing or hereafter entered into
between the Issuer and any Lender or Successor Lender.
"Issuer" has the meaning ascribed to that term in the introductory
paragraph hereto.
"L/C Obligations" has the meaning set forth in the Credit Agreement.
"Lenders" has the meaning ascribed to that term in the recitals hereto.
"Letter of Credit" has the meaning set forth in the Credit Agreement.
"Lien" means any lien, mortgage, pledge, security interest, charge or
encumbrance of any kind (including any conditional sale or other title retention
agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, and any agreement to give any
security interest).
"Majority Benefited Parties" means (a) the Required Lenders under the
Credit Agreement, and (b) Noteholders holding (or representing) at least 51% of
the outstanding principal amount of the Senior Notes, each voting as a separate
class, provided that if at any time the amount of the Credit Obligations or the
aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Senior Notes represents less than
5% of the sum of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the indebtedness
evidenced by the Senior Notes and the amount of the Credit Obligations, then
"Majority Benefited Parties" shall mean Benefited Parties, considered as a
single class, holding more than 50% of the sum of (i) the outstanding principal
amount of the Senior Notes, plus (ii) the outstanding amount of the Credit
Obligations. Determination of the "amount of the Credit Obligations" shall be
based on the commitments of the Lenders; provided that if an Event of Default
shall exist such determination shall be based on the amount of the outstanding
Credit Obligations.
"Non-Directing Party" means, with respect to any particular
instruction given to the Collateral Agent, each Party (and each Benefited Party
represented by such Party) that has not given or agreed with such instruction
given to the Collateral Agent.
"Note Agreement" has the meaning ascribed to that term in the recitals
hereto.
"Noteholder Documents" means (i) the Note Agreement; (ii) the Senior
Notes; (iii) the Noteholder Guaranties; and (iv) the Noteholder Security
Documents.
"Noteholder Guaranties" has the meaning ascribed to that term in the
recitals hereto.
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"Noteholder Security Documents" means any security agreement, hypothec,
mortgage, deed of trust, pledge agreement or other agreement or instrument
pursuant to which any Obligor grants a Lien to secure the Senior Note
Obligations.
"Noteholders" has the meaning ascribed to that term in the recitals
hereto.
"Obligors" has the meaning ascribed to that term in the recitals
hereto.
"Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of an attorney or firm of
attorneys which is not an employee of the Person requesting such opinion or any
affiliate of such Person but which may be outside counsel engaged or retained by
such Person, a copy of which opinion is furnished to each Benefited Party.
"Party" has the meaning ascribed to that term in the recitals hereto.
"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, trust or other entity.
"Preferential Payment" means any payments (including payments from any
Subsidiary Guarantor) or Proceeds from any Obligor or any other source with
respect to the Benefited Obligations (including from the exercise of any
set-off) which are:
(i) received by a Benefited Party within 90 days prior to the
commencement of a Bankruptcy Proceeding with respect to any Obligor, or
the acceleration of any Senior Notes or the Credit Obligations, and
which payment reduces the amount of the Benefited Obligations owed to
such Benefited Party as of the date of commencement of such Bankruptcy
Proceedings or the date of such acceleration below the amount owed to
such Benefited Party as of the 90th day prior to such occurrence, or
(ii) received by a Benefited Party (A) within 90 days prior to
the occurrence of any other Event of Default which has not been waived
or cured within 45 days after the occurrence thereof and which payment
reduces the amount of the Benefited Obligations owed to such Benefited
Party as of the date of occurrence of such Event of Default below the
amount owed to such Benefited Party as of the 90th day prior to the
occurrence of such Event of Default or (B) within 45 days after the
occurrence of such Event of Default, or
(iii) received by a Benefited Party after the occurrence of a
Special Event of Default (except as provided in Section 5(b)) and such
payment reduces the amount of the Benefited Obligations owed to such
Party as of the date of the occurrence of such Special Event of
Default.
"Proceeds" has the meaning assigned to it under the Code and, in any
event, includes, but is not limited to, (a) any and all proceeds of any
collection, sale or other disposition of the Collateral, (b) any and all amounts
from time to time paid or payable under or in connection with
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any of the Collateral and (c) amounts collected by the Collateral Agent or any
Lender by way of off-set, deduction or counterclaim.
"Required Lenders" means those Lenders having aggregate percentages of
the revolving loan commitments under the Credit Agreement entitled to direct the
Agent to act or refrain from acting in its capacity as agent under the Credit
Agreement.
"Required Noteholders" means, with respect to any particular Event of
Default which shall at the time exist under any Note Agreement, the percentage
of Noteholders required to waive such Event of Default under the provisions of
such Note Agreement or, if the Senior Notes under the applicable Note Agreement
shall have been accelerated, the percentage of Noteholders required to rescind
such acceleration under the provisions of such Note Agreement.
"Security Documents" means the Bank Security Documents and the
Noteholder Security Documents.
"Senior Debt" means debt for borrowed money, including Senior Notes
issued after the date of this Agreement but excluding debt outstanding under the
Credit Agreement, which is not subordinated in right of payment to any other
obligation of the Issuer.
"Senior Note Obligations" means all outstanding and unpaid obligations
of every nature of the Obligors from time to time to the Noteholders under the
Noteholder Documents, including, without limitation, the Acceleration Premium
Obligations and all fees, collection costs and other expenses otherwise accruing
under the Noteholder Documents.
"Senior Notes" means all senior notes issued pursuant to the Note
Agreement.
"Special Event of Default" shall mean (i) the commencement of a
Bankruptcy Proceeding with respect to any Obligor, (ii) any other Event of
Default which has not been waived or cured within 45 days after the occurrence
thereof, or (iii) the acceleration of any Senior Notes or the Credit
Obligations.
"Special Trust Account" shall mean that certain interest bearing trust
account maintained by the Collateral Agent for the purpose of receiving and
holding Preferential Payments.
"Subsidiary Guarantor" has the meaning ascribed to that term in the
recitals hereto.
"Successor Credit Agreement" shall mean any replacement, refinancing or
restructuring of the Existing Credit Agreement; provided that each Successor
Lender thereunder or an agent acting on behalf of all such Successor Lenders has
executed an acknowledgment to this Agreement in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit A.
"Successor Lenders" has the meaning ascribed to that term in the
recitals hereto.
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SECTION 2. APPOINTMENT OF COLLATERAL AGENT.
Agent and each Noteholder hereby acknowledges that it has appointed
Bank of America, N.A. to serve as the Collateral Agent and authorized the
Collateral Agent to act as agent for the Benefited Parties for the purposes of
executing and delivering on behalf of the Benefited Parties the Security
Documents and, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, enforcing the
Benefited Parties' rights in respect of the Collateral and the obligations of
the Obligors under the Security Documents.
SECTION 3. DECISIONS RELATING TO ADMINISTRATION AND EXERCISE OF REMEDIES
VESTED IN THE MAJORITY BENEFITED PARTIES.
(a) The Collateral Agent agrees that it will not commence Enforcement
without the written approval of the Majority Benefited Parties. The Collateral
Agent agrees to administer the Security Documents and the Collateral and to make
such demands and give such notices under the Security Documents as the Majority
Benefited Parties may request in writing, and to take such action to enforce the
Security Documents and to realize upon, collect and dispose of the Collateral or
any portion thereof as may be directed in writing by the Majority Benefited
Parties; provided that the Collateral Agent shall not be required to take any
action (i) that is in the Opinion of Counsel contrary to law or to the terms of
this Agreement or the Security Documents, or that would in the Opinion of
Counsel subject the Collateral Agent or any of its officers, employees, agents
or directors to liability, and (ii) until the Collateral Agent shall be
indemnified to its reasonable satisfaction by one or more of the Benefited
Parties against any and all loss, cost, expense or liability in connection
therewith.
(b) Each Party agrees that the Collateral Agent shall act as the
Majority Benefited Parties may request (regardless of whether any individual
Party or Benefited Party agrees, disagrees or abstains with respect to such
request), that the Collateral Agent shall have no liability for acting in
accordance with such request (provided such action does not conflict with the
express terms of this Agreement) and that no Directing Party or Non-Directing
Party shall have any liability to any Non-Directing Party or Directing Party,
respectively, for any such request. The Collateral Agent shall give prompt
notice to the Non-Directing Parties of action taken pursuant to the instructions
of the Majority Benefited Parties to enforce any Security Document; provided,
however, that the failure to give any such notice shall not impair the right of
the Collateral Agent to take any such action or the validity or enforceability
under this Agreement of the action so taken. Notwithstanding anything herein to
the contrary, the Majority Benefited Parties shall agree to release the
Collateral from the security interests granted for the benefit of any
Non-Directing Party only if the Collateral Agent is concurrently releasing the
security interest granted with respect to such Collateral for all Benefited
Parties having a security interest in such Collateral.
(c) Each Party agrees that the only right of a Non-Directing Party
under the Security Documents is for Benefited Obligations held by such
Non-Directing Party to be secured by the Collateral for the period and to the
extent provided in the Security Documents and in this Agreement and to receive
their pro rata share of the Proceeds of the Collateral, if any, to the extent
and at the time provided in the respective Security Documents and in this
Agreement.
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(d) The Collateral Agent may at any time request approval from the
Majority Benefited Parties as to any course of action or other matter relating
hereto or any Security Document. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement
or the Security Documents, directions given by the Majority Benefited Parties to
the Collateral Agent hereunder shall be in writing and binding on all Benefited
Parties, including all Non-Directing Parties, for all purposes.
(e) Nothing contained in this Agreement shall affect the rights of any
Party to give the Issuer or any other Obligor notice of any default, accelerate
or make demand for payment of their respective Benefited Obligations under the
Financing Agreements. If the Majority Benefited Parties instruct the Collateral
Agent to take any action, commence any proceedings or otherwise proceed against
the Collateral or enforce any Security Documents, and such action or proceedings
are or may be defective without the joinder of all Parties, then all Parties
shall join in such actions or proceedings. Each Party agrees not to take any
action to enforce any term or provision of the Security Documents (other than
the Guaranties) or to enforce any of its rights in respect of the Collateral
except through the Collateral Agent in accordance with this Agreement.
(f) If the Collateral Agent has been notified in writing that an Event
of Default has occurred, the Collateral Agent shall notify the Benefited Parties
and may notify the Issuer of such determination. Any Benefited Party which has
actual knowledge of an Event of Default, or facts which indicate that an Event
of Default has occurred, shall deliver to the Collateral Agent a written
statement describing such Event of Default or facts. Failure to do so, however,
does not constitute a waiver of such Event of Default by the Benefited Parties.
Upon receipt of a notice from a Benefited Party of the occurrence of an Event of
Default, the Collateral Agent shall promptly (and in any event no later than
three business days after receipt of such notice in the manner provided in
Section 10(a) hereof) give notice of such Event of Default to all Benefited
Parties.
(g) Unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Collateral Agent may, without the approval of the Benefited Parties as required
herein, release any Collateral under the Security Documents which is permitted
to be sold or disposed of by any Obligor pursuant to the Credit Agreement and
the Note Agreement and execute and deliver such releases as may be necessary to
terminate of record the Benefited Parties' security interest in such Collateral.
So long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and shall be continuing, the
Collateral Agent shall release the Collateral upon the written direction of the
Required Lenders. The Collateral Agent shall not be required to obtain the
approval of the Required Noteholders in connection with the release of the
Collateral unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and shall be
continuing.
(h) The Noteholders shall have the right, without the consent of the
Lenders to amend, supplement, restate or replace (including an increase or
decrease in the principal amount thereof) or waive the terms of the existing
Note Agreement and the Senior Notes without in any way affecting the rights of
the Senior Noteholders under this Agreement. The Lenders shall have the right,
without the consent of the Senior Noteholders to amend, supplement, restate or
replace or waive the terms of the existing Credit Agreement and the Credit
Obligations without in any way affecting the rights of the Lenders under this
Agreement. The Noteholders will furnish a copy of any amendment to the
Noteholder Documents to the Agent promptly after the execution and
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delivery thereof. The Agent will furnish a copy of any amendment to the Bank
Documents to the Noteholders promptly after the execution and delivery thereof.
(i) Neither the Lenders nor the Noteholders shall directly or
indirectly take any action, consent to the taking of any action, or cause or
assist any Person to take any action, to challenge the validity, legality,
perfection, priority or enforcement of the Security Documents or the Liens of
the Security Documents on the Collateral. Subject to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement, neither the Lenders nor the Noteholders shall directly or
indirectly take any action, consent to the taking of any action, or cause or
assist any Person to take any action, to challenge, object to, compete with or
impede in any matter any act taken or proceeding commenced by another Party in
connection with the Enforcement of the Credit Obligations or the Senior Note
Obligations, as the case may be.
SECTION 4. APPLICATION OF MONIES AND PROCEEDS.
(a) Any and all monies and Proceeds received by the Collateral Agent or
a Benefited Party in connection with a demand for payment or an Enforcement and
any Preferential Payments required to be paid to all Benefited Parties in
accordance with the provisions of Section 5, shall be delivered to the
Collateral Agent and applied promptly by the Collateral Agent as follows:
FIRST: To the payment of the reasonable costs and expenses of
such sale, collection or other realization, including reasonable fees
and expenses of counsel, and all reasonable expenses, liabilities and
advances made or incurred by the Collateral Agent in connection
therewith;
SECOND: To the ratable payment of the Benefited Obligations
then due and owing by such Obligor; provided that with respect to
Benefited Obligations consisting of the undrawn amounts of outstanding
Letters of Credit, payment shall be made to the Collateral Agent, to be
retained as Collateral, for the ratable portion of the Benefited
Obligations consisting of such undrawn amounts of outstanding Letters
of Credit (provided that (i) if any such Letter of Credit is drawn
upon, the Collateral Agent shall pay to the Benefited Party that issued
such Letter of Credit the ratable portion of the amount of cash held as
Collateral therefor pursuant to this clause which is allocable to the
amount drawn upon such Letter of Credit; and (ii) if and to the extent
that any such Letter of Credit shall expire or terminate, the amount of
cash held as Collateral therefor pursuant to this clause shall be
applied in accordance with this subsection 4(a)), calculated in
accordance with the provisions of subsection 4(b); and
THIRD: After payment in full of all Benefited Obligations, to
the payment to or upon the order of Obligors, or to whomsoever may be
lawfully entitled to receive the same or as a court of competent
jurisdiction may direct, of any surplus then remaining from such
Proceeds.
Until such monies or Proceeds are so applied, the Collateral Agent shall hold
such monies or Proceeds in its custody in accordance with its regular procedures
for handling deposited funds.
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(b) Any monies received by the Collateral Agent from any Obligor under
the Financing Agreements in connection with a demand for payment or an
Enforcement (including, without limitation, any Proceeds received by the
Collateral Agent in respect of the Collateral) and any Preferential Payments
(net of any amounts applied in accordance with Section 4(a) FIRST) shall be
applied in accordance with the priority set forth in Section 4(a) SECOND so that
each Benefited Party shall receive payment of its proportionate amount of all
such Proceeds. Payment shall be based upon the proportion which the amount of
such Benefited Obligations of such Benefited Party bears to the total amount of
all Benefited Obligations of all such Benefited Parties, including, without
limitation, Hedging Exposure to any Lender. For purposes of determining the
proportionate amounts of all Benefited Obligations sharing in any such
distribution, (i) the amount of the outstanding Credit Obligations shall be
deemed to be the principal amount of the Credit Obligations then outstanding and
all accrued interest and fees with respect thereto, and (ii) the amount of the
outstanding Senior Note Obligations shall be deemed to be the principal amount
of the Senior Notes then outstanding plus all accrued interest and fees with
respect thereto including, without limitation, the Acceleration Premium
Obligations, and (iii) the amount of the outstanding Hedging Exposure shall be
deemed to be the amount of Obligor's obligations then due and payable (exclusive
of expenses or similar liabilities, but including early termination payments
then due) in connection with any Hedging Transaction and all accrued interest
and fees with respect thereto.
(c) Payments by the Collateral Agent in respect of (i) the Credit
Obligations shall be made to the Agent for distribution to the Lenders in
accordance with the Credit Agreement; (ii) the Senior Note Obligations shall be
made as directed in writing by the Noteholder to whom such Senior Note
Obligations are owed; and (iii) Hedging Exposure shall be made as directed by
the Lender to which such is owed.
(d) Such monies or Proceeds received by each Benefited Party under this
Section shall be applied on the Benefited Obligations, first to accrued interest
on such Benefited Obligations, second to the Acceleration Premium Obligations
and fees then due and owing, and third to the unpaid principal amount of the
Benefited Obligations and Hedging Exposure held by such Benefited Party.
SECTION 5. PREFERENTIAL PAYMENTS AND SPECIAL TRUST ACCOUNT.
(a) The Collateral Agent shall give each Benefited Party a written
notice (a "Notice of Special Default") promptly, but no later than, three
business days after being notified in writing by a Benefited Party that a
Special Event of Default has occurred. After the receipt of such Notice of
Special Default, all Preferential Payments other than those payments received
pursuant to Section 5(b) shall be deposited into the Special Trust Account. Each
Benefited Party agrees that no Event of Default shall occur as a result of
payments so made on a timely basis to the Collateral Agent.
(b) If (i) such Special Event of Default is waived by the Required
Lenders or the Required Noteholders, or both, as the case may be, and if no
other Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (ii) such Special Event
of Default is cured by the Obligors or by any waiver, or amendment of the Credit
Agreement or the Note Agreement, as the case may be, and if no other
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14
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or (iii) the Benefited
Obligations have not been accelerated and the Majority Benefited Parties have
not instructed the Collateral Agent to seek the appointment of a receiver,
commence litigation against any Obligor, liquidate the Collateral, commence a
Bankruptcy Proceeding against any Obligor, seize Collateral, or exercise other
remedies of similar character prior to the 90th day following such Special Event
of Default, the Collateral Agent thereupon shall return all amounts, together
with their pro rata share of interest earned thereon, held in the Special Trust
Account representing payment of any Benefited Obligations to the Benefited Party
initially entitled thereto, and no payments thereafter received by a Benefited
Party shall constitute a Preferential Payment by reason of such cured or waived
Special Event of Default. No payment returned to a Benefited Party for which
such Benefited Party has been obligated to make a deposit into the Special Trust
Account shall thereafter ever be characterized as a Preferential Payment. If the
Special Event of Default is an Event of Default under the terms of the Credit
Agreement and the Note Agreement, the Collateral Agent shall not return any
payments to the Benefited Parties pursuant to (i) above unless the Required
Lenders and the Required Noteholders have each waived such Special Event of
Default.
(c) Each Benefited Party agrees that upon the occurrence of a Special
Event of Default it shall (i) promptly notify the Collateral Agent of the
receipt of any Preferential Payments, (ii) hold such amounts in trust for the
Benefited Parties and act as agent of the Benefited Parties during the time any
such amounts are held by it, and (iii) deliver to the Collateral Agent such
amounts for deposit into the Special Trust Account.
(d) If the Benefited Obligations have been accelerated or the Majority
Benefited Parties have instructed the Collateral Agent to commence Enforcement
or commence a Bankruptcy Proceeding against any Obligor, then all funds,
together with interest earned thereon, held in the Special Trust Account and all
subsequent Preferential Payments shall be applied in accordance with the
provisions of Section 4(a) above.
SECTION 6. INFORMATION.
If, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Collateral
Agent proceeds to enforce any Security Document or to collect, sell, otherwise
dispose of or take any other action with respect to any of such agreements or
the Collateral or any portion thereof or proposes to take any other action
pursuant to or contemplated by this Agreement, the Parties hereto agree as
follows:
(a) Each Lender shall (i) promptly from time to time, upon the
written request of the Collateral Agent, notify the Collateral Agent of
the outstanding Credit Obligations as at such date as the Collateral
Agent may specify; and (ii) promptly from time to time thereafter
notify the Collateral Agent of any payment received by such Lender to
be applied to satisfy Credit Obligations. Each Lender shall certify as
to such amounts and the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to rely
conclusively upon such certification.
(b) Each Noteholder shall (i) promptly from time to time, upon
the written request of the Collateral Agent, notify the Collateral
Agent of the outstanding Senior Note Obligations owed to such
Noteholder as at such date as the Collateral Agent may
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15
specify; (ii) promptly from time to time, upon the written request of
the Collateral Agent, notify the Collateral Agent of the amount that
would be payable as a "Make Whole Amount" under the Note Agreement upon
acceleration of such Noteholder's Senior Notes or any successor
provision thereto if such "Make Whole Amount" were payable as of such
date as the Collateral Agent may specify and (iii) promptly from time
to time thereafter, notify the Collateral Agent of any payment received
thereafter by such Noteholder to be applied to the principal of or
interest or "Make Whole Amount" on the Senior Note Obligations owing to
such Noteholder. Each Noteholder shall certify as to such amounts and
the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to rely conclusively upon such
certification.
(c) Each Lender party to a Hedging Transaction shall (i)
promptly from time to time, upon the written request of the Collateral
Agent, notify the Collateral Agent of the notional amount under such
Hedging Transaction and the amount payable by any Obligor upon early
termination of such Hedging Transaction at the date of termination as
fixed by such Interest Rate Protection Agreement and (ii) promptly from
time to time thereafter notify the Collateral Agent of any payment
received by such Lender to be applied to amounts due upon early
termination of such Hedging Transaction. Such Lender shall certify as
to such amounts and the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to rely
conclusively upon such certification.
SECTION 7. ADDITIONAL PARTIES.
(a) The Issuer may enter into one or more Successor Credit Agreements
and such Successor Credit Agreement shall be secured by the Collateral as
provided herein and in the Security Documents; provided that each Successor
Lender party to such Successor Credit Agreement, or the agent on behalf of all
such Successor Lenders to such Successor Credit Agreement, shall sign an
acknowledgment in the form of Exhibit A attached to this Agreement, by which
each such Successor Lender agrees to be bound by the terms of this Agreement,
and by delivering a signed acknowledgment thereof executed by the Obligors to
the Collateral Agent; and provided further that on the date of execution and
delivery of such Successor Credit Agreement, and after giving effect to the
indebtedness outstanding thereunder and the application of the proceeds
therefrom, such indebtedness would be permitted by the Note Agreement.
(b) The Issuer may enter into one or more supplements to the Note
Agreement and the Senior Notes issued pursuant thereto shall be secured by the
Collateral as provided herein and in the Security Documents; provided that each
Noteholder party to such Supplement, shall sign an acknowledgment in the form of
Exhibit B attached to this Agreement, by which each such Noteholder agrees to be
bound by the terms of this Agreement, and by delivering a signed acknowledgment
thereof executed by the Obligors to the Collateral Agent; and provided further
that on the date of issuance of such additional Senior Notes, the incurrence by
the Issuer of such indebtedness would not constitute an Event of Default under
the Credit Agreement.
(c) In the case of any Successor Credit Agreement, the Collateral Agent
shall not be required to release any Collateral to any successor Collateral
Agent unless the Credit Obligations
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16
in respect of the outstanding Credit Agreement shall have been paid in full or
provision for such payment shall have been made which is satisfactory to the
Required Lenders and the Required Noteholders.
SECTION 8. DISCLAIMERS, INDEMNITY, ETC.
(a) The Collateral Agent shall have no duties or responsibilities as a
trustee except those expressly set forth in this Agreement and the Security
Documents. The Collateral Agent shall not be responsible to any Benefited Party
for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties contained in any
Financing Agreement or in any certificate or other document referred to or
provided for in, or received by any of them under, any Financing Agreement, or
for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or
sufficiency of any Financing Agreement or any other document referred to or
provided for therein or any Lien under any of the Security Documents or the
perfection or priority of any such Lien or for any failure by any Obligor, any
Benefited Party or any other Person to perform any of its respective obligations
under any Financing Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, the Collateral
Agent shall not be required to take any action under any Security Document,
including, without limitation, any action to perfect any security interests
granted in the Collateral pursuant to the Security Documents or to administer
any Collateral unless instructed to do so by the Majority Benefited Parties.
Neither the Collateral Agent nor any of its directors, officers, employees or
agents shall be liable or responsible for any action taken or omitted to be
taken by it or them hereunder or in connection herewith, except for the gross
negligence or willful misconduct of any such Person.
(b) The Collateral Agent shall be entitled to rely upon any
certification, notice or other communication (including any thereof by telephone
or telecopy) believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed or
sent by or on behalf of the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and
statements of independent legal counsel, independent accountants and other
experts selected by the Collateral Agent. As to any matters not expressly
provided for by this Agreement, the Collateral Agent shall in all cases be fully
protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, hereunder in accordance with
instructions signed by the Majority Benefited Parties, and such instructions of
the Majority Benefited Parties, and any action taken or failure to act pursuant
thereto, shall be binding on all Parties, Directing Parties and Non-Directing
Parties.
(c) The Benefited Parties agree that they will indemnify the Collateral
Agent in its capacity as the Collateral Agent, ratably in accordance with the
amount of the Benefited Obligations held by such Benefited Parties to the extent
neither reimbursed by Obligors under the Security Documents nor reimbursed out
of any Proceeds pursuant to clause FIRST of Section 4(a) hereof, for any and all
liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits,
costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever that may be
imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Collateral Agent in any way
relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any of the Security Documents or
the enforcement of any of the terms of any thereof, including fees and expenses
of counsel (including the allocated cost of internal counsel); provided,
however, that no such Benefited Party shall be liable for any such payment to
the extent the obligation to make such payment is found in a final judgment by a
court of competent jurisdiction to have arisen solely from the Collateral
Agent's gross negligence or willful misconduct.
-14-
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(d) Except for action expressly required of the Collateral Agent
hereunder, the Collateral Agent shall, notwithstanding anything to the contrary
in Section 8(c) hereof, in all cases be fully justified in failing or refusing
to act hereunder unless it shall be further indemnified to its reasonable
satisfaction by the Parties against any and all liability and expense that may
be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action.
(e) The Collateral Agent may deem and treat the payee of any promissory
note or other evidence of indebtedness or obligations relating to any Benefited
Obligation as the owner thereof for all purposes hereof unless and until a
written notice of the assignment or transfer thereof, signed by such payee and
in form reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, shall have been
delivered to the Collateral Agent. Any request, authority or consent of any
Person who at the time of making such request or giving such authority or
consent is the holder of any such note or other evidence of indebtedness or
obligations shall be conclusive and binding on any subsequent holder, transferee
or assignee of such note or other evidence of indebtedness or obligations and of
any note or notes or other evidences of indebtedness or obligations issued in
exchange therefor.
(f) Except as expressly provided herein and in the Security Documents,
the Collateral Agent shall have no duty to take any affirmative steps with
respect to the administration or collection of amounts payable in respect of the
Security Documents or the Collateral. The Collateral Agent shall incur no
liability (except to the extent the actions or omissions of the Collateral Agent
in connection therewith constitute gross negligence or willful misconduct) as a
result of any sale of any Collateral, whether at any public or private sale.
(g) The Collateral Agent may resign at any time by giving at least 30
days' notice thereof to the Parties (such resignation to take effect upon the
acceptance by a successor Collateral Agent of any appointment as the Collateral
Agent hereunder) and the Collateral Agent may be removed as the Collateral Agent
at any time by the Majority Benefited Parties; provided that if an Event of
Default shall exist such removal may be effected by either (1) the Required
Lenders or (2) the Required Noteholders. In the event of any such resignation or
removal of the Collateral Agent, the Majority Benefited Parties shall thereupon
have the right to appoint a successor Collateral Agent which is not a Benefited
Party. If no successor Collateral Agent shall have been so appointed by the
Majority Benefited Parties and shall have accepted such appointment within 30
days after the notice of the intent of the Collateral Agent to resign or the
removal of the Collateral Agent, then the retiring Collateral Agent may, on
behalf of the other Parties, appoint a successor Collateral Agent. Any successor
Collateral Agent appointed pursuant to this clause shall be a commercial bank or
other financial institution organized under the laws of the United States of
America or any state thereof having (1) a combined capital and surplus of at
least $250,000,000 and (2) a rating upon its long-term senior unsecured
indebtedness of "A-2" or better by ▇▇▇▇▇'▇ Investors Service, Inc. or "A" or
better by Standard & Poor's Corporation.
Upon the acceptance by a successor Collateral Agent of any appointment
as the Collateral Agent hereunder, such successor Collateral Agent shall
thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges
and duties of the retiring or removed Collateral Agent, and the retiring or
removed Collateral Agent shall thereupon be discharged
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from its duties and obligations hereunder. After any retiring or removed
Collateral Agent's resignation or removal hereunder as the Collateral Agent, the
provisions of this Section 8 shall continue in effect for its benefit in respect
of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was acting as the
Collateral Agent.
(h) In no event shall the Collateral Agent or any Party be liable or
responsible for any funds or investments of funds held by the Obligors or any of
their Affiliates.
(i) With respect to its pro rata share of the Benefited Obligations,
Bank of America, N.A. (or its successor as the Collateral Agent), in its
capacity as Lender shall have and may exercise the same rights and powers
hereunder and is subject to the same obligations and liabilities as and to the
extent set forth herein for any other Benefited Party, all as if Bank of
America, N.A. were not appointed as the Collateral Agent pursuant hereto. The
terms "Benefited Parties," "Lenders" or "Required Lenders" or any similar terms
shall, unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include the Collateral
Agent or any Affiliate (or its successor as the Collateral Agent) in its
capacity as Lender and in its individual capacity as a Benefited Party, Lender
or one of the Required Lenders. Bank of America, N.A. and its Affiliates may
lend money to, and generally engage in any kind of business with, any Obligor as
if Bank of America, N.A. were not acting as the Collateral Agent pursuant hereto
and without any duty to account therefor to the Benefited Parties. Without
limiting the foregoing, each Benefited Party acknowledges that (i) Bank of
America, N.A. is both a Lender and an agent under the Credit Agreement and a
collateral agent under the Bank Security Documents, (ii) Bank of America, N.A.
may continue to engage in any credit decisions with respect to the Credit
Agreement and any Hedging Transaction under which it is a Lender without any
duty to account therefor to the Benefited Parties by reason of its appointment
as the Collateral Agent and (iii) Bank of America, N.A. is acting as a
collateral agent under the Noteholders' Security Documents.
(j) Each Party acknowledges that it has, independently and without
reliance upon the Collateral Agent or any other Party and based upon such
documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit
analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement and the other Financing
Agreements to which it is a party. Each Party also acknowledges that it will,
independently and without reliance upon the Collateral Agent or any other Party
and based upon 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 Financing Agreements to which it is a party.
SECTION 9. INVALIDATED PAYMENTS.
If any amount distributed by the Collateral Agent to a Benefited Party
in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement is subsequently required to
be returned or repaid by the Collateral Agent or such Benefited Party to the
Obligors or any Affiliate thereof or their respective representatives or
successors in interest, whether by court order, settlement or otherwise (a
"Repayment Event"), the Collateral Agent shall thereafter apply monies
(including, without limitation, Proceeds) received in a manner consistent with
the terms of this Agreement such that all Benefited Parties receive such portion
of the payments as would have been received had the original payment which gave
rise to such Repayment Event not occurred. If a
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Repayment Event occurs which results in the Collateral Agent being required to
return or repay any amount distributed by it under this Agreement, the Benefited
Party to which such amount was distributed shall, promptly upon its receipt of a
notice thereof from the Collateral Agent, pay the Collateral Agent such amount;
provided, that if any Benefited Party shall fail to promptly pay such amount to
the Collateral Agent, the Collateral Agent may deduct such amount from any
amounts payable thereafter to such Benefited Party under this Agreement.
SECTION 10. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) The Obligors acknowledge that they have actual notice of the terms
of this Agreement, consent hereto, agree to be bound by the terms hereof and
covenant with each of the Parties that they will at all times during the
continuance hereof comply and act in accordance with the terms and provisions of
this Agreement, and cause each of the other Obligors to do so. The Obligors also
acknowledge that the terms of this Agreement are for the sole benefit of the
Lenders and Noteholders, and that nothing in this Agreement shall be construed
as conferring any rights upon the Obligors or any third party.
(b) All notices and other communications provided for herein shall be
in writing and may be sent by overnight air courier, facsimile communication or
United States mail and shall be deemed to have been given when delivered by
overnight air courier, upon receipt of facsimile communication if concurrently
with transmission of such facsimile, a copy thereof shall be sent by overnight
courier to the address specified for such notice or communication, or five
business days after deposit in the United States mail, registered or certified,
with postage prepaid and properly addressed. For the purposes hereof, the
addresses of the Parties hereto (until notice of a change thereof is delivered
as provided in this Section 10(b)) shall (i) in the case of the Collateral Agent
and the Agent, be as set forth under each such Party's name on the signature
pages (including acknowledgments) hereof and (ii) in the case of the
Noteholders, be as set forth in Schedule A to the Note Agreement or any
supplement thereto.
(c) This Agreement may be amended, modified or waived only by an
instrument or instruments in writing signed by the Required Noteholders, Agent
and the Collateral Agent; provided, however, that Section 7 of this Agreement
may not be amended or modified without the written consent of the Issuer.
(d) This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
the Collateral Agent, each Party and their respective successors and assigns. In
the event that the holder of any Credit Obligation or Senior Note shall transfer
such Credit Obligation or Senior Note, it shall promptly so advise the
Collateral Agent and the Issuer. Each transferee of any Credit Obligation or
Senior Note shall take such Credit Obligation or Senior Note subject to the
provisions of this Agreement and to any request made, waiver or consent given or
other action taken or authorized hereunder, by each previous holder of such
Credit Obligation or Senior Note, prior to the receipt by the Collateral Agent
of written notice of such transfer; and, except as expressly otherwise provided
in such notice, the Collateral Agent and the Issuer shall be entitled to assume
conclusively that the transferee named in such notice shall thereafter be vested
with all rights and powers as a Party under this Agreement. Upon the written
request of any Party, the Collateral
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Agent will provide any Party with copies of any written notices of transfer
received pursuant hereto.
(e) This Agreement shall continue to be effective among the Parties
even though a case or proceeding under any bankruptcy or insolvency law or any
proceeding in the nature of a receivership, whether or not under any insolvency
law, shall be instituted with respect to the Issuer or any other Obligor, or any
portion of the property or assets of the Issuer or any other Obligor, and all
actions taken by the Parties with regard to such proceeding shall be by the
Majority Benefited Parties; provided, however, that nothing herein shall be
interpreted to preclude any Party from filing a proof of claim with respect to
its Benefited Obligations or from casting its vote, or abstaining from voting,
for or against confirmation of a plan of reorganization in a case of bankruptcy,
insolvency or similar law in its sole discretion; provided further that in the
event any Party fails to file a proof of claim, the Collateral Agent may file a
proof of claim on behalf of such party in respect of a Benefited Obligation.
(f) Each Party hereto agrees to do such further acts and things and to
execute and deliver such additional agreements, powers and instruments as any
other Party hereto may reasonably request to carry into effect the terms,
provisions and purposes of this Agreement or to better assure and confirm unto
such other Party hereto its respective rights, powers and remedies hereunder.
(g) This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all
of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument, and any of
the parties hereto may execute this Agreement by signing any such counterpart. A
telecopy of the signature of any party on any counterpart shall be effective as
the signature of the party executing such counterpart for purposes of
effectiveness of this Agreement.
(h) This Agreement shall become effective immediately upon execution by
the Parties and shall continue in full force and effect among the Parties until
one year following the date upon which all Benefited Obligations are irrevocably
paid in full and all commitments under the Credit Agreement have been
terminated.
(i) THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.
(j) Headings of sections of this Agreement have been included herein
for convenience only and should not be considered in interpreting this
Agreement.
(k) Nothing in this Agreement or the Security Documents, expressed or
implied, is intended or shall be construed to confer upon or give to any Person
other than the Benefited Parties, any right, remedy or claim under or by reason
of any such agreement or any covenant, condition or stipulation herein or
therein contained.
(l) In case any provision in or obligation under this Agreement shall
be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity, legality
and enforceability of the remaining provisions or obligations, or of such
provision or obligation in any other jurisdiction, shall not in any way be
affected or impaired thereby.
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21
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed as of the date and year first written above.
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Collateral
Agent
By
-----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
Title: Senior Vice President
Notice Address:
Bank of America, N.A.
Attn: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
Telecopier No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., individually
and as Administrative Agent for the
Lenders
By
-----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
Title: Senior Vice President
Notice Address:
Bank of America, N.A.
Attn: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
Telecopier No.: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
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-----------------------------------,
as a Noteholder
By
-----------------------------------
Name:
Title:
By
-----------------------------------
Name:
Title:
-----------------------------------,
as a Noteholder
By
-----------------------------------
Name:
Title:
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23
The undersigned (the "Obligors") hereby acknowledge and agree to the
foregoing terms and provisions contained in this Intercreditor Agreement. By
executing this Intercreditor Agreement, the Obligors agree to be bound by the
provisions thereof as they relate to the relative rights of the Benefited
Parties as among such Benefited Parties; provided, however, that nothing in this
Intercreditor Agreement shall amend, modify, change or supersede the respective
terms of the Financing Agreements as between the Benefited Parties or any of
them and the Obligors. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the
terms of this Intercreditor Agreement and the Financing Agreements, the
Financing Agreements shall govern as between the Benefited Parties thereto and
the Obligors further agree that the terms of this Intercreditor Agreement shall
not give the Obligors any substantive rights vis a vis any Benefited Party or
the Collateral Agent and that it shall not use the violation of this
Intercreditor Agreement by any of the Parties hereto as a defense to the
enforcement by any Benefited Party under any Financing Agreement, nor assert
such violation as a counterclaim or basis for set-off or recoupment against any
of them. The Obligors further acknowledge and agree that the scope of the agency
granted by this Intercreditor Agreement to the Collateral Agent hereunder is
strictly limited by this Intercreditor Agreement and is a separate and distinct
grant from the grants of agency contained in the Credit Agreement and the
Noteholders' Security Agreement. By its execution hereof, the Obligors hereby
represent to each of the Benefited Parties and the Collateral Agent that the
execution, delivery and performance by the Obligors of the Note Agreement and
the other Noteholder Documents does not constitute a violation of any of the
provisions of the Credit Agreement or other Bank Documents.
[SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS] QUANTA SERVICES, INC.
By By
----------------------------- ---------------------------
Title Title
------------------------ ----------------------
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FORM OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO
INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT FOR SUCCESSOR LENDERS
Reference is hereby made to the Intercreditor Agreement dated as of
March 23, 2000 (the "Agreement"), among Bank of America, N.A., as Agent for the
Lenders party to the Credit Agreement and Bank of America, N.A., as the
Collateral Agent, and the Noteholders party thereto and certain other Parties,
if any, thereto. The undersigned Successor Lender or its agent has entered into
a Credit Agreement dated as of _______________ with Quanta Services, Inc. and
desires the Credit Obligations with respect thereto to be secured by the
Security Documents and constitute Benefited Obligations under the Agreement. The
undersigned has obtained the consent of the Collateral Agent under the Agreement
and acknowledges the terms of the Agreement and agrees to be bound thereby.
,
--------------------------------------
as a Successor Lender
By
------------------------------------
Title
----------------------------------
Date
-----------------------------------
Notice Address:
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
Acknowledged and Agreed:
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Collateral
Agent
By
------------------------------------
Title
----------------------------------
Date
-----------------------------------
QUANTA SERVICES, INC.
By
------------------------------------
Title
----------------------------------
Date
-----------------------------------
--------------------------------------
(Other Obligors)
By
------------------------------------
Title
----------------------------------
Date
-----------------------------------
EXHIBIT A
(to Intercreditor Agreement)
25
FORM OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO
INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT FOR ADDITIONAL NOTEHOLDERS
Reference is hereby made to the Intercreditor Agreement dated as of
March 23, 2000 (the "Agreement"), among Bank of America, N.A., as Agent for the
Lenders party to the Credit Agreement referenced therein and Bank of America,
N.A., as the Collateral Agent, and the Noteholders party thereto and certain
other Parties, if any, thereto. The undersigned has entered into a supplement to
the Note Agreement with Quanta Services, Inc. and desires the issued thereunder
to be secured by the Security Documents and constitute Benefited Obligations
under the Agreement. The undersigned has obtained the consent of the Collateral
Agent under the Agreement and acknowledges the terms of the Agreement and agrees
to be bound thereby.
,
--------------------------------------
as a Successor Lender
By
------------------------------------
Title
----------------------------------
Date
-----------------------------------
Notice Address:
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
Acknowledged and Agreed:
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Collateral
Agent
By
------------------------------------
Title
----------------------------------
Date
-----------------------------------
QUANTA SERVICES, INC.
By
------------------------------------
Title
----------------------------------
Date
-----------------------------------
--------------------------------------
(Other Obligors)
By
------------------------------------
Title
----------------------------------
Date
-----------------------------------
EXHIBIT B
(to Intercreditor Agreement)
