EXECUTION COPY
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THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
dated as of October 20, 2004,
(as amended by the First Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Credit
Agreement dated as of March 17, 2005,
and as further amended by the Second Amendment to Third Amended and
Restated Credit Agreement dated as of August 25, 2005)
by and among
SUBURBAN PROPANE, L.P.,
as Borrower,
the Lenders referred to herein,
WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Administrative Agent,
Swingline Lender and an Issuing Lender,
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. (successor by merger to Fleet National Bank),
as Syndication Agent,
CALYON NEW YORK BRANCH,
as Syndication Agent and an Issuing Lender,
CITIBANK, FSB,
as Documentation Agent,
and
NATIONAL CITY BANK,
as Documentation Agent
WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC
as Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Book Manager
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
PAGE
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS............................................................................................1
SECTION 1.1 Definitions..................................................................................1
SECTION 1.2 Other Definitions and Provisions............................................................23
SECTION 1.3 Accounting Terms............................................................................23
SECTION 1.4 UCC Terms...................................................................................24
SECTION 1.5 Rounding ...................................................................................24
SECTION 1.6 References to Agreement and Laws............................................................24
SECTION 1.7 Times of Day................................................................................24
SECTION 1.8 Letter of Credit Amounts....................................................................24
ARTICLE II REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY............................................................................24
SECTION 2.1 Revolving Credit Loans......................................................................24
SECTION 2.2 Swingline Loans.............................................................................25
ARTICLE IIIA TERM LOAN FACILITY.................................................................................31
SECTION 3A.1 Term Loan...................................................................................31
SECTION 3A.2 Procedure for Advance of Term Loan..........................................................31
SECTION 3A.3 Termination of the Term Loan Commitment.....................................................32
SECTION 3A.4 Repayment of Term Loan......................................................................32
SECTION 3A.5 Prepayments of Term Loan....................................................................32
ARTICLE IV GENERAL LOAN PROVISIONS..............................................................................33
SECTION 4.1 Procedure for Advances of Loans.............................................................33
SECTION 4.2 Repayment of Revolving Credit Loans.........................................................34
SECTION 4.4 Repayment; Limited Incurrence during Cleandown Period.......................................35
SECTION 4.5 Permanent Reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitment......................................36
SECTION 4.6 Termination of Revolving Credit Facility....................................................36
SECTION 4.7 Interest....................................................................................36
SECTION 4.8 Notice and Manner of Conversion or Continuation of Loans....................................38
SECTION 4.9 Fees .......................................................................................38
SECTION 4.10 Manner of Payment...........................................................................39
SECTION 4.11 Crediting of Payments and Proceeds..........................................................39
SECTION 4.12 Adjustments.................................................................................40
SECTION 4.13 Nature of Obligations of Lenders Regarding Extensions of Credit; Assumption by the
Administrative Agent .....................................................................41
SECTION 4.14 Changed Circumstances.......................................................................41
SECTION 4.15 Increased Costs.............................................................................42
SECTION 4.16 Indemnity...................................................................................43
SECTION 4.17 Taxes ......................................................................................44
SECTION 4.18 Duty to Mitigate; Replacement of Lenders....................................................46
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ARTICLE V CLOSING; CONDITIONS OF CLOSING AND BORROWING..........................................................47
SECTION 5.1 Closing.....................................................................................47
SECTION 5.2 Conditions to Closing and Initial Extensions of Credit......................................47
SECTION 5.3 Conditions to All Extensions of Credit......................................................50
ARTICLE VI REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BORROWER.......................................................50
SECTION 6.1 Representations and Warranties..............................................................50
SECTION 6.2 Survival of Representations and Warranties, Etc.............................................56
ARTICLE VII FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND NOTICES...................................................................57
SECTION 7.1 Financial Statements........................................................................57
SECTION 7.2 Officer's Compliance Certificate............................................................58
SECTION 7.3 Other Reports...............................................................................58
SECTION 7.4 Notice of Litigation and Other Matters......................................................59
SECTION 7.5 Accuracy of Information.....................................................................60
ARTICLE VIII AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS..............................................................................60
SECTION 8.1 Existence; Businesses and Properties........................................................60
SECTION 8.2 Insurance...................................................................................60
SECTION 8.3 Taxes ......................................................................................61
SECTION 8.4 Employee Benefits...........................................................................61
SECTION 8.5 Access to Premises and Records; Confidentiality.............................................61
SECTION 8.6 Compliance with Laws........................................................................61
SECTION 8.7 Additional Guarantors.......................................................................62
SECTION 8.8 Use of Proceeds.............................................................................62
SECTION 8.9 Partnership Documents.......................................................................62
SECTION 8.10 Compliance with Environmental and Safety Laws...............................................62
SECTION 8.11 Preparation of Environmental Reports........................................................62
SECTION 8.12 Corporate Identity..........................................................................63
SECTION 8.13 Federal Reserve Regulations.................................................................63
SECTION 8.14 Available Cash Reserves.....................................................................63
SECTION 8.15 Further Assurances..........................................................................63
ARTICLE IX FINANCIAL COVENANTS..................................................................................64
SECTION 9.1 Interest Coverage Ratio.....................................................................64
SECTION 9.2 Leverage Ratio..............................................................................64
ARTICLE X NEGATIVE COVENANTS....................................................................................64
SECTION 10.1 Indebtedness................................................................................64
SECTION 10.2 Liens ......................................................................................66
SECTION 10.3 Sale and Lease-Back Transactions............................................................68
SECTION 10.4 Investments, Loans and Advances.............................................................68
SECTION 10.5 Mergers, Consolidations, Sales of Assets and Acquisitions...................................70
SECTION 10.6 Restricted Payments.........................................................................71
SECTION 10.7 Transactions with Affiliates................................................................72
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SECTION 10.8 Business of Borrower and Subsidiaries.......................................................73
SECTION 10.9 Material Agreements; Tax Status.............................................................73
SECTION 10.10 Lease Obligations...........................................................................73
SECTION 10.11 Commodity Hedging Policy....................................................................73
SECTION 10.12 Certain Accounting Changes..................................................................73
SECTION 10.13 Restrictive Agreements......................................................................74
ARTICLE XI DEFAULT AND REMEDIES.................................................................................74
SECTION 11.1 Events of Default...........................................................................74
SECTION 11.2 Remedies ...................................................................................76
SECTION 11.3 Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Non-Waiver; etc.............................................77
ARTICLE XII THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT............................................................................77
SECTION 12.1 Appointment and Authority...................................................................77
SECTION 12.2 Rights as a Lender..........................................................................77
SECTION 12.3 Exculpatory Provisions......................................................................77
SECTION 12.4 Reliance by the Administrative Agent........................................................78
SECTION 12.5 Delegation of Duties........................................................................79
SECTION 12.6 Resignation of Administrative Agent.........................................................79
SECTION 12.7 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders......................................80
SECTION 12.8 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim...............................................80
SECTION 12.9 No Other Duties, etc........................................................................81
ARTICLE XIII MISCELLANEOUS......................................................................................81
SECTION 13.1 Notices ....................................................................................81
SECTION 13.2 Expenses; Indemnity.........................................................................82
SECTION 13.3 Right of Set-off............................................................................84
SECTION 13.4 Governing Law...............................................................................85
SECTION 13.5 Consent to Jurisdiction.....................................................................85
SECTION 13.6 Waiver of Jury Trial........................................................................85
SECTION 13.7 Reversal of Payments........................................................................85
SECTION 13.8 Injunctive Relief; Punitive Damages.........................................................85
SECTION 13.9 Accounting Matters..........................................................................86
SECTION 13.10 Successors and Assigns; Participations......................................................86
SECTION 13.11 Confidentiality.............................................................................89
SECTION 13.12 Amendments, Waivers and Consents............................................................89
SECTION 13.13 Performance of Duties.......................................................................90
SECTION 13.14 All Powers Coupled with Interest............................................................91
SECTION 13.15 Survival of Indemnities.....................................................................91
SECTION 13.16 Titles and Captions.........................................................................91
SECTION 13.17 Severability of Provisions..................................................................91
SECTION 13.18 Counterparts................................................................................91
SECTION 13.19 Term of Agreement...........................................................................91
SECTION 13.20 USA Patriot Act.............................................................................91
SECTION 13.21 Inconsistencies with Other Documents; Independent Effect of Covenants.......................91
SECTION 13.22 Entire Agreement............................................................................92
</TABLE>
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EXHIBITS
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Exhibit A-1 - Form of Revolving Credit Note
Exhibit A-2 - Form of Term Note
Exhibit B - Form of Notice of Borrowing
Exhibit C - Form of Notice of Account Designation
Exhibit D - Form of Notice of Prepayment
Exhibit E - Form of Notice of Conversion/Continuation
Exhibit F - Form of Officer's Compliance Certificate
Exhibit G - Form of Assignment and Assumption
Exhibit H - Form of Guaranty Agreement
SCHEDULES
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Schedule 1.1(b) - Existing Letters of Credit
Schedule 6.1(a) - Jurisdictions of Organization and Qualification
Schedule 6.1(b) - Subsidiaries and Capitalization
Schedule 6.1(m) - Defaults
Schedule 6.1(n) - Employee Relations
Schedule 6.1(u) - Indebtedness and Contingent Obligations
Schedule 8.16 - Commodity Hedging Policy
Schedule 10.2 - Existing Liens
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THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of October 20, 2004
(the "Initial Credit Agreement"), as amended by the First Amendment to Third
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the "First Amendment") dated as of March
17, 2005, and as further amended by the Second Amendment to Third Amended and
Restated Credit Agreement (the "Second Amendment") dated as of August 25, 2005,
by and among SUBURBAN PROPANE, L.P., a limited partnership organized under the
laws of Delaware (the "Borrower"), the Lenders who are or may become a party
hereto, in their capacity as Lenders (the "Initial Lenders") and in such other
capacities as reflected on the signature pages hereto and WACHOVIA BANK,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
Pursuant to the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of
May 8, 2003 (as amended, the "Original Credit Agreement"), by and among the
Borrower, the lenders party thereto (the "Original Lenders") and the
Administrative Agent, the Original Lenders extended certain credit facilities to
the Borrower pursuant to the terms thereof.
Pursuant to the Initial Credit Agreement, the Lenders amended and restated
the Original Credit Agreement.
Pursuant to the First Amendment, the Lenders amended the Initial Credit
Agreement as of the First Amendment Effective Date to (a) provide a term loan
facility in the amount of $125,000,000, (b) permit the prepayment of the Senior
Notes and all Refinancing Notes, and (c) make such other related amendments
necessary for such purposes.
Pursuant to the Second Amendment, the Borrower requested that the Lenders
agree to further amend the Initial Credit Agreement as of the Second Amendment
Effective Date to (a) eliminate the Stand-Alone L/C Facility (as defined in the
Initial Credit Agreement), (b) increase the Revolving Credit Commitment to
$175,000,000, (c) extend the Revolving Credit Termination Date to match the Term
Loan Termination Date and (d) make such other related amendments necessary for
such purposes and, subject to the terms and conditions hereof and in the Second
Amendment, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders have agreed to do so.
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by the parties hereto, such parties
hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1 Definitions. The following terms when used in this Agreement
shall have the meanings assigned to them below:
"Administrative Agent" means Wachovia in its capacity as Administrative
Agent hereunder, and any successor thereto appointed pursuant to Section 12.6.
"Administrative Agent's Office" means the office of the Administrative
Agent specified in or determined in accordance with the provisions of Section
13.1.
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person (other than
a Subsidiary) which directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries,
controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such first
Person or any of its Subsidiaries. The term "control" means the possession,
directly or indirectly, of any other power to direct or cause the direction of
the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting
securities, by contract or otherwise.
"Aggregate Commitment" means the aggregate amount of the Lenders'
Commitments hereunder, as such amount may be modified at any time or from time
to time pursuant to the terms hereof. On the Second Amendment Effective Date,
the Aggregate Commitment shall be Three Hundred Million Dollars ($300,000,000).
"Agreement" means this Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, as
amended by the First Amendment, the Second Amendment and as further amended,
restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
"Applicable Law" means all applicable provisions of constitutions,
statutes, laws, ordinances, rules, treaties, regulations, permits, licenses,
approvals, interpretations and orders of all Governmental Authorities and all
orders and decrees of all courts and arbitrators.
"Applicable Margin" means, for purposes of calculating (a) the Base Rate
and LIBOR Rate for purposes of Section 4.7(a) and (b) the facility fee on the
Revolving Credit Facility for purposes of Section 4.9(a), the corresponding
percentage per annum as set forth below determined by reference to the Leverage
Ratio as of the end of the fiscal quarter immediately preceding the delivery of
the applicable Officer's Compliance Certificate as follows:
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<TABLE>
REVOLVING CREDIT TERM LOAN
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LIBOR RATE + BASE RATE + LIBOR RATE + BASE RATE + REVOLVING
LEVEL LEVERAGE RATIO (%) (%) (%) (%) CREDIT
FACILITY
FEE
(%)
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I Greater than or equal to 2.000 1.000 2.500 1.500 0.500
4.25 to 1.00
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II Greater than or equal to 1.750 0.750 2.250 1.250 0.500
3.75 to 1.00, but less
than 4.25 to 1.00
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III Greater than or equal to 1.625 0.625 2.000 1.000 0.375
3.25 to 1.00, but less
than 3.75 to 1.00
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IV Greater than or equal to 1.375 0.375 1.750 0.750 0.375
2.75 to 1.00, but less
than 3.25 to 1.00
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V Less than 2.75 to 1.00 1.250 0.250 1.625 0.625 0.375
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</TABLE>
Adjustments, if any, in the Applicable Margin shall be made by the
Administrative Agent on the third (3rd) Business Day after receipt by the
Administrative Agent of quarterly financial statements for the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries and the accompanying Officer's Compliance Certificate setting forth
the Leverage Ratio of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the most recent
fiscal quarter end. Subject to Section 4.7(c), in the event the Borrower fails
to deliver such financial statements and certificate within the time required by
Section 7.2, the Applicable Margin shall be the highest Applicable Margin set
forth above until the delivery of such financial statements and Officer's
Compliance Certificate.
"Application" means an application, in the form specified by the Issuing
Lender from time to time, requesting the Issuing Lender to issue a Letter of
Credit.
"Assignment and Assumption" means an assignment and assumption entered into
by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose
consent is required by Section 13.10), and accepted by the Administrative Agent,
in substantially the form of Exhibit G or any other form approved by the
Administrative Agent.
"Available Cash" means, with respect to any fiscal quarter of the Borrower:
(a) the sum of the following, without duplication, (i) all cash and cash
equivalents of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on hand at the end of such
quarter, (ii) all additional cash and cash equivalents of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries on hand on the date of determination of Available Cash with respect
to such quarter resulting from borrowings hereunder subsequent to
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the end of such quarter and (iii) the amount of the Revolving Credit Commitment
available to be borrowed hereunder on the date of determination of Available
Cash, less
(b) the amount of cash reserves that is necessary or appropriate in the
reasonable discretion of the Board of Supervisors of the Borrower to (i) provide
for the proper conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
(including reserves for future capital expenditures) subsequent to such quarter,
(ii) comply with Applicable Law or any loan agreement (including, but not
limited to, this Agreement), security agreement, mortgage, debt instrument or
other agreement or obligation to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is a party
or by which it is bound or its assets are subject and which is permitted by the
terms hereof or (iii) provide funds for distributions to partners of the Parent
and the General Partner in respect of any one or more of the next succeeding
four fiscal quarters; provided that the Board of Supervisors shall not establish
cash reserves pursuant to clause (iii) if the effect of such reserves would be
that the Parent is unable to distribute the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on
the Common Units with respect to such quarter; and provided, further, that
disbursements made or cash reserves established, increased or reduced after the
end of such quarter but on or before the date of determination of Available Cash
with respect to such quarter shall be deemed to have been made, established,
increased or reduced, for purposes of determining Available Cash, within such
quarter if the Board of Supervisors of the Borrower so determines.
In addition, without limitation or duplication of the foregoing, Available
Cash for any fiscal quarter shall reflect reserves equal to (A) 50% of the
interest projected to be paid on any Loans outstanding or projected to be
outstanding hereunder in the next succeeding fiscal quarter and (B) beginning
with a date three fiscal quarters before a scheduled principal payment date on
the Loans, 25% of the aggregate principal amount thereof due on any such payment
date in the third succeeding fiscal quarter, 50% of the aggregate principal
amount due on any such quarterly payment date in the second succeeding fiscal
quarter and 75% of the aggregate principal amount due on any quarterly payment
date in the next succeeding fiscal quarter and (C) the aggregate amount deemed
not to constitute Designated Net Proceeds pursuant to the further proviso
contained in the definition of "Designated Net Proceeds". The foregoing reserves
for amounts to be paid at any time shall be reduced by the amount of the Blocked
Portion then in effect.
"Base Rate" means, at any time, the higher of (a) the Prime Rate or (b) the
Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1%; each change in the Base Rate shall take
effect simultaneously with the corresponding change or changes in the Prime Rate
or the Federal Funds Rate.
"Base Rate Loan" means any Loan bearing interest at a rate based upon the
Base Rate as provided in Section 4.7(a).
"Blocked Portion" has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 2.1(b).
"Board of Supervisors" means, with respect to the Parent or the Borrower,
as the case may be, such Board of Supervisors as defined in the Parent
Partnership Agreement or the Borrower Partnership Agreement, as applicable.
"Borrower" has the meaning assigned thereto in the introductory paragraph
hereto.
4
"Borrower Partnership Agreement" means the Second Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Borrower, dated as of May 26, 1999, as
it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time pursuant
to the terms hereof.
"Business" means the businesses of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.
"Business Day" means (a) for all purposes other than as set forth in clause
(b) below, any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday on which banks
in Charlotte, North Carolina and New York, New York, are open for the conduct of
their commercial banking business, and (b) with respect to all notices and
determinations in connection with, and payments of principal and interest on,
any LIBOR Rate Loan, any day that is a Business Day described in clause (a) and
that is also a day for trading by and between banks in Dollar deposits in the
London interbank market.
"Capital Asset" means, with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries,
any asset that should, in accordance with GAAP, be classified and accounted for
as a capital asset on a Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries.
"Capital Lease" means, with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries,
any lease of any property that should, in accordance with GAAP, be classified
and accounted for as a capital lease on a Consolidated balance sheet of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries.
"Capital Stock" means, with respect to any Person, any and all shares,
interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other
equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity of such Person,
including any preferred stock, any limited or general partnership interest and
any limited liability company membership interest.
"Change in Law" means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of
any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule,
regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or
in the administration, interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental
Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, guideline or directive
(whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority.
"Change in Ownership" means the occurrence, at any time prior to the later
of the Revolving Credit Termination Date or the Term Loan Termination Date, of
any of the following events: (a) any Person or group of Persons, other than
those Persons owning Capital Stock of the General Partner on the Closing Date,
shall acquire, directly or indirectly, (i) more than 50% of the outstanding
Capital Stock of the General Partner entitled to vote in the election or removal
of the members of the Board of Supervisors or (ii) outstanding Capital Stock of
the General Partner entitled to more than 50% of the assets of the General
Partner upon the dissolution or liquidation thereof, (b) the General Partner
shall fail to own directly or indirectly, beneficially and of record, 100% of
the general partner interests in each of the Parent and the Borrower, (c) a
majority of the seats (excluding vacant seats) on the Board of Supervisors of
the Parent or the Borrower should at any time after the Closing Date be occupied
by Persons who were not nominated by the General Partner, by a majority of the
Board of Supervisors of the Parent or the Borrower or by Persons so nominated or
(d) a change in control with respect to the General Partner, the Parent,
5
or the Borrower (or similar event, however denominated) should occur under and
as defined in any indenture or agreement in respect of Indebtedness in an
aggregate outstanding principal amount in excess of $10,000,000 to which the
General Partner, the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary is party.
"Cleandown Period" means a period of thirty (30) consecutive days selected
by the Borrower during each Fiscal Year.
"Closing Date" means the date of this Agreement.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and the rules and
regulations thereunder, each as amended or supplemented from time to time.
"Commitment" means, as to any Lender, on a collective basis, such Lender's
Revolving Credit Commitment and Term Loan Commitment, as set forth in the
Register, as the same may be modified at any time or from time to time pursuant
to the terms hereof.
"Commitment Percentage" means, as to any Lender at any time, such Lender's
Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage or Term Loan Commitment Percentage, as
applicable.
"Commodity Hedging Agreement" means any agreement with respect to a
commodity swap or other agreement regarding the hedging of commodity purchase
and sale exposure executed in connection with hedging the commodity purchase and
sale exposure of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and any confirming letter
executed pursuant to such commodity hedging agreement, all as amended, restated
or otherwise modified.
"Common Units" means Common Units of the Parent representing limited
partner interests in the Parent.
"Consolidated" means, when used with reference to financial statements or
financial statement items of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, such statements
or items on a consolidated basis in accordance with applicable principles of
consolidation under GAAP.
"Consolidated Billing Program" means an accounts receivable billing and
purchasing arrangement entered into between an ESCO and a utility provider
whereby the utility provider performs billing and collection services with
respect to the commodity component of gas or electricity owned by an ESCO and
delivered to the utility's customers.
"Consolidated Net Worth" means, at any date of determination, the total
partners' capital of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at such date, as shown on
the balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, determined on a
Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
"Contingent Obligation" means, with respect to the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, without duplication, any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of
any such Person pursuant to which such Person has directly or indirectly
guaranteed any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person and, without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, any obligation, direct or
6
indirect, contingent or otherwise, of any such Person (a) to purchase or pay (or
advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or
other obligation (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, by
agreement to keep well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to
take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement condition or otherwise) or (b)
entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such
Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof or to protect such
obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part); provided, that
the term Contingent Obligation shall not include endorsements for collection or
deposit in the ordinary course of business.
"Covered Persons" has the meaning assigned thereto in the definition of
Restricted Payment.
"Credit Facilities" means the collective reference to the Revolving Credit
Facility, the L/C Facility, the Term Loan Facility and the Swingline Facility.
"Default" means any of the events specified in Section 11.1, which with the
passage of time, the giving of notice or any other condition, would constitute
an Event of Default.
"Defaulting Lender" means any Lender that (a) has failed to fund any
portion of the Revolving Credit Loans or the Term Loan, participations in L/C
Obligations or participations in Swingline Loans required to be funded by it
hereunder within one Business Day of the date required to be funded by it
hereunder, (b) has otherwise failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent or
any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within one
Business Day of the date when due, unless such amount is the subject of a good
faith dispute, or (c) has been deemed insolvent or become the subject of a
bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding.
"Designated Net Proceeds" means 100% of all proceeds in cash or cash
equivalents (including cash proceeds subsequently received in respect of noncash
consideration initially received), net of selling expenses (including reasonable
broker's fees or commissions, reasonable attorneys' and accountants' fees and
expenses incurred in connection therewith, transfer and similar taxes, the
Borrower's good faith estimate of income taxes incurred in connection with the
receipt of such proceeds and appropriate reserves to be provided by the Borrower
or any Subsidiary as a reserve required in accordance with GAAP against any
liabilities associated with such sale, transfer or other disposition and
retained by the Borrower or such Subsidiary after such sale, transfer or
disposition), from any sale, transfer or other disposition (other than the sale
of inventory in the ordinary course) of any asset or assets of the Borrower or
any Subsidiary (including the sale or issuance of any Capital Stock of any
Subsidiary) to any Person in any transaction, transactions or related series of
transactions; provided, that the first $15,000,000 of such net proceeds received
in any Fiscal Year (the "Exempt Proceeds") shall not constitute Designated Net
Proceeds; provided further, that if the Borrower shall deliver a certificate of
a Responsible Officer to the Administrative Agent promptly following receipt of
any such proceeds in any Fiscal Year in excess of the Exempt Proceeds for such
Fiscal Year certifying that the Borrower intends to use any portion of such
excess proceeds to acquire productive assets within twelve (12) months of
receipt thereof, such portion shall not constitute Designated Net Proceeds
except to the extent not so used within such twelve (12) month period.
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"Designated Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds" means 100% of all
insurance or condemnation proceeds received in cash or cash equivalents, net of
reasonable costs of proceedings in connection therewith and any settlement in
respect thereof, from any damage, destruction, condemnation or other taking
involving insurance or condemnation proceeds in excess of $100,000 with respect
to any single occurrence; provided, that the first $2,500,000 of such net
proceeds received in any Fiscal Year (the "Exempt Insurance/Condemnation
Proceeds") shall not constitute Designated Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds;
provided further, that if the Borrower shall deliver a certificate of a
Responsible Officer to the Administrative Agent promptly following receipt of
any such proceeds in any Fiscal Year in excess of the Exempt
Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds for such Fiscal Year certifying that the
Borrower intends to use any portion of such excess proceeds to restore, modify
or replace the properties or assets in respect of which such insurance or
condemnation proceeds were received within twelve (12) months of such receipt,
such portion shall not constitute Designated Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds
except to the extent not so used within such twelve (12) month period.
"Disputes" has the meaning set forth in Section 13.6.
"Dollars" or "$" means, unless otherwise qualified, dollars in lawful
currency of the United States.
"EBITDA" means, with respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a
Consolidated basis for any period, the Consolidated net income of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries for such period (excluding any after-tax gains or losses
attributable to asset sales not in the ordinary course of business during such
period), computed in accordance with GAAP, plus, to the extent deducted in
computing such Consolidated net income and without duplication, the sum of (a)
income tax expense, (b) Interest Expense, (c) depreciation and amortization
expense, (d) extraordinary losses during such period, (e) the amount of any make
whole or premium paid in connection with the prepayment of the Senior Notes and
the Refinancing Notes, (f) the amount of unamortized origination costs with
respect to the Senior Notes and the Refinancing Notes and (g) other cash
restructuring charges, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $5,000,000 during
the term of the Credit Facilities, minus, to the extent added in computing such
Consolidated net income and without duplication, extraordinary gains and other
non-recurring gains during such period; provided, that (i) for the purposes of
determining EBITDA for any period during which a Permitted Business Acquisition
is consummated, EBITDA shall be adjusted in a manner reasonably satisfactory to
the Administrative Agent to give effect to the consummation of such Permitted
Business Acquisition on a pro forma basis in accordance with GAAP, as if such
Permitted Business Acquisition occurred on the first day of such period and (ii)
EBITDA shall exclude all unrealized gains and losses reported under Financial
Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 133 in connection with forward
contracts, futures contracts or other derivatives or Commodity Hedging
Agreements in accordance with the Borrower's existing commodity hedging policy.
"Eligible Assignee" means (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender, and
(c) any other Person (other than a natural person) approved by (i) the
Administrative Agent, (ii) in the case of any assignment of a Revolving Credit
Commitment, the Swingline Lender and the Issuing
8
Lender and (iii) unless a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, the Borrower (each such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or
delayed); provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, "Eligible Assignee" shall
not include the Borrower or any of the Borrower's Affiliates or Subsidiaries.
"Employee Benefit Plan" means any employee benefit plan within the meaning
of Section 3(3) of ERISA which (a) is maintained for employees of the Borrower
or any ERISA Affiliate or (b) has at any time within the preceding six years
been maintained for the employees of the Borrower or any current or former ERISA
Affiliate.
"Environmental and Safety Laws" means any and all federal, state and local
laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, permits, licenses, approvals,
interpretations and orders of courts or Governmental Authorities, relating to
the protection of human health (including, but not limited to employee health
and safety) or the environment, including, but not limited to, requirements
pertaining to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment,
storage, disposal, transportation, handling, reporting, licensing, permitting,
investigation or remediation of Hazardous Materials.
"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the
rules and regulations thereunder, each as amended or modified from time to time.
"ERISA Affiliate" means any Person who together with the Borrower is
treated as a single employer within the meaning of Section 414(b), (c), (m) or
(o) of the Code or Section 4001(b) of ERISA.
"ERISA Event" means (i) any "reportable event", as defined in Section 4043
of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder, with respect to a Pension Plan;
(ii) the adoption of any amendment to a Pension Plan that would require the
provision of security pursuant to Section 401(a)(29) of the Code or Section 307
of ERISA; (iii) the existence with respect to any Pension Plan of an
"accumulated funding deficiency" (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or
Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (iv) the filing pursuant to
Section 412(d) of the Code or Section 303(d) of ERISA of an application for a
waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Pension Plan; (v) the
incurrence of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the
termination of any Pension Plan or the withdrawal or partial withdrawal of the
Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates from any Pension Plan or Multiemployer
Plan; (vi) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a
plan administrator of any notice relating to the intention to terminate any
Pension Plan or Pension Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Pension
Plan; (vii) the receipt by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice
concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a
Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization,
within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA or the institution of proceedings to
terminate, or the appointment of a trustee with respect to, any Pension Plan by
the PBGC; (viii) the occurrence of a "prohibited transaction" with respect to
which the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries is a "disqualified person" (within
the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code) and with respect to which the Borrower
or any such subsidiary would be liable for the payment of an excise tax and (ix)
any
9
other event or condition which would constitute grounds under Section 4042(a) of
ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any
Pension Plan.
"ESCO" means any Subsidiary of the Borrower that provides energy services
through a utility provider and participates in a Consolidated Billing Program in
the ordinary course of such Subsidiary's business.
"Eurodollar Reserve Percentage" means, for any day, the percentage
(expressed as a decimal and rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next higher
1/100th of 1%) which is in effect for such day as prescribed by the Federal
Reserve Board (or any successor) for determining the maximum reserve requirement
(including without limitation any basic, supplemental or emergency reserves) in
respect of Eurocurrency liabilities or any similar category of liabilities for a
member bank of the Federal Reserve System in New York City.
"Event of Default" means any of the events specified in Section 11.1;
provided that any requirement for passage of time, giving of notice, or any
other condition, has been satisfied.
"Excluded Taxes" means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any
Lender, the Issuing 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, and (b) all franchise
taxes or branch taxes imposed upon any Lender or its applicable lending office,
or any branch or affiliate thereof, in each case imposed: (i) by the
jurisdiction under the laws of which such Lender, applicable lending office,
branch or affiliate is organized or is located, or in which its principal
executive office is located, or any nation within which such jurisdiction is
located or any political subdivision thereof; or (ii) by reason of any
connection between the jurisdiction imposing such tax and such Lender,
applicable lending office, branch or affiliate other than a connection arising
solely from such Lender having executed, delivered or performed its obligations
under, or received payment under or enforced, this Agreement.
"Exempt Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds" has the meaning assigned such term
in the definition of Designated Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds.
"Exempt Proceeds" has the meaning assigned such term in the definition of
Designated Net Proceeds.
"Existing Letters of Credit" means all letters of credit identified on
Schedule 1.1(b).
"Extensions of Credit" means, as to any Lender at any time, (a) an amount
equal to the sum of (i) the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Credit
Loans made by such Lender then outstanding , (ii) such Lender's Revolving Credit
Commitment Percentage of the L/C Obligations then outstanding, (iii) such
Lender's Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the Swingline Loans then
outstanding and (iv) such Lender's Term Loan Commitment
10
Percentage of the Term Loan then outstanding, or (b) the making of any Loan or
participation in any Letter of Credit by such Lender, as the context requires.
"Federal Funds Rate" means, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, if
necessary, to the next higher 1/100th of 1%) representing the daily effective
federal funds rate as quoted by the Administrative Agent and confirmed in
Federal Reserve Board Statistical Release H.15 (519) or any successor or
substitute publication selected by the Administrative Agent. If, for any reason,
such rate is not available, then "Federal Funds Rate" means a daily rate which
is determined, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, to be the rate at
which federal funds are being offered for sale in the national federal funds
market at 9:00 a.m. Rates for weekends or holidays shall be the same as the rate
for the most immediate preceding Business Day.
"Fee Letter" means the separate fee letter agreement executed by the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent and/or certain of its affiliates dated
September 28, 2004.
"Financial Officer" means, as to any Person, the chief financial officer,
the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of such Person.
"First Amendment" has the meaning assigned thereto in the introductory
paragraph hereto.
"First Amendment Effective Date" means March 17, 2005.
"Fiscal Year" means the 52-week fiscal year of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries ending on the last Saturday in September.
"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.
"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles, as recognized by the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Financial Accounting
Standards Board, consistently applied and maintained on a consistent basis for
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries throughout the period indicated and (subject
to Section 13.9) consistent with the prior financial practice of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries.
"General Partner" means Suburban Energy Services Group LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company.
"General Partner Unit" means a unit representing a fractional part of the
General Partner's general partner interest in the Parent (which shall exclude
any limited partner or other interest that the General Partner may have from
time to time in the Parent).
"Governmental Approvals" means all authorizations, consents, approvals,
licenses and exemptions of, registrations and filings with, and reports to, all
Governmental Authorities.
11
"Governmental Authority" means any nation, province, state or political
subdivision thereof, and any government or any Person exercising executive,
legislative, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to
government, and any corporation or other entity owned or controlled, through
stock or capital ownership or otherwise, by any of the foregoing.
"Guarantee" of or by any Person means any obligation, contingent or
otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of
guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person (the "primary obligor")
(excluding endorsements of checks for collection or deposit in the ordinary
course of business) 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 to
purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for
the payment of such Indebtedness, (ii) to purchase property, securities or
services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness of the
payment of such Indebtedness or (iii) to maintain working capital, equity
capital or other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary
obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness.
"Guaranty Agreement" means the Second Amended and Restated Guaranty
Agreement dated as of the date hereof executed by each Subsidiary of the
Borrower (other than any foreign Subsidiary and Suburban Sales and Service,
Inc.) in favor of the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the
Lenders, substantially in the form of Exhibit H, as amended, restated,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
"Guarantor" means each Subsidiary that is party to the Guaranty Agreement
on the Closing Date together with any Subsidiary who becomes a party to the
Guaranty Agreement after the Closing Date in accordance with the terms of
Section 8.7; provided, that Suburban Sales and Service, Inc. shall not be
required to become a Guarantor.
"Hazardous Materials" means any substances or materials (a) which are or
become defined as hazardous wastes, hazardous substances, pollutants,
contaminants, chemical substances or mixtures or toxic substances under any
Environmental and Safety Laws, (b) which are toxic, explosive, corrosive,
flammable, infectious, radioactive, carcinogenic, mutagenic or otherwise harmful
to human health or the environment and are or become regulated by any
Governmental Authority, (c) the presence of which require investigation or
remediation under any Environmental and Safety Laws or common law, (d) the
discharge or emission or release of which requires a permit or license under any
Environmental and Safety Laws or other Governmental Approval, (e) which are
deemed to constitute a nuisance or a trespass which pose a health or safety
hazard to Persons or neighboring properties, (f) which consist of underground or
aboveground storage tanks, whether empty, filled or partially filled with any
substance, or (g) which contain, without limitation, asbestos, polychlorinated
biphenyls, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, petroleum hydrocarbons, petroleum
derived substances or waste, crude oil, nuclear fuel, natural gas or synthetic
gas.
"Hedging Agreement" means any (a) interest rate swap agreement, (b)
interest rate cap agreement, (c) interest rate floor agreement, (d) interest
rate collar agreement, (e) interest rate option
12
or (f) other agreement, in each case, entered into with the intent to protect
any Person against fluctuations in interest rates of existing or expected
issuances of Indebtedness and entered into as a bona fide hedging agreement and
not for purposes of investment or speculation and any confirming letter executed
pursuant to such agreement, all as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time.
"Indebtedness" means, with respect to any Person, without duplication (a)
all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or with respect to deposits or
advances of any kind (including repurchase obligations), (b) all obligations of
such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments or
letters of credit in support of bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments,
(c) all obligations of such Person upon which interest charges are customarily
paid, (d) all obligations of such Person under any conditional sale or other
title retention agreement relating to property purchased by such Person, (e) all
obligations of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of
property or services, (f) all obligations under Capital Leases of such Person,
(g) all obligations of others secured by (or for which the holder of such
Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by)
any Lien on property or assets owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not
the obligations secured thereby have been assumed, (h) all Guarantees of such
Person, (i) all obligations of such Person with respect to Swap Agreements and
Commodity Hedging Agreements (valued at the termination value thereof computed
in accordance with a method approved by the International Swap Dealers
Association and agreed to by such Person in the applicable Swap Agreement or
Commodity Hedging Agreement, if any), (j) all obligations of such Person as an
account party in respect of letters of credit (i) securing Indebtedness (other
than letters of credit obtained in the ordinary course of business and
consistent with past practices) or (ii) obtained for any purpose not in the
ordinary course of business or not consistent with past practices and (k) all
obligations of such Person in respect of bankers' acceptances; provided that
accounts payable to suppliers incurred in the ordinary course of business and
paid in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices shall not
constitute Indebtedness.
"Indemnified Taxes" means Taxes and Other Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.
"Initial Credit Agreement" has the meaning assigned thereto in the
introductory paragraph.
"Initial Lenders" has the meaning assigned thereto in the introductory
paragraph.
"Interest Expense" means, with respect to any period, the sum of, without
duplication, gross interest expense and capitalized interest of the Parent, the
Borrower and their respective Subsidiaries for such period minus interest income
of the Parent, the Borrower and their respective Subsidiaries for such period,
determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that for
purposes of calculating EBITDA, "Interest Expense" shall be calculated with
respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.
"Interest Period" has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 4.7(b).
13
"Investment" means, as applied to any Person, any direct or indirect
purchase or other acquisition by such Person of Capital Stock or other
securities of any other Person, or any direct or indirect loan, advance or
capital contribution by such Person to any other Person and any other item which
would be classified as an "investment" on a balance sheet of such Person
prepared in accordance with GAAP, including without limitation any direct or
indirect contribution by such Person of property or assets to a joint venture,
partnership or other business entity in which such Person retains an interest
(it being understood that a direct or indirect purchase or other acquisition by
such Person of assets of any other Person (other than Capital Stock or other
securities) shall not constitute an "Investment" for purposes of this
Agreement).
"ISP98" means the International Standby Practices (1998 Revision, effective
January 1, 1999), International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 590.
"Issuing Lender" means (a) with respect to Letters of Credit issued
hereunder, (i) Wachovia or Calyon New York Branch, each in their respective
capacity as issuer thereof, or any successor thereto, and (ii) any other Lender
acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower which has agreed to
issue Letters of Credit, and (b) with respect to the Existing Letters of Credit,
the Lender issuing such Existing Letter of Credit.
"L/C Commitment" means the lesser of (a) Ninety Million Dollars
($90,000,000) and (b) the Revolving Credit Commitment.
"L/C Facility" means the letter of credit facility established pursuant to
Section 3.1.
"L/C Obligations" means at any time, an amount equal to the sum of (a) the
aggregate undrawn and unexpired amount of the then outstanding Letters of Credit
and (b) the aggregate amount of drawings under Letters of Credit which have not
then been reimbursed pursuant to Section 3.5.
"L/C Participants" means the collective reference to all of the Revolving
Credit Lenders other than the Issuing Lender.
"Lender" means each Person executing this Agreement as a Lender (including,
without limitation, each Issuing Lender and the Swingline Lender unless the
context otherwise requires) set forth on the signature pages hereto and each
Person that hereafter becomes a party to this Agreement as a Lender pursuant to
Section 13.10.
"Lending Office" means, with respect to any Lender, the office of such
Lender maintaining such Lender's Loans.
"Letters of Credit" has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 3.1 and
shall include the Existing Letters of Credit.
"Leverage Ratio" means, on any date, the ratio of (a) Total Indebtedness as
of such date to (b) an amount equal to the aggregate amount of EBITDA of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries
14
for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ended most recently on or
prior to such date, determined on a Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
"LIBOR" means the rate of interest per annum determined on the basis of the
rate for deposits in Dollars in minimum amounts of at least $5,000,000 for a
period equal to the Interest Period selected which appears on the Telerate Page
Screen 3750 at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two (2) Business Days
prior to the first day of the applicable Interest Period (rounded upward, if
necessary, to the nearest one-one hundredth of one percent (1/100%)). If, for
any reason, such rate does not appear on Telerate Page Screen 3750, then "LIBOR"
shall be determined by the Administrative Agent to be the arithmetic average of
the rate per annum at which deposits in Dollars in minimum amounts of at least
$5,000,000 would be offered by first class banks in the London interbank market
to the Administrative Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two (2)
Business Days prior to the first day of the applicable Interest Period for
settlement in immediately available funds by leading banks in the London
interbank market for a period equal to the Interest Period selected. Each
calculation by the Administrative Agent of LIBOR shall be conclusive and binding
for all purposes, absent manifest error.
"LIBOR Rate" means a rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the
next higher 1/100th of 1%) determined by the Administrative Agent pursuant to
the following formula:
LIBOR
LIBOR Rate = ----------------------------------
1.00-Eurodollar Reserve Percentage
"LIBOR Rate Loan" means any Loan bearing interest at a rate based upon the
LIBOR Rate as provided in Section 4.7(a).
"Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge,
charge, security interest, hypothecation or encumbrance of any kind in respect
of such asset. For the purposes of this Agreement, a Person shall be deemed to
own subject to a Lien any asset which it has acquired or holds subject to the
interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, Capital
Lease or other title retention agreement relating to such asset.
"Loan" means any Revolving Credit Loan, the Term Loan or any Swingline Loan
made to the Borrower pursuant to Article II or Article IIIA, as applicable, and
all such Loans collectively as the context requires.
"Loan Documents" means, collectively, this Agreement, the First Amendment,
the Second Amendment, the Revolving Credit Notes, the Term Notes, the
Applications, the Guaranty Agreement and each other document, instrument,
certificate and agreement executed and delivered by the Borrower, its
Subsidiaries or their counsel in connection with this Agreement or otherwise
referred to herein or contemplated hereby (excluding any Swap Agreement), all as
may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
"Material Adverse Effect" means (a) a materially adverse effect on the
business, assets, operations, prospects or financial condition of the Business,
the General Partner, the Parent, the
15
Borrower or the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) any material
impairment of the ability of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to perform any of
its Obligations under any Loan Document or (c) any material impairment of the
rights of or benefits available to the Lenders or the Administrative Agent under
any of the Loan Documents.
"Minimum Quarterly Distribution" has the meaning assigned thereto in the
Parent Partnership Agreement.
"Multiemployer Plan" means a "multiemployer plan" as defined in Section
4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is making, or
is accruing an obligation to make, or has accrued an obligation to make
contributions within the preceding six (6) years.
"Notice of Account Designation" has the meaning assigned thereto in Section
4.1(b).
"Notice of Borrowing" has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 4.1(a).
"Notice of Conversion/Continuation" has the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 4.8.
"Notice of Prepayment" has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 4.2(c).
"Obligations" means, in each case, whether now in existence or hereafter
arising: (a) the principal of and interest on (including interest accruing after
the filing of any bankruptcy or similar petition) the Loans, (b) the L/C
Obligations, (c) all Swap Obligations and (d) all other fees and commissions
(including attorney's fees), charges, indebtedness, loans, liabilities,
financial accommodations, obligations, covenants and duties owing by the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to the Lenders or the Administrative Agent,
in each case under or in respect of this Agreement, any Letter of Credit or any
of the other Loan Documents of every kind, nature and description, direct or
indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, contractual or tortious,
liquidated or unliquidated, and whether or not evidenced by any note, and
whether or not for the payment of money under or in respect of this Agreement,
any Letter of Credit or any of the other Loan Documents.
"OFAC" means the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets
Control.
"Officer's Compliance Certificate" has the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 7.2.
"Original Credit Agreement" has the meaning set forth in the Statement of
Purpose.
"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.
"Parent" means Suburban Propane Partners, L.P., a limited partnership
organized under the laws of the State of Delaware.
16
"Parent Notes" means the collective reference to (i) the 6.875% senior
notes, due 2013, of the Parent issued in the original principal amount of
$175,000,000 pursuant to the indenture dated as of December 23, 2003, (ii) the
additional 6.875% senior notes, due 2013, of the Parent issued in the original
principal amount of $250,000,000 pursuant to the indenture dated as of December
23, 2003 and (iii) any Parent Refinancing Notes.
"Parent Debt Service" means all scheduled payments of principal, interest
and fees due on the Parent Notes.
"Parent Partnership Agreement" means the Second Amended and Restated
Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Parent dated as of May 26, 1999, as it
may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time pursuant to
the terms hereof.
"Parent Refinancing Notes" means any Indebtedness of the Parent (other than
intercompany Indebtedness) issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which
are used to refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge all or any portion
of the Parent Notes; provided that:
(a) the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Parent
Refinancing Notes does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if
applicable) of the Parent Notes being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced,
defeased or refunded (plus all accrued interest on the Indebtedness and the
amount of all fees, expenses and premiums incurred in connection therewith);
(b) such Parent Refinancing Notes have a final maturity date later than the
final maturity date of, and have a weighted average life to maturity equal to or
greater than the weighted average life to maturity of, the Parent Notes being
extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded; and
(c) such Indebtedness is incurred by the Person or Persons that are the
obligor on the Parent Notes being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced,
defeased or refunded.
"Participant" has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 13.10(d).
"PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any successor
agency.
"Partnership Documents" means the Parent Partnership Agreement and the
Borrower Partnership Agreement, in each case as in effect on the date hereof and
as the same may from time to time be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified
in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.
"Pension Plan" means any Employee Benefit Plan, other than a Multiemployer
Plan, which is subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of
the Code and which (a) is maintained for employees of the Borrower or any ERISA
Affiliates or (b) has at any time within the preceding six years been maintained
for the employees of the Borrower or any of their current or former ERISA
Affiliates.
17
"Permitted Banks" has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.4(c).
"Permitted Business Acquisition" means any acquisition of all or
substantially all the assets of, or all the shares or other equity interests in,
a Person or division or line of business of a Person (or any subsequent
investment made in a previously consummated Permitted Business Acquisition) if
immediately after giving effect thereto: (a) no Event of Default or Default
shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, (b) all
transactions related thereto shall be consummated in accordance with applicable
laws, (c) all the Capital Stock of any acquired or newly formed corporation,
partnership, association or other business entity is owned directly by the
Borrower or a domestic Wholly-Owned Subsidiary and such acquired or newly formed
Subsidiary shall have entered into the Guaranty Agreement, (d) the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries shall be in compliance, on a pro forma basis after giving
effect to such acquisition or formation, with the covenants contained in Article
IX recomputed as at the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as if such acquisition had occurred on the
first day of each relevant period for testing such compliance, and, in the case
of any transaction involving consideration (whether cash or property, as valued
at the time such transaction is consummated) in excess of $5,000,000, the
Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate of a
Responsible Officer to such effect, together with all relevant financial
information for such Subsidiary or assets and calculations demonstrating such
compliance, (e) any acquired or newly formed Subsidiary shall not be liable for
any Indebtedness (except for Indebtedness permitted by Section 10.1) and (f) the
Required Lenders shall have given their prior written consent (which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld, taking into consideration the merits of the
acquisition) in the case of (i) any acquisition outside the business currently
conducted by the Borrower involving consideration (whether cash or property, as
valued at the time each investment is made) in excess of $5,000,000 and (ii) any
acquisition if as a result thereof the aggregate consideration (whether cash or
property, as valued at the time each investment is made) for all acquisitions
(net of return of capital of (but not return on) investments in such
acquisitions) would be in excess of $25,000,000.
"Person" means an individual, corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, association, trust, business trust, joint venture, joint stock
company, pool, syndicate, sole proprietorship, unincorporated organization,
Governmental Authority or any other form of entity or group thereof.
"Prime Rate" means, at any time, the rate of interest per annum publicly
announced from time to time by Wachovia as its prime rate. Each change in the
Prime Rate shall be effective as of the opening of business on the day such
change in the Prime Rate occurs. The parties hereto acknowledge that the rate
announced publicly by Wachovia as its Prime Rate is an index or base rate and
shall not necessarily be its lowest or best rate charged to its customers or
other banks.
"Refinancing Notes" means the senior notes of the Borrower issued in the
original principal amount of $42,500,000 pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement
dated as of April 19, 2002.
"Register" has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 13.10(c).
18
"Reimbursement Obligation" means the obligation of the Borrower to
reimburse the Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 3.5 for amounts drawn under
Letters of Credit.
"Related Parties" means, with respect to any Person, such Person's
Affiliates and the directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such
Person and of such Person's Affiliates.
"Required Lenders" means, at any date, any combination of Lenders whose
Commitments aggregate more than fifty percent (50%) of the Aggregate Commitment
or, if the Credit Facilities have been terminated pursuant to the terms hereof,
any combination of Lenders holding more than fifty percent (50%) of the
aggregate Extensions of Credit; provided that the Commitment of, and the portion
of the Extensions of Credit, as applicable, held or deemed held by, any
Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of
Required Lenders.
"Reserve Items" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b).
"Responsible Officer" means, with respect to any Person, any executive
officer or Financial Officer of such Person and any other officer or similar
official thereof responsible for the administration of the obligations of such
Person in respect of this Agreement. Any document delivered hereunder that is
signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower or any Guarantor, as applicable,
shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary
corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Person and such
Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of
such Person.
"Restricted Payment" means with respect to the Borrower and each of its
Subsidiaries (the "Covered Persons"), (a) in the case of any Covered Person that
is a partnership, (i) any payment or other distribution, direct or indirect, in
respect of any partnership interest in such Covered Person, except a
distribution payable solely in additional partnership interests in such Covered
Person, and (ii) any payment, direct or indirect, by such Covered Person on
account of the redemption, retirement, purchase or other acquisition of any
partnership interest in such or any other Covered Person, except to the extent
that such payment consists of additional partnership interests in such Covered
Person; (b) in the case of any Covered Person that is a corporation, (i) any
dividend or other distribution, direct or indirect on account of any shares of
any class of stock of such Covered Person then outstanding, except a dividend
payable solely in shares of stock of such Covered Person, and (ii) any payment,
direct or indirect, by such Covered Person on account of the redemption,
retirement, purchase or other acquisition of any shares of any class of stock of
such Covered Person then outstanding, or of any warrants, rights or options to
acquire any such shares, except to the extent that such payment consists of
shares of Capital Stock of such Covered Person; and (c) in the case of any other
Covered Person, any payment analogous to the prepayments referred to in clauses
(a) and (b) above.
"Revolving Credit Commitment" means (a) as to any Lender, the obligation of
such Lender to make Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrower hereunder, to
participate in Letters of Credit hereunder and to participate in Swingline Loans
hereunder, in an aggregate principal amount at any time outstanding not to
exceed the amount so designated opposite such Lender's name on the Register, as
the same may be modified at any time or from time to time pursuant to
19
the terms hereof and (b) as to all Lenders, the aggregate commitment of all
Lenders to make Revolving Credit Loans, as such amount may be modified at any
time or from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof. The Revolving Credit
Commitment of all Lenders on the Second Amendment Effective Date shall be
One-Hundred and Seventy-Five Million Dollars ($175,000,000).
"Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage" means, as to any Lender at any
time, the ratio of (a) the amount of the Revolving Credit Commitment of such
Lender to (b) the Revolving Credit Commitment of all Lenders.
"Revolving Credit Facility" means the revolving credit facility established
pursuant to Section 2.1(a).
"Revolving Credit Lender" means any Lender with a Revolving Credit
Commitment.
"Revolving Credit Loan" means any of the revolving credit loans made by the
Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1(a) and all such loans
collectively as the context requires.
"Revolving Credit Note" means a promissory note made by the Borrower in
favor of a Revolving Credit Lender evidencing the Revolving Credit Loans made by
such Revolving Credit Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1, and any
amendments, supplements and modifications thereto, any substitutes therefor, and
any replacements, restatements, renewals or extension thereof, in whole or in
part.
"Revolving Credit Termination Date" means the earliest to occur of (a)
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇, ▇▇▇▇, (▇) the date of termination of the Revolving Credit Commitments
by the Borrower pursuant to Section 4.5(a), or (c) the date of termination by
the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders pursuant to Section 11.2(a).
"Second Amendment" has the meaning assigned thereto in the introductory
paragraph hereto.
"Second Amendment Effective Date" means the date upon which each of the
conditions precedent set forth in Section 3 of the Second Amendment have been
satisfied.
"Senior Notes" means the 7.54% Senior Notes, due 2011, of the Borrower.
"Solvent" means, as to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a particular
date, that any such Person (a) has capital sufficient to carry on its business
and transactions and all business and transactions in which it is about to
engage and is able to pay its debts as they mature, (b) owns property having a
value, both at fair valuation and at present fair saleable value, greater than
the amount required to pay its probable liabilities (including contingencies),
and (c) does not believe that it will incur debts or liabilities beyond its
ability to pay such debts or liabilities as they mature.
20
"Subsidiary" means as to any Person, any corporation, partnership, limited
liability company or other entity of which more than fifty percent (50%) of the
outstanding capital stock or other ownership interests having ordinary voting
power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other managers of such
corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity is at the
time, directly or indirectly, owned by or the management is otherwise controlled
by such Person (irrespective of whether, at the time, capital stock or other
ownership interests of any other class or classes of such corporation,
partnership, limited liability company or other entity shall have or might have
voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency). Unless otherwise
qualified references to "Subsidiary" or "Subsidiaries" herein shall refer to
those of the Borrower.
"Swap Agreement" means any (a) Hedging Agreement, (b) forward rate
agreement, (c) forward foreign exchange agreement, (d) currency swap agreement,
(e) cross-currency rate swap agreement, (f) currency option agreement or (g)
other agreement or arrangement, in each case, designed to alter the risks of any
Person arising from fluctuations in interest rates or currency values (including
such agreements entered into to swap obligations with a fixed rate of interest
to obligations with a floating rate of interest) and any confirming letter
executed pursuant to such agreement, all as amended, restated, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time.
"Swap Obligations" means all payment and other existing and future
obligations owing by the Borrower to any Lender or the Administrative Agent
under any Swap Agreement to which a Lender or the Administrative Agent is a
party which is permitted under this Agreement.
"Swingline Commitment" means the lesser of (a) Ten Million Dollars
($10,000,000) and (b) the Revolving Credit Commitment.
"Swingline Lender" means Wachovia in its capacity as swingline lender
hereunder.
"Swingline Loan" means the swingline loans made by the Swingline Lender to
the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.2, and all such loans collectively as the
context requires.
"Swingline Rate" means the interest rate applicable to Swingline Loans, as
agreed upon from time to time by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent
pursuant to a written side letter agreement.
"Swingline Facility" means the swingline facility established pursuant to
Section 2.2.
"Swingline Termination Date" means the earlier to occur of (a) the
resignation of Wachovia as Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 12.6
and (b) the Revolving Credit Termination Date.
"Taxes" means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties,
deductions, withholdings, assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any
Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties
applicable thereto.
21
"Termination Date" means the Revolving Credit Termination Date or the Term
Loan Termination Date, as applicable.
"Term Loan" means the term loan to be made to the Borrower by the Term Loan
Lenders pursuant to Section 3A.1.
"Term Loan Commitment" means (a) as to any Lender, the obligation of such
Lender to make a portion of the Term Loan to the Borrower hereunder in an
aggregate principal amount not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such
Lender's name on the Register, as such amount may be reduced or otherwise
modified at any time or from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof (and,
once funded, the outstanding principal amount of the portion of the Term Loan
made by such Lenders) and (b) as to all Lenders, the aggregate commitments of
all Lenders to make the Term Loan hereunder (and, once funded, the outstanding
principal amount of the Term Loan). The Term Loan Commitment of all Lenders on
the First Amendment Effective Date shall be One-Hundred Twenty-Five Million
Dollars ($125,000,000).
"Term Loan Commitment Percentage" means, as to any Lender, (a) prior to
making the Term Loan, the ratio of (i) the Term Loan Commitment of such Lender
to (ii) the Term Loan Commitments of all Lenders and (b) after the Term Loan is
made, the ratio of (i) the outstanding principal balance of the Term Loan held
by such Lender to (ii) the aggregate outstanding principal balance of the Term
Loan held by all Lenders.
"Term Loan Commitment Termination Date" means the date that is sixty-one
(61) days after the First Amendment Effective Date.
"Term Loan Facility" means the term loan facility established pursuant to
Article IIIA.
"Term Loan Lender" means any Lender with a Term Loan Commitment.
"Term Loan Termination Date" means the first to occur of (a) March 31,
2010, or (b) the date the Term Loan is declared due and payable by the
Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders pursuant to Section 11.2(a).
"Term Note" means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of a Term
Loan Lender evidencing the portion of the Term Loan made by such Term Loan
Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2 hereto, and any amendments,
supplements and modifications thereto, any substitutes therefor, and any
replacements, restatements, renewals or extension thereof, in whole or in part.
"Total Assets" means, as of any date of determination, the total assets of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as shown on the balance sheet of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries as of such date, determined on a Consolidated basis in
accordance with GAAP.
"Total Indebtedness" means, at any time, all Indebtedness of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries at such time (other than Indebtedness described under
clauses (i) and (j) of the definition of "Indebtedness"), determined on a
Consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
22
"Uniform Customs" means the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary
Credits (1994 Revision), effective January, 1994, International Chamber of
Commerce Publication No. 500.
"UCC" means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New
York, as amended or modified from time to time.
"United States" means the United States of America.
"Wachovia" means Wachovia Bank, National Association, a national banking
association, and its successors.
"Wholly-Owned" means, with respect to a Subsidiary, a Subsidiary all of the
shares of Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which are, directly or
indirectly, owned or controlled by the Borrower and/or one or more of its
Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries.
"Withdrawal Liability" means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result
of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms
are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.
SECTION 1.2 Other Definitions and 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, (b) whenever the
context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine,
feminine and neuter forms, (c) the words "include", "includes" and "including"
shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase "without limitation", (d) the word
"will" shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word
"shall", (e) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or
other document herein 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), (f) any reference herein to any Person shall
be construed to include such Person's successors and assigns, (g) the words
"herein", "hereof" and "hereunder", and words of similar import, shall be
construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular
provision hereof, (h) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and
Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits
and Schedules to, this Agreement, (i) 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, (j) the term "documents" includes any and all
instruments, documents, agreements, certificates, notices, reports, financial
statements and other writings, however evidenced, whether in physical or
electronic form, (k) 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", and (l) 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.
23
SECTION 1.3 Accounting Terms. 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 required by Section 7.1(b), except as otherwise
specifically prescribed herein.
SECTION 1.4 UCC Terms. Terms defined in the UCC in effect on the Closing
Date and not otherwise defined herein shall, unless the context otherwise
indicates, have the meanings provided by those definitions. Subject to the
foregoing, the term "UCC" refers, as of any date of determination, to the UCC
then in effect in the State of New York.
SECTION 1.5 Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the
Borrower 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).
SECTION 1.6 References to Agreement and Laws. Unless otherwise expressly
provided herein, (a) references to formation documents, governing documents,
agreements (including the Loan Documents) and other contractual instruments
shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, restatements, extensions,
supplements and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent that such
amendments, restatements, extensions, supplements and other modifications are
not prohibited by any Loan Document; and (b) references to any Applicable Law
shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending,
replacing, supplementing or interpreting such Applicable Law.
SECTION 1.7 Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein
to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as
applicable).
SECTION 1.8 Letter of Credit Amounts. Unless otherwise specified, all
references herein to the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be
deemed to mean the maximum face amount of such Letter of Credit after giving
effect to all increases thereof contemplated by such Letter of Credit or the
Application therefor, whether or not such maximum face amount is in effect at
such time.
ARTICLE II
REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY
SECTION 2.1 Revolving Credit Loans.
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions (including without limitation
Section 4.4) of this Agreement, and in reliance upon the representations and
warranties set forth herein, each
24
Revolving Credit Lender severally agrees to make Revolving Credit Loans to the
Borrower from time to time from the Closing Date to, but not including, the
Revolving Credit Termination Date as requested by the Borrower in accordance
with the terms of Section 4.1; provided, that (i) the aggregate principal amount
of all outstanding Revolving Credit Loans (after giving effect to any amount
requested) shall not exceed the Revolving Credit Commitment less the sum of (A)
all outstanding Swingline Loans and L/C Obligations and (B) the Blocked Portion
as of such date and (ii) the principal amount of outstanding Revolving Credit
Loans from any Revolving Credit Lender to the Borrower shall not at any time
exceed such Revolving Credit Lender's Revolving Credit Commitment less such
Revolving Credit Lender's Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of L/C
Obligations and outstanding Swingline Loans. Each Revolving Credit Loan by a
Revolving Credit Lender shall be in a principal amount equal to such Revolving
Credit Lender's Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the aggregate
principal amount of Revolving Credit Loans requested on such occasion. Subject
to the terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow, repay and reborrow
Revolving Credit Loans hereunder until the Revolving Credit Termination Date.
(b) Blocked Portion of Revolving Credit Commitments. The Borrower may from
time to time deliver a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower to the
Administrative Agent designating a portion of the then-available Revolving
Credit Commitments as being unavailable except for the purpose of funding items
("Reserve Items") specified in such certificate that would have been reserved
against pursuant to the definition of "Available Cash" but for the specification
of such amounts in such certificate. The aggregate amount of Revolving Credit
Commitments unavailable as a result of the delivery of such certificates at any
time shall be referred to as the "Blocked Portion" in effect at such time. The
Blocked Portion shall be reduced from time to time upon receipt by the
Administrative Agent of a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower
certifying as to (a) the discharge of any portion of any Reserve Item, (b) the
establishment of a cash reserve in respect of any portion of any Reserve Item,
(c) the determination by the Board of Supervisors of the Borrower that any
reserve contemplated by clause (b) of the definition of "Available Cash" may be
reduced because the amount of the original reserve is no longer necessary or
appropriate by reason of a change in the anticipated timing or amount of the
item reserved against or (d) the delivery of a Notice of Borrowing for a
Revolving Credit Loan to be drawn under the Blocked Portion the proceeds of
which shall be used solely for the purpose of discharging any Reserve Item, each
of which reductions shall be in an amount equal to the amount of such discharged
portion, new cash reserve, adjustment to reserves or Revolving Credit Loan, as
applicable. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, at no time
shall any Revolving Credit Loan be made or any certificate increasing the
Blocked Portion become effective if as a result of the making of such Revolving
Credit Loan or the effectiveness of such increase the aggregate principal amount
of Revolving Credit Loans outstanding at such time would exceed the difference
between the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitments in effect at
such time and the amount of the Blocked Portion in effect at such time.
SECTION 2.2 Swingline Loans.
(a) Availability. Subject to the terms and conditions (including without
limitation Section 4.4) of this Agreement, the Swingline Lender agrees to make
Swingline Loans to the
25
Borrower from time to time from the Closing Date through, but not including, the
Swingline Termination Date; provided, that the aggregate principal amount of all
outstanding Swingline Loans (after giving effect to any amount requested), shall
not exceed the lesser of (i) the Revolving Credit Commitment less the sum of (A)
all outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and the L/C Obligations and (B) the
Blocked Portion as of such date; and (ii) the Swingline Commitment. Each
Revolving Credit Lender acknowledges that the aggregate principal amount of all
outstanding Swingline Loans made by the Swingline Lender, when taken together
with the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Revolving Credit Loans
made by the Swingline Lender, may exceed the Swingline Lender's Revolving Credit
Commitment.
(b) Refunding.
(i) Swingline Loans shall be reimbursed fully by the Revolving Credit
Lenders on demand by the Swingline Lender. Such reimbursements shall be
made by the Revolving Credit Lenders in accordance with their respective
Revolving Credit Commitment Percentages and shall thereafter be reflected
as Revolving Credit Loans of the Revolving Credit Lenders on the books and
records of the Administrative Agent; provided that no Revolving Credit
Lender shall be required to reimburse any Swingline Loan if, after giving
effect to such reimbursement, the aggregate principal amount of such
Revolving Credit Lender's Revolving Credit Loans outstanding would exceed
such Revolving Credit Lender's Revolving Credit Commitment. Each Revolving
Credit Lender shall fund its respective Revolving Credit Commitment
Percentage of Revolving Credit Loans as required to repay Swingline Loans
outstanding to the Swingline Lender upon demand by the Swingline Lender but
in no event later than 2:00 p.m. on the next succeeding Business Day after
such demand is made. No Revolving Credit Lender's obligation to fund its
respective Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of a Swingline Loan shall
be affected by any other Revolving Credit Lender's failure to fund its
Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of a Swingline Loan, nor shall any
Revolving Credit Lender's Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage be
increased as a result of any such failure of any other Revolving Credit
Lender to fund its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of a Swingline
Loan.
(ii) The Borrower shall pay to the Swingline Lender on demand the
amount of such Swingline Loans to the extent amounts received from the
Revolving Credit Lenders are not sufficient to repay in full the
outstanding Swingline Loans requested or required to be refunded. In
addition, the Borrower hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to charge
any account maintained by the Borrower with the Swingline Lender (up to the
amount available therein) in order to immediately pay the Swingline Lender
the amount of such Swingline Loans to the extent amounts received from the
Revolving Credit Lenders are not sufficient to repay in full the
outstanding Swingline Loans requested or required to be refunded. If any
portion of any such amount paid to the Swingline Lender shall be recovered
by or on behalf of the Borrower from the Swingline Lender in bankruptcy or
otherwise, the loss of the amount so recovered shall be ratably shared
among all the Revolving Credit Lenders in accordance with their respective
Revolving Credit Commitment Percentages (unless the amounts so recovered by
or on behalf of the Borrower pertain to a Swingline Loan extended after the
occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default of which the
Administrative Agent has received notice in the
26
manner required pursuant to Section 12.3(c) and which such Event of Default
has not been waived by the Required Lenders or the Lenders, as applicable).
(iii) Each Revolving Credit Lender acknowledges and agrees that its
obligation to refund Swingline Loans in accordance with the terms of this
Section 2.2 is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any
circumstance whatsoever, including, without limitation, non-satisfaction of
the conditions set forth in Article V. Further, each Revolving Credit
Lender agrees and acknowledges that if prior to the refunding of any
outstanding Swingline Loans pursuant to this Section 2.2, one of the events
described in Section 11.1(i) or (j) shall have occurred, each Revolving
Credit Lender will, on the date the applicable Revolving Credit Loan would
have been made, purchase an undivided participating interest in the
Swingline Loan to be refunded in an amount equal to its Revolving Credit
Commitment Percentage of the aggregate amount of such Swingline Loan. Each
Revolving Credit Lender will immediately transfer to the Swingline Lender,
in immediately available funds, the amount of its participation and upon
receipt thereof the Swingline Lender will deliver to such Revolving Credit
Lender a certificate evidencing such participation dated the date of
receipt of such funds and for such amount. Whenever, at any time after the
Swingline Lender has received from any Revolving Credit Lender such
Revolving Credit Lender's participating interest in a Swingline Loan, the
Swingline Lender receives any payment on account thereof, the Swingline
Lender will distribute to such Revolving Credit Lender its participating
interest in such amount (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest
payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Revolving Credit
Lender's participating interest was outstanding and funded).
ARTICLE III
LETTER OF CREDIT FACILITY
SECTION 3.1 L/C Commitment. Subject to the terms and conditions (including
without limitation Section 4.4) of this Agreement, the Issuing Lender, in
reliance on the agreements of the other Revolving Credit Lenders set forth in
Section 3.5, agrees to issue standby letters of credit ("Letters of Credit") for
the account of the Borrower on any Business Day from the Closing Date to the
date which is five (5) Business Days prior to the Revolving Credit Termination
Date in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Issuing Lender;
provided, that the Issuing Lender shall have no obligation to issue any Letter
of Credit if, after giving effect to such issuance, (a) the L/C Obligations
would exceed the L/C Commitment or (b) the aggregate principal amount of
outstanding Revolving Credit Loans, plus the aggregate principal amount of
outstanding Swingline Loans, plus the aggregate amount of L/C Obligations would
exceed the Revolving Credit Commitment less the Blocked Portion. Each Letter of
Credit shall (i) be denominated in Dollars in a minimum amount of $1,000,000
(other than any Existing Letter of Credit), (ii) be a standby letter of credit
issued to support obligations of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries,
contingent or otherwise, incurred in the ordinary course of business, (iii) have
a term of no more than one (1) year (subject to automatic renewal for additional
one (1) year periods under terms and conditions satisfactory to the Issuing
Lender and the Administrative Agent), (iv) expire on a date not later than the
fifth (5th) Business Day prior to the Revolving Credit Termination Date and (v)
be subject to the Uniform Customs and/or ISP98, as set forth in the Application
or as determined by the Issuing Lender and, to the extent not
27
inconsistent therewith, the laws of the State of New York. The Issuing Lender
shall not at any time be obligated to issue any Letter of Credit hereunder if
such issuance would conflict with, or cause the Issuing Lender or any L/C
Participant to exceed any limits imposed by, any Applicable Law. References
herein to "issue" and derivations thereof with respect to Letters of Credit
shall also include extensions or modifications of any outstanding Letters of
Credit, unless the context otherwise requires. Each Existing Letter of Credit
shall be deemed to be a Letter of Credit issued and outstanding under this
Agreement on and after the Second Amendment Effective Date.
SECTION 3.2 Procedure for Issuance of Letters of Credit. The Borrower may
from time to time request that the Issuing Lender issue a Letter of Credit by
delivering to the Issuing Lender at the Administrative Agent's Office an
Application therefor, completed to the satisfaction of the Issuing Lender, and
such other certificates, documents and other papers and information as the
Issuing Lender may request. Upon receipt of any Application, the Issuing Lender
shall process such Application and the certificates, documents and other papers
and information delivered to it in connection therewith in accordance with its
customary procedures and, unless the Issuing Lender has received notice (by
telephone or in writing) from the Administrative Agent (including at the request
of any Revolving Credit Lender) prior to the proposed issuance date (i)
directing the Issuing Lender not to issue such Letter of Credit as a result of
the limitations set forth in Section 3.1, or (ii) that one or more of the
applicable conditions specified in Section 5.3 is not then satisfied, shall
promptly issue the Letter of Credit requested thereby (but in no event shall the
Issuing Lender be required to issue any Letter of Credit earlier than three (3)
Business Days after its receipt of the Application therefor and all such other
certificates, documents and other papers and information relating thereto) by
issuing the original of such Letter of Credit to the beneficiary thereof or as
otherwise may be agreed by the Issuing Lender and the Borrower. The Issuing
Lender shall promptly furnish to the Borrower a copy of such Letter of Credit
and promptly notify each Revolving Credit Lender of the issuance thereof and
upon request by any Revolving Credit Lender, furnish to such Revolving Credit
Lender a copy of such Letter of Credit and the amount of such Revolving Credit
Lender's participation therein.
SECTION 3.3 Commissions and Other Charges.
(a) The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of
the Issuing Lender and the L/C Participants, a letter of credit commission with
respect to each Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of (i) the
average daily maximum amount available to be drawn during the relevant quarter
under such Letter of Credit and (ii) the Applicable Margin for LIBOR Loans
(determined on a per annum basis). Such commission shall be payable quarterly in
arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter and on the Revolving
Credit Termination Date. The Administrative Agent shall, promptly following its
receipt thereof, distribute to the Issuing Lender and the L/C Participants all
commissions received pursuant to this Section 3.3(a) in accordance with their
respective Revolving Credit Commitment Percentages.
(b) In addition to the foregoing commission, the Borrower shall pay to the
Administrative Agent, for the account of the Issuing Lender, an issuance fee
with respect to each
28
Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of (i) the face amount of
such Letter of Credit and (ii) one eighth of one percent (0.125%) per annum.
Such issuance fee shall be payable quarterly in arrears on the last Business Day
of each calendar quarter and on the Revolving Credit Termination Date and shall
be non-refundable.
(c) In addition to the foregoing fees and commissions, the Borrower shall
pay or reimburse the Issuing Lender for such normal and customary costs and
expenses as are incurred or charged by the Issuing Lender in issuing, effecting
payment under, amending or otherwise administering any Letter of Credit.
SECTION 3.4 L/C Participations.
(a) The Issuing Lender irrevocably agrees to grant and hereby grants to
each L/C Participant, and, to induce the Issuing Lender to issue Letters of
Credit hereunder, each L/C Participant irrevocably agrees to accept and purchase
and hereby accepts and purchases from the Issuing Lender, on the terms and
conditions hereinafter stated, for such L/C Participant's own account and risk
an undivided interest equal to such L/C Participant's Revolving Credit
Commitment Percentage in the Issuing Lender's obligations and rights under and
in respect of each Letter of Credit issued hereunder and the amount of each
draft paid by the Issuing Lender thereunder. Each L/C Participant
unconditionally and irrevocably agrees with the Issuing Lender that, if a draft
is paid under any Letter of Credit for which the Issuing Lender is not
reimbursed in full by the Borrower through a Revolving Credit Loan or otherwise
in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, such L/C Participant shall pay
to the Issuing Lender upon demand at the Issuing Lender's address for notices
specified herein an amount equal to such L/C Participant's Revolving Credit
Commitment Percentage of the amount of such draft, or any part thereof, which is
not so reimbursed.
(b) Upon becoming aware of any amount required to be paid by any L/C
Participant to the Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 3.4(a) in respect of any
unreimbursed portion of any payment made by the Issuing Lender under any Letter
of Credit, the Issuing Lender shall notify each L/C Participant of the amount
and due date of such required payment and such L/C Participant shall pay to the
Issuing Lender the amount specified on the applicable due date. If any such
amount is paid to the Issuing Lender after the date such payment is due, such
L/C Participant shall pay to the Issuing Lender on demand, in addition to such
amount, the product of (i) such amount, times (ii) the daily average Federal
Funds Rate as determined by the Administrative Agent during the period from and
including the date such payment is due to the date on which such payment is
immediately available to the Issuing Lender, times (iii) a fraction the
numerator of which is the number of days that elapse during such period and the
denominator of which is 360. A certificate of the Issuing Lender with respect to
any amounts owing under this Section 3.4(b) shall be conclusive in the absence
of manifest error. With respect to payment to the Issuing Lender of the
unreimbursed amounts described in this Section 3.4(b), if the L/C Participants
receive notice that any such payment is due (A) prior to 1:00 p.m. on any
Business Day, such payment shall be due that Business Day, and (B) after 1:00
p.m. on any Business Day, such payment shall be due on the following Business
Day.
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(c) Whenever, at any time after the Issuing Lender has made payment under
any Letter of Credit and has received from any L/C Participant its Revolving
Credit Commitment Percentage of such payment in accordance with this Section
3.4, the Issuing Lender receives any payment related to such Letter of Credit,
whether directly from the Borrower or otherwise, or any payment of interest on
account thereof, the Issuing Lender will distribute to such L/C Participant its
pro rata share thereof; provided, that in the event that any such payment
received by the Issuing Lender shall be required to be returned by the Issuing
Lender, such L/C Participant shall return to the Issuing Lender the portion
thereof previously distributed to it by the Issuing Lender.
SECTION 3.5 Reimbursement Obligation of the Borrower. In the event of any
drawing under any Letter of Credit, the Borrower agrees to reimburse (either
with the proceeds of a Revolving Credit Loan as provided for in this Section 3.5
or with funds from other sources), in same day funds, the Issuing Lender on each
date on which the Issuing Lender notifies the Borrower of the date and amount of
a draft paid under any Letter of Credit for the amount of (a) such draft so paid
and (b) any amounts referred to in Section 3.3(c) incurred by the Issuing Lender
in connection with such payment. Unless the Borrower shall immediately notify
the Issuing Lender that the Borrower intends to reimburse the Issuing Lender for
such drawing from other sources or funds, the Borrower shall be deemed to have
timely given a Notice of Borrowing to the Administrative Agent requesting that
the Revolving Credit Lenders make a Revolving Credit Loan bearing interest at
the Base Rate on such date in the amount of (a) such draft so paid and (b) any
amounts referred to in Section 3.3(c) incurred by the Issuing Lender in
connection with such payment, and the Revolving Credit Lenders shall make a
Revolving Credit Loan bearing interest at the Base Rate in such amount, the
proceeds of which shall be applied to reimburse the Issuing Lender for the
amount of the related drawing and costs and expenses. Each Revolving Credit
Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to fund a Revolving Credit
Loan in accordance with this Section 3.5 to reimburse the Issuing Lender for any
draft paid under a Letter of Credit is absolute and unconditional and shall not
be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including, without limitation,
non-satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 4.1(a) or Article V. If
the Borrower has elected to pay the amount of such drawing with funds from other
sources and shall fail to reimburse the Issuing Lender as provided above, the
unreimbursed amount of such drawing shall bear interest at the rate which would
be payable on any outstanding Base Rate Loans which were then overdue from the
date such amounts become payable (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or
otherwise) until payment in full. Until each Revolving Credit Lender reimburses
the Issuing Lender for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit, interest in
respect of such Revolving Credit Lender's Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage
of such amount shall be solely for the account of the Issuing Lender.
SECTION 3.6 Obligations Absolute. The Borrower's obligations under this
Article III (including without limitation the Reimbursement Obligation) shall be
absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances and irrespective of
any set-off, counterclaim or defense to payment which the Borrower may have or
have had against the Issuing Lender or any beneficiary of a Letter of Credit or
any other Person. The Borrower also agrees that the Issuing Lender and the L/C
Participants shall not be responsible for, and the Borrower's Reimbursement
Obligation under Section 3.5 shall not be affected by, among other things, the
validity or genuineness of documents or of any endorsements thereon, even though
such documents shall in
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fact prove to be invalid, fraudulent or forged, or any dispute between or among
the Borrower and any beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or any other party to
which such Letter of Credit may be transferred or any claims whatsoever of the
Borrower against any beneficiary of such Letter of Credit or any such
transferee. The Issuing Lender shall not be liable for any error, omission,
interruption or delay in transmission, dispatch or delivery of any message or
advice, however transmitted, in connection with any Letter of Credit, except for
errors or omissions caused by the Issuing Lender's gross negligence or willful
misconduct. The Borrower agrees that any action taken or omitted by the Issuing
Lender under or in connection with any Letter of Credit or the related drafts or
documents, if done in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct and
in accordance with the standards of care specified in ISP98 or the Uniform
Customs, as the case may be, and, to the extent not inconsistent therewith, the
UCC, shall be binding on the Borrower and shall not result in any liability of
the Issuing Lender or any L/C Participant to the Borrower.
ARTICLE IIIA
TERM LOAN FACILITY
SECTION 3A.1 Term Loan. Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, each Term Loan Lender severally agrees to make loans to the Borrower
pursuant to Section 3A.2(b) below in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed
such Term Loan Lender's Term Loan Commitment as of the First Amendment Effective
Date.
SECTION 3A.2 Procedure for Advance of Term Loan. The Term Loan Facility
shall be available in up to two (2) separate draws as provided below.
(a) Initial Draw on the First Amendment Effective Date. The Borrower shall
give the Administrative Agent an irrevocable Notice of Borrowing prior to 2:00
p.m. one (1) Business Day before the First Amendment Effective Date requesting
that the Term Loan Lenders make all or part of the Term Loan as a Base Rate Loan
on the First Amendment Effective Date. Upon receipt of such Notice of Borrowing
from the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Term Loan
Lender thereof. Not later than 10:00 a.m. on the First Amendment Effective Date,
each Term Loan Lender will make available to the Administrative Agent for the
account of the Borrower, at the office of the Administrative Agent in
immediately available funds, such Term Loan Lender's Term Loan Commitment
Percentage of the amount of the Term Loan to be made on such borrowing date. The
Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent to disburse the
proceeds of the Term Loan in immediately available funds by wire transfer to
such Person or Persons as may be designated by the Borrower.
(b) Delayed Draw. Subject to the conditions set forth in Section 5.3, at
any time prior to the Term Loan Commitment Termination Date, the Borrower shall
have the right to request that the Term Loan Lenders fund an additional portion
of the Term Loan up to the amount of any unfunded Term Loan Commitments. The
Borrower shall give the Administrative Agent an irrevocable Notice of Borrowing
prior to 11:00 a.m. on the same Business Day of such borrowing requesting such
additional portion of the Term Loan as a Base Rate Loan. Upon receipt of such
Notice of Borrowing from the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall promptly
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notify each Term Loan Lender thereof. Not later than 1:00 p.m. on such borrowing
date, each Term Loan Lender will make available to the Administrative Agent for
the account of the Borrower, at the office of the Administrative Agent in
immediately available funds, such Term Loan Lender's Term Loan Commitment
Percentage of the amount of the Term Loan to be made on such borrowing date.
SECTION 3A.3 Termination of the Term Loan Commitment. Any unfunded portion
of the Term Loan Commitment of the Term Loan Lenders shall automatically
terminate on the Term Loan Commitment Termination Date.
SECTION 3A.4 Repayment of Term Loan. The Borrower shall repay the aggregate
outstanding principal amount of the Term Loan, together with all accrued but
unpaid interest thereon, on the Term Loan Termination Date.
SECTION 3A.5 Prepayments of Term Loan.
(a) Optional Prepayments of Term Loan. The Borrower shall have the right at
any time and from time to time, without premium or penalty, to prepay the Term
Loan, in whole or in part, upon delivery to the Administrative Agent of a Notice
of Prepayment not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) on the same Business Day with
respect to Base Rate Loans and (ii) at least three (3) Business Days with
respect to LIBOR Rate Loans, specifying the date and amount of repayment and
whether the repayment is of LIBOR Rate Loans or Base Rate Loans or a combination
thereof, and, if of a combination thereof, the amount allocable to each. Each
optional prepayment of the Term Loan hereunder shall be in an aggregate
principal amount of at least $3,000,000 or any whole multiple of $500,000 in
excess thereof. Each repayment shall be accompanied by any amount required to be
paid pursuant to Section 4.16. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify
the Term Loan Lenders of each such Notice of Prepayment.
(b) Mandatory Prepayments.
(i) Designated Net Proceeds. The Borrower shall make mandatory
principal prepayments of the Loans in the manner set forth in clause (iii)
below in amounts equal to any Designated Net Proceeds received by the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries. Such prepayments shall be made within
three (3) Business Days after receipt of such Designated Net Proceeds.
(ii) Designated Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds. The Borrower
shall make mandatory principal prepayments of the Loans in the manner set
forth in clause (iii) below in amounts equal to any Designated Net
Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds received by the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries. Such prepayments shall be made within three (3) Business Days
after receipt of such Designated Net Insurance/Condemnation Proceeds.
(iii) Notice; Manner of Payment. Upon the occurrence of any event
requiring a prepayment under clauses (i) or (ii) above, the Borrower shall
promptly deliver a Notice of Prepayment to the Administrative Agent and
upon receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly so
notify the Lenders. Each prepayment of the Loans under this Section shall
be applied as follows: first, to prepay the outstanding principal of the
Term Loan and
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second, to the extent of any excess, to prepay the outstanding principal of
the Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to Section 4.2(d).
Amounts prepaid under the Term Loan pursuant to this Section may not be
reborrowed. Each prepayment shall be accompanied by any amount required to
be paid pursuant to Section 4.16.
ARTICLE IV
GENERAL LOAN PROVISIONS
SECTION 4.1 Procedure for Advances of Loans.
(a) Requests for Borrowing.
(i) Revolving Credit Loans and Swingline Loans. The Borrower shall
give the Administrative Agent irrevocable prior written notice in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit B (a "Notice of Borrowing") not later than 11:00
a.m. (i) on the same Business Day as each Base Rate Loan and each Swingline
Loan and (ii) at least three (3) Business Days before each LIBOR Rate Loan,
of its intention to borrow, specifying (A) the date of such borrowing,
which shall be a Business Day, (B) the amount of such borrowing, which
shall be (x) with respect to LIBOR Rate Loans and Base Rate Loans, in an
aggregate principal amount of $3,000,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in
excess thereof, and (y) with respect to Swingline Loans in an aggregate
principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $250,000 in excess
thereof, (C) whether such Loan is to be a Revolving Credit Loan or
Swingline Loan, (D) in the case of a Revolving Credit Loan, whether the
Loans are to be LIBOR Rate Loans or Base Rate Loans, and (E) in the case of
a LIBOR Rate Loan, the duration of the Interest Period applicable thereto.
A Notice of Borrowing received after 11:00 a.m. shall be deemed received on
the next Business Day. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the
applicable Lenders of each Notice of Borrowing.
(ii) Term Loan. The Term Loan shall be requested pursuant to the terms
of Section 3A.2.
(b) Disbursement of Revolving Credit Loans and Swingline Loans.
(i) Revolving Credit Loans and Swingline Loans. Not later than 2:00
p.m. on the proposed borrowing date, each applicable Lender will make
available to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Borrower, at
the office of the Administrative Agent in funds immediately available to
the Administrative Agent, such Lender's Revolving Credit Commitment
Percentage of the Revolving Credit Loans to be made on such borrowing date.
Unless the Swingline Lender has received notice (by telephone or in
writing) from the Administrative Agent (including at the request of any
Revolving Credit Lender) prior to 12:00 noon on the proposed borrowing date
(i) directing the Swingline Lender not to make such Swingline Loan as a
result of the limitations set forth in Section 2.2(a), or (ii) that one or
more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 5.3 is not then
satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, not later than
2:00 p.m. on the proposed borrowing date, the Swingline Lender will make
available to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Borrower, at
the
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office of the Administrative Agent in funds immediately available to the
Administrative Agent, the Swingline Loans to be made to the Borrower on
such borrowing date.
(ii) Term Loan. The Term Loan shall be advanced pursuant to the terms
of Section 3A.2.
(iii) General. The Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes the
Administrative Agent to disburse the proceeds of each borrowing requested
pursuant to Section 3A.2 and this Section 4.1 in immediately available
funds by crediting or wiring such proceeds to the deposit account of the
Borrower identified in the most recent notice substantially in the form of
Exhibit C hereto (a "Notice of Account Designation") delivered by the
Borrower to the Administrative Agent or as may be otherwise agreed upon by
the Borrower and the Administrative Agent from time to time. Subject to
Section 4.13, the Administrative Agent shall not be obligated to disburse
the portion of the proceeds of any Loan requested pursuant to Section 3A.2
or this Section 4.1 to the extent that any Lender has not made available to
the Administrative Agent its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage or Term
Loan Commitment Percentage, as applicable, of such Loan. Revolving Credit
Loans to be made for the purpose of refunding Swingline Loans shall be made
by the Lenders as provided in Section 2.2(b).
SECTION 4.2 Repayment of Revolving Credit Loans.
(a) Repayment on Revolving Credit Termination Date. On the Revolving Credit
Termination Date, the Borrower shall repay the outstanding principal amount of
(i) all Revolving Credit Loans in full, and (ii) to the extent the Swingline
Termination Date has not occurred, all Swingline Loans together, in each case,
with all accrued but unpaid interest thereon.
(b) Mandatory Repayment of Obligations. If at any time, as the case may be
the outstanding principal amount of all Revolving Credit Loans plus the sum of
(i) all outstanding Swingline Loans and L/C Obligations and (ii) the Blocked
Portion as of such date exceeds the Revolving Credit Commitment, the Borrower
shall repay immediately upon notice from the Administrative Agent, by payment to
the Administrative Agent for the account of the Revolving Credit Lenders, the
aggregate outstanding Revolving Credit Loans, Swingline Loans and L/C
Obligations in an amount equal to such excess with each such repayment applied
first to the principal amount of outstanding Swingline Loans, second to the
principal amount of outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and third, with respect
to any Letters of Credit then outstanding, a payment of cash collateral into a
cash collateral account opened by the Borrower with the Administrative Agent,
for the benefit of the Revolving Credit Lenders (such cash collateral to be
applied in accordance with Section 11.2(b)). Each such repayment shall be
accompanied by any amount required to be paid pursuant to Section 4.16.
(c) Optional Repayments. The Borrower may at any time and from time to time
repay Revolving Credit Loans and Swingline Loans, in whole or in part, upon at
least three (3) Business Days' irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent
with respect to LIBOR Rate Loans and one (1) Business Day's irrevocable notice
with respect to Base Rate Loans and Swingline Loans, in the form attached hereto
as Exhibit D (a "Notice of Prepayment"), specifying (i) the date and amount of
repayment, (ii) whether the repayment is of a Revolving Credit Loan, a Swingline
Loan or a combination thereof, and, if of a combination thereof, the
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amount allocable to each and (iii) if such Loan is a Revolving Credit Loan,
whether such Loan is a LIBOR Rate Loan or a Base Rate Loan. Upon receipt of such
notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Revolving Credit
Lender. If any such notice is given, the amount specified in such notice shall
be due and payable on the date set forth in such notice. Partial repayments
shall be in an aggregate amount of $3,000,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in
excess thereof with respect to LIBOR Rate Loans and Base Rate Loans and $500,000
or a whole multiple of $250,000 in excess thereof with respect to Swingline
Loans. Each such repayment shall be accompanied by any amount required to be
paid pursuant to Section 4.16.
(d) Prepayment of Excess Proceeds. In the event proceeds remain after the
prepayments of the Term Loan pursuant to Section 3A.5(b), the amount of such
excess proceeds shall be applied on the date of the required prepayment under
Section 3A.5(b) to prepay the outstanding principal amount of the Revolving
Credit Loans, without a corresponding reduction of the Revolving Credit
Commitments.
(e) Limitation on Repayment of LIBOR Rate Loans. The Borrower may not repay
any LIBOR Rate Loan on any day other than on the last day of the Interest Period
applicable thereto unless such repayment is accompanied by any amount required
to be paid pursuant to Section 4.16.
SECTION 4.3 Evidence of Indebtedness.
(a) Extensions of Credit. The Extensions of Credit 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 Extensions of Credit 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
Revolving Credit Note, which shall evidence such Revolving Credit Lender's
Revolving Credit Loans, or a Term Note, which shall evidence such Term Loan
Lender's Term Loan Commitment Percentage of the Term Loan, as applicable, in
addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to its
Revolving Note or Term Note, as applicable, and endorse thereon the date, amount
and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.
(b) Participations. In addition to the accounts and records referred to in
subsection (a), each Revolving Credit Lender and the Administrative Agent shall
maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or records evidencing
the purchases and sales by such Lender of participations in Letters of Credit
and Swingline Loans. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and
records maintained by the Administrative Agent and the accounts and records of
35
any Revolving Credit Lender in respect of such matters, the accounts and
records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest
error.
SECTION 4.4 Repayment; Limited Incurrence during Cleandown Period. During
each Fiscal Year, the Borrower shall select a Cleandown Period. On the first day
of each Cleandown Period, the Borrower shall repay Revolving Credit Loans and/or
Swingline Loans then outstanding to the extent necessary to reduce the total
amount of outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and Swingline Loans to an amount
not exceeding $15,000,000. For the duration of each such Cleandown Period, the
Borrower shall not request, create or incur any Revolving Credit Loans or
Swingline Loans to the extent that the aggregate principal amount of all
outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and Swingline Loans (after giving effect to
any amount requested, created or incurred) would exceed $15,000,000.
SECTION 4.5 Permanent Reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitment.
(a) Voluntary Reduction. The Borrower shall have the right, upon at least
three (3) Business Days prior irrevocable written notice to the Administrative
Agent, to permanently reduce, without premium or penalty, (i) at any time, the
entire Revolving Credit Commitment or (ii) portions of the Revolving Credit
Commitment, from time to time, in each case, in an aggregate principal amount
not less than $2,000,000 or any whole multiple in excess thereof.
(b) Repayment of Excess Obligations. Each permanent reduction permitted
pursuant to this Section 4.5 and, as applicable, Section 4.6 shall be
accompanied by a payment of principal sufficient to reduce the aggregate
outstanding Revolving Credit Loans, Swingline Loans and L/C Obligations, after
such reduction to the Revolving Credit Commitment as so reduced, and if the
Revolving Credit Commitment as so reduced is less than the aggregate amount of
all outstanding L/C Obligations, the Borrower shall be required to deposit in a
cash collateral account opened by the Administrative Agent an amount equal to
the aggregate then undrawn and unexpired amount of such L/C Obligations. Any
reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitment to zero (i) shall be accompanied by
payment of all outstanding Revolving Credit Loans and Swingline Loans and the
furnishing of cash collateral satisfactory to the Administrative Agent for all
L/C Obligations, and (ii) shall result in the termination of the Revolving
Credit Commitment and the Revolving Credit Facility. If the reduction of the
Revolving Credit Commitment requires the repayment of any LIBOR Rate Loan, such
repayment shall be accompanied by any amount required to be paid pursuant to
Section 4.15. All such cash collateral shall be applied in accordance with
Section 11.2(b).
SECTION 4.6 Termination of Revolving Credit Facility. The Revolving Credit
Facility, the Swingline Facility and the L/C Facility shall terminate and the
Revolving Credit Commitment shall be automatically reduced to zero on the
Revolving Credit Termination Date.
SECTION 4.7 Interest.
(a) Interest Rate Options. Subject to the provisions of this Section 4.7,
at the election of the Borrower, the aggregate unpaid principal balance of (i)
each Revolving Credit Loan and the Term Loan shall bear interest at the Base
Rate or the LIBOR Rate plus the Applicable Margin, and (ii) each Swingline Loan
shall bear interest at the Swingline Rate. The Borrower
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shall select the rate of interest and Interest Period, if any, applicable to any
LIBOR Rate Loan at the time a Notice of Borrowing is given pursuant to Section
4.1(a) or at the time a Notice of Conversion/Continuation is given pursuant to
Section 4.8. Any Loan or any portion thereof as to which the Borrower has not
duly specified an interest rate as provided herein shall be deemed a Base Rate
Loan.
(b) Interest Periods. In connection with each LIBOR Rate Loan, the
Borrower, by giving notice at the times described in Section 4.7(a), shall elect
an interest period (each, an "Interest Period") to be applicable to such Loan,
which Interest Period shall be a period of one (1), two (2), three (3), or six
(6) months; provided that:
(i) the Interest Period shall commence on the date of advance of or
conversion to any LIBOR Rate Loan and, in the case of immediately
successive Interest Periods, each successive Interest Period shall commence
on the date on which the next preceding Interest Period expires;
(ii) if any Interest Period would otherwise expire on a day that is
not a Business Day, such Interest Period shall expire on the next
succeeding Business Day; provided, that if any Interest Period with respect
to a LIBOR Rate Loan would otherwise expire on a day that is not a Business
Day but is a day of the month after which no further Business Day occurs in
such month, such Interest Period shall expire on the next preceding
Business Day;
(iii) any Interest Period with respect to a LIBOR Rate Loan 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 relevant
calendar month at the end of such Interest Period;
(iv) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Term Loan Termination
Date; and
(v) there shall be no more than ten (10) Interest Periods outstanding
at any time.
(c) Default Rate. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an
Event of Default, (i) the Borrower shall no longer have the option to request
LIBOR Rate Loans or Swingline Loans, (ii) all outstanding LIBOR Rate Loans shall
bear interest at a rate per annum two percent (2%) in excess of the rate then
applicable to LIBOR Rate Loans until the end of the applicable Interest Period
and thereafter at a rate equal to two percent (2%) in excess of the rate then
applicable to Base Rate Loans, (iii) all outstanding Swingline Loans shall bear
interest at a rate per annum equal to two percent (2%) in excess of the rate
then applicable to Swingline Loans and (iv) all outstanding Base Rate Loans and
Reimbursement Obligations shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to two
percent (2%) in excess of the rate then applicable to Base Rate Loans. Interest
shall continue to accrue on the Obligations after the filing by or against the
Borrower of any petition seeking any relief in bankruptcy or under any act or
law pertaining to insolvency or debtor relief, whether state, federal or
foreign.
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(d) Interest Payment and Computation. Interest on each Base Rate Loan shall
be payable in arrears on the last Business Day of each calendar quarter, with
the first such payment due on December 31, 2004. Interest on each LIBOR Rate
Loan shall be payable on the last day of each Interest Period applicable
thereto, and if such Interest Period extends over three (3) months, at the end
of each three (3) month interval during such Interest Period. All interest
rates, fees and commissions provided hereunder shall be computed on the basis of
a 360-day year and assessed for the actual number of days elapsed.
(e) Maximum Rate. In no contingency or event whatsoever shall the aggregate
of all amounts deemed interest hereunder charged or collected pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement exceed the highest rate permissible under any Applicable
Law which a court of competent jurisdiction shall, in a final determination,
deem applicable hereto. In the event that such a court determines that the
Lenders have charged or received interest hereunder in excess of the highest
applicable rate, the rate in effect hereunder shall automatically be reduced to
the maximum rate permitted by Applicable Law and the Lenders shall at the
Administrative Agent's option promptly refund to the Borrower any interest
received by Lenders in excess of the maximum lawful rate or shall apply such
excess to the principal balance of the Obligations. It is the intent hereof that
the Borrower not pay or contract to pay, and that neither the Administrative
Agent nor any Lender receive or contract to receive, directly or indirectly in
any manner whatsoever, interest in excess of that which may be paid by the
Borrower under Applicable Law.
SECTION 4.8 Notice and Manner of Conversion or Continuation of Loans.
Provided that no Event of Default has occurred and is then continuing, the
Borrower shall have the option to (a) convert at any time all or any portion of
its outstanding Base Rate Loans in a principal amount equal to $3,000,000 or any
whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof into one or more LIBOR Rate Loans
or (b) upon the expiration of any Interest Period, (i) convert all or any part
of its outstanding LIBOR Rate Loans in a principal amount equal to $3,000,000 or
a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof into Base Rate Loans or (ii)
continue such LIBOR Rate Loans as LIBOR Rate Loans. Whenever the Borrower
desires to convert or continue Loans as provided above, the Borrower shall give
the Administrative Agent irrevocable prior written notice in the form attached
as Exhibit E (a "Notice of Conversion/Continuation") not later than 11:00 a.m.
three (3) Business Days before the day on which a proposed conversion or
continuation of such Loan is to be effective specifying (A) the Loans to be
converted or continued, and, in the case of any LIBOR Rate Loan to be converted
or continued, the last day of the Interest Period therefor, (B) the effective
date of such conversion or continuation (which shall be a Business Day), (C) the
principal amount of such Loans to be converted or continued, and (D) the
Interest Period to be applicable to such converted or continued LIBOR Rate Loan.
The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the applicable Lenders of such
Notice of Conversion/Continuation.
SECTION 4.9 Fees.
(a) Revolving Credit Facility Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the
Administrative Agent, for the account of the Revolving Credit Lenders, a
non-refundable facility fee at a rate per annum equal to the Revolving Credit
Commitments of all the Lenders times the Applicable Margin, regardless of usage.
Such facility fee shall be payable in arrears on the last Business
38
Day of each calendar quarter during the term of this Agreement and on the
Revolving Credit Termination Date, with the first such payment due on December
31, 2004. Such facility fee shall be distributed by the Administrative Agent to
the Revolving Credit Lenders pro rata in accordance with the Revolving Credit
Lenders' respective Revolving Credit Commitment Percentages.
(b) Administrative Agent's and Other Fees. To compensate the Administrative
Agent for structuring and syndicating the Loans and for its obligations
hereunder, the Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its
account, the fees set forth in the Fee Letter.
SECTION 4.10 Manner of Payment. Each payment by the Borrower on account of
the principal of or interest on the Loans or of any fee, commission or other
amounts payable to the Lenders under this Agreement shall be made not later than
1:00 p.m. on the date specified for payment under this Agreement to the
Administrative Agent at the Administrative Agent's Office for the account of the
Lenders (other than as set forth below) pro rata in accordance with their
respective applicable Commitment Percentages, in Dollars, in immediately
available funds and shall be made without any set-off, counterclaim or deduction
whatsoever. Any payment received after such time but before 2:00 p.m. on such
day shall be deemed a payment on such date for the purposes of Section 11.1, but
for all other purposes shall be deemed to have been made on the next succeeding
Business Day. Any payment received after 2:00 p.m. shall be deemed to have been
made on the next succeeding Business Day for all purposes. Upon receipt by the
Administrative Agent of each such payment, the Administrative Agent shall
distribute to each Lender at its address for notices set forth herein its pro
rata share of such payment in accordance with such Lender's applicable
Commitment Percentage and shall wire advice of the amount of such credit to each
Lender. Each payment to the Administrative Agent of Administrative Agent's fees
or expenses shall be made for the account of the Administrative Agent and any
amount payable to any Lender under Sections 4.14, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17 or 13.2 shall
be paid to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lender.
Subject to Section 4.7(b)(ii), if any payment under this Agreement shall be
specified to be made upon a day which is not a Business Day, it shall be made on
the next succeeding day which is a Business Day and such extension of time shall
in such case be included in computing any interest if payable along with such
payment.
SECTION 4.11 Crediting of Payments and Proceeds. In the event that the
Borrower shall fail to pay any of the Obligations when due and the Obligations
have been accelerated pursuant to Section 11.2, all payments received by the
Lenders upon the Obligations and all net proceeds from the enforcement of the
Obligations shall be applied:
First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees,
indemnities, expenses and other amounts, including attorney fees, payable to the
Administrative Agent in its capacity as such and each Issuing Lender in their
capacity as such (ratably among the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Lenders
in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause First payable
to them);
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 attorney fees
39
(ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in
this clause Second payable to them);
Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued
and unpaid interest on the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations (ratably among
the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause
Third payable to them);
Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid
principal of the Loans, the Reimbursement Obligations and any Swap Obligations
(including any termination payments and any accrued and unpaid interest thereon)
(ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in
this clause Fourth held by them);
Fifth, to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Issuing Lender,
to cash collateralize the aggregate undrawn and unexpired amount of the then
outstanding Letters of Credit pursuant to Section 11.2(b); 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
Applicable Law.
SECTION 4.12 Adjustments. 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 its Loans or other obligations hereunder resulting in
such Lender's receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of its
Loans and accrued interest thereon or other such obligations (other than
pursuant to Sections 4.15, 4.16, 4.17 or 13.2) 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 and such other obligations of
the other Lenders, 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 are purchased and all or any portion of the
payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded
and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without
interest, and
(ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to
(x) any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the
express terms of this Agreement or (y) any payment obtained by a Lender as
consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its
Loans or participations in Swingline Loans and Letters of Credit to any assignee
or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof (as to
which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply).
The Borrower 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 the
Borrower and each Guarantor rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to
such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the
Borrower or such Guarantor in the amount of such participation.
40
SECTION 4.13 Nature of Obligations of Lenders Regarding Extensions of
Credit; Assumption by the Administrative Agent. The obligations of the Lenders
under this Agreement to make the Loans and issue or participate in Letters of
Credit are several and are not joint or joint and several. Unless the
Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to a
proposed borrowing date that such Lender will not make available to the
Administrative Agent such Lender's ratable portion of the amount to be borrowed
on such date (which notice shall not release such Lender from its obligations
hereunder), the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such
portion available to the Administrative Agent on the proposed borrowing date in
accordance with Section 4.1(b) and Section 3A.2(b) and the Administrative Agent
may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower on such
date a corresponding amount. If such amount is made available to the
Administrative Agent on a date after such borrowing date, such Lender shall pay
to the Administrative Agent on demand an amount, until paid, equal to the
product of (a) the amount not made available by such Lender in accordance with
the terms hereof, times (b) the daily average Federal Funds Rate during such
period as determined by the Administrative Agent, times (c) a fraction the
numerator of which is the number of days that elapse from and including such
borrowing date to the date on which such amount not made available by such
Lender as required by the terms hereof shall have become immediately available
to the Administrative Agent and the denominator of which is 360. A certificate
of the Administrative Agent with respect to any amounts owing under this Section
4.13 shall be conclusive, absent manifest error. If such Lender's Commitment
Percentage of such borrowing is not made available to the Administrative Agent
by such Lender within three (3) Business Days of such borrowing date, the
Administrative Agent shall be entitled to recover such amount made available by
the Administrative Agent with interest thereon at the rate per annum applicable
to Base Rate Loans hereunder, on demand, from the Borrower. The failure of any
Lender to make available its Commitment Percentage of any Loan requested by the
Borrower shall not relieve it or any other Lender of its obligation, if any,
hereunder to make its Commitment Percentage of such Loan available on such
borrowing date, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other
Lender to make its Commitment Percentage of such Loan available on the borrowing
date.
SECTION 4.14 Changed Circumstances.
(a) Circumstances Affecting LIBOR Rate Availability. If with respect to any
Interest Period the Administrative Agent or any Lender (after consultation with
Administrative Agent) shall determine that, by reason of circumstances affecting
the foreign exchange and interbank markets generally, deposits in eurodollars,
in the applicable amounts are not being quoted via Telerate Page 3750 or offered
to the Administrative Agent or such Lender for such Interest Period, then the
Administrative Agent shall forthwith give notice thereof to the Borrower.
Thereafter, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that such
circumstances no longer exist, the obligation of the Lenders to make LIBOR Rate
Loans and the right of the Borrower to convert any Loan to or continue any Loan
as a LIBOR Rate Loan shall be suspended, and the Borrower shall repay in full
(or cause to be repaid in full) the then outstanding principal amount of each
such LIBOR Rate Loans together with accrued interest thereon, on the last day of
the then current Interest Period applicable to such LIBOR Rate Loan
41
or convert the then outstanding principal amount of each such LIBOR Rate Loan to
a Base Rate Loan as of the last day of such Interest Period.
(b) Laws Affecting LIBOR Rate Availability. If, after the date hereof, the
introduction of, or any change in, any Applicable Law or any change in the
interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority, central
bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration
thereof, or compliance by any Lender (or any of their respective Lending
Offices) with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law)
of any such Authority, central bank or comparable agency, shall make it unlawful
or impossible for any of the Lenders (or any of their respective Lending
Offices) to honor its obligations hereunder to make or maintain any LIBOR Rate
Loan, such Lender shall promptly give notice thereof to the Administrative Agent
and the Administrative Agent shall promptly give notice to the Borrower and the
other Lenders. Thereafter, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower
that such circumstances no longer exist, (i) the obligations of the Lenders to
make LIBOR Rate Loans and the right of the Borrower to convert any Loan or
continue any Loan as a LIBOR Rate Loan shall be suspended and thereafter the
Borrower may select only Base Rate Loans hereunder, and (ii) if any of the
Lenders may not lawfully continue to maintain a LIBOR Rate Loan to the end of
the then current Interest Period applicable thereto as a LIBOR Rate Loan, the
applicable LIBOR Rate Loan shall immediately be converted to a Base Rate Loan
for the remainder of such Interest Period.
SECTION 4.15 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 advances, loans or other credit
extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any reserve requirement
reflected in the LIBOR Rate) or any Issuing Lender;
(ii) subject any Lender or any Issuing Lender to any tax of any kind
whatsoever with respect to this Agreement, any Letter of Credit, any
participation in a Letter of Credit or any LIBOR Rate Loan made by it, or
change the basis of taxation of payments to such Lender or such Issuing
Lender in respect thereof (except for Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes
covered by Section 4.17 and the imposition of, or any change in the rate of
any Excluded Tax payable by such Lender or such Issuing Lender); or
(iii) impose on any Lender or any Issuing Lender or the London
interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this
Agreement or LIBOR Rate Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit
or participation therein;
and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such
Lender of making, converting into or maintaining any LIBOR Rate Loan (or of
maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to increase the cost to
such Lender or such Issuing Lender of participating in, issuing or maintaining
any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to
issue any Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or
receivable by such Lender or such Issuing Lender hereunder (whether of
principal, interest or any other amount)
42
then, upon request of such Lender or such Issuing Lender, the Borrower shall
promptly pay to any such Lender or such Issuing Lender, as the case may be, such
additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Issuing
Lender, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction
suffered.
(b) Capital Requirements. If any Lender or any Issuing Lender determines
that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or such Issuing Lender or any
lending office of such Lender or such Lender's or such Issuing Lender's holding
company, if any, regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of
reducing the rate of return on such Lender's or such Issuing Lender's capital or
on the capital of such Lender's or such Issuing Lender's holding company, if
any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the
Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit held by, such Lender, or
the Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Lender, to a level below that which
such Lender or such Issuing Lender or such Lender's or such Issuing Lender's
holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into
consideration such Lender's or such Issuing Lender's policies and the policies
of such Lender's or such Issuing Lender's holding company with respect to
capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower shall promptly pay to
such Lender or such Issuing Lender, as the case may be, such additional amount
or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Issuing Lender or such
Lender's or such Issuing Lender's holding company for any such reduction
suffered.
(c) Certificates for Reimbursement. A certificate of a Lender or an Issuing
Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender
or such Issuing Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified
in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 4.15 and delivered to the Borrower shall
be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender or such
Issuing Lender, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such
certificate within ten (10) days after receipt thereof.
(d) Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or any
Issuing Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section 4.15 shall not
constitute a waiver of such Lender's or such Issuing Lender's right to demand
such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to
compensate a Lender or an Issuing Lender pursuant to this Section 4.15 for any
increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than three (3) months prior
to the date that such Lender or such Issuing Lender, as the case may be,
notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs
or reductions and of such Lender's or such Issuing 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 three-month period
referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect
thereof).
SECTION 4.16 Indemnity. The Borrower hereby indemnifies each of the Lenders
against any loss or expense which may arise or be attributable to each Lender's
obtaining, liquidating or employing deposits or other funds acquired to effect,
fund or maintain any Loan (a) as a consequence of any failure by the Borrower to
make any payment when due of any amount due hereunder in connection with a LIBOR
Rate Loan, (b) due to any failure of the Borrower to borrow, continue or convert
on a date specified therefor in a Notice of Borrowing or Notice of
Conversion/Continuation or (c) due to any payment, prepayment or conversion of
any
43
LIBOR Rate Loan on a date other than the last day of the Interest Period
therefor. The amount of such loss or expense shall be determined, in the
applicable Lender's sole discretion, based upon the assumption that such Lender
funded its Revolving Credit Commitment Percentage of the LIBOR Rate Loans in the
London interbank market and using any reasonable attribution or averaging
methods which such Lender deems appropriate and practical. A certificate of such
Lender setting forth the basis for determining such amount or amounts necessary
to compensate such Lender shall be forwarded to the Borrower through the
Administrative Agent and shall be conclusively presumed to be correct save for
manifest error.
SECTION 4.17 Taxes.
(a) Payments Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any
Obligations shall be made free and clear of and without reduction or withholding
for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes; provided that if the Borrower shall be
required by applicable law to deduct any Indemnified Taxes (including any Other
Taxes) from such payments, then (i) the sum payable shall be increased as
necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions
applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 4.17) the
Administrative Agent, Lender or Issuing Lender, as the case may be, receives an
amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made,
(ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower shall timely
pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in
accordance with Applicable Law; provided, no such additional amount shall be
required to be paid to any Lender under clause (i) above except to the extent of
any change after the date hereof (in the case of each Lender listed on the
signature pages hereof on the Closing Date) or after the effective date of the
Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender became a Lender (in the
case of each other Lender) in any such requirement for a deduction, withholding
or payment from that in effect at the date hereof or at the date of such
Assignment Agreement, as the case may be, in respect of payments to such Lender.
(b) Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower. Without limiting the provisions
of paragraph (a) above, the Borrower shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the
relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.
(c) Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify the
Administrative Agent, each Lender and each Issuing Lender, within thirty (30)
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 4.17) paid by the
Administrative Agent, such Lender or such Issuing 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.
A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the
Borrower by a Lender or an Issuing Lender (with a copy to the Administrative
Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a
Lender or an Issuing Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(d) Evidence of Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment of
Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by the Borrower to a Governmental Authority,
the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a
certified copy of a receipt issued by such
44
Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting
such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the
Administrative Agent.
(e) Status of Lenders. Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption
from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which
the Borrower is resident for tax purposes, or any treaty to which such
jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments hereunder or under any other
Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative
Agent), at the time or times prescribed by Applicable Law or reasonably
requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed
and executed documentation prescribed by Applicable Law as will permit such
payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In
addition, any Lender, if requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent,
shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by Applicable Law or
reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable
the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender
is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower is a
resident for tax purposes in the United States, any Foreign Lender 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 lawfully able to do so), whichever of the following is
applicable:
(i) duly completed copies 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) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI,
(iii) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the
exemption for portfolio interest under section 881(c) of the 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 Code, (B) a "10 percent
shareholder" of the Borrower within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(B) of
the Code, or (C) a "controlled foreign corporation" described in section
881(c)(3)(C) of the Code and (y) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue
Service Form W-8BEN, or
(iv) any other form prescribed by Applicable Law as a basis for
claiming exemption from or a reduction in United States Federal withholding
tax duly completed together with such supplementary documentation as may be
prescribed by Applicable Law to permit the Borrower to determine the
withholding or deduction required to be made.
(f) Treatment of Certain Refunds. If the Administrative Agent, a Lender or
an Issuing Lender determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a
refund of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the
Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid additional amounts
pursuant to this Section 4.17, it shall pay to the Borrower an amount equal to
such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional
amounts paid, by the Borrower under this Section 4.17 with respect to the Taxes
or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of
the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such Issuing Lender, as the case may
be, and without interest (other than
45
any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such
refund); provided that the Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative
Agent, such Lender or such Issuing Lender, agrees to repay the amount paid over
to the Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the
relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent, such Lender or
such Issuing Lender in the event the Administrative Agent, such Lender or such
Issuing Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority.
This paragraph shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent, any
Lender or any Issuing Lender to make available its tax returns (or any other
information relating to its taxes which it deems confidential) to the Borrower
or any other Person.
(g) Failure to Provide Documentation. For any period with respect to which
a Lender has failed to provide the Borrower with the appropriate form,
certificate or other document described in subsection (e) of this Section 4.17
(other than if such failure is due to a change in the applicable law, or in the
interpretation or application thereof, occurring after the date on which a form,
certificate or other document originally was required to be provided or if such
form, certificate or other document otherwise is not required under subsection
(e) of this Section 4.17), such Lender shall not be entitled to indemnification
or payment under subsection (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 4.17 with respect
to Taxes imposed by the United States by reason of such failure; provided,
however, that should a Lender become subject to Taxes because of its failure to
deliver a form, certificate or other document required hereunder, the Borrower
shall take such steps as such Lender may reasonably request to assist such
Lender in recovering such Taxes.
(h) Survival. Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of
the Borrower hereunder, the agreements and obligations of the Borrower contained
in this Section 4.17 shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and
the termination of the Commitments.
SECTION 4.18 Duty to Mitigate; Replacement of Lenders.
(a) Designation of a Different Lending Office. If any Lender requests
compensation under Section 4.15, or requires the Borrower to pay any additional
amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender
pursuant to Section 4.17, then such Lender shall 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
4.15 or Section 4.17, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not
subject such Lender 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 4.15, 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 4.17, or if any Lender defaults in its obligation to fund Loans
hereunder, 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,
46
and consents required by, Section 13.10), 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
(i) the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the
assignment fee specified in Section 13.10,
(ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the
outstanding principal of its Loans and participations in Letters of Credit
funded by such Lender which have not been reimbursed pursuant to the terms
hereof, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts
payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any
amounts under Section 4.16) 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),
(iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for
compensation under Section 4.15 or payments required to be made pursuant to
Section 4.17, such assignment will result in a reduction in such
compensation or payments thereafter, and
(iv) such assignment does not conflict with applicable law.
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.
ARTICLE V
CLOSING; CONDITIONS OF CLOSING AND BORROWING
SECTION 5.1 Closing. The closing shall take place at the offices of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, L.L.P., Charlotte, North Carolina at 9:00 a.m. on
October 20, 2004, or on such other date and at such other place as the parties
hereto shall mutually agree.
SECTION 5.2 Conditions to Closing and Initial Extensions of Credit. The
obligations of the Lenders to close this Agreement and to make the initial Loan
and issue the initial Letters of Credit are subject to the satisfaction of each
of the following conditions:
(a) Executed Loan Documents. This Agreement, the Guaranty Agreement and any
other Loan Documents shall have been duly authorized, executed and delivered to
the Administrative Agent by the parties thereto, shall be in full force and
effect and no default shall exist thereunder, and the Borrower shall have
delivered original counterparts thereof to the Administrative Agent.
(b) Closing Certificates; etc.
(i) Officer's Certificate of the Borrower. The Administrative Agent
shall have received a certificate from the chief executive officer or chief
financial officer of the
47
Borrower, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent,
to the effect that all representations and warranties of the Borrower
contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents are true, correct
and complete; that the Borrower is not in violation of any of the covenants
contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents; that, after
giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, no
Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; and that the
Borrower has satisfied each of the closing conditions.
(ii) Partnership Documents; Secretary's Certificates. The
Administrative Agent shall have received (A) a certificate of the Secretary
or Assistant Secretary of the Borrower and each Guarantor dated the Closing
Date and certifying with respect to the Borrower and each Guarantor (1)
that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of the organizational
documents and all amendments thereto of each of them, certified as of a
recent date by the appropriate Governmental Authority in its jurisdiction
of organization, (2) that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of
the partnership agreement, by-laws or equivalent document of each of them
in effect on the Closing Date and at all times since a date prior to the
date of the resolutions described in clause (3) below, (3) that attached
thereto is a true and complete copy of resolutions duly adopted by the
respective governing boards of each of them authorizing, as applicable, the
execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which it is
party and, in the case of the Borrower, the borrowings hereunder, and that
such resolutions have not been modified, rescinded or amended and are in
full force and effect, (4) that the organizational documents of each of
them have not been amended since the date of the last amendment thereto
shown on the certificate of good standing attached thereto and (5) as to
the incumbency and specimen signature of each officer executing any Loan
Document, Partnership Document or any other document delivered in
connection herewith on its behalf; and (B) a certificate of another officer
as to the incumbency and specimen signature of such Secretary or Assistant
Secretary executing the certificate pursuant to (A) above.
(iii) Certificates of Good Standing. The Administrative Agent shall
have received long-form certificates as of a recent date of the good
standing of the Borrower and each Subsidiary under the laws of their
respective jurisdictions of organization and a certificate of the relevant
taxing authorities of such jurisdictions certifying that such Person has
filed required tax returns and owes no delinquent taxes.
(iv) Opinions of Counsel. The Administrative Agent shall have received
favorable opinions of counsel to the Borrower addressed to the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders with respect to the Borrower, the
Guarantors, the Loan Documents and such other matters as the Lenders shall
request.
(v) Tax Forms. The Administrative Agent shall have received copies of
the United States Internal Revenue Service forms required by Section
4.17(e).
(vi) Insurance Certificate. The Administrative Agent shall have
received a detailed schedule of the Borrower's insurance then in effect,
stating the names of the insurance companies, the amounts and rates of the
insurance, the dates of the expiration thereof and the properties and risks
covered thereby.
48
(c) Consents; Defaults.
(i) Governmental and Third Party Approvals. All necessary approvals,
authorizations and consents, if any be required, of any Person, including,
without limitation, board approvals of the Parent and the General Partner,
as applicable, and of all Governmental Authorities and courts having
jurisdiction with respect to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall have been obtained.
(ii) No Injunction, Etc. No action, proceeding, investigation,
regulation or legislation shall have been instituted, threatened or
proposed before any Governmental Authority to enjoin, restrain, or
prohibit, or to obtain substantial damages in respect of, or which is
related to or arises out of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or
which, in the Administrative Agent's discretion, would make it inadvisable
to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and such
other Loan Documents.
(iii) No Event of Default. No Default or Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing.
(d) Financial Matters.
(i) Financial Statements. The Administrative Agent shall have received
the most recent audited Consolidated financial statements and unaudited
consolidated financial statements for the period ended June 26, 2004 of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries, all in form and substance satisfactory to
the Administrative Agent.
(ii) Payment at Closing; Fee Letters. There shall have been paid by
the Borrower to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders the fees set forth
or referenced in Section 4.9 and any other accrued and unpaid fees or
commissions due hereunder (including, without limitation, legal fees and
expenses), and to any other Person such amount as may be due thereto in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including all taxes,
fees and other charges in connection with the execution, delivery,
recording, filing and registration of any of the Loan Documents.
(e) Miscellaneous.
(i) Notice of Borrowing; Notice of Account Designation. The
Administrative Agent shall have received a Notice of Borrowing from the
Borrower in accordance with Section 4.1(a), and a Notice of Account
Designation specifying the account or accounts to which the proceeds of any
loans made after the Closing Date are to be disbursed.
(ii) Proceedings and Documents. All opinions, certificates and other
instruments and all proceedings in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement shall be satisfactory in form and substance
to the Lenders. The Lenders shall have received copies of all other
instruments and other evidence as the Lender may reasonably
49
request, in form and substance satisfactory to the Lenders, with respect to
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the taking of all
actions in connection therewith.
(iii) Continuation of the Existing Loans. (A) All outstanding
Revolving Credit Loans under the Original Credit Agreement (the "Existing
Revolving Credit Loans") made by any Original Lender who is not a Lender
hereunder shall be repaid in full and the commitments and other obligations
and rights (except as expressly set forth in the Original Credit Agreement)
of such Original Lender shall be terminated, (B) all Existing Revolving
Credit Loans not being repaid under item (A) above, shall be, from and
after the Closing Date, Revolving Credit Loans hereunder and the
Administrative Agent shall make such transfers of funds as are necessary in
order that the outstanding balance of such Revolving Credit Loans, together
with any Revolving Credit Loans funded hereunder on the Closing Date,
reflect the Revolving Credit Commitments of the Lenders hereunder, (C) all
outstanding Acquisition Loans (as defined in the Original Credit Agreement)
under the Original Credit Agreement shall be repaid in full and the
commitments and other obligations and rights (except as expressly set forth
in the Original Credit Agreement) of the Original Lenders in connection
with the Acquisition Loans shall be terminated, (D) all of the Existing
Letters of Credit shall be, from and after the Closing Date, Stand Alone
Letters of Credit hereunder, (E) all accrued but unpaid interest due on the
Existing Revolving Credit Loans and the Acquisition Loans to the Closing
Date shall be paid in cash in full on the Closing Date, (F) all accrued but
unpaid fees under the Original Credit Agreement owing to the Administrative
Agent and the Lenders under the Original Credit Agreement to the Closing
Date shall be paid in cash in full on the Closing Date, and (G) all
outstanding promissory notes issued by the Borrower to the Original Lenders
under the Original Credit Agreement shall be deemed canceled and the
originally executed copies thereof shall be promptly returned to the
Administrative Agent who shall forward such notes to the Borrower.
SECTION 5.3 Conditions to All Extensions of Credit. The obligations of the
Lenders to make any Extension of Credit is subject to the satisfaction of the
following conditions precedent on the relevant borrowing or issue date, as
applicable:
(a) Continuation of Representations and Warranties. The representations and
warranties contained in Article VI or otherwise made by the Borrower or any
Subsidiary in any Loan Document shall be true and correct, in all material
respects, on and as of such borrowing or issuance date with the same effect as
if made on and as of such date.
(b) No Existing Default. No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred
and be continuing hereunder (i) on the borrowing date with respect to such Loan
or after giving effect to the Loans to be made on such date or (ii) or the issue
date with respect to such Letter of Credit or after giving affect to such
Letters of Credit on such date.
(c) Officer's Compliance Certificate; Additional Documents. The
Administrative Agent shall have received the current Officer's Compliance
Certificate and each additional document, instrument, legal opinion or other
item of information reasonably requested by it.
50
ARTICLE VI
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BORROWER
SECTION 6.1 Representations and Warranties. To induce the Administrative
Agent and Lenders to enter into this Agreement and to induce the Lenders to make
the Extensions of Credit, the Borrower hereby represents and warrants to the
Administrative Agent and Lenders both before and after giving effect to the
transactions contemplated hereunder that:
(a) Organization; Power; Qualification. Each of the Borrower, its
Subsidiaries, the Parent and the General Partner is duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation or formation, has the power and authority to own its properties
and to carry on its business as now being and hereafter proposed to be conducted
and is duly qualified and authorized to do business in each jurisdiction in
which the character of its properties or the nature of its business requires
such qualification and authorization, except where the failure to so qualify
would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The jurisdictions in which the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries are organized and qualified to do business are
described on Schedule 6.1(a).
(b) Ownership.
(i) Each Subsidiary of the Borrower is listed on Part I of Schedule
6.1(b). The capitalization of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries consists of
the number of shares of stock or other ownership interests, authorized,
issued and outstanding, of such classes and series, with or without par
value, described on Part I of Schedule 6.1(b). All outstanding shares or
other ownership interests have been duly authorized and validly issued and
are fully paid and nonassessable. The shareholders or other equity owners
of its Subsidiaries of the Borrower and the number of shares or other
ownership interests owned by each are described on Part I of Schedule
6.1(b). There are no outstanding warrants, subscriptions, options,
securities, instruments or other rights of any type or nature whatsoever,
which are convertible into, exchangeable for or otherwise provide for or
permit the issuance of capital stock or other ownership interests of the
Borrower or its Subsidiaries, except as described on Part I of Schedule
6.1(b).
(ii) The sole general partner of the Parent is the General Partner,
which owns 224,625 General Partner Units, representing in the aggregate a
1.0% general partner interest in the Parent. The sole general partner of
the Borrower is the General Partner, which owns a 1.0101% general partner
interest in the Borrower. The only limited partner of the Borrower is the
Parent, which owns a 98.9899% limited partner interest in the Borrower and
the Borrower does not have any partners other than the General Partner and
the Parent. Each General Partner Unit is entitled to share pro rata with
the Common Units in all distributions by the Parent.
(c) Authorization of Agreement, Loan Documents and Borrowing. Each of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries has the right, power and authority and has taken
all necessary corporate and other action to authorize the execution, delivery
and performance of this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents to which
it is a party in accordance with their
51
respective terms. This Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents have been
duly executed and delivered by the duly authorized officers of the Borrower and
each of its Subsidiaries party thereto, and each such document constitutes the
legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower or its Subsidiary party
thereto, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforcement
may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar
state or federal debtor relief laws from time to time in effect which affect the
enforcement of creditors' rights in general and the availability of equitable
remedies.
(d) Compliance of Agreement, Loan Documents and Borrowing with Laws, Etc.
The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries of
the Loan Documents to which each such Person is a party, in accordance with
their respective terms, the borrowings hereunder and the transactions
contemplated hereby do not and will not, by the passage of time, the giving of
notice or otherwise, (i) require any Governmental Approval or violate any
Applicable Law relating to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii)
conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute a default under the articles
of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational documents of the Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries or any indenture, agreement or other instrument to which
such Person is a party or by which any of its properties may be bound or any
Governmental Approval relating to such Person, or (iii) result in or require the
creation or imposition of any Lien upon or with respect to any property now
owned or hereafter acquired by such Person other than Liens arising under the
Loan Documents.
(e) Compliance with Law; Governmental Approvals. Each of the Borrower and
its Subsidiaries (i) has all Governmental Approvals required by any Applicable
Law for it to conduct its business, each of which is in full force and effect,
is final and not subject to review on appeal and is not the subject of any
pending or, to the best of its knowledge, threatened attack by direct or
collateral proceeding, and (ii) is in compliance with each Governmental Approval
applicable to it and in compliance with all other Applicable Laws relating to it
or any of its respective properties, except, in each case, to the extent such
non-compliance would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(f) Tax Returns and Payments. Each of the Borrower, its Subsidiaries, the
General Partner and the Parent has duly filed or caused to be filed all material
federal, state and local tax returns required by Applicable Law to be filed, and
has paid, or made adequate provision for the payment of, all federal, state,
local and other taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it
and its property, income, profits and assets which are due and payable, other
than those the validity of which the Borrower, any Subsidiary, the General
Partner or the Parent is contesting in good faith by appropriate proceedings and
with respect to which the Borrower, such Subsidiary, the General Partner or the
Parent shall, to the extent required by GAAP, have set aside on its books
adequate reserves. No Governmental Authority has asserted any Lien or other
claim against the Borrower or Subsidiary thereof with respect to unpaid taxes
which has not been discharged or resolved. The charges, accruals and reserves on
the books of the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries in respect of federal,
state, local and other taxes for all Fiscal Years and portions thereof since the
organization of the Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries are in the judgment of
the Borrower adequate, and the Borrower does not anticipate any additional taxes
or assessments for any of such years.
52
(g) Intellectual Property Matters. Each of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries owns or possesses rights to use all franchises, licenses,
copyrights, copyright applications, patents, patent rights or licenses, patent
applications, trademarks, trademark rights, trade names, trade name rights,
copyrights and rights with respect to the foregoing which are required to
conduct its business. No event has occurred which permits, or after notice or
lapse of time or both would permit, the revocation or termination of any such
rights, and neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary thereof is liable to any
Person for infringement under Applicable Law with respect to any such rights as
a result of its business operations.
(h) Environmental and Safety Matters. Each of the Business, the Borrower,
each Subsidiary, the General Partner and the Parent has complied in all respects
with all Environmental and Safety Laws except for violations that either alone
or in the aggregate could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect. None of the Business, the Borrower, any Subsidiary, the General
Partner or the Parent has received notice of any failure so to comply which
alone or together with any other such failure could reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the Business, the Borrower, any
Subsidiary, the General Partner or the Parent manages or handles any hazardous
wastes, hazardous substances, hazardous materials, toxic substances or toxic
pollutants referred to in or regulated by Environmental and Safety Laws in
violation of such laws or of any other applicable law where such violation could
reasonably be expected to result, individually or together with other
violations, in a Material Adverse Effect. To the best knowledge of the Borrower,
none of the Business, the Borrower, any Subsidiary, the General Partner or the
Parent has any liabilities or contingent liabilities relating to environmental
or employee health and safety matters (including on-site or off-site
contamination) which, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(i) ERISA.
(i) The Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate is in material compliance
with all applicable provisions of ERISA and the regulations and published
interpretations thereunder and no ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably
expected to occur that, when taken together with all other ERISA Events
could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(ii) Each Employee Benefit Plan that is intended to be qualified under
Section 401(a) of the Code has been determined by the Internal Revenue
Service to be so qualified, and each trust related to such plan has been
determined to be exempt under Section 501(a) of the Code.
(iii) Except where the failure of any of the following representations
to be correct in all material respects could not reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Borrower nor any ERISA
Affiliate has: (A) engaged in a nonexempt prohibited transaction described
in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, (B) incurred any
liability to the PBGC which remains outstanding other than the payment of
premiums and there are no premium payments which are due and unpaid, (C)
failed to make a required contribution or payment to a Multiemployer Plan,
or (D) failed to make a required installment or other required payment
under Section 412 of the Code.
53
(j) Margin Stock. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary thereof is
engaged principally or as one of its activities in the business of extending
credit for the purpose of "purchasing" or "carrying" any "margin stock" (as each
such term is defined or used in the regulations of the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System). No part of the proceeds of any of the Loans will be
used for purchasing or carrying margin stock in violation of, or for any purpose
which violates, the provisions of Regulation T, U or X of such Board of
Governors.
(k) Government Regulation. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary thereof
is an "investment company" or a company "controlled" by an "investment company"
(as each such term is defined or used in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended) and neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary thereof is, or after giving
effect to any Extension of Credit will be, subject to regulation under the
Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or the Interstate Commerce Act, each
as amended, or any other Applicable Law which limits its ability to incur or
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
(l) Agreements. (i) None of the Business, the Borrower, any of its
Subsidiaries, the General Partner nor the Parent is a party to any agreement or
instrument or subject to any restriction in its partnership or corporate
organizational documents that (i) will have the effect of prohibiting or
restraining, or will impose adverse conditions upon, any of the transactions
contemplated hereby or the payment of dividends or the making of any loans,
investments or transfers by any Subsidiary to or in the Borrower or (ii) has
resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(m) No Defaults. None of the Business, the Borrower, any of its
Subsidiaries, the General Partner or the Parent is in default in any manner, and
there is no event or condition which with notice or lapse of time or both would
constitute such a default or event of default, under any indenture or other
agreement or instrument evidencing Indebtedness, any Contingent Obligation set
forth on Schedule 6.1(m) or any other material agreement or instrument to which
it is a party or by which it or any of its properties or assets are or may be
bound, where such default could reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect.
(n) Employee Relations. None of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is,
except as set forth on Schedule 6.1(n), party to any collective bargaining
agreement nor has any labor union been recognized as the representative of its
employees. There are no strikes against the Business, the Borrower or any
Subsidiary pending or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, threatened, other
than strikes which, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The hours worked and payments
made to employees of the Business, the Borrower, each Subsidiary, the General
Partner and the Parent have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards
Act or any other applicable law dealing with such matters except for violations
that either alone or in the aggregate could not reasonably be expected to result
in a Material Adverse Effect. All material payments due from the Business, the
Borrower, any Subsidiary, the General Partner and the Parent, or for which any
claim may be made against the Business, the Borrower, any Subsidiary, the
General Partner or the Parent, on account of wages and employee health and
welfare insurance and other benefits have been paid
54
or accrued as a liability on the books of the Business, the Borrower, such
Subsidiary, the General Partner or the Parent, as applicable, in compliance with
GAAP.
(o) Burdensome Provisions. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary thereof
is subject to any Governmental Approval or Applicable Law which is so unusual or
burdensome as in the foreseeable future could be reasonably expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries do not presently
anticipate that future expenditures needed to meet the provisions of any
statutes, orders, rules or regulations of a Governmental Authority will be so
burdensome as to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(p) Financial Statements. The audited Consolidated balance sheets of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of September 25, 2004 and the related
statements of income and partners' capital and cash flows for the Fiscal Years
then ended, copies of which have been furnished to the Administrative Agent and
each Lender, are complete and correct and fairly present the assets, liabilities
and financial position of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at such dates,
and the results of the operations and changes of financial position for the
periods then ended. All such financial statements, including the related
schedules and notes thereto, have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The
Borrower and its Subsidiaries have no Indebtedness, obligation or other unusual
forward or long-term commitment which is not fairly reflected in the foregoing
financial statements or in the notes thereto.
(q) No Material Adverse Change. Since September 25, 2004 there has been no
material adverse change in the properties, business, operations, prospects, or
condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken
as a whole, and no event has occurred or condition arisen that could reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(r) Solvency. As of the Closing Date and after giving effect to each
Extension of Credit made hereunder, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a
consolidated basis, will be Solvent.
(s) Titles to Properties. Each of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries has
such title to the real property owned by it as is necessary or desirable to the
conduct of its business and valid and legal title to all of its material
personal property and assets, including, but not limited to, those reflected on
the balance sheets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries delivered pursuant to
Section 6.1(p), except those which have been disposed of by the Borrower or its
Subsidiaries subsequent to such date which dispositions have been in the
ordinary course of business, of assets or properties no longer used or usable in
the conduct of its business or as otherwise expressly permitted hereunder.
(t) Liens. None of the properties and assets of the Borrower or any
Subsidiary thereof is subject to any Lien, except Liens permitted pursuant to
Section 10.2. No financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of any
state which names the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof or any of their
respective trade names or divisions as debtor and which has not been terminated,
has been filed in any state or other jurisdiction and neither the Borrower nor
any Subsidiary thereof has signed any such financing statement or any security
agreement
55
authorizing any secured party thereunder to file any such financing statement,
except to perfect those Liens permitted by Section 10.2.
(u) Indebtedness and Contingent Obligations. Schedule 6.1(u) is a complete
and correct listing of all Indebtedness and Contingent Obligations of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries in excess of $5,000,000.
(v) Litigation. There are no actions, suits or proceedings pending nor, to
the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against or in any other way relating
adversely to or affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof or any of their
respective properties in any court or before any arbitrator of any kind or
before or by any Governmental Authority, except for actions, suits or
proceedings that, if adversely determined, could, individually or in the
aggregate, not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(w) Absence of Defaults. No event has occurred or is continuing which
constitutes a Default or an Event of Default, or which constitutes, or which
with the passage of time or giving of notice or both would constitute, a default
or event of default by the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof under any
judgment, decree or order by which the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or any of
their respective properties may be bound or which would require the Borrower or
its Subsidiaries to make any payment thereunder prior to the scheduled maturity
date therefor.
(x) OFAC. None of the Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof: (i)
is a person named on the list of Specially Designated Nationals or Blocked
Persons maintained by OFAC available at ▇▇▇▇://▇▇▇.▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇/▇▇▇▇▇▇▇/
enforcement/ofac/ sdn/index.html, or as otherwise published from time to time;
or (ii) is (A) an agency of the government of a country, (B) an organization
controlled by a country, or (C) a person resident in a country that is subject
to a sanctions program identified on the list maintained by OFAC and available
at ▇▇▇▇://▇▇▇.▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇/▇▇▇▇▇▇▇/▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇/▇▇▇▇/▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇/▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇▇, or as
otherwise published from time to time, as such program may be applicable to such
agency, organization or person; or (iii) derives a substantial portion of its
assets or operating income from investments in or transactions with any such
country, agency, organization or person; and (iv) none of the proceeds from the
loan will be used to finance any operations, investments or activities in, or
make any payments to, any such country, agency, organization, or person.
(y) Accuracy and Completeness of Information. All written information,
reports and other papers and data produced by or on behalf of the Borrower or
any Subsidiary thereof and furnished to the Lenders were, at the time the same
were so furnished, complete and correct in all material respects; provided, that
any projections or pro forma financial information contained in any of the
foregoing are represented and warranted only to have been based upon good faith
estimates and assumptions believed by the management of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries to be reasonable at the time prepared. No document furnished or
written statement made to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders by the
Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof in connection with the negotiation,
preparation or execution of this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents contains
or will contain any untrue statement of a fact material to the creditworthiness
of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or omits or will omit to state a fact
necessary in order to make the
56
statements contained therein not misleading. The Borrower is not aware of any
facts which it has not disclosed in writing to the Administrative Agent having a
Material Adverse Effect, or insofar as the Borrower can now foresee, could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 6.2 Survival of Representations and Warranties, Etc. All
representations and warranties set forth in this Article VI and all
representations and warranties contained in any certificate, or any of the Loan
Documents (including but not limited to any such representation or warranty made
in or in connection with any amendment thereto) shall constitute representations
and warranties made under this Agreement. All representations and warranties
made under this Agreement shall be made or deemed to be made at and as of the
Closing Date, shall survive the Closing Date and shall not be waived by the
execution and delivery of this Agreement, any investigation made by or on behalf
of the Lenders or any borrowing hereunder.
ARTICLE VII
FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND NOTICES
Until all the Obligations have been finally and indefeasibly paid and
satisfied in full and the Commitments terminated, unless consent has been
obtained in the manner set forth in Section 13.12, the Borrower will furnish or
cause to be furnished to the Administrative Agent at its addresses set forth in
Section 13.1, or such other office as may be designated by the Administrative
Agent from time to time:
SECTION 7.1 Financial Statements.
(a) Quarterly Financial Statements. As soon as practicable and in any event
within fifty (50) days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters
(or, if such date is earlier, five (5) days after the date of any required
public filing by the Parent of Form 10-Q for such fiscal quarter with the
Securities and Exchange Commission), an unaudited Consolidated balance sheet of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the close of such fiscal quarter and
unaudited Consolidated statements of income, partners' capital and cash flows
for the fiscal quarter then ended and that portion of the Fiscal Year then
ended, all in reasonable detail setting forth in comparative form the
corresponding figures for the preceding Fiscal Year and prepared by the Borrower
in accordance with GAAP and, if applicable, containing disclosure of the effect
on the financial position or results of operations of any change in the
application of accounting principles and practices during the period, and
certified by the chief financial officer of the Borrower to present fairly in
all material respects the financial condition of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries as of their respective dates and the results of operations of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the respective periods then ended, subject to
normal year end adjustments.
(b) Annual Financial Statements of Borrower. As soon as practicable and in
any event within ninety-five (95) days after the end of each Fiscal Year (or, if
such date is earlier, five (5) days after the date of any required public filing
by the Parent of Form 10-K for such
57
Fiscal Year with the Securities and Exchange Commission), an unaudited
Consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the close
of such Fiscal Year and unaudited Consolidated statements of income, partners'
capital and cash flows for the Fiscal Year then ended, including the notes
thereto, all in reasonable detail setting forth in comparative form the
corresponding figures for the preceding Fiscal Year and prepared by the Borrower
in accordance with GAAP and, if applicable, containing disclosure of the effect
on the financial position or results of operations of any change in the
application of accounting principles and practices during the period, and
certified by the chief financial officer of the Borrower to present fairly in
all material respects the financial condition of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries as of their respective dates and the results of operations of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the respective periods then ended.
(c) Annual Financial Statements of Parent. As soon as practicable and in
any event within ninety-five (95) days after the end of each Fiscal Year (or, if
such date is earlier, five (5) days after the date of any required public filing
by the Parent of Form 10-K for such Fiscal Year with the Securities and Exchange
Commission), an audited Consolidated balance sheet of the Parent and its
Subsidiaries as of the close of such Fiscal Year and audited Consolidated
statements of income, partners' capital and cash flows for the Fiscal Year then
ended, including the notes thereto, all in reasonable detail setting forth in
comparative form the corresponding figures for the preceding Fiscal Year and
audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or other independent certified public
accountants reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and, if
applicable, containing disclosure of the effect on the financial position or
results of operation of any change in the application of accounting principles
and practices during the year, and accompanied by a report thereon by such
certified public accountants that is not qualified with respect to scope
limitations imposed by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or with respect to
accounting principles followed by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries not in
accordance with GAAP.
(d) Annual Projections. Within thirty (30) days following the request of
the Administrative Agent, financial projections of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries for the ensuing four (4) fiscal quarters, such projections to
include, on a quarterly basis, projected income statements, statements of cash
flows and balance sheets, accompanied by a certificate from the chief financial
officer of the Borrower to the effect that, to the best of such officer's
knowledge, such projections are good faith estimates (utilizing reasonable
assumptions) of the financial condition and operations of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries for such period.
SECTION 7.2 Officer's Compliance Certificate. At each time financial
statements are delivered pursuant to Sections 7.1(a) ,(b) or (c), a certificate
of the chief financial officer or the treasurer of the Borrower in the form of
Exhibit F attached hereto (an "Officer's Compliance Certificate").
SECTION 7.3 Other Reports.
(a) Promptly upon receipt thereof, copies of all reports, if any, submitted
to the Parent, the Borrower or their respective Board of Supervisors by their
independent public
58
accountants in connection with their auditing function, including, without
limitation, any management report and any management responses thereto;
(b) promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all
periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by the
General Partner, the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary with the Securities
and Exchange Commission or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of or
all the functions of said Commission, or with any national securities exchange,
or distributed to the holders of Common Unit, as the case may be;
(c) At each time financial statements are delivered pursuant to Section
7.1(b), a certificate of such accountants addressed to the Lenders stating that,
in connection with their audit, nothing came to their attention that caused them
to believe that the Borrower failed to comply with the terms, covenants,
provisions or conditions of Articles VIII, IX, X or XI, insofar as they relate
to financial and accounting matters or, if such is not the case, specifying such
non-compliance and its nature and period of existence;
(d) written notice of any action or decision by the Board of Supervisors of
the Parent to change the amount of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution or not to
pay all or any portion of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, which notice shall
be delivered within three (3) Business Days after such action or decision; and
(e) such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and
financial condition of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (including,
without limitation, any financial or actuarial reports or filings made with
respect to any Employee Benefit Plan) as the Administrative Agent or any Lender
may reasonably request.
SECTION 7.4 Notice of Litigation and Other Matters. Prompt (but in no event
later than ten (10) days after an officer of the Borrower obtains knowledge
thereof) telephonic and written notice of:
(a) the commencement of all proceedings and investigations by or before any
Governmental Authority and all actions and proceedings in any court or before
any arbitrator against or involving the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof or
any of their respective properties, assets or businesses, which, if adversely
determined, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(b) any notice of any violation received by the Borrower or any Subsidiary
thereof from any Governmental Authority including, without limitation, any
notice of violation of Environmental and Safety Laws which in any such case
could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(c) any labor controversy that has resulted in a strike or other work
action against the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof that could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
59
(d) any attachment, judgment, lien, levy or order exceeding $10,000,000
that may be assessed against the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof;
(e) any Default or Event of Default together with a written statement of a
Responsible Officer setting forth details of such Event of Default and the
action which the Borrower has taken, is taking or proposes to take with respect
thereto;
(f) any event which makes any of the representations set forth in Section
6.1 inaccurate in any respect; and
(g) any other development that has resulted in, or could reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 7.5 Accuracy of Information. All written information, reports,
statements and other papers and data furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower
to the Administrative Agent or any Lender (other than financial forecasts)
whether pursuant to this Article VII or any other provision of this Agreement,
or any other of the Loan Documents, shall be, at the time the same is so
furnished, complete and correct in all material respects to the extent necessary
to give the Administrative Agent or any Lender, (a) with respect to financial
statements and reports, complete, true and accurate knowledge of the subject
matter based on the Borrower's knowledge of the financial condition of the
Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries for the date or period to which such financial
statements or reports relate and, (b) with respect to all other written
information, reports, statements and other papers and data, complete, true and
accurate knowledge of the subject matter based on the Borrower's knowledge
thereof.
ARTICLE VIII
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
Until the Obligations have been finally and indefeasibly paid and satisfied
in full and the Commitments terminated, unless consent has been obtained in the
manner provided for in Section 13.12, the Borrower will, and will cause each of
its Subsidiaries to:
SECTION 8.1 Existence; Businesses and Properties.
(i) Do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep
in full force and effect its legal existence and qualify and remain qualified as
a foreign entity in each jurisdiction in which the failure to do so would have a
Material Adverse Effect, except as otherwise permitted by Section 10.5.
(ii) Do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and
keep in full force and effect the rights, licenses, permits, franchises,
authorizations, patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade names material to the
conduct of its business; maintain and operate such business in substantially the
manner in which it is presently conducted and operated; and at all times
maintain and preserve all property material to the conduct of such business and
keep such
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property in good repair, working order and condition and from time to time make,
or cause to be made, all needed and proper repairs, renewals, additions,
improvements and replacements thereto necessary in order that the business
carried on in connection therewith may be properly conducted at all times.
SECTION 8.2 Insurance. Keep its insurable properties adequately insured at
all times by financially sound and reputable insurers; maintain such other
insurance, to such extent and against such risks, including fire and other risks
insured against by extended coverage, as is customary with similarly situated
companies in the same or similar businesses, including public liability
insurance against claims for personal injury or death or property damage
occurring upon in, about or in connection with the use of any properties owned
occupied or controlled by it and maintain such other insurance as may be
required by Applicable Law; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 8.2
shall preclude the Borrower or any Subsidiary from being self-insured to the
extent customary with similarly situated companies in the same or similar
businesses.
SECTION 8.3 Taxes. Pay and discharge promptly when due all taxes,
assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed upon it or upon its
income or profits or in respect of its property, before the same shall become
delinquent or in default, as well as all lawful claims for labor, materials and
supplies or otherwise which, if unpaid, would give rise to a Lien upon such
properties or any part thereof; provided, however, that such payment and
discharge shall not be required with respect to any such tax, assessment,
charge, levy or claim so long as the validity or amount thereof shall be
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and adequate reserves in
respect thereof shall be maintained in accordance with GAAP.
SECTION 8.4 Employee Benefits. Comply in all material respects with the
applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code and furnish to the Administrative
Agent as soon as possible after, and in any event within 10 days after any
Responsible Officer of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate knows or has reason
to know that, any ERISA Event has occurred that, alone or together with any
other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in
liability of the Borrower in an aggregate amount exceeding $5,000,000, a
statement of a Financial Officer setting forth details as to such ERISA Event
and the action, if any, that the Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto.
SECTION 8.5 Access to Premises and Records; Confidentiality. Maintain
financial records in accordance with GAAP, and upon reasonable notice permit
representatives of the Lenders to have access to such financial records and the
premises of the Borrower or any Subsidiary at reasonable times and to make such
excerpts from such records as such representatives deem necessary in connection
with their evaluation of the Borrower's ability to repay the Loans or any
Subsidiary's ability to perform its obligations under the Guaranty Agreement.
Each Lender agrees to keep all information obtained by it pursuant to this
Section 8.5 and all other non-public information delivered to it by the Borrower
or any Subsidiary pursuant to this Agreement confidential except to the extent
that (i) disclosure is made, subject to this confidentiality agreement, to
Affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives of such
Lender or to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, (ii) disclosure of
such information is made pursuant to applicable law, regulations, subpoena,
judicial process or the like or at the request of any regulatory authority to
which it is subject or to its counsel or
61
auditors or in any legal proceeding arising out of this Agreement, (iii) such
information is or becomes publicly available other than by such Lender's breach
of this Section 8.5, (iv) disclosure is made to an actual or prospective
assignee or participant pursuant to Section 13.10 or (v) such information
becomes available to such Lender from a third party which, by making such
information available, has not, to such Lender's knowledge, breached any
obligation of confidentiality it may owe.
SECTION 8.6 Compliance with Laws. Comply with all applicable laws, rules
and regulations, and all orders of any Governmental Authority, applicable to it
or any of its property, business, operations or transactions (including ERISA
and all Environmental and Safety Laws), except where the failure so to comply
could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and
provide prompt written notice to the Lenders following the receipt of any notice
of any violation of any such laws, rules, regulations or orders from any
Governmental Authority charged with enforcing the same where such violation
could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 8.7 Additional Guarantors. Notify the Administrative Agent if at
any time the Borrower or any Subsidiary determines to acquire or form any Person
which would upon such acquisition or formation constitute a domestic Subsidiary
and to cause any such newly acquired or formed domestic Subsidiary to become a
guarantor under the Guaranty Agreement by the execution of documentation
reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent immediately upon such
acquisition or formation.
SECTION 8.8 Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of (a) the Revolving Credit
Loans, Swingline Loans and Letters of Credit (i) for working capital and general
partnership purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and (ii) for payment
of fees and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and (b) the Term
Loan to redeem and refinance, in part, the Senior Notes and the Refinancing
Notes, including any make-whole or premium payments required in connection
therewith, and to pay fees and expenses related thereto.
SECTION 8.9 Partnership Documents. Perform and comply with, and cause each
of the General Partner and the Parent to perform and comply in all material
respects with all its obligations under each of the Partnership Documents to
which it is a party and enforce and cause each of the General Partner and the
Parent to enforce, in all material respects, each such Partnership Document
against each other party thereto.
SECTION 8.10 Compliance with Environmental and Safety Laws. Comply, and use
reasonable efforts to cause all lessees and other Persons occupying its
properties to comply, in all material respects with all Environmental and Safety
Laws and environmental permits applicable to its operations and properties;
obtain and renew all material environmental permits necessary for its operations
and properties; and conduct any necessary remedial action in accordance with
Environmental and Safety Laws; provided, however, that neither the Borrower nor
any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to undertake any remedial action to
the extent that its obligation to do so is being contested in good faith and by
proper proceedings and appropriate reserves are being maintained under GAAP with
respect to such circumstances.
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SECTION 8.11 Preparation of Environmental Reports. If a Default caused by
reason of a breach of Sections 6.1(h) or 8.10 shall have occurred and be
continuing, at the request of the Required Lenders through the Administrative
Agent, provide to Lenders within forty-five (45) days after such request, at the
expense of the Borrower, an environmental site assessment report for the
properties which are the subject of such Default prepared by an environmental
consulting firm acceptable to the Administrative Agent and consented to by the
Borrower (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed),
indicating the presence or absence of hazardous materials and the estimated cost
of any compliance or remedial action in connection with such properties.
SECTION 8.12 Corporate Identity. Do or cause to be done (or refrain from
doing or causing to be done, as the case may be) all things necessary to ensure
that the separate legal identity of the Borrower will at all times be respected
and that neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries will be liable for any
obligations, contractual or otherwise, of the General Partner, the Parent or any
other entity in which the General Partner or the Parent owns any equity
interest, except as permitted under Section 10.6(b) or Section 10.7. Without
limiting the foregoing, the Borrower will (a) observe, and cause the General
Partner and the Parent to observe, all requirements, procedures and formalities
necessary or advisable in order that the Borrower will for all purposes be
considered a validly existing partnership separate and distinct from the General
Partner, the Parent and their other subsidiaries, (b) not permit any commingling
of the assets of the General Partner, the Parent or any of their other
subsidiaries with assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary which would prevent
the assets of the General Partner, the Parent or any of their subsidiaries from
being readily distinguished from the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
and (c) take reasonable and customary actions to ensure that creditors of the
General Partner, the Parent and their other subsidiaries are aware that each
such Person is an entity separate and distinct from the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries.
SECTION 8.13 Federal Reserve Regulations. In the event the Borrower or any
Subsidiary shall use any proceeds of Loans to acquire or carry any Margin Stock,
the Borrower will not at any time thereafter permit more than 25% of the value
of the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries subject to the provisions of
Section 10.2 or 10.5 to be Margin Stock.
SECTION 8.14 Available Cash Reserves. Maintain an amount of cash reserves
that is necessary or appropriate in the reasonable discretion of the Board of
Supervisors of the Borrower to (i) provide for the proper conduct of the
business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (including reserves for future
capital expenditures) subsequent to such quarter, (ii) comply with applicable
law or any loan agreement (including, but not limited to, this Agreement),
security agreement, mortgage, debt instrument or other agreement or obligation
to which the Borrower or any, Subsidiary is a party or by which it is bound or
its assets are subject and (iii) provide funds for distributions to partners of
the Parent and the General Partner in respect of any one or more of the next
four quarters; provided that disbursements made or cash reserves established,
increased or reduced after the end of any quarter but on or before the date of
determination of Available Cash with respect to such quarter shall be deemed to
have been made, established, increased or reduced for purposes of determining
Available Cash, within such quarter if the Board of Supervisors of the Company
so determines. In addition, without limitation or duplication of the foregoing,
Available Cash for any fiscal quarter shall reflect an
63
amount of cash reserves equal to the reserves required pursuant to the last
paragraph of the definition of "Available Cash".
SECTION 8.15 Further Assurances. Make, execute and deliver all such
additional and further acts, things, deeds and instruments as the Administrative
Agent or any Lender may reasonably require to document and consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby and to vest completely in and insure the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders their respective rights under this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
ARTICLE IX
FINANCIAL COVENANTS
Until all of the Obligations have been finally and indefeasibly paid and
satisfied in full and the Commitments terminated, unless consent has been
obtained in the manner set forth in Section 13.11, the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries on a Consolidated basis will not:
SECTION 9.1 Interest Coverage Ratio. Permit the ratio of EBITDA to Interest
Expense as of the end of any fiscal quarter for the four-quarter-period ending
as of such date to be less than 2.50 to 1.00.
SECTION 9.2 Leverage Ratio. Permit the Leverage Ratio as of the end of any
fiscal quarter to be greater than 4.00 to 1.00.
ARTICLE X
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
Until all of the Obligations have been finally and indefeasibly paid and
satisfied in full and the Commitments terminated, unless consent has been
obtained in the manner set forth in Section 14.11, the Borrower will not, and
will not cause or permit any of its Subsidiaries to:
SECTION 10.1 Indebtedness. Incur, create, assume or permit to exist any
Indebtedness, except:
(a) Indebtedness for borrowed money existing on the date hereof in an
aggregate principal amount not in excess of $100,000;
(b) Indebtedness created hereunder and under the other Loan Documents;
(c) in the case of the Guarantors, the Guarantees under the Guaranty
Agreement;
(d) [Intentionally Omitted]
(e) [Intentionally Omitted]
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(f) [Intentionally Omitted]
(g) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary to any
Subsidiary or the Borrower, as the case may be;
(h) Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries owed to any Person
providing worker's compensation, health, disability or other employee benefits
or property, casualty or liability insurance to the Borrower or any Subsidiary,
pursuant to reimbursement or indemnification obligations to such Person;
(i) Indebtedness of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries in respect of
performance bonds, bid bonds, appeal bonds, surety bonds and similar
obligations, in each case provided in the ordinary course of business, including
those incurred to secure health, safety and environmental obligations in the
ordinary course of business, and any extension, renewal or refinancing thereof
to the extent not provided to secure the repayment of other Indebtedness and to
the extent that the amount of refinancing Indebtedness is not greater than the
amount of Indebtedness being refinanced;
(j) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial
institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient
funds in the ordinary course of business; provided that such Indebtedness is
extinguished within two (2) Business Days of its incurrence;
(k) Indebtedness of a Subsidiary acquired after the date hereof and
Indebtedness of a corporation merged or consolidated with or into the Borrower
or any Subsidiary after the date hereof, which Indebtedness in each case exists
at the time of such acquisition, merger, consolidation or conversion into a
Subsidiary and is not created in contemplation of such event and where such
acquisition, merger or consolidation is otherwise permitted by this Agreement;
provided that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness under this
paragraph (k) shall not at any time exceed $5,000,000;
(l) Indebtedness incurred, issued or assumed by the Borrower (i) to finance
the acquisitions, improvements or repairs (to the extent such improvements and
repairs may be capitalized on the books of the Borrower in accordance with GAAP)
of, or additions to, the property and assets of the Borrower, or (ii) to
replace, extend, renew, refund or refinance any such Indebtedness; provided
that:
(i) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness incurred in
connection with any such replacement, extension, renewal, refunding or
refinancing shall not exceed the outstanding principal amount of
Indebtedness so replaced, extended, renewed, refunded or refinanced;
(ii) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness incurred under
this clause (l) and outstanding at any time shall not exceed (A)
$25,000,000 plus (B) an amount equal to the aggregate net proceeds received
by the Borrower as consideration for the issuance by the
65
Borrower of additional partnership interests or as a capital contribution
in each case for the purpose of financing such acquisitions, improvements,
repairs or additions less (C) any amount of reductions in the Revolving
Credit Commitments pursuant to Section 4.5;
(iii) such Indebtedness is secured by a Lien on the property or assets
so acquired, improved or repaired and does not include a negative pledge on
any other assets of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries;
(m) obligations described under clause (j) of the definition of
"Indebtedness" in an aggregate stated amount at any time outstanding, not in
excess of $5,000,000;
(n) obligations under Commodity Hedging Agreements respecting actual
volumes of propane inventory of the Borrower incurred in accordance with the
Borrower's commodity hedging policy, previously approved by the Lenders;
(o) Indebtedness incurred in connection with Hedging Agreements entered
into with respect to the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary with a
counterparty and upon terms and conditions (including interest rate) reasonably
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; provided that any counterparty that is
a Lender shall be deemed satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;
(p) Indebtedness incurred in connection with Swap Agreements entered into
with respect to the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than Hedging
Agreements permitted pursuant to Section 10.1(o)) in an aggregate amount not to
exceed $15,000,000 (valued at the termination value thereof computed in
accordance with a method approved by the International Swap Dealers Association
and agreed to by such Person in the applicable Swap Agreement, if any) on any
date of determination; and
(q) other unsecured Indebtedness of the Borrower in an aggregate principal
amount at any time outstanding not in excess of $5,000,000.
SECTION 10.2 Liens. Create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on
any property or assets (including stock or other securities of any Person,
including any Subsidiary) now owned or hereafter acquired by it or any income or
revenues or rights in respect or any thereof, or sell or transfer any account
receivable or any right in respect thereof, except:
(a) Liens on property or assets of the Borrower existing on the date hereof
and set forth in Schedule 10.2; provided that such Liens shall secure only those
obligations that they secure on the date hereof and shall not apply to any other
property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;
(b) any Lien arising as a result of a transaction permitted under Section
10.5(e);
(c) any Lien existing on any property or asset of the Borrower or any
Subsidiary prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or any Subsidiary
securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 10.1(k); provided that (i) such Lien
is not created in contemplation of or in connection
66
with such acquisition and (ii) such Lien does not apply to any other property or
asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;
(d) Liens (other than any Lien imposed by ERISA) incurred and pledges and
deposits made in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers'
compensation, unemployment insurance, old-age pensions, retiree health benefits
and other social security benefits and deposits securing liability to insurance
carriers under insurance or self-insurance arrangements in respect of such
obligations;
(e) Liens securing the performance of bids, tenders, leases, contracts
(other than for the repayment of borrowed money), statutory obligations surety,
customs and appeal bonds and other obligations of a like nature, incurred as an
incident to and in the ordinary course of business;
(f) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers', warehousemen's, mechanics',
materialmen's and vendors' liens, incurred in good faith in the ordinary course
of business and securing obligations which are not yet due or which are being
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings as to which the Borrower or a
Subsidiary, as the case may be, shall have, to the extent required by GAAP, set
aside on its books adequate reserves;
(g) Liens securing the payment of taxes, assessments and governmental
charges or levies, either (i) not delinquent or (ii) being contested in good
faith by appropriate legal or administrative proceedings and as to which the
Borrower or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, shall have, to the extent required
by GAAP, set aside on its books adequate reserves;
(h) zoning restrictions, easements, licenses, reservations, provisions,
covenants, conditions, waivers, restrictions on the use of property or
irregularities of title (and with respect to leasehold interests, mortgages,
obligations, liens and other encumbrances incurred, created, assumed or
permitted to exist and arising by, through or under a landlord or owner of the
leased property, with or without consent of the lessee) which do not in the
aggregate materially detract from the value of its property or assets or
materially impair the use thereof in the operation of its business;
(i) Liens on the property or assets of any Subsidiary in favor of the
Borrower or any other Wholly-Owned Subsidiary;
(j) extensions, renewals and replacements of Liens referred to in
paragraphs (a) through (i) of this Section 10.2; provided that any such
extension, renewal or replacement Lien shall be limited to the property or
assets (or improvements thereon) covered by the Lien extended, renewed or
replaced and that the obligations secured by any such extension, renewal or
replacement Lien shall be in an amount not greater than the amount of the
obligations secured by the Lien extended, renewed or replaced;
(k) attachment or judgment Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default and
which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;
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(l) leases or subleases of equipment to customers that do not materially
interfere with the conduct of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
taken as a whole;
(m) Liens consisting of interests of lessors under Capital Leases permitted
hereunder;
(n) any Lien created to secure all or any part of the purchase price, or to
secure Indebtedness incurred or assumed to pay all or any part of the purchase
price or cost of construction, of property acquired or constructed by the
Borrower or a Subsidiary after the date hereof; provided, that (i) any such Lien
shall be confined solely to the item or items of such property (or improvement
therein) so acquired or constructed and, if required by the terms of the
instrument creating such Lien, other property (or improvement thereon) which is
an improvement to such acquired or constructed property, (ii) any such Lien
shall be created contemporaneously with, or within ten (10) Business Days after,
the acquisition or construction of such property, and (iii) such Lien does not
exceed an amount equal to 85% (100% in the case of Capital Leases) of the fair
market value of such assets (as determined in good faith by the Board of
Supervisors of the Borrower) at the time of acquisition thereof;
(o) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted by Section 10.1(l);
(p) Liens securing Indebtedness (including interests of lessors under
Capital Leases) permitted by Section 10.1, so long as immediately after giving
effect thereto, the aggregate amount of the Indebtedness secured by such Liens
shall not exceed 2.5% of Total Assets; and
(q) Liens on accounts receivable granted by any ESCO in connection with a
Consolidated Billing Program.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower will not, and will not permit any
Subsidiary to, create, assume or incur any Lien upon or with respect to any of
its proprietary software developed by or on behalf of the Borrower or its
Affiliates and necessary and useful for the conduct of the Business.
SECTION 10.3 Sale and Lease-Back Transactions. Enter into any arrangement,
directly or indirectly, with any Person whereby it shall sell or transfer any
property, real or personal used or useful in its business, whether now owned or
hereafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such property or other property
which it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the
property being sold or transferred, in an aggregate amount not to exceed
$25,000,000.
SECTION 10.4 Investments, Loans and Advances. Directly or indirectly
purchase or own any stock, obligations or securities of, or any other interest
in, or make any capital contribution to, any Person, or make or permit to remain
outstanding any loan or advance to, or guarantee, endorse or otherwise be or
become contingently liable, directly or indirectly, in connection with the
obligations of any Person, or make any other Investment, except:
(a) Investments (i) arising out of loans and advances to employees incurred
in the ordinary course of business, (ii) arising out of extensions of trade
credit or advances to third
68
parties in the ordinary course of business and (iii) acquired by reason of the
exercise of customary creditors' rights upon default or pursuant to the
bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of a debtor;
(b) Guarantees that constitute Indebtedness to the extent permitted by
Sections 9.2 and 10.1 and other Guarantees that are not Guarantees of
Indebtedness and are undertaken in the ordinary course of business;
(c) Investments in (collectively, "Cash Equivalents")
(i) marketable obligations issued or unconditionally guaranteed by the
United States of America, or issued by any agency thereof and backed by the
full faith and credit of the United States of America, in each case
maturing within one year or less from the date of acquisition thereof;
(ii) marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United
States of America or any political subdivision of any such state or any
public instrumentality thereof maturing within one year from the date of
acquisition thereof and having as at such date the highest rating
obtainable from either Standard & Poor's Rating Group or ▇▇▇▇▇'▇ Investors
Service, Inc.;
(iii) commercial paper maturing no more than 270 days from the date of
creation thereof and having as at the date of acquisition thereof one of
the two highest ratings obtainable from either Standard & Poor's Rating
Group or ▇▇▇▇▇'▇ Investors Service, Inc.;
(iv) certificates of deposit maturing one year or less from the date
of acquisition thereof issued by commercial banks incorporated under the
laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District
of Columbia or Canada or issued by the United States branch of any
commercial bank organized under the laws of any country in Western Europe
or Japan, with capital and stockholders' equity of at least $500,000,000
(or the equivalent in the currency of such country), (A) the commercial
paper or other short term unsecured debt obligations of which are as at
such date rated either A-2 or better (or comparably if the rating system is
changed) by Standard & Poor's Rating Group or Prime-2 or better (or
comparably if the rating system is changed) by ▇▇▇▇▇'▇ Investors Service,
Inc. or (B) the long-term debt obligations of which are as at such date
rated either A or better (or comparably if the rating system is changed) by
Standard & Poor's Rating Group or A-2 or better (or comparably if the
rating system is changed) by ▇▇▇▇▇'▇ Investors Service, Inc. ("Permitted
Banks");
(v) Eurodollar time deposits having a maturity of less than 270 days
from the date of acquisition thereof purchased directly from any Permitted
Bank;
(vi) bankers' acceptances eligible for rediscount under requirements
of The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and accepted by
Permitted Banks;
(vii) money market funds having assets of not less than $500,000,000;
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(viii) obligations of the type described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii),
(iv) or (v) above purchased from a securities dealer designated as a
"primary dealer" by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or from a
Permitted Bank as counterparty to a written repurchase agreement obligating
such counterparty to repurchase such obligations not later than fourteen
(14) days after the purchase thereof and which provides that the
obligations which are the subject thereof are held for the benefit of the
Borrower or a Subsidiary by a custodian which is a Permitted Bank and which
is not a counterparty to the repurchase agreement in question;
(d) liabilities with respect to any Swap Agreements or Commodities Hedging
Agreements; and
(e) investments made by a Subsidiary in the Borrower.
SECTION 10.5 Mergers, Consolidations, Sales of Assets and Acquisitions.
Merge into or consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to
merge into or consolidate with it, or sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose
of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or any substantial
part of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired), or purchase, lease
or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) all or any
substantial part of the assets of, or any division or line of business of, any
other Person, except that this Section 10.5 shall not prohibit;
(a) the purchase and sale of inventory in the ordinary course of business
by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or the acquisition of facilities and equipment
in the ordinary course of business;
(b) if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no
Event of Default or Default shall have occurred and be continuing
(i) the merger of any Subsidiary into the Borrower in a transaction in
which the Borrower is the surviving Person, or the merger or consolidation
of any Subsidiary with and into any other Wholly-Owned domestic Subsidiary,
in each case in a transaction in which no Person other than the Borrower or
a Subsidiary receives any consideration; and
(ii) the merger of any other Person with and into the Borrower or a
Subsidiary if the Borrower or such Subsidiary is the surviving entity and
after giving effect to such transaction (A) the Consolidated Net Worth of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be not less than the Consolidated
Net Worth of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries immediately prior to such
transaction, (B) substantially all the assets and business of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries shall be located in the United States and (C) the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be in compliance, on a pro forma basis
after giving effect to such transaction, with the covenants contained in
Article IX recomputed as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal
quarter of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as if such transaction had
occurred on the first day of each relevant period for testing such
compliance, and the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative
Agent an Officer's Compliance Certificate to such effect, together with all
relevant financial information and calculations demonstrating such
compliance;
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(c) Permitted Business Acquisitions and other investments permitted by
Section 10.4;
(d) sales, leases or other dispositions of equipment or real property of
the Borrower or its Subsidiaries determined by the Board of Supervisors of the
Borrower or senior management of the Borrower to be no longer useful or
necessary in the operation of the business of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries;
(e) sales, leases or other dispositions of property for consideration
(i) at least 80% of which consists of cash and the remainder of which
consists of investments permitted under Section 10.4, or
(ii) consisting of cash and one or more Permitted Business
Acquisitions which the Board of Supervisors of the Borrower shall have
determined, as evidenced by a resolution thereof, have in the aggregate a
fair market value not less than the fair market value of the property being
sold, leased or otherwise disposed of; provided that (A) no issuance of the
Capital Stock (or of any warrant, right or option to purchase or otherwise
acquire any such Capital Stock or any security convertible into or
exchangeable for any such Capital Stock) of any Subsidiary may be made to
any Person other than the Borrower or a Wholly-Owned domestic Subsidiary
except for the purpose of qualifying directors or in satisfaction of
pre-emptive rights of holders of minority interests which are triggered by
an issuance of Capital Stock to the Borrower or any Wholly-Owned domestic
Subsidiary and (B) no sale may be made of the Capital Stock (or of any
warrant, right or option to purchase or otherwise acquire any such Capital
Stock or any security convertible into or exchangeable for any such Capital
Stock) of any Subsidiary except in connection with a sale, transfer or
other disposition in which (1) simultaneously with such sale, transfer or
disposition, all the Capital Stock and Indebtedness of such Subsidiary at
the time owned by the Borrower and any other Subsidiary shall be sold,
transferred or disposed of as an entirety; (2) in the case of any such
transaction involving value of $1,000,000 or more, the Board of Supervisors
of the Borrower shall have determined, as evidenced by a resolution
thereof, that the proposed sale, transfer or disposition of such Capital
Stock and Indebtedness is in the best interests of the Borrower; (3) such
Capital Stock and Indebtedness are sold, transferred or otherwise disposed
of to a Person for cash or other consideration that would constitute an
investment permitted under Section 10.4 and, in the case of any such
transaction involving value of $1,000,000 or more, on terms reasonably
determined by the Board of Supervisors of the Borrower to be adequate and
satisfactory; (4) the Subsidiary being disposed of shall not have any
continuing investment in the Borrower or any other Subsidiary not being
simultaneously disposed of; and (5) such sale, transfer or other
disposition shall not otherwise be prohibited by this Agreement; and
(f) sales of accounts receivable by any ESCO in connection with a
Consolidated Billing Program.
SECTION 10.6 Restricted Payments. Directly or indirectly declare, order,
pay, make or set apart any sum for any Restricted Payment, except that:
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(a) the Borrower may declare or order, and make, pay or set apart, once
during each fiscal quarter, a Restricted Payment in an amount not exceeding the
sum of an amount to be distributed by the Parent to its partners promptly upon
receipt from the Borrower plus an amount equal to the proportionate distribution
from the Borrower to the General Partner in respect of such distribution,
(b) the Borrower may declare or order, and make, pay or set apart,
Restricted Payments to the General Partner and the Parent to fund the payment by
them of tax liabilities, legal, accounting and other professional fees and
expenses, compensation, fees and expenses of the Elected Supervisors of the
Parent (as defined in the Parent Partnership Agreement) and indemnification of
and contribution to all Persons entitled to indemnification or contribution
under Section 8.14 of the Parent Partnership Agreement (as in effect on the
Closing Date), any fees and expenses associated with registration statements
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and subsequent ongoing public
reporting requirements, and other liabilities, obligations or costs of the
General Partner or the Parent in each case to the extent actually incurred by
the General Partner or the Parent, as applicable, in connection with, arising
from, or relating to the Business or the Parent's ownership of Capital Stock of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, and
(c) the Borrower may declare or order, and make, pay or set apart,
Restricted Payments to the Parent at such times and in such amounts as necessary
to fund the Parent Debt Service;
provided that
(i) the aggregate amount of Restricted Payments declared or ordered,
or made, paid, or set apart in any fiscal quarter shall not exceed
Available Cash for the immediately preceding fiscal quarter and
(ii) no Default or Event of Default then exists and is continuing, or
would be caused by such Restricted Payment, and the Borrower and it
Subsidiaries shall be in compliance, on a pro forma basis, with the
covenants contained in Article IX recomputed as of the last day of the most
recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as if
such action had occurred on the first day of each relevant period for
testing such compliance, and the Borrower shall have delivered to the
Administrative Agent an officer's certificate in form and substance
satisfactory to the Administrative Agent to such effect on the date such
Restricted Payment is declared or ordered, together with all relevant
financial information and calculations demonstrating such compliance.
The Borrower will comply with the reserve provisions required under the
definition of Available Cash. The Borrower will not, in any event, directly or
indirectly declare, order, pay or make any Restricted Payment except in cash.
The Borrower will not permit any Subsidiary to declare, order, pay or make any
Restricted Payment or to set apart any sum or property for any such purpose
other than to (i) the Borrower or any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary and (ii) so long
as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would
be caused thereby, all holders of Capital Stock of or other equity interests in
such Subsidiary on a pro rata basis.
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SECTION 10.7 Transactions with Affiliates. Sell or transfer any assets to,
or purchase or acquire any assets from, or otherwise engage in any material
transaction with, any Affiliate except upon fair and reasonable terms no less
favorable to the Borrower or any Subsidiary than those that would prevail in an
arm's-length transaction with a Person which was not an Affiliate and in a
transaction entered into in the ordinary course of business and pursuant to the
reasonable requirements at the time of the Borrower or such Subsidiary; provided
that this Section 10.7 shall not apply to (a) Restricted Payments permitted
under Section 10.6, (b) indemnification of and contribution to all Persons
entitled to indemnification or contribution under Section 7.14 of the Borrower
Partnership Agreement (as in effect on the Closing Date) to the extent such
indemnification or contribution arises from business or activities in connection
with the Business (including securities issuances in connection with funding the
Business) or (c) transactions between the Borrower and any Wholly-Owned domestic
Subsidiary, or between Wholly-Owned domestic Subsidiaries or between
Wholly-Owned foreign Subsidiaries.
SECTION 10.8 Business of Borrower and Subsidiaries. Engage at any time in
any business or business activity other than the business currently conducted by
it and business activities reasonably incidental thereto, except to the extent
resulting from any acquisition permitted under Section 10.5.
SECTION 10.9 Material Agreements; Tax Status.
(a) (i) Directly or indirectly, make any payment, retirement, repurchase or
redemption on account of the principal of or directly or indirectly prepay or
defease any Indebtedness prior to the stated maturity date of such Indebtedness
(other than Indebtedness under the Loan Documents), (ii) make any payment or
prepayment of any such Indebtedness that would violate the terms of this
Agreement or of such Indebtedness, any agreement or document evidencing, related
to or securing the payment or performance of such Indebtedness or any
subordination agreement or provision applicable to such Indebtedness or (iii)
pay in cash any amount in respect of any Indebtedness that may at the Borrower's
option be paid in kind; provided that nothing in this Section 10.9 shall
prohibit the termination of any Swap Agreement.
(b) Amend or modify in any manner adverse to the Lenders any Partnership
Document or terminate in any manner any Partnership Document.
(c) Permit any Subsidiary to enter into any agreement or instrument that by
its terms restricts the payment of dividends or the making of cash advances by
such Subsidiary to the Borrower or any Subsidiary that is a direct or indirect
parent of such Subsidiary, other than those set forth in the Loan Documents.
(d) Permit the Parent or the Borrower to be treated as an association
taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for Federal
income tax purposes.
SECTION 10.10 Lease Obligations. Permit the aggregate obligations that are
due and payable during any Fiscal Year of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
under leases (other than obligations under Capital Leases) to exceed $30,000,000
during such Fiscal Year.
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SECTION 10.11 Commodity Hedging Policy. The Borrower shall not amend the
Borrower's commodity hedging policy in place as of the Closing Date as set forth
on Schedule 8.16 in any manner that increases the risk exposure of the Borrower
(including, without limitation, any increase of the limits thereunder) without
the prior written consent of the Required Lenders, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld.
SECTION 10.12 Certain Accounting Changes. Change its Fiscal Year end, or
make any change in its accounting treatment and reporting practices except as
required by GAAP.
SECTION 10.13 Restrictive Agreements. Enter into any Indebtedness which
contains any covenants (including, without limitation, a negative pledge on
assets) more restrictive than the provisions of Articles VIII, IX and X.
ARTICLE XI
DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
SECTION 11.1 Events of Default. Each of the following shall constitute an
Event of Default, whatever the reason for such event and whether it shall be
voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any
judgment or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any
Governmental Authority or otherwise:
(a) Default in Payment of Principal of Loans and Reimbursement Obligations.
The Borrower shall default in any payment of principal of any Loan or
Reimbursement Obligation when and as due (whether at maturity, by reason of
acceleration or otherwise).
(b) Other Payment Default. The Borrower shall default in the payment when
and as due (whether at maturity, by reason of acceleration or otherwise) of
interest on any Loan or Reimbursement Obligation or the payment of any other
Obligation, and such default shall continue unremedied for three (3) Business
Days.
(c) Misrepresentation. Any representation or warranty made or deemed to be
made by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries under this Agreement, any Loan
Document or any amendment hereto or thereto, shall prove to have been incorrect
or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed made.
(d) Default in Performance of Certain Covenants. The Borrower shall default
in the performance or observance of any covenant or agreement contained in
Section 7.1, 7.2, 7.4(e) or Articles IX or X of this Agreement.
(e) Default in Performance of Other Covenants and Conditions. The Borrower
or any Subsidiary thereof shall default in the performance or observance of any
term, covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than
as specifically provided for otherwise in this Section 11.1) or any other Loan
Document and such default shall continue for a
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period of thirty (30) days after written notice thereof has been given to the
Borrower by the Administrative Agent.
(f) Indebtedness Cross-Default. The Parent, the Borrower or any of their
Subsidiaries shall (i) default in the payment of any Indebtedness (other than
that evidenced by the Loans or any Reimbursement Obligation; but including,
without limitation, the Indebtedness evidenced by the Parent Notes), the
aggregate outstanding amount of which Indebtedness is in excess of $10,000,000
beyond the period of grace if any, provided in the instrument or agreement under
which such Indebtedness was created, or (ii) default in the observance or
performance of any other agreement or condition relating to any Indebtedness
(other than that evidenced by the Loans or any Reimbursement Obligation; but
including, without limitation, the Indebtedness evidenced by the Parent Notes)
the aggregate outstanding amount of which Indebtedness is in excess of
$10,000,000, or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or
relating thereto or any other event shall occur or condition exist, the effect
of which default or other event or condition is to cause, or to permit the
holder or holders of such Indebtedness (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such
holder or holders) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, any such
Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity (any applicable grace
period having expired).
(g) Other Cross-Defaults. The Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall
default in the payment when due, or in the performance or observance, of any
obligation or condition of any material contract or agreement unless, but only
as long as, the existence of any such default is being contested by the Borrower
or such Subsidiary in good faith by appropriate proceedings and adequate
reserves in respect thereof have been established on the books of the Borrower
or such Subsidiary to the extent required by GAAP.
(h) Change in Ownership. A Change in Ownership shall occur.
(i) Voluntary Bankruptcy Proceeding. The Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof
shall (i) commence a voluntary case under the federal bankruptcy laws (as now or
hereafter in effect), (ii) file a petition seeking to take advantage of any
other laws, domestic or foreign, relating to bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, winding up or composition for adjustment of debts, (iii) consent
to or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner any petition filed
against it in an involuntary case under such bankruptcy laws or other laws, (iv)
apply for or consent to, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner,
the appointment of, or the taking of possession by, a receiver, custodian,
trustee, or liquidator of itself or of a substantial part of its property,
domestic or foreign, (v) admit in writing its inability to pay its debts as they
become due, (vi) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or
(vii) take any corporate action for the purpose of authorizing any of the
foregoing.
(j) Involuntary Bankruptcy Proceeding. A case or other proceeding shall be
commenced against the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof in any court of
competent jurisdiction seeking (i) relief under the federal bankruptcy laws (as
now or hereafter in effect) or under any other laws, domestic or foreign,
relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, winding up or adjustment of
debts, or (ii) the appointment of a trustee, receiver, custodian, liquidator or
the like for the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof or for all or any
substantial part
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of their respective assets, domestic or foreign, and such case
or proceeding shall continue undismissed or unstayed for a period of sixty (60)
consecutive days, or an order granting the relief requested in such case or
proceeding (including, but not limited to, an order for relief under such
federal bankruptcy laws) shall be entered.
(k) Failure of Agreements. Any provision of this Agreement or any provision
of any other Loan Document shall for any reason cease to be valid and binding on
the Borrower or any Subsidiary party thereto or any such Person shall so state
in writing, other than in accordance with the express terms hereof or thereof.
(l) ERISA Event. The occurrence of any ERISA Event that, when taken
together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, results in or could
reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower and its ERISA
Affiliates in an aggregate amount exceeding $10,000,000.
(m) Judgment. A judgment or order for the payment of money which causes the
aggregate amount of all such judgments to exceed $10,000,000 in any Fiscal Year
shall be entered against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries by any court
and such judgment or order shall continue undischarged or unstayed for a period
of thirty (30) days.
SECTION 11.2 Remedies. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, with the
consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent may, or upon the
request of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent shall, by notice to
the Borrower:
(a) Acceleration; Termination of Credit Facilities. Declare the principal
of and interest on the Loans and the Reimbursement Obligations at the time
outstanding, and all other amounts owed to the Lenders and to the Administrative
Agent under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents (including,
without limitation, all L/C Obligations, whether or not the beneficiaries of the
then outstanding Letters of Credit shall have presented the documents required
thereunder) and all other Obligations (other than Swap Obligations), to be
forthwith due and payable, whereupon the same shall immediately become due and
payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of
which are expressly waived, anything in this Agreement or the other Loan
Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, and terminate the Credit Facilities
and any right of the Borrower to request borrowings or Letters of Credit
thereunder; provided, that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default specified
in Section 11.1(i) or (j), the Credit Facilities shall be automatically
terminated and all Obligations (other than Swap Obligations) shall automatically
become due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of
any kind, all of which are expressly waived, anything in this Agreement or in
any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding.
(b) Letters of Credit. With respect to all Letters of Credit with respect
to which presentment for honor shall not have occurred at the time of an
acceleration pursuant to Section 11.2(a), require the Borrower at such time to
deposit in a cash collateral account with the Administrative Agent an amount
equal to the aggregate then undrawn and unexpired amount of such Letters of
Credit; provided, that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in
Section 11.1(i) or (j), the obligation of the Borrower to cash collateralize
such Letters of Credit
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shall automatically become effective without further action of the
Administrative Agent or any Lender. Amounts held in such cash collateral account
shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to the payment of drafts drawn
under such Letters of Credit, and the unused portion thereof after all such
Letters of Credit shall have expired or been fully drawn upon, if any, shall be
applied to repay the other Obligations. After all such Letters of Credit shall
have expired or been fully drawn upon, the Reimbursement Obligation shall have
been satisfied and all other Obligations shall have been paid in full, the
balance, if any, in such cash collateral account shall be returned to the
Borrower.
(c) Rights of Collection. Exercise on behalf of the Lenders all of its
other rights and remedies under this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and
Applicable Law, in order to satisfy all of the Borrower's Obligations.
SECTION 11.3 Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Non-Waiver; etc. The
enumeration of the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders set forth in this Agreement is not intended to be exhaustive and the
exercise by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders of any right or remedy
shall not preclude the exercise of any other rights or remedies, all of which
shall be cumulative, and shall be in addition to any other right or remedy given
hereunder or under the Loan Documents or that may now or hereafter exist in law
or in equity or by suit or otherwise. No delay or failure to take action on the
part of the Administrative Agent or any Lender in exercising any right, power or
privilege shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial
exercise of any such right, power or privilege preclude other or further
exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege or shall
be construed to be a waiver of any Event of Default. No course of dealing
between the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders or their
respective agents or employees shall be effective to change, modify or discharge
any provision of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or to
constitute a waiver of any Event of Default.
ARTICLE XII
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
SECTION 12.1 Appointment and Authority. Each of the Lenders and each of the
Issuing Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints Wachovia 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 XII are solely for the benefit of the
Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Lenders, and neither the
Borrower nor any Subsidiary thereof shall have rights as a third party
beneficiary of any of such provisions.
SECTION 12.2 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
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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 the
Borrower 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.
SECTION 12.3 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 the Borrower or any of their 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 Section 13.11 and Section 11.2) 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, a Lender or an Issuing Lender.
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.
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SECTION 12.4 Reliance by the 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, or the issuance of a Letter of Credit, that
by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or an Issuing
Lender, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory
to such Lender or such Issuing Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have
received notice to the contrary from such Lender or such Issuing Lender prior to
the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit. The
Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the
Borrower), 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.
SECTION 12.5 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 XII 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.
SECTION 12.6 Resignation of Administrative Agent.
(a) The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation
to the Lenders, the Issuing 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 and the Issuing
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 (1) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its
duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that
in the case of any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent on
behalf of the Lenders or the Issuing Lenders under any of the Loan Documents,
the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral
security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and
(2) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to
or through the Administrative
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Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender and each Issuing Lender
directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor
Administrative Agent as provided for above in this paragraph. 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 paragraph). 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 XII and Section
13.12 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.
(b) Any resignation by Wachovia as Administrative Agent pursuant to this
Section 12.6 shall also constitute its resignation as an Issuing Lender and as
Swingline Lender. Upon the acceptance of a successor's appointment as
Administrative Agent hereunder, (a) such successor shall succeed to and become
vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring
Issuing Lender and Swingline Lender, (b) the retiring Issuing Lender and
Swingline Lender shall be discharged from all of their respective duties and
obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, and (c) the successor
Issuing Lender shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of
Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other
arrangement satisfactory to the retiring Issuing Lender to effectively assume
the obligations of the retiring Issuing Lender with respect to such Letters of
Credit.
SECTION 12.7 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders. Each
Lender and each Issuing 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 and each Issuing 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.
SECTION 12.8 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the
pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy,
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial
proceeding relative to the Borrower or any Guarantor, the Administrative Agent
(irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or L/C Obligation 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:
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(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and
interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, L/C Obligations and all other
Obligations 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 2.3(c)(i), 3.3(a), 4.9 and 13.2)
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;
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, in the event
that 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 4.9 and 13.2.
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 or to authorize the Administrative Agent
to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.
SECTION 12.9 No Other Duties, etc. Anything herein to the contrary
notwithstanding, none of the syndication agents, documentation agents,
co-agents, book manager, lead manager, arranger, lead arranger or co-arranger
listed on the cover page or signature pages hereof 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, a Lender or
an Issuing Lender hereunder.
ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 13.1 Notices.
(a) Method of Communication. Except as otherwise provided in this
Agreement, all notices and communications hereunder shall be in writing, or by
telephone subsequently confirmed in writing. Any notice shall be effective if
delivered by hand delivery or sent via telecopy, recognized overnight courier
service or certified mail, return receipt requested, and shall be presumed to be
received by a party hereto (i) on the date of delivery if delivered by hand or
sent by telecopy, (ii) on the next Business Day if sent by recognized overnight
courier service and (iii) on the third Business Day following the date sent by
certified mail, return receipt requested. A telephonic notice to the
Administrative Agent as understood by the Administrative
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Agent will be deemed to be the controlling and proper notice in the event of a
discrepancy with or failure to receive a confirming written notice.
(b) Addresses for Notices. Notices to any party shall be sent to it at the
following addresses, or any other address as to which all the other parties are
notified in writing.
If to the Borrower: Suburban Propane, L.P.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ West
▇.▇. ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: A. ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇'▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Telephone No.: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Telecopy No.: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
With copies to: Weil, Gotshal & ▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
Telephone No.: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Telecopy No.: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
If to Wachovia as Wachovia Bank, National Association
Administrative Agent: Charlotte Plaza, CP-8
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: Syndication Agency Services
Telephone No.: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Telecopy No.: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
With copies to: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, L.L.P.
Hearst Tower, 47th Floor
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇
Telephone No.: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Telecopy No.: 704-331-7598
If to any Lender: To the Address set forth on the Register.
(c) Administrative Agent's Office. The Administrative Agent hereby
designates its office located at the address set forth above, or any subsequent
office which shall have been specified for such purpose by written notice to the
Borrower and Lenders, as the Administrative Agent's Office referred to herein,
to which payments due are to be made and at which Loans will be disbursed and
Letters of Credit issued.
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SECTION 13.2 Expenses; Indemnity.
(a) Costs and Expenses. The Borrower 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, 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), (ii) all reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses incurred by each Issuing Lender in connection with the
issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand
for payment thereunder and (iii) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the
Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Issuing Lender (including the fees,
charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent, any
Lender or any Issuing 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 13.2, or (B) in connection
with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such
out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or
negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.
(b) Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify the
Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender and each Issuing
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 (including, without limitation, environmental claims
or civil penalties or fines assessed by OFAC), damages, liabilities and related
expenses (including the 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 the Borrower or any Guarantor 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, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or
proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by any Issuing
Lender to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents
presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms
of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of
Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or
any of its Subsidiaries, or any liability under Environmental and Safety Laws
related in any way to the Borrower 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 the Borrower or any Guarantor, 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 the Borrower or any Guarantor against an
Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee's obligations hereunder or
under any other Loan Document, if the Borrower or such Guarantor has obtained a
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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 Borrower for any
reason fails to pay any amount required under paragraph (a) or (b) of this
Section 13.2 to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent
thereof), any Issuing Lender or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each
Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such
sub-agent), any Issuing Lender or such Related Party, as the case may be, such
Lender's pro rata amount (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) or any Issuing Lender
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) or Issuing Bank in
connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this
paragraph (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 4.13.
(d) Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted
by applicable law, the Borrower shall not assert, and 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 Letter of Credit or the
use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee referred to in paragraph (b) above
shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of
any information or other materials distributed by it through telecommunications,
electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this
Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby, except for damages which 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.
(e) Payments. All amounts due under this Section 13.2 shall be payable
promptly after demand therefor.
SECTION 13.3 Right of Set-off. If an Event of Default shall have occurred
and be continuing, each Lender, each Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender and
each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from
time to time, 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, such Issuing Lender, the Swingline
Lender or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower
or any Guarantor against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower or such
Guarantor now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan
Document to such Lender, such Issuing Lender or the Swingline Lender,
irrespective of whether or not such Lender, such Issuing Lender or the Swingline
Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan
Document and although such obligations of the Borrower or such Guarantor may be
contingent or unmatured or are owed
84
to a branch or office of such Lender, such Issuing Lender or the Swingline
Lender different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on
such indebtedness. The rights of each Lender, each Issuing Lender, the Swingline
Lender and their respective Affiliates under this Section 13.3 are in addition
to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such
Lender, such Issuing Lender, the Swingline Lender or their respective Affiliates
may have. Each Lender, each Issuing Lender and the Swingline Lender agrees to
notify 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.
SECTION 13.4 Governing Law. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents,
unless otherwise expressly set forth therein, shall be governed by, construed
and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
SECTION 13.5 Consent to Jurisdiction. The Borrower hereby irrevocably
consents to the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in
New York County, New York, in any action, claim or other proceeding arising out
of any dispute in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents,
any rights or obligations hereunder or thereunder, or the performance of such
rights and obligations. The Borrower hereby irrevocably consents to the service
of a summons and complaint and other process in any action, claim or proceeding
brought by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with this
Agreement or the other Loan Documents, any rights or obligations hereunder or
thereunder, or the performance of such rights and obligations, on behalf of
itself or its property, in the manner specified in Section 13.1. Nothing in this
Section 13.5 shall affect the right of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to
serve legal process in any other manner permitted by Applicable Law or affect
the right of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to bring any action or
proceeding against the Borrower or its properties in the courts of any other
jurisdictions.
SECTION 13.6 Waiver of Jury Trial. THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, EACH LENDER
AND THE BORROWER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A JURY
TRIAL WITH RESPECT TO ANY ACTION, CLAIM OR OTHER PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF ANY
JUDICIAL PROCEEDING, ANY DISPUTE, CLAIM OR CONTROVERSY ARISING OUT OF, CONNECTED
WITH OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT ("DISPUTES") IN
CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, ANY RIGHTS OR
OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER OR THEREUNDER, OR THE PERFORMANCE OF SUCH RIGHTS AND
OBLIGATIONS.
SECTION 13.7 Reversal of Payments. To the extent the Borrower makes a
payment or payments to the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the
Lenders or the Administrative Agent receives any payment or proceeds of the
collateral which payments or proceeds or any part thereof are subsequently
invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside and/or
required to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party under any
bankruptcy law, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause, then, to
the extent of such payment or proceeds repaid, the Obligations or part thereof
intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect
as if such payment or proceeds had not been received by the Administrative
Agent.
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SECTION 13.8 Injunctive Relief; Punitive Damages.
(a) The Borrower recognizes that, in the event the Borrower fails to
perform, observe or discharge any of its obligations or liabilities under this
Agreement, any remedy of law may prove to be inadequate relief to the Lenders.
Therefore, the Borrower agrees that the Lenders, at the Lenders' option, shall
be entitled to temporary and permanent injunctive relief in any such case
without the necessity of proving actual damages.
(b) The Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower (on behalf of
itself and its Subsidiaries) hereby agree that no such Person shall have a
remedy of punitive or exemplary damages against any other party to a Loan
Document and each such Person hereby waives any right or claim to punitive or
exemplary damages that they may now have or may arise in the future in
connection with any Dispute.
(c) The parties agree that they shall not have a remedy of punitive or
exemplary damages against any other party in any Dispute and hereby waive any
right or claim to punitive or exemplary damages they have now or which may arise
in the future in connection with any Dispute.
SECTION 13.9 Accounting Matters. All financial and accounting calculations,
measurements and computations made for any purpose relating to this Agreement,
including, without limitation, all computations utilized by the Borrower or any
Subsidiary thereof to determine compliance with any covenant contained herein,
shall, except as otherwise expressly contemplated hereby or unless there is an
express written direction by the Administrative Agent to the contrary agreed to
by the Borrower, be performed in accordance with GAAP as in effect on the
Closing Date. In the event that changes in GAAP shall be mandated by the
Financial Accounting Standards Board, or any similar accounting body of
comparable standing, or shall be recommended by the Borrower's certified public
accountants, to the extent that such changes would modify such accounting terms
or the interpretation or computation thereof, such changes shall be followed in
defining such accounting terms only from and after the date the Borrower and the
Required Lenders shall have amended this Agreement to the extent necessary to
reflect any such changes in the financial covenants and other terms and
conditions of this Agreement.
SECTION 13.10 Successors and Assigns; Participations.
(a) Successors and Assigns Generally. The provisions of this Agreement
shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that neither the
Borrower nor any Guarantor may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or
obligations hereunder 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 Eligible Assignee in accordance
with the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section 13.10, (ii) by way of
participation in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (d) of this Section
13.10 or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to
the restrictions of paragraph (f) of this Section 13.10 (and any other attempted
assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in
this
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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 paragraph (d) of this
Section 13.10 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 Eligible Assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under
this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at
the time owing to it); provided that
(i) except in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount
of the assigning Lender's Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it
or in the case of an assignment to a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender
with respect to a Lender, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for
this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the applicable
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 $1,000,000, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so
long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Borrower otherwise consent (each such consent not to be unreasonably
withheld or delayed);
(ii) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a
proportionate part of all the assigning Lender's rights and obligations
under this Agreement with respect to the Loans or the Commitment assigned;
(iii) any assignment of a Revolving Credit Commitment must be approved
by the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Lender
unless the Person that is the proposed assignee is itself a Lender with a
Revolving Credit Commitment (whether or not the proposed assignee would
otherwise qualify as an Eligible Assignee); and
(iv) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the
Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a
processing and recordation fee of $3,500, and the Eligible Assignee, if it
shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an
Administrative Questionnaire.
Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant
to paragraph (c) of this Section 13.10, from and after the effective date
specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the Eligible 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 4.14, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17 and 13.2 with
respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such
assignment. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations
under this
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Agreement that does not comply with this paragraph 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 paragraph (d) of this Section 13.10.
(c) Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as
an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices in Charlotte,
North Carolina, a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a
register for the recordation of the names 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. 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 Loans 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
and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such
Lender in connection with such Lender's rights and obligations under this
Agreement.
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, modification or waiver or modification described in the
Section 13.12 that directly affects such Participant. Subject to paragraph (e)
of this Section 13.10, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be
entitled to the benefits of Sections 4.14, 4.15, 4.16 and 4.17 to the same
extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment
pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 13.10. To the extent permitted by law,
each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 13.4 as
though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to
Section 4.12 as though it were a Lender.
(e) Limitations upon Participant Rights. A Participant shall not be
entitled to receive any greater payment under Sections 4.15 and 4.17 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 4.17 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 4.17(e) as though it were a
Lender.
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(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 to secure
obligations of such Lender, including without limitation 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.
SECTION 13.11 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 and its Affiliates'
directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel
and other advisors (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
by, or required to be disclosed to, any rating agency, or regulatory or similar
authority (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
under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document (or any Hedging Agreement
with a Lender or the Administrative Agent) or any action or proceeding relating
to this Agreement or any other Loan Document (or any Hedging Agreement with a
Lender or the Administrative Agent) or the enforcement of rights hereunder or
thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the
same as those of this Section 13.11, to (i) any Purchasing Lender, proposed
Purchasing Lender, Participant or proposed Participant or (ii) any actual or
prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction
relating to the Borrower and its obligations, (g) with the consent of the
Borrower, (h) to Gold Sheets and other similar bank trade publications, such
information to consist of deal terms and other information customarily found in
such publications, or (i) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly
available other than as a result of a breach of this Section 13.11 or (y)
becomes available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential
basis from a source other than the Borrower. For purposes of this Section 13.11,
"Information" means all information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary
relating to the Borrower, 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 the Borrower or any
Subsidiary; provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower
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 13.11 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.
SECTION 13.12 Amendments, Waivers and Consents. Except as set forth below
or as specifically provided in any Loan Document, any term, covenant, agreement
or condition of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents may be amended
or waived by the Lenders, and any consent given by the Lenders, if, but only if,
such amendment, waiver or consent is in writing signed by the Required Lenders
(or by the Administrative Agent with the consent of the
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Required Lenders) and delivered to the Administrative Agent and, in the case of
an amendment, signed by the Borrower; provided, that no amendment, waiver or
consent shall:
(a) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any
Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 13.2) or the amount of Loans of any
Lender without the written consent of such Lender;
(b) postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document
for any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders
(or any of them) hereunder or under any other Loan Document or extend the
Termination Date without the written consent of each Lender directly affected
thereby;
(c) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on,
any Loan or Reimbursement Obligation, or (subject to clause (iv) of the second
proviso to this Section 13.12) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or
under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender
directly affected thereby; provided that only the consent of the Required
Lenders shall be necessary (i) to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay
interest at the rate set forth in Section 4.7(c) during the continuance of an
Event of Default, or (ii) 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 L/C Borrowing or to reduce any fee
payable hereunder;
(d) change Section 4.10 or Section 4.11 in a manner that would alter the
pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of
each Lender;
(e) change any provision of this Section 13.12 or the definition of
"Required Lenders" or any other provision hereof specifying the number or
percentage of Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights
hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the
written consent of each Lender; or
(f) release any Guarantor from its obligations under a Guaranty Agreement
without the written consent of each Lender unless the Capital Stock, or all or
substantially all the assets, of such Guarantor are sold in a transaction
permitted by this Agreement;
provided further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in
writing and signed by the Issuing Lender in addition to the Lenders required
above, affect the rights or duties of the Issuing Lender under this Agreement or
any Application relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it;
(ii) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the
Swingline Lender in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or
duties of the Swingline Lender under this Agreement; (iii) no amendment, waiver
or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in
addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the
Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; and (iv)
the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a
writing executed only by the parties thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or
disapprove any amendment, waiver or
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consent hereunder, except that the Commitment of such Lender may not be
increased or extended without the consent of such Lender.
SECTION 13.13 Performance of Duties. The Borrower's obligations under this
Agreement and each of the Loan Documents shall be performed by the Borrower at
its sole cost and expense.
SECTION 13.14 All Powers Coupled with Interest. All powers of attorney and
other authorizations granted to the Lenders, the Administrative Agent and any
Persons designated by the Administrative Agent or any Lender pursuant to any
provisions of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents shall be deemed
coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable so long as any of the
Obligations remain unpaid or unsatisfied or the Credit Facilities have not been
terminated.
SECTION 13.15 Survival of Indemnities. Notwithstanding any termination of
this Agreement, the indemnities to which the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders are entitled under the provisions of this Article XIII and any other
provision of this Agreement and the Loan Documents shall continue in full force
and effect and shall protect the Administrative Agent and the Lenders against
events arising after such termination as well as before.
SECTION 13.16 Titles and Captions. Titles and captions of Articles,
Sections and subsections in, and the table of contents of, this Agreement are
for convenience only, and neither limit nor amplify the provisions of this
Agreement.
SECTION 13.17 Severability of Provisions. Any provision of this Agreement
or any other Loan Document which is prohibited or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective only to the extent
of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remainder of
such provision or the remaining provisions hereof or thereof or affecting the
validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.
SECTION 13.18 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of
which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and shall be binding
upon all parties, their successors and assigns, and all of which taken together
shall constitute one and the same agreement.
SECTION 13.19 Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall remain in effect from
the Closing Date through and including the date upon which all Obligations shall
have been indefeasibly and irrevocably paid and satisfied in full. No
termination of this Agreement shall affect the rights and obligations of the
parties hereto arising prior to such termination or in respect of any provision
of this Agreement which survives such termination.
SECTION 13.20 USA Patriot Act. The Administrative Agent and each 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 and Guarantors, which information includes
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the name and address of the Borrower and each Guarantor and other information
that will allow such Lender to identify the Borrower or such Guarantor in
accordance with the Act.
SECTION 13.21 Inconsistencies with Other Documents; Independent Effect of
Covenants.
(a) In the event there is a conflict or inconsistency between this
Agreement and any other Loan Document, the terms of this Agreement shall
control.
(b) The Borrower expressly acknowledges and agrees that each covenant
contained in Articles VIII, IX or X shall be given independent effect.
Accordingly, the Borrower shall not engage in any transaction or other act
otherwise permitted under any covenant contained in Articles VIII, IX or X if,
before or after giving effect to such transaction or act, the Borrower shall or
would be in breach of any other covenant contained in Articles VIII, IX or X.
SECTION 13.22 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents
represent the final agreement between the parties and may not be contradicted by
evidence of prior, contemporaneous, or subsequent oral agreements of the
parties. There are no unwritten oral agreements between the parties.
[Signature pages to follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their duly authorized officers, all as of the day and year first
written above.
SUBURBAN PROPANE, L.P., as Borrower
By:
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Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Administrative Agent, as Lender, as Swingline
Lender and as an Issuing Lender
By:
------------------------------------------------
Name:
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Title:
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FLEET NATIONAL BANK, as Syndication
Agent and Lender
By:
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Name:
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Title:
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CAYLON NEW YORK BRANCH,
as Syndication Agent and Lender
By:
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Name:
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Title:
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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CITICORP USA, INC., as Documentation
Agent and Lender
By:
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Name:
-------------------------------------------
Title:
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NATIONAL CITY BANK, as Documentation
Agent and Lender
By:
------------------------------------------------
Name:
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Title:
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THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Lender
By:
------------------------------------------------
Name:
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Title:
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LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Lender
By:
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Name:
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Title:
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▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ CREDIT PARTNERS L.P., as Lender
By:
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Name:
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Title:
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ISRAEL DISCOUNT BANK OF NEW YORK, as Lender
By:
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Name:
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Title:
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By:
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Name:
-------------------------------------------
Title:
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BANK LEUMI USA, as Lender
By:
------------------------------------------------
Name:
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Title:
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By:
------------------------------------------------
Name:
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Title:
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FIRSTRUST BANK, as Lender
By:
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Name:
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Title:
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