EXHIBIT 10.7
Published CUSIP Number: 000000XX0
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$1,500,000,000
CREDIT AGREEMENT [364 DAY] *
dated as of
July 7, 2004
Among
Xxxxx & XxXxxxxx Companies, Inc.,
as Borrower,
The Banks Listed Herein
and
Bank of America, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent
Banc of America Securities LLC
Sole Lead Arranger and Book Manager
_________________________________
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS........................................................1
Section 1.1 Definitions.............................................1
Section 1.2 Accounting Terms and Determinations....................11
Section 1.3 Types of Borrowings....................................11
ARTICLE 2 THE CREDITS.......................................................12
Section 2.1 Commitments to Lend....................................12
Section 2.2 Notice of Committed Borrowing..........................12
Section 2.3 Money Market Borrowings................................12
Section 2.4 Notice to Banks; Funding of Loans......................16
Section 2.5 Evidence of Debt.......................................17
Section 2.6 Maturity of Loans; Rollover Conversions................17
Section 2.7 Interest Rates.........................................18
Section 2.8 Fees...................................................19
Section 2.9 Termination or Reduction of Commitments................20
Section 2.10 Scheduled Termination of Commitments...................20
Section 2.11 Payments, Prepayments, Conversions and
Continuations..........................................20
Section 2.12 General Provisions as to Payments......................21
Section 2.13 Funding Losses.........................................22
Section 2.14 Computation of Interest and Fees.......................22
Section 2.15 Pro Rata Treatment.....................................23
Section 2.16 Lending Offices........................................23
Section 2.17 Several Obligations; Remedies Independent..............23
ARTICLE 3 CONDITIONS........................................................23
Section 3.1 Closing................................................23
Section 3.2 Borrowings.............................................25
ARTICLE 4 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES....................................25
Section 4.1 Corporate Existence and Power..........................25
Section 4.2 Corporate and Governmental Authorization; No
Contravention..........................................26
Section 4.3 Binding Effect.........................................26
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Section 4.4 Financial Information..................................26
Section 4.5 Litigation.............................................26
Section 4.6 Compliance with ERISA..................................27
Section 4.7 Taxes..................................................27
Section 4.8 Subsidiaries...........................................27
Section 4.9 Regulatory Restrictions on Borrowing...................27
Section 4.10 Full Disclosure........................................27
Section 4.11 Use of Credit..........................................28
Section 4.12 Purchase Agreement.....................................28
ARTICLE 5 COVENANTS.........................................................28
Section 5.1 Information............................................28
Section 5.2 Conduct of Business and Maintenance of Existence.......30
Section 5.3 Compliance with Laws; Borrowing Authorization..........30
Section 5.4 Minimum Consolidated Net Worth.........................31
Section 5.5 Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets............31
Section 5.6 Use of Proceeds........................................31
Section 5.7 Negative Pledge........................................31
Section 5.8 Taxes, Etc.............................................32
ARTICLE 6 DEFAULTS..........................................................32
Section 6.1 Events of Default......................................32
Section 6.2 Notice of Default by Banks.............................35
ARTICLE 7 THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT..........................................35
Section 7.1 Appointment and Authorization..........................35
Section 7.2 Administrative Agent and Affiliates....................35
Section 7.3 Action by Administrative Agent.........................35
Section 7.4 Consultation with Experts; Sub-Agent...................35
Section 7.5 Liability of Administrative Agent......................36
Section 7.6 Indemnification........................................36
Section 7.7 Credit Decision........................................36
Section 7.8 Successor Administrative Agent.........................36
Section 7.9 Administrative Agent's Fee.............................37
ARTICLE 8 CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES...........................................37
Section 8.1 Basis for Determining Interest Rate Inadequate or
Unfair.................................................37
Section 8.2 Illegality.............................................37
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Section 8.3 Increased Cost and Reduced Return......................38
Section 8.4 Taxes..................................................39
Section 8.5 Base Rate Loans Substituted for Affected
Euro-Dollar Loans......................................41
ARTICLE 9 MISCELLANEOUS.....................................................41
Section 9.1 Notices................................................41
Section 9.2 No Waivers.............................................41
Section 9.3 Expenses; Indemnification; Damage Waiver...............42
Section 9.4 Sharing of Set-Offs....................................42
Section 9.5 Amendments and Waivers.................................43
Section 9.6 Successors and Assigns.................................43
Section 9.7 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction..............45
Section 9.8 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness...............45
Section 9.9 Waiver of Jury Trial...................................45
Section 9.10 Survival...............................................46
Section 9.11 Confidentiality........................................46
Section 9.12 USA Patriot Act........................................46
EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT A...- Assignment and Assumption Agreement
EXHIBIT B...- Money Market Quote Request
EXHIBIT C...- Invitation for Money Market Quotes
EXHIBIT D...- Money Market Quote
EXHIBIT E...- Opinion of General Counsel for the Borrower
EXHIBIT F...- Opinion of Special Counsel for the Administrative Agent
EXHIBIT G-1.- Form of Committed Note
EXHIBIT G-2.- Form of Money Market Note
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CREDIT AGREEMENT [364 DAY] (this "Agreement") dated as of July 7, 2004
among XXXXX & McLENNAN COMPANIES, INC., a Delaware corporation (together with
its successors, the "Borrower"), the BANKS party hereto and BANK OF AMERICA,
N.A., as administrative agent hereunder.
The Borrower has requested the Banks to agree to make loans to it in an
aggregate principal amount not exceeding $1,500,000,000 at any one time
outstanding to support the issuance by the Borrower of commercial paper in
connection with the acquisition by the Borrower of the Acquired Company pursuant
to the Purchase Agreement.
To induce the Banks to make such loans, the Borrower, the Banks and the
Administrative Agent propose to enter into this Agreement pursuant to which the
Banks will make loans to the Borrower.
Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
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Section 1.1.Definitions. The following terms, as used herein, have the
following meanings:
"Absolute Rate Auction" means a solicitation of Money Market Quotes
setting forth Money Market Absolute Rates pursuant to Section 2.3.
"Acquired Company" means Xxxxx Inc., a Delaware corporation.
"Adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate" has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.7(b).
"Administrative Agent" means Bank of America, in its capacity as
administrative agent for the Banks hereunder, and its successors in such
capacity.
"Administrative Questionnaire" means, with respect to each Bank, an
administrative questionnaire in the form prepared by the Administrative Agent
and submitted to the Administrative Agent (with a copy to the Borrower) duly
completed by such Bank.
"Affiliate" means, with respect to a specified Person, another Person that
directly, or indirectly, controls or is controlled by or is under common control
with the Person specified. For purposes of this definition, the term "control"
(including the correlative meanings of the terms "controlled by" and "under
common control with"), as used with respect to any Person, means the possession,
directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the
management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting
securities or by contract or otherwise.
"Applicable Lending Office" means, with respect to any Bank, (i) in the
case of its Base Rate Loans, its Domestic Lending Office, (ii) in the case of
its Euro-Dollar Loans, its Euro-
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Dollar Lending Office and (iii) in the case of its Money Market Loans, its Money
Market Lending Office.
"Assignee" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.6(c).
"Bank" means each bank and other financial institution listed on the
signature pages hereof, each Assignee which becomes a Bank pursuant to Section
9.6(c), and their respective successors.
"Bank of America" means Bank of America, N.A., a national banking
association, and its successors.
"Base Rate" means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the higher of
(i) the Prime Rate for such day and (ii) the sum of 1/2 of 1% plus the Federal
Funds Rate for such day.
"Base Rate Loan" means a Committed Loan to be made or Continued as or
Converted into a Base Rate Loan by a Bank in accordance with the applicable
Notice of Committed Borrowing or pursuant to Article 8.
"Benefit Arrangement" means at any time an employee benefit plan within
the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA which is not a Plan or a Multiemployer Plan
and which is maintained or otherwise contributed to by any member of the ERISA
Group.
"Borrower" has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
"Borrowing" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.3.
"Closing Date" means the date on or after the Effective Date on which the
Administrative Agent shall have received the documents specified in or pursuant
to Section 3.1.
"Commitment" means, with respect to each Bank, the amount set forth
opposite the name of such Bank on the Commitment Schedule attached hereto and
identified as such, as such amount may be reduced from time to time pursuant to
Section 2.9 or changed as a result of an assignment pursuant to Section 9.6(c).
"Commitments Reduction Amount" means an amount equal to 100% of the Net
Cash Proceeds from the issuance on or after the Effective Date of any bonds,
debentures, notes or other Debt for borrowed money by the Borrower, other than
Debt for borrowed money arising out of the issuance of commercial paper under
commercial paper programs existing on the Effective Date.
"Committed Loan" means a loan made by a Bank pursuant to Section 2.1, and
any Continuation or Conversion thereof.
"Consolidated Net Worth" means at any date the consolidated stockholders'
equity of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries plus any unrealized
losses and less any unrealized gains (in each case to the extent reflected in
the determination of such consolidated stockholders' equity) related, directly
or indirectly, to securities available for sale, as determined
2
in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 115 (or any
successor statements or amendments thereto) (in each case as affected by any
subsequent relevant pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board
or, if and to the extent applicable, the Securities and Exchange Commission).
"Consolidated Subsidiary" means at any date any Subsidiary or other entity
the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the Borrower in its
consolidated financial statements if such statements were prepared as of such
date.
"Consolidated Tangible Net Worth" means at any date Consolidated Net Worth
less the consolidated Intangible Assets of the Borrower and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries, all determined as of such date. For purposes of this definition,
"Intangible Assets" means, without duplication, the amount (to the extent
reflected in determining the consolidated stockholders' equity component of
Consolidated Net Worth) of (i) all write-ups (other than write-ups resulting
from foreign currency translations and write-ups of assets of a going concern
business made within twelve months after the acquisition of such business)
subsequent to December 31, 2003 in the book value of any asset owned by the
Borrower or a Consolidated Subsidiary, (ii) all unamortized debt discount and
expense, unamortized deferred charges, goodwill, patents, trademarks, service
marks, trade names, anticipated future benefit of tax loss carry-forwards,
copyrights, organization or developmental expenses and other intangible assets,
designated as such as contemplated by Section 1.2 and (iii) all investments in
Affiliates in an aggregate amount in excess of $180,000,000.
"Continuation" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.3. "Continue" and
"Continued" shall have a correlative meaning.
"Conversion" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.3. "Convert" and
"Converted" shall have a correlative meaning.
"Debt" of any Person means at any date, without duplication, (i) all
obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (ii) all obligations of such
Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (iii)
all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or
services, except trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of
business, (iv) all obligations of such Person as lessee which are capitalized in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, (v) all non-contingent
obligations (and, for purposes of Section 5.7 and the definitions of Material
Debt and Material Financial Obligations, all contingent obligations) of such
Person to reimburse any bank or other Person in respect of amounts paid under a
letter of credit or similar instrument, (vi) all Debt secured by a Lien on any
asset of such Person, whether or not such Debt is otherwise an obligation of
such Person and (vii) all Debt of others Guaranteed by such Person.
"Default" means any condition or event which constitutes an Event of
Default or which with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both would,
unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.
"Derivatives Obligations" of any Person means all obligations of such
Person in respect of any rate swap transaction, basis swap, forward rate
transaction, commodity swap, commodity
3
option, equity or equity index swap, equity or equity index option, bond option,
interest rate option, foreign exchange transaction, cap transaction, floor
transaction, collar transaction, currency swap transaction, cross-currency rate
swap transaction, currency option or other similar transaction (including any
option with respect to any of the foregoing transactions) or any combination of
the foregoing transactions.
"Dollars" and "$" means lawful money of the United States.
"Domestic Business Day" means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or other
day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law
to close.
"Domestic Lending Office" means, as to each Bank, its office located at
its address set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire (or identified in its
Administrative Questionnaire as its Domestic Lending Office) or such other
office as such Bank may hereafter designate as its Domestic Lending Office by
notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
"Effective Date" means the date this Agreement becomes effective in
accordance with Section 9.8.
"Environmental Laws" means any and all present and future Federal, state,
local and foreign environmental laws, rules or regulations, and any
environmental orders or decrees, in each case as now or hereafter in effect,
relating to the regulation or protection of human health, safety or the
environment or to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of
pollutants, contaminants, chemicals or toxic or hazardous substances or wastes
into the indoor or outdoor environment, including, without limitation, ambient
air, soil, surface water, ground water, wetlands, land or subsurface strata, or
otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment,
storage, disposal, transport or handling of pollutants, contaminants, chemicals
or toxic or hazardous substances or wastes.
"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended, or any successor statute.
"ERISA Group" means the Borrower, any Material Subsidiary and all members
of a controlled group of corporations and all trades or businesses (whether or
not incorporated) under common control which, together with the Borrower or any
Material Subsidiary, are treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the
Internal Revenue Code.
"Euro-Dollar Business Day" means any Domestic Business Day on which
commercial banks are open for international business (including dealings in
Dollar deposits) in London.
"Euro-Dollar Lending Office" means, as to each Bank, its office, branch or
affiliate located at its address set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire
(or identified in its Administrative Questionnaire as its Euro-Dollar Lending
Office) or such other office, branch or affiliate of such Bank as it may
hereafter designate as its Euro-Dollar Lending Office by notice to the Borrower
and the Administrative Agent.
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"Euro-Dollar Loan" means a Committed Loan to be made or Continued as or
Converted into a Euro-Dollar Loan by a Bank in accordance with the applicable
Notice of Committed Borrowing.
"Euro-Dollar Reserve Percentage" has the meaning set forth in Section
2.7(b).
"Event of Default" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1.
"Federal Funds Rate" means, for any day, the rate per annum (rounded
upward, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100th of 1%) equal to the weighted
average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the
Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers on such day, as
published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Domestic Business Day
next succeeding such day, provided that (i) if such day is not a Domestic
Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such
transactions on the next preceding Domestic Business Day as so published on the
next succeeding Domestic Business Day, and (ii) if no such rate is so published
on such next succeeding Domestic Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such
day shall be the average rate quoted to Bank of America on such day on such
transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent.
"Fixed Rate Loans" means Euro-Dollar Loans or Money Market Loans
(excluding Money Market LIBOR Loans bearing interest at the Base Rate pursuant
to Section 8.1) or any combination of the foregoing.
"Guarantee" by any Person means any obligation, contingent or otherwise,
of such Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Debt of any other Person
and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any obligation, direct or
indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person (i) to purchase or pay (or
advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Debt (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 conditions or otherwise) or (ii) entered into for the
purpose of assuring in any other manner the holder of such Debt of the payment
thereof or to protect such holder against loss in respect thereof (in whole or
in part), provided that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for
collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The term "Guarantee"
used as a verb has a correlative meaning.
"Indemnitee" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.3(b).
"Interest Period" means:
(1) with respect to each Euro-Dollar Borrowing, the period commencing on
the date of such Borrowing and ending one, two, three or six months thereafter,
as the Borrower may elect (so long as such period does not extend beyond the
Termination Date) in the applicable Notice of Committed Borrowing; provided
that:
(a) any Interest Period which would otherwise end on a day which is
not a Euro-Dollar Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding
Euro-Dollar Business Day unless such Euro-Dollar Business Day falls in
another
5
calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next
preceding Euro-Dollar Business Day;
(b) any Interest Period which begins on the last Euro-Dollar 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, subject to clause (c) below, end on the last Euro-Dollar Business
Day of a calendar month; and
(c) any Interest Period which would otherwise end after the
Termination Date shall end on the Termination Date;
(2) with respect to each Base Rate Borrowing, the period commencing on the
date of such Borrowing and ending 90 days thereafter; provided that:
(a) any Interest Period (other than an Interest Period determined
pursuant to clause (b) below) which would otherwise end on a day which is
not a Domestic Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding
Domestic Business Day; and
(b) any Interest Period which would otherwise end after the
Termination Date shall end on the Termination Date;
(3) with respect to each Money Market LIBOR Borrowing, the period
commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending such whole number of months
thereafter as the Borrower may elect in accordance with Section 2.3; provided
that:
(a) any Interest Period which would otherwise end on a day which is
not a Euro-Dollar Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding
Euro-Dollar Business Day unless such Euro-Dollar Business Day falls in
another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the
next preceding Euro-Dollar Business Day;
(b) any Interest Period which begins on the last Euro-Dollar 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, subject to clause (c) below, end on the last Euro-Dollar Business
Day of a calendar month; and
(c) any Interest Period which would otherwise end after the
Termination Date shall end on the Termination Date; and
(4) with respect to each Money Market Absolute Rate Borrowing, the period
commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending such number of days
thereafter (but not less than 30 days) as the Borrower may elect in accordance
with Section 2.3; provided that:
6
(a) any Interest Period which would otherwise end on a day which is
not a Domestic Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding
Domestic Business Day; and
(b) any Interest Period which would otherwise end after the
Termination Date shall end on the Termination Date;
provided that, notwithstanding clauses 1(c), 3(c) and 4(b) above, no Interest
Period for a Euro-Dollar Borrowing, Money Market LIBOR Borrowing or Money Market
Absolute Rate Borrowing shall have a duration of less than one month and, if
such Interest Period would otherwise be a shorter period, such Borrowing shall
not be available hereunder for such period.
"Internal Revenue Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, or any successor statute.
"Invitation for Money Market Quote" has the meaning set forth in Section
2.3(c).
"LIBOR Auction" means a solicitation of Money Market Quotes setting forth
Money Market Margins based on the London Interbank Offered Rate pursuant to
Section 2.3.
"Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge,
charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind, or any other type of
preferential arrangement that has the practical effect of creating a security
interest, in respect of such asset. For the purposes of this Agreement, the
Borrower or any Subsidiary 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 a Base Rate Loan, a Euro-Dollar Loan or a Money Market Loan
and "Loans" means Base Rate Loans, Euro-Dollar Loans or Money Market Loans or
any combination of the foregoing.
"London Interbank Offered Rate" has the meaning set forth in Section
2.7(b).
"Margin Stock" means "margin stock" within the meaning of Regulations U
and X.
"Material Debt" means Debt (other than the Loans made hereunder ) of the
Borrower and/or one or more of its Subsidiaries, arising in one or more related
or unrelated transactions, in an aggregate principal amount exceeding
$100,000,000.
"Material Financial Obligations" means any Debt and/or Derivatives
Obligation of the Borrower and/or one or more of its Subsidiaries, arising in
one or more related or unrelated transactions, the principal or face amount
(with respect to Debt) or Settlement Amount (with respect to Derivatives
Obligations, after giving effect to any netting arrangements) of which exceeds
in the aggregate $100,000,000.
"Material Plan" means at any time a Plan or Plans having aggregate
Unfunded Liabilities in excess of $30,000,000.
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"Material Subsidiary" means at any time a Subsidiary which as of such time
meets the definition of a "significant subsidiary" contained as of the date
hereof in Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Money Market Absolute Rate" has the meaning set forth in Section
2.3(d)(ii)(D).
"Money Market Absolute Rate Loan" means a loan to be made by a Bank
pursuant to an Absolute Rate Auction.
"Money Market Lending Office" means, as to each Bank, its Domestic Lending
Office or such other office, branch or affiliate of such Bank as it may
hereafter designate as its Money Market Lending Office by notice to the Borrower
and the Administrative Agent; provided that any Bank may from time to time by
notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent designate separate Money
Market Lending Offices for its Money Market LIBOR Loans, on the one hand, and
its Money Market Absolute Rate Loans, on the other hand, in which case all
references herein to the Money Market Lending Office of such Bank shall be
deemed to refer to either or both of such offices, as the context may require.
"Money Market LIBOR Loan" means a loan to be made by a Bank pursuant to a
LIBOR Auction (including such a loan bearing interest at the Base Rate pursuant
to Section 8.1).
"Money Market Loan" means a Money Market LIBOR Loan or a Money Market
Absolute Rate Loan.
"Money Market Margin" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(d)(ii)(C).
"Money Market Quote" means an offer by a Bank to make a Money Market Loan
in accordance with Section 2.3.
"Money Market Quote Request" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(b).
"Mortgage" means the Restated Mortgage and Indenture and Security
Agreement dated as of April 6, 1989 made by the Borrower, Xxxxx & McLennan,
Incorporated, Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx-Xxxxxx, Incorporated and Xxxxx &
McLennan Group Associates, Inc., tenants in common, as mortgagor, and The First
National Bank of Boston, trustee, as mortgagee, as amended and supplemented from
time to time, including, without limitation, as described in the mortgage
memorandum, securing certain notes and covering the Borrower's headquarters
located at 0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx.
"Mortgaged Property" has the meaning set forth in the Mortgage.
"Multiemployer Plan" means at any time an employee pension benefit plan
within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which any member of the
ERISA Group is then making or accruing an obligation to make contributions or
has within the preceding five plan years made contributions, including for these
purposes any Person which ceased to be a member of the ERISA Group during such
five year period.
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"Net Cash Proceeds" means, with respect to the issuance of any bonds,
debentures, notes or other Debt for borrowed money by the Borrower, the amount
of cash received by the Borrower in connection with such transaction after
deducting therefrom all taxes, fees (including, without limitation, investment
banking fees), commissions, costs and other expenses to the extent properly
attributable to such transaction.
"Note" means any promissory note of the Borrower issued pursuant to
Section 2.5 hereof, evidencing the obligation of the Borrower to repay Committed
Loans or Money Market Loans of any Bank.
"Notice of Borrowing" means a Notice of Committed Borrowing (as defined in
Section 2.2) or a Notice of Money Market Borrowing (as defined in Section
2.3(f)).
"Parent" means, with respect to any Bank, any Person controlling such
Bank.
"Participant" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.6(b).
"PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any entity
succeeding to any or all of its functions under ERISA.
"Person" means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, an
association, a limited liability company, a trust or any other entity or
organization, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or
instrumentality thereof.
"Plan" means at any time an employee pension benefit plan (other than a
Multiemployer Plan) which is covered by Title IV of ERISA or subject to the
minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code and
either (i) is maintained, or contributed to, by any member of the ERISA Group
for employees of any member of the ERISA Group or (ii) has at any time within
the preceding five years been maintained, or contributed to, by any Person which
was at such time a member of the ERISA Group for employees of any Person which
was at such time a member of the ERISA Group.
"Post-Default Rate" means, in respect of any principal of any Loan or any
other amount under this Agreement that is not paid when due (whether at stated
maturity, by acceleration, by optional or mandatory prepayment or otherwise), a
rate per annum during the period from and including the due date to but
excluding the date on which such amount is paid in full equal to 2% plus the
Base Rate as in effect from time to time (provided that, if the amount so in
default is principal of a Euro-Dollar Loan or a Money Market Loan and the due
date thereof is a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor,
the "Post-Default Rate" for such principal shall be, for the period from and
including such due date to but excluding the last day of the Interest Period, 2%
plus the interest rate for such Loan as provided in Section 2.7 and, thereafter,
the rate provided for above in this definition).
"Prepayment Amount" has the same meaning as Commitments Reduction Amount.
"Prime Rate" means the rate of interest publicly announced by Bank of
America in Charlotte, North Carolina from time to time as its prime commercial
lending rate.
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"Purchase Agreement" means that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated
May 18, 2004, among the Borrower, King Merger Corp. and the Acquired Company,
pursuant to which the Borrower will acquire in a merger transaction all of the
outstanding common stock of the Acquired Company for a purchase price of $37.00
per share (subject to the appraisal rights of stockholders of the Acquired
Company under the Delaware General Corporation Law).
"Regulations A, D, U and X" means, respectively, Regulations A, D, U and X
of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor), as
in effect from time to time.
"Related Parties" means, with respect to any specified Person, such
Person's Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents
and advisors of such Person and such Person's Affiliates.
"Required Banks" means at any time Banks having more than 50% of the
aggregate amount of the Commitments or, if the Commitments shall have been
terminated, holding more than 50% of the aggregate outstanding principal amount
of the Loans.
"Revolving Credit Period" means the period from and including the Closing
Date to and excluding the Termination Date.
"Settlement Amount" means, in respect of any Derivatives Obligation to
which the Borrower and/or any Subsidiary is a party, the net aggregate
marked-to-market (in accordance with standard industry practice) amount, if any,
that would be due in respect of such Derivatives Obligation (together with all
other Derivatives Obligations under the same master agreement and giving effect
to any netting arrangements between the parties to such master agreement) if
such Derivatives Obligation was (and such other Derivatives Obligations were)
terminated because of a default by the Borrower or such Subsidiary.
"Subsidiary" means, as to any Person, any corporation or other entity of
which securities or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power to
elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons performing similar
functions are at the time directly or indirectly owned by such Person; unless
otherwise specified, "Subsidiary" means a Subsidiary of the Borrower.
"Termination Date" means July 6, 2005 (which is a date falling not more
than 364 days after the Effective Date).
"Unfunded Liabilities" means, with respect to any Plan at any time, the
amount (if any) by which (i) the value of all benefit liabilities under such
Plan, determined on a plan termination basis using the assumptions prescribed by
the PBGC for purposes of Section 4044 of ERISA, exceeds (ii) the fair market
value of all Plan assets allocable to such liabilities under Title IV of ERISA
(excluding any accrued but unpaid contributions), all determined as of the then
most recent valuation date for such Plan, but only to the extent that such
excess represents a potential liability of a member of the ERISA Group to the
PBGC or any other Person under Title IV of ERISA.
10
"United States" means the United States of America, including the States
and the District of Columbia, but excluding its territories and possessions.
"Wholly-Owned Consolidated Subsidiary" means any Consolidated Subsidiary
all of the shares of capital stock or other ownership interests of which (except
directors' qualifying shares) are at the time directly or indirectly owned by
the Borrower.
Section 1.2 Accounting Terms and Determinations. Unless otherwise specified
herein, all accounting terms used herein shall be interpreted, all accounting
determinations hereunder shall be made, and all financial statements required to
be delivered hereunder shall be prepared, in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles as in effect from time to time, applied on a basis
consistent (except for changes concurred in by the Borrower's independent public
accountants) with the most recent audited consolidated financial statements of
the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries delivered to the Banks; provided
that, if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower wishes
to amend any covenant (and any related definition) in Article 5 to eliminate the
effect of any change in generally accepted accounting principles on the
operation of such covenant (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower
that the Required Banks wish to amend Article 5 for such purpose), then the
Borrower's compliance with such covenant shall be determined on the basis of
generally accepted accounting principles in effect immediately before the
relevant change in generally accepted accounting principles became effective,
until either such notice is withdrawn or such covenant is amended in a manner
satisfactory to the Borrower and the Required Banks.
Section 1.3 Types of Borrowings. The term "Borrowing" denotes the
aggregation of Loans of one or more Banks to be made pursuant to Article 2 on a
single date and for a single Interest Period. A "Borrowing" also includes (x)
the conversion ("Conversion") of such aggregation of Loans from one interest
rate pricing type of Loan to another type at the end of the Interest Period
therefor (or as otherwise provided herein) and (y) the continuation
("Continuation") of such aggregation of Loans at the same interest rate pricing
type of Loan from one Interest Period (or as otherwise provided herein) to
another; provided that a Loan outstanding as a Money Market Loan shall not be
subject to a Conversion or Continuation, nor may a Committed Loan be Converted
into a Money Market Loan. Borrowings are classified for purposes of this
Agreement either by reference to the pricing of Loans comprising such Borrowing
(e.g., a "Fixed Rate Borrowing" is a Euro-Dollar Borrowing or a Money Market
Borrowing (excluding any such Borrowing consisting of Money Market LIBOR Loans
bearing interest at the Base Rate pursuant to Section 8.1), and a "Euro-Dollar
Borrowing" is a Borrowing comprised of Euro-Dollar Loans) or by reference to the
provisions of Article 2 under which participation therein is determined (i.e., a
"Committed Borrowing" is a Borrowing under Section 2.1 in which all Banks
participate in proportion to their Commitments, while a "Money Market Borrowing"
is a Borrowing under Section 2.3 in which the Bank participants are determined
on the basis of their bids in accordance therewith).
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ARTICLE 2
THE CREDITS
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Section 2.1 Commitments to Lend. During the Revolving Credit Period, each
Bank severally agrees, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement,
to make loans to the Borrower pursuant to this Section from time to time in
amounts such that the aggregate principal amount of Committed Loans by such Bank
at any one time outstanding shall not exceed the amount of its Commitment. Each
Borrowing of Committed Loans shall be in an aggregate principal amount of (x) in
the case of a Base Rate Borrowing, $5,000,000 and (y) in the case of a
Euro-Dollar Borrowing, $10,000,000 or, in either case, any larger multiple of
$1,000,000 (except that any such Borrowing may be in the aggregate amount
available in accordance with Section 3.2) and shall be made from the several
Banks ratably in proportion to their respective Commitments. Within the
foregoing limits, the Borrower may borrow under this Section, repay, or to the
extent permitted by Section 2.11, prepay Loans and reborrow under this Section
at any time during the Revolving Credit Period and, subject to Section 2.11,
Convert and Continue Committed Loans at any time during the Revolving Credit
Period; provided that no more than eight (8) separate Interest Periods in
respect of Euro-Dollar Loans from each Bank may be outstanding at any one time
and the limitations set forth in Section 2.3(a)(i) shall be applicable.
Section 2.2 Notice of Committed Borrowing. The Borrower shall give the
Administrative Agent notice (a "Notice of Committed Borrowing") not later than
10:30 A.M. (New York City time) on (x) the date of each Base Rate Borrowing and
(y) the third Euro-Dollar Business Day before each Euro-Dollar Borrowing,
specifying:
(a) the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Domestic Business Day
in the case of a Base Rate Borrowing or a Euro-Dollar Business Day in the
case of a Euro-Dollar Borrowing;
(b) the aggregate amount of such Borrowing;
(c) whether the Loans comprising such Borrowing are to be Base Rate
Loans or Euro-Dollar Loans; and
(d) in the case of a Euro-Dollar Borrowing, the duration of the
Interest Period applicable thereto, subject to the provisions of the
definition of Interest Period.
Section 2.3 Money Market Borrowings. (a) The Money Market Option. In
addition to Committed Borrowings pursuant to Section 2.1, the Borrower may, as
set forth in this Section, request the Banks during the Revolving Credit Period
to make offers to make Money Market Loans to the Borrower. The Banks may, but
shall have no obligation to, make such offers and the Borrower may, but shall
have no obligation to, accept any such offers in the manner set forth in this
Section, provided that:
(i) there may be no more than eighteen (18) different Interest Periods
for both Euro-Dollar Loans and Money Market Loans outstanding at the same
time (for which purpose Interest Periods described in different numbered
clauses of the definition
12
of the term "Interest Period" shall be deemed to be different Interest
Periods even if they are coterminous); and
(ii) the aggregate principal amount of all Money Market Loans,
together with the aggregate principal amount of all Committed Loans, at any
one time outstanding shall not exceed the aggregate amount of the
Commitments at such time.
(b) Money Market Quote Request. When the Borrower wishes to request offers
to make Money Market Loans under this Section, it shall transmit to the
Administrative Agent by facsimile a Money Market Quote Request substantially in
the form of Exhibit B hereto ("Money Market Quote Request") so as to be received
not later than 10:30 A.M. (New York City time) on (x) the fifth Euro-Dollar
Business Day prior to the date of Borrowing proposed therein, in the case of a
LIBOR Auction or (y) the Domestic Business Day next preceding the date of
Borrowing proposed therein, in the case of an Absolute Rate Auction (or, in
either case, such other time or date as the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent shall have mutually agreed and shall have notified to the Banks not later
than the date of the Money Market Quote Request for the first LIBOR Auction or
Absolute Rate Auction for which such change is to be effective) specifying:
(i) the proposed date of Borrowing, which shall be a Euro-Dollar
Business Day in the case of a LIBOR Auction or a Domestic Business Day in
the case of an Absolute Rate Auction,
(ii) the aggregate amount of such Borrowing, which shall be
$10,000,000 or a larger multiple of $1,000,000,
(iii) the duration of the Interest Period applicable thereto, subject
to the provisions of the definition of Interest Period, and
(iv) whether the Money Market Quotes requested are to set forth a
Money Market Margin or a Money Market Absolute Rate.
The Borrower may request offers to make Money Market Loans for more than
one Interest Period in a single Money Market Quote Request. No Money Market
Quote Request shall be given within five Euro-Dollar Business Days (or such
other number of days as the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may agree) of
any other Money Market Quote Request.
(c) Invitation for Money Market Quotes. Promptly upon receipt of a
Money Market Quote Request, the Administrative Agent shall send to the
Banks by facsimile an Invitation for Money Market Quotes substantially in
the form of Exhibit C hereto ("Invitation for Money Market Quote"), which
shall constitute an invitation by the Borrower to each Bank to submit Money
Market Quotes offering to make the Money Market Loans to which such Money
Market Quote Request relates in accordance with this Section.
(d) Submission and Contents of Money Market Quotes. (i) Each Bank may
submit a Money Market Quote containing an offer or offers to make Money
Market Loans in response to any Invitation for Money Market Quotes. Each
Money Market Quote must comply with the requirements of this subsection (d)
and must be submitted to the Administrative Agent
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by facsimile at its offices specified in or pursuant to Section 9.1 not
later than (x) 2:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the fourth Euro-Dollar
Business Day prior to the proposed date of Borrowing, in the case of a
LIBOR Auction or (y) 9:30 A.M. (New York City time) on the proposed date of
Borrowing, in the case of an Absolute Rate Auction (or, in either case,
such other time or date as the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall
have mutually agreed and shall have notified to the Banks not later than
the date of the Money Market Quote Request for the first LIBOR Auction or
Absolute Rate Auction for which such change is to be effective); provided
that Money Market Quotes submitted by the Administrative Agent (or any
affiliate of the Administrative Agent) in its capacity as a Bank may be
submitted, and may only be submitted, if the Administrative Agent or such
affiliate notifies the Borrower of the terms of the offer or offers
contained therein not later than (x) one hour prior to the deadline for the
other Banks, in the case of a LIBOR Auction or (y) 15 minutes prior to the
deadline for the other Banks, in the case of an Absolute Rate Auction.
Subject to Articles 3 and 6, any Money Market Quote so made shall be
irrevocable except with the written consent of the Administrative Agent
given on the instructions of the Borrower.
(ii) Each Money Market Quote shall be in substantially the form of
Exhibit D hereto and shall in any case specify:
(A) the proposed date of Borrowing,
(B) the principal amount of the Money Market Loan for which each such offer
is being made, which principal amount (w) may be greater than or less than the
Commitment of the quoting Bank, (x) must be $10,000,000 or a larger multiple of
$1,000,000, (y) may not exceed the principal amount of Money Market Loans for
which offers were requested and (z) may be subject to an aggregate limitation as
to the principal amount of Money Market Loans for which offers being made by
such quoting Bank may be accepted,
(C) in the case of a LIBOR Auction, the margin above or below the
applicable London Interbank Offered Rate (the "Money Market Margin") offered for
each such Money Market Loan, expressed as a percentage (specified to the nearest
1/10,000th of 1%) to be added to or subtracted from such base rate,
(D) in the case of an Absolute Rate Auction, the rate of interest per annum
(specified to the nearest 1/10,000th of 1%) (the "Money Market Absolute Rate")
offered for each such Money Market Loan, and
(E) the identity of the quoting Bank.
A Money Market Quote may set forth up to three separate offers by the quoting
Bank with respect to each Interest Period specified in the related Invitation
for Money Market Quotes.
(iii) Any Money Market Quote shall be disregarded if it:
(A) is not substantially in conformity with Exhibit D hereto or does not
specify all of the information required by subsection (d)(ii);
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(B) except as provided in Section 2.3(d)(ii)(B)(z), contains qualifying,
conditional or similar language;
(C) except as provided in Section 2.3(d)(ii)(B)(z), proposes terms other
than or in addition to those set forth in the applicable Invitation for Money
Market Quotes; or
(D) arrives after the time set forth in subsection d(i).
(e) Notice to the Borrower. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify
the Borrower of the terms (x) of any Money Market Quote submitted by a Bank that
is in accordance with subsection (d) and (y) of any Money Market Quote that
amends, modifies or is otherwise inconsistent with a previous Money Market Quote
submitted by such Bank with respect to the same Money Market Quote Request. Any
such subsequent Money Market Quote shall be disregarded by the Administrative
Agent unless such subsequent Money Market Quote is submitted solely to correct a
manifest error in such former Money Market Quote. The Administrative Agent's
notice to the Borrower shall specify (A) the aggregate principal amount of Money
Market Loans for which offers have been received for each Interest Period
specified in the related Money Market Quote Request, (B) the respective
principal amounts and Money Market Margins or Money Market Absolute Rates, as
the case may be, so offered and (C) if applicable, limitations on the aggregate
principal amount of Money Market Loans for which offers in any single Money
Market Quote may be accepted.
(f) Acceptance and Notice by the Borrower. Not later than 10:30 A.M. (New
York City time) on (x) the third Euro-Dollar Business Day prior to the proposed
date of Borrowing, in the case of a LIBOR Auction or (y) the proposed date of
Borrowing, in the case of an Absolute Rate Auction (or, in either case, such
other time or date as the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall have
mutually agreed and shall have notified to the Banks not later than the date of
the Money Market Quote Request for the first LIBOR Auction or Absolute Rate
Auction for which such change is to be effective), the Borrower shall notify the
Administrative Agent of its acceptance or non-acceptance of the offers so
notified to it pursuant to subsection (e) In the case of acceptance, such notice
(a "Notice of Money Market Borrowing") shall specify the aggregate principal
amount of offers for each Interest Period that are accepted. The Borrower may
accept any Money Market Quote in whole or in part; provided that:
(i) the aggregate principal amount of each Money Market Borrowing may
not exceed the applicable amount set forth in the related Money Market
Quote Request;
(ii) the principal amount of each Money Market Borrowing must be
$10,000,000 or a larger multiple of $1,000,000;
(iii) acceptance of offers may only be made on the basis of ascending
Money Market Margins or Money Market Absolute Rates, as the case may be;
and
(iv) the Borrower may not accept any offer that is described in
subsection (d)(iii) or that otherwise fails to comply with the requirements
of this Agreement.
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(g) Allocation by Administrative Agent. If offers are made by two or more
Banks with the same Money Market Margins or Money Market Absolute Rates, as the
case may be, for a greater aggregate principal amount than the amount in respect
of which such offers are accepted for the related Interest Period, the principal
amount of Money Market Loans in respect of which such offers are accepted shall
be allocated by the Administrative Agent among such Banks as nearly as possible
(in multiples of $1,000,000, as the Administrative Agent may deem appropriate)
in proportion to the aggregate principal amounts of such offers. Determinations
by the Administrative Agent of the amounts of Money Market Loans shall be
conclusive in the absence of manifest error.
Section 2.4 Notice to Banks; Funding of Loans. (a) Upon receipt of a Notice
of Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Bank of the
contents thereof and of such Bank's share (if any) of such Borrowing and such
Notice of Borrowing shall not thereafter be revocable by the Borrower.
(b) Not later than 12:00 Noon (or 1:00 P.M., in the case of a same day Base
Rate Borrowing) (New York City time) on the date of each Borrowing (that is not
a Conversion or Continuation), each Bank participating therein shall make
available its share of such Borrowing, in Federal or other funds immediately
available in New York City, to the Administrative Agent for account of the
Borrower, at account number 1366212250600 maintained by the Administrative Agent
with Bank of America at its address referred to in Section 9.1 (or to such other
account as the Administrative Agent shall advise the Banks in writing). Unless
the Administrative Agent determines that any applicable condition specified in
Article 3 has not been satisfied, the Administrative Agent will make the funds
so received from the Banks available to the Borrower by depositing the same, in
immediately available funds, in an account of the Borrower designated by the
Borrower maintained by it with Bank of America at the aforesaid address.
(c) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Bank
prior to the time of any Borrowing (that is not a Conversion or Continuation)
that such Bank will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Bank's
share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Bank has
made such share available to the Administrative Agent on the date of such
Borrowing in accordance with subsection (b) of this Section and the
Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to
the Borrower on such date a corresponding amount. If and to the extent that such
Bank shall not have so made such share available to the Administrative Agent,
such Bank and the Borrower severally agree to repay to the Administrative Agent
forthwith on demand such corresponding amount together with interest thereon,
for each day from the date such amount is made available to the Borrower until
the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case
of the Borrower, a rate per annum equal to the higher of the Federal Funds Rate
and the interest rate applicable thereto pursuant to Section 2.7 and (ii) in the
case of such Bank, the Federal Funds Rate. If such Bank shall repay to the
Administrative Agent such corresponding amount, such amount so repaid shall
constitute such Bank's Loan included in such Borrowing for purposes of this
Agreement.
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Section 2.5 Evidence of Debt.
(a) Each Bank may, by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent,
request that its Commitments or its Loans of a particular type be evidenced by a
promissory note, forms of which are attached hereto as Exhibits G-1 and G-2, in
an amount equal to its Commitments or the aggregate unpaid principal amount of
such Loans, as the case may be. In such event, the Borrower, at its costs, shall
prepare, execute and deliver to such Bank a promissory note payable to the order
of such Bank (or, if requested by such Bank, to such Bank and its registered
assigns). Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest
thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 9.6)
be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form payable to the order
of the payee named therein (or, if such promissory note is a registered note, to
such payee and its registered assigns). Each such promissory note shall be in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the requesting Bank, the Borrower
and the Administrative Agent. Each reference in this Agreement to the "Note" of
such Bank shall be deemed to refer to and include any or all of such Notes, as
the context may require.
(b) Each Bank shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an
account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Bank
resulting from each Loan made by such Bank, including the amounts of principal
and interest payable and paid to such Bank from time to time hereunder.
(c) The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall
record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder and the type thereof and the
Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest
due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Bank
hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent
hereunder for the account of the Banks and each Bank's share thereof.
(d) The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (b)
or (c) of this Section shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and
amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that the failure of any
Bank or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein
shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans
in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
Section 2.6 Maturity of Loans; Rollover Conversions. (a) The Borrower
hereby promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for account of each Bank the
entire outstanding principal amount of the Committed Loans of such Bank, and
each Committed Loan shall mature, on the Termination Date.
(b) The Borrower hereby promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for
account of each Bank that makes any Money Market Loan the principal amount of
such Money Market Loan, and such Money Market Loan shall mature, on the last day
of the Interest Period for such Money Market Loan.
(c) In the case of any Committed Loan, if the Borrower shall not have given
a timely notice prior to the last day of the Interest Period for any Loan for
either (i) a Borrowing in
17
a principal amount at least equal to the outstanding principal amount of such
Loan effective on the last day of such Interest Period or (ii) a payment or
prepayment of the entire amount of such Loan effective on the last day of such
Interest Period, then, automatically and without further action, such Loan (or
relevant portion thereof) will be Converted into, or Continued as, as the case
may be, a Base Rate Loan, and a Base Rate Borrowing shall be effected on the
last day of such Interest Period in a principal amount equal to the principal
amount of such Loan not subject to a Borrowing and/or payment/prepayment.
Section 2.7 Interest Rates.
(a) Base Rate Loans. The Borrower hereby promises to pay to the
Administrative Agent for account of each Bank interest on the outstanding
principal amount of each Base Rate Loan of such Bank, for each day from the date
such Loan is made, Continued or Converted into a Base Rate Loan until it is
paid, prepaid, becomes due or is Converted into a Loan of a different type at a
rate per annum equal to the Base Rate for such day. Such interest shall be
payable for each Interest Period on the last day thereof (or any earlier date of
payment or prepayment thereof or Conversion into a Loan of a different type).
(b) Euro-Dollar Loans. The Borrower hereby promises to pay to the
Administrative Agent for account of each Bank interest on the outstanding
principal amount of each Euro-Dollar Loan of such Bank, for each day during the
Interest Period applicable thereto, at a rate per annum equal to the sum of .30%
plus the Adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate applicable to such Interest
Period. Such interest shall be payable for each Interest Period on the last day
thereof (or any earlier date of payment, prepayment or Continuation thereof or
Conversion into a Loan of a different type) and, if such Interest Period is
longer than three months, at intervals of three months after the first day
thereof.
The "Adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate" applicable to any
Interest Period means a rate per annum equal to the quotient obtained (rounded
upward, if necessary, to the next higher 1/100 of 1%) by dividing (i) the
applicable London Interbank Offered Rate by (ii) 1.00 minus the Euro-Dollar
Reserve Percentage.
The "London Interbank Offered Rate" applicable to any Interest
Period means the rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to the next higher 1/16 of
1%) appearing on Page 3750 of the Telerate Service (or on any successor or
substitute page of such Service, or any successor to or substitute for such
Service, providing rate quotations comparable to those currently provided on
such page of such Service, as determined by the Administrative Agent from time
to time for purposes of providing quotations of interest rates applicable to
dollar deposits in the London interbank market) at approximately 11:00 a.m.,
London time, two Euro-Dollar Business Days prior to the commencement of such
Interest Period, as the rate for dollar deposits with a maturity comparable to
such Interest Period.
"Euro-Dollar Reserve Percentage" means for any day that percentage
(expressed as a decimal) which is in effect on such day, as prescribed by the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) for
determining the maximum reserve requirement for a member bank of the Federal
Reserve System in New York City with deposits exceeding five billion Dollars in
respect of "Eurocurrency liabilities" (as such term is used in Regulation D
18
of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System) (or in respect of any
other category of liabilities which includes deposits by reference to which the
interest rate on Euro-Dollar Loans is determined or any category of extensions
of credit or other assets which includes loans by a non-United States office of
any Bank to United States residents). The Adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate
shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in
the Euro-Dollar Reserve Percentage.
(c) Money Market Loans. Subject to Section 8.1, the Borrower hereby
promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for account of each Bank interest on
the outstanding principal amount of each Money Market LIBOR Loan made by such
Bank, for the Interest Period applicable thereto, at a rate per annum equal to
the sum of the London Interbank Offered Rate for such Interest Period
(determined in accordance with Section 2.7(b) as if the related Money Market
LIBOR Borrowing were a Committed Euro-Dollar Borrowing) plus (or minus) the
Money Market Margin quoted by such Bank in accordance with Section 2.3. The
Borrower hereby promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for account of each
Bank interest on the outstanding principal amount of each Money Market Absolute
Rate Loan made by such Bank, for the Interest Period applicable thereto, at a
rate per annum equal to the Money Market Absolute Rate quoted by such Bank in
accordance with Section 2.3. Interest on each Money Market Loan shall be payable
on the last day of the Interest Period thereof and, if such Interest Period is
longer than (x) 90 days, in the case of any Money Market Absolute Rate Loan or
(y) three months, in the case of any Money Market LIBOR Loan, at intervals of 90
days or three months, respectively, after the first day thereof.
(d) Post Default Interest. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower
hereby promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for account of each Bank
interest at the applicable Post-Default Rate on any principal of any Loan of
such Bank, and on any other amount payable by the Borrower hereunder or under
the Notes held by such Bank to or for account of such Bank, which shall not be
paid in full when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration, by mandatory
prepayment or otherwise), for the period from and including the due date thereof
to but excluding the date the same is paid in full. Interest payable at the
Post-Default Rate shall be payable from time to time on demand.
(e) Determinations. The Administrative Agent shall determine each interest
rate applicable to the Loans hereunder. The Administrative Agent shall give
prompt notice to the Borrower and the participating Banks of each rate of
interest so determined, and its determination thereof shall be conclusive in the
absence of manifest error.
Section 2.8 Fees.
(a) Facility Fee. The Borrower hereby promises to pay to the Administrative
Agent for the account of each Bank a facility fee at the rate of .05% per annum.
Such facility fee shall accrue for each Bank (i) from and including the
Effective Date to but excluding the date of termination of the Commitments in
their entirety, on the daily amount of such Bank's Commitment (whether used or
unused) and (ii) from and including the date of termination of the Commitments
in their entirety to but excluding the date such Bank's Loans shall be repaid in
their entirety, on the daily aggregate outstanding principal amount of such
Bank's Loans. Accrued facility fees under this Section shall be payable
quarterly in arrears on each March 31,
19
June 30, September 30 and December 31 and on the date of termination of the
Commitments in their entirety (and, if later, the date the Loans shall be repaid
in their entirety).
(b) Continuation Fee. The Borrower hereby promises to pay on February 1,
2005 to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Bank a continuation fee
equal to .08% of the amount of such Bank's Commitment (whether used or unused)
on such date.
Section 2.9 Termination or Reduction of Commitments.
(a) During the Revolving Credit Period, the Borrower may, upon at least
three Domestic Business Days' notice to the Administrative Agent (who shall
promptly notify the Banks upon receipt of such notice), (i) terminate the
Commitments at any time, if no Loans are outstanding at such time, (ii) reduce
from time to time by an aggregate amount of $10,000,000 or a larger multiple of
$1,000,000 the aggregate amount of the Commitments in excess of the aggregate
outstanding principal amount of the Loans (for which purpose use of the
Commitments shall be deemed to include the aggregate principal amount of all
Money Market Loans) or (iii) reduce from time to time the aggregate amount of
the Commitments by an amount such that the aggregate amount of the Commitments
(after taking into account such reduction) equals the aggregate outstanding
principal amount of the Loans. The Commitments once terminated or reduced
(whether pursuant to this subsection or subsection (b) below) may not be
reinstated.
(b) On the first Euro-Dollar Business Day after the receipt of any
Commitments Reduction Amount, the Commitments shall be automatically reduced
during the Revolving Credit Period by an amount equal to such Commitments
Reduction Amount.
Section 2.10 Scheduled Termination of Commitments. The Commitments shall
terminate on the Termination Date and the Borrower hereby promises to pay any
Loans then outstanding (together with accrued interest thereon) on such date.
Section 2.11 Payments, Prepayments, Conversions and Continuations. (a)
Subject in the case of any Fixed Rate Loans to Section 2.13, the Borrower may,
(i) upon notice to the Administrative Agent given no later than 10:30 A.M. (New
York City time) on the same day, prepay any Base Rate Borrowing (or any Money
Market Loans bearing interest at the Base Rate pursuant to Section 8.1) or (ii)
upon at least three Euro-Dollar Business Days' notice to the Administrative
Agent, prepay any Euro-Dollar Borrowing, in each case in whole at any time, or
from time to time in part, in amounts aggregating $20,000,000 or any larger
multiple of $10,000,000, by paying the principal amount to be prepaid together
with accrued interest thereon to the date of prepayment. The Borrower may, upon
notice to the Administrative Agent given no later than 10:30 A.M. (New York City
time) on the last day of the Interest Period for any Loan, pay such Loan on such
day in whole or in part by paying the principal amount to be paid together with
accrued interest thereon.
(b) Not later than 10:30 a.m. on the first Euro-Dollar Business Day after
the receipt of any Prepayment Amount, the Borrower shall give the Administrative
Agent notice of such receipt and shall on such Euro-Dollar Business Day prepay
the Loans in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) such Prepayment Amount and
(ii) the outstanding principal balance of the Loans.
20
Each such prepayment shall be accompanied by the payment of accrued interest on
such Loans, together with any amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.13, and
shall be applied pro rata to the Loans held by the Banks.
(c) Other than as required by subsection (b) above, and other than on the
last day of the Interest Period therefor, the Borrower may prepay, in whole or
part, any Money Market Loan only with the written consent of the Bank that has
made such Money Market Loan.
(d) Except as provided in subsections (a), (b) and (c) above and subsection
(f) below, the Borrower may not prepay, Continue or Convert all or any portion
of the principal amount of any Loan prior to the last day of the Interest Period
therefor.
(e) Upon receipt of a notice of prepayment, Continuation or Conversion
pursuant to this Section, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each
Bank of the contents thereof and of such Bank's ratable share (if any) of such
prepayment, Continuation or Conversion and such notice shall not thereafter be
revocable by the Borrower.
(f) The Borrower may Convert or Continue Committed Loans at any time or
from time to time, provided that (a) the Borrower shall give the Administrative
Agent notice of each such Conversion or Continuation as provided in Section 2.2,
(b) any Conversion or Continuation of a Euro-Dollar Loan other than on the last
day of the Interest Period therefor shall be subject to Section 2.13 and (c) the
Borrower may Convert into or Continue a Euro-Dollar Loan at any time a Default
shall be continuing only with the prior written consent of the Required Banks.
Section 2.12 General Provisions as to Payments. (a) The Borrower shall make
each payment or prepayment of principal of, and interest on, the Loans and of
fees hereunder, not later than 12:00 Noon (New York City time) on the date when
due, in Dollars in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York
City, without deduction, set-off or counterclaim, to the Administrative Agent at
account number 1366212250600 maintained by the Administrative Agent with Bank of
America at its address referred to in Section 9.1 (or to such other account as
the Administrative Agent shall advise the Borrower in writing). If the due date
of any payment or prepayment under this Agreement would otherwise fall on a day
that is not a Domestic Business Day, such date shall be extended to the next
succeeding Domestic Business Day, and interest shall be payable for any
principal so extended for the period of such extension.
(b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the
Borrower prior to the date on which any payment or prepayment is due to the
Banks hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment or prepayment in
full, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such
payment or prepayment in full to the Administrative Agent on such date and the
Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, cause to be
distributed to each Bank on such due date an amount equal to the amount then due
such Bank. If and to the extent that the Borrower shall not have so made such
payment or prepayment, each Bank shall repay to the Administrative Agent
forthwith on demand such amount distributed to such Bank together with interest
thereon, for each day from the date such amount is distributed to such Bank
until the date such Bank repays such amount to the Administrative Agent, at the
Federal Funds Rate.
21
(c) The Borrower shall, at the time of making each payment or prepayment
under this Agreement or any Note for account of any Bank, specify to the
Administrative Agent (which shall so notify the intended recipient(s) thereof)
the Loans or other amounts payable by the Borrower hereunder to which such
payment or prepayment is to be applied (and in the event that the Borrower fails
to so specify, or if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Administrative Agent may distribute such payment or prepayment to the Banks for
application in such manner as it or the Required Banks, subject to Section 2.15,
may determine to be appropriate).
(d) Each payment or prepayment received by the Administrative Agent under
this Agreement or any Note for account of any Bank shall be paid by the
Administrative Agent promptly to such Bank, in immediately available funds, for
account of such Bank's Applicable Lending Office for the Loan or other
obligation in respect of which such payment or prepayment is made.
Section 2.13 Funding Losses. If the Borrower makes any payment or
prepayment of principal with respect to any Fixed Rate Loan (pursuant to Article
2, 6 or 8 or otherwise) on any day other than the last day of the Interest
Period applicable thereto, or if the Borrower fails to borrow, prepay, Convert
into or Continue any Fixed Rate Loans after notice has been given to any Bank in
accordance with Section 2.4(a) or 2.11(e), or the Borrower Converts or Continues
any Fixed Rate Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable
thereto, the Borrower shall reimburse each Bank within 15 days after demand for
any resulting loss or expense incurred by it (or by an existing or prospective
Participant in the related Loan), including (without limitation) any loss
incurred in obtaining, liquidating or employing deposits from third parties, but
excluding loss of margin for the period after any such payment or prepayment,
failure to borrow, prepay, Convert or Continue or Conversion or Continuation,
provided that such Bank shall have delivered to the Borrower a written request
as to the amount of such loss or expense, which written request shall be
conclusive in the absence of manifest error. Without limiting the effect of the
preceding sentence, such compensation shall include an amount equal to the
excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest that otherwise would have accrued
on the principal amount so paid, prepaid, Continued, Converted or not borrowed,
Converted or Continued for the period from the date of such payment, prepayment,
failure to borrow, Convert or Continue, Conversion or Continuation to the last
day of the then current Interest Period for such Loan (or, in the case of a
failure to borrow, the Interest Period for such Loan that would have commenced
on the date specified for such borrowing, Conversion or Continuation) at the
applicable rate of interest for such Loan provided for herein (excluding loss of
margin) over (ii) the amount of interest that otherwise would have accrued on
such principal amount at a rate per annum equal to the interest component of the
amount such Bank would have bid in the London interbank market (if such Loan is
a Euro-Dollar Loan or a Money Market LIBOR Loan) or the United States secondary
certificate of deposit market (if such Loan is a Money Market Absolute Rate
Loan) for Dollar deposits of leading banks in amounts comparable to such
principal amount and with maturities comparable to such period (as reasonably
determined by such Bank).
Section 2.14 Computation of Interest and Fees. Interest based on the Prime
Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap
year) and paid for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day
but excluding the last day). All other
22
interest and fees hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days
and paid for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but
excluding the last day).
Section 2.15 Pro Rata Treatment. Except to the extent otherwise provided
herein: (a) each borrowing and Continuation of, and each Conversion into,
Committed Loans from the Banks under Section 2.1 shall be made from or by, as
the case may be, the Banks, each payment of a facility fee or continuation fee
under Section 2.8 shall be made for account of the Banks, and each termination
or reduction of the amount of the Commitments under Section 2.9 shall be applied
to the respective Commitments of the Banks, pro rata according to the amounts of
their respective Commitments; (b) the making and Continuation of, and Conversion
into, Committed Loans shall be made pro rata among the Banks according to the
amounts of their respective Commitments; (c) each payment or prepayment of
principal of Committed Loans shall be made for account of the Banks pro rata in
accordance with the respective unpaid principal amounts of the Committed Loans
held by them, provided that if immediately prior to giving effect to any such
payment or prepayment in respect of any Committed Loan the outstanding principal
amount of the Committed Loans shall not be held by the Banks pro rata in
accordance with their respective Commitments in effect at the time such Loans
were made (by reason of a failure of a Bank to make a Loan hereunder in the
circumstances described in the last paragraph of Section 9.5), then such payment
or prepayment shall be applied to the Committed Loans in such manner as shall
result, as nearly as is practicable, in the outstanding principal amount of the
Committed Loans being held by the Banks pro rata in accordance with their
respective Commitments; and (d) each payment of interest on Committed Loans
shall be made for account of the Banks pro rata in accordance with the amounts
of interest on such Loans then due and payable to the Banks.
Section 2.16 Lending Offices. The Loans of each type made, Continued or
Converted by each Bank shall be made, Continued, Converted and maintained at
such Bank's Applicable Lending Office for Loans of such type.
Section 2.17 Several Obligations; Remedies Independent. The failure of any
Bank to make any Loan to be made by it on the date specified therefor shall not
relieve any other Bank of its obligation to make its Loan on such date, but
neither any Bank nor the Administrative Agent shall be responsible for the
failure of any other Bank to make a Loan to be made by such other Bank, and no
Bank shall have any obligation to the Administrative Agent or any other Bank for
the failure by such Bank to make any Loan required to be made by such Bank. The
amounts payable by the Borrower at any time hereunder to each Bank shall be a
separate and independent debt and each Bank shall be entitled to protect and
enforce its rights arising out of this Agreement, and it shall not be necessary
for any other Bank or the Administrative Agent to consent to, or be joined as an
additional party in, any proceedings for such purposes.
ARTICLE 3
CONDITIONS
----------
Section 3.1 Closing. The closing hereunder shall occur upon receipt by the
Administrative Agent of the following documents, each dated the Closing Date
unless otherwise indicated:
23
(a) an opinion of Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq., General Counsel of the Borrower,
substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto, and covering such additional
matters relating to the transactions contemplated hereby as the Required Banks
may reasonably request;
(b) an opinion of Xxxxxx and Xxxxx, LLP, special counsel for the
Administrative Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit F hereto and covering
such additional matters relating to the transactions contemplated hereby as the
Required Banks may reasonably request;
(c) evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that the ratings of
the long term senior, unsecured Debt of the Borrower by Standard & Poors Ratings
Group and Xxxxx'x Investors Service, Inc. are, based on written guidance or
indications from such rating agencies, expected to be not less than A+ and A2,
respectively, after giving effect to the acquisition of the Acquired Company
pursuant to the Purchase Agreement;
(d) the following corporate documents of the Borrower, each certified as
indicated below:
(i) a copy of the certificate of incorporation, as amended and in
effect, certified as of a recent date by the Secretary of State of its
jurisdiction of incorporation, and a certificate from such Secretary of
State dated as of a recent date as to the good standing of and charter
documents filed by the Borrower;
(ii) a certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the
Borrower, dated the Closing Date and certifying (A) that attached thereto
is a true and complete copy of the by-laws, as amended and in effect at all
times from the date on which the resolutions referred to in clause (B)
below were adopted to and including the date of such certificate, (B) that
attached thereto is a true and complete copy of resolutions duly adopted by
the board of directors authorizing the execution, delivery and performance
of this Agreement and the Loans hereunder and such other documents to which
the Borrower is or is intended to be a party, and that such resolutions
have not been modified, rescinded or amended and are in full force and
effect, (C) that the charter of the Borrower has not been amended since the
date of the certification thereto furnished pursuant to clause (i) above,
and (D) as to the incumbency and specimen signature of each officer
executing this Agreement and each of the other documents to which the
Borrower is intended to be a party and each other document to be delivered
by the Borrower from time to time in connection herewith or therewith (and
the Administrative Agent and each Bank may conclusively rely on such
certificate until it receives notice in writing from the Borrower); and
(iii) a certificate of another officer of the Borrower as to the
incumbency and specimen signature of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary,
as the case may be;
(e) a certificate of a senior officer of the Borrower, dated the Closing
Date, to the effect set forth in Section 3.2(d) and (e); and
24
(f) such other documents as the Administrative Agent or any Bank or special
counsel to the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.
Section 3.2 Borrowings. The obligation of any Bank to make a Loan on the
occasion of any Borrowing (other than a Continuation or Conversion) is subject
to the satisfaction of the following conditions:
(a) the fact that the Closing Date shall have occurred on or prior to July
7, 2004;
(b) receipt by the Administrative Agent of a Notice of Borrowing as
required by Section 2.2 or 2.3, as the case may be;
(c) the fact that, immediately after such Borrowing, the aggregate
outstanding principal amount of the Loans will not exceed the aggregate amount
of the Commitments;
(d) the fact that, immediately before and after such Borrowing, no Default
shall have occurred and be continuing;
(e) the fact that the representations and warranties of the Borrower
contained in this Agreement (except in the case of any Borrowing made on a date
subsequent to the Closing Date, the representation and warranty set forth in
Section 4.4(b)) shall be true on and as of the date of such Borrowing, after
giving effect to such Borrowing;
(f) the fact that the representation and warranty contained in Section
4.4(b) shall have been true as of the Closing Date; and
(g) the fact (i) that all conditions precedent to the acquisition of the
Acquired Company pursuant to the Purchase Agreement have been satisfied, or,
with the prior approval of the Banks, waived (such waiver not to be unreasonably
withheld) and (ii) that such acquisition has been consummated no later than July
9, 2004.
Each such Borrowing hereunder shall be deemed to be a representation and
warranty by the Borrower on the date of such Borrowing as to the facts specified
in clauses (c), (d), (e) and (f) of this Section.
ARTICLE 4
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
------------------------------
The Borrower represents and warrants that:
Section 4.1 Corporate Existence and Power. The Borrower (a) is a
corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the State of Delaware and (b) has all corporate powers and all material
governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals required to carry
on its business as now conducted.
25
Section 4.2 Corporate and Governmental Authorization; No Contravention. The
execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement and the
Notes, if any, issued by the Borrower are within its corporate powers, have been
duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, require no action by or in
respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or official and do not
contravene, conflict with, or constitute a default under any provision of
applicable law or regulation or of the certificate of incorporation or by-laws
of the Borrower or of any agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or
other instrument binding upon the Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries
or result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Borrower
or any of its Material Subsidiaries. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing representation, the aggregate outstanding amount of the Loans
hereunder does not exceed any limitations on the aggregate amount of borrowings
that may be effected by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries set by the Borrower's
Board of Directors.
Section 4.3 Binding Effect. This Agreement constitutes a valid and binding
agreement of the Borrower and each Note, if any, when executed and delivered in
accordance with this Agreement, will constitute a valid and binding obligation
of the Borrower, in each case enforceable against the Borrower in accordance
with its respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by (a)
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws of general
applicability affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights and (b) the
application of general principles of equity (regardless of whether such
enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
Section 4.4 Financial Information. (a) The consolidated balance sheet of
the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2003 and the
related consolidated statements of income, cash flows and stockholders' equity
for the fiscal year then ended, reported on by Deloitte & Touche LLP and
incorporated by reference in the Borrower's 2003 Form 10-K, a copy of which has
been delivered to each of the Banks, fairly present, in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles, the consolidated financial position of
the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of such date and their
consolidated results of operations and cash flows for such fiscal year. The
consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as
of March 31, 2004 and the related consolidated statements of income, cash flows
and stockholders' equity for the three months then ended as reported in the
Borrower's March 31, 2004 Form 10-Q, a copy of which has been delivered to each
of the Banks, fairly present, in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles, the consolidated financial position of the Borrower and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries as of such date and their consolidated results of
operations and cash flows for the three month period ended on such date.
(b) Since December 31, 2003 there has been no material adverse change in
the business, financial position, results of operations or prospects of the
Borrower and its consolidated subsidiaries, considered as a whole.
Section 4.5 Litigation. There is no action, suit or proceeding pending
against, or to the knowledge of the Borrower threatened against or affecting the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries before any court or arbitrator or any
governmental body, agency or official in which there is a reasonable probability
of an adverse decision which would materially adversely affect (except as
disclosed in writing to the Banks prior to the execution and delivery of this
Agreement
26
by any Bank, including pursuant to the Borrower's 2003 Form 10-K and the
Borrower's March 31, 2004 Form 10-Q) the business, consolidated financial
condition or consolidated results of operations of the Borrower and its
Consolidated Subsidiaries, considered as a whole, or which in any manner draws
into question the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or the Notes, if
any.
Section 4.6 Compliance with ERISA. Each member of the ERISA Group has
fulfilled its obligations under the minimum funding standards of ERISA and the
Internal Revenue Code with respect to each Plan and is in compliance in all
material respects with the presently applicable provisions of ERISA and the
Internal Revenue Code with respect to each Plan. No member of the ERISA Group
has (i) sought a waiver of the minimum funding standard under Section 412 of the
Internal Revenue Code in respect of any Plan, (ii) failed to make any
contribution or payment to any Plan or Multiemployer Plan or in respect of any
Benefit Arrangement, or made any amendment to any Plan or Benefit Arrangement,
which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in the imposition
of a Lien or the posting of a bond or other security under ERISA or the Internal
Revenue Code or (iii) incurred any liability under Title IV of ERISA other than
a liability to the PBGC for premiums under Section 4007 of ERISA.
Section 4.7 Taxes. The Borrower, and its Material Subsidiaries have filed
all material income tax returns which are required to be filed by them and have
paid all taxes due pursuant to such returns. The charges, accruals and reserves
on the books of the Borrower, and its respective Material Subsidiaries in
respect of taxes or other governmental charges are, in the opinion of the
Borrower, adequate.
Section 4.8 Subsidiaries. Each of the Borrower's Material Subsidiaries is a
corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, and has all corporate powers and all
material governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals required
to carry on its business as now conducted.
Section 4.9 Regulatory Restrictions on Borrowing. The Borrower is not
subject to any regulatory scheme not applicable to corporations generally which
restricts its ability to incur debt or would render the Loans void or voidable.
Section 4.10 Full Disclosure. All material information heretofore furnished
by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any Bank for purposes of or in
connection with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby is, and
all such information hereafter furnished by the Borrower to the Administrative
Agent or any Bank will be, true and accurate in all material respects on the
date as of which such information is stated or certified. The Borrower has
disclosed to the Banks in writing any and all facts which materially adversely
affect or may materially adversely affect (to the extent it can now reasonably
foresee) the business, operations or financial condition of the Borrower, or the
ability of the Borrower to perform its obligations under this Agreement.
27
Section 4.11 Use of Credit. Not more than 25% of the value of the assets of
the Borrower (individually) and the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (determined on
a consolidated basis) that are subject to the restrictions in Sections 5.5 and
5.7 is attributable to Margin Stock.
Section 4.12 Purchase Agreement. The Borrower has delivered to the
Administrative Agent a true, correct and complete copy of the Purchase Agreement
and any amendments thereto. The Purchase Agreement has not been terminated and
is in full force and effect.
ARTICLE 5
COVENANTS
---------
The Borrower agrees that, so long as any Bank has any Commitment hereunder
or any amount payable hereunder remains unpaid:
Section 5.1 Information. The Borrower will deliver to the Administrative
Agent and each of the Banks:
(a) as soon as available and in any event within 120 days after the end of
each fiscal year of the Borrower, a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower
and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal year and the
related consolidated statements of income, cash flows and stockholders' equity
for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures
as at the end of and for the previous fiscal year, all reported on in a manner
acceptable to the Securities and Exchange Commission by Deloitte & Touche LLP or
other independent public accountants of nationally recognized standing (it being
understood that delivery of the Borrower's annual report and Form 10-K for any
fiscal year as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, will satisfy this requirement with
respect to such fiscal year);
(b) as soon as available and in any event within 60 days after the end of
each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a
consolidated balance sheet or equivalent statement of financial position of the
Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of such quarter and the
related consolidated statements of income and cash flows for such quarter and
for the portion of the Borrower's fiscal year ended at the end of such quarter,
setting forth in the case of such statements of income and cash flows in
comparative form the figures for the corresponding quarter and the corresponding
portion of the Borrower's previous fiscal year, all certified (subject to normal
year-end adjustments) as to fairness of presentation, generally accepted
accounting principles and consistency (except with respect to any changes made
as a result of changes to generally accepted accounting principles) by the chief
financial officer, the treasurer or the chief accounting officer of the Borrower
(it being understood that delivery of the Borrower's quarterly report on Form
10-Q for any fiscal quarter as filed with the Securities and Exchange commission
pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, will satisfy this
requirement with respect to such fiscal quarter and, if applicable, the portion
of the Borrower's fiscal year ended at the end of such quarter);
(c) simultaneously with the delivery of each set of financial statements
referred to in clauses (a) and (b) above, a certificate of the chief financial
officer, the treasurer or
28
the chief accounting officer of the Borrower (i) setting forth in reasonable
detail the calculations required to establish whether the Borrower was in
compliance with the requirements of Sections 5.4 and 5.7 on the date of such
financial statements and (ii) stating whether any Default exists on the date of
such certificate and, if any Default then exists, setting forth the details
thereof and the action which the Borrower is taking or proposes to take with
respect thereto;
(d) simultaneously with the delivery of each set of financial statements
referred to in clause (a) above, a statement of the firm of independent public
accountants which reported on such statements (i) whether anything has come to
its attention to cause them to believe that the Borrower was not in compliance
with any covenant or agreement contained in this Article 5 insofar as such
covenant or agreement pertains to accounting or auditing matters or that any
Event of Default under Article 6 which pertains to accounting or auditing
matters existed on the date of such financial statements (it being understood
that such firm may state in such statement that its examination of such
financial statements was not directed primarily towards obtaining knowledge of
any such non-compliance or Event of Default) and (ii) confirming the
calculations set forth in the officer's certificate delivered simultaneously
therewith pursuant to clause (c) above;
(e) forthwith upon the occurrence of any Default, a certificate of the
chief financial officer, the treasurer or the chief accounting officer of the
Borrower setting forth the details thereof and, the action which the Borrower is
taking or proposes to take with respect thereto;
(f) promptly upon the mailing thereof to the stockholders of the Borrower
generally, copies of all financial statements, reports and proxy statements so
mailed;
(g) promptly upon the filing thereof, copies of all registration statements
(other than the exhibits thereto and any registration statements on Form S-8 or
its equivalent) and reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K (or their equivalents)
which the Borrower shall have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission;
(h) if and when any member of the ERISA Group (i) gives or is required to
give notice to the PBGC of any "reportable event" (as defined in Section 4043 of
ERISA) with respect to any Plan which might constitute grounds for a termination
of such Plan under Title IV of ERISA, or knows that the plan administrator of
any Plan has given or is required to give notice of any such reportable event, a
copy of the notice of such reportable event given or required to be given to the
PBGC; (ii) receives notice of complete or partial withdrawal liability under
Title IV of ERISA or notice that any Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization, is
insolvent or has been terminated, a copy of such notice; (iii) receives notice
from the PBGC under Title IV of ERISA of an intent to terminate, impose
liability (other than for premiums under Section 4007 of ERISA) in respect of,
or appoint a trustee to administer, any Plan, a copy of such notice; (iv)
applies for a waiver of the minimum funding standard under Section 412 of the
Internal Revenue Code, a copy of such application; (v) gives notice of intent to
terminate any Plan under Section 4041(c) of ERISA, a copy of such notice and
other information filed with the PBGC; (vi) gives notice of withdrawal from any
Plan pursuant to Section 4063 of ERISA, a copy of such notice; or (vii) fails to
make any payment or contribution to any Plan or Multiemployer Plan or in respect
of any Benefit Arrangement or makes any amendment to any Plan or Benefit
29
Arrangement which has resulted or could result in the imposition of a Lien or
the posting of a bond or other security, a certificate of the chief financial
officer, the treasurer or the chief accounting officer of the Borrower setting
forth details as to such occurrence and action, if any, which the Borrower or
applicable member of the ERISA Group is required or proposes to take; and
(i) from time to time such additional information regarding the financial
position or business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as the Administrative
Agent, at the request of any Bank, may reasonably request.
In the case of information required to be delivered pursuant to clause 5.1(a),
5.1(b), 5.1(f) or 5.1(g) above, either (i) the Borrower shall deliver paper
copies of such information to each Bank, or (ii) such information shall be
deemed to have been delivered on the date on which the Borrower provides notice
to the Banks that such information has been posted on the Borrower's website on
the Internet at the website address listed on the signature pages hereof, at
xxx.xxx/xxxxx/xxxxxxxx.xxx or at another website identified in such notice and
accessible by the Banks without charge; provided that (x) such notice may be
included in a certificate delivered pursuant to clause 5.1(c) and (y) the
Borrower shall deliver paper copies of the information referred to in clause
5.1(a), 5.1(b), 5.1(f) or 5.1(g) to any Bank which requests such delivery.
Section 5.2 Conduct of Business and Maintenance of Existence. The Borrower
will continue, and will cause its Material Subsidiaries to continue, to engage
in business of the same general type as now conducted by the Borrower and its
Material Subsidiaries, and will preserve, renew and keep in full force and
effect, and will cause each such Material Subsidiary to preserve, renew and keep
in full force and effect their respective existence and their respective rights,
privileges and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of
business; provided that nothing in this Section 5.2 shall prohibit (i) the
merger of a Subsidiary of the Borrower into the Borrower or the merger or
consolidation of a Subsidiary with or into another Person if the corporation
surviving such consolidation or merger is a Subsidiary and if, in each case,
after giving effect thereto, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing,
(ii) the termination of the corporate existence of any Material Subsidiary of
the Borrower if the Borrower, in good faith determines that such termination is
(x) in the best interest of the Borrower and (y) not materially disadvantageous
to the Banks and (iii) the discontinuance of the business of any Material
Subsidiary if the Borrower in good faith determines that such discontinuance is
(x) in the best interest of the Borrower and (y) not materially disadvantageous
to the Banks.
Section 5.3 Compliance with Laws; Borrowing Authorization. The Borrower
will comply, and cause each of its Material Subsidiaries to comply, in all
material respects with all applicable laws, ordinances, rules, regulations, and
requirements of governmental authorities (including, without limitation,
Environmental Laws and ERISA and the rules and regulations thereunder) except
where (i) the necessity of compliance therewith is contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings or (ii) non-compliance therewith would not have a
material adverse effect upon the business, financial position, results of
operations or prospects of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, considered as a
whole. The Borrower will not permit the aggregate outstanding amount of the
Loans hereunder to exceed any limitations on the aggregate amount of borrowings
that may be effected by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries set by the Borrower's
Board of Directors.
30
Section 5.4 Minimum Consolidated Net Worth. The Borrower will not permit
its Consolidated Net Worth to be less than $3,650,000,000 at any time.
Section 5.5 Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets. The Borrower will
not (i) consolidate or merge with or into any other Person or (ii) sell, lease
or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of its assets to any other
Person; provided that (x) the Borrower may merge with any Wholly-Owned
Consolidated Subsidiary if immediately after such merger no Default shall have
occurred and be continuing and such Wholly-Owned Consolidated Subsidiary shall
expressly assume in writing all of the obligations of the Borrower hereunder,
and under the Notes (if any) and (y) the Borrower may merge with any other
Person if (A) the Borrower is the corporation surviving such merger and (B)
immediately after giving effect to such merger, no Default shall have occurred
and be continuing.
Section 5.6 Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loans will be used only to
repay or refinance commercial paper issued by the Borrower in connection with
the acquisition by the Borrower of the Acquired Company pursuant to the Purchase
Agreement. No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used, whether directly or
indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation of any of the Regulations
of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, including Regulations U
and X.
Section 5.7 Negative Pledge. Neither the Borrower nor any Consolidated
Subsidiary will create, assume or suffer to exist any Lien on any asset now
owned or hereafter acquired by it, except:
(a) Liens existing on the Mortgaged Property;
(b) Liens existing on the date of this Agreement securing other Debt
outstanding on the date of this Agreement in an aggregate principal or face
amount not exceeding $100,000,000;
(c) any Lien existing on any asset of any corporation at the time such
corporation becomes a Consolidated Subsidiary and not created in contemplation
of such event;
(d) any Lien on any asset securing Debt incurred or assumed for the purpose
of financing all or any part of the cost of acquiring such asset, provided that
such Lien attaches to such asset concurrently with or within 90 days after the
acquisition thereof;
(e) any Lien on any asset of any corporation existing at the time such
corporation is merged or consolidated with or into the Borrower or a
Consolidated Subsidiary and not created in contemplation of such event;
(f) any Lien existing on any asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the
Borrower or a Consolidated Subsidiary and not created in contemplation of such
acquisition;
(g) any Lien arising out of the refinancing, extension, renewal or
refunding of any Debt secured by any Lien permitted by any of the foregoing
clauses of this Section, provided that such Debt is not increased and is not
secured by any additional assets;
31
(h) Liens arising in the ordinary course of its business which (i) do not
secure Debt or Derivatives Obligations, (ii) do not secure, in the case of
judgments or orders, obligations in an aggregate amount exceeding $100,000,000
and (iii) do not in the aggregate materially detract from the value of its
assets or materially impair the use thereof in the operation of its business;
(i) Liens on cash and cash equivalents securing Derivatives Obligations,
provided that the aggregate amount of cash and cash equivalents subject to such
Liens may at no time exceed $100,000,000 and provided further that the sum of
(x) such aggregate amount and (y) the aggregate amount of Debt secured as
permitted by clause (j) below does not at any date exceed 20% of Consolidated
Tangible Net Worth; and
(j) Liens not otherwise permitted by the foregoing clauses of this Section
securing Debt, provided that the sum of (x) the principal or face amount of such
Debt and (y) the aggregate amount of cash and cash equivalents referred to in
clause (i) above does not at any date exceed 20% of Consolidated Tangible Net
Worth.
Section 5.8 Taxes, Etc. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its
Material Subsidiaries to:
(a) pay and discharge all taxes, assessments and governmental charges or
levies imposed on it or on its income or profits or on any of its property prior
to the date on which penalties attach thereto, except for any such tax,
assessment, charge or levy the payment of which is being contested in good faith
and by proper proceedings and against which adequate reserves are being
maintained or the nonpayment of which would not have a material adverse effect
on the business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects of the
Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, considered as a whole;
(b) keep adequate records and books of account, in which complete entries
will be made in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
consistently applied; and
(c) permit representatives of any Bank or the Administrative Agent, during
normal business hours, to examine, copy and make extracts from its books and
records, to inspect any of its properties, and to discuss its business and
affairs with its officers, all to the extent reasonably requested by such Bank
or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be).
ARTICLE 6
DEFAULTS
--------
Section 6.1 Events of Default. If one or more of the following events
("Events of Default") shall have occurred and be continuing:
(a) the Borrower shall fail to pay (x) within three Business Days of the
date when due any principal of any Loan or (y) within five days of the date when
due any interest, any fees or any other amount payable hereunder;
32
(b) the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant contained in
Sections 5.4 through 5.7, inclusive;
(c) the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant or agreement
contained in this Agreement (other than those covered by clause (a) or (b)
above) for 10 days after written notice thereof has been given to the Borrower
by the Administrative Agent or any Bank (through the Administrative Agent);
(d) any representation, warranty, certification or statement made (or
deemed made) by the Borrower in this Agreement or in any certificate, financial
statement or other document delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall prove to
have been incorrect in any material respect when made (or deemed made);
(e) either the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof shall fail to make any
payment in respect of any Material Financial Obligations when due or within any
applicable grace period;
(f) any event or condition shall occur which results in the acceleration of
the maturity of any Material Financial Obligations or enables (or, with the
giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would enable) the holder of such Debt
or any Person acting on such holder's behalf to accelerate the maturity thereof;
(g) the Borrower or any Subsidiary holding, as of the date of the most
recent audited financial statements of the Borrower and its Consolidated
Subsidiaries delivered pursuant to this Agreement, assets having a book value in
excess of $20,000,000, shall commence a voluntary case or other proceeding
seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to itself or
its debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter
in effect or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator,
custodian or other similar official of it or any substantial part of its
property, or shall consent to any such relief or to the appointment of or taking
possession by any such official in an involuntary case or other proceeding
commenced against it, or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of
creditors, or shall fail generally to pay its debts as they become due, or shall
take any corporate action to authorize any of the foregoing;
(h) an involuntary case or other proceeding shall be commenced against the
Borrower or any Subsidiary holding, as of the date of the most recent audited
financial statements of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries delivered
pursuant to this Agreement, assets having a book value in excess of $20,000,000
seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief with respect to it or its
debts under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in
effect or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian
or other similar official of it or any substantial part of its property, and
such involuntary case or other proceeding shall remain undismissed and unstayed
for a period of 60 days; or an order for relief shall be entered against the
Borrower or any Subsidiary holding, as of the date of the most recent audited
financial statements of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries delivered
pursuant to this Agreement, assets having a book value in excess of $20,000,000
under the federal bankruptcy laws as now or hereafter in effect;
33
(i) any member of the ERISA Group shall fail to pay when due an amount or
amounts aggregating in excess of $20,000,000 which it shall have become liable
to pay under Title IV of ERISA; or notice of intent to terminate a Material Plan
shall be filed under Title IV of ERISA by any member of the ERISA Group, any
plan administrator or any combination of the foregoing; or the PBGC shall
institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate, to impose liability
(other than for premiums under Section 4007 of ERISA) in respect of, or to cause
a trustee to be appointed to administer, any Material Plan; or a condition shall
exist by reason of which the PBGC would be entitled to obtain a decree
adjudicating that any Material Plan must be terminated; or there shall occur a
complete or partial withdrawal from, or a default, within the meaning of Section
4219(c)(5) of ERISA, with respect to, one or more Multiemployer Plans which
could reasonably be expected to cause one or more members of the ERISA Group to
incur a current payment obligation in excess of $30,000,000;
(j) judgments or orders for the payment of money in excess of $100,000,000
shall be rendered against the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof and such
judgments or orders shall continue unsatisfied and unstayed for a period of 30
days; or
(k) any person or group of persons (within the meaning of Section 13 or 14
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) other than the Borrower, any
trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of
the Borrower or any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the
stockholders of the Borrower in substantially the same proportions as their
ownership of stock in the Borrower, shall have acquired beneficial ownership
(within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange
Commission under said Act) of 50% or more of the combined voting power of the
Borrower's then outstanding securities; or, during any period of 24 consecutive
calendar months, individuals who were directors of the Borrower on the first day
of such period and any new director whose election by the board of directors of
the Borrower or nomination for election by the Borrower's stockholders was
approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office
who either were directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or
nomination for election was previously so approved, shall cease to constitute a
majority of the board of directors of the Borrower;
then, and in every such event, the Administrative Agent shall (i) if requested
by Banks having more than 50% in aggregate amount of the Commitments, by notice
to the Borrower terminate the Commitments and they shall thereupon terminate,
and (ii) if requested by Banks holding more than 50% of the aggregate principal
amount of the Loans, by notice to the Borrower declare the Loans (together with
accrued interest thereon) and all other amounts payable by the Borrower
hereunder and under any Notes (including, without limitation, any amounts
payable under Section 2.13) to be, and the Loans, such interest and such other
amounts shall thereupon become, immediately due and payable without presentment,
demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly
waived by the Borrower; provided that in the case of any of the Events of
Default specified in clause (g) or (h) above with respect to the Borrower,
without any notice to the Borrower or any other act by the Administrative Agent
or the Banks, the Commitments shall thereupon terminate and the Loans (together
with accrued interest thereon) and all other amounts payable by the Borrower
hereunder and under any Notes (including, without limitation, any amounts
payable under Section 2.13) shall become
34
immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or other notice
of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower.
Section 6.2 Notice of Default by Banks. Each Bank shall give notice to the
Administrative Agent and each other Bank promptly after such Bank obtains
knowledge that a Default has occurred under Section 6.1(a) with respect to such
Bank's Money Market Loans.
ARTICLE 7
THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
------------------------
Section 7.1 Appointment and Authorization. Each Bank irrevocably appoints
and authorizes Bank of America to take such action as agent on its behalf and to
exercise such powers under this Agreement as are delegated to the Administrative
Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with all such powers as are
reasonably incidental thereto.
Section 7.2 Administrative Agent and Affiliates. Bank of America shall have
the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any other Bank and may
exercise or refrain from exercising the same as though it were not the
Administrative Agent, and Bank of America and its affiliates may accept deposits
from, lend money to, make investments in and generally engage in any kind of
business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or affiliate of the Borrower as if
it were not the Administrative Agent and Bank of America and its affiliates may
accept fees and other consideration from the Borrower for services in connection
with this Agreement or otherwise without having to account for the same to the
Banks. Except with respect to information furnished to the Administrative Agent
pursuant to this Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to
disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information
relating to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that is communicated to or
obtained by Bank of America or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.
Section 7.3 Action by Administrative Agent. The obligations of the
Administrative Agent hereunder are only those expressly set forth herein, and
the Administrative Agent shall not by reason of this Agreement be a trustee for
any Bank. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative
Agent shall not be required to take any action with respect to any Default,
except as expressly provided in Article 6.
Section 7.4 Consultation with Experts; Sub-Agent. The Administrative Agent
may consult with legal counsel, independent public accountants and other experts
selected by it and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be
taken by it in good faith in accordance with the advice of such counsel,
accountants or experts. The Administrative Agent may perform any and all its
duties and exercise its rights and powers 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 its duties and exercise its rights
and powers through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions
contained in the Article 7 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.
35
Section 7.5 Liability of Administrative Agent. Neither the Administrative
Agent nor any of its affiliates nor any of their respective directors, officers,
agents or employees shall be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in
connection herewith (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Banks
(or each Bank, if applicable) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence
or willful misconduct. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its
affiliates nor any of their respective directors, officers, agents or employees
shall be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into or verify
(i) any statement, warranty or representation made in connection with this
Agreement or any borrowing hereunder; (ii) the performance or observance of any
of the covenants or agreements of the Borrower; (iii) the satisfaction of any
condition specified in Article 3, except receipt of items required to be
delivered to the Administrative Agent; or (iv) the validity, effectiveness,
genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement, the Notes or any
other instrument or writing furnished in connection herewith. The Administrative
Agent shall not incur any liability by acting in reliance upon any notice,
consent, certificate, statement, or other writing (which may be a bank wire,
telex, facsimile transmission or similar writing) reasonably believed by it to
be genuine or to be signed by the proper party or parties.
Section 7.6 Indemnification. Each Bank shall, ratably in accordance with
its Commitment (and, after the Commitments have been terminated, ratably in
accordance with the aggregate principal amount of the Loans held by such Bank),
indemnify the Administrative Agent, its affiliates and their respective
directors, officers, agents and employees (to the extent not reimbursed by the
Borrower) against any cost, expense (including reasonable counsel fees and
disbursements), claim, demand, action, judgment, suit, loss or liability (except
such as result from such indemnitee's gross negligence or willful misconduct)
that such indemnitees may suffer or incur in connection with this Agreement or
any action taken or omitted by such indemnitees hereunder.
Section 7.7 Credit Decision. Each Bank acknowledges that it has,
independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other
Bank, 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
Bank also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the
Administrative Agent or any other Bank, and based on such documents and
information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own
credit decisions in taking or not taking any action under this Agreement.
Section 7.8 Successor Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may
resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Banks and the
Borrower. Upon any such resignation, the Required Banks shall have the right to
appoint a successor Administrative Agent, subject, so long as no Event of
Default shall be continuing, to the approval of such successor Administrative
Agent by the Borrower. If no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so
appointed by the Required Banks and approved by the Borrower, and shall have
accepted such appointment, within 30 days after the retiring Administrative
Agent's giving of notice of resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent
may, on behalf of the Banks, appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which
shall be a commercial bank organized or licensed under the laws of the United
States of America or of any State thereof and having a combined capital and
surplus of at least $100,000,000 and which is reasonably acceptable to the
Borrower. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as Administrative Agent
hereunder by a successor
36
Administrative Agent, such successor Administrative Agent shall thereupon
succeed to and become vested with all the rights and duties of the retiring
Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged
from its duties and obligations hereunder. After any retiring Administrative
Agent's resignation hereunder as Administrative Agent, the provisions of this
Article shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be
taken by it while it was Administrative Agent.
Section 7.9 Administrative Agent's Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the
Administrative Agent for its own account fees in the amounts and at the times
previously agreed upon between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. Such
fees once paid shall be non-refundable.
ARTICLE 8
CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES
-----------------------
Section 8.1 Basis for Determining Interest Rate Inadequate or Unfair. If on
or prior to the first day of any Interest Period for any Euro-Dollar Loan or
Money Market LIBOR Loan:
(a) the Administrative Agent determines, which determination shall be
conclusive, that quotations of interest rates for the relevant deposits referred
to in the definition of "London Interbank Offered Rate" in Section 2.7 are not
being provided in the relevant amounts or for the relevant maturities for
purposes of determining rates of interest for Fixed Rate Loans as provided
herein; or
(b) in the case of a Committed Borrowing, Banks having 50% or more of the
aggregate amount of the Commitments advise the Administrative Agent that the
Adjusted London Interbank Offered Rate as determined by the Administrative Agent
will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Banks of funding their
Euro-Dollar Loans for such Interest Period,
the Administrative Agent shall forthwith give notice thereof to the Borrower and
the Banks, whereupon until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that
the circumstances giving rise to such suspension no longer exist, the
obligations of the Banks to make, Continue or Convert into Euro-Dollar Loans
shall be suspended. During any such suspension unless the Borrower notifies the
Administrative Agent at least two Domestic Business Days before the date of any
Fixed Rate Borrowing for which a Notice of Borrowing has previously been given
that it elects not to borrow, Continue or Convert, as the case may be, on such
date, (i) if such Fixed Rate Borrowing is a Committed Borrowing, such Borrowing
shall instead be made or Continued as, or Converted into, a Base Rate Borrowing
and (ii) if such Fixed Rate Borrowing is a Money Market LIBOR Borrowing, the
Money Market LIBOR Loans comprising such Borrowing shall bear interest for each
day from and including the first day to but excluding the last day of the
Interest Period applicable thereto at the Base Rate for such day.
Section 8.2 Illegality. If, after the date of this Agreement, the adoption
of any applicable law, rule or regulation, or any change in any applicable law,
rule or regulation, or any
37
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 Bank (or its Euro-Dollar Lending
Office) 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 Bank (or its Euro-Dollar Lending Office) to make,
maintain, fund, Continue or Convert into Euro-Dollar Loans and such Bank shall
so notify the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall forthwith
give notice thereof to the other Banks and the Borrower, whereupon until such
Bank notifies the Borrower and the Administrative Agent that the circumstances
giving rise to such suspension no longer exist, the obligation of such Bank to
make, Continue or Convert into Euro-Dollar Loans shall be suspended. Before
giving any notice to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 8.2, such
Bank shall designate a different Euro-Dollar Lending Office if such designation
will avoid the need for giving such notice and will not, in the judgment of such
Bank, be otherwise disadvantageous to such Bank. If such Bank shall determine
that it may not lawfully continue to maintain and fund any of its outstanding
Euro-Dollar Loans to maturity and shall so specify in such notice, the Borrower
shall immediately Convert the then outstanding principal amount of each such
Euro-Dollar Loan of such Bank into a Base Rate Loan from such Bank in an equal
principal amount (on which Loan interest and principal shall be payable
contemporaneously with the related Euro-Dollar Loans of the other Banks).
Section 8.3 Increased Cost and Reduced Return. (a) If after (x) the date
hereof, in the case of any Committed Loan or any obligation to make, Continue or
Convert Committed Loans or (y) the date of the related Money Market Quote, in
the case of any Money Market Loan, the adoption of any applicable law, rule or
regulation, or any change in any applicable law, rule or regulation, 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 Bank (or its Applicable Lending
Office) with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law)
of any such authority, central bank or comparable agency, shall impose, modify
or deem applicable any reserve (including, without limitation, any such
requirement imposed by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, but
excluding with respect to any Euro-Dollar Loan any such requirement included in
an applicable Euro-Dollar Reserve Percentage), special deposit, insurance
assessment or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the
account of, or credit extended by, any Bank (or its Applicable Lending Office)
or shall impose on any Bank (or its Applicable Lending Office) or the London
interbank market any other condition affecting its Fixed Rate Loans, any Note
that relates to Fixed Rate Loans or its obligation to make, Continue or Convert
into Fixed Rate Loans and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the
cost to such Bank (or its Applicable Lending Office) of making, maintaining,
Continuing or Converting into any Fixed Rate Loan, or to reduce the amount of
any sum received or receivable by such Bank (or its Applicable Lending Office)
under this Agreement or under any Note that relates to Fixed Rate Loans, by an
amount deemed by such Bank to be material, then, within 15 days after demand by
such Bank (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower agrees to pay
to such Bank such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Bank for
such increased cost or reduction which arise out of its Loans or any Notes.
(b) If any Bank shall have determined that, after the date hereof, the
adoption of any applicable law, rule or regulation regarding capital adequacy,
or any change in any such
38
law, rule or regulation, 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 any request or directive
regarding capital adequacy (whether or not having the force of law) of any such
authority, central bank or comparable agency, has or would have the effect of
reducing the rate of return on capital of such Bank (or its Parent) as a
consequence of such Bank's obligations hereunder to a level below that which
such Bank (or its Parent) could have achieved but for such adoption, change,
request or directive (taking into consideration its policies with respect to
capital adequacy) by an amount deemed by such Bank to be material, then from
time to time, within 15 days after demand by such Bank (with a copy to the
Administrative Agent), the Borrower agrees to pay to such Bank such additional
amount or amounts as will compensate such Bank (or its Parent) for the portion
of such reduction attributable to its Loans or any Notes.
(c) Each Bank will promptly notify the Borrower and the Administrative
Agent of any event of which it has knowledge, occurring after the date hereof,
which will
entitle such Bank to compensation pursuant to this Section 8.3 and will
designate a different Applicable Lending Office if such designation will avoid
the need for, or reduce the amount of, such compensation and will not, in the
judgment of such Bank, be otherwise disadvantageous to such Bank. A certificate
of any Bank claiming compensation under this Section 8.3 and setting forth the
additional amount or amounts to be paid to it hereunder shall be conclusive in
the absence of manifest error. In determining such amount, such Bank may use any
reasonable averaging and attribution methods.
Section 8.4 Taxes. (a) For the purposes of this Section 8.4, the following
terms have the following meanings:
"Taxes" means any and all present or future taxes, duties, levies,
imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings with respect to any payment or
prepayment by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement or under any Note, and all
liabilities with respect thereto, excluding (i) in the case of each Bank and the
Administrative Agent, taxes imposed on its income, and franchise or similar
taxes imposed on it, by a jurisdiction under the laws of which such Bank or the
Administrative Agent (as the case may be) is organized or in which its principal
executive office is located or, in the case of each Bank, in which its
Applicable Lending Office is located and (ii) in the case of each Bank, (x) any
United States withholding tax imposed on such payments or prepayments but only
to the extent that such Bank is subject to United States withholding tax at the
time such Bank first becomes a party to this Agreement or (y) any United States
withholding tax imposed on such payment or prepayment solely as a result of a
change in such Bank's Applicable Lending Office made other than pursuant to
Section 8.2, 8.3 or 8.4(f).
"Other Taxes" means any present or future stamp, mortgage recording
or documentary taxes and any other excise or property taxes, or similar charges
or levies, which arise from any payment or prepayment made pursuant to this
Agreement or under any Note or from the execution or delivery of, the
enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any Note.
(b) Any and all payments or prepayments by the Borrower to or for account
of any Bank or the Administrative Agent hereunder or under any Note shall be
made without
39
deduction for any Taxes or Other Taxes; provided that, if the Borrower shall be
required by law to deduct any Taxes or Other Taxes from any such payments or
prepayments, (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 8.4) such Bank or the Administrative Agent (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,
(iii) the Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxation
authority or other authority in accordance with applicable law and (iv) the
Borrower shall furnish to the Administrative Agent, at its address referred to
in Section 9.1, the original or a certified copy of a receipt evidencing payment
thereof.
(c) The Borrower agrees to indemnify each Bank and the Administrative Agent
for the full amount of Taxes or Other Taxes (including, without limitation, any
Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted by any jurisdiction on amounts payable
under this Section 8.4) paid by such Bank or the Administrative Agent (as the
case may be) and any liability (including penalties, interest and expenses)
arising therefrom or with respect thereto. This indemnification shall be paid
within 15 days after such Bank or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be)
makes demand therefor.
(d) Each Bank organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United
States, on or prior to the date of its execution and delivery of this Agreement
in the case of each Bank listed on the signature pages hereof and on or prior to
the date on which it becomes a Bank in the case of each other Bank, and as
required thereafter if requested in writing by the Borrower (but only so long as
such Bank remains lawfully able to do so), shall provide the Borrower with
Internal Revenue Service Form W8-BEN or W8-IMY or W-ECI, as appropriate, or any
successor form prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service, certifying that such
Bank is entitled to benefits under an income tax treaty to which the United
States is a party which exempts such Bank from United States withholding tax or
reduces the rate of withholding tax on payments of interest for the account of
such Bank or certifying that the income receivable pursuant to this Agreement is
effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United
States.
(e) For any period with respect to which a Bank required to do so has
failed to provide the Borrower with the appropriate form pursuant to Section
8.4(d) (unless such failure is due to a change in treaty, law or regulation
occurring subsequent to the date on which such form originally was required to
be provided), such Bank shall not be entitled to indemnification under Section
8.4(b) or (c) with respect to Taxes imposed by the United States; provided that
if a Bank, which is otherwise exempt from or subject to a reduced rate of
withholding tax, becomes subject to Taxes because of its failure, if required,
to deliver a form required hereunder, the Borrower shall take such steps as such
Bank shall reasonably request to assist such Bank to recover such Taxes.
(f) If the Borrower is required to pay additional amounts to or for the
account of any Bank pursuant to this Section 8.4, then such Bank will change the
jurisdiction of its Applicable Lending Office if, in the judgment of such Bank,
such change (i) will eliminate or reduce any such additional payment which may
thereafter accrue and (ii) is not otherwise disadvantageous to such Bank.
40
Section 8.5 Base Rate Loans Substituted for Affected Euro-Dollar Loans. If
(i) the obligation of any Bank to make, Continue or Convert into Euro-Dollar
Loans has been suspended pursuant to Section 8.2 or (ii) any Bank has demanded
compensation under Section 8.3(a) or 8.4 with respect to its Euro-Dollar Loans
and the Borrower shall, by at least five Euro-Dollar Business Days' prior notice
to such Bank through the Administrative Agent, have elected that the provisions
of this Section 8.5 shall apply to such Bank, then, unless and until such Bank
notifies the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such suspension or
demand for compensation no longer exist:
(a) all Loans which would otherwise be made by such Bank as Euro-Dollar
Loans shall be made instead as Base Rate Loans (on which interest and principal
shall be payable contemporaneously with the related Euro-Dollar Loans of the
other Banks); and
(b) after each of its Euro-Dollar Loans has been repaid, all payments or
prepayments of principal which would otherwise be applied to repay such
Euro-Dollar Loans shall be applied to repay its Base Rate Loans instead.
ARTICLE 9
MISCELLANEOUS
-------------
Section 9.1 Notices. All notices, requests and other communications to any
party hereunder shall be in writing (including facsimile transmission or similar
writing) and shall be given to such party: (a) in the case of the Borrower or
the Administrative Agent, at its address or facsimile number set forth on the
signature pages hereof, (b) in the case of any Bank, at its address or facsimile
number set forth in its Administrative Questionnaire or (c) in the case of any
party, such other address or facsimile number as such party may hereafter
specify for the purpose by notice to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower.
Each such notice, request or other communication shall be effective (i) if given
by facsimile transmission, when transmitted to the facsimile number specified in
this Section 9.1 and confirmation of receipt is received, (ii) if given by mail,
72 hours after such communication is deposited in the mails with first class
postage prepaid, addressed as aforesaid or (iii) if given by any other means,
when delivered at the address specified in this Section 9.1; provided that
notices to the Administrative Agent under Article 2 or Article 8 shall not be
effective until received.
Notices and other communications to the Banks hereunder may be delivered or
furnished by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by the
Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices
pursuant to Article 2 or any notices related to Borrowings, payments or
prepayments unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the
applicable Bank. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its
discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by
electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that
approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or
communications.
Section 9.2 No Waivers. No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent or
any Bank in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder or under any Note
shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise
thereof preclude any other or further
41
exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The
rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any
rights or remedies provided by law.
Section 9.3 Expenses; Indemnification; Damage Waiver. (a) The Borrower
agrees to pay (i) all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent,
including fees and disbursements of special counsel for the Administrative
Agent, in connection with the preparation and administration of this Agreement,
any waiver or consent hereunder or any amendment hereof or any Default or
alleged Default hereunder and (ii) if an Event of Default occurs, all
out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and each Bank,
including (without duplication) the fees and disbursements of outside counsel
and the allocated cost of inside counsel, in connection with such Event of
Default and collection, bankruptcy, insolvency and other enforcement proceedings
resulting therefrom.
(b) The Borrower agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent and each
Bank, their respective affiliates and the respective directors, officers, agents
and employees of the foregoing (each an "Indemnitee") and hold each Indemnitee
harmless from and against any and all liabilities, losses, damages, costs and
expenses of any kind, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel, which may be incurred by such Indemnitee in connection
with any investigative, administrative or judicial proceeding (whether or not
such Indemnitee shall be designated a party thereto) brought or threatened
relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any actual or proposed use of
proceeds of Loans hereunder; provided that no Indemnitee shall have the right to
be indemnified hereunder for such Indemnitee's own gross negligence or willful
misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(c) To the 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 or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, any Loan
or the use of the proceeds thereof.
Section 9.4 Sharing of Set-Offs. Each Bank agrees that if it shall, by
exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise (other than a
repayment or prepayment by the Borrower made in accordance with its obligations
hereunder), receive payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of principal
and interest due with respect to any Loan made by it which is greater than the
proportion received by any other Bank in respect of the aggregate amount of
principal and interest due with respect to any Loan made by such other Bank, the
Bank receiving such proportionately greater payment shall purchase such
participations in the Loans held by the other Banks, and such other adjustments
shall be made, as may be required so that all such payments of principal and
interest with respect to the Loans held by the Banks shall be shared by the
Banks pro rata; provided that nothing in this Section 9.4 shall impair the right
of any Bank to exercise any right of set-off or counterclaim it may have and to
apply the amount subject to such exercise to the payment of indebtedness of the
Borrower other than its indebtedness hereunder. The Borrower agrees, to the
fullest extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any holder of
a participation in a Loan, whether or not acquired pursuant to the foregoing
arrangements, may exercise rights of set-off or counterclaim and other rights
with respect to such participation as fully as if such holder of a participation
were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.
42
Section 9.5 Amendments and Waivers. Any provision of this Agreement may be
amended or waived if, but only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and is
signed by the Borrower and the Required Banks (and, if the rights or duties of
the Administrative Agent are affected thereby, by the Administrative Agent);
provided that (a) no such amendment or waiver shall, unless signed by all the
Banks, (i) increase or decrease the Commitment of any Bank (except for a ratable
decrease in the Commitments of all Banks) or subject any Bank to any additional
obligation, (ii) reduce the principal of or rate of interest on any Loan, or any
fees hereunder, (iii) postpone the date fixed for any payment or prepayment of
principal of or interest on any Loan, or any fees hereunder or for the reduction
or termination of the Commitments, (iv) change the percentage of the Commitments
or of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Loans, or the number of
Banks, which shall be required for the Banks or any of them to take any action
under this Section 9.5 or any other provision of this Agreement, or (v) amend or
modify Sections 2.15, 9.4 and 9.6(a) and (b) any modification or supplement of
Article 7 shall require the consent of the Administrative Agent.
Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if at a
time when the conditions precedent set forth in Article 3 to make any Committed
Loan hereunder are, in the reasonable opinion of the Required Banks, satisfied,
any Bank shall fail to fulfill its obligations to make such Loan then, for so
long as such failure shall continue, such Bank shall (unless the Required Banks,
determined as if such Bank were not a "Bank" hereunder, shall otherwise consent
in writing) be deemed for all purposes relating to amendments, modifications,
waivers or consents under this Agreement (including, without limitation, under
this Section 9.5) to have no Loans or Commitments, shall not be treated as a
"Bank" hereunder when performing the computation of Required Banks and shall
have no rights under the preceding paragraph of this Section 9.5; provided that
any action taken by the other Banks with respect to the matters referred to in
clause (a) of the preceding paragraph shall not be effective as against such
Bank.
Section 9.6 Successors and Assigns. (a) The provisions of this Agreement
shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
respective successors and assigns, except that the Borrower may not assign or
otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without
the prior written consent of all Banks.
(b) Any Bank may at any time grant to one or more banks or other
institutions (each a "Participant") participating interests in its Commitment or
any or all of its Loans. In the event of any such grant by a Bank of a
participating interest to a Participant, whether or not upon notice to the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent, such Bank shall remain responsible for
the performance of its obligations hereunder, and the Borrower and the
Administrative Agent shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Bank
in connection with such Bank's rights and obligations under this Agreement and
any Note. Any agreement pursuant to which any Bank may grant such a
participating interest shall provide that such Bank shall retain the sole right
and responsibility to enforce the obligations of the Borrower hereunder
including, without limitation, the right to approve any amendment, modification
or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such participation
agreement may provide that such Bank will not agree to any modification,
amendment or waiver of this Agreement described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of
Section 9.5 without the consent of the Participant. The Borrower agrees, subject
to subsection (e) below, that each Participant shall, to the extent provided in
its participation agreement, be entitled to the benefits of Article 8 with
respect to its participating interest. An assignment or
43
other transfer which is not permitted by subsection (c) or (d) below shall be
given effect for purposes of this Agreement only to the extent of a
participating interest granted in accordance with this subsection (b).
(c) Any Bank may at any time assign to one or more banks or other
institutions (each an "Assignee") all, or a proportionate part (equivalent to an
initial Commitment of not less than $5,000,000) of all of its rights and
obligations under this Agreement and any Note, and such Assignee shall assume
such rights and obligations, pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption Agreement
in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto executed by such Assignee and such
transferor Bank, with (and subject to) the prior written consent of the
Borrower, which shall not be unreasonably withheld and the Administrative Agent,
which shall not be unreasonably withheld, provided that, so long as an Event of
Default shall be continuing, no such consent shall be required of the Borrower;
provided further that if an Assignee is an affiliate of such transferor Bank or
was a Bank immediately prior to such assignment, no such consent shall be
required of the Borrower; and provided further that such assignment may, but
need not, include rights of the transferor Bank in respect of outstanding Money
Market Loans. Upon execution and delivery of such instrument and payment by such
Assignee to such transferor Bank of an amount equal to the purchase price agreed
between such transferor Bank and such Assignee, such Assignee shall be a Bank
party to this Agreement and shall have all the rights and obligations of a Bank
with a Commitment as set forth in such instrument of assumption, and the
transferor Bank shall be released from its obligations hereunder to a
corresponding extent, and no further consent or action by any party shall be
required. Upon the consummation of any assignment pursuant to this subsection
(c), the transferor Bank, the Administrative Agent and the Borrower shall make
appropriate arrangements so that, if required, a new Note is issued to the
Assignee. In connection with any such assignment, the transferor Bank shall pay
to the Administrative Agent an administrative fee for processing such assignment
in the amount of $3,500. If the Assignee is not incorporated under the laws of
the United States of America or a state thereof, it shall deliver to the
Borrower and the Administrative Agent certification as to exemption from
deduction or withholding of any United States federal income taxes in accordance
with Section 8.4.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Bank
(a "Granting Bank") may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle (an "SPC"),
identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Bank to the
Administrative Agent and the Borrower the option to fund all or any part of any
Loan that such Granting Bank would otherwise be obligated to fund pursuant to
this Agreement; provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment
by any SPC to fund any Loan, (ii) if an SPC elects not to exercise such option
or otherwise fails to fund all or any part of such Loan, the Granting Bank shall
be obligated to fund such Loan pursuant to the terms hereof and (iii) the
Borrower may bring any proceeding against the Granting Bank or the SPC in order
to enforce any rights of the Borrower hereunder. The funding of a Loan by an SPC
hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Bank to the same extent,
and as if, such Loan were funded by such Granting Bank. Each party hereto hereby
agrees that no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or payment under this
Agreement for which a Bank would otherwise be liable for so long as, and to the
extent, the Granting Bank provides such indemnity or makes such payment.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, any SPC
may disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information relating to its
funding of Loans to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of
any
44
surety or guarantee to such SPC. This paragraph may not be amended without the
prior written consent of each Granting Bank, all or any part of whose Loan is
being funded by an SPC at the time of such amendment.
(d) Any Bank may (without notice to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent
or any other Bank and without payment of any fee) at any time assign or pledge
all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement and its Note (if any) to a
Federal Reserve Bank as collateral security pursuant to Regulation A and any
Operating Circular issued by such Federal Reserve Bank. No such assignment shall
release the transferor Bank from its obligations hereunder.
(e) No Assignee, Participant, SPC or other transferee of any Bank's rights
shall be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 8.3 or 8.4 than
such Bank would have been entitled to receive with respect to the rights
transferred, unless such transfer is made with the Borrower's prior written
consent or by reason of the provisions of Section 8.2, 8.3 or 8.4 requiring such
Bank to designate a different Applicable Lending Office under certain
circumstances or at a time when the circumstances giving rise to such greater
payment did not exist.
Section 9.7 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall
be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New
York. The Borrower hereby submits to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the United
States District Court for the Southern District of New York and of any New York
State court sitting in New York City for purposes of all legal proceedings
arising out of or relating to this Agreement, any Note or the transactions
contemplated hereby. The Borrower irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying
of the venue of any such proceeding brought in such a court and any claim that
any such proceeding brought in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient
forum.
Section 9.8 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be
signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with
the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same
instrument. This Agreement and any Notes issued hereunder constitute the entire
agreement and understanding among the parties hereto and supersedes any and all
prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject
matter hereof. This Agreement shall become effective upon receipt by the
Administrative Agent of counterparts hereof signed by each of the parties hereto
(or, in the case of any party as to which an executed counterpart shall not have
been received, receipt by the Administrative Agent in form satisfactory to it of
a facsimile or other written confirmation from such party of execution of a
counterpart hereof by such party).
Section 9.9 Waiver of Jury Trial. THE BORROWER AND EACH OF THE
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND THE BANKS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST
EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY
LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY NOTE OR THE
TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
45
Section 9.10 Survival. The obligations of the Borrower under Sections 2.13,
8.3, 8.4 and 9.3, and the obligations of the Banks under Section 7.6 shall
survive the repayment of the Loans and the termination of the Commitments.
Section 9.11 Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent and the
Banks 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 any regulatory authority, (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or
regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party
to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder
or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any Note or the
enforcement of rights hereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing
provisions substantially the same as those of this Section and to the consent of
the Borrower, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, to any Assignee of
or Participant in, or any prospective Assignee of or Participant in, any of its
rights or obligations under this Agreement, (g) with the consent of the
Borrower, (h) if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, to
prospective assignees of any Bank who agree to hold such information
confidential, or (i) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly
available other than as a result of a breach of this Section by another party
hereto or (ii) becomes available to the Administrative Agent or any Bank on a
nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower. For the purposes of
this Section, "Information" means all information received from the Borrower
relating to the Borrower or its business, other than any such information that
is available to the Administrative Agent or any Bank on a nonconfidential basis
prior to disclosure by the Borrower; provided that, in the case of information
received from the Borrower after the date hereof, such information is clearly
identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to
maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be
considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has
exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such
Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrative Agent and the Banks (and
each of their respective employees, representatives or other agents) may
disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax
treatment and tax structure of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that
are provided to such person to the extent relating to such tax treatment and tax
structure.
Section 9.12 USA Patriot Act. The Administrative Agent and each Bank hereby
notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act
(title III of Pub.L.107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001))(the "Act"), it is
required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower,
which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other
information that will allow the Administrative Agent or such Bank to identify
the Borrower in accordance with the Act.
* * *
46
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year
first above written.
BORROWER:
XXXXX & XxXXXXXX COMPANIES, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Vice President and Treasurer
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Assistant Treasurer
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile number: (000) 000-0000
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative
Agent
By: /s/ Xxx X. Xxxxxx
--------------------------------
Name: Xxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Managing Director
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX0-000-00-00
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile number: (000) 000-0000
BANKS:
BANC OF AMERICA BRIDGE LLC
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: Managing Director
XXXXXXX SACHS CREDIT PARTNERS L.P.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Title: Authorized Signatory
DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH
By: /s/ Xxxx X. XxXxxx
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. XxXxxx
Title: Director
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Title: Managing Director
CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: Director
