CREDIT AGREEMENT Dated as of May 1, 2006

Contract Categories: Business Finance - Credit Agreements
EX-10.3 4 dex103.htm CREDIT AGREEMENT Credit Agreement

Exhibit 10.3

Execution Copy

 


CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of May 1, 2006

among

FLUENT, INC.

as the Borrower,

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent,

and

The Lenders Party Hereto

 



TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Section

        Page
ARTICLE I.    DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS    2
        1.01    Defined Terms.    2
        1.02    Other Interpretive Provisions.    25
        1.03    Accounting Terms.    26
        1.04    Rounding.    26
        1.05    Times of Day.    26
ARTICLE II.    THE LOANS    27
        2.01    Loans.    27
        2.02    Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans.    27
        2.03    Repayment of Loans.    28
        2.04    Optional Prepayments.    29
        2.05    Termination or Reduction of Commitments.    29
        2.06    Interest.    30
        2.07    Fees.    30
        2.08    Computation of Interest and Fees.    30
        2.09    Evidence of Debt.    31
        2.10    Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback.    31
        2.11    Sharing of Payments by Lenders.    33
ARTICLE III.    TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY    33
        3.01    Taxes.    33
        3.02    Illegality.    35
        3.03    Inability to Determine Rates.    36
        3.04    Increased Costs.    36
        3.05    Compensation for Losses.    37
        3.06    Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.    38
        3.07    Survival.    38
ARTICLE IV.    CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS    38
        4.01    Conditions of Initial Credit Extension.    38
ARTICLE V.    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES    42
        5.01    Existence, Qualification and Power.    42
        5.02    Authorization; No Contravention.    42
        5.03    Governmental Authorization; Other Consents.    43
        5.04    Binding Effect.    43
        5.05    Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect; No Internal Control Event.    43
        5.06    Litigation.    44
        5.07    No Default.    44
        5.08    Ownership of Property; Liens.    44
        5.09    Environmental Matters.    44
        5.10    Insurance.    45
        5.11    Taxes.    45
        5.12    ERISA Compliance.    46
        5.13    Subsidiaries; Equity Interests.    47
        5.14    Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act; Public Utility Holding Company Act.    47


        5.15   Disclosure.    47
        5.16   Compliance with Laws.    48
        5.17   Taxpayer Identification Number.    48
        5.18   Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.    48
        5.19   Solvency.    48
        5.20   Anti-Terrorism Law.    48
ARTICLE VI.   AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS    49
        6.01   Financial Statements.    49
        6.02   Certificates; Other Information.    50
        6.03   Notices.    51
        6.04   Payment of Obligations.    52
        6.05   Preservation of Existence, Etc.    52
        6.06   Maintenance of Properties.    52
        6.07   Maintenance of Insurance.    53
        6.08   Compliance with Laws.    53
        6.09   Books and Records.    53
        6.10   Inspection Rights.    53
        6.11   Use of Proceeds.    54
        6.12   Additional Guarantors.    54
ARTICLE VII.   NEGATIVE COVENANTS    54
        7.01   Liens.    54
        7.02   Investments.    56
        7.03   Indebtedness.    57
        7.04   Fundamental Changes.    59
        7.05   Dispositions.    59
        7.06   Restricted Payments.    60
        7.07   Change in Nature of Business.    61
        7.08   Transactions with Affiliates.    61
        7.09   Burdensome Agreements.    61
        7.10   Use of Proceeds.    61
        7.11   Financial Covenants.    61
ARTICLE VIII.   EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES    62
        8.01   Events of Default.    62
        8.02   Remedies Upon Event of Default.    64
        8.03   Application of Funds.    64
ARTICLE IX.   ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT    65
        9.01   Appointment and Authority.    65
        9.02   Rights as a Lender.    65
        9.03   Exculpatory Provisions.    65
        9.04   Reliance by Administrative Agent.    66
        9.05   Delegation of Duties.    66
        9.06   Resignation of Administrative Agent.    66
        9.07   Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders.    67
        9.08   Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim.    67
        9.09   Guarantee Matters.    68
ARTICLE X.   GUARANTEE    68
        10.01   Guarantee.    68
        10.02   Obligations Not Waived.    69

 

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        10.03   Guarantee of Payment.    69
        10.04   No Discharge or Diminishment of Guarantee; Payments.    69
        10.05   Defenses Waived.    70
        10.06   Agreement to Pay; Subordination; Waiver of Subrogation; Stay of Acceleration.    70
        10.07   General Limitation on Guarantee Obligations.    71
        10.08   Information.    71
        10.09   Covenant; Representations and Warranties.    71
ARTICLE XI.   MISCELLANEOUS    72
        11.01   Amendments, Etc.    72
        11.02   Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.    73
        11.03   No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies.    74
        11.04   Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.    74
        11.05   Payments Set Aside.    76
        11.06   Successors and Assigns.    77
        11.07   Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality.    81
        11.08   Right of Setoff.    82
        11.09   Interest Rate Limitation.    82
        11.10   Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.    82
        11.11   Survival of Representations and Warranties.    82
        11.12   Severability.    83
        11.13   Replacement of Lenders.    83
        11.14   Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.    83
        11.15   Waiver of Jury Trial.    84
        11.16   No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.    85
        11.17   USA PATRIOT Act Notice.    85
SIGNATURES    S-1

 

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SCHEDULES  
        2.01   Commitments and Applicable Percentages
        5.13   Subsidiaries; Other Equity Investments
        7.01   Existing Liens
        7.03   Existing Indebtedness
        11.02   Administrative Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices
        11.06   Processing and Recordation Fees
EXHIBITS  
  Form of
        A   Loan Notice
        B   Note
        C   Compliance Certificate
        D   Assignment and Assumption
        E   Opinion of Goodwin Procter LLP
        F   Solvency Certificate

 

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CREDIT AGREEMENT

This CREDIT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is entered into as of May 1, 2006, among FLUENT, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and individually, a “Lender”), and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of February 15, 2006 (the “Merger Agreement”) among ANSYS, INC., a Delaware corporation (“ANSYS”), ANSYS XL, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Merger LLC”), BEN I, Inc., a Delaware corporation, HINES II, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Heat Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Heat Holdings”), Aavid Thermal Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Aavid”), TROY III, Inc., a Delaware corporation, the Borrower and the Principal Stockholders and Stockholders’ Representative named therein, ANSYS has agreed to purchase (the “Fluent Acquisition”) all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Heat Holdings, Aavid and the Borrower pursuant to the series of mergers described in, and to be effected pursuant to, the Merger Agreement (collectively, the “Mergers”);

WHEREAS, immediately prior to the Fluent Acquisition, the Borrower, Aavid and Heat Holdings will effect a spin-off of all Subsidiaries of Heat Holdings, other than Aavid, the Borrower and the Borrower’s Subsidiaries, to the stockholders of Heat Holdings (collectively, the “Spin-Off Transactions”);

WHEREAS, to pay the consideration under the Merger Agreement, to consummate the Refinancing (as defined below), to pay fees and expenses in connection with the Transactions (as defined below) and to fund the ongoing working capital and other general corporate purposes of ANSYS and its Subsidiaries after the consummation of the Fluent Acquisition, ANSYS will borrow up to $175,000,000 (the “ANSYS Loan”) pursuant to the ANSYS Credit Agreement (as defined below);

WHEREAS, immediately upon the consummation of the Mergers, the Borrower will purchase, in exchange for cash consideration in a aggregate amount of up to $23,000,000, certain shares of incentive stock of the Borrower from the holders thereof (the “Fluent Equity Purchase”) in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement;

WHEREAS, the Borrower has requested that the Lenders make term loans to the Borrower of up to $23,000,000 in the aggregate, the proceeds of which will be used to finance the Fluent Equity Purchase; and

WHEREAS, the Lenders have indicated their willingness so to lend, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:


ARTICLE I.

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

1.01 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

Aavid” has the meaning specified in the recitals hereto.

Aavid Indenture” means the Indenture, dated as of February 2, 2000, between Aavid and Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as trustee, pursuant to which the Senior Subordinated Notes were issued.

Acquisition Consideration” means the purchase consideration for any Permitted Acquisition and all other payments by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in exchange for, or as part of, or in connection with, the aggregate consideration for any Permitted Acquisition (including, without limitation, Indebtedness assumed by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries), whether paid in cash or by exchange of Equity Interests or of properties or otherwise and whether payable at or prior to the consummation of such Permitted Acquisition or deferred for payment at any future time, whether or not any such future payment is subject to the occurrence of any contingency, and includes any and all payments representing the purchase price and any assumptions of Indebtedness, “earn-outs” and other similar agreements to make any payment the amount of which is, or the terms of payment of which are, in any respect subject to or contingent upon the revenues, income, cash flow or profits (or the like) of any Person or business acquired in such Permitted Acquisition; provided that any such future payment that is subject to a contingency shall be considered Acquisition Consideration only to the extent of the reserve, if any, required under GAAP to be established in respect thereof by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

Administrative Agent” means Bank of America in its capacity as administrative agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent.

Administrative Agent’s Office” means the Administrative Agent’s address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 11.02, or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify to the Borrower and the Lenders.

Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.

Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.

Aggregate Commitments” means the Commitments of all the Lenders. On the date hereof, the amount of the Aggregate Commitments is $23,000,000.

Agreement” means this Credit Agreement.

ANSYS” has the meaning specified in the recitals hereto.

 

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ANSYS Loan” has the meaning specified in the recitals hereto.

ANSYS Credit Agreement” means the Credit Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, among ANSYS, the lenders party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, National City Bank of Pennsylvania as syndication agent, KeyBank National Association, Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania and LaSalle Bank National Association as co-documentation agents and Banc of America Securities LLC as sole lead arranger and sole book manager.

ANSYS Loan Documents” means, collectively, the ANSYS Credit Agreement and the other documents, instruments, agreements and certificates executed and delivered in connection with the foregoing.

ANSYS Loan Parties” means, collectively, ANSYS and all Subsidiaries of ANSYS that Guarantee the obligations of ANSYS pursuant to the ANSYS Credit Documents (including, on the Closing Date, ANSYS, the Borrower and all other Domestic Subsidiaries of ANSYS).

Anti-Terrorism Laws” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.20.

Applicable Percentage” means with respect to any Lender at any time prior to the funding of the Loans, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Aggregate Commitments represented by such Lender’s Commitment at such time. If the Loans have been funded, or the commitment of each Lender to make Loans have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02 or if the Aggregate Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage of each Lender shall be the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of the Total Outstandings represented by the Outstanding Amount of such Lender’s Loans. The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.

Applicable Rate” means (a) initially from the Closing Date until the delivery of financial statements for the first full fiscal quarter beginning on or after the Closing Date, (i) 0.0% with respect to Base Rate Loans and (ii) 1.00% with respect to Eurodollar Rate Loans and (b) thereafter, a percentage per annum determined by reference to the Consolidated Leverage Ratio in effect from time to time as set forth below:

 

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Consolidated Leverage Ratio

   Applicable Rate  
   Base Rate Loans     Eurodollar Rate Loans  

greater than or equal to 2.25:1.00

   0.25 %   1.25 %

less than 2.25:1.00 and greater than or equal to 1.75:1.00

   0.00 %   1.00 %

less than 1.75:1.00 and greater than or equal to 1.00:1.00

   0.00 %   0.75  

less than 1.00:1.00

   0.00 %   0.50 %

Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Consolidated Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(a); provided that if a Compliance Certificate is not delivered when due in accordance with such Section, then the highest level of pricing set forth in clause (b) of the paragraph above shall apply as of the first Business Day after the date on which such Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered until the Compliance Certificate is delivered.

Approved Fund” means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

Assignee Group” means two or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one another or two or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.

Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an Eligible Assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 11.06(b), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit E or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

Attributable Indebtedness” means, on any date, (a) in respect of any Capital Lease Obligation of any Person, the capitalized amount thereof that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP, and (b) in respect of any Synthetic Lease Obligation, the capitalized amount of the remaining lease payments under the relevant lease that would appear on a balance sheet of such Person prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP if such lease were accounted for as a capital lease.

Audited Financial Statements” means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, and the related consolidated statements of income, cash flows and stockholders’ equity for such fiscal year of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including the notes thereto.

 

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Bank of America” means Bank of America, N.A. and its successors.

Base Rate” means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the higher of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1% and (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Bank of America as its “prime rate.” The “prime rate” is a rate set by Bank of America based upon various factors including Bank of America’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in such rate announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.

Base Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.

Borrower” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

Borrowing” means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Loans of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period, made by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01.

Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state where the Administrative Agent’s Office is located and, if such day relates to any Eurodollar Rate Loan, means any such day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank eurodollar market.

Capital Expenditures” means, for any Person for any period, the sum of, without duplication, (a) all expenditures made, directly or indirectly, by such Person or any of its Subsidiaries during such period for equipment, fixed assets, real property or improvements, or for replacements or substitutions therefor or additions thereto, that have been or should be, in accordance with GAAP, reflected as additions to property, plant or equipment on a consolidated balance sheet of such Person or have a useful life of more than one year plus (b) the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness (including Capital Lease Obligations) assumed or incurred in connection with any such expenditure.

Capital Lease Obligations” means, as to any Person, the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.

Cash Equivalents” means, as to any Person, (a) securities issued, or directly, unconditionally and fully guaranteed or insured, by the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof having maturities of not more than one year from the date of acquisition by such Person; (b) time deposits, certificates of deposit and bankers’ acceptances of any Lender or any commercial bank, or which is the principal banking subsidiary of a bank holding company, in each case, organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia having, capital and surplus aggregating in excess of $500 million with

 

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maturities of not more than one year from the date of acquisition by such Person; (c) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than 30 days for underlying securities of the types described in clause (a) above entered into with any bank meeting the qualifications specified in clause (b) above, which repurchase obligations are secured by a valid perfected security interest in the underlying securities; (d) commercial paper issued by any Person incorporated in the United States rated at least A-2 or the equivalent thereof by S&P or at least P-2 or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s and in each case maturing not more than one year after the date of acquisition by such Person; (e) direct obligations issued by any state of the United States or any political subdivision thereof having one of the two highest rating categories obtainable from either S&P or Moody’s with maturities of not more than one year from the date of acquisition thereof; (f) demand deposit accounts maintained in the ordinary course of business; (g) investments in money market funds substantially all of whose assets are comprised of securities of the types described in clauses (a) through (f) above; and (h) in the case of Foreign Subsidiaries, Investments made locally of a type comparable to those described in clauses (a)-(g) of this definition.

Change in Law” means, as to any Person, the occurrence, after the date such Person becomes a party to this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over such Person (or any Affiliate of such Person).

Change of Control” means an event or series of events by which:

(a) ANSYS shall cease to own, directly or indirectly, 100% of the Equity Interests of the Borrower, except to the extent resulting from issuances of shares of stock to directors, officers or employees of the Borrower pursuant to equity incentive plans approved by the Board of Directors of the Borrower; or

(b) a “Change of Control” (as defined in the ANSYS Loan Agreement) shall occur.

Closing Date” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Section 4.01 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 11.01.

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Commitment” means, as to each Lender, its obligation to make Loans to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.01, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Lender’s name on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.

Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit D.

 

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Confidential Information Memorandum” means the ANSYS, Inc. Confidential Offering Memorandum dated February 2006.

Consent Solicitation” means the consummation by Aavid of an offer to purchase and a consent solicitation for all outstanding Senior Subordinated Notes.

Consent Solicitation Documents” means the (a) the offer to purchase for cash and solicitation of consents statement dated March 8, 2006 and the transmittal letter enclosed therewith, (b) the consent and letter of transmittal to be used by holders tendering securities pursuant to the Consent Solicitation, (c) any press releases or newspaper advertisements relating to the Consent Solicitation, (d) the Third Supplemental Indenture, and (e) any other material furnished by or with the written consent of ANSYS to holders of the Senior Subordinated Notes in connection with the Consent Solicitation (in each case, together with all information and documents incorporated by reference therein).

Consolidated EBITDA” means, for any period, for ANSYS and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, an amount equal to Consolidated Net Income for such period plus (a) the following, without duplication and to the extent deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income: (i) Interest Charges of ANSYS and its Subsidiaries for such period, (ii) the provision for Federal, state, local and foreign income taxes recorded by ANSYS and its Subsidiaries for such period, (iii) depreciation and amortization expense, (iv) other items reducing such Consolidated Net Income which do not represent a cash item in such period or any future period, (v) items of deferred revenue that would have been included in Consolidated Net Income for such period but for purchase accounting adjustments, (vi) for periods prior to the Closing Date, such adjustments (not to exceed $3,000,000 in the aggregate) as may be approved by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion and that give effect to cost savings that are (A) attributable to the Fluent Acquisition, (B) expected to have a continuing impact on ANSYS and its Subsidiaries and (C) factually supportable and (vii) any expense related to stock-based compensation and minus, (b) to the extent included in calculating such Consolidated Net Income, all non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income for such period.

For the purposes of calculating Consolidated EBITDA for any period in connection with any determination of the Consolidated Leverage Ratio, (i) if at any time during such period ANSYS or any Subsidiary of ANSYS shall have made any Material Acquisition or Material Disposition, the Consolidated EBITDA for such period shall be calculated on a Pro forma Basis to give effect to such Material Acquisition or Material Disposition. As used in this definition, “Material Acquisition” means any acquisition of property or series of related acquisitions of property that (a) constitutes assets comprising all or substantially all of an operating unit of a business or constitutes all or substantially all of the common stock of a Person and (b) involves the payment of consideration by ANSYS and its Subsidiaries in excess of $1,000,000; and “Material Disposition” means any Disposition of property or series of related Dispositions of property that yields gross proceeds to ANSYS and its Subsidiaries in excess of $1,000,000.

Consolidated Funded Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, for ANSYS and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the sum, without duplication, of (a) the outstanding principal amount of all obligations, whether current or long-term, for borrowed money (including the ANSYS Loan and the Obligations hereunder) and all obligations evidenced by bonds,

 

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debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments, (b) all purchase money Indebtedness, (c) all direct obligations arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments, (d) all obligations in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business), (e) Attributable Indebtedness in respect of Capital Lease Obligations and Synthetic Lease Obligations, (f) all Guarantees with respect to outstanding Indebtedness of the types specified in clauses (a) through (e) above of Persons other than ANSYS or any Subsidiary of ANSYS, and (g) all Indebtedness of the types referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which ANSYS or a Subsidiary of ANSYS is a general partner or joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to ANSYS or such Subsidiary of ANSYS.

Consolidated Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Funded Indebtedness as of such date to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the period of four fiscal quarters most recently ended.

Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, the consolidated net income (or loss) of ANSYS and its Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (but excluding extraordinary gains); provided that there shall be excluded (a) the income (or deficit) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary of ANSYS or is merged into or consolidated with ANSYS or any of its Subsidiaries (except for any calculation on a Pro forma Basis), (b) the income (or deficit) of any Person (other than a Subsidiary of ANSYS) in which ANSYS or any of its Subsidiaries has an ownership interest, except to the extent that any such income is actually received by ANSYS or such Subsidiary in the form of dividends or similar distributions and (c) the undistributed earnings of any Subsidiary of ANSYS to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by the terms of any Contractual Obligation (other than under any Loan Document) or Requirement of Law applicable to such Subsidiary.

Contractual Obligation” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.

Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.

Debtor Relief Laws” means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.

Default” means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that, with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.

 

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Default Rate” means an interest rate equal to (a) the Base Rate plus (b) the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (c) 2% per annum; provided, however, that with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including the Applicable Rate) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2% per annum.

Defaulting Lender” means any Lender that (a) has failed to fund any portion of the Loans required to be funded by it hereunder within one Business Day of the date required to be funded by it hereunder unless such failure has been cured, (b) has otherwise failed to pay over to the Administrative Agent or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within one Business Day of the date when due, unless the subject of a good faith dispute or unless such failure has been cured, or (c) has been deemed insolvent or become the subject of a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding.

Disposition” or “Dispose” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (including any sale and leaseback transaction) of any property by any Person, including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith.

Disqualified Capital Stock” means any Equity Interest which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event, (a) matures (excluding any maturity as the result of an optional redemption by the issuer thereof) or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or prior to the date that is six months following the Maturity Date, (b) is convertible into or exchangeable (unless at the sole option of the issuer thereof) for (i) debt securities or (ii) any Equity Interests referred to in (a) above, in each case at any time on or prior to the date that is six months following the Maturity Date, or (c) contains any mandatory repurchase obligation which may come into effect prior to payment in full of all Obligations; provided that any Equity Interests that would not constitute Disqualified Capital Stock but for provisions thereof giving holders thereof (or the holders of any security into or for which such Equity Interests is convertible, exchangeable or exercisable) the right to require the issuer thereof to redeem such Equity Interests upon the occurrence of a change in control or an asset sale occurring prior to the date that is six months following the Maturity Date shall not constitute Disqualified Capital Stock if such Equity Interests provide that the issuer thereof will not redeem any such Equity Interests pursuant to such provisions prior to the repayment in full of the Obligations.

Dollar” and “$” mean lawful money of the United States.

Domestic Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of any political subdivision of the United States.

Eligible Assignee” means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Section 11.06(b)(iii), (v) and (vi) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 11.06(b)(iii)).

 

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Environment” means ambient air, surface water and groundwater (including potable water, navigable water and wetlands), the land surface or subsurface strata, natural resources, the workplace or as otherwise defined in any Environmental Law.

Environmental Claim” means any claim, notice, demand, order, action, suit, proceeding or other written communication alleging liability for investigation, remediation, removal, cleanup, response, corrective action, damages to natural resources, personal injury, property damage, fines, penalties or other costs resulting from, related to or arising out of (a) the presence, Release or threatened Release in or into the Environment of Hazardous Material at any location or (b) any violation of Environmental Law, and shall include any claim seeking damages, contribution, indemnification, cost recovery, compensation or injunctive relief resulting from, related to or arising out of the presence, Release or threatened Release of Hazardous Material or alleged injury or threat of injury to health, safety or the Environment.

Environmental Laws” means any and all Federal, state, local, and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees or other governmental restrictions relating to pollution and the protection of the Environment or the Release of Hazardous Materials into the Environment, including those related to hazardous substances or wastes, air emissions and discharges to waste or public systems.

Environmental Liability” means any liability (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Materials into the Environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

Environmental Permit” means any permit, license, approval, consent or other authorization required by or from a Governmental Authority under Environmental Law.

Equity Interests” means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests), and all of the other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are outstanding on any date of determination.

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with the Borrower within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code).

 

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ERISA Event” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (e) an event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (f) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate.

Eurodollar Base Rate” means, for such Interest Period, the rate per annum equal to the British Bankers Association LIBOR Rate (“BBA LIBOR”), as published by Reuters (or other commercially available source providing quotations of BBA LIBOR as designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, for Dollar deposits (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period. If such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the “Eurodollar Base Rate” for such Interest Period shall be the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate at which deposits in Dollars for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period in same day funds in the approximate amount of the Eurodollar Rate Loan being made, continued or converted by Bank of America and with a term equivalent to such Interest Period would be offered by Bank of America’s London Branch to major banks in the London interbank eurodollar market at their request at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period.

Eurodollar Rate” means for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurodollar Rate Loan, a rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent pursuant to the following formula:

 

Eurodollar Rate   =  

Eurodollar Base Rate

1.00 – Eurodollar Reserve Percentage

Eurodollar Rate Loan” means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on the Eurodollar Rate.

Eurodollar Reserve Percentage” means, for any day during any Interest Period, the reserve percentage (expressed as a decimal, carried out to five decimal places) in effect on such day, whether or not applicable to any Lender, under regulations issued from time to time by the FRB for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including any emergency, supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement) with respect to Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities”). The Eurodollar Rate for each outstanding Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be adjusted automatically as of the effective date of any change in the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage.

 

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Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.

Excluded Intercompany Liability” means any transfer pricing or similar liability among the Borrower and its wholly-owned direct or indirect Subsidiaries that is incurred in the ordinary course of business on terms consistent with past practice of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.

Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder, (a) taxes imposed on or measured by its overall net income (however denominated), and franchise taxes imposed on it (in lieu of net income taxes), by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable Lending Office is located, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located, (c) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 11.13), any withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party hereto (or designates a new Lending Office) or is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure or inability (other than as a result of a Change in Law) to comply with Section 3.01(e), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 3.01(a) and (d) Taxes imposed on such Person to the extent arising solely as a direct result of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Person.

Executive Order” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.20.

Existing Credit Agreement” means that certain Loan and Security Agreement dated as of July 31, 2002 by and among Heat Holdings and its Subsidiaries, as loan parties, the various lenders from time to time party thereto and LaSalle Business Credit, Inc., as agent, as amended, modified and otherwise supplemented from time to time to the date hereof.

Federal Funds Rate” means, for any day, the rate per annum 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 Business Day next succeeding such day; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) charged to Bank of America on such day on such transactions as determined by the Administrative Agent.

Fee Letter” means the letter agreement, dated February 15, 2006, among the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Arranger.

 

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Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, at any date, the ratio of (a) Fluent EBITDA for the period of four fiscal quarters most recently ended less the sum of (i) Capital Expenditures made by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries during such period, (ii) all federal, state and foreign taxes paid in cash during such period, and (iii) all cash Distributions made by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (without duplication), from the Closing Date to the last day of such period, in excess of the aggregate amount of the Borrower’s cash on hand immediately following the consummation of the Fluent Acquisition and after giving effect to all payments in connection with the Fluent Acquisition, to (b) Fixed Charges for such period.

Fixed Charges” means, for any period, the sum (without duplication) of (a) Interest Charges of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent paid in cash, and (b) required payments made during such period on account of principal of Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (including scheduled principal payments in respect of the Loans).

Fluent Acquisition” has the meaning specified in the recitals hereto.

Fluent Acquisition Documents” means, collectively, the Merger Agreement and the other documents, instruments, agreements and certificates executed and delivered in connection with the foregoing.

Fluent EBITDA” means, for any period, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, an amount equal to Fluent Net Income for such period plus (a) the following, without duplication and to the extent deducted in calculating such Fluent Net Income: (i) Interest Charges of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period, (ii) the provision for Federal, state, local and foreign income taxes recorded by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period, (iii) depreciation and amortization expense, (iv) other items reducing such Fluent Net Income which do not represent a cash item in such period or any future period, (v) items of deferred revenue that would have been included in Fluent Net Income for such period but for purchase accounting adjustments and (vi) any expense related to stock-based compensation and minus, (b) to the extent included in calculating such Fluent Net Income, all non-cash items increasing Fluent Net Income for such period.

For the purposes of calculating Fluent EBITDA for any period in connection with any determination of the Fluent Leverage Ratio (but not in connection with any determination of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio), (i) if at any time during such period the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall have made any Material Fluent Acquisition or Material Fluent Disposition, the Fluent EBITDA for such period shall be calculated on a Pro forma Basis to give effect to such Material Fluent Acquisition or Material Fluent Disposition. As used in this definition, “Material Fluent Acquisition” means any acquisition of property or series of related acquisitions of property that (a) constitutes assets comprising all or substantially all of an operating unit of a business or constitutes all or substantially all of the common stock of a Person and (b) involves the payment of consideration by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in excess of $1,000,000; and “Material Fluent Disposition” means any Disposition of property or series of related Dispositions of property that yields gross proceeds to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in excess of $1,000,000.

 

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Fluent Parties” means each of the parties to the Merger Agreement other than ANSYS, BEN I, Inc., HINES II, Inc. and Merger LLC.

Fluent Equity Purchase” has the meaning specified in the recitals hereto.

Fluent Funded Indebtedness” means, as of any date of determination, for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, the sum, without duplication, of (a) the outstanding principal amount of all obligations, whether current or long-term, for borrowed money (including Obligations hereunder) and all obligations evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments, (b) all purchase money Indebtedness, (c) all direct obligations arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments, (d) all obligations in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business), (e) Attributable Indebtedness in respect of Capital Lease Obligations and Synthetic Lease Obligations, (f) all Guarantees with respect to outstanding Indebtedness of the types specified in clauses (a) through (e) above of Persons other than the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than the Borrower’s Guarantee of the obligations of ANSYS under the ANSYS Credit Agreement), and (g) all Indebtedness of the types referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which the Borrower or a Subsidiary is a general partner or joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to the Borrower or such Subsidiary.

Fluent Leverage Ratio” means, as of any date of determination, the ratio of (a) Fluent Funded Indebtedness as of such date to (b) Fluent EBITDA for the period of four fiscal quarters most recently ended.

Fluent Net Income” means, for any period, the consolidated net income (or loss) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (but excluding extraordinary gains); provided that there shall be excluded (a) the income (or deficit) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower or is merged into or consolidated with the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (except for any calculation on a Pro forma Basis), (b) the income (or deficit) of any Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Borrower) in which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries has an ownership interest, except to the extent that any such income is actually received by the Borrower or such Subsidiary in the form of dividends or similar distributions and (c) the undistributed earnings of any Subsidiary of the Borrower to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by the terms of any Contractual Obligation (other than under any Loan Document) or Requirement of Law applicable to such Subsidiary.

Foreign Lender” means any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes. For purposes of this definition, the United States, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.

 

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Foreign Plan” means any employee benefit plan, program, policy, arrangement or agreement maintained or contributed to by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to employees employed outside the United States.

Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

FRB” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.

Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business.

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.

Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

Governmental Authorizations” means any permit, license, authorization, plan, directive, consent order or consent decree of or from any Governmental Authority.

Granting Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 11.06(h).

Guarantee” means, as to any Person, any (a) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation payable or performable by another Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance of such Indebtedness or other obligation, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity or level of income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) any Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Indebtedness to obtain any such Lien). The amount of any

 

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Guarantee shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith. The term “Guarantee” as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

Hazardous Materials” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other contaminants or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.

Heat Holdings” has the meaning specified in the recitals hereto.

Indebtedness” means, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following, whether or not included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance with GAAP:

(a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money and all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments;

(b) all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising under letters of credit (including standby and commercial), bankers’ acceptances, bank guaranties, surety bonds and similar instruments;

(c) net obligations of such Person under any Swap Contract;

(d) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business and, in each case, not past due for more than 90 days after the date on which such trade account payable was created);

(e) indebtedness (excluding prepaid interest thereon) secured by a Lien on property owned or being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse;

(f) Capital Lease Obligations and Synthetic Lease Obligations;

(g) all obligations of such Person to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise make any payment in respect of any Equity Interest in such Person or any other Person, valued, in the case of a redeemable preferred interest, at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends; and

(h) all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing.

For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person (x) shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited

 

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liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person and (y) shall exclude any Excluded Intercompany Liability. The amount of any net obligation under any Swap Contract on any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value thereof as of such date. The amount of any Capital Lease Obligation or Synthetic Lease Obligation as of any date shall be deemed to be the amount of Attributable Indebtedness in respect thereof as of such date.

Indemnified Taxes” means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

Indemnitees” has the meaning specified in Section 11.04(b).

Information” has the meaning specified in Section 11.07.

Intellectual Property Rights” has the meaning specified in Section 5.18.

Interest Charges” means, for any Person for any period, the sum for such Person of total cash interest expense (including that attributable to Capital Lease Obligations) of such Person for such period with respect to all outstanding Indebtedness of such Person (including all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net costs under Swap Agreements in respect of interest rates to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP).

Interest Payment Date” means, (a) as to any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date; provided, however, that if any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates; and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan, the last Business Day of each March, June, September and December and the Maturity Date.

Interest Period” means, as to each Eurodollar Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such Eurodollar Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Rate Loan and ending on the date one, two, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the Borrower in its Loan Notice; provided that:

(i) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;

(ii) any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and

(iii) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date.

Internal Control Event” means (a) a material weakness in, or (b) fraud that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in, the Borrower’s internal controls

 

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over financial reporting, and in each case as described in the Securities Laws but only, in the case of clause (a) above, if the same would reasonably be expected to result in a material and adverse impact on the financial reporting or financial results of the Borrower.

Investment” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person, whether by means of (a) the purchase or other acquisition of capital stock or other securities of another Person, (b) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, Guarantee or assumption of debt of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person and any arrangement pursuant to which the investor Guarantees Indebtedness of such other Person (excluding any Excluded Intercompany Liability), or (c) the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of assets of another Person that constitute a business unit. For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of any Investment shall be the amount actually invested (without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment), less any amount returned in cash or Cash Equivalents by the Person in whom such Investment is made to the Person holding such Investment.

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

Laws” means, collectively, all international, foreign, Federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case whether or not having the force of law.

Lender” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

Lending Office” means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lender’s Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge, or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement in the nature of a security interest of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to real property, and any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).

Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.

Loan Documents” means this Agreement, each Note and the Fee Letter.

Loan Notice” means a notice of (a) the Borrowing of the Loans, (b) a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A.

 

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Loan Parties” means, collectively, the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors.

Material Adverse Effect” means (a) a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, the business, financial condition, assets, liabilities, results of operation or prospects of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (b) a material impairment of the ability of any Loan Party to perform its obligations under any Loan Document to which it is a party; or (c) a material adverse effect upon the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against any Loan Party of any Loan Document to which it is a party.

Maturity Date” means March 31, 2008; provided, however, that if such date is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.

Merger Agreement” has the meaning specified in the recitals hereto.

Merger LLC” has the meaning specified in the recitals hereto.

Mergers” has the meaning specified in the recitals hereto.

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and any successor thereto.

Multiemployer Plan” means any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding five plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions.

Note” means a promissory note made by the Borrower in favor of a Lender evidencing Loans made by such Lender, substantially in the form of Exhibit C.

Obligations” means all advances to, and debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of, any Loan Party arising under any Loan Document or otherwise with respect to any Loan, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assumption), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Loan Party or any Affiliate thereof of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding.

Organization Documents” means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.

 

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Other Taxes” means all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or under any other Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

Outstanding Amount” means with respect to Loans on any date, the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of Loans occurring on such date.

Parent Entities” means, collectively, ANSYS, Merger LLC (as successor by merger to Heat Holdings) and Aavid.

Participant” has the meaning specified in Section 11.06(d).

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

PCAOB” means the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

Pension Plan” means any “employee pension benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA and is sponsored or maintained by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate contributes or has an obligation to contribute, or in the case of a multiple employer or other plan described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA, has made contributions at any time during the immediately preceding five plan years.

Permitted Acquisition” means any acquisition by the Borrower or any of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries, whether by purchase, merger or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the assets of, all of the Equity Interests of, or a business line or unit or a division of, any Person; provided,

(i) immediately prior to, and after giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom;

(ii) all transactions in connection therewith shall be consummated, in all material respects, in accordance with all applicable laws and in conformity with all applicable Governmental Authorizations;

(iii) in the case of the acquisition of Equity Interests, all of the Equity Interests (except for any such securities in the nature of directors’ qualifying shares required pursuant to applicable law) acquired or otherwise issued by such Person or any newly formed Subsidiary of the Borrower in connection with such acquisition shall be owned 100% by the Borrower or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower, and the Borrower shall have taken, or caused to be taken, as of the date such Person becomes a Subsidiary of the Borrower, each of the actions set forth in Section 6.12;

(iv) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall be in compliance with the financial covenants set forth in Section 7.11 on a Pro forma Basis after giving effect to such acquisition as of the last day of the fiscal quarter most recently ended;

 

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(v) (A) if the Acquisition Consideration for such transaction (or series of related transactions) is $50,000,000 or more, the Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, at least ten (10) Business Days prior to such proposed acquisition, a Compliance Certificate evidencing compliance with Section 7.11 as required under clause (iv) above, together with all relevant financial information with respect to such acquired assets, including, without limitation, the aggregate consideration for such acquisition and any information necessary to demonstrate compliance with Section 7.11 and (B) otherwise, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent and the Lenders promptly (and in any event not more than ten Business Days) after the consummation of such transaction of such transaction, and in either case such notice shall contain a certification by the chief financial officer of the Borrower to the effect that such transaction constitutes a Permitted Acquisition;

(vi) any Person or assets or division as acquired in accordance herewith shall be in same business or lines of business in which the Borrower and/or its Subsidiaries are engaged as of the Closing Date; and

(vii) after giving effect to such transaction and all payments made in connection therewith, the ANSYS Loan Parties shall have unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents of not less than $20,000,000 (calculated on an unconsolidated basis).

Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.

Plan” means any “employee benefit plan” (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) established by the Borrower and subject to Title I of ERISA or, with respect to any such plan that is subject to Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, any ERISA Affiliate.

Pro forma Basis” means, for purposes of calculating compliance with any test or financial covenant under this Agreement for any period, that the applicable Permitted Acquisition or Asset Sale (and all other Permitted Acquisitions or Asset Sales that have been consummated during the applicable period), or the applicable Material Acquisition or Material Disposition, and the following transactions in connection therewith shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day of the applicable period of measurement in such test or covenant: (a) income statement items (whether positive or negative) attributable to the property or Person subject to such Permitted Acquisition, Asset Sale, Material Acquisition or Material Disposition, (i) in the case of an Asset Sale or Material Disposition shall be excluded, and (ii) in the case of a Permitted Acquisition or Material Acquisition, shall be included, (b) any retirement of Indebtedness, and (c) any Indebtedness incurred or assumed by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in connection therewith and if such Indebtedness has a floating or formula rate, shall have an implied rate of interest for the applicable period for purposes of this definition determined by utilizing the rate which is or would be in effect with respect to such Indebtedness as at the relevant date of determination; provided that the foregoing pro forma adjustments may be applied to any such test or financial covenant solely to the extent that such adjustments are reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, are consistent with the definitions of Consolidated EBITDA and Fluent EBITDA and give effect to events (including operating expense reductions) that are (x) attributable to such transaction, (y) expected to have a

 

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continuing impact on the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or ANSYS and its Subsidiaries, as the case may be and (z) factually supportable (provided that pro forma effect shall only be given to operating expense reductions or similar anticipated benefits from any Permitted Acquisition, Asset Sale, Material Acquisition or Material Disposition to the extent that such adjustments and the bases therefor are set forth in reasonable detail in a certificate of the chief financial officer of the Borrower delivered to the Administrative Agent and dated the relevant date of determination and which certifies that all necessary steps for the realization thereof have been taken or the Borrower reasonably anticipates that all necessary steps for the realization thereof will be taken within one year following such date of determination).

Refinancing” means (i) the repayment in full and discharge of all obligations of Heat Holdings and its Subsidiaries under the Existing Credit Agreement and (ii) the Consent Solicitation and related redemption in full of the Senior Subordinated Notes (both on the Closing Date and thereafter).

Register” has the meaning specified in Section 11.06(c).

Registered Public Accounting Firm” has the meaning specified in the Securities Laws and shall be independent of the Borrower as prescribed by the Securities Laws.

Related Parties” means, with respect to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and of such Person’s Affiliates.

Release” means any spilling, leaking, seepage, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping or disposing of any Hazardous Material in, into, onto or through the Environment.

Reportable Event” means any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than events for which the 30 day notice period has been waived.

Required Lenders” means, (a) at any time when there are more than three Lenders, (i) prior to the Borrowing of the Loans, Lenders having more than 50% of the Aggregate Commitments or, (ii) upon and after the Borrowing of the Loans, Lenders holding in the aggregate more than 50% of the Total Outstandings, (b) at any time when there are less than four but more than one Lender, (i) prior to the Borrowing of the Loans, at least two Lenders having more than 50% of the Aggregate Commitments or, (ii) upon and after the Borrowing of the Loans, at least two Lenders holding in the aggregate more than 50% of the Total Outstandings and (c) at any time which there is only one Lender, the Lender; provided that other than for purposes of clause (c), (x) the Commitment of, and the portion of the Total Outstandings held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders, and (y) any Defaulting Lender shall be disregarded in determining the number of Lenders at such time.

Responsible Officer” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, treasurer, assistant treasurer or controller of a Loan Party and, solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to Article II, any other officer of the applicable Loan Party so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a notice to the Administrative Agent. Any document

 

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delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party.

Restricted Payment” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any capital stock or other Equity Interest of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such capital stock or other Equity Interest, or on account of any return of capital to the Borrower’s stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent Person thereof).

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and any successor thereto.

Sarbanes-Oxley” means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.

Securities Laws” means the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Sarbanes-Oxley and the applicable accounting and auditing principles, rules, standards and practices promulgated, approved or incorporated by the SEC or the PCAOB.

Senior Subordinated Notes” means the approximately $123.8 million aggregate outstanding principal amount of 12.75% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007 issued by Aavid pursuant to the Aavid Indenture.

Solvency Certificate” means a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit G.

SPC” has the meaning specified in Section 11.06(h).

Spin-Off Documents” means (a) the Contribution Agreement by and between Aavid and Aavid Thermal Products, Inc., (b) the Assignment and Assumption Agreement among Aavid, Aavid Thermal Products, Inc., and Heat Holdings II Corp., (c) the Assumption Agreement by and between the Borrower and Aavid Thermal Products, Inc., (d) the Securities Purchase Agreement by and between Aavid Thermalloy, LLC and Fluent UK Holdings Limited, and (e) any other documents executed and delivered in connection with the Spin-Off Transactions.

Spin-Off Entities” means each of the Subsidiaries of Heat Holdings prior to the consummation of the Spin-Off Transactions other than Aavid, the Borrower and the Borrower’s Subsidiaries.

Spin-Off Transactions” has the meaning specified in the recitals hereto.

 

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Subsidiary” of a Person means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity of which a majority of the shares of securities or other interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or other governing body (other than securities or interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) are at the time beneficially owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

Subsidiary Guarantors” means all Domestic Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

Swap Contract” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement (any such master agreement, together with any related schedules, a “Master Agreement”), including any such obligations or liabilities under any Master Agreement.

Swap Termination Value” means, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Swap Contracts, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Swap Contracts (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).

Synthetic Lease Obligation” means the monetary obligation of a Person under (a) a so-called synthetic, off-balance sheet or tax retention lease, or (b) an agreement for the use or possession of property creating obligations that do not appear on the balance sheet of such Person but which, upon the insolvency or bankruptcy of such Person, would be characterized as the indebtedness of such Person (without regard to accounting treatment).

Taxes” means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings, assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

 

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Third Supplemental Indenture” means the third supplemental indenture dated the Closing Date and relating to the Aavid Indenture.

Threshold Amount” means $15,000,000.

Total Outstandings” means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Loans.

Transaction Documents” means the Spin-Off Documents, the Fluent Acquisition Documents, the Consent Solicitation Documents, the ANSYS Loan Documents and the Loan Documents.

Transactions” means, collectively, (a) the Spin-Off Transactions, (b) the consummation of the Fluent Acquisition and the Mergers, (c) the Refinancing, (d) the funding of the ANSYS Loan (e) the initial funding of the Loans and the effectiveness of the Loan Documents, (f) the consummation of the Fluent Equity Purchase, (g) the consummation of any other transactions in connection with the foregoing and (h) the payment of the fees and expenses incurred in connection with any of the foregoing.

Type” means, with respect to a Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a Eurodollar Rate Loan.

UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time (except as otherwise specified) in any applicable state or jurisdiction.

Unfunded Pension Liability” means the excess of a Pension Plan’s benefit liabilities under Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA, over the current value of that Pension Plan’s assets, determined in accordance with the assumptions used for funding the Pension Plan pursuant to Section 412 of the Code for the applicable plan year.

United States” and “U.S.” mean the United States of America.

1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions. With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:

(a) The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall.” Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document (including any Organization Document) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein or in any other Loan Document), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (iii) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document, shall be construed to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not to any particular provision thereof, (iv) all references in a Loan Document to Articles, Sections,

 

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Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or interpreting such law and any reference to any law or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and (vi) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

(b) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including;” the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding;” and the word “through” means “to and including.”

(c) Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

1.03 Accounting Terms. (a) Generally. All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the Audited Financial Statements, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein.

(b) Changes in GAAP. If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that, until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP.

1.04 Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).

1.05 Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).

 

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ARTICLE II.

THE LOANS

2.01 Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make a term loan (each such loan, a “Loan”) to the Borrower on the Closing Date in an amount not to exceed the amount of such Lender’s Commitment. Within the limits of each Lender’s Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Borrower may borrow under this Section 2.01 and prepay the Loans under Section 2.04. Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein. Once repaid or prepaid, Loans may not be re-borrowed.

2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations of Loans.

(a) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Loans shall be borrowed on the Closing Date. The Borrowing of the Loans on the Closing Date, each conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon (i) three Business Days prior to the requested date of the Borrowing of, or any conversion to or continuation of, Eurodollar Rate Loans or of any conversion of Eurodollar Rate Loans to Base Rate Loans, and (ii) on the requested date of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans. Each telephonic notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. Each conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $2,500,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. Each conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting a Borrowing (which request may only be made with respect to Loans advanced on the Closing Date), a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, (ii) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Loans are to be converted, and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto. If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Loan in a Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans. Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurodollar Rate Loans. If the Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans in any such Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month.

(b) Following receipt of a Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Loans, and if no

 

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timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans described in the preceding subsection. In the case of a Borrowing, each Lender shall make the amount of its Loan available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Closing Date. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Section 4.01, the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of the Borrower on the books of Bank of America with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by the Borrower.

(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurodollar Rate Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate Loan. During the existence of a Default, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or continued as Eurodollar Rate Loans without the consent of the Required Lenders.

(d) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurodollar Rate Loans upon determination of such interest rate. At any time that Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of any change in Bank of America’s prime rate used in determining the Base Rate promptly following the public announcement of such change.

(e) After giving effect to all Borrowings, all conversions of Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than four Interest Periods in effect with respect to Loans.

2.03 Repayment of Loans. The Borrower shall repay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Lenders the percentage of the aggregate principal amount of the Loans advanced on the Closing Date as follows (with adjustment for any prepayments made under Section 2.04), each such payment to be made on the last Business Day of the applicable fiscal quarter:

 

Quarter Ending

   Percentage  

June 30, 2006

   12.5 %

September 30, 2006

   12.5 %

December 31, 2006

   12.5 %

March 31, 2007

   12.5 %

June 30, 2007

   12.5 %

September 30, 2007

   12.5 %

December 31, 2007

   12.5 %

March 31, 2008

   12.5 %

; provided that on the Maturity Date, all Loans outstanding on such date shall be repaid.

 

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2.04 Optional Prepayments.

(a) The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon (A) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans and (B) on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans; (ii) any prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $2,500,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof; and (iii) any prepayment of Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Loans to be prepaid and, if Eurodollar Rate Loans are to be prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Borrower, the Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein. Any prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. Each such prepayment shall be applied to the Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages.

(b) Application of Prepayments. Prior to any prepayment hereunder, the Borrower shall select the Borrowing or Borrowings to be prepaid and shall specify such selection in the notice of such prepayment pursuant to Section 2.04(a). Amounts to be applied pursuant to this Section 2.04 to the prepayment of Loans shall be applied, as applicable, first to reduce outstanding Base Rate Loans. Any amounts remaining after each such application shall be applied to prepay Eurodollar Rate Loans.

2.05 Termination or Reduction of Commitments. (a) Prior to the Closing Date, the Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, terminate the Aggregate Commitments, or from time to time permanently reduce the Aggregate Commitments; provided that (i) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon five Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction and (ii) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $2,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any such notice of termination or reduction of the Aggregate Commitments. Any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments shall be applied to the Commitment of each Lender according to its Applicable Percentage. All fees accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Aggregate Commitments shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.

(b) Reductions upon Closing. The unused Commitment of each Lender shall be automatically terminated on the Closing Date upon the borrowing of the Loans on such date.

(c) Termination of Commitments. All Commitments shall terminate at noon on July 31, 2006 if the Closing Date has not occurred prior to such time.

 

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2.06 Interest.

(a) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) below, (i) each Eurodollar Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate and (ii) each Base Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.

(b) (i) If any amount of principal of any Loan is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, then upon the request of the Required Lenders, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

(ii) If any amount (other than principal of any Loan) payable by the Borrower under any Loan Document is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, then upon the request of the Required Lenders, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

(iii) Upon the request of the Required Lenders, while any Event of Default exists, the Borrower shall pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding Obligations hereunder at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

(iv) Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.

(c) Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein. Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.

2.07 Fees. The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for its own account fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Fee Letter. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

2.08 Computation of Interest and Fees. All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans when the Base Rate is determined by Bank of America’s “prime rate” shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year). Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid, provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.10(a), bear interest for one day. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

 

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2.09 Evidence of Debt.

The Loans made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligation of the Borrower hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to the Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Lender made through the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a Note, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records. Each Lender may attach schedules to its Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

2.10 Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback.

(a) General. All payments to be made by the Borrower shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the Administrative Agent’s Office in Dollars and in immediately available funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Applicable Percentage (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lender’s Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent after 2:00 p.m. shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. If any payment to be made by the Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.

(b) (i) Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of the Borrowing of Loans (or, in the case of Base Rate Loans, prior to 12:00 noon on the date of such Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.02 (or, in the case of a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, that such Lender has made such share available in accordance with and at the time required by Section 2.02) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from

 

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and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing, and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans. If the Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to the Borrower the amount of such interest paid by the Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing. Any payment by the Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim the Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.

(ii) Payments by Borrower; Presumptions by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders the amount due. In such event, if the Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender, in immediately available funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or the Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this subsection (b) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.

(c) Failure to Satisfy Conditions Precedent. If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II, and such funds are not made available to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions precedent set forth in Article IV are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.

(d) Obligations of Lenders Several. The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section 11.04(c) are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan or to make any payment under Section 11.04(c) on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender so to make its Loan or to make its payment under Section 11.04(c).

(e) Funding Source. Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner.

 

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2.11 Sharing of Payments by Lenders. If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise (but without abridgement of any limitation on the exercise of any right of setoff contained herein), obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of the Loans made by it resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Loans and accrued interest thereon greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans and other amounts owing them, provided that:

(i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest; and

(ii) the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or (y) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section shall apply).

The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of setoff and counterclaim not prohibited hereunder with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

ARTICLE III.

TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

3.01 Taxes.

(a) Payments Free of Taxes. Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without reduction or withholding for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, provided that if the Borrower shall be required by applicable law to deduct any Indemnified Taxes (including any Other Taxes) from such payments, then (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the Administrative Agent or Lender, as the case may be, receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower shall timely pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

 

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(b) Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrower. Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) above, the Borrower shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

(c) Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender, within 10 Business Days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) paid by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(d) Evidence of Payments. As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by the Borrower to a Governmental Authority, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(e) Status of Lenders. Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrower is resident for tax purposes, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding. In addition, any Lender, if requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements.

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Borrower is resident for tax purposes in the United States, any Foreign Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, but only if such Foreign Lender is legally entitled to do so), whichever of the following is applicable:

(i) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN claiming eligibility for benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party,

 

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(ii) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI,

(iii) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not (A) a “bank” within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (B) a “10 percent shareholder” of the Borrower within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or (C) a “controlled foreign corporation” described in section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code and (y) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN, or

(iv) any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in United States Federal withholding tax duly completed together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Borrower to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.

(f) Treatment of Certain Refunds. If the Administrative Agent or any Lender determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section, it shall pay to the Borrower an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower under this Section with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, incurred in connection with such refund and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that the Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent or such Lender in the event the Administrative Agent or such Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. This subsection shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes that it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other Person.

3.02 Illegality. If any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Eurodollar Rate Loans, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurodollar Rate, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars in the London interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Eurodollar Rate Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), convert all Eurodollar Rate Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans (or, if required by Law, prepay such Loans), either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurodollar Rate Loans. Upon any such conversion or prepayment, the Borrower shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so converted or prepaid.

 

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3.03 Inability to Determine Rates. If the Required Lenders determine that for any reason in connection with any request for a Eurodollar Rate Loan or a conversion to or continuation thereof that (a) Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Eurodollar Rate Loan, (b) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Eurodollar Base Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan, or (c) the Eurodollar Base Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurodollar Rate Loan does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Borrower and each Lender. Thereafter, the obligation of the Lenders to make or maintain Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of the Required Lenders) revokes such notice. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrower may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein.

3.04 Increased Costs.

(a) Increased Costs Generally. If any Change in Law shall:

(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any reserve requirement reflected in the Eurodollar Rate);

(ii) subject any Lender to any tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to this Agreement or any Eurodollar Rate Loan made by it, or change the basis of taxation of payments to such Lender in respect thereof (except for Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes covered by Section 3.01 and the imposition of, or any change in the rate of, any Excluded Tax payable by such Lender); or

(iii) impose on any Lender or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Rate Loans made by such Lender;

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining any Eurodollar Rate Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender, the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as are necessary to compensate such Lender for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

(b) Capital Requirements. If any Lender determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s holding company, if any, regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return

 

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on such Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by such Lender, to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as are necessary to compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

(c) Certificates for Reimbursement. A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (a) or (b) of this Section and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 Business Days after receipt thereof.

(d) Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation, provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than seven months prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the seven-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

3.05 Compensation for Losses. Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Borrower shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:

(a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise);

(b) any failure by the Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the Borrower; or

(c) any assignment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 11.13;

including any loss of anticipated profits and any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained. The Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender to similarly situated borrowers in similar circumstances in connection with the foregoing.

 

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For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Borrower to the Lenders under this Section 3.05, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurodollar Rate Loan made by it at the Eurodollar Base Rate used in determining the Eurodollar Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the London interbank eurodollar market for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurodollar Rate Loan was in fact so funded.

3.06 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

(a) Designation of a Different Lending Office. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04, as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02, as applicable, and (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

(b) Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, the Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 11.13.

3.07 Survival. All of the Borrower’s obligations under this Article III shall survive termination of the Aggregate Commitments and repayment of all other Obligations hereunder.

ARTICLE IV.

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CREDIT EXTENSIONS

4.01 Conditions of Initial Credit Extension. The obligation of each Lender to make its Loan hereunder is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:

(a) The Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals or telecopies (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, each dated the Closing Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the Closing Date) and each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders:

(i) executed counterparts of this Agreement sufficient in number for distribution to the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Borrower;

(ii) a Note executed by the Borrower in favor of each Lender requesting a Note;

 

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(iii) such certificates of resolutions or other action, incumbency certificates and/or other certificates of Responsible Officers of the Borrower as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require evidencing the identity, authority and capacity of each Responsible Officer thereof authorized to act as a Responsible Officer in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which the Borrower is a party;

(iv) such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that the Borrower is duly organized or formed, and that the Borrower is validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(v) a certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower either (A) attaching copies of all consents, licenses and approvals required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower and the validity against the Borrower of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, and such consents, licenses and approvals shall be in full force and effect, or, (B) stating that no such consents, licenses or approvals are so required;

(vi) a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying (A) that the conditions specified in this Section 4.01 have been satisfied and (B) that there has been no event or circumstance since the date of the Audited Financial Statements that has had or could be reasonably expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;

(vii) evidence that all insurance required to be maintained pursuant to the Loan Documents has been obtained and is in effect;

(viii) a Solvency Certificate executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower; and

(ix) such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders reasonably may require.

(b) Transactions, Etc.

(i) The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence reasonably satisfactory to it that the Spin-Off Transactions have been consummated in accordance with the Spin-Off Documents and that prior to or substantially concurrently with the Loans, the Fluent Acquisition, the Refinancing and the other Transactions shall have been consummated (or shall simultaneously be consummated), in each case in compliance with applicable law and regulatory approvals, and in all material respects in accordance with the terms hereof and the terms of the material Transaction Documents (including all schedules and exhibits thereto), which shall not have been altered, amended or otherwise changed or supplemented in any manner adverse to the Lenders or any condition therein waived, in each case, without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, holders of not less than 95% of the

 

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outstanding principal amount of the Senior Subordinated Notes shall have tendered their Senior Subordinated Notes for redemption and consented to the Third Supplemental Indenture, all as contemplated by the Consent Solicitation Documents, and the Third Supplemental Indenture shall, subject to payment of the consideration set forth therein, be in full force and effect.

(ii) The aggregate cash consideration for the Mergers shall be $300,000,000, subject to adjustment for working capital, cash on hand and, where applicable, the Borrower’s notes in respect of incentive stock, in each case as specified in the Merger Agreement. There shall be no consideration for the Mergers other than the cash consideration described in the previous sentence and 6,000,000 shares of common stock of ANSYS.

(iii) All representations and warranties of the parties to the Merger Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date.

(iv) Upon consummation of the Fluent Acquisition, Merger LLC (as successor by merger to Heat Holdings) shall be a wholly-owned Subsidiary of ANSYS, Aavid shall be a wholly-owned Subsidiary of Merger LLC, and the Borrower shall be a wholly-owned Subsidiary of Aavid. All Equity Interests in Merger LLC, Aavid, the Borrower and their Subsidiaries (other than Aavid’s warrants outstanding under the Warrant Agreement described in clause (v)(B)(x) below) shall be held, directly or indirectly, by ANSYS.

(v) All arrangements between the Fluent Parties and (A) their Affiliates or (B) the holders of their Equity Interests, in each case as in place prior to the consummation of the Transactions, shall have been discharged, except for (x) the Warrant Agreement, dated as of February 2, 2000, between Aavid and the warrant agent named therein and (y) the Registration Rights Agreement and Common Stock Registration Rights Agreement, each dated as of February 2, 2000, and each among Aavid and the subsidiary guarantors and initial purchasers party thereto.

(vi) ANSYS and the other parties thereto shall have executed and delivered the ANSYS Credit Agreement, all conditions to funding thereunder shall have been satisfied and ANSYS shall have received the proceeds of the ANSYS Loan.

(vii) The Administrative Agent shall have received copies, certified by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, of the Fluent Acquisition Documents, the Spin-Off Documents, the ANSYS Loan Documents and the Consent Solicitation Documents, all of which shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(c) Opinions of Counsel. The Administrative Agent shall have received, on behalf of itself and the Lenders, (i) an opinion of Goodwin Procter LLP, counsel to the Borrower, addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated the Closing Date, substantially in the form of Exhibit F and (ii) a copy of each legal opinion delivered under the other Transaction Documents, accompanied by reliance letters from the party delivering such opinion authorizing the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to rely thereon as if such opinion were addressed to them.

 

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(d) Indebtedness. The Lenders shall be reasonably satisfied with the arrangements for the repayment of all existing indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and for the release or termination of all Liens in respect thereof (including the form of payoff letter therefor).

(e) Consents. All governmental, stockholder and other consents (including Hart-Scott-Rodino clearance) and approvals necessary in connection with the Transactions shall have been received and shall be in full force and effect. Expiration or early termination of all applicable waiting periods shall have occurred without any action being taken by any authority that could restrain, prevent or impose any material adverse conditions on ANSYS and its Subsidiaries (including Merger LLC, as successor by merger to Heat Holdings, and its Subsidiaries) or the Transactions, and no law or regulation shall be applicable which in the reasonable judgment of the Administrative Agent could have such an effect.

(f) Fluent Equity Purchase. The Fluent Equity Purchase (other than the funding thereof) shall have been consummated in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement.

(g) Litigation. The absence of any action, suit, investigation or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower or the Fluent Parties, threatened, in any court or before any arbitrator or governmental authority that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(h) Fees and Expenses. All accrued fees and expenses of the Administrative Agent and the Arranger (including the reasonable fees and expenses of Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP, counsel for the Administrative Agent and of any local and special counsel for the Administrative Agent) required to be paid on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid. The Borrower shall have paid all items due and payable under the Fee Letter on or before the Closing Date.

(i) Financial Statements; Budget. The Lenders shall have received (i) the Audited Financial Statements, (ii) the unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for each fiscal quarter ended since the most recent audit and at least 45 days prior to the Closing Date, and (iii) copies of the Borrower’s 2006 annual plan (including the related forecasts set forth therein) prepared by management of the Borrower, in each case as provided to the Administrative Agent prior to the date hereof.

(j) Lien Searches. The Administrative Agent shall have received copies of UCC, United States Patent and Trademark Office and United States Copyright Office, tax and judgment lien searches, bankruptcy and pending lawsuit searches or equivalent reports or searches, each of a recent date, in each of the jurisdictions identified by the Administrative Agent, the results of which shall not reveal any Liens on the property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries other than Permitted Liens.

(k) Patriot Act Compliance. At least five Business Days prior to the Closing Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received all documentation and other information required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation, the Patriot Act.

 

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(l) Outside Date. The Closing Date shall have occurred on or before July 31, 2006.

(m) Representations and Warranties True. The representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in Article V or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such Loan, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct as of such earlier date.

(n) No Default or Material Adverse Change. No Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Loan or from the application of the proceeds thereof. Since February 15, 2005, no change, event or circumstance shall have occurred or become known to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(o) Loan Notice. The Administrative Agent shall have received a Loan Notice in accordance with the requirements hereof.

Without limiting the generality of the provisions of Section 9.04, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.

ARTICLE V.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

The Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

50.1 Existence, Qualification and Power. The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries (a) is duly organized or formed, validly existing and, as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, (b) has all requisite corporate power and authority or limited liability company power and authority, as applicable, and all requisite governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals to (i) own or lease its assets necessary to the conduct of its business and carry on its business and (ii) execute, deliver and perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents to which it is a party, and (c) is duly qualified and is licensed and, as applicable, in good standing under the Laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification or license; except in each case referred to in clause (b)(i) or (c), to the extent that failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.02 Authorization; No Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of each Transaction Document to which the Borrower is party have been duly

 

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authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not and will not (a) contravene the terms of any of such Person’s Organization Documents; (b) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under, or require any payment to be made under any Contractual Obligation to which such Person is a party or affecting such Person or the properties of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries, except as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or (c) conflict in any material respect with or result in any material breach or material contravention of, or the creation of any Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) under, or require any material payment to be made under, any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority, or any enforceable arbitral award, to which such Person or its property is subject; or (d) violate any Law.

5.03 Governmental Authorization; Other Consents. No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary or required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by the Borrower of this Agreement or any other Transaction Document.

5.04 Binding Effect. This Agreement has been, and each other Loan Document when delivered hereunder, will have been, duly executed and delivered by the Borrower. This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document when so delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its terms, subject to the effect of applicable Debtor Relief Laws and the effect of general principles of equity, whether applied by a court of law or of equity.

5.05 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect; No Internal Control Event.

(a) The Audited Financial Statements (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; (ii) fairly present the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein; and (iii) show all material indebtedness and other liabilities, direct or contingent, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof, including liabilities for taxes, material commitments and Indebtedness.

(b) Any unaudited consolidated balance sheets delivered pursuant to Section 4.01(i)(ii) (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein, and (ii) fairly present the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby, subject, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit adjustments.

(c) Since February 15, 2006, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(d) To the best knowledge of the Borrower, no Internal Control Event exists or has occurred since the date of the Audited Financial Statements that has resulted in or would reasonably be expected to result in a misstatement in any material respect, in any financial information delivered or to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, with respect to (i) covenant compliance calculations provided hereunder or (ii) the assets, liabilities, financial condition or results of operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

(e) The annual plans and related forecasts delivered pursuant to Section 4.01(i) were prepared in good faith on the basis of the assumptions stated therein, which assumptions were fair in light of the conditions existing at the time of delivery of such forecasts, and represented, at the time of delivery, the Borrower’s reasonable estimate of its future financial condition and performance.

5.06 Litigation. There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in writing, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or against any of their properties or revenues that (a) purport to affect or pertain to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any of the Transactions, or (b) either individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.07 No Default. Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary of the Borrower is in default under or with respect to any Contractual Obligation that would, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Default has occurred and is continuing or would result from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Transaction Document.

5.08 Ownership of Property; Liens. The Borrower and each Subsidiary of the Borrower has good record and marketable title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold interests in, all real property necessary or used in the ordinary conduct of its business, except for such defects in title as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries is subject to no Liens, other than Liens permitted by Section 7.01.

5.09 Environmental Matters.

(a) Except as, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect:

(i) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and their businesses, operations and properties are in compliance with, and the Borrower and its Subsidiaries have no liability under, Environmental Laws;

(ii) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries have obtained all Environmental Permits required for the conduct of their businesses and operations and the operation and use of their property, and all such Environmental Permits are valid and in good standing;

 

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(iii) there has been no Release or threatened Release of Hazardous Material on, at, under or from any real property or facility presently or, to the knowledge of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, formerly owned, leased or operated by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or their predecessors in interest, which Release or threatened Release would reasonably be expected to result in liability by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries under Environmental Law;

(iv) there is no Environmental Claim pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, threatened in writing against the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, there are no actions, activities, circumstances, conditions, events or incidents that would reasonably be expected to form the basis of such an Environmental Claim;

(v) none of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries is obligated to perform any action or otherwise incur any expense under Environmental Law pursuant to any order, decree, judgment or agreement by which it is bound, and no such Person is conducting or financing any environmental investigation or remediation required by any Environmental Law with respect to any real property owned, operated or leased by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any other location;

(vi) no Lien has been recorded or, to the knowledge of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, threatened under any Environmental Law with respect to any property or assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; and

(vii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not require any notification, registration, filing, reporting, disclosure, investigation, remediation or cleanup pursuant to any Environmental Law.

(b) To the knowledge of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, no real property or facility owned, operated or leased by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, no real property or facility formerly owned, operated or leased by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or any of their predecessors in interest is (i) listed or proposed for listing on the National Priorities List promulgated pursuant to CERCLA or (ii) listed on the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Information System promulgated pursuant to CERCLA or (iii) included on any similar list maintained by any Governmental Authority including any such list relating to petroleum.

5.10 Insurance. The properties of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, in such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance reasonable and customary for similarly situated Persons engaged in the same or similar businesses as Borrower and its Subsidiaries) with such deductibles and covering such risks as are customarily carried by prudent companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary operates.

5.11 Taxes. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries have (a) timely filed, or been included in, all material Federal, state and other Tax Returns and reports required to be filed by them,

 

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taking into account any extension of time granted to them, and (b) paid or caused to be paid all material Federal, state and other Taxes due and payable by such Persons (whether or not shown on any tax return), except those which are not more than 30 days overdue or are being contested in good faith by appropriate actions diligently conducted and in each case for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP. No written proposed tax assessment has been received by the Borrower or any Subsidiary that, if made, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Borrower and each Subsidiary has made adequate provision in accordance with GAAP for all Taxes not yet due and payable except where the failure to make such a provision would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except any liabilities for taxes of any consolidated, combined or unitary tax group of which the Borrower is the common parent, neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries has any liabilities for the taxes of any Person under Treas. Reg. Section 1.1502-6 or any similar provision of state, local or foreign law, as a transferee or successor, by contract or otherwise, except as would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

5.12 ERISA Compliance.

(a) Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other Federal or state Laws. Each Plan that is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS covering the laws referred to as “GUST” (through and including the Community Tax Renewal Act of 2000) or an application for such a letter is currently being processed by the IRS with respect thereto. The Borrower and each ERISA Affiliate have made all required contributions to each Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Code has been made with respect to any Plan.

(b) There are no pending or, to the best knowledge of the Borrower, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan that has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) (i) No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (ii) no Pension Plan has any Unfunded Pension Liability; (iii) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan (other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA); (iv) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice under Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Section 4201 or 4243 of ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan; and (v) neither the Borrower nor any ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.

(d) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) each Foreign Plan has been maintained in substantial compliance with its terms and with the requirements of any and all applicable Law and has been maintained, where required, in good standing with applicable regulatory authorities, (ii) neither the Borrower or any of its

 

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Subsidiaries has incurred any material obligation in connection with the termination of or withdrawal from any Foreign Plan and (iii) the present value of the accrued benefit liabilities (whether or not vested) under each Foreign Plan which is funded, determined as of the end of the most recently ended fiscal year on the basis of actuarial assumptions, each of which is reasonable, did not exceed the current value of the property of such Foreign Plan, and for each Foreign Plan which is not funded, the obligations of such Foreign Plan are properly accrued.

5.13 Subsidiaries; Equity Interests. The Borrower has no Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Part (a) of Schedule 5.13, and all of the outstanding Equity Interests in such Subsidiaries have been validly issued and, to the extent applicable, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by the Borrower in the amounts specified on Part (a) of Schedule 5.13 free and clear of all Liens. As of the Closing Date, (i) the Borrower has no equity investments in any other corporation or entity other than those specifically disclosed in Part(b) of Schedule 5.13 and (ii) Schedule 5.13(a) correctly sets forth the ownership interest of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in their respective Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date. All of the outstanding Equity Interests in the Borrower have been validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable.

5.14 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act; Public Utility Holding Company Act.

(a) The Borrower is not engaged and will not engage, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock.

(b) None of the Borrower, any Person Controlling the Borrower, or any Subsidiary (i) is a “holding company,” or a “subsidiary company” of a “holding company,” or an “affiliate” of a “holding company” or of a “subsidiary company” of a “holding company,” within the meaning of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, or (ii) is or is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

5.15 Disclosure. The Borrower has disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, and all other matters known to it, that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The reports, financial statements, certificates and other information furnished (whether in writing or orally) by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder or under any other Loan Document (in each case, as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished), including the Confidential Information Memorandum, when taken as a whole, do not contain any material misstatement of fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, when taken as a whole, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time of delivery.

 

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5.16 Compliance with Laws. The Borrower and each of the Borrower’s Subsidiaries is in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its properties, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted or (b) the failure to comply therewith, either individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.17 Taxpayer Identification Number. The Borrower’s true and correct U.S. taxpayer identification number is set forth on Schedule 11.02.

5.18 Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries own, or possess adequate rights to use, the trademarks, trade names, service marks, copyrights, patents, patent rights, proprietary information, domain names, proprietary know-how and processes, proprietary technology, franchises, licenses and other intellectual property rights (collectively, “Intellectual Property Rights”) that are reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses. To the knowledge of the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries, no slogan or other advertising device, product, process, method, substance, part or other material now employed, or now contemplated to be employed, by the Borrower or any Subsidiary infringes upon Intellectual Property Rights held by any other Person. No claim or litigation regarding any of the foregoing is pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries, threatened in writing, which, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.19 Solvency. Immediately after the consummation of the Transactions to occur on the Closing Date and immediately following the making of each Loan and after giving effect to the application of the proceeds of each Loan, (a) the fair value of the properties of the Borrower will exceed its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise; (b) the present fair saleable value of the property of the Borrower will be greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of its debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured; (c) the Borrower will be able to pay its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured; and (d) the Borrower will not have unreasonably small capital with which to conduct its business in which it is engaged.

5.20 Anti-Terrorism Law.

(a) Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary of the Borrower nor, to the knowledge of the Borrower, any of their respective Affiliates, is in violation of any applicable law relating to terrorism or money laundering (“Anti-Terrorism Laws”), including Executive Order No. 13224 on Terrorist Financing, effective September 24, 2001 (the “Executive Order”), and the Patriot Act.

(b) Neither the Borrower nor any Subsidiary of the Borrower nor, to the knowledge of the Borrower, any Affiliate or broker or other agent of any such Person acting or benefiting in any capacity in connection with the Loans is any of the following:

(i) a Person that is listed in the annex to, or is otherwise subject to the provisions of, the Executive Order;

 

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(ii) a Person owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, any person that is listed in the annex to, or is otherwise subject to the provisions of, the Executive Order;

(iii) a Person with which any Lender is prohibited from dealing or otherwise engaging in any transaction by any Anti-Terrorism Law;

(iv) a Person that commits, threatens or conspires to commit or supports “terrorism” as defined in the Executive Order; or

(v) a Person that is named as a “specially designated national and blocked person” on the most current list published by the U.S. Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) at its official website or any replacement website or other replacement official publication of such list.

(c) To the knowledge of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, neither the Borrower, its Subsidiaries, or any broker or other agent of any such Person acting in any capacity in connection with the Loans (i) conducts any business or engages in making or receiving any contribution of funds, goods or services to or for the benefit of any Person described in paragraph (b) above, (ii) deals in, or otherwise engages in any transaction relating to, any property or interests in property blocked pursuant to the Executive Order, or (iii) engages in or conspires to engage in any transaction that evades or avoids, or has the purpose of evading or avoiding, or attempts to violate, any of the prohibitions set forth in any Anti-Terrorism Law.

ARTICLE VI.

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder or any Loan or other Obligation hereunder (other than contingent indemnity obligations in respect of which no claim has been asserted) shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, the Borrower shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.01, 6.02, and 6.03) cause each Subsidiary to:

6.01 Financial Statements. Deliver to the Administrative Agent, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

(a) as soon as available, but in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower (commencing with the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006), a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the Borrower’s fiscal year then ended, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail (as required by GAAP), such consolidated statements to be certified by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower as fairly presenting the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP; and

 

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(b) as soon as available, but in any event within 45 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower (commencing with the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2006), a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the Borrower’s fiscal year then ended, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail (as required by GAAP), such consolidated statements to be certified by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower as fairly presenting the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

As to any information contained in materials furnished pursuant to Section 6.02(d), the Borrower shall not be separately required to furnish such information under clause (a) or (b) above, but the foregoing shall not be in derogation of the obligation of the Borrower to furnish the information and materials described in clauses (a) and (b) above at the times specified therein.

6.02 Certificates; Other Information. Deliver to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, in form and detail satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders:

(a) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a) and (b) a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower;

(b) promptly after any request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, copies of any final issued detailed audit reports, management letters or recommendations submitted to the board of directors (or the audit committee of the board of directors) of the Borrower by independent accountants in connection with the accounts or books of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any audit of any of them;

(c) promptly after the same are available, copies of each filed annual report, proxy or financial statement or other report or communication sent to the stockholders of the Borrower, and copies of all annual, regular, periodic and special reports and registration statements which the Borrower may file or be required to file with the SEC under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and not otherwise required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant hereto;

(d) promptly after the furnishing thereof, copies of any material statement or report furnished to any holder of debt securities of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof pursuant to the terms of any indenture, loan or credit or similar agreement and not otherwise required to be furnished to the Lenders pursuant to Section 6.01 or any other clause of this Section 6.02;

(e) promptly, and in any event within five Business Days after receipt thereof by any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof, copies of each written notice or other correspondence

 

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received from the SEC (or comparable agency in any applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction) concerning any investigation or possible investigation or other inquiry by such agency regarding financial or other operational results of any Loan Party or any Subsidiary thereof;

(f) upon request by the Administrative Agent, copies of (i) each Schedule B (Actuarial Information) to the annual report (Form 5500 Series) filed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary with the IRS with respect to each Pension Plan; (ii) the most recent actuarial valuation report for each Pension Plan; (iii) all written notices received by the Borrower or any Subsidiary from a Multiemployer Plan sponsor or any governmental agency concerning an ERISA Event; and (iv) such other documents or governmental reports or filings relating to any Pension Plan sponsored by the Borrower or any Subsidiary as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request; and

(g) promptly, such additional information regarding the business, financial or corporate affairs of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of the Loan Documents, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may from time to time reasonably request.

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) or Section 6.02(c) (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Borrower’s website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 11.02; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Borrower’s behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that: (i) the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such documents to the Administrative Agent or any Lender that requests the Borrower to deliver such paper copies until a written request to cease delivering paper copies is given by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and (ii) the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent (by telecopier or electronic mail) of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in every instance the Borrower shall be required to provide paper copies of the Compliance Certificates required by Section 6.02(a) to the Administrative Agent. Except for such Compliance Certificates, the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery or to maintain copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Borrower with any such request for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.

6.03 Notices. Promptly notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

(a) of the occurrence of any Default;

(b) of (i) any matter that has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) any dispute, litigation or proceeding between the Borrower and any Governmental Authority, or any material investigation or suspension between the Borrower or

 

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any Subsidiary and any Governmental Authority; or (iii) the commencement of, or any material and adverse development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting the Borrower or any Subsidiary, including pursuant to any applicable Environmental Laws, which litigation or proceeding, or which development, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(c) of the occurrence of any ERISA Event;

(d) of any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by the Borrower or any Subsidiary; and

(e) of the determination by the Registered Public Accounting Firm providing the opinion required under Section 6.01(a)(ii) (in connection with its preparation of such opinion) or the Borrower’s determination at any time of the occurrence or existence of any Internal Control Event.

Each notice pursuant to this Section 6.03 shall be accompanied by a statement of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto. Each notice pursuant to Section 6.03(a) shall describe with particularity any and all provisions of this Agreement and any other Loan Document that have been breached.

6.04 Payment of Obligations. Pay and discharge as the same shall become due and payable, all its material obligations and liabilities, including (a) all material tax liabilities, assessments and governmental charges or levies upon it or its properties or assets, unless the same are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP are being maintained by the Borrower or such Subsidiary; (b) all material lawful claims which, if unpaid, would by law become a Lien upon its property; and (c) all material Indebtedness, as and when due and payable, but subject to any subordination provisions contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness, and all material Contractual Obligations.

6.05 Preservation of Existence, Etc. (a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and good standing (as applicable) under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except as a result of a transaction permitted by Section 7.04 or 7.05 and (b) maintain its qualification as a foreign Person in each jurisdiction where the failure to do so would, individually or in the aggregate with other such jurisdictions, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

6.06 Maintenance of Properties. Except to the extent that failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, do or cause to be done all things reasonably necessary to obtain, preserve, renew, extend and keep in full force and effect the rights, licenses, permits, privileges, franchises, authorizations, patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade names material to the conduct of its business and at all times maintain, preserve and protect all tangible property material to the conduct of such business and keep such property in good repair, working order and condition (other than wear and tear occurring in the ordinary course of business and

 

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casualty); provided that nothing in this Section 6.06 shall prevent (a) sales of property, consolidations or mergers by or involving any Loan Party in accordance with Section 7.04 or Section 7.05; (b) withdrawals by Loan Parties of any qualification as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction where such withdrawal, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; or (c) the abandonment by any Loan Party of any rights, franchises, licenses, trademarks, trade names, copyrights, patents or other Intellectual Property that such Person reasonably determines are not useful to its business or no longer commercially desirable.

6.07 Maintenance of Insurance. Maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Borrower, insurance with respect to its properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business, of such types and in such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance customarily self-insured under similar circumstances by such other Persons) as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons and providing for not less than 30 days’ prior notice to the Administrative Agent of termination, lapse or cancellation of such insurance.

6.08 Compliance with Laws. Comply in all material respects with the requirements of all Laws and all orders, writs, injunctions and decrees applicable to it or to its business or property, except in such instances in which (a) such requirement of Law or order, writ, injunction or decree is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; or (b) the failure to comply therewith would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.09 Books and Records. (a) Maintain proper books of record and account, in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP consistently applied shall be made of all financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be (except, with respect to Subsidiaries other than Loan Parties, as would not have a material and adverse impact on the financial reporting of Loan Parties, or any Loan Party compliance with this Section 6.09); and (b) maintain such books of record and account in material conformity with all applicable accounting requirements of any Governmental Authority having regulatory jurisdiction over the Borrower or such Subsidiary, as the case may be.

6.01 Inspection Rights. Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent and each Lender to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants (subject to such independent accountants’ customary procedure), all at the reasonable expense of the Borrower and in each case at such reasonable times during normal business hours as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrower; provided that neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender may exercise such rights of inspection under this Section 6.10 more often than two (2) times during any calendar year absent the existence of an Event of Default and, absent the existence of an Event of Default, only one (1) such time shall be at the Borrower’s expense; provided further that when an Event of Default exists the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective

 

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representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower at any time and with or without reasonable advance notice. Unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall give the Borrower the opportunity to participate in any discussions with the Borrower’s independent public accountants.

6.11 Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of the Loans to finance the Fluent Equity Purchase in a manner not in contravention of any Law or of any Loan Document.

6.12 Additional Guarantors. At the time that any Person becomes a Domestic Subsidiary, (a) promptly notify the Administrative Agent thereof and (b) promptly (and in any event within 30 days) cause such Person to (i) become a Subsidiary Guarantor by executing and delivering to the Administrative Agent a counterpart to this Agreement or such other document as the Administrative Agent shall deem appropriate for such purpose and (ii) deliver to the Administrative Agent documents of the types referred to in clauses (iii) and (iv) of Section 4.01(a) and favorable opinions of counsel to such Person (which shall cover, among other things, the legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability of the documentation referred to in clause (i)), all in form, content and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

ARTICLE VII.

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

So long as any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder or any Loan or other Obligation hereunder (other than contingent indemnity obligations in respect of which no claim has been asserted) shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly:

7.01 Liens. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than the following:

(a) Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;

(b) Liens existing on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 7.01 and any renewals, replacements or extensions thereof, provided that (i) the property covered thereby is not changed (except as a result of a merger, consolidation or other transaction permitted under Section 7.04), (ii) the amount secured or benefited thereby is not increased except as contemplated by Section 7.03(b), (iii) the direct or any contingent obligor with respect thereto is not changed, and (iv) any renewal, replacement or extension of the obligations secured or benefited thereby is permitted by Section 7.03(b);

(c) Liens for taxes not yet due or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person in accordance with GAAP;

(d) statutory Liens of carriers, landlords, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen’s and repairmen’s and other like Liens imposed by law (other than any such Lien imposed pursuant to Section 401(a)(29) or 412(n) of the Code, by ERISA, or by any similar Law applicable to Foreign Plans), in such case arising in the ordinary course of business for amounts

 

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not overdue for a period of more than 30 days or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person;

(e) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business (and not imposed by ERISA or any similar Law applicable to Foreign Plans) in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security, or to secure the performance of tenders, statutory obligations, surety bonds (other than bonds related to judgments or litigation) and appeal bonds, bids, leases, government contracts, trade contracts, performance and return-of-money bonds and other similar obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business (exclusive of obligations for the payment of borrowed money or other Indebtedness), so long as no foreclosure, sale or similar proceedings have been commenced on account thereof and pledges and deposits in the ordinary course of business securing liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;

(f) leases and subleases granted to others in the ordinary course of business which do not (x) interfere in any material respect with the business of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or (y) secure any Indebtedness;

(g) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances affecting real property which, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount, and which do not in any case materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable Person;

(h) Liens securing judgments for the payment of money not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.01(h);

(i) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(d); provided that (i) such Liens do not at any time encumber any property other than the property financed by such Indebtedness and (ii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost or fair market value, whichever is lower, of the property being acquired on the date of acquisition;

(j) Liens (i) of a collecting bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code on items in the course of collection, (ii) attaching to commodity trading accounts or other commodities brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business and (iii) in favor of a banking institution arising as a matter of law encumbering deposits (including the right of set-off) and which are within the general parameters customary in the banking industry;

(k) Liens (i) on cash advances in favor of the seller of any property to be acquired in an Investment permitted pursuant to Sections 7.02(g) to be applied against the purchase price for such Investment and (ii) consisting of an agreement to dispose of any property in an Asset Sale permitted under Section 7.05, in each case, solely to the extent such Investment or Asset Sale, as the case may be, would have been permitted on the date of the creation of such Lien;

 

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(l) Liens on property of any Foreign Subsidiary which secure Indebtedness of such Foreign Subsidiary permitted under Section 7.03(i);

(m) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement permitted hereunder;

(n) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods;

(o) nonexclusive licenses of Intellectual Property granted by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to customers in the ordinary course of business and not interfering in any respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower or such Subsidiary;

(p) Liens constituting deposits of cash or Cash Equivalents securing obligations under Swap Contracts permitted under Section 7.03(c); and

(q) other Liens securing obligations not in excess of $5,000,000 outstanding at any time.

7.02 Investments. Make any Investments, except:

(a) Investments held by the Borrower or such Subsidiary in the form of Cash Equivalents;

(b) to the extent permitted by Law, advances to officers, directors and employees of the Borrower and Subsidiaries, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,500,000 at any time outstanding, for business-related travel, entertainment, relocation and analogous ordinary business purposes;

(c) Investments of (i) any Loan Party in any other Loan Party, (ii) any Subsidiary which is not a Loan Party in any Loan Party or any other Subsidiary which is not a Loan Party, and (iii) any Loan Party in any Subsidiary which is not a Loan Party; provided that the aggregate amount of such Investments under this clause (iii) made from and after the Closing Date (including amounts advanced by a Loan Party pursuant to any Guarantees of Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(g)) shall not exceed $20,000,000 plus the aggregate amount, not to exceed $30,000,000, of Investments made to comply with applicable foreign Laws in connection with any reorganization of Foreign Subsidiaries;

(d) Investments consisting of extensions of credit in the nature of accounts receivable or notes receivable arising from the grant of trade credit in the ordinary course of business, and Investments received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors to the extent reasonably necessary in order to prevent or limit loss;

(e) Guarantees permitted by Section 7.03;

(f) intercompany loans to the extent permitted under Sections 7.03(e) and 7.03(j);

 

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(g) Investments constituting Permitted Acquisitions;

(h) Investments consisting of fundamental changes permitted under Section 7.04;

(i) Investments outstanding on the Closing Date and listed on Schedule 7.02 and any modification, replacement, renewal or extension thereof so long as the amount of such Investment is not increased thereby;

(j) Investments in Swap Contracts permitted under Section 7.03(c);

(k) the Mergers;

(l) Investments in the ordinary course of business consisting of (i) endorsements for collection or deposit and (ii) customary trade arrangements with customers consistent with past practices;

(m) advances of payroll payments to employees or consultants in the ordinary course of business; or

(n) other Investments in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time $15,000,000.

An Investment shall be deemed to be outstanding to the extent not returned in the same form (or in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents) as the original Investment to the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor.

7.03 Indebtedness. Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

(a) Indebtedness under the Loan Documents;

(b) Indebtedness outstanding on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 7.03 and any refinancings, replacements, refundings, renewals or extensions thereof; provided that (i) the amount of such Indebtedness is not increased at the time of such refinancing, replacement, refunding, renewal or extension except by an amount equal to a reasonable premium or other reasonable amount paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such refinancing and by an amount equal to any existing commitments unutilized thereunder and (ii) the terms relating to principal amount, amortization, maturity, collateral (if any) and subordination (if any), and other material terms taken as a whole, of any such refinancing, replacement, refunding, renewing or extending Indebtedness, and of any agreement entered into and of any instrument issued in connection therewith, are no less favorable in any material respect to the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, or to the Lenders, than the terms of any agreement or instrument governing the Indebtedness being refinanced, replaced, refunded, renewed or extended and the interest rate applicable to any such refinancing, replacement, refunding, renewing or extending Indebtedness does not exceed the then applicable market interest rate for similar Persons in similar transactions;

(c) obligations (contingent or otherwise) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary existing or arising under any Swap Contract, provided that (i) such obligations are (or were) entered into by such Person in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of directly mitigating risks

 

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associated with liabilities, commitments, investments, assets, or property held or reasonably anticipated by such Person, or changes in the value of securities issued by such Person, and not for purposes of speculation or taking a “market view;” and (ii) such Swap Contract does not contain any provision exonerating the non-defaulting party from its obligation to make payments on outstanding transactions to the defaulting party;

(d) Indebtedness in respect of Capital Lease Obligations and purchase money obligations for fixed or capital assets within the limitations set forth in Section 7.01(i); provided, however, that the aggregate amount of all such Indebtedness at any one time outstanding shall not exceed $5,000,000;

(e) unsecured Indebtedness of any Subsidiary Guarantor to the Borrower or to any other Subsidiary Guarantor, or of the Borrower to any Subsidiary Guarantor;

(f) Indebtedness in respect of netting services, overdraft protections and otherwise in connection with deposit accounts; provided that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five (5) Business Days of the incurrence thereof;

(g) Guarantees by (i) any Loan Party in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of any other Loan Party, (ii) any Subsidiary which is not a Loan Party in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of any Loan Party or any other Subsidiary which is not a Loan Party, and (iii) any Loan Party in respect of Indebtedness otherwise permitted hereunder of any Subsidiary which is not a Loan Party; provided that the aggregate amount of the Guarantees under this clause (iii) made from and after the Closing Date shall not exceed $5,000,000;

(h) Guarantees of Indebtedness under the ANSYS Credit Agreement in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $200,000,000 less the aggregate amount of all principal repayments made thereunder;

(i) Indebtedness, not constituting Investments by a Loan Party under Section 7.02(c)(iii), of one or more Foreign Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount not to exceed (when taken together with any Guarantees thereof by the Loan Parties pursuant to Section 7.03(g)) at any time $10,000,000;

(j) Indebtedness (i) of a Foreign Subsidiary to another Foreign Subsidiary or (ii) of a Foreign Subsidiary to any Loan Party, provided that the extension after the Closing Date of any Indebtedness by a Loan Party to a Foreign Subsidiary in reliance on this clause (ii) must be permitted as an Investment under Section 7.02(c)(iii);

(k) customary indemnities in connection with sales or other Dispositions by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries otherwise permitted hereunder;

(l) other unsecured Indebtedness of the Loan Parties in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at any time $50,000,000; and

(m) Indebtedness with respect to trade accounts payable outstanding for more than 90 days after the date on which such trade account payable was created in an aggregate amount at any time outstanding not to exceed $15,000,000, provided that not more than $2,500,000 of such amount may be 90 days or more past due at any time.

 

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7.04 Fundamental Changes. Merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person, except that, so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom:

(a) any Subsidiary may merge with (i) the Borrower, provided that the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person, or (ii) any one or more other Subsidiaries, provided that (A) when any wholly-owned Subsidiary is merging with another Subsidiary, the wholly-owned Subsidiary shall be the continuing or surviving Person and (B) when any Subsidiary Guarantor is merging with another Subsidiary, the Subsidiary Guarantor shall be the continuing or surviving Person;

(b) any Subsidiary may Dispose of all or substantially all of its assets (upon voluntary liquidation or otherwise) to the Borrower or to another Subsidiary; provided that (i) if the transferor in such a transaction is a wholly-owned Subsidiary, then the transferee thereof must either be the Borrower or a wholly-owned Subsidiary, and (ii) if the transferor in such a transaction is a Subsidiary Guarantor, the transferee thereof must either be the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor; and

(c) any Subsidiary may merge with any other Person in order to effect a Permitted Acquisition; provided that the continuing or surviving Person shall have complied with the requirements of Section 6.12.

7.05 Dispositions. Make any Disposition or enter into any agreement to make any Disposition, except:

(a) Dispositions of (i) inventory (or other assets, including Cash Equivalents and Intellectual Property) sold, leased or licensed in the ordinary course of business and (ii) obsolete, worn out or surplus property sold in the ordinary course of business (or in the case of leased or subleased properties, properties which are no longer useful or necessary in the Borrower’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ businesses and disposed of in the ordinary course of business;

(b) Dispositions of real property to the extent that (i) such property is exchanged for credit against the purchase price of similar replacement property or (ii) the proceeds of such Disposition are applied promptly to the purchase price of such replacement property;

(c) Dispositions of property by any Subsidiary to the Borrower or to a wholly-owned Subsidiary; provided that (i) if the transferor of such property is a wholly-owned subsidiary, the transferee thereof must either be the Borrower or a wholly-owned subsidiary, and (ii) if the transferor in such a transaction is a Subsidiary Guarantor, the transferee thereof must either be the Borrower or a Subsidiary Guarantor;

(d) Dispositions permitted by Section 7.04;

 

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(e) non-exclusive licenses of Intellectual Property granted to customers in the ordinary course of business and substantially consistent with past practice;

(f) Dispositions by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries not otherwise permitted under this Section 7.05; provided that (i) at the time of such Disposition, no Default shall exist or would result from such Disposition, (ii) each such Disposition results in consideration at least 75% of which (taking into account the amount of cash, the principal amount of any promissory notes and the fair market value, as determined in good faith by the Borrower, of any other consideration) shall be in the form of cash and (iii) the aggregate book value of all property Disposed of in reliance on this clause (f) in any twelve-month period shall not exceed $25,000,000; and

(g) Dispositions of portions of any business acquired in any Permitted Acquisition, so long as (i) such portions have an aggregate value not in excess of twenty-five percent (25%) of the aggregate purchase price paid by the Borrower or a Subsidiary for such Permitted Acquisition, and (ii) any such disposition (A) occurs within one year after the closing of such Permitted Acquisition and (B) occurs in the absence of, and does not result in, a Default;

provided, however, that any Disposition pursuant to clauses (a) through (g) shall be for fair market value.

7.06 Restricted Payments. Declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, or incur any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to do so, except that, so long as no Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of any action described below or would result therefrom:

(a) (i) the Borrower may make Restricted Payments to Aavid, and (ii) each Subsidiary may make Restricted Payments to the Borrower and any other Person that owns an Equity Interest in such Subsidiary, ratably according to their respective holdings of the type of Equity Interest in respect of which such Restricted Payment is being made;

(b) the Borrower and each Subsidiary may declare and make dividend payments or other distributions payable solely in the Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Capital Stock) of such Person;

(c) the Borrower and each Subsidiary may purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire Equity Interests issued by it with the proceeds received from the substantially concurrent issue of new shares of its common stock or other common Equity Interests;

(d) to the extent constituting Restricted Payments, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may enter into transactions expressly permitted by Section 7.04;

(e) the Borrower may make Restricted Payments with respect to the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interests of the Borrower or any Subsidiary held by any past, present or future employee, director, officer or consultant of the Borrower (or any of its Subsidiaries) pursuant to any equity subscription agreement, stock option agreement or similar agreement or plan; provided that the aggregate price paid for all such repurchased, redeemed, acquired or retired Equity Interests may not exceed $1,000,000 in any twelve-month period;

 

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(f) the Borrower may make repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon the exercise of employee stock options or warrants if such Equity Interests are surrendered in lieu of the exercise price thereof; and

(g) the Borrower may make Restricted Payments on the Closing Date to consummate the Fluent Equity Purchase in accordance with the Merger Agreement, solely with proceeds of Loans hereunder.

7.07 Change in Nature of Business. Engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the date hereof or any business substantially related or incidental thereto.

7.08 Transactions with Affiliates. Enter into any transaction of any kind with any Affiliate of the Borrower, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, other than on fair and reasonable terms substantially as favorable to the Borrower or such Subsidiary as would be obtainable by the Borrower or such Subsidiary at the time in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate, provided that the foregoing restriction shall not apply to transactions between or among (i) the Borrower and any Parent Entity, (ii) the Borrower and any of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries or (iii) between and among any wholly-owned Subsidiaries.

7.09 Burdensome Agreements. Enter into any Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any ANSYS Loan Document) that (a) limits the ability (i) of any Subsidiary to make Restricted Payments to the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor or to otherwise transfer property to the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor, (ii) of any Subsidiary to Guarantee the Indebtedness of the Borrower or (iii) of the Borrower or any Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person; provided, however, that this clause (iii) shall not prohibit any negative pledge incurred or provided in favor of any holder of Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.03(d) solely to the extent any such negative pledge relates to the property financed by or the subject of such Indebtedness; or (b) requires the grant of a Lien to secure an obligation of such Person if a Lien is granted to secure another obligation of such Person.

7.10 Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of any Credit Extension, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, to purchase or carry margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U of the FRB) or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock or to refund indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose.

7.11 Financial Covenants.

(a) Fluent Leverage Ratio. Permit the Fluent Leverage Ratio at any time to be greater than 1.00 to 1.00.

(b) Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. Permit the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio as of the end of any fiscal quarter of the Borrower to be less than 1.25:1.00.

 

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ARTICLE VIII.

EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

8.01 Events of Default. Any of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:

(a) Non-Payment. The Borrower or any other Loan Party fails to pay (i) when and as required to be paid herein, any amount of principal of any Loan, or (ii) within three days after the same becomes due, any interest on any Loan, or any fee due hereunder, or (iii) within five days after the same becomes due, any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document; or

(b) Specific Covenants. The Borrower fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 6.01, 6.02, 6.03, 6.05, 6.10, 6.11, 6.12 or Article VII; or any Subsidiary Guarantor fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in Article 10.

(c) Other Defaults. Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in subsection (a) or (b) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for 30 days; or

(d) Representations and Warranties. Any representation, warranty, certification or statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of the Borrower or any other Loan Party herein, in any other Loan Document, or in any document delivered in connection herewith or therewith, shall be incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed made; or

(e) Cross-Default. (i) The Borrower or any Subsidiary (A) fails to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand, or otherwise) in respect of any Indebtedness or Guarantee (other than Indebtedness hereunder and Indebtedness under Swap Contracts) having an aggregate principal amount (including undrawn committed or available amounts and including amounts owing to all creditors under any combined or syndicated credit arrangement) in excess of the Threshold Amount, or (B) fails to observe or perform any other agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or Guarantee or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event occurs, the effect of which default or other event is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness or the beneficiary or beneficiaries of such Guarantee (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or holders or beneficiary or beneficiaries) to cause, with the giving of notice if required, such Indebtedness to be demanded or to become due or to be repurchased, prepaid, defeased or redeemed (automatically or otherwise), or an offer to repurchase, prepay, defease or redeem such Indebtedness to be made, prior to its stated maturity, or such Guarantee to become payable or cash collateral in respect thereof to be demanded; or (ii) there occurs under any Swap Contract an Early Termination Date (as defined in such Swap Contract) resulting from (A) any event of default under such Swap Contract as to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is the Defaulting Party (as defined in such Swap Contract) or (B)

 

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any Termination Event (as so defined) under such Swap Contract as to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is an Affected Party (as so defined) and, in either event, the Swap Termination Value owed by the Borrower or such Subsidiary as a result thereof is greater than the Threshold Amount; or

(f) Insolvency Proceedings, Etc. Any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries institutes or consents to the institution of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, or makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors generally; or applies for or consents to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer for it or for all or any material part of its property; or any receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator, liquidator, rehabilitator or similar officer is appointed without the application or consent of such Person and the appointment continues undischarged or unstayed for 60 calendar days; or any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law relating to any such Person or to all or any material part of its property is instituted without the consent of such Person and continues undismissed or unstayed for 60 calendar days, or an order for relief is entered in any such proceeding; or

(g) Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment. (i) The Borrower or any Subsidiary becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of any such Person and is not released, vacated or fully bonded within 30 days after its issue or levy; or

(h) Judgments. There is entered against the Borrower or any Subsidiary (i) one or more final judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all such judgments or orders) exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage), or (ii) any one or more non-monetary final judgments that have, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and, in either case, (A) enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order, or (B) there is a period of 10 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect; or

(i) ERISA. (i) An ERISA Event occurs with respect to a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan which has resulted or would reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower under Title IV of ERISA to the Pension Plan, Multiemployer Plan or the PBGC in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount, or (ii) the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate fails to pay when due, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, any installment payment with respect to its withdrawal liability under Section 4201 of ERISA under a Multiemployer Plan in an aggregate amount in excess of the Threshold Amount; or

(j) Invalidity of Loan Documents. Any provision of any Loan Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations, ceases to be in full force and effect; or any Loan Party or any other Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any provision of any Loan Document; or any Loan Party denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any provision of any Loan Document; or

 

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(k) Change of Control. There occurs any Change of Control.

8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, take any or all of the following actions:

(a) declare the commitment of each Lender to make Loans to be terminated, whereupon such commitments and obligation shall be terminated;

(b) declare the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts owing or payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document to be immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower; and

(c) exercise on behalf of itself and the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it and to the Lenders under the Loan Documents;

provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, the obligation of each Lender to make Loans shall automatically terminate and the unpaid principal amount of all outstanding Loans and all interest and other amounts as aforesaid shall automatically become due and payable, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.

8.03 Application of Funds. After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:

First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent and amounts payable under Article III) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;

Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal and interest) payable to the Lenders (including, subject to Section 11.04, fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders (including fees and time charges for attorneys who may be employees of any Lender) and amounts payable under Article III), ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;

Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid and interest on the Loans and other Obligations, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;

Fourth, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them; and

Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by Law.

 

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ARTICLE IX.

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

9.01 Appointment and Authority. Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints Bank of America to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and the Borrower shall not have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.

9.02 Rights as a Lender. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

9.03 Exculpatory Provisions. The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:

(a) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;

(b) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law; and

(c) shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.

 

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The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 10.01 and 8.02) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or a Lender.

The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.

9.04 Reliance by Administrative Agent.

The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender prior to the making of such Loan. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

9.05 Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.

9.06 Resignation of Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such

 

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notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Borrower, to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may on behalf of the Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided that if the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (1) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and (2) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above in this Section. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section). The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 11.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.

9.07 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders. Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

9.08 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to the Borrower, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise

(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the

 

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reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.07 and 11.04) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

(b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.07 and 10.04.

Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.

9.09 Guarantee Matters. The Lenders irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion, to release any Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under Article X hereof if such Person ceases to be a Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted hereunder.

Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release any Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under the Subsidiary Guarantee pursuant to this Section 9.09.

ARTICLE X.

GUARANTEE

10.01 Guarantee.

Each Subsidiary Guarantor unconditionally guarantees, jointly with the other Loan Parties and any other guarantors of the Obligations under the Loan Documents, and severally, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, the due and punctual payment and performance of the Obligations. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, each Subsidiary Guarantor waives notice of, or any requirement for further assent to, any agreements or arrangements whatsoever by the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, and each other Indemnitee or other Persons to whom any part of the Obligations may be owed (collectively, the “Guaranteed Parties”), with any other Person pertaining to the Obligations, including agreements and arrangements for payment, extension, renewal, subordination, composition, arrangement, discharge or release of the whole or any part of the Obligations, or for the discharge or surrender of any or all security, or for the compromise, whether by way of acceptance of part payment or otherwise, and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the same shall in no way impair each Subsidiary Guarantor’s liability hereunder.

 

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10.02 Obligations Not Waived.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, each Subsidiary Guarantor waives presentment to, demand of payment from and protest to the Borrower or any other Person of any of the Obligations, and also waives notice of acceptance of its guarantee, notice of protest for nonpayment and all other formalities. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the guarantee of each Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder shall not be affected by (a) the failure of any Person to assert any claim or demand or to enforce or exercise any right or remedy against the Borrower, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Person under the provisions of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or otherwise in connection therewith; (b) any extension, renewal or increase of or in any of the Obligations; (c) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of, or any release from, any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement, any other Loan Document, any guarantee or any other agreement or instrument, including with respect to any guarantor under the Loan Documents; (d) the failure or delay of any Guaranteed Party to assert any claim or demand, or exercise any right or remedy against any Loan Party, any other guarantor of the Obligations or any other Person; or (e) any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the Obligations, or by any other act, omission or delay to do any other act that may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of any guarantor or that would otherwise operate as a discharge of any Subsidiary Guarantor as a matter of law or equity (other than the payment in full in cash of all the Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations for which no claim has been asserted) and the termination of all Commitments) or which would impair or eliminate any right of any Subsidiary Guarantor to subrogation.

10.03 Guarantee of Payment.

Each Subsidiary Guarantor further agrees that its guarantee constitutes a guarantee of payment when due and not of collection, and, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, waives any right to require that any resort be had by the Administrative Agent or any other Guaranteed Party to any security held for payment of the Obligations or to any balance of any deposit account or credit on the books of the Administrative Agent or any other Guaranteed Party in favor of the Borrower, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Person.

10.04 No Discharge or Diminishment of Guarantee; Payments.

(a) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason (other than the indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations for which no claim has been asserted) and the termination of all Commitments), and shall not be subject to any defense (other than a defense of payment or performance) or setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Obligations or otherwise.

 

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(b) All payments hereunder shall be made without setoff or counterclaim and free and clear of and without deduction for any taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions, withholdings, compulsory loans, restrictions or conditions of any nature now or hereafter imposed or levied by any jurisdiction or any political subdivision thereof or taxing or other authority therein, except to the extent expressly provided otherwise in Article III. If any Subsidiary Guarantor is compelled by law to make any such deduction or withholding, it will make such deduction or withholding and comply with Article III as if the provisions of such article applicable to the Borrower applied to such Subsidiary Guarantor. The obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantor under this Section 10.4(b) shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and termination hereof.

10.05 Defenses Waived.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, each Subsidiary Guarantor waives any defense based on or arising out of the unenforceability of the Obligations or any part thereof from any cause or the cessation from any cause of the liability (other than the final and indefeasible payment in full in cash of the Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations for which no claim has been asserted) and the termination of all Commitments) of the Borrower or any other Person. Subject to the terms of the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent and the other Indemnified Parties may, at their election, foreclose on any security held by one or more of them by one or more judicial or nonjudicial sales, accept an assignment of any such security in lieu of foreclosure, compromise or adjust any part of the Obligations, make any other accommodation with any other Loan Party or any other guarantor or exercise any other right or remedy available to them against any other Loan Party or any other guarantor, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of each Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder except to the extent the Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations for which no claim has been asserted) have been fully, finally and indefeasibly paid in cash. Pursuant to and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, each Subsidiary Guarantor waives any defense arising out of any such election even though such election operates, pursuant to applicable Law, to impair or to extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of each Subsidiary Guarantor against any other Loan Party, any other guarantor or any security.

10.06 Agreement to Pay; Subordination; Waiver of Subrogation; Stay of Acceleration.

(a) In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right that the Administrative Agent or any other Indemnified Party has at law or in equity against each Subsidiary Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Borrower or any other Loan Party to pay any Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, or otherwise, each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby promises to and will forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, to the Administrative Agent or such other Indemnified Party as designated thereby in cash an amount equal to the unpaid principal amount of such Obligations then due, together with any accrued and unpaid interest on such Obligations.

 

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(b) Upon payment by each Subsidiary Guarantor of any sums to the Administrative Agent or any Indemnified Party as provided above, all rights of each Subsidiary Guarantor against the Borrowers arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation, contribution, reimbursement, indemnity or otherwise shall in all respects be subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior indefeasible payment in full in cash of all the Obligations and no Subsidiary Guarantor shall exercise any such rights with respect to any payments it makes hereunder until all of the Obligations have been paid in full in cash and all Commitments have been terminated. In addition, any indebtedness or other obligations of the Borrower or any Subsidiary now or hereafter held by each Subsidiary Guarantor is hereby subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of the Obligations. If any amount shall be paid to any Subsidiary Guarantor on account of (i) such subrogation, contribution, reimbursement, indemnity or similar right or (ii) any such indebtedness or other obligations at any time when any Obligation then due and owing has not been paid in full in cash, such amount shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Indemnified Parties and shall forthwith be paid to the Administrative Agent to be credited against the payment of the Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents.

(c) In the event that acceleration of the time for payment of any of the Obligations is stayed, in connection with any case commenced by or against any Loan Party or any other Person under any Debtor Relief Laws or otherwise, all such amounts shall nonetheless be payable by the Subsidiary Guarantors immediately upon demand.

10.07 General Limitation on Guarantee Obligations.

In any action or proceeding involving any state corporate law, or any Debtor Relief Law, if the obligations of any Subsidiary Guarantor under this Agreement would otherwise be held or determined to be void, voidable, invalid or unenforceable, or subordinated to the claims of any other creditors, on account of the amount of its liability under this Agreement, then, notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, the amount of such liability shall, without any further action by any Loan Party, any creditor or any other Person, be automatically limited and reduced to the highest amount that is valid and enforceable and not subordinated to the claims of other creditors as determined in such action or proceeding.

10.08 Information.

Each Subsidiary Guarantor assumes all responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of the Borrower’s financial condition and assets, all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Obligations and the nature, scope and extent of the risks that such Subsidiary Guarantor assumes and incurs hereunder and agrees that none of the Administrative Agent or the other Guaranteed Parties will have any duty to advise such Subsidiary Guarantor of information known to it or any of them regarding such circumstances or risks.

10.09 Covenant; Representations and Warranties.

Each Subsidiary Guarantor agrees and covenants to, and to cause each of its Subsidiaries to, take, or refrain from taking, each action that is necessary to be taken or not taken, so that no breach of the agreements and covenants contained herein pertaining to actions to be taken, or not

 

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taken, by such Subsidiary Guarantor or such Subsidiary will result. Each Subsidiary Guarantor represents and warrants as to itself that all representations and warranties relating to it contained herein are true and correct in all material respects (except to the extent such representation and warranty is qualified as to materiality, in which case each such representation and warranty is true and correct in all respects, as so qualified).

ARTICLE XI.

MISCELLANEOUS

11.01 Amendments, Etc. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Borrower or any other Loan Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Borrower or the applicable Loan Party, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:

(a) waive any condition set forth in Section 4.01(a) without the written consent of each Lender;

(b) extend or increase the Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 8.02) without the written consent of such Lender;

(c) postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment (excluding mandatory prepayments) of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;

(d) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan, or (subject to clause (ii) of the second proviso to this Section 11.01) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided, however, that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary (i) to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate or (ii) to amend any financial covenant hereunder (or any defined term used therein) even if the effect of such amendment would be to reduce the rate of interest on any Loan or to reduce any fee payable hereunder;

(e) change Section 2.11 or Section 8.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender;

(f) change any provision of this Section or the definition of “Required Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder without the written consent of each Lender; or

(g) release all or substantially all of the value of the Subsidiary Guarantee without the written consent of each Lender;

 

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and, provided further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; (ii) Section 11.06(h) may not be amended, waived or otherwise modified without the consent of each Granting Lender all or any part of whose Loans are being funded by an SPC at the time of such amendment, waiver or other modification; and (iii) the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder, except that the Commitment of such Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender.

11.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.

(a) Notices Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopier as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:

(i) if to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 11.02; and

(ii) if to Subsidiary Guarantor, in care of the Borrower; and

(iii) if to any other Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire.

Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices sent by telecopier shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient). Notices delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in subsection (b) below, shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b).

(b) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender pursuant to Article II if such Lender has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of

 

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an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.

(c) Change of Address, Etc. Each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, telecopier number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender.

(d) Reliance by Administrative Agent and Lenders. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

11.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure by any Lender or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.

11.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

(a) Costs and Expenses. The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent), in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein (excluding any fees paid to syndicate members), the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions

 

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hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated) and (ii) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent or any Lender), and shall pay all fees and time charges for attorneys who may be employees of the Administrative Agent, any Lender, in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with the Loans made hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans. All Lenders (other than Bank of America) shall use a single counsel for all expenses arising under clause (ii) above; provided that each Lender shall have the right to employ separate counsel, and the Borrower shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel, if (1) the use of counsel chosen by the other Lenders to represent the Lenders would present such counsel with a conflict of interest; (2) such Lender shall have reasonably concluded, in good faith, that there may be legal claims or defenses available to it that are different from or additional to those available to the other Lenders; (3) such Lender shall have reasonably concluded, in good faith, that it otherwise has divergent interests from the other Lenders or (4) the Borrower shall authorize in writing such Lender to employ separate counsel at the Borrower’s expense.

(b) Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent and, subject to the last sentence hereof, one additional counsel to all other Indemnitees), and shall indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee from all fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys who may be employees of any Indemnitee, incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, in the case of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (ii) any Loan or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom, (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto, in all cases, whether or not caused by or arising, in whole or in part, out of the comparative, contributory or sole negligence of the Indemnitee; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from (x) the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (y) the breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document. All Indemnitees shall use a single counsel for

 

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related claims in each applicable jurisdiction; provided that an Indemnitee shall have the right to employ separate counsel, and the Borrower shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel, if (1) the use of counsel chosen by the other Indemnitees to represent the Indemnitees would present such counsel with a conflict of interest; (2) such Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded, in good faith, that there may be legal claims or defenses available to it that are different from or additional to those available to the other Indemnitees; (3) such Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded, in good faith, that it otherwise has divergent interests from the other Indemnitees or (4) the Borrower shall authorize in writing such Indemnitee to employ separate counsel at the Borrower’s expense.

(c) Reimbursement by Lenders. To the extent that the Borrower for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof) or any Related Party of the Administrative Agent, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount, provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) in connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.10(d).

(d) Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee referred to in subsection (b) above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed to such unintended recipients by such Indemnitee through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby other than for direct or actual damages resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, in each case as determined by a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.

(e) Payments. All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than ten Business Days after demand (enclosing invoices for such amounts, where applicable) therefor.

(f) Survival. The agreements in this Section shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.

11.05 Payments Set Aside. To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower is made to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent or any

 

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Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

11.06 Successors and Assigns.

(a) Successors and Assigns Generally. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that no Loan Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section, (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (f) of this Section, or (iv) to an SPC in accordance with the provisions of subsection (h) of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d) of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b) Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may at any time assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:

(i) Minimum Amounts.

(A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and

(B) in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A) of this Section, the aggregate amount of the Commitment (which for this purpose includes Loans outstanding thereunder) or, if the Commitments are not then in effect, the

 

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principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if “Trade Date” is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000 unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, however, that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single Eligible Assignee (or to an Eligible Assignee and members of its Assignee Group) will be treated as a single assignment for purposes of determining whether such minimum amount has been met.

(ii) Proportionate Amounts. Each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement with respect to the Loans or the Commitment assigned.

(iii) Required Consents. No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by subsection (b)(i)(B) of this Section and, in addition:

(A) the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund; and

(B) the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender;

(iv) Assignment and Assumption. The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount, if any, required as set forth in Schedule 11.06; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment. The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

(v) No Assignment to Borrower. No such assignment shall be made to the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries.

(vi) No Assignment to Natural Persons. No such assignment shall be made to a natural person.

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the Eligible Assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and

 

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obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05, and 11.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment. Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d) of this Section.

(c) Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amounts of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

(d) Participations. Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person or the Borrower or any of the Borrower’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and/or the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.

Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 11.01 that affects such Participant. Subject to subsection (e) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 11.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender.

 

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(e) Limitations upon Participant Rights. A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 3.01 or 3.04 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 3.01 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 3.01(e) as though it were a Lender.

(f) Certain Pledges. Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note, if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

(g) Electronic Execution of Assignments. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

(h) Special Purpose Funding Vehicles. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a “Granting Lender”) may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower (an “SPC”) the option to provide all or any part of any Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make pursuant to this Agreement; provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any SPC to fund any Loan, and (ii) if an SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to make all or any part of such Loan, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Loan pursuant to the terms hereof or, if it fails to do so, to make such payment to the Administrative Agent as is required under Section 2.10(b)(ii). Each party hereto hereby agrees that (i) neither the grant to any SPC nor the exercise by any SPC of such option shall increase the costs or expenses or otherwise increase or change the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement (including its obligations under Section 3.04), (ii) no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement for which a Lender would be liable, and (iii) the Granting Lender shall for all purposes, including the approval of any amendment, waiver or other modification of any provision of any Loan Document, remain the lender of record hereunder. The making of a Loan by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Loan were made by such Granting Lender. In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees (which agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement) that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding commercial paper or other senior debt of any SPC, it will not institute against, or join any other Person in instituting against, such SPC any bankruptcy, reorganization,

 

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arrangement, insolvency, or liquidation proceeding under the laws of the United States or any State thereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any SPC may (i) with notice to, but without prior consent of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and with the payment of a processing fee in the amount of $2,500, assign all or any portion of its right to receive payment with respect to any Loan to the Granting Lender and (ii) 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 surety or Guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC.

11.07 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors and representatives (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and required to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower and its obligations, (g) with the consent of the Borrower or (h) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower.

For purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any Subsidiary, provided that, in the case of information received from the Borrower or any Subsidiary after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Borrower or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable Law, including Federal and state securities Laws.

 

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11.08 Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each of its Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower or such Subsidiary Guarantor now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower or such Subsidiary Guarantor may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness. The rights of each Lender and its Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender or its Affiliates may have. Each Lender agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.

11.09 Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the “Maximum Rate”). If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Borrower. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.

11.10 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

11.11 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the

 

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Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Loan, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied.

11.12 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

11.13 Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender or if any other circumstance exists hereunder that gives the Borrower the right to replace a Lender as a party hereto, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 11.06), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:

(a) the Borrower shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee specified in Section 11.06(b);

(b) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.05) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);

(c) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter; and

(d) such assignment does not conflict with applicable Laws.

A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

1.14 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

(a) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

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(b) SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. EACH LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SITTING IN NEW YORK COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH NEW YORK STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST THE BORROWER OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

(c) WAIVER OF VENUE. EACH LOAN PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.

(d) SERVICE OF PROCESS. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 11.02. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW.

11.15 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND

 

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(B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

11.16 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby, the Borrower acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates’ understanding, that: (i) the credit facility provided for hereunder and any related arranging or other services in connection therewith (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document) are an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent on the other hand, and the Borrower is capable of evaluating and understanding and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or thereof); (ii) in connection with the process leading to such transaction, the Administrative Agent is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the financial advisor, agent or fiduciary, for the Borrower or any of its Affiliates, stockholders, creditors or employees or any other Person; (iii) the Administrative Agent has not assumed and will not assume an advisory, agency or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Borrower with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto, including with respect to any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document (irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent has advised or is currently advising the Borrower or any of its Affiliates on other matters) and the Administrative Agent has no obligation to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; (iv) the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower and its Affiliates, and the Administrative Agent has no obligation to disclose any of such interests by virtue of any advisory, agency or fiduciary relationship; and (v) the Administrative Agent has not provided and will not provide any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby (including any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document) and the Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate. The Borrower hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty.

11.17 USA PATRIOT Act Notice. Each Lender that is subject to the Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Act”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Act.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

FLUENT INC.
By:  

/s/ H. Ferit Boysan

  H. Ferit Boysan
  President


BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as

Administrative Agent

By:  

/s/ John B. Desmond

  John B. Desmond
  Managing Director


BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender
By:  

/s/ John B. Desmond

  John B. Desmond
  Managing Director