Type shall mean any type of Loan determined with respect to the interest option applicable thereto, i.e., a Base Rate Loan, a Eurodollar Loan, a Canadian Prime Rate Loan or a Canadian Base Rate Loan.
UCC shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the relevant jurisdiction.
UK Borrower shall mean Salt Union Limited, a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales in the United Kingdom.
UK Intercompany Loan shall mean the loan made by the US Borrower to the UK Borrower prior to the Effective Date in the aggregate principal amount of £2,620,204, as of the date hereof.
UK Intercompany Note shall mean the promissory note issued by UK Borrower to US Borrower representing amounts owed under the UK Intercompany Loan.
UK Lending Office shall mean, as to any Global Revolving Lender, the applicable branch, affiliate or office of such Global Revolving Lender designated by such Global Revolving Lender to make Loans to the UK Borrower.
UK Revolving Borrowing shall mean a Borrowing comprised of UK Revolving Loans.
UK Revolving Credit Exposure shall mean, at any time, the sum of (a) the US Dollar Equivalent of the aggregate principal amount of the UK Revolving Loans denominated in Sterling outstanding at such time and (b) the aggregate principal amount of UK Revolving Loans denominated in US Dollars outstanding at such time. The UK Revolving Credit Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be such Lenders Global Revolving Percentage of the total UK Revolving Credit Exposure at such time.
UK Revolving Loan shall mean a Loan made by a Global Revolving Lender pursuant to Section 2.01(c)(iii). Each UK Revolving Loan shall be a Eurodollar Loan.
Unfunded Current Liability of any Plan shall mean the amount, if any, by which the value of the accumulated plan benefits under the Plan, determined on a plan termination basis in accordance with actuarial assumptions at such time consistent with those prescribed by the PBGC for purposes of Sections 4022 and 4044 of ERISA, exceeds the fair market value of all plan assets allocable to such liabilities under Title IV of ERISA (excluding any accrued but unpaid contributions).
Unrestricted Subsidiary shall mean any Subsidiary of the US Borrower that is acquired or created after the Effective Date and designated by the US Borrower as an Unrestricted Subsidiary hereunder by written notice to the Administrative Agent;
provided that the US Borrower shall only be permitted to so designate a new Unrestricted Subsidiary after the Effective Date and so long as (a) no Default or Event of Default exists or would result therefrom, (b) all of the provisions of Section 7.15 shall have been complied with in respect of such newly-designated Unrestricted Subsidiary and such Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be capitalized (to the
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extent capitalized by the US Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries) through Investments as permitted by, and in compliance with, Section 7.05(o), with any assets owned by such Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time of the initial designation thereof to be treated as Investments pursuant to Section 7.05(o), provided that at the time of the initial Investment by the US Borrower or any of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries in such Subsidiary, the US Borrower shall designate such entity as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in a written notice to the Administrative Agent, and (c) at all times after such designation, (i) such Subsidiary does not own any capital stock or other equity interests in, or Indebtedness of, and does not hold any Liens on any property of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries that is not also (and will not, after giving effect to such designation, become) an Unrestricted Subsidiary and (ii) such Subsidiary is party to a tax sharing agreement with the US Borrower containing terms that, in the reasonable judgment of the US Borrower and the Administrative Agent, provide for a reasonable allocation of tax liabilities and benefits. The US Borrower may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Subsidiary for purposes of this Agreement (each, a Subsidiary Redesignation); provided that (i) such Unrestricted Subsidiary, both before and after giving effect to such designation, shall be a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the US Borrower, (ii) no Default or Event of Default then exists or would occur as a consequence of any such Subsidiary Redesignation (including under Sections 7.03 and 7.04), (iii) all actions that would be required to be taken pursuant to Section 7.15(a) in connection with the establishment, creation or acquisition of a new Domestic Subsidiary or a new Wholly-Owned Foreign Subsidiary are taken at the time of the respective Subsidiary Redesignation, (iv) calculations are made by the US Borrower of compliance with the covenants contained in Sections 7.09 and 7.10 (in each case, giving effect to the last sentence appearing therein) for the relevant Calculation Period, on a Pro Forma Basis as if the respective Subsidiary Redesignation (as well as all other Subsidiary Redesignations theretofore consummated after the first day of such Calculation Period) had occurred on the first day of such Calculation Period, and such calculations shall show that such financial covenants would have been complied with if the Subsidiary Redesignation had occurred on the first day of such Calculation Period (for this purpose, (A) if the first day of the respective Calculation Period occurs prior to the Effective Date, calculated as if the covenants contained in Sections 7.09 and 7.10 (in each case, giving effect to the last sentence appearing therein) had been applicable from the first day of the Calculation Period and (B) using the covenant levels contained in such Sections 7.09 and 7.10 for the Test Period ending December 31, 2005, in connection with any Subsidiary Redesignation made prior to December 31, 2005), (v) all representations and warranties contained herein and in the other Credit Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of the date of such Subsidiary Redesignation (both before and after giving effect thereto), unless stated to relate to a specific earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date, and (vi) the US Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an officers certificate executed by an Authorized Officer of the US Borrower, certifying to the best of such officers knowledge, compliance with the requirements of preceding clauses (i) through (v), inclusive, and containing the calculations required by the preceding clause (iv).
US Borrower shall mean Compass Minerals Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
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US Collateral and Guaranty Agreement shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.09.
US Collateral Assignment shall have the meaning provided in Section 3.11.
US Credit Party shall mean Holdings, the US Borrower and each other Guarantor that is also a Domestic Subsidiary.
US Dollar Equivalent shall mean, at any time for the determination thereof, (a) except as provided in clause (b) of this definition, the amount of US Dollars that could be purchased with the amount of Canadian Dollars or Sterling or any other foreign currency, as applicable, at the Spot Exchange Rate therefor on the date two Business Days prior to the date of any determination thereof for purchase on such date and shall be calculated in accordance with Section 10.06(b) and (b) for purposes of Section 10.06(d), the amount of US Dollars that could be purchased with the amount of the applicable currency involved in such computation at the spot exchange rate therefore as quoted or utilized by the Administrative Agent on the date of any determination thereof for purchase on such day.
US Dollar Loan shall mean all Loans denominated in US Dollars.
US Dollars and the sign $ shall each mean freely transferable lawful money of the United States.
US Holdco shall mean Great Salt Lake Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the US Borrower.
US Mortgaged Property shall mean any Mortgaged Property located in the United States or any State thereof.
US Perfection Certificate shall mean a certificate in the form of Annex II to the US Collateral and Guaranty Agreement and any other form approved by the Collateral Agent.
US Revolving Borrowing shall mean a Borrowing comprised of US Revolving Loans.
US Revolving Credit Exposure shall mean, at any time, the sum of (a) the outstanding principal amount of US Revolving Loans, (b) the LC Exposure and (c) the Swingline Exposure at such time. The US Revolving Credit Exposure of any US Revolving Lender at any time shall be such Lenders US Revolving Percentage of the total US Revolving Credit Exposure at such time.
US Revolving Lender shall mean, at any time, each Lender with a US Revolving Loan Commitment or with outstanding US Revolving Loans.
US Revolving Loan shall mean a Loan made by a US Revolving Lender pursuant to Section 2.01(b).
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US Revolving Loan Commitment shall mean, with respect to each US Revolving Lender, the commitment, if any, of such Lender to make US Revolving Loans hereunder during the Revolving Availability Period, expressed as an amount expressed in US Dollars representing the maximum potential aggregate amount of such Lenders US Revolving Credit Exposure hereunder, as such commitment may be (a) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.09 or 2.20(b) and (b) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender pursuant to Section 10.04 or 10.11(b). The initial amount of each US Revolving Lenders US Revolving Loan Commitment is set forth opposite such Lenders name in Schedule I directly below the column entitled US Revolving Loan Commitment, or in the Assignment and Assumption Agreement pursuant to which such Lender shall have assumed its US Revolving Loan Commitment, as applicable. The initial aggregate amount of the US Revolving Lenders US Revolving Loan Commitments is $75,000,000.
US Revolving Note shall mean a promissory note substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2A with blanks appropriately completed in conformity herewith.
US Revolving Percentage shall mean, with respect to any US Revolving Lender, the percentage of the total US Revolving Loan Commitments represented by such Lenders US Revolving Loan Commitment. If a calculation involving the US Revolving Percentage is required to be made after the US Revolving Loan Commitments have terminated or expired, the US Revolving Percentages shall be determined based upon the US Revolving Loan Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments.
US Total Revolving Loan Commitment shall mean, at any time, the sum of the US Revolving Loan Commitments of each of the US Revolving Lenders at such time.
US Total Unutilized Revolving Loan Commitment shall mean, at any time, (a) the US Total Revolving Loan Commitment at such time less (b) the sum of the total US Revolving Credit Exposures of all the US Revolving Lenders at such time.
White Salt Sale shall mean the sale by the UK Borrower, substantially on the terms disclosed to the Administrative Agent prior to the date hereof, of the real property owned by the UK Borrower on which its evaporated salt production facility is located in Weston Point, Cheshire, United Kingdom, and certain fixed and intangible assets related thereto, in each case as further described in Exhibit K.
Wholly-Owned Domestic Subsidiary shall mean, as to any Person, any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of such Person that is a Domestic Subsidiary.
Wholly-Owned Foreign Subsidiary shall mean, as to any Person, any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of such Person that is a Foreign Subsidiary.
Wholly-Owned Subsidiary shall mean, as to any Person, (a) any corporation 100% of whose capital stock (other than directors qualifying shares and/or other nominal amounts of shares required to be held other than by such Person under applicable law) is at the time owned by such Person and/or one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person and (b) any partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture or other entity in which
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such Person and/or one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such Person has a 100% equity interest at such time; provided that (i) except as provided in the last sentence of the definition of Subsidiary and (ii) other than in the definition of Wholly-Owned Unrestricted Subsidiary, no Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be considered a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary.
Wholly-Owned Unrestricted Subsidiary shall mean any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary that is an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
Written (whether lower or upper case) or in writing shall mean any form of written communication or a communication by means of telex, facsimile device, telegraph or cable.
SECTION 1.02. Classification of Loans and Borrowings. For purposes of this Agreement, Loans may be classified and referred to by Tranche (e.g., a Global Revolving Loan, US Revolving Loan, etc.) or by Type (e.g., a Eurodollar Loan) or by Tranche and Type (e.g., a Eurodollar Global Revolving Loan, Eurodollar US Revolving Loan, etc.). Borrowings also may be classified and referred to by Tranche (e.g., a Term Borrowing, Global Revolving Borrowing, US Revolving Borrowing, etc.) or by Type (e.g., a Eurodollar Borrowing) or by Tranche and Type (e.g., a Eurodollar Global Revolving Borrowing, Eurodollar US Revolving Borrowing, etc.).
SECTION 1.03. Terms Generally. 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, if such words are not followed by the phrase without limitation, 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 (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Persons successors and assigns, (c) the words herein, hereof and hereunder, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (d) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement and (e) 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.
ARTICLE II
Amount and Terms of Credit
SECTION 2.01. Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein:
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(a) each Term Lender agrees to make a Term Loan to the US Borrower in US Dollars on the Effective Date in a principal amount not exceeding its Term Loan Commitment;
(b) each US Revolving Lender agrees, from time to time during the Revolving Availability Period, to make US Revolving Loans to the US Borrower in US Dollars in an aggregate Principal Amount that will not result in such US Revolving Lenders US Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding such Lenders US Revolving Loan Commitment;
(c) each Global Revolving Lender agrees, from time to time during the Revolving Availability Period, to make (i) Global US Revolving Loans to the US Borrower in US Dollars in an aggregate Principal Amount that will not result in such Lenders Global Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding such Lenders Global Revolving Loan Commitment, (ii) Canadian Revolving Loans to the Canadian Borrower from its Canadian Lending Office in Canadian Dollars and/or US Dollars and/or to cause its Canadian Lending Office to accept and purchase or arrange for the acceptance and purchase of drafts drawn by the Canadian Borrower in Canadian Dollars as B/As in an aggregate Principal Amount that will not result in (A) such Lenders Global Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding such Lenders Global Revolving Loan Commitment or (B) the Canadian Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding $40,000,000 and (iii) UK Revolving Loans to the UK Borrower from its UK Lending Office in Sterling and/or US Dollars in an aggregate Principal Amount that will not result in (A) such Lenders Global Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding such Lenders Global Revolving Loan Commitment or (B) the UK Revolving Credit Exposure exceeding $10,000,000.
Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrowers may borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans. Amounts prepaid or repaid in respect of Term Loans may not be reborrowed.
SECTION 2.02. Loans and Borrowings. (a) Each Loan (other than a Swingline Loan) shall be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans of the same Tranche and Type made to the applicable Borrower by the applicable Lenders (i) in the case of Term Borrowings, ratably in accordance with their respective Term Loan Commitments, (ii) in the case of US Revolving Borrowings, ratably in accordance with their respective US Revolving Loan Commitments and (iii) in the case of Global Revolving Borrowings, ratably in accordance with their respective Global Revolving Loan Commitments. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided that the Commitments of the Lenders are several and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lenders failure to make Loans as required.
(b) Subject to Section 2.15, (i) each Term Borrowing, US Revolving Borrowing and Global US Revolving Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Loans as the US Borrower may request in accordance herewith; provided that all such Borrowings made on the Effective Date must be made as Base Rate Borrowings, (ii) each Canadian Revolving Borrowing (A) denominated in Canadian Dollars shall be comprised entirely of Canadian Prime Rate Loans and (B) denominated in US Dollars shall be comprised
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entirely of Eurodollar Loans or Canadian Base Rate Loans, as the Canadian Borrower may request in accordance herewith, provided that all such Borrowings made on the Effective Date must be made as Canadian Base Rate Loans, and (iii) each UK Revolving Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of Eurodollar Loans. Each Swingline Loan shall be a Base Rate Loan. Subject to Section 2.20, each Lender at its option may make any Eurodollar Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan; provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the applicable Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(c) At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Term Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000. At the time that each US Revolving Borrowing or Global Revolving Borrowing denominated in US Dollars is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $500,000 and not less than $1,000,000; provided that a Base Rate US Revolving Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to the US Total Unutilized Revolving Loan Commitment (or that is required to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.05(e)) and a Base Rate Global US Revolving Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount that is equal to the Global Total Unutilized Revolving Loan Commitment. At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Eurodollar Borrowing that is denominated in Sterling, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of £500,000 and not less than £1,000,000; provided that a Eurodollar Borrowing that is denominated in Sterling may be in an aggregate amount the US Dollar Equivalent of which is equal to the Global Total Unutilized Revolving Loan Commitment so long as after giving effect to such Borrowing the UK Revolving Credit Exposure does not exceed $10,000,000. At the time that each Canadian Prime Rate Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of C$500,000 and not less than C$1,000,000; provided that a Canadian Prime Rate Borrowing may be in an aggregate amount the US Dollar Equivalent of which is equal to the Global Total Unutilized Revolving Loan Commitment so long as after giving effect to such Borrowing the Canadian Revolving Credit Exposure does not exceed $40,000,000. Each Swingline Loan shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $100,000 and not less than $500,000. Borrowings of more than one Type and Tranche may be outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total of 20 Eurodollar Borrowings outstanding.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the applicable Borrower shall not be entitled to request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Borrowing or B/A Drawing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the applicable Maturity Date.
SECTION 2.03. Requests for Borrowings. To request a Revolving Borrowing or Term Borrowing, the applicable Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by telephone or telecopy (a) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., Local Time, three Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing, (b) in the case of a Base Rate Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, one Business Day before the date of the proposed Borrowing, provided that any such notice of a Base Rate US Revolving Borrowing to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 2.05(e) may be given not later than 10:00
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a.m., New York City time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing, (c) in the case of a Canadian Base Rate Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., Local Time, one Business Day before the date of the proposed Borrowing and (d) in the case of a Canadian Prime Rate Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., Local Time, one Business Day before the date of the proposed Borrowing. Each such telephonic Notice of Borrowing shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Notice of Borrowing in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the applicable Borrower (or by the US Borrower on behalf of the applicable Borrower). Each such telephonic and written Notice of Borrowing shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:
| (i) | | the Borrower requesting such Borrowing (or on whose behalf the US Borrower is requesting such Borrowing); |
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| (ii) | | whether the requested Borrowing is to be a Term Borrowing, US Revolving Borrowing or Global Revolving Borrowing; |
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| (iii) | | the currency and the aggregate amount of such Borrowing; |
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| (iv) | | the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day; |
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| (v) | | the Type of such Borrowing; |
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| (vi) | | in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, the initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term Interest Period; and |
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| (vii) | | the location and number of the applicable Borrowers account to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.06. |
If no election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified, then the requested Borrowing shall be (A) in the case of a US Revolving Borrowing, Global US Revolving Borrowing or Term Borrowing, a Base Rate Borrowing, (B) in the case of a Canadian Revolving Borrowing, a Canadian Prime Rate Borrowing and (C) in the case of a UK Revolving Borrowing, a Eurodollar Borrowing. If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested Eurodollar Borrowing, then the applicable Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one months duration. Promptly following receipt of a Notice of Borrowing in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lenders Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing. If no currency is specified (1) with respect to any Canadian Revolving Borrowing, then the currency of such Canadian Revolving Borrowing shall be Canadian Dollars and (2) with respect to any UK Revolving Borrowing, then the currency of such UK Revolving Borrowing shall be Sterling.
SECTION 2.04. Swingline Loans. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swingline Lender agrees to make Swingline Loans to the US Borrower from time to time during the Revolving Availability Period, in an aggregate Principal Amount at any time outstanding that will not result in (i) the aggregate principal amount of
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outstanding Swingline Loans exceeding $15,000,000 or (ii) the sum of the total US Revolving Credit Exposures exceeding the US Total Revolving Loan Commitment. Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the US Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Swingline Loans.
(b) To request a Swingline Loan, the US Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by telephone (confirmed by telecopy), not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the day of a proposed Swingline Loan. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the requested date (which shall be a Business Day) and amount of the requested Swingline Loan. The Administrative Agent will promptly advise the Swingline Lender of any such notice received from the US Borrower. The Swingline Lender shall make each Swingline Loan available to the US Borrower by means of a credit to the general deposit account of the US Borrower with the Swingline Lender (or, in the case of a Swingline Loan made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.05(e), by remittance to the Letter of Credit Issuer) by 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the requested date of such Swingline Loan.
(c) The Swingline Lender may by written notice given to the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on any Business Day require the US Revolving Lenders to acquire participations on such Business Day in all or a portion of the Swingline Loans outstanding. Such notice shall specify the aggregate amount of Swingline Loans in which US Revolving Lenders will participate. Promptly upon receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent will give notice thereof to each US Revolving Lender, specifying in such notice such Lenders US Revolving Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans. Each US Revolving Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees, upon receipt of notice as provided above, to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Swingline Lender, such Lenders US Revolving Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans. Each US Revolving Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations in Swingline Loans pursuant to this paragraph is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever. Each US Revolving Lender shall comply with its obligation under this paragraph by wire transfer of immediately available funds, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.06 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.06 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the US Revolving Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the Swingline Lender the amounts so received by it from the US Revolving Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall notify the US Borrower of any participations in any Swingline Loan acquired pursuant to this paragraph, and thereafter payments in respect of such Swingline Loan shall be made to the Administrative Agent and not to the Swingline Lender. Any amounts received by the Swingline Lender from the US Borrower (or other party on behalf of the US Borrower) in respect of a Swingline Loan after receipt by the Swingline Lender of the proceeds of a sale of participations therein shall be promptly remitted to the Administrative Agent; any such amounts received by the Administrative Agent shall be promptly remitted by the Administrative Agent to the US Revolving Lenders that shall have made their payments pursuant to this paragraph and to the Swingline Lender, as their interests may appear. The purchase of participations in a Swingline Loan pursuant to this paragraph shall not relieve the US Borrower of any default in the payment thereof.
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SECTION 2.05. Letters of Credit. (a) General. On the Effective Date, each Existing Letter of Credit will automatically, without any action on the part of any person, be deemed to be a Letter of Credit issued hereunder for the account of the applicable Borrower for all purposes of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents. In addition, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the US Borrower may request the issuance of Letters of Credit for its own account (or for the account of any Subsidiary of the US Borrower so long as the US Borrower is a co-applicant with respect to such Letter of Credit), in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Letter of Credit Issuer, at any time and from time to time during the Revolving Availability Period, provided that no Letter of Credit Issuer shall be obligated to issue any Canadian Dollar Letter of Credit unless such Letter of Credit Issuer agrees to do so. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any form of letter of credit application or other agreement submitted by the US Borrower to, or entered into by the US Borrower with, the Letter of Credit Issuer relating to any Letter of Credit, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control.
(b) Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Renewal, Extension; Certain Conditions. To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment, renewal or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), the US Borrower shall hand deliver or telecopy (or transmit by electronic communication, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the Letter of Credit Issuer) to the Letter of Credit Issuer and the Administrative Agent (reasonably in advance of the requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension) a notice requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended, renewed or extended, and specifying the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (which shall be a Business Day), the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with paragraph (c) of this Section), the amount of such Letter of Credit, the currency in which such Letter of Credit is to be denominated (which shall be US Dollars or, if agreed to by the applicable Letter of Credit Issuer and subject to Section 2.25, Canadian Dollars), the name and address of the beneficiary thereof and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend, renew or extend such Letter of Credit (a Letter of Credit Request). If requested by the Letter of Credit Issuer, the US Borrower also shall submit a letter of credit application on the Letter of Credit Issuers standard form in connection with any request for a Letter of Credit. A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended, renewed or extended only if (and upon issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of each Letter of Credit the US Borrower shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (i) the LC Exposure shall not exceed $50,000,000 and (ii) the total US Revolving Credit Exposures shall not exceed the US Total Revolving Loan Commitment.
(c) Expiration Date. Each Letter of Credit shall expire at or prior to the close of business on the earlier of (i) the date one year after the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any renewal or extension thereof, one year after such renewal or extension) and (ii) the date that is five Business Days prior to the Revolving Loan Maturity Date.
(d)
Participations. By the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing the amount thereof) and without any further action on the part of the Letter of Credit Issuer or the Lenders, the Letter of Credit Issuer hereby grants to each US Revolving Lender, and each US Revolving Lender (each, a
Participant) hereby acquires from
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the Letter of Credit Issuer, a participation in such Letter of Credit or increase therein, as applicable, equal to such Lenders US Revolving Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit. In consideration and in furtherance of the foregoing, each US Revolving Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent in US Dollars, for the account of the Letter of Credit Issuer with respect to each Letter of Credit, such Lenders US Revolving Percentage of (i) each LC Disbursement made by the Letter of Credit Issuer in US Dollars and (ii) the US Dollar Equivalent, using the Spot Exchange Rate on the date such payment is required, of each LC Disbursement made by the Letter of Credit Issuer in Canadian Dollars with respect to such Letter of Credit and not reimbursed by the US Borrower on the date due as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section, or of any reimbursement payment required to be refunded to the US Borrower for any reason (or, if such reimbursement payment was refunded in Canadian Dollars, the US Dollar Equivalent thereof using the Spot Exchange Rate on the date of such refund). Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations pursuant to this paragraph in respect of Letters of Credit is absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including any amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.
(e) Reimbursement. If the Letter of Credit Issuer shall make any LC Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, the US Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement by paying to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to such LC Disbursement in US Dollars or (subject to the two immediately succeeding sentences), if the applicable Letter of Credit is a Canadian Dollar Letter of Credit, in Canadian Dollars not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Business Day immediately following the day that the US Borrower receives notice of such LC Disbursement; provided that, in the case of any LC Disbursement made in US Dollars, the US Borrower may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.03 or 2.04 that such payment be financed with a Base Rate US Revolving Borrowing or Swingline Loan in an equivalent amount and, to the extent so financed, the US Borrowers obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting Base Rate US Revolving Borrowing or Swingline Loan. If the US Borrowers reimbursement of, or obligation to reimburse, any amounts in Canadian Dollars would subject the Administrative Agent, the Letter of Credit Issuer or any Lender to any stamp duty, ad valorem charge or similar tax that would not be payable if such reimbursement were made or required to be made in US Dollars, the US Borrower shall reimburse each LC Disbursement made in Canadian Dollars in US Dollars, in an amount equal to the US Dollar Equivalent, calculated using the applicable Spot Exchange Rate on the date such LC Disbursement is made, of such LC Disbursement. If the US Borrower fails to make such payment when due, (i) if such payment relates to a Canadian Dollar Letter of Credit, automatically and with no further action required, the US Borrowers obligation to reimburse the applicable LC Disbursement shall be permanently converted into an obligation to reimburse the US Dollar Equivalent, calculated using the Spot Exchange Rate on the date which such payment was due, of such LC Disbursement and (ii) the Administrative Agent shall notify each US Revolving Lender of the applicable LC Disbursement, the US Dollar Equivalent thereof (if such LC Disbursement relates to a Canadian Dollar Letter of Credit), the payment then due from the
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US Borrower in respect thereof and the amount of such Lenders participation in such LC Disbursement, determined as set forth in paragraph (d) above. Promptly following receipt of such notice, each US Revolving Lender shall pay to the Administrative Agent its participation in such LC Disbursement (determined as provided in clause (i) above, if such payment relates to a Canadian Dollar Letter of Credit), in the same manner as provided in Section 2.06 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.06 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the US Revolving Lenders), and the Administrative Agent shall promptly pay to the Letter of Credit Issuer the amounts so received by it from the US Revolving Lenders. Promptly following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any payment from the US Borrower pursuant to this paragraph, the Administrative Agent shall distribute such payment to the Letter of Credit Issuer or, to the extent that US Revolving Lenders have made payments pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse the Letter of Credit Issuer, then to such Lenders and the Letter of Credit Issuer as their interests may appear. Any payment made by a US Revolving Lender pursuant to this paragraph to reimburse the Letter of Credit Issuer for any LC Disbursement (other than the funding of Base Rate US Revolving Loans or a Swingline Loan as contemplated above) shall not constitute a Loan and shall not relieve the US Borrower of its obligation to reimburse such LC Disbursement.
(f)
Obligations Absolute. The US Borrowers obligation to reimburse LC Disbursements as provided in paragraph (e) of this Section shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, or any term or provision therein, (ii) any draft or other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent or invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect, (iii) payment by the Letter of Credit Issuer under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit or (iv) any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, the US Borrowers obligations hereunder. Neither the Administrative Agent, the Lenders nor the Letter of Credit Issuer, nor any of their respective Affiliates, nor any of their (and their respective Affiliates) respective directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors, shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of the Letter of Credit Issuer;
provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse the Letter of Credit Issuer from liability to the US Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to consequential damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the US Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable law) suffered by the US Borrower that are caused by the Letter of Credit Issuers failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof. The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Letter of Credit Issuer (as finally determined by a court of
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competent jurisdiction), the Letter of Credit Issuer shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination. In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that, with respect to documents presented that appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, the Letter of Credit Issuer may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit.
(g) Disbursement Procedures. The Letter of Credit Issuer shall, promptly following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit. The Letter of Credit Issuer shall promptly notify the Administrative Agent and the US Borrower by telephone (confirmed by telecopy) of such demand for payment and whether the Letter of Credit Issuer has made or will make an LC Disbursement thereunder; provided that any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve the US Borrower of its obligation to reimburse the Letter of Credit Issuer and the US Revolving Lenders with respect to any such LC Disbursement.
(h) Interim Interest. If the Letter of Credit Issuer shall make any LC Disbursement, then, unless the US Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement in full on the date such LC Disbursement is made, the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest, for each day from and including the date such LC Disbursement is made to but excluding the date that the US Borrower reimburses such LC Disbursement, at the rate per annum then applicable to Base Rate Revolving Loans; provided that, if the US Borrower fails to reimburse such LC Disbursement when due pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section, then Section 2.14(c) shall apply; provided further that, in the case of any LC Disbursement made under a Canadian Dollar Letter of Credit, the amount of interest due with respect thereto shall (i) in the case of any LC Disbursement that is reimbursed on or before the Business Day immediately succeeding such LC Disbursement, (A) be payable in Canadian Dollars and (B) bear interest at the rate per annum then applicable to Canadian Prime Rate Loans, subject to Section 2.14(c), and (ii) in the case of any LC Disbursement that is reimbursed after the Business Day immediately succeeding such LC Disbursement, (A) be payable in US Dollars, (B) accrue on the US Dollar Equivalent, calculated using the Spot Exchange Rate on the date such LC Disbursement was made, of such LC Disbursement and (C) bear interest at the rate per annum then applicable to Base Rate Revolving Loans, subject to Section 2.14(c). Interest accrued pursuant to this paragraph shall be for the account of the Letter of Credit Issuer, except that interest accrued on and after the date of payment by any US Revolving Lender pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section to reimburse the Letter of Credit Issuer shall be for the account of such Lender to the extent of such payment.
(i)
Replacement of the Letter of Credit Issuer. Any Letter of Credit Issuer may be replaced at any time by written agreement among the US Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the replaced Letter of Credit Issuer and the successor Letter of Credit Issuer;
provided that no Letters of Credit issued by the existing Letter of Credit Issuer shall terminate solely due to such replacement of the Letter of Credit Issuer. The Administrative Agent shall notify the Lenders of any such replacement of the Letter of Credit Issuer. At the time any such replacement shall become effective, the US Borrower shall pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the replaced Letter of Credit Issuer pursuant to Section 2.13(b). From and after the
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effective date of any such replacement, (i) the successor Letter of Credit Issuer shall have all the rights and obligations of the Letter of Credit Issuer under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit to be issued thereafter and (ii) references herein to the term Letter of Credit Issuer shall be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Letter of Credit Issuer, or to such successor and all previous Letter of Credit Issuers, as the context shall require. After the replacement of Letter of Credit Issuer hereunder, the replaced Letter of Credit Issuer shall remain a party hereto and shall continue to have all the rights and obligations of a Letter of Credit Issuer under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such replacement, but shall not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit.
(j)
Cash Collateralization. If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, on the Business Day that the US Borrower receives notice from the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders (or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated, US Revolving Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50% of the total LC Exposure) demanding the deposit of cash collateral pursuant to this paragraph, the US Borrower shall deposit in an account with the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the Lenders, an amount in cash equal to the LC Exposure as of such date
plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon;
provided that (i) the portions of such amount attributable to undrawn Canadian Dollar Letters of Credit or LC Disbursements in Canadian Dollars that the US Borrower is not late in reimbursing shall be deposited in Canadian Dollars in the actual amounts of such undrawn Letters of Credit and LC Disbursements and (ii) the obligation to deposit such cash collateral shall become effective immediately, and such deposit shall become immediately due and payable in US Dollars, without demand or other notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to the US Borrower described in Section 8.05. For the purposes of this paragraph, the Canadian Dollar LC Exposure shall be calculated using the Spot Exchange Rate on the date that notice demanding cash collateralization is delivered to the US Borrower. Each such deposit shall be held by the Administrative Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the obligations of the US Borrower under this Agreement. The Administrative Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account. Other than any interest earned on the investment of such deposits, which investments shall be made at the option and sole discretion of the Administrative Agent and at the US Borrowers risk and expense, such deposits shall not bear interest. Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account. Moneys in such account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse the Letter of Credit Issuer for LC Disbursements for which it has not been reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the US Borrower for the LC Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of US Revolving Lenders with LC Exposure representing greater than 50% of the total LC Exposure), be applied to satisfy other obligations of the US Borrower under this Agreement. If the US Borrower is required to provide an amount of cash collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the US Borrower within three Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured or waived. If the US Borrower is required to provide an amount of cash collateral hereunder pursuant to Section 2.12(a), such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to the US Borrower as and to the extent that, after giving effect to
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such return, the US Borrower would remain in compliance with Section 2.12(a) and no Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
(k) Issuing Bank Agreements. Unless otherwise requested by the Administrative Agent, each Letter of Credit Issuer shall report in writing to the Administrative Agent (i) on the first Business Day of each week, the daily activity (set forth by day) in respect of Letters of Credit during the immediately preceding week, including all issuances, extensions, amendments and renewals, all expirations and cancelations and all disbursements and reimbursements, (ii) on or prior to each Business Day on which such Letter of Credit Issuer expects to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, the date of such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension, and the aggregate face amount and currencies of the Letters of Credit to be issued, amended, renewed or extended by it and outstanding after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension occurred (and whether the amount thereof changed), it being understood that such Letter of Credit Issuer shall not permit any issuance, renewal, extension or amendment resulting in an increase in the amount of any Letter of Credit to occur without first obtaining written (or, with respect to any Letter of Credit Issuer, if the Administrative Agent so agrees with respect to such Letter of Credit Issuer, telephonic) confirmation from the Administrative Agent that it is then permitted under this Agreement, (iii) on each Business Day on which such Letter of Credit Issuer makes any LC Disbursement in respect of any Letter of Credit, the date of such LC Disbursement and the amount and currency of such LC Disbursement, (iv) on any Business Day on which the US Borrower fails to reimburse an LC Disbursement required to be reimbursed to such Letter of Credit Issuer on such day, the date of such failure, and the amount and currency of such LC Disbursement and (v) on any other Business Day, such other information as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request.
(l) Conversion. In the event that the Loans become immediately due and payable on any date pursuant to Article VIII, all amounts (i) that the US Borrower is at the time or thereafter becomes required to reimburse or otherwise pay to the Administrative Agent in respect of LC Disbursements made under any Canadian Dollar Letter of Credit (other than amounts in respect of which the US Borrower has deposited cash collateral pursuant to Section 2.05(j), if such cash collateral was deposited in Canadian Dollars to the extent so deposited or applied), (ii) that the Lenders are at the time or thereafter become required to pay to the Administrative Agent and the Administrative Agent is at the time or thereafter becomes required to distribute to the Letter of Credit Issuer pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section 2.05 in respect of unreimbursed LC Disbursements made under any Canadian Dollar Letter of Credit and (iii) of each Lenders participation in any Canadian Dollar Letter of Credit under which an LC Disbursement has been made shall, automatically and with no further action required, be converted into the US Dollar Equivalent, calculated using the Spot Exchange Rate on such date (or in the case of any LC Disbursement made after such date, on the date such LC Disbursement is made), of such amounts. On and after such conversion, all amounts accruing and owed to the Administrative Agent, the Letter of Credit Issuer or any Lender in respect of the obligations described in this paragraph shall accrue and be payable in US Dollars at the rates otherwise applicable hereunder.
SECTION 2.06. Funding of Borrowings. (a) Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it and disburse the Discount Proceeds (net of applicable acceptance
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fees) of each B/A to be accepted and purchased by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 12:00 noon, New York City time, to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders; provided that Swingline Loans shall be made as provided in Section 2.04. The Administrative Agent will make such Loans or Discount Proceeds (net of applicable acceptance fees) available to the applicable Borrower by promptly crediting the amounts so received, in like funds, to an account of the applicable Borrower (i) in New York City in the case of Loans made to the US Borrower, (ii) in Toronto, in the case of Canadian Revolving Loans or B/As and (iii) in London, in the case of UK Revolving Loans, and in each case designated by the applicable Borrower in the applicable Notice of Borrowing; provided that Base Rate US Revolving Loans made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.05(e) shall be remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Letter of Credit Issuer.
(b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing or acceptance and purchase of B/As that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lenders share of such Borrowing or the applicable Discount Proceeds (net of applicable acceptance fees), the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the applicable Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing or the applicable Discount Proceeds (net of applicable acceptance fees) available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the applicable Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the applicable Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of a Lender, the greater of (A)(1) the Federal Funds Effective Rate, in the case of Loans denominated in US Dollars and (2) the rate reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent to be the cost to it of funding such amount, in the case of Loans denominated in Canadian Dollars or Sterling, and (B) a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, or (ii) in the case of a Borrower, the interest rate applicable to (A) Base Rate Loans, if such Borrower is the US Borrower, (B) Canadian Base Rate Loans, if such Borrower is the Canadian Borrower in the case of a Loan denominated in US Dollars, (C) Canadian Prime Rate Loans, if such Borrower is the Canadian Borrower in the case of a Loan denominated in Canadian Dollars or a B/A and (D) Eurodollar Loans with an Interest Period of one month, if such Borrower is the UK Borrower. If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lenders Loan included in such Borrowing.
SECTION 2.07. Canadian Bankers Acceptances. (a) Each acceptance and purchase of B/As of a single Contract Period pursuant to Section 2.01(c)(ii) or Section 2.08 shall be made ratably by the Global Revolving Lenders in accordance with the amounts of their Global Revolving Loan Commitments. The failure of any Global Revolving Lender to accept or cause its Canadian Lending Office to accept any B/A required to be accepted by it shall not relieve any other Global Revolving Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided that the Global Revolving Loan Commitments are several and no Global Revolving Lender
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shall be responsible for any other Global Revolving Lenders failure to accept B/As as required.
(b) The B/As of a single Contract Period accepted and purchased on any date shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of C$1,000,000 and not less than C$2,000,000. The face amount of each B/A shall be C$100,000 or any whole multiple thereof. If any Global Revolving Lenders ratable share of the B/As of any Contract Period to be accepted on any date would not be an integral multiple of C$100,000, the face amount of the B/As accepted by such Lender may be increased or reduced to the nearest integral multiple of C$100,000 by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion. B/As of more than one Contract Period may be outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total of five B/A Drawings outstanding (or such greater number as the Administrative Agent shall agree).
(c) To request an acceptance and purchase of B/As, the Canadian Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by telephone or by telecopy not later than 11:00 a.m., Local Time, one Business Day before the date of such acceptance and purchase. Each such request shall be irrevocable and, if telephonic, shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the Canadian Borrower. Each such telephonic and written request shall specify the following information:
| (i) | | the aggregate face amount of the B/As to be accepted and purchased; |
|
| (ii) | | the date of such acceptance and purchase, which shall be a Business Day; |
|
| (iii) | | the Contract Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term Contract Period (and which shall in no event end after the Maturity Date); and |
|
| (iv) | | the location and number of the Canadian Borrowers account to which any funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.06. If no Contract Period is specified with respect to any requested acceptance and purchase of B/As, then the Canadian Borrower shall be deemed to have selected a Contract Period of 30 days duration. |
Promptly following receipt of a request in accordance with this paragraph, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Global Revolving Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of B/As to be accepted and purchased by such Lender.
(d) The Canadian Borrower hereby appoints each Global Revolving Lender as its attorney to sign and endorse on its behalf, manually or by facsimile or mechanical signature, as and when deemed necessary by such Global Revolving Lender, blank forms of B/As. It shall be the responsibility of each Global Revolving Lender to maintain an adequate supply of blank forms of B/As for acceptance under this Agreement. The Canadian Borrower recognizes and agrees that all B/As signed and/or endorsed on its behalf by any Global Revolving Lender shall bind the Canadian Borrower as fully and effectually as if manually signed and duly issued by
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authorized officers of the Canadian Borrower. Each Global Revolving Lender is hereby authorized to issue such B/As endorsed in blank in such face amounts as may be determined by such Global Revolving Lender; provided that the aggregate face amount thereof is equal to the aggregate face amount of B/As required to be accepted by such Lender. No Global Revolving Lender shall be liable for any damage, loss or claim arising by reason of any loss or improper use of any such instrument unless such loss or improper use results from the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Lender. Each Global Revolving Lender shall maintain a record with respect to B/As (i) received by it from the Administrative Agent in blank hereunder, (ii) voided by it for any reason, (iii) accepted and purchased by it hereunder and (iv) canceled at their respective maturities. Each Global Revolving Lender further agrees to retain such records in the manner and for the periods provided in applicable provincial or Federal statutes and regulations of Canada and to provide such records to the Canadian Borrower upon its request and at its expense. Upon request by the Canadian Borrower, a Global Revolving Lender shall cancel all forms of B/A that have been pre-signed or pre-endorsed on behalf of the Canadian Borrower and that are held by such Lender and are not required to be issued pursuant to this Agreement.
(e) Drafts of the Canadian Borrower to be accepted as B/As hereunder shall be signed as set forth in paragraph (d) above. Notwithstanding that any Person whose signature appears on any B/A may no longer be an authorized signatory for any of the Global Revolving Lenders or the Canadian Borrower at the date of issuance of such B/A, such signature shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes as if such authority had remained in force at the time of such issuance and any such B/A so signed shall be binding on the Canadian Borrower.
(f) Upon acceptance of a B/A by a Global Revolving Lender, such Lender shall purchase, or arrange the purchase of, such B/A from the Canadian Borrower at the Discount Rate for such Lender applicable to such B/A accepted by it and provide to the Administrative Agent the Discount Proceeds for the account of the Canadian Borrower as provided in Section 2.06. The acceptance fee payable by the Canadian Borrower to a Global Revolving Lender under Section 2.13 in respect of each B/A accepted by such Lender shall be set off against the Discount Proceeds payable by such Lender under this paragraph. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of any B/A Drawing resulting from the conversion or continuation of a B/A Drawing or Global Revolving Loan pursuant to Section 2.08, the net amount that would otherwise be payable to the Canadian Borrower by each Lender pursuant to this paragraph will be applied as provided in Section 2.08(f).
(g) Each Global Revolving Lender may at any time and from time to time hold, sell, rediscount or otherwise dispose of any or all B/As accepted and purchased by it; provided that no such sale or disposition shall cause the amount payable by a Borrower under Section 2.18 to exceed the amount that would have been payable thereunder in the absence of such sale or disposition.
(h) Each B/A accepted and purchased hereunder shall mature at the end of the Contract Period applicable thereto.
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(i) The Canadian Borrower waives presentment for payment and any other defense to payment of any amounts due to a Global Revolving Lender in respect of a B/A accepted and purchased by it pursuant to this Agreement that might exist solely by reason of such B/A being held, at the maturity thereof, by such Lender in its own right and the Canadian Borrower agrees not to claim any days of grace if such Lender as holder sues the Canadian Borrower on the B/A for payment of the amounts payable by the Canadian Borrower thereunder. On the specified maturity date of a B/A, or such earlier date as may be required pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, the Canadian Borrower shall pay the Global Revolving Lender that has accepted and purchased such B/A the full face amount of such B/A (or shall make provision for the conversion or continuation of such B/A in accordance with Section 2.08) in Canadian Dollars, and after such payment the Canadian Borrower shall have no further liability in respect of such B/A and such Lender shall be entitled to all benefits of, and be responsible for all payments due to third parties under, such B/A.
(j) At the option of the Canadian Borrower and any Global Revolving Lender, B/As under this Agreement to be accepted by that Lender may be issued in the form of depository bills for deposit with The Canadian Depository for Securities Limited pursuant to the Depository Bills and Notes Act (Canada). All depository bills so issued shall be governed by the provisions of this Section 2.07.
(k) If a Global Revolving Lender is not a chartered bank under the Bank Act (Canada) or if a Global Revolving Lender notifies the Administrative Agent in writing that it is otherwise unable to accept B/As, such Lender will, instead of accepting and purchasing B/As, make a Loan (a B/A Equivalent Loan) from its Canadian Lending Office to the Canadian Borrower in the amount and for the same term as the draft that such Lender would otherwise have been required to accept and purchase hereunder. Each such Lender may request that such B/A Equivalent Loan be evidenced by a non-interest bearing promissory note, in a form approved by the US Borrower and the Administrative Agent. Each such Lender will provide to the Administrative Agent the Discount Proceeds of such B/A Equivalent Loan for the account of the Canadian Borrower in the same manner as such Lender would have provided the Discount Proceeds in respect of the draft that such Lender would otherwise have been required to accept and purchase hereunder. Each such B/A Equivalent Loan will bear interest at the same rate that would result if such Lender had accepted (and been paid an acceptance fee for) and purchased (on a discounted basis) a B/A for the relevant Contract Period (it being the intention of the parties that each such B/A Equivalent Loan shall have the same economic consequences for the Global Revolving Lenders and the Canadian Borrower as the B/A that such B/A Equivalent Loan replaces). All such interest shall be paid in advance on the date such B/A Equivalent Loan is made, and will be deducted from the principal amount of such B/A Equivalent Loan in the same manner in which the Discount Proceeds of a B/A would be deducted from the face amount of the B/A. Subject to the repayment requirements of this Agreement, on the last day of the relevant Contract Period for such B/A Equivalent Loan, the Canadian Borrower shall be entitled to convert each such B/A Equivalent Loan into another type of Loan, or to roll over each such B/A Equivalent Loan into another B/A Equivalent Loan, all in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement.
(l) If the Administrative Agent determines and promptly notifies the US Borrower that, by reason of circumstances affecting the money market, there is no market for
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B/As, (i) the right of the Canadian Borrower to request an acceptance and purchase of B/As shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent determines that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist and so notifies the US Borrower, and (ii) any notice relating to an acceptance and purchase of B/As that is outstanding at such time shall be deemed to be a notice requesting a Canadian Prime Rate Borrowing (as if it were a notice given pursuant to Section 2.03).
SECTION 2.08. Interest Elections. (a) Each Revolving Borrowing and Term Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Notice of Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified (or deemed to be specified) in such Notice of Borrowing. Each B/A Drawing shall have a Contract Period as specified (or deemed to be specified) in the applicable request therefor. Thereafter, the applicable Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing or a B/A Drawing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing or B/A Drawing and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section, it being understood that no B/A Drawing may be converted or continued other than at the end of the Contract Period applicable thereto. The applicable Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing or B/A Drawing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans comprising such Borrowing or accepting the B/As comprising such B/A Drawing, as the case may be, and the Loans or B/As comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing or B/A Drawing. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, no Borrowing or B/A Drawing may be converted into or continued as a Borrowing or B/A Drawing with an Interest Period or Contract Period ending after the applicable Maturity Date. This Section shall not apply to Swingline Borrowings, which may not be converted or continued.
(b) To make an election pursuant to this Section, a Borrower (or the US Borrower on its behalf) shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election by telephone or telecopy (i) in the case of an election that would result in a Borrowing, by the time that a Notice of Borrowing would be required under Section 2.03 if such Borrower were requesting a Revolving Borrowing of the Type resulting from such election to be made on the effective date of such election and (ii) in the case of an election that would result in a B/A Drawing or the continuation of a B/A Drawing, by the time and date that a request would be required under Section 2.07 if such Borrower were requesting an acceptance and purchase of B/As to be made on the effective date of such election. Each such Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and, if telephonic, shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Interest Election Request in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and signed by the applicable Borrower (or the US Borrower on its behalf). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, no Borrower shall be permitted to (i) change the currency of any Borrowing, (ii) elect an Interest Period for Eurodollar Loans that does not comply with Section 2.02(d) or (iii) convert any Borrowing or B/A Drawing to a Borrowing or B/A Drawing not available under the Tranche of Commitments pursuant to which such Borrowing or B/A Drawing was made.
(c) Each telephonic and written Interest Election Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02 and paragraph (f) of this Section:
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| (i) | | the Borrowing or B/A Drawing to which such Interest Election Request applies and, if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing or B/A Drawing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) below shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing or B/A Drawing); |
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| (ii) | | the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest Election Request, which shall be a Business Day; |
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| (iii) | | whether the resulting Borrowing is to be a Base Rate Borrowing, a Eurodollar Borrowing, a Canadian Base Rate Borrowing, a Canadian Prime Rate Borrowing or a B/A Drawing; and |
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| (iv) | | if the resulting Borrowing is a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Interest Period to be applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term Interest Period, and in the case of an election of a B/A Drawing, the Contract Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term Contract Period. |
If any such Interest Election Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing or B/A Drawing but does not specify an Interest Period or Contract Period, then the applicable Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period or Contract Period of one months or 30 days duration, as applicable.
(d) Promptly following receipt of an Interest Election Request, the Administrative Agent shall advise each applicable Lender of the details thereof and of such Lenders portion of each resulting Borrowing or B/A Drawing.
(e) If the applicable Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Eurodollar Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period applicable thereto, such Eurodollar Borrowing shall, (i) in the case of a Borrowing by the US Borrower denominated in US Dollars, be converted to a Base Rate Borrowing, (ii) in the case of a Borrowing by the Canadian Borrower denominated in US Dollars, be converted to a Canadian Base Rate Borrowing and (iii) in the case of a Borrowing by the UK Borrower denominated in Sterling or US Dollars, be converted to a Eurodollar Borrowing with an Interest Period of one months duration. Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent, at the request of the Required Lenders, so notifies the US Borrower, then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing (i) no outstanding Borrowing denominated in US Dollars may be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing and (ii) unless repaid, each Eurodollar Borrowing denominated in US Dollars shall be converted to a Base Rate Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.
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(f) Upon the conversion of any Canadian Borrowing (or portion thereof), or the continuation of any B/A Drawing (or portion thereof), to or as a B/A Drawing, the net amount that would otherwise be payable to the Canadian Borrower by each Global Revolving Lender pursuant to Section 2.07(f) in respect of such new B/A Drawing shall be applied against the principal of the Canadian Revolving Loan made by such Lender as part of such Canadian Borrowing (in the case of a conversion), or the reimbursement obligation owed to such Lender under Section 2.07(i) in respect of the B/As accepted by such Lender as part of such maturing B/A Drawing (in the case of a continuation), and the Canadian Borrower shall pay to such Lender an amount equal to the difference between the principal amount of such Canadian Revolving Loan or the aggregate face amount of such maturing B/As, as the case may be, and such net amount in respect of such new B/A Drawing.
(g) A Borrowing of any Tranche may not be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing if after giving effect thereto (i) the Interest Period therefor would commence before and end after a date on which any principal of the Loans of such Tranche is scheduled to be repaid and (ii) the sum of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Eurodollar Borrowings of such Tranche with Interest Periods ending on or prior to such scheduled repayment date plus the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Base Rate Borrowings or Canadian Base Rate Borrowings, as applicable, of such Tranche would be less than the aggregate principal amount of Loans of such Tranche required to be repaid on such scheduled repayment date.
SECTION 2.09. Termination and Reduction of Commitments. (a) Unless previously terminated, (i) the Term Loan Commitments shall terminate at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Effective Date and (ii) both the US Revolving Loan Commitments and the Global Revolving Loan Commitments shall terminate on the Revolving Loan Maturity Date.
(b) The Borrowers may at any time terminate, without payment of any premium or penalty, or from time to time reduce, the Commitments of any Tranche; provided that (i) each reduction of the Commitments of any Tranche shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $500,000 and not less than $1,000,000, (ii) the Borrowers shall not terminate or reduce the US Revolving Loan Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the US Revolving Loans in accordance with Section 2.12, the total US Revolving Credit Exposures would exceed the US Total Revolving Loan Commitment and (iii) the Borrowers shall not terminate or reduce the Global Revolving Loan Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the Global Revolving Loans in accordance with Section 2.12, the total Global Revolving Credit Exposures would exceed the Global Total Revolving Loan Commitments.
(c) The applicable Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of any election to terminate or reduce the Commitments under paragraph (b) of this Section at least two Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and the effective date thereof. Promptly following receipt of any notice, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each notice delivered by a Borrower pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination of the US Revolving Loan Commitments or the Global Revolving Loan Commitments delivered by
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a Borrower may state that such notice is conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, in which case such notice may be revoked by such Borrower (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied. Any termination or reduction of the Commitments of any Tranche shall be permanent. Each reduction of the Commitments of any Tranche shall be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Commitments under such Tranche.
SECTION 2.10. Repayment of Loans and B/As; Evidence of Debt. (a) Each Borrower (or, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), the US Borrower) hereby unconditionally promises to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan of such Lender made to such Borrower on the Revolving Loan Maturity Date, and the face amount of each B/A of such Borrower, if any, accepted by such Lender as provided in Section 2.07, (ii) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Term Loan of such Lender as provided in Section 2.12 and (iii) to the Swingline Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Swingline Loan on the earlier of the Revolving Loan Maturity Date and the first date after such Swingline Loan is made that is the 15th or last day of a calendar month and is at least two Business Days after such Swingline Loan is made; provided that on each date that a US Revolving Borrowing is made, the US Borrower shall repay all Swingline Loans that were outstanding on the date such Borrowing was requested.
(b) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of each Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Loan made or B/A accepted by such Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest and amounts in respect of B/As payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.
(c) The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Tranche, Type and currency thereof and the Interest Period applicable thereto, and the amount of each B/A and the Contract Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal, interest or other amount in respect of any B/A due and payable or to become due and payable from the Canadian Borrower to each Lender hereunder, (iii) the amount of any principal, interest or other amount in respect of any Loan due and payable or to become due and payable from the applicable Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iv) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each Lenders share thereof.
(d) The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of this Section shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of any Borrower to repay the Loans or B/As in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(e) Any Lender may request that Loans of any Tranche made by it be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, the applicable Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to the order of such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns) and in the form of Exhibit
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A-1, A-2A, A-2B or A-3, as applicable. Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 10.04) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form payable to the order of the payee named therein (or, if such promissory note is a registered note, to such payee and its registered assigns).
SECTION 2.11. Voluntary Prepayments. (a) The Borrowers shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing or amount owed in respect of outstanding B/As, in whole or in part, subject to prior notice in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section and payment of any amounts required under Section 2.17.
(b) Prior to any optional or mandatory prepayment of Borrowings or amounts owing in respect of outstanding B/A Drawings, the applicable Borrower shall select the Borrowing or Borrowings and the B/A Drawing or B/A Drawings to be prepaid and shall specify such selection in the notice of such prepayment pursuant to paragraph (c) below.
(c) The US Borrower, Canadian Borrower or UK Borrower, as the case may be, shall give the Administrative Agent at the applicable Notice/Payment Office written notice (or telephonic notice promptly confirmed in writing) of its intent to prepay the Loans, whether such Loans are Term Loans, US Revolving Loans, Global US Revolving Loans, Canadian Revolving Loans, UK Revolving Loans or Swingline Loans, the amount of such prepayment, the Types of Loans to be repaid and (in the case of Eurodollar Loans) the specific Borrowing(s) pursuant to which such Eurodollar Loans were made, which notice (i) shall be given by the applicable Borrower, (A) prior to 12:00 noon. (Local Time) at least one Business Day prior to the date of such prepayment in the case of Loans maintained as Base Rate Loans (other than Swingline Loans), Canadian Base Rate Loans and Canadian Prime Rate Loans, (B) prior to 12:00 noon. (Local Time) at least one Business Day prior to the date of such prepayment in the case of Eurodollar Loans and (C) prior to 12:00 noon. (Local Time) on the date of such prepayment in the case of Swingline Loans and (ii) shall, except in the case of Swingline Loans, promptly be transmitted by the Administrative Agent to each of the applicable Lenders.
(d) except for a prepayment pursuant to Section 2.20, each prepayment of B/A Drawings or principal of Term Borrowings pursuant to this Section 2.11 shall be applied to the B/As included in such B/A Drawing or the Term Loans included in such Term Borrowing, as applicable, and to reduce the remaining Scheduled Repayments of the Term Loans, at the US Borrowers option, in direct order of maturity or on a pro rata basis (in each case, based upon the then remaining principal amounts of such Scheduled Repayments after giving effect to all prior reductions thereto);
(e) Amounts to be applied pursuant to this Section or Article VIII to prepay or repay amounts to become due with respect to outstanding B/As shall be deposited in the Prepayment Account (as defined below). The Administrative Agent shall apply any cash deposited in the Prepayment Account allocable to amounts to become due in respect of B/As on the last day of their respective Contract Periods until all amounts due in respect of outstanding B/As have been prepaid or until all the allocable cash on deposit has been exhausted. For purposes of this Agreement, the term Prepayment Account shall mean an account established by the Canadian Borrower with the Administrative Agent and over which the Administrative
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Agent shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal for application in accordance with this paragraph (e). The Administrative Agent will, at the request of the Canadian Borrower, invest amounts on deposit in the Prepayment Account in short-term, cash equivalent investments selected by the Administrative Agent in consultation with the Canadian Borrower that mature on or prior to the last day of the applicable Contract Periods of the B/As to be prepaid; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to invest amounts on deposit in the Prepayment Account if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. The Canadian Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent for any losses relating to the investments so that the amount available to prepay amounts due in respect of B/As on the last day of the applicable Contract Period is not less than the amount that would have been available had no investments been made pursuant hereto. Other than any interest earned on such investments (which shall be for the account of the Canadian Borrower, to the extent not necessary for the prepayment of B/As in accordance with this Section), the Prepayment Account shall not bear interest. Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall be deposited in the Prepayment Account and reinvested and disbursed as specified above. If the maturity of the Loans and all amounts due hereunder has been accelerated pursuant to Article VIII, the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, apply all amounts on deposit in the Prepayment Account to satisfy any of the Loan Document Obligations in respect of Canadian Revolving Loans and B/As (and the Canadian Borrower hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, as agent for the Secured Parties, a security interest in its Prepayment Account to secure such Loan Document Obligations).
SECTION 2.12. Mandatory Repayments. (a)(i) If on any date the US Revolving Credit Exposure of any Lender (after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of US Revolving Loans) would exceed such Lenders US Revolving Loan Commitment, or if the sum of the total US Revolving Credit Exposures (after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the US Revolving Loans) would exceed the US Total Revolving Loan Commitment, the US Borrower shall repay on such date the principal of Swingline Loans and, after all Swingline Loans have been repaid in full or if no Swingline Loans are outstanding, the US Borrower shall repay on such date the principal of US Revolving Loans, in either case, in the aggregate amount necessary to eliminate such excess. If, after giving effect to the prepayment of all outstanding Swingline Loans and all outstanding US Revolving Loans, the LC Exposure of any Lender exceeds such Lenders US Revolving Loan Commitment as then in effect, the US Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent at the applicable Notice/Payment Office on such date the amount in cash and/or Cash Equivalents necessary to eliminate such excess (up to the aggregate amount of LC Exposure at such time) and the Administrative Agent shall hold such payment as security for the obligations of the US Borrower hereunder pursuant to a cash collateral agreement to be entered into in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
| (ii) | | If on any date the Global Revolving Credit Exposures of any Global Revolving Lender (after giving effect to all other concurrent prepayments on such date) would exceed such Lenders Global Revolving Loan Commitment, or if the sum of the total Global Revolving Credit Exposures (after giving effect to all other concurrent prepayments on such date) would exceed the Global Total Revolving Loan Commitment, the US |
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| | | Borrower shall repay on such date the principal of Global US Revolving Loans, if any, in the aggregate amount necessary to eliminate such excess. |
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| (iii) | | If on any date the total Canadian Revolving Credit Exposures (after giving effect to all other concurrent prepayments on such date) would exceed $30,000,000, the Canadian Borrower shall prepay on such date the principal of Canadian Revolving Loans incurred by it in an aggregate amount equal to such excess. |
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| (iv) | | If on any date the UK Revolving Credit Exposure (after giving effect to all other concurrent prepayments on such date) would exceed $10,000,000, the UK Borrower shall prepay on such date the principal of UK Revolving Loans incurred by it in an aggregate amount equal to such excess. |
(b) In addition to any other mandatory repayments pursuant to this Section 2.12, on each date set forth below, the US Borrower shall be required to repay that principal amount of Term Loans, to the extent then outstanding, as is set forth opposite each such date (each such repayment, as the same may be reduced as provided in Sections 2.11(d) and 2.12(f), a Scheduled Repayment):
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Scheduled Repayment Date | | Amount |
March 31, 2006 | | $ | 875,000 | |
June 30, 2006 | | $ | 875,000 | |
September 30, 2006 | | $ | 875,000 | |
December 31, 2006 | | $ | 875,000 | |
March 31, 2007 | | $ | 875,000 | |
June 30, 2007 | | $ | 875,000 | |
September 30, 2007 | | $ | 875,000 | |
December 31, 2007 | | $ | 875,000 | |
March 31, 2008 | | $ | 875,000 | |
June 30, 2008 | | $ | 875,000 | |
September 30, 2008 | | $ | 875,000 | |
December 31, 2008 | | $ | 875,000 | |
March 31, 2009 | | $ | 875,000 | |
June 30, 2009 | | $ | 875,000 | |
September 30, 2009 | | $ | 875,000 | |
December 31, 2009 | | $ | 875,000 | |
March 31, 2010 | | $ | 875,000 | |
June 30, 2010 | | $ | 875,000 | |
September 30, 2010 | | $ | 875,000 | |
December 31, 2010 | | $ | 875,000 | |
March 31, 2011 | | $ | 875,000 | |
June 30, 2011 | | $ | 875,000 | |
September 30, 2011 | | $ | 875,000 | |
December 31, 2011 | | $ | 875,000 | |
March 31, 2012 | | $ | 875,000 | |
June 30, 2012 | | $ | 875,000 | |
September 31, 2012 | | $ | 875,000 | |
Term Loan Maturity Date | | $ | 326,375,000 | |
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the aggregate principal amount of the Term Loans made on the Effective Date is less than $350,000,000, then the Scheduled Repayments to be made pursuant to this Section shall be reduced ratably by an aggregate amount equal to such difference.
(c) In addition to any other mandatory repayments pursuant to this Section 2.12, on the fifth Business Day following each date on or after the Effective Date on which Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries receives Net Sale Proceeds from any Asset Sale, an amount equal to 100% of the Net Sale Proceeds from such Asset Sale shall be applied as a mandatory repayment in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.12(f) and 2.12(g); provided that such Net Sale Proceeds shall not give rise to a mandatory repayment on such date to the extent that no Default or Event of Default then exists and such Net Sale Proceeds shall be used or contractually committed to be used to purchase, or repair damage to, assets used or to be used in the businesses permitted pursuant to Section 7.01 (including (but only to the extent permitted by Section 7.02), the purchase of the capital stock of a Person engaged in such businesses) within 365 days following the date of receipt of such Net Sale Proceeds from such Asset Sale; and provided further that (i) if all or any portion of such Net Sale Proceeds are not so used (or contractually committed to be used) within such 365-day period, such remaining portion shall be applied on the last day of such period (or such earlier date, if any, as Holdings or the relevant Subsidiary determines not to reinvest the Net Sale Proceeds from such Asset Sale as set forth above) as a mandatory repayment as provided above (without giving effect to the immediately preceding proviso) and (ii) if all or any portion of such Net Sale Proceeds are not so used within such 365-day period referred to in clause (i) of this proviso because such amount is contractually committed to be used and subsequent to such date such contract is terminated or expires without such portion being so used, such remaining portion shall be applied on the second Business Day following the date of such termination or expiration as a mandatory repayment as provided above (without giving effect to the immediately preceding proviso). Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.12(c), so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, no mandatory repayments shall be required pursuant to the immediately preceding proviso appearing in this Section 2.12(c) until the date on which the aggregate Net Sale Proceeds from all Asset Sales not reinvested within the time periods specified by said proviso equals or exceeds $2,000,000.
(d) In addition to any other mandatory repayments pursuant to this Section 2.12, on each date on or after the Effective Date on which Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries receives any cash proceeds from any incurrence of Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 7.04 as in effect (and waived in accordance with Section 10.11)) from time to time or issuance of Preferred Stock (other than Qualified Preferred Stock) by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, an amount equal to 100% of the Net Cash Proceeds of the respective incurrence of Indebtedness or issuance of Preferred Stock shall be applied as a mandatory repayment in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.12(f) and 2.12(g). Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.12(d), so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, no mandatory repayment
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shall be required pursuant to this Section 2.12(d) until the date on which the sum of the Net Cash Proceeds required to be applied pursuant to this Section 2.12(d) as mandatory repayments in the absence of this sentence equals or exceeds $2,000,000.
(e) In addition to any other mandatory repayments pursuant to this Section 2.12, on each Excess Cash Flow Payment Date, an amount equal to (i) the Applicable Excess Cash Flow Percentage of the Excess Cash Flow for the relevant Excess Cash Flow Payment Period minus (ii) the aggregate amount of principal repayments of Loans made during the relevant Excess Cash Flow Payment Period to the extent (and only to the extent) that such repayments were made as a voluntary prepayment pursuant to Section 2.11 with internally generated funds (but in a case of a voluntary prepayment of Revolving Loans or Swingline Loans, only to the extent accompanied by a corresponding voluntary reduction to the Total Revolving Loan Commitment) shall be applied as a mandatory repayment in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.12(f).
(f) Each amount required to be applied pursuant to Sections 2.12(c), (d) and (e) in accordance with this Section 2.12(f) shall be applied to repay the outstanding principal amount of Term Loans on a pro rata basis. All repayments of outstanding Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.12(c), (d) and (e) shall be applied to reduce the then remaining Scheduled Repayments of the Term Loans on a pro rata basis (based upon the then remaining Scheduled Repayments after giving effect to all prior reductions thereto).
With respect to each repayment of Loans required by this Section 2.12, the US Borrower, the Canadian Borrower or the UK Borrower, as the case may be, may designate the Types of Loans of the respective Tranche that are to be repaid and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, the specific Borrowing or Borrowings of the respective Tranche pursuant to which such Eurodollar Loans were made; provided that: (i) repayments of Eurodollar Loans pursuant to this Section 2.12 on a day other than the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto shall be accompanied by payment by the US Borrower, the UK Borrower or the Canadian Borrower, as the case may be, of all breakage costs and other amounts owing to each Lender pursuant to Section 2.17; (ii) if any repayment of Eurodollar Loans made pursuant to a single Borrowing shall reduce the outstanding Eurodollar Loans made pursuant to such Borrowing to an amount less than the minimum amount for such Borrowing set forth in Section 2.02(c), such Borrowing shall be converted at the end of the then current Interest Period into a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans (if a Borrowing by the US Borrower) or Canadian Base Rate Loans (if a Borrowing by the Canadian Borrower) ; and (iii) each repayment of any Tranche of Loans made pursuant to a Borrowing shall be applied pro rata among such Tranche of Loans. In the absence of a designation by the US Borrower, the Canadian Borrower or the UK Borrower, as the case may be, as described in the preceding sentence, the Administrative Agent shall, subject to the above, make such designation in its sole discretion with a view, but no obligation, to minimize breakage costs owing under Section 2.17. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.12 (other than Section 2.12(a) or (b), which Sections shall not have the benefits of this sentence), if at any time the mandatory repayment of Loans pursuant to this Section 2.12 would result, after giving effect to the procedures set forth in this clause (i) above, in any Borrower incurring breakage costs under Section 2.17 as a result of Eurodollar Loans being repaid other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (any such Eurodollar Loans, Affected Loans), the US Borrower, the Canadian Borrower or the UK Borrower, as the case may be, may elect, by
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written notice to the Administrative Agent, to have the provisions of the following sentence be applicable so long as no Default or Event of Default then exists. At the time any Affected Loans are otherwise required to be prepaid, the US Borrower, the Canadian Borrower or the UK Borrower, as the case may be, may elect to deposit 100% (or such lesser percentage elected by the US Borrower, the Canadian Borrower or the UK Borrower, as the case may be, as not being repaid) of the principal amounts that otherwise would have been paid in respect of the Affected Loans with the Administrative Agent to be held as security for the obligations of the US Borrower, the Canadian Borrower or the UK Borrower, as the case may be, hereunder pursuant to a cash collateral agreement to be entered into in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, with such cash collateral to be released from such cash collateral account (and applied to repay the principal amount of such Eurodollar Loans) upon each occurrence thereafter of the last day of an Interest Period applicable to such Eurodollar Loans (or such earlier date or dates as shall be requested by the US Borrower, the Canadian Borrower or the UK Borrower, as the case may be), with the amount to be so released and applied on the last day of each Interest Period to be the amount of such Eurodollar Loans to which such Interest Period applies (or, if less, the amount remaining in such cash collateral account); provided, however, that at any time while an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Required Lenders may direct the Administrative Agent (in which case the Administrative Agent shall, and is hereby authorized by the Borrowers to, follow said directions) to apply any or all proceeds then on deposit in such collateral account to the payment of such Affected Loans.
(g) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained elsewhere in this Agreement, all then outstanding Loans of a given Tranche shall be repaid in full on the respective Maturity Date for such Tranche of Loans.
(h) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 2.12 (and subject to Section 2.21), all payments owing with respect to each Tranche of outstanding Loans pursuant to this Section 2.12 shall be made in the respective currency or currencies in which the respective obligations are owing in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. For purposes of making calculations pursuant to this Section 2.12, the Administrative Agent shall be entitled to use the US Dollar Equivalent of any such amounts required to be converted into other currencies for purposes of making determinations pursuant to this Section 2.12.
SECTION 2.13. Fees. (a) The US Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a Commitment Fee (the Commitment Fee), which shall accrue at the Applicable Rate on the average daily unused amount of the Term Loan Commitment, the US Revolving Loan Commitment and the Global Revolving Loan Commitment of such Lender during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the date on which such Commitment terminates. Accrued Commitment Fees shall be payable in US Dollars in arrears (i) in the case of Commitment Fees in respect of the US Revolving Loan Commitments, on the third Business Day after the last day of March, June, September and December of each year and on the date on which the US Revolving Loan Commitments terminate, commencing on the first such date to occur after the date hereof, (ii) in the case of Commitment Fees in respect of the Global Revolving Loan Commitments, on the third Business Day after the last day of March, June, September and December of each year and on the date on which the Global Revolving Loan Commitments terminate, commencing on the first such date to occur after the date hereof
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and (iii) in the case of Commitment Fees in respect of the Term Loan Commitments, on the Effective Date or any earlier date on which such Commitments terminate. All Commitment Fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and, in each case, shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). For purposes of computing Commitment Fees with respect to US Revolving Loan Commitments, a US Revolving Loan Commitment of a Lender shall be deemed to be used to the extent of the outstanding US Revolving Loans and LC Exposure of such Lender (and the Swingline Exposure of such Lender shall be disregarded for such purpose).
(b) The US Borrower agrees to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each US Revolving Lender a participation fee with respect to its participations in Letters of Credit, which shall accrue at the same Applicable Rate as interest on Eurodollar US Revolving Loans on the average daily amount of such Lenders LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date on which such Lenders US Revolving Loan Commitment terminates and the date on which such Lender ceases to have any LC Exposure, and (ii) to each Letter of Credit Issuer (for its own account) a fronting fee, which shall accrue at a rate of 0.20% per annum or as otherwise separately agreed upon between the US Borrower and such Letter of Credit Issuer on the average daily amount of the LC Exposure (excluding any portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed LC Disbursements) in respect of Letters of Credit issued by such Letter of Credit Issuer during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date of termination of the US Revolving Loan Commitments and the date on which there ceases to be any LC Exposure in respect of Letters of Credit issued by such Letter of Credit Issuer, as well as such Letter of Credit Issuers standard fees with respect to the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or processing of drawings thereunder. Participation fees and fronting fees accrued through and including the last day of March, June, September and December of each year shall be payable on the third Business Day following such last day, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Effective Date; provided that all such fees shall be payable on the date on which the US Revolving Loan Commitments terminate and any such fees accruing after the date on which the US Revolving Loan Commitments terminate shall be payable on demand. Any other fees payable to the Letter of Credit Issuer pursuant to this paragraph shall be payable within 10 days after demand. All participation fees and fronting fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). For purposes of computing the average daily amount of the LC Exposure for any period under this Section 2.13(b), the average daily amount of the Canadian Dollar LC Exposure for such period shall be calculated by multiplying (x) the average daily balance of each Canadian Dollar Letter of Credit (expressed in Canadian Dollars) by (y) the Spot Exchange Rate for Canadian Dollars in effect on the last Business Day of such period or by such other reasonable method that the Administrative Agent deems appropriate.
(c) The Canadian Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each Global Revolving Lender, on each date on which B/As drawn by the Canadian Borrower are accepted hereunder, in Canadian Dollars, an acceptance fee computed by multiplying (i) the face amount of all B/As drawn on such date by (ii) the Applicable Rate for B/A Drawings on such date by (iii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the Contract Period applicable to such B/A and the denominator of which is 365.
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(d) Each Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, fees payable in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon between the US Borrower and the Administrative Agent.
(e) All fees payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent (or to the Letter of Credit Issuer, in the case of fees payable to it) for distribution, in the case of Commitment Fees and participation fees, to the Lenders entitled thereto. Fees paid shall not be refundable under any circumstances.
SECTION 2.14. Interest. (a) The Loans comprising each Base Rate Borrowing (including each Swingline Loan) shall bear interest at the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.
(b) The Loans comprising each Eurodollar Borrowing shall bear interest at the Eurodollar Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Rate.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any principal of or interest on any Loan or any fee or other amount payable by any Borrower hereunder is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, such overdue amount shall bear interest, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of overdue principal of any Loan, 2% plus the rate (including margin) otherwise applicable to such Loan as provided in the preceding paragraphs of this Section or (ii) in the case of any other amount, 2% plus the rate (including margin) applicable to Base Rate Revolving Loans as provided in paragraph (a) of this Section.
(d) The loans comprising each Canadian Prime Rate Borrowing shall bear interest at the Canadian Prime Rate plus the Applicable Rate. The loans comprising each Canadian Base Rate Borrowing shall bear interest at the Canadian Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate.
(e) Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date and on the applicable Maturity Date for such Loan and, in the case of Revolving Loans of any Tranche, upon termination of the Commitments of such Tranche; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan (other than a prepayment of a Base Rate Revolving Loan, Canadian Prime Rate Loan or Canadian Base Rate Loan prior to the end of the Revolving Availability Period), accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment and (iii) in the event of any conversion of any Eurodollar Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion.
(f) All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except that interest computed by reference to (A) the Canadian Prime Rate, (B) the Base Rate at times when the Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate and (C) the Canadian Base Rate at times when the Canadian Base Rate is based on the rate described in clause (a) of the definition thereof shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or, except for purposes of clause (A) above, when the Canadian Prime Rate is based upon the rate described in clause (b) of the
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definition thereof, 366 days in a leap year), and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). The applicable Base Rate, Eurodollar Rate, Canadian Prime Rate or Canadian Base Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error. For the purposes of the Interest Act (Canada), whenever any interest or fee under this Agreement is calculated using a rate based on a year of 360 days or 365 days, as the case may be, the rate determined pursuant to such calculation, when expressed as an annual rate, is equivalent to (A) the applicable rate based on a year of 360 days or 365 days, as the case may be, (B) multiplied by the actual number of days in the calendar year in which the period for which such interest or fee is payable (or compounded) ends, and (C) divided by 360 and 365, as the case may be. The rates of interest under this Agreement are nominal rates, and not effective rates or yields. The principle of deemed reinvestment of interest does not apply to any interest calculation under this Agreement.
(g) If any provision of this Agreement would require the Canadian Borrower to make any payment of interest or other amount payable to any Global Revolving Lender in an amount or calculated at a rate that would be prohibited by law or would result in a receipt by that Lender of interest at a criminal rate (as such terms are construed under the Criminal Code (Canada)), then, notwithstanding such provision, such amount or rate shall be deemed to have been adjusted with retroactive effective to the maximum amount or rates of interest, as the case may be, as would not be so prohibited by law or so result in a receipt by that Lender of interest at a criminal rate, such adjustment to be effected, to the extent necessary (but only to the extent necessary), as follows:
| (i) | | first, by reducing the amount or rate of interest or the amount or rate of any acceptance fee required to be paid to the affected Lender under Section 2.13(c); and |
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| (ii) | | thereafter, by reducing any fees, commissions, premiums and other amounts required to be paid to the affected Lender that would constitute interest for purposes of Section 347 of the Criminal Code (Canada). |
SECTION 2.15. Alternate Rate of Interest. If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing:
(a) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period; or
(b) the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders that the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining their Loans included in such Borrowing for such Interest Period;
then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the applicable Borrower and the Lenders by telephone or telecopy as promptly as practicable thereafter and, in the case of Eurodollar Borrowings, until the Administrative Agent notifies the applicable Borrower and the
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Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be ineffective and (ii) if any Notice of Borrowing requests a Eurodollar Borrowing, (A) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing made to the US Borrower, such Borrowing shall be made as a Base Rate Borrowing, (B) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing made to the Canadian Borrower, such Borrowing shall be made as a Canadian Base Rate Borrowing and (C) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing made to the UK Borrower, such Borrowing shall bear interest at such rate as the Lenders and the UK Borrower may agree adequately reflects the costs to the Lenders of making or maintaining their Loans (or, in the absence of such agreement, shall be repaid as of the last day of the current Interest Period applicable thereto).
SECTION 2.16. Increased Costs. (a) If any Change in Law shall:
| (i) | | impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Eurodollar Rate) or the Letter of Credit Issuer; or |
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| (ii) | | impose on any Lender or the Letter of Credit Issuer or the London or Canadian interbank markets any other condition affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Loans or B/A Drawings made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein; |
and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining any Eurodollar Loan or obtaining funds for the purchase of B/As (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan or to accept and purchase B/As) or to increase the cost to such Lender or the Letter of Credit Issuer of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or the Letter of Credit Issuer hereunder (whether of principal, interest or otherwise), then the applicable Borrower will pay to such Lender or the Letter of Credit Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the Letter of Credit Issuer, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.
(b) If any Lender or the Letter of Credit Issuer determines that any Change in Law regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lenders or the Letter of Credit Issuers capital or on the capital of such Lenders or the Letter of Credit Issuers holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by the Letter of Credit Issuer, to a level below that which such Lender or the Letter of Credit Issuer or such Lenders or the Letter of Credit Issuers holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lenders or the Letter of Credit Issuers policies and the policies of such Lenders or the Letter of Credit Issuers holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the applicable Borrower will pay to such Lender or the Letter of Credit Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the Letter of Credit Issuer or such Lenders or the Letter of Credit Issuers holding company for any such reduction suffered.
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(c) A certificate of a Lender or the Letter of Credit Issuer setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or the Letter of Credit Issuer or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section shall be delivered to the applicable Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The US Borrower shall pay such Lender or the Letter of Credit Issuer, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.
(d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the Letter of Credit Issuer to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lenders or the Letter of Credit Issuers right to demand such compensation; provided that the US Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender or the Letter of Credit Issuer pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than 270 days prior to the date that such Lender or the Letter of Credit Issuer, as the case may be, notifies the US Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lenders or the Letter of Credit Issuers intention to claim compensation therefor; provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 270-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.
SECTION 2.17. Break Funding Payments. In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default), (b) the conversion of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Revolving Loan or Term Loan or to issue B/As for acceptance and purchase on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked and is revoked in accordance herewith), or (d) the assignment of any Eurodollar Loan or the right to receive payment in respect of a B/A other than on the last day of the Interest Period or Contract Period, as the case may be, applicable thereto as a result of a request by the applicable Borrower pursuant to Section 2.20 or Section 10.11(b), then, in any such event, such Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event. In the case of a Eurodollar Loan, such loss, cost or expense to any Lender shall be deemed to include an amount determined by such Lender to be the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest that would have accrued on the principal amount of such Loan had such event not occurred, at the Eurodollar Rate that would have been applicable to such Loan, for the period from the date of such event to the last day of the then current Interest Period therefor (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, for the period that would have been the Interest Period for such Loan), over (ii) the amount of interest that would accrue on such principal amount for such period at the interest rate that such Lender would bid were it to bid, at the commencement of such period, for dollar deposits of a comparable amount and period from other banks in the eurodollar market. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the applicable Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The applicable Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.
SECTION 2.18. Taxes. (a) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Borrower hereunder or under any other Credit Document shall be made
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free and clear of and without deduction for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes; provided that if any Borrower shall be required to deduct any Indemnified Taxes or 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, Lenders or Letter of Credit Issuer (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the applicable Borrower shall make such deductions and (iii) the applicable Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.
(b) In addition, the applicable Borrower shall pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.
(c) Each Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Letter of Credit Issuer, within 20 days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes paid by the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the Letter of Credit Issuer, as the case may be, on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of any Borrower hereunder or under any other Credit Document (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) and any penalties, interest and other 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; provided, however, that the Borrowers shall not be obligated to indemnify the Administrative Agent, the Lenders or the Letter of Credit Issuer (as the case may be) pursuant to this Section 2.18(c) in respect of penalties, interest and other reasonable expenses arising from any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, if such penalties, interest and other reasonable expenses are attributable solely to the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders or the Letter of Credit Issuer (as the case may be); provided further, that the Administrative Agent, the Lenders or the Letter of Credit Issuer (as the case may be) shall use commercially reasonable efforts promptly to notify the US Borrower upon receipt of any written demand or notice for payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes that are subject to indemnification under this Section 2.18(c) and shall reasonably cooperate with the Borrowers to minimize the amount of Indemnified Taxes and Other Taxes to the extent permitted by law. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the applicable Borrower by a Lender or the Letter of Credit Issuer, or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender or the Letter of Credit Issuer, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(d) As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by the applicable Borrower to a Governmental Authority, such 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) On or before the date it becomes a party to this Agreement, each Lender that is lending to the US Borrower or receiving payments under this Agreement from the US Borrower and that is not a United States person as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code (a Non-US Lender) shall deliver to the US Borrower two copies of duly completed United States
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Internal Revenue Service Form (i) W-8ECI, specifying that all payments to be received under this Agreement or any other Credit Document by such Non-US Lender will be effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the US, (ii) W-8BEN, certifying eligibility for complete exemption from US Federal withholding tax with respect to payments to be made under this Agreement or under any other Credit Document under an applicable tax treaty or (iii) W-8BEN along with a certificate reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (a Non-Bank Certificate), in the case of a Non-US Lender that cannot submit a United States Internal Revenue Service Form as provided in clause (i) or (ii) and that is qualified to receive interest under this Agreement free of US Federal withholding tax pursuant to Section 871(h) of the Code. Each Non-US Lender shall redeliver such forms promptly upon the obsolescence or invalidity of any form previously delivered by such Non-US Lender, except to the extent that such Non-US Lender is unable to redeliver such forms due to the adoption of, or change in, any law, rule, treaty or regulation or in the interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority after the date on which the applicable loan is made by such Non-US Lender.
(f) Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the applicable Borrower is located, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments under this Agreement shall deliver to such Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time or times prescribed by applicable law, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the applicable Borrower as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate, provided that such Foreign Lender has received written notice from such Borrower advising it of the availability of such exemption or reduction and supplying all applicable documentation.
(g) 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 a Borrower or with respect to which a Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.18, it shall pay over such refund to such Borrower (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by such Borrower under this Section 2.18 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 and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); provided, that the Borrowers, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, agree to repay to the Administrative Agent or such Lender the amount paid over to any Borrower under this Section 2.18(g) (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) in the event the Administrative Agent or such Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. This Section 2.18(g) 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 which it deems, in its sole discretion, to be confidential) to any Borrower or any other Person.
SECTION 2.19. Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs. (a) Each Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder or under any other Credit Document (whether of principal, interest, fees or reimbursement of LC Disbursements, or of amounts payable under Section 2.16, 2.17 or 2.18, or otherwise) prior
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to the time expressly required hereunder or under such other Credit Document for such payment (or, if no such time is expressly required, prior to 12:00 noon, New York City time), on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without set-off or counterclaim. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent at its Notice/Payment Office, except payments to be made directly to the Letter of Credit Issuer or Swingline Lender as expressly provided herein and except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.16, 2.17, 2.18 and 9.07 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto and payments pursuant to other Credit Documents shall be made to the Persons specified therein. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof. If any payment under any Credit Document shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension. All payments hereunder of principal or interest in respect of any Loan or amounts owing in respect of any B/A Drawing (or of any breakage indemnity in respect of any Loan or B/A Drawing) shall be made in the currency of such Loan or B/A Drawing; all other payments hereunder and under each other Credit Document shall be made in US Dollars, except as otherwise expressly provided herein.
(b) If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, amounts owing in respect of B/A Drawings, unreimbursed LC Disbursements, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, towards payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties (based on the US Dollar Equivalent of such amounts or the US Dollar amount thereof, as applicable), and (ii) second, towards payment of principal, amounts owing in respect of B/A Drawings, and unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal, face amounts of B/As and amounts of unreimbursed LC Disbursements then due to such parties (based on the US Dollar Equivalent of such amounts or the US Dollar amount thereof, as applicable).
(c) If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Revolving Loans, Term Loans, amounts owing in respect of any B/A Drawing or participations in LC Disbursements or Swingline Loans resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Revolving Loans, Term Loans, amounts owing in respect of any B/A Drawing and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Revolving Loans, Term Loans, amounts owing in respect of any B/A Drawing and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans of other Lenders to the extent necessary 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 Revolving Loans, Term Loans, amounts owing in respect of any B/A Drawing and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans; provided that (i) if any such participations are purchased and all or any
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portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (ii) the provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by any Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or participations in LC Disbursements to any assignee or participant, other than to US Borrower or any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply). Each 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 such Borrower rights of set-off and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of such Borrower in the amount of such participation.
(d) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the Letter of Credit Issuer hereunder that the applicable Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the Letter of Credit Issuer, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if the applicable Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or the Letter of Credit Issuer, as the case may be, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or Letter of Credit Issuer 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 Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.
(e) If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.04(c), 2.05(d) or (e), 2.06(b), 2.19(d) or 9.07, then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender to satisfy such Lenders obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid.
SECTION 2.20. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders. (a) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.16, or if any Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.18, 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 reasonable judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.16 or 2.18, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. Each Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.
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(b) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.16, or if any Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.18, or if any Lender defaults in its obligation to fund Loans hereunder, then the applicable 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 Section 10.04), all its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (i) the applicable Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent (and, if a US Revolving Loan Commitment is being assigned, the Letter of Credit Issuer and Swingline Lender), which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and participations in LC Disbursements and Swingline Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the applicable Borrower (in the case of all other amounts) and (iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.16 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.18, such assignment will result in a material reduction in such compensation or payments. A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment and delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the applicable Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.
SECTION 2.21. Collection Allocation Mechanism. (a) On the CAM Exchange Date, (i) the Commitments shall automatically and without further act be terminated as provided in Article VIII, (ii) each US Revolving Lender shall immediately be deemed to have acquired (and shall promptly make payment therefor to the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 2.04(c)) participations in the Swingline Loans in an amount equal to such US Revolving Lenders Swingline Exposure on such date and (iii) the Lenders shall automatically and without further act (and without regard to the provisions of Section 10.04) be deemed to have exchanged interests in the Loans (other than the Swingline Loans) and B/A Drawings and, in the case of the US Revolving Lenders, participations in Swingline Loans and Letters of Credit such that in lieu of the interest of each Lender in each Loan, B/A Drawing and Letter of Credit in which it shall participate as of such date (including such Lenders interest in the Loan Document Obligations of each Credit Party in respect of each such Loan, B/A Drawing and Letter of Credit), such Lender shall hold an interest in every one of the Loans (other than the Swingline Loans) and B/A Drawings and a participation in every one of the Swingline Loans and Letters of Credit (including the Loan Document Obligations of each Credit Party in respect of each such Loan and B/A Drawing and each LC Reserve Account established pursuant to Section 2.21(c) below), whether or not such Lender shall previously have participated therein, equal to such Lenders CAM Percentage thereof. It is understood and agreed that Lenders holding interests in B/As on the CAM Exchange Date shall discharge the obligations to fund such B/As at maturity in exchange for the interests acquired by such Lenders pursuant to the CAM Exchange. Each Lender and each Credit Party hereby consents and agrees to the CAM Exchange, and each Lender agrees that the CAM Exchange shall be binding upon its successors and assigns and any person that acquires a
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participation in its interests in any Loan or B/A Drawing. Each Credit Party agrees from time to time to execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent all such Notes and other instruments and documents as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request to evidence and confirm the respective interests of the Lenders after giving effect to the CAM Exchange, and each Lender agrees to surrender any Notes originally received by it in connection with its Loans hereunder to the Administrative Agent against delivery of new Notes evidencing its interests in the Loans; provided, however, that the failure of any Credit Party to execute or deliver or of any Lender to accept any such Note, instrument or document shall not affect the validity or effectiveness of the CAM Exchange.
(b) As a result of the CAM Exchange, upon and after the CAM Exchange Date, each payment received by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent pursuant to any Credit Document in respect of the Loan Document Obligations, and each distribution made by the Collateral Agent pursuant to any Security Document in respect of the Loan Document Obligations, shall be distributed to the Lenders pro rata in accordance with their respective CAM Percentages. Any direct payment received by a Lender upon or after the CAM Exchange Date, including by way of setoff, in respect of a Loan Document Obligation shall be paid over to the Administrative Agent for distribution to the Lenders in accordance herewith.
(c) In the event that on the CAM Exchange Date any Letter of Credit shall be outstanding and undrawn in whole or in part, or any LC Disbursement shall not have been reimbursed by the US Borrower or with the proceeds of a US Revolving Borrowing or Swingline Loan, each US Revolving Lender shall promptly pay over to the Administrative Agent, in immediately available funds, an amount in US Dollars equal to such US Revolving Lenders US Revolving Percentage of each such undrawn face amount or (to the extent it has not already done so) each such unreimbursed drawing, as the case may be, together with interest thereon from the CAM Exchange Date to the date on which such amount shall be paid to the Administrative Agent at the rate that would be applicable at the time to a Base Rate Revolving Loan in a principal amount equal to such amount. The Administrative Agent shall establish a separate account or accounts for each Lender (each, an LC Reserve Account) for the amounts received with respect to each such Letter of Credit pursuant to the preceding sentence. The Administrative Agent shall deposit in each Lenders LC Reserve Account such Lenders CAM Percentage of the amounts received from the US Revolving Lenders as provided above. The Administrative Agent shall have sole dominion and control over each LC Reserve Account, and the amounts deposited in each LC Reserve Account shall be held in such LC Reserve Account until withdrawn as provided in paragraph (d) or (e) below. The Administrative Agent shall maintain records enabling it to determine the amounts paid over to it and deposited in the LC Reserve Accounts in respect of each Letter of Credit and the amounts on deposit in respect of each Letter of Credit attributable to each Lenders CAM Percentage. The amounts held in each Lenders LC Reserve Account shall be held as a reserve against the LC Exposures, shall be the property of such Lender, shall not constitute Loans to or give rise to any claim of or against any Credit Party and shall not give rise to any obligation on the part of any Borrower to pay interest to such Lender, it being agreed that the reimbursement obligations in respect of Letters of Credit shall arise only at such times as drawings are made thereunder, as provided in Section 2.05.
(d) In the event that after the CAM Exchange Date any drawing shall be made in respect of a Letter of Credit, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of the Letter of
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Credit Issuer, withdraw from the LC Reserve Account of each Lender any amounts, up to the amount of such Lenders CAM Percentage of such drawing, deposited in respect of such Letter of Credit and remaining on deposit and deliver such amounts to the Letter of Credit Issuer in satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the US Revolving Lenders under Section 2.05(e). In the event that any US Revolving Lender shall default on its obligation to pay over any amount to the Administrative Agent in respect of any Letter of Credit as provided in this Section 2.21, the Letter of Credit Issuer shall, in the event of a drawing thereunder, have a claim against such US Revolving Lender to the same extent as if such Lender had defaulted on its obligations under Section 2.05(c), but shall have no claim against any other Lender in respect of such defaulted amount, notwithstanding the exchange of interests in the US Borrowers reimbursement obligations pursuant to Section 2.21(a). Each other Lender shall have a claim against such defaulting US Revolving Lender for any damages sustained by it as a result of such default, including, in the event that such Letter of Credit shall expire undrawn, its CAM Percentage of the defaulted amount.
(e) In the event that after the CAM Exchange Date any Letter of Credit shall expire undrawn, the Administrative Agent shall withdraw from the LC Reserve Account of each Lender the amount remaining on deposit therein in respect of such Letter of Credit and distribute such amount to such Lender.
(f) With the prior written approval of the Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld), any Lender may withdraw the amount held in its LC Reserve Account in respect of the undrawn amount of any Letter of Credit. Any Lender making such a withdrawal shall be unconditionally obligated, in the event there shall subsequently be a drawing under such Letter of Credit, to pay over to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the applicable Issuing Bank, on demand, its CAM Percentage of such drawing.
(g) In the event the CAM Exchange Date shall occur, (i) Loan Document Obligations of the Credit Parties (other than in respect of B/As) denominated in any currency other than US Dollars shall, automatically and with no further act required, be converted to obligations of the same Credit Parties denominated in US Dollars, effective immediately prior to the Lenders being deemed to have exchanged interests pursuant to Section 2.21(a)(iii) and based upon the Spot Exchange Rates in effect with respect to the relevant currencies on the CAM Exchange Date, and (ii) immediately upon the date of expiration of the Contract Period in respect thereof, the interests in each B/A received in the deemed exchange of interests pursuant to Section 2.21(a)(iii) shall, automatically and with no further action required, be converted into the US Dollar Equivalent, determined using the Spot Exchange Rate calculated as of such date, of such amount. On and after any such conversion, all amounts accruing and owed to any Lender in respect of its applicable Loan Document Obligations shall accrue and be payable in US Dollars at the rates otherwise applicable hereunder (and, in the case of interest on Loans and B/A Drawings, at the default rate applicable to Base Rate Loans hereunder).
SECTION 2.22. Redenomination of Sterling. (a) Each obligation of any party to this Agreement to make a payment denominated in Sterling if the United Kingdom adopts the Euro as its lawful currency after the date hereof shall be redenominated into Euro at the time of such adoption (in accordance with the EMU Legislation). If the basis of accrual of interest expressed in this Agreement in respect of Sterling shall be inconsistent
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with any convention or practice in the London interbank market for the basis of accrual of interest in respect of the Euro, such expressed basis shall be replaced by such convention or practice with effect from the date on which the United Kingdom adopts the Euro as its lawful currency; provided that if any Borrowing in Sterling is outstanding immediately prior to such date, such replacement shall take effect, with respect to such Borrowing, at the end of the then current Interest Period.
(b) Without prejudice and in addition to any method of conversion or rounding prescribed by any EMU Legislation and (i) without limiting the liability of any Borrower for any amount due under this Agreement and (ii) without increasing any Commitment of any Lender, all references in this Agreement to minimum amounts (or integral multiples thereof) denominated in Sterling shall, if the United Kingdom adopts the Euro as its lawful currency after the date hereof, immediately upon such adoption, be replaced by references to such minimum amounts (or integral multiples thereof) as shall be specified herein with respect to Borrowings denominated in Euro.
(c) Each provision of this Agreement shall be subject to such reasonable changes of construction as the Administrative Agent (in consultation with the UK Borrower) may from time to time specify to be appropriate to reflect the adoption of the Euro by the United Kingdom and any relevant market conventions or practices relating to the Euro.
SECTION 2.23. Incremental Term Loans. (a) The US Borrower may at any time, by notice to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly deliver a copy to each of the Lenders), request one or more additional tranches of term loans (each, an Incremental Term Loan); provided, that (i) at the time that any such Incremental Term Loan is made (and after giving effect thereto), (A) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (B) the Total Leverage Ratio on a Pro Forma Basis (including, to the extent any Permitted Acquisition or Subsidiary Redesignation has occurred during the applicable Test Period, giving effect to such Permitted Acquisition and/or Subsidiary Redesignation on a Pro Forma Basis) after giving effect to the incurrence of the Incremental Term Loans and the application of the proceeds therefrom, as of the last day of the most recently ended four fiscal quarters of the US Borrower, shall not exceed 4.25 to 1.00, (C) the US Borrower shall be in compliance, on a Pro Forma Basis (including, to the extent any Permitted Acquisition or Subsidiary Redesignation has occurred during the applicable Test Period, giving effect to such Permitted Acquisition and/or Subsidiary Redesignation on a Pro Forma Basis) after giving effect to the incurrence of such Incremental Term Loans and the application of the proceeds therefrom, with Section 7.09 and Section 7.10 of this Agreement computed as if such Indebtedness had been outstanding during the most recently ended period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the US Borrower, (D) the incurrence of any such Incremental Term Loans has been duly authorized by the US Borrower and (E) the US Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate to the effect set forth in clauses (A), (B), (C) and (D) above, together with all relevant calculations related thereto; and (ii) the US Borrower shall promptly after the US Borrower receives the proceeds from the incurrence of any Incremental Term Loans, pay Dividends to Holdings (and, at the option of the US Borrower, related transaction costs) with such proceeds and Holdings shall promptly thereafter utilize the proceeds of such Dividends to redeem, repurchase or repay Holdings Notes or Permitted Holdings Refinancing Indebtedness in accordance with
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Section 7.12(a)(iv). The Incremental Term Loans (a) shall be in an aggregate principal amount not in excess of $325,000,000 (less the aggregate principal amount of Additional Senior Subordinated Notes issued pursuant to Section 7.04(o)), (b) shall rank pari passu in right of payment, security and guarantees with the Revolving Loans and the Term Loans, (c) shall not mature earlier than the Term Loan Maturity Date (but may, subject to clause (d) below, have amortization prior to such date), (d) shall not have a weighted average life that is shorter than that of the then-remaining Term Loans, (e) shall accrue interest at a rate determined at the time the commitments to provide such Incremental Term Loans are obtained (it being understood that the Incremental Term Loans may be priced differently from the Term Loans) and (f) shall, except as set forth above, have terms identical to and be treated the same as the Term Loans for all purposes of the Credit Documents (including with respect to mandatory and voluntary prepayments), provided that if the Applicable Rate (which, for such purposes only, shall be deemed to include all upfront or similar fees or original issue discount payable to all Lenders providing such Incremental Term Loan) relating to any Incremental Term Loan exceeds the Applicable Rate (which, for such purposes only, shall be deemed not to include any upfront or similar fees or original issue discount payable to the Lenders of Term Loans) relating to the Term Loans immediately prior to the effectiveness of the applicable Incremental Term Loan Amendment by more than 0.50%, then the Applicable Rate relating to the Term Loans shall be adjusted to be equal to the Applicable Rate (which, for such purposes only, shall be deemed to include all upfront or similar fees or original issue discount payable to all Lenders providing such Incremental Term Loans) relating to such Incremental Term Loans minus 0.50%. In lieu of requesting an additional tranche of term loans, the US Borrower may, in such notice, request that the Incremental Term Loans constitute additional Term Loans which shall have terms identical to the existing Term Loans. Such notice shall set forth (1) the requested amount of Incremental Term Loans, together with all relevant calculations confirming compliance with sub-clause (i) of the fourth preceding sentence, and (2) the proposed terms of the Incremental Term Loans (or, if applicable, that the US Borrower wishes that the Incremental Term Loans constitute additional Term Loans which shall have terms identical to the existing Term Loans).
(b) The US Borrower may arrange for one or more banks, financial institutions or other Persons (including existing Lenders) reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (any such bank, financial institution or other Person being called an Additional Lender) to extend commitments to provide Incremental Term Loans in an aggregate amount equal to the unsubscribed amount. All commitments in respect of Incremental Term Loans (the Incremental Term Loan Commitments) shall become Commitments under this Agreement, and all Additional Lenders that are not already Lenders shall become Lenders under this Agreement, pursuant to an amendment (the Incremental Term Loan Amendment) to this Agreement and, as appropriate, the other Credit Documents, executed by Holdings, the Borrowers and, as appropriate, each other Credit Party, each Additional Lender and the Administrative Agent. The Incremental Term Loan Amendment may, without the consent of any other Lender, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Credit Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent, to effect the provisions of this Section. The effectiveness of the Incremental Term Loan Amendment shall be subject to the satisfaction on the date thereof of each of the conditions set forth in
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Section 4.01 (it being understood that all references to the time of each such Credit Event and the date of such Credit Event in such Section 4.01 shall be deemed to refer to the effective date of such Incremental Term Loan Amendment) and such other conditions as the parties thereto shall agree. No Lender shall be obligated to provide any Incremental Term Loans, unless it so agrees.
SECTION 2.24. Additional Reserve Costs. (a) If and so long as any Lender is required to make special deposits with the Bank of England, to maintain reserve asset ratios or to pay fees, in each case in respect of such Lenders Loans, such Lender may require the relevant Borrower to pay, contemporaneously with each payment of interest on each of such Loans, additional interest on such Loans at a rate per annum equal to the Mandatory Costs Rate calculated in accordance with the formula and in the manner set forth in Exhibit J hereto, provided that no Lender may request the payment of any amount under this paragraph to the extent resulting from a requirement imposed (other than as provided in Section 2.16) on such Lender by any Governmental Authority (and not on Lenders or any class of Lenders generally) in respect of a concern expressed by such Governmental Authority with such Lender specifically, including with respect to its financial health.
(b) If and so long as any Lender is required to comply with reserve assets, liquidity, cash margin or other requirements of any monetary or other authority (including any such requirement imposed by the European Central Bank or the European System of Central Banks, but excluding requirements reflected in the Mandatory Costs Rate) in respect of any of such Lenders Loans, such Lender may require the relevant Borrower to pay, contemporaneously with each payment of interest on each of such Lenders Loans, subject to such requirements, additional interest on such Loans at a rate per annum specified by such Lender to be the cost to such Lender of complying with such requirements in relation to such Loans, provided that no Lender may request the payment of any amount under this paragraph to the extent resulting from a requirement imposed (other than as provided in Section 2.16) on such Lender by any Governmental Authority (and not on Lenders or any class of Lenders generally) in respect of a concern expressed by such Governmental Authority with such Lender specifically, including with respect to its financial health.
(c) Any additional interest owed pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) above shall be determined by the relevant Lender, acting in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and notified to the relevant Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) at least five Business Days before each date on which interest is payable for the relevant Loans, and such additional interest so notified to the relevant Borrower by such Lender shall be payable to such Lender on each date on which interest is payable for such Loans.
SECTION 2.25. Change in Law. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if, after the date hereof, (i) any Change in Law shall make it unlawful for any Letter of Credit Issuer to issue Letters of Credit denominated in Canadian Dollars, or (ii) there shall have occurred any change in national or international financial, political or economic conditions (including the imposition of or any change in exchange controls) or currency exchange rates that would make it impracticable for any Letter of Credit Issuer to issue Letters of Credit denominated Canadian Dollars, then by prompt written notice thereof to the US Borrower and to the Administrative Agent (which notice shall be withdrawn
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whenever such circumstances no longer exist), such Letter of Credit Issuer may declare that Letters of Credit will not thereafter be issued by it in Canadian Dollars, whereupon Canadian Dollars shall be deemed (for the duration of such declaration) not to constitute a permitted currency for purposes of the issuance of Letters of Credit by such Letter of Credit Issuer.
ARTICLE III
Conditions Precedent to Credit
Events on the Effective Date. The amendment and restatement of the Existing Credit Agreement pursuant to this Agreement is subject, and the obligation of each Lender to make each Loan and accept and purchase each B/A hereunder, and the obligation of each Letter of Credit Issuer to issue each Letter of Credit hereunder, in each case on the Effective Date, is subject at the time of the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit, as the case may be, to the satisfaction of the following conditions:
SECTION 3.01. Execution of Agreement. The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received from each party hereto either (i) a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party or (ii) written evidence satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (which may include telecopy transmission of a signed signature page of this Agreement) that such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement.
SECTION 3.02. Officers Certificate. On the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate from Holdings and each Borrower dated such date signed by an appropriate officer of such Credit Party stating that all of the applicable conditions set forth in Sections 3.05 through 3.08, inclusive, and 4.01 (other than such conditions to the extent that same are subject to the satisfaction of the Administrative Agent and/or the Required Lenders), have been satisfied on such date.
SECTION 3.03. Opinions of Counsel. On the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received opinions, addressed to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and each of the Lenders and dated the Effective Date, from (a) Bryan Cave LLP, special counsel to the Credit Parties, which opinion shall cover the matters contained in Exhibit B-1 and such other matters incident to the transactions contemplated herein as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, (b) Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, special Canada counsel to the Credit Parties, which opinion shall cover the matters contained in Exhibit B-2 and such other matters incident to the transactions contemplated herein as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, (c) English counsel, which opinion shall cover the matters contained in Exhibit B-3 and such other matters incident to the transactions contemplated herein as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, and (d) local counsel to the Credit Parties and/or the Administrative Agent in (i) Illinois, Kansas, Utah and Wisconsin in the United States and (ii) Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and Ontario in Canada, in each case reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, which opinions in the case of this clause (d) (A) shall cover the perfection of the security interests granted pursuant to the Security Documents and such other matters incident to the transactions contemplated herein as the Administrative Agent
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may reasonably request and (B) shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
SECTION 3.04. Company Documents; Proceedings. (a) On the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received from each Credit Party a certificate, dated the Effective Date, signed by the chairman of the board, the chief executive officer, the president or any vice president of such Credit Party (or, in the case of any Foreign Credit Party, an authorized signatory thereof as permitted under applicable law and the relevant charter documents of such Foreign Credit Party), and attested to by the secretary or any assistant secretary of such Credit Party (or, in the case of any Foreign Credit Party, another authorized signatory thereof as permitted under applicable law and the relevant charter documents of such Foreign Credit Party), in the form of Exhibit C with appropriate insertions, together with copies of the certificate or articles of incorporation, certificate of formation, operating agreements and by-laws (or equivalent organizational documents) of such Credit Party and the resolutions of such Credit Party referred to in such certificate and each of the foregoing shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(b) On the Effective Date, all Company and legal proceedings and all instruments and agreements in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Documents shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Administrative Agent, and the Administrative Agent shall have received all information and copies of all certificates, documents and papers, including good standing certificates, bring- down certificates and any other records of Company proceedings and governmental approvals, if any, that the Administrative Agent reasonably may have requested in connection therewith, such documents and papers, where appropriate, to be certified by proper Company or governmental authorities.
SECTION 3.05. Adverse Change, etc. On the Effective Date, nothing shall have occurred that has had, or is reasonably likely to have, a material adverse effect on the Transaction or a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 3.06. Litigation. On the Effective Date, there shall be no actions, suits, proceedings or investigations pending or threatened (a) with respect to this Agreement or any other Document or the Transaction, (b) with respect to any Retained Existing Indebtedness or the Existing Credit Agreement Indebtedness or (c) that is reasonably likely to have (i) a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) a material adverse effect on the Transaction, the rights or remedies of the Lenders or the Administrative Agent hereunder or under any other Credit Document or on the ability of any Credit Party to perform its respective obligations to the Lenders or the Administrative Agent hereunder or under any other Credit Document.
SECTION 3.07. Approvals. On the Effective Date, (a) all necessary and material governmental (domestic and foreign), regulatory and third party approvals in connection with any Existing Indebtedness or Retained Existing Indebtedness, the Transaction or the transactions contemplated by the Documents and otherwise referred to herein or therein shall have been obtained and remain in full force and effect and, to the extent reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, evidence thereof shall have been
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provided to the Administrative Agent and (b) all applicable appeal periods and waiting periods shall have expired without any action being taken by any competent authority that restrains (or that could have a reasonable likelihood of restraining), prevents or imposes materially adverse conditions upon the consummation of the Transaction, the making of the Loans and the transactions contemplated by the Documents or otherwise referred to herein or therein. On the Effective Date, there shall not exist any judgment, order, injunction or other restraint issued or filed or a hearing seeking injunctive relief or other restraint pending or notified prohibiting or imposing materially adverse conditions upon, or materially delaying, or making economically unfeasible, the consummation of the Transaction or the making of the Loans.
SECTION 3.08. Consummation of the Debt Tender Offer, etc. (a) On the Effective Date, pursuant to or in connection with the Debt Tender Offer and in accordance with the Debt Tender Offer Documents, the US Borrower will (a) purchase all the Existing Senior Subordinated Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by the holders thereof (which shall constitute at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Existing Senior Subordinated Notes), (b) amend the Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture prior to giving effect to the consummation of the Debt Tender Offer to eliminate or modify (in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent) all the material covenants (including the so-called restrictive covenants) contained therein and (c) pay the Debt Tender Premium in connection with the consummation of the Debt Tender Offer.
(b) On the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received true and correct copies of all the Debt Tender Offer Documents, certified as such by an appropriate officer of Holdings, with, in each case, any changes thereto or waivers to the terms thereof to be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent. Each component of the Transaction shall have been consummated in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable Documents and all applicable laws.
SECTION 3.09. US Collateral and Guaranty Agreement; Foreign Pledge Agreements. On the Effective Date, (a) Holdings, the US Borrower and each Domestic Subsidiary of the US Borrower shall have duly authorized, executed and delivered the US Collateral and Guaranty Agreement in the form of Exhibit D, with such changes thereto, or additional pledge agreements (or amendments thereto) entered into in connection therewith, as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request in respect of any Pledged Collateral of any Foreign Subsidiary to be pledged by any US Credit Party, or (at the option of the Administrative Agent) supplements to the US Collateral and Guaranty Agreement and any such additional pledge agreements executed and delivered in connection with the Existing Credit Agreement and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (as amended, restated, modified and/or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof and hereof (as well as any guaranty, pledge and/or security agreements delivered by any Domestic Subsidiary of the US Borrower pursuant to Section 6.11(a) or (b)), the US Collateral and Guaranty Agreement), (b) each Foreign Subsidiary of the US Borrower organized under the laws of Canada (or any province or territory thereof) or of England and Wales in the United Kingdom (other than such Foreign Subsidiaries that do not own any equity of any other Person) shall have duly authorized, executed and delivered one or more other pledge agreements in form and substance
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satisfactory to the Collateral Agent in connection with the Pledged Collateral to be pledged by any such Foreign Subsidiary, or (at the option of the Administrative Agent) a supplement to the Foreign Pledge Agreement executed and delivered in connection with the Existing Credit Agreement and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (such pledge agreements referred to in this clause (b), as the same may be amended, restated, modified and/or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof and hereof (as well as any pledge agreements delivered by any Foreign Subsidiary pursuant to Section 6.11(a)), the Foreign Pledge Agreements and each, a Foreign Pledge Agreement), (c) each Credit Party to the US Collateral and Guaranty Agreement or a Foreign Pledge Agreement shall have delivered to the Collateral Agent, as pledgee thereunder, all of the certificated Pledged Collateral, if any, referred to therein and then owned by each such Credit Party, (i) endorsed in blank in the case of promissory notes constituting such Pledged Collateral and (ii) together with (A) executed and undated stock powers or stock transfer forms, as applicable, in the case of capital stock constituting such Pledged Collateral and (B) proper financing statements (Form UCC-1) or appropriate local or foreign equivalent fully executed for filing under the UCC or other appropriate filing offices of each jurisdiction as may be necessary or, in the reasonable opinion of the Collateral Agent, desirable to perfect the security interests purported to be created by the US Collateral and Guaranty Agreement and Foreign Pledge Agreements, and (d) each Credit Party shall have taken all such further actions as may be necessary or, in the reasonable opinion of the Collateral Agent, desirable, to perfect the security interest purported to be created by the US Collateral and Guaranty Agreement and Foreign Pledge Agreements, and the US Collateral and Guaranty Agreement and each Foreign Pledge Agreement shall be in full force and effect.
SECTION 3.10. US Collateral and Guaranty Agreement; Foreign Security Agreements. On the Effective Date, each Foreign Subsidiary of the US Borrower incorporated under the laws of Canada (or any province or territory thereof) or of England and Wales in the United Kingdom shall have duly authorized, executed and delivered one or more other security agreements in form and substance satisfactory to the Collateral Agent in connection with the Security Agreement Collateral of each such Foreign Subsidiary, or (at the option of the Administrative Agent) a supplement to the Foreign Security Agreement executed and delivered in connection with the Existing Credit Agreement and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (such security agreements (as well as any security agreements delivered by any Foreign Subsidiary pursuant to Section 6.11(b)), the Foreign Security Agreements and each, a Foreign Security Agreement). The US Collateral and Guaranty Agreement and the Foreign Security Agreements executed and delivered on the Effective Date shall cover all of each Credit Partys present and future Security Agreement Collateral and shall be delivered together with:
(a) executed copies of financing statements (Form UCC-1) or appropriate local or foreign equivalents (if any) in appropriate form for filing under the UCC or appropriate local or foreign equivalent of each jurisdiction as may be necessary or, in the reasonable opinion of the Collateral Agent, desirable to perfect the security interests purported to be created by the US Collateral and Guaranty Agreement and the Foreign Security Agreements;
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(b) certified copies of Requests for Information or Copies (Form UCC-11), or equivalent reports (if any), listing all effective financing statements that name any Credit Party as debtor and that are filed in the jurisdictions referred to in clause (i) above together with copies of all other financing statements that name any Credit Party as debtor (none of which shall cover any Collateral except to the extent evidencing Permitted Liens or in respect of which the Collateral Agent shall have received termination statements (Form UCC-3 or the equivalent) as shall be required by local or foreign law fully executed for filing);
(c) evidence of the completion (or arrangements therefor reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent) of all other recordings and filings of, or with respect to, the US Collateral and Guaranty Agreement and the Foreign Security Agreements as may be necessary to perfect the security interests intended to be created by the US Collateral and Guaranty Agreement and the Foreign Security Agreements; and
(d) evidence that all other actions necessary to perfect and protect the security interests purported to be created by the US Collateral and Guaranty Agreement and the Foreign Security Agreements have been taken, except as provided in such Security Documents.
SECTION 3.11. US Collateral Assignment. On the Effective Date, each of Holdings and the US Borrower shall have duly authorized, executed and delivered the US Collateral Assignment in the form of Exhibit E (as amended, restated, modified and/or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof, the US Collateral Assignment) and shall have taken all such further actions as may be necessary or, in the reasonable opinion of the Collateral Agent, desirable, to perfect the security interest purported to be created by the US Collateral Assignment, and the US Collateral Assignment shall be in full force and effect.
SECTION 3.12. Foreign Guaranty. On the Effective Date, the Canadian Borrower, the UK Borrower and each other Foreign Subsidiary of the US Borrower shall have duly authorized, executed and delivered the Foreign Guaranty in the form of Exhibit F, with such changes thereto as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request with respect to any such Foreign Subsidiary, or (at the option of the Administrative Agent) a supplement to the Foreign Guaranty executed and delivered in connection with the Existing Credit Agreement and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (as amended, restated, modified and/or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof and hereof, the Foreign Guaranty), and the Foreign Guaranty shall be in full force and effect.
SECTION 3.13. Mortgages. (a) On the Effective Date, the Collateral Agent shall have received:
| (i) | | fully executed counterparts of Mortgages, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, which Mortgages shall cover such of the Real Property located in the United States or any State thereof that is owned or leased by any US Credit Party and that is designated as a US Mortgaged Property on Part A of Schedule IV, together with evidence that counterparts of such Mortgages have been |
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delivered to the title insurance company retained by the US Borrower in connection with the execution and delivery of such Mortgages for recording in all places to the extent necessary or, in the reasonable opinion of the Collateral Agent, desirable to effectively create a valid and enforceable first priority mortgage lien, subject only to Permitted Encumbrances, on each such US Mortgaged Property in favor of the Collateral Agent (or such other trustee as may be required or desired under local law) for the benefit of the Secured Parties; and
| (ii) | | Mortgage Policies on the Mortgages for the US Mortgaged Properties issued by Chicago Title Insurance Company or such other title company as may be reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent in amounts reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and assuring the Collateral Agent that each of the Mortgages on such US Mortgaged Properties is a valid and enforceable first priority mortgage lien on such US Mortgaged Properties, free and clear of all defects and encumbrances except Permitted Encumbrances, and such Mortgage Policies shall otherwise be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and shall include, as appropriate, an endorsement for future advances under this Agreement and the Notes and for any other matter that the Collateral Agent in its discretion may reasonably request, shall not include an exception for mechanics liens, and shall provide for affirmative insurance and such reinsurance as the Collateral Agent in its discretion may reasonably request. |
(b) On the Effective Date, with respect to each parcel of Real Property located (i) in Canada that is owned by the Canadian Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and (ii) in the United Kingdom that is owned by the UK Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case that is designated on Part C of Schedule IV as a Foreign Mortgaged Property, the respective Foreign Credit Party owning same shall have executed and delivered such security documentation as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request to create a valid and enforceable first priority mortgage lien, subject only to Canadian Permitted Encumbrances in the case of the Foreign Mortgaged Property referred to in clause (i) of this Section 3.13(b) and only to Permitted Encumbrances in the case of the Foreign Mortgaged Property referred to in clause (ii) of this Section 3.13(b), on each such Foreign Mortgaged Property in favor of the Collateral Agent (or such other agent or trustee as may be required or desired under local law) for the benefit of the Secured Parties. All actions required pursuant to this Section 3.13(b) shall be taken to the reasonable satisfaction of the Administrative Agent.
(c) On the Effective Date, with respect to each parcel of Real Property located (i) in Canada that is leased by the Canadian Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and (ii) in the United Kingdom that is leased by the UK Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case that is designated on Part C of Schedule IV as a Foreign Lease Subject to an Assignment For Security Purposes, the respective Foreign Credit Party leasing same shall have executed and delivered such security documentation as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request to create an assignment for security purposes on such Foreign Credit Partys Leasehold interest in the
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respective Foreign Mortgaged Property. All actions required pursuant to this Section 3.13(c) shall be taken to the reasonable satisfaction of the Collateral Agent.
(d) On the Effective Date, with respect to each parcel of Real Property located in the United States that is leased by the US Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case that is designated on Part D of Schedule IV as a US Lease Subject to an Assignment For Security Purposes, the respective US Credit Party leasing same shall have executed and delivered such security documentation as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request to create an assignment for security purposes on such US Credit Partys Leasehold interest in the respective US Mortgaged Property. All actions required pursuant to this Section 3.13(d) shall be taken to the reasonable satisfaction of the Collateral Agent.
SECTION 3.14. Consent Letter. On the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received a letter from CT Corporation System, 111 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10011, substantially in the form of Exhibit G, indicating its consent to its appointment by each Credit Party as its agent to receive service of process as specified in Section 10.07 of this Agreement.
SECTION 3.15. Insurance Certificates. On or before the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received evidence of insurance complying with the requirements of Section 6.03 for the business and properties of the US Borrower and its Subsidiaries, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and naming the Collateral Agent as an additional insured and/or loss payee, and stating that such insurance shall not be canceled or revised without at least 30 days prior written notice by the insurer to the Collateral Agent.
SECTION 3.16. Historical Financial Statements; Pro Forma Financial Statements; Projections. (a) On or prior to the Effective Date, there shall have been delivered to the Administrative Agent (i) true and correct copies of the historical financial statements referred to in Section 5.10(b) and (ii) (A) the Pro Forma Balance Sheet, together with a related funds flow statement for the Transaction, and (B) a certificate of the chief financial officer of the US Borrower to the effect that the Pro Forma Balance Sheet fairly presents in all material respects the pro forma financial condition of Holdings and its Subsidiaries as of such date after giving effect to the Transaction, which historical financial statements, Pro Forma Balance Sheet, certificate of Holdings and funds flow statement shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.
(b) On or prior to the Effective Date, there shall have been delivered to the Administrative Agent the Projections containing the projected consolidated financial statements of the US Borrower and its Subsidiaries certified by an officer of the US Borrower for the five fiscal years ended after the Effective Date, which Projections (i) shall reflect the forecasted consolidated financial conditions and income and expenses of the US Borrower and its Subsidiaries after giving effect to the Transaction and the related financing thereof and the other transactions contemplated hereby and (ii) shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Administrative Agent.
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SECTION 3.17. Payment of Fees. On the Effective Date, all costs, fees and expenses, and all other compensation due to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders (including legal fees and expenses), shall have been paid to the extent due.
SECTION 3.18. Payment of Existing Credit Agreement Indebtedness. On the Effective Date, Holdings and its Subsidiaries shall have paid down in full their Existing Credit Agreement Indebtedness and terminated all the commitments related thereto, and the Administrative Agent shall be satisfied that all guarantees and security interests relating thereto shall have been amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, in each case as contemplated by this Agreement, simultaneously with the repayment or repurchase of the respective Existing Credit Agreement Indebtedness. After giving effect to the Transaction and the other transactions contemplated hereby and by the Debt Tender Offer Documents, Holdings and its Subsidiaries shall have outstanding no Indebtedness or Preferred Stock or other preferred equity interests other than (a) in the case of the US Borrower, the Senior Subordinated Notes, (b) in the case of Holdings, the Holdings Notes, (c) Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, (d) the UK Intercompany Loan, (e) the Retained Existing Indebtedness (if any), (f) the Canadian Intercompany Loan, (g) the Canadian LP Intercompany Loans, (h) other Indebtedness among the US Borrower and its Subsidiaries permitted under the Existing Credit Agreement and (g) in the case of GSLM, Preferred Stock held by US Holdco.
The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrowers and the Lenders of the Effective Date, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the amendment and restatement of the Existing Credit Agreement pursuant to this Agreement and the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans or accept and purchase B/As and of the Letter of Credit Issuer to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective unless each of the foregoing conditions is satisfied (or waived pursuant to Section 10.11) at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on January 31, 2006 (and, in the event such conditions are not so satisfied or waived, the Commitments shall terminate at such time).
ARTICLE IV
Conditions Precedent to All Credit Events
The obligation of each Lender to make Loans (including Loans made on the Effective Date) and accept and purchase B/As, and the obligation of each Letter of Credit Issuer to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, is subject, at the time of each such Credit Event (except as hereinafter indicated), to the satisfaction of the following conditions:
SECTION 4.01. No Default; Representations and Warranties. At the time of each such Credit Event and also after giving effect thereto (a) there shall exist no Default or Event of Default and (b) all representations and warranties contained herein and in each other Credit Document shall be true and correct in all material respects with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on the date of such Credit Event (it being understood and agreed that any representation or warranty that by its terms is made as of a specified date shall be required to be true and correct in all material respects only as of such specified date).
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SECTION 4.02. Notice of Borrowing; Letter of Credit Request. (a) Prior to the making of each Loan (excluding Swingline Loans), the Administrative Agent shall have received a Notice of Borrowing meeting the requirements of Section 2.03. Prior to the making of each Swingline Loan, the Swingline Lender shall have received the notice required by Section 2.04.
(b) Prior to the issuance, amendment renewal or extension of each Letter of Credit, the Administrative Agent and the respective Letter of Credit Issuer shall have received a Letter of Credit Request meeting the requirements of Section 2.05.
(c) Prior to the acceptance and purchase of any B/A, the Administrative Agent shall have received a written request meeting the requirements of Section 2.07(c).
The occurrence of the Effective Date and the acceptance of the benefits or proceeds of each Credit Event shall constitute a representation and warranty by each of Holdings and each Borrower to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders that all the conditions specified in Article III (with respect to the Effective Date and the Credit Events to occur on the Effective Date) and in this Article IV (with respect to the Effective Date and the Credit Events to occur on or after the Effective Date) and applicable to such Credit Event (other than such conditions to the extent that same are subject to the satisfaction of the Administrative Agent and/or the Required Lenders) exist as of that time.
ARTICLE V
Representations and Warranties
In order to induce the Lenders to enter into this Agreement and to make the Loans, accept and purchase B/As and issue and/or participate in the Letters of Credit provided for herein, each of Holdings and each Borrower makes the following representations and warranties to the Lenders, in each case after giving effect to the Transaction, all of which shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the making of the Loans and the issuance of the Letters of Credit (with the occurrence of the Effective Date and each Credit Event on and after the Effective Date being deemed to constitute a representation and warranty that the matters specified in this Article V are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Effective Date and the date of each such Credit Event, unless stated to relate to a specific earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects only as of such earlier date):
SECTION 5.01. Company Status. Each of Holdings and each of its Subsidiaries (a) is a duly organized and validly existing Company in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization (provided that the representation and warranty in this clause (a) as it relates to Foreign Subsidiaries of Holdings shall only be made to the extent that such concept is legally applicable under the laws of the respective jurisdictions in which such Foreign Subsidiaries are organized), (b) has the Company power and authority to own its property and assets and to transact the business in which it is engaged and presently proposes to engage and (c) is duly qualified and is authorized to do business and is in good standing in all jurisdictions where it is required to be so qualified and where
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the failure to be so qualified would have a Material Adverse Effect (provided that the representation and warranty in this clause (c) as to good standing as it relates to Foreign Subsidiaries of Holdings shall be made only to the extent that such concept is legally applicable under the laws of the respective jurisdictions in which such Foreign Subsidiaries are organized).
SECTION 5.02. Company Power and Authority. Each Credit Party has the Company power and authority to execute, deliver and carry out the terms and provisions of the Documents to which it is a party and has taken all necessary Company action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of the Documents to which it is a party. Each Credit Party has duly executed and delivered each Document to which it is a party and each such Document constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Credit Party enforceable in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that the enforceability thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws generally affecting creditors rights and by equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in equity or at law).
SECTION 5.03. No Violation. Neither the execution, delivery or performance by any Credit Party of the Documents to which it is a party, nor compliance by any Credit Party with the terms and provisions thereof, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein or therein, (a) will contravene any material provision of any applicable law, statute, rule or regulation, or any order, writ, injunction or decree of any Governmental Authority, (b) will conflict or be inconsistent with, or result in any breach of, any of the terms, covenants, conditions or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or (other than pursuant to the Security Documents) result in the creation or imposition of (or the obligation to create or impose) any Lien upon any of the property or assets of such Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, credit agreement or any other material agreement or instrument to which such Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of its property or assets are bound or to which such Credit Party and any of its Subsidiaries may be subject or (c) will violate any provision of the certificate or articles of incorporation, by-laws, certificate of partnership, partnership agreement, certificate of limited liability company, limited liability company agreement or equivalent organizational document, as the case may be, of such Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries.
SECTION 5.04. Litigation. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.04 hereto, there are no actions, suits, proceedings or investigations pending or, to the best knowledge of each of Holdings and each Borrower, threatened (a) with respect to any Credit Document, (b) with respect to the Transaction or any other Document, or (c) with respect to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries (i) that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) that could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the rights or remedies of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders or on the ability of any Credit Party to perform its respective obligations to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders hereunder and under the other Credit Documents to which it is, or will be, a party. Additionally, there does not exist any judgment, order or injunction prohibiting or imposing material adverse conditions upon the occurrence of any Credit Event.
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SECTION 5.05. Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations. (a) The proceeds of the Term Loans, together with the proceeds of the Revolving Facility Loan, shall be utilized by the Borrowers on the Effective Date solely to (i) pay the Debt Tender Premium and other fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Transaction in an aggregate amount not to exceed $35,000,000 (the Transaction Costs), (ii) consummate the Debt Tender Offer and (iii) pay the Existing Credit Agreement Indebtedness.
(b) The proceeds of all Revolving Loans, Swingline Loans and B/As shall be utilized by each Borrower for the general corporate and working capital purposes of the US Borrower and its Subsidiaries (including Permitted Acquisitions), including use of Revolving Loans (the Revolving Facility Loan) by any Borrower on the Effective Date in connection with the Transaction.
(c) Neither the making of any Loan, nor the use of the proceeds thereof, nor the occurrence of any other Credit Event, will violate or be inconsistent with the provisions of Regulation U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
SECTION 5.06. Governmental Approvals. Except as may have been obtained or made on or prior to the Effective Date (and which remain in full force and effect on the Effective Date), no order, consent, approval, license, authorization or validation of, or filing, recording or registration with, or exemption by, any foreign or domestic Governmental Authority, or any subdivision thereof, is required to authorize or is required in connection with (a) the execution, delivery and performance of any Document or (b) the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of any Document.
SECTION 5.07. Investment Company Act. Neither Holdings nor any of its Subsidiaries is an investment company or a company controlled by an investment company, within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
SECTION 5.08. Public Utility Holding Company Act. Neither Holdings nor any of its Subsidiaries 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, as amended.
SECTION 5.09. True and Complete Disclosure. All information (taken as a whole) heretofore or contemporaneously furnished by or on behalf of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries in writing to the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including all information contained in the Documents and all information contained in the Confidential Information Memorandum dated November 2005 relating to the facilities hereunder) for purposes of or in connection with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated herein or therein is, and all other such factual information (taken as a whole) hereafter furnished by or on behalf of any such Persons in writing to the Administrative Agent or any Lender will be, true and accurate in all material respects on the date as of which such information is dated or certified and not incomplete by omitting to state any material fact necessary to make such information (taken as a whole) not misleading at such time in light of the circumstances under which such information was provided, it being understood and agreed that for
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purposes of this Section 5.09, such information shall not include the Projections or any pro forma financial information.
SECTION 5.10. Financial Condition; Financial Statements; Undisclosed Liabilities; Projections. (a) On and as of the Effective Date, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the Transaction and to all Indebtedness (including the Loans) incurred, and to be incurred, and Liens created, and to be created, by each Credit Party in connection therewith, with respect to the US Borrower (on a stand-alone basis), the Canadian Borrower (on a stand-alone basis), the UK Borrower (on a stand-alone basis) and the US Borrower and its Subsidiaries (on a consolidated basis), (i) the sum of the assets, at a fair valuation, of the US Borrower (on a stand-alone basis), the Canadian Borrower (on a stand-alone basis), the UK Borrower (on a stand-alone basis) and the US Borrower and its Subsidiaries (on a consolidated basis) will exceed its or their debts, (ii) it has or they have not incurred nor intended to, nor believes or believe that it or they will, incur debts beyond its or their ability to pay such debts as such debts mature and (iii) it or they will have sufficient capital with which to conduct its or their business. For purposes of this Section 5.10(a), debt means any liability on a claim, and claim means (A) right to payment, whether or not such a right is reduced to judgment, liquidated, unliquidated, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, legal, equitable, secured or unsecured or (B) right to an equitable remedy for breach of performance if such breach gives rise to a payment, whether or not such right to an equitable remedy is reduced to judgment, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, disputed, undisputed, secured or unsecured. The amount of contingent liabilities at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in the light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.
(b) (i)(A) The audited consolidated balance sheets of Holdings as of the end of the fiscal years ended December 31, 2003, and December 31, 2004, respectively, and the related audited consolidated statements of operations, shareholders equity and cash flows of Holdings for the fiscal years ended on such dates, and (B) the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of Holdings as of September 30, 2005, and the related unaudited consolidated statements of operations and cash flows of Holdings for the nine-month period ended on such date, copies of which (in each case) have been furnished to the Lenders prior to the Effective Date, present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position of Holdings at the dates of such balance sheets and the consolidated results of the operations and cash flows of Holdings for the periods covered thereby. All such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied except to the extent provided in the notes to said financial statements, subject to year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes in the case of the financial statements referred to in clause (B) above.
| (ii) | | The Pro Forma Balance Sheet, copies of which have been furnished to the Lenders prior to the Effective Date pursuant to Section 3.16(a), present a good faith estimate of the consolidated pro forma financial condition of Holdings at the date of such Pro Forma Financial Statements (after giving effect to the Transaction). |
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(c) Since December 31, 2004, nothing has occurred that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(d) Except as fully reflected in the financial statements described in Section 5.10(b) and except for the Indebtedness incurred under this Agreement, (i) as of the Effective Date (and after giving effect to any Loans made on such date and the consummation of the Debt Tender Offer and the repayment of Existing Credit Agreement Indebtedness), there were no liabilities or obligations (excluding obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business) with respect to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries of any nature whatsoever (whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise and whether or not due) that, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to be material to Holdings and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole and (ii) as of the Effective Date, neither Holdings nor any Borrower knows of any basis for the assertion against it or any of its Subsidiaries of any such liability or obligation that, either individually or in the aggregate, are or would be reasonably likely to have, a Material Adverse Effect.
(e) The Projections delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders prior to the Effective Date have been prepared on a basis consistent with the financial statements referred to in Section 5.10(b), and have been prepared in good faith and are based on reasonable assumptions under the then known facts and circumstances. On the Effective Date, the management of each of Holdings and each Borrower believes that the Projections are reasonable and attainable based upon the then known facts and circumstances (it being understood that nothing contained in this Section 5.10(e) shall constitute a representation that the results forecasted in such Projections will in fact be achieved). There is no fact known to Holdings or any Borrower that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect that has not been disclosed herein or in such other documents, certificates and statements furnished to the Lenders for use in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.
SECTION 5.11. The Security Interests. On and after the Effective Date, each of the Security Documents creates (or after the execution and delivery thereof will create), as security for the obligations secured thereby, a valid and enforceable perfected security interest in and Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent on all of the Collateral subject thereto, superior to and prior to the rights of all third Persons, and subject to no other Liens (except that (a) the Security Agreement Collateral may be subject to Permitted Liens relating thereto, (b) the Mortgaged Properties may be subject to Permitted Encumbrances relating thereto and the Mortgaged Property referred to in Section 3.13(c)(i) may be subject to Canadian Permitted Encumbrances relating thereto and (c) the Pledged Collateral may be subject to the Liens described in clauses (a) and (e) of Section 7.03); provided that the security documentation covering (i) Real Property designated on Part B of Schedule IV as a Foreign Mortgaged Property and (ii) Real Property designated on Part C of Schedule IV as a Foreign Lease Subject to an Assignment For Security Purposes may be subject to applicable limitations under local law. No filings or recordings are required in order to perfect and/or render enforceable as against third parties the security interests created under any Security Document except for filings or recordings required in connection with any such Security Document that shall have been made (A) on or prior to the Effective Date (or (1) within 10 days thereafter in the case of UCC-1 filings in connection with the US Collateral and Guaranty Agreement and filings with the Quebec Register of Personal and
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Moveable Real Rights in connection with a Foreign Security Agreement entered into by Subsidiaries of Holdings organized under the laws of Canada (or any province or territory thereof) or (2) within 21 days in the case of filings on Form 395 in connection with a Foreign Security Agreement entered into by Subsidiaries of Holdings organized under the laws of England and Wales in the United Kingdom) as contemplated by Section 3.10 or 3.12 or (B) on or prior to the execution and delivery thereof as contemplated by Sections 6.11, 6.12 and 7.15 (or (1) within 10 days thereafter in the case of UCC-1 filings in connection with the US Collateral and Guaranty Agreement and filings with the Quebec Register of Personal and Moveable Real Rights in connection with a Foreign Security Agreement entered into by Subsidiaries of Holdings organized under the laws of Canada (or any province or territory thereof) or (2) within 21 days (x) in the case of filings on Form 395 in connection with a Foreign Security Agreement entered into by Subsidiaries of Holdings organized under the laws of England and Wales in the United Kingdom) or (y) in the case of other filings in connection with a Foreign Security Agreement entered into by Subsidiaries of Holdings not organized under the laws of the United States (or any state thereof or the District of Columbia), Canada (or any province or territory thereof) or England and Wales in the United Kingdom.
SECTION 5.12. Pension Matters. (a)(i) Each Plan (and each related trust, insurance contract or fund) is in substantial compliance with its terms and with all applicable laws, including without limitation ERISA and the Code; (ii) each Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect that it meets the requirements of Sections 401(a) and 501(a) of the Code and such determination letter has not been revoked; (iii) no Reportable Event has occurred; (iv) no Plan has an Unfunded Current Liability; (v) no Plan that is subject to Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA has an accumulated funding deficiency, within the meaning of such sections of the Code or ERISA, or has applied for or received a waiver of an accumulated funding deficiency or an extension of any amortization period, within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or Section 303 or 304 of ERISA; (vi) neither Holdings nor any Subsidiary of Holdings nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred any liability to or on account of a Multiemployer Plan pursuant to Section 515, 4201, 4204, or 4212 of ERISA; (vii) no proceedings have been instituted under Section 4042 of ERISA to terminate or appoint a trustee to administer any Plan that is subject to Title IV of ERISA; and (viii) no lien imposed under the Code or ERISA on the assets of Holdings or any Subsidiary of Holdings or any ERISA Affiliate exists or is likely to arise on account of any Plan; except, with respect to clauses (iii)-(viii), to the extent any exceptions thereunder could not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Each Foreign Pension Plan has been maintained in substantial compliance with its terms and with the requirements of any and all applicable laws, statutes, rules, regulations and orders and has been maintained, where required, in good standing with applicable regulatory authorities. Neither Holdings nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred any liability that could reasonably be expected, either individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect in connection with the termination of or withdrawal from any Foreign Pension Plan that has not been accrued or otherwise properly reserved on Holdingss or such Subsidiarys balance sheet. With respect to each Foreign Pension Plan that is required by
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applicable local law or by its terms to be funded through a separate funding vehicle, the present value of the accrued benefit liabilities (whether or not vested) under each such Foreign Pension Plan, determined as of the latest valuation date for such Foreign Pension Plan on the basis of actuarial assumptions, each of which is reasonable or utilized in accordance with applicable law, rule, or regulation, did not exceed the current value of the assets of such Foreign Pension Plan allocable to such benefit liabilities except to the extent that such underfunding could not reasonably be expected, either individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 5.13. Capitalization. On the Effective Date, (a) the authorized capital stock of the US Borrower shall be as set forth on Schedule 5.13, all of which shall be issued and outstanding and owned by Holdings and (b) the authorized capital stock of the Canadian Borrower and UK Borrower shall be as set forth on Schedule 5.13, all of which shall be issued and outstanding and owned, directly or indirectly through Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of the US Borrower, by the US Borrower.
SECTION 5.14. Subsidiaries. On and as of the Effective Date, Holdings has no Subsidiaries other than those Subsidiaries listed on Schedule V. Schedule V correctly sets forth, as of the Effective Date, (a) the percentage ownership (direct and indirect) of Holdings in each class of capital stock or other equity interests of each of its Subsidiaries and also identifies the direct owner thereof and (b) the jurisdiction of organization of each Subsidiary of Holdings. All outstanding equity interests of each Subsidiary of Holdings have been duly and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, have been issued free of preemptive rights and, in the case of equity of Foreign Subsidiaries, no depository receipts have been issued in respect of such equity. No Subsidiary of Holdings has outstanding any securities convertible into or exchangeable for its capital stock or outstanding any right to subscribe for or to purchase, or any options or warrants for the purchase of, or any agreement providing for the issuance (contingent or otherwise) of or any calls, commitments or claims of any character relating to, its capital stock or any stock appreciation or similar rights.
SECTION 5.15. Intellectual Property, etc. Except as disclosed in Schedule 5.15 hereto, each of Holdings and each of its Subsidiaries owns or has a valid existing license to use all patents, trademarks, permits, service marks, trade names, copyrights, licenses, franchises and other rights with respect to the foregoing reasonably necessary for the conduct of its business, without any known conflict with the rights of others which, or the failure to obtain which, as the case may be, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 5.16. Compliance with Statutes, etc. Except as set forth in Schedule 5.16 hereto, each of Holdings and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all applicable statutes, regulations, rules and orders of, and all applicable restrictions imposed by, all Governmental Authorities, domestic or foreign, in respect of the conduct of its business and the ownership of its property, except such non-compliance as is not reasonably likely to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
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SECTION 5.17. Environmental Matters. Except as set forth in Schedule 5.17 hereto and except for any matters that could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect:
(a) each of Holdings and each of its Subsidiaries has complied with, and on the date of each Credit Event is in compliance with, all applicable Environmental Laws and the requirements of any permits issued under such Environmental Laws;
(b) there are no pending or, to the best knowledge of each of Holdings and each Borrower after due inquiry, threatened Environmental Claims against Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, or against any Real Property owned or operated by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries;
(c) there are no facts, circumstances, conditions or occurrences with respect to the business or operations of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or any Real Property currently or formerly owned or operated by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries that could reasonably be expected (i) to form the basis of an Environmental Claim against Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or any such Real Property or (ii) to cause any such Real Property to be subject to any restrictions on the ownership, occupancy, use or transferability of such Real Property by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries under any applicable Environmental Law;
(d) Hazardous Materials have not at any time been generated, used, treated or stored on, or transported by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or by any Person acting for or under contract to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of each of Holdings and each Borrower, by any other Person, to or from any Real Property owned or operated by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries; and
(e) Hazardous Materials have not at any time been Released by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or by any Person acting for or under contract to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of each of Holdings and each Borrower, by any other Person on, at, under or from any Real Property currently or formerly owned or operated by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries.
SECTION 5.18. Properties. All material Real Property owned by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries and all material Leaseholds leased by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case as of the Effective Date, and the nature of the interest therein, is correctly set forth in Schedule IV. Each of Holdings and each of its Subsidiaries has good and marketable title to, or a validly subsisting leasehold interest in, all material properties owned or leased by it, including all Real Property reflected in Schedule IV and in the financial statements (including the Pro Forma Balance Sheet) referred to in Section 5.10(b) (except such properties sold since the dates of the respective financial statements referred to therein in accordance with Section 7.02), free and clear of all Liens, other than Permitted Encumbrances (except that the Mortgaged Property referred to in Section 3.13(c)(i) may be subject to Canadian Permitted Encumbrances relating thereto).
SECTION 5.19. Labor Relations. Neither Holdings nor any of its Subsidiaries is engaged in any unfair labor practice that could reasonably be expected to
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have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed in Schedule 5.19 hereof, there is (a) no unfair labor practice complaint pending against Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the best knowledge of each of Holdings and each Borrower, threatened against any of them, before the National Labor Relations Board, and no grievance or arbitration proceeding arising out of or under any collective bargaining agreement is so pending against Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the best knowledge of each of Holdings and each Borrower, threatened against any of them, (b) no strike, labor dispute, slowdown or stoppage pending against Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the best knowledge of each of Holdings and each Borrower, threatened against Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, and (c) no union representation question existing with respect to the employees of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries and, to the best knowledge of each of Holdings and each Borrower, no union organizing activities are taking place, except (with respect to any matter specified in clause (a), (b) or (c) above, individually and in the aggregate) such as is not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 5.20. Tax Returns and Payments. Except as provided in Part A of Schedule III, each of Holdings and each of its Subsidiaries has filed all United States Federal income tax returns and all other material tax returns, domestic and foreign, required to be filed by it and has paid all material Taxes and assessments payable by it that have become due, except for those contested in good faith and fully provided for on the financial statements of Holdings and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP. Each of Holdings and each of its Subsidiaries has provided adequate reserves (in the good faith judgment of the management of Holdings) for the payment of all United States Federal, state and foreign income taxes that have not yet become due. Except as provided in Part B and C of Schedule III, there is no material action, suit, proceeding, investigation, audit or claim now pending or, to the knowledge of each of Holdings and each Borrower, threatened by any Governmental Authority regarding any Taxes relating to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries. Except as provided in Part D of Schedule III, neither Holdings nor any of its Subsidiaries has entered into an agreement or waiver or been requested to enter into an agreement or waiver extending any statute of limitations relating to the payment or collection of Taxes of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, or is aware of any circumstances that would cause the taxable years or other taxable periods of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries not to be subject to the normally applicable statute of limitations, in each case except to the extent the liability for Taxes of Holdings or such Subsidiary giving rise to any extension of any such normally applicable statute of limitation is not material.
SECTION 5.21. Insurance. Set forth on Schedule VI is a true, correct and complete summary of all insurance carried by each Credit Party on and as of the Effective Date, with the amounts insured set forth therein.
SECTION 5.22. The Transaction. At the time of consummation thereof, the Transaction shall have been consummated in all material respects in accordance with the terms of the relevant Documents therefor and all applicable laws. At the time of consummation thereof, all material consents and approvals of, and filings and registrations with, and all other actions in respect of, all governmental agencies, authorities or instrumentalities required in order to make or consummate the Transaction in accordance with the terms of the relevant Documents therefor and all applicable laws have been
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obtained, given, filed or taken and are or will be in full force and effect (or effective judicial relief with respect thereto has been obtained). All applicable waiting periods with respect thereto have or, prior to the time when required, will have, expired without, in all such cases, any action being taken by any competent authority that restrains, prevents, or imposes material adverse conditions upon the Transaction. Additionally, there does not exist any judgment, order or injunction prohibiting or imposing material adverse conditions upon any element of the Transaction, the occurrence of any Credit Event, or the performance by Holdings and its Subsidiaries of their respective obligations under the Documents and all applicable laws.
SECTION 5.23. Subordination. The subordination provisions contained in the Senior Subordinated Note Documents and the Holdings 2013 Notes and, on and after the execution and delivery thereof, the Additional Senior Subordinated Note Documents, Permitted Subordinated Refinancing Indebtedness and initial and successive Permitted Holdings Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the Holdings 2013 Notes, are enforceable against Holdings, each Borrower, the respective Subsidiary Guarantors and the holders of such Indebtedness, as applicable, and all Loan Document Obligations hereunder and under the other Credit Documents (including the US Collateral and Guaranty Agreement and the Foreign Guaranty) are within the definitions of Senior Debt (or Guarantor Senior Debt in the case of the obligations of any Subsidiary Guarantor) and Designated Senior Debt (or any similar terms in any such case) included in such subordination provisions.
ARTICLE VI
Affirmative Covenants
Each of Holdings and each Borrower hereby covenants and agrees that as of the Effective Date and thereafter for so long as this Agreement is in effect and until the Total Commitment has terminated, no Letters of Credit or Notes are outstanding and the Loans, LC Disbursements and all amounts due in respect of B/As, together with interest, fees and all other Loan Document Obligations (other than any indemnities described in Section 10.12 that are not then due and payable) incurred hereunder, are paid in full:
SECTION 6.01. Information Covenants. The US Borrower will furnish to each Lender:
(a) Quarterly Financial Statements. Within 45 days after the close of the first three quarterly accounting periods in each fiscal year of Holdings, (i) (x) the consolidated balance sheet of Holdings as at the end of such quarterly accounting period setting forth comparative figures for the most recently ended fiscal year, (y) the related consolidated statements of operations of Holdings for such quarterly accounting period setting forth comparative figures for the corresponding quarterly accounting period in the prior fiscal year and (z) the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders equity and cash flows of Holdings for the elapsed portion of the fiscal year ended with the last day of such quarterly accounting period, in each case of this clause (z) (except with respect to such consolidated statement of stockholders equity) setting forth comparative figures for the corresponding elapsed period in the prior fiscal year, and (ii) managements discussion and analysis of
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significant operational and financial developments during such quarterly accounting period, all of which shall be in reasonable detail and certified by the chief financial officer or other Authorized Officer of Holdings that they fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial condition of Holdings as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations and changes in their cash flows for the periods indicated, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes. If the US Borrower has designated any Unrestricted Subsidiaries hereunder, then the quarterly financial information required by this Section 6.01(a) shall include a reasonably detailed presentation, either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes thereto, and in managements discussion and analysis of operational and financial developments, of the financial condition and results of operations of Holdings and its Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of Holdings.
(b) Annual Financial Statements. Within 90 days after the close of each fiscal year of Holdings, (i) the consolidated balance sheet of Holdings as at the end of such fiscal year and the related consolidated statements of operations and stockholders equity and of cash flows for such fiscal year, in each case setting forth comparative consolidated figures for the preceding fiscal year and (except for such comparable budgeted figures) certified by independent certified public accountants of recognized national standing as shall be reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, in each case without any qualification or material exception as to the scope of such audit and to the effect that such statements fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial condition of Holdings as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations and changes in financial position for the periods indicated in conformity with GAAP applied on a basis consistent with prior years, together with a certificate of such accounting firm stating that in the course of its regular audit of the consolidated business of Holdings, which audit was conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, no Default or Event of Default that has occurred and is continuing has come to their attention or, if such a Default or an Event of Default has come to their attention, a statement as to the nature thereof, and (ii) managements discussion and analysis of significant operational and financial developments during such fiscal year. If the US Borrower has designated any Unrestricted Subsidiaries hereunder, then the annual financial information required by this Section 6.01(b) shall include a reasonably detailed presentation, either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes thereto, and in managements discussion and analysis of operational and financial developments, of the consolidated financial condition and results of operations of Holdings separate from the financial condition and results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of Holdings.
(c) Budgets, etc. Not more than 60 days after the commencement of each fiscal year of Holdings, consolidated budgets (including Capital Expenditures budgets) of Holdings and its Subsidiaries (i) in reasonable detail for each of the four fiscal quarters of such fiscal year and (ii) in summary form for each of the four fiscal years immediately following such fiscal year, in each case as customarily prepared by management for its internal use setting forth, with appropriate discussion, the principal assumptions upon which such budgets are based.
(d)
Officers Certificates. At the time of the delivery of the financial statements provided for in Sections 6.01(a) and (b), a certificate of the chief financial officer or other Authorized Officer of Holdings to the effect that, to the best of such officers knowledge,
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no Default or Event of Default exists or, if any Default or Event of Default does exist, specifying the nature and extent thereof, which certificate shall, (i) if delivered in connection with the financial statements in respect of a period ending on the last day of a fiscal quarter or a fiscal year of Holdings, set forth (A) the calculations required to establish whether (1) the US Borrower and its Subsidiaries were in compliance with the provisions of Sections 2.12, 7.02, 7.04(d), (e), (j), (m) and (n), 7.05(f), (g), (k), (m), (o) and (p), 7.06(b) (e), (h), (i) and (j), and (2) the US Borrower and its Subsidiaries were in compliance with the provisions of Sections 7.09, 7.10 and 7.11, in each case as at the end of such fiscal quarter or year, as the case may be, (B) the calculation of the Total Leverage Ratio and the Adjusted Total Leverage Ratio as at the last day of the respective fiscal quarter or fiscal year of the US Borrower and the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the four fiscal quarter period ended on such last day, as the case may be, and (C) a reasonably detailed summary of the differences between such financial statements of Holdings and what would be reflected in consolidated financial statements of the US Borrower prepared on a comparable basis, including calculations showing the adjustments made to consolidated net income of Holdings reflected in such financial statements to arrive at Consolidated Net Income and Consolidated EBITDA for such period, and (ii) if delivered with the financial statements required by Section 6.01(b), set forth in reasonable detail the amount of (and the calculations required to establish the amount of) Adjusted Excess Cash Flow for the respective Excess Cash Flow Payment Period.
(e) Notice of Default or Litigation. Promptly, and in any event within three Business Days after an executive officer of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries obtains actual knowledge thereof, notice of (i) the occurrence of any event that constitutes a Default or an Event of Default, which notice shall specify the nature and period of existence thereof and what action each of Holdings and each Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto, (ii) any litigation or proceeding pending or threatened (A) against Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (B) with respect to any material Indebtedness of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or (C) with respect to any Document (other than such Documents referred to in clause (f) or (g) of the definition thereof), (iii) any governmental investigation pending or threatened against Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (iv) any other event that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(f) Auditors Reports. Promptly upon receipt thereof, a copy of each report or management letter submitted to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries by its independent accountants in connection with any annual, interim or special audit made by them of the books of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries and the managements non-privileged responses thereto.
(g) Environmental Matters. Promptly after an executive officer of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries obtains actual knowledge of any of the following (but only to the extent that any of the following, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect), written notice of:
| (i) | | any pending or threatened Environmental Claim against Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or any Real Property owned or operated by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries; and |
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| (ii) | | any condition or occurrence on any Real Property at any time owned or operated by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries that (A) results in non-compliance by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries with any applicable Environmental Law; (B) could reasonably be anticipated to form the basis of an Environmental Claim against Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or any such Real Property; or (C) results in the taking of any removal or remedial action in response to the actual or alleged presence of any Hazardous Material. |
All such notices shall describe in reasonable detail the nature of the claim, investigation, condition, occurrence or removal or remedial action and each of Holdingss, each of its Subsidiarys and each other third Persons response or proposed response thereto.
(h) Notice of Commitment Reductions and Mandatory Repayments. On or prior to the date of any reduction to the Total Revolving Loan Commitment or any mandatory repayment of outstanding Term Loans pursuant to any of Sections 2.12(c) through (e), inclusive, the US Borrower shall provide written notice of the amount of the respective reduction or repayment, as the case may be, to the Total Revolving Loan Commitment or the outstanding Term Loans, as applicable, and the calculation thereof (in reasonable detail).
(i) Other Information. Promptly upon transmission thereof, copies of any filings and registrations with, and reports to, the SEC by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries and copies of all financial statements, proxy statements, notices and reports as Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries shall send generally to analysts and the holders of their capital stock or of any Permitted Debt, Holdings Notes, Permitted Holdings Refinancing Indebtedness and Senior Subordinated Notes Indebtedness, in their capacity as such holders (to the extent not theretofore delivered to the Lenders pursuant to this Agreement) and, with reasonable promptness, such other information or documents (financial or otherwise) as the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of any Lender may reasonably request from time to time.
(j) Collateral Information. Concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a) or (b) above, a certificate of the chief financial officer of the US Borrower setting forth the information required pursuant to (i) (A) in the case of financial statements delivered under clause (a) above, the paragraphs numbered 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 11 and 13 of the US Perfection Certificate or (B) in the case of financial statements delivered under clause (b) above, the paragraphs numbered 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 of the US Perfection Certificate and (ii) the equivalent paragraphs under Foreign Perfection Certificates and such other paragraphs under Foreign Perfection Certificates and such other information as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request and/or as the Administrative Agent shall have designated, or in each case confirming that there has been no change in such information since the date of the applicable Perfection Certificate delivered on the later of the Effective Date and the date of the most recent certificate delivered pursuant to this Section 6.01(j).
SECTION 6.02. Books, Records and Inspections. Holdings will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP and all requirements of law shall be made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities. Holdings will, and will
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cause each of its Subsidiaries to, permit, upon reasonable notice to the chief financial officer or other Authorized Officer of Holdings, officers and designated representatives of the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders to visit and inspect under the guidance of officers of Holdings any of the properties or assets of Holdings and any of its Subsidiaries in whomsoevers possession, and to examine the books of account of Holdings and any of its Subsidiaries and discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of Holdings and of any of its Subsidiaries with, and be advised as to the same by, their officers and independent accountants, all at such reasonable times and intervals and to such reasonable extent as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may desire; provided that, excluding any such visits and inspections during the continuation of a Default or an Event of Default, neither the Administrative Agent nor the Required Lenders shall conduct such visits or inspections more often than two times during any calendar year (or such greater number of times as the US Borrower may agree to from time to time); and provided further that, so long as no Default or Event of Default is then in existence, Holdings shall have the right to participate in any discussions of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders with any independent accountants of Holdings.
SECTION 6.03. Insurance. (a) The US Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, (i) maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance on all its property in at least such amounts and against at least such risks as is consistent and in accordance with industry practice and (ii) furnish to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders, upon request, full information as to the insurance carried. The provisions of this Section 6.03 shall be deemed supplemental to, but not duplicative of, the provisions of any Security Documents that require the maintenance of insurance.
(b) The US Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, at all times keep the respective property of the US Borrower and its Subsidiaries (except real or personal property leased or financed through third parties in accordance with this Agreement) insured in favor of the Collateral Agent, and all policies or certificates with respect to such insurance (and any other insurance maintained by, or on behalf of, the US Borrower or any Subsidiary of the US Borrower) (i) shall be endorsed to the Collateral Agents satisfaction for the benefit of the Collateral Agent (including by naming the Collateral Agent as certificate holder, mortgagee and loss payee with respect to real property, certificate holder and loss payee with respect to personal property, additional insured with respect to general liability and umbrella liability coverage and certificate holder with respect to workers compensation insurance), (ii) shall state that such insurance policies shall not be cancelled or materially changed without at least 30 days prior written notice thereof by the respective insurer to the Collateral Agent and (iii) shall, upon the request of the Collateral Agent, be deposited with the Collateral Agent.
(c) If the US Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall fail to maintain all insurance in accordance with this Section 6.03, or if the US Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall fail to so name the Collateral Agent as an additional insured, mortgagee or loss payee, as the case may be, or so deposit all certificates with respect thereto, the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent shall have the right (but shall be under no obligation) to procure such insurance, and the Credit Parties agree to jointly and severally reimburse the Administrative
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Agent or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, for all costs and expenses of procuring such insurance.
SECTION 6.04. Payment of Taxes. Holdings will pay and discharge, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay and discharge, all material Taxes imposed upon it or upon its income or profits, or upon any material properties belonging to it, prior to the date on which penalties attach thereto, and all material lawful claims for sums that have become due and payable that, if unpaid, might become a Lien not otherwise permitted under Section 7.03(a); provided that neither Holdings nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to pay any such Taxes that are being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings if (a) Holdings has maintained adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and (b) such failure to pay could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 6.05. Corporate Franchises. Holdings will do, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence and its material rights, franchises, authority to do business, licenses and patents, except for rights, franchises, authority to do business, licenses and patents the loss of which (individually or in the aggregate) could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided, however, that any transaction permitted by Section 7.02 will not constitute a breach of this Section 6.05.
SECTION 6.06. Compliance with Statutes, etc. Holdings will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply with all applicable statutes, regulations and orders of, and all applicable restrictions imposed by, all Governmental Authorities, domestic or foreign, in respect of the conduct of its business and the ownership of its property, except for such non-compliance as would not, either individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect or a material adverse effect on the ability of any Credit Party to perform its obligations under any Credit Document to which it is a party.
SECTION 6.07. Compliance with Environmental Laws. (a) Holdings will comply, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to comply, in all material respects with all Environmental Laws applicable to their businesses and to the ownership or use of Real Property now or hereafter owned or operated by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, will promptly pay or, with respect to any of its Subsidiaries, cause to be paid all costs and expenses incurred in connection with such compliance, and will keep or cause to be kept all such Real Property free and clear of any Liens imposed pursuant to such Environmental Laws and (b) neither Holdings nor any of its Subsidiaries will generate, use, treat, store or Release, or permit the generation, use, treatment, storage or Release of, Hazardous Materials on any Real Property owned or operated by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries other than in compliance with Environmental Laws, or transport or permit the transportation of Hazardous Materials other than in compliance with Environmental Laws, unless the failure to comply with the requirements specified in clause (a) or (b) above could not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 6.08. Pension Matters. To the extent that any of the following events could, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in
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liabilities in excess of $2,500,000, as soon as possible and, in any event, within ten Business Days after Holdings or any Subsidiary of Holdings or any ERISA Affiliate knows or has reason to know of the occurrence of any of the following, Holdings will deliver to each of the Lenders a certificate of the chief financial officer or other Authorized Officer of Holdings setting forth the full details as to such occurrence and the action, if any, that Holdings, such Subsidiary or such ERISA Affiliate is required or proposes to take with respect thereto: that a Reportable Event has occurred; that an accumulated funding deficiency, within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, has been incurred or an application has been made or is reasonably expected to be made for a waiver or modification of the minimum funding standard or an extension of any amortization period under Section 412 of the Code or Section 303 or 304 of ERISA with respect to a Plan; that any contribution required to be made by Holdings, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate with respect to a Plan, a Multiemployer Plan or a Foreign Pension Plan has not been timely made; that a Plan or a Multiemployer Plan has been or is reasonably expected to be terminated, reorganized, partitioned or declared insolvent under Title IV of ERISA; that a Plan has an Unfunded Current Liability; that Holdings, any Subsidiary of Holdings or any ERISA Affiliate will or is reasonably expected to incur any liability to or on account of the termination of or withdrawal from a Plan or a Multiemployer Plan; or that Holdings or any Subsidiary of Holdings will or is reasonably expected to incur any material liability pursuant to any employee welfare benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA) that provides benefits to retired employees or other former employees (other than as required by Section 601 of ERISA) or any Plan or Foreign Pension Plan. Holdings will deliver to each of the Lenders (i) at the request of any Lender on ten Business Days notice a complete copy of the annual report (on the Internal Revenue Service Form 5500 series) of each Plan (including, to the extent required, the related financial and actuarial statements and opinions and other supporting statements, certifications, schedules and information) required to be filed with the Internal Revenue Service and (ii) copies of any records, documents or other information that must be furnished to the PBGC with respect to any Plan pursuant to Section 4010 of ERISA.
SECTION 6.09. Good Repair. Holdings will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, ensure that its material properties and equipment used in its business are kept in good repair, working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted.
SECTION 6.10. End of Fiscal Years; Fiscal Quarters. The US Borrower will cause (a) each of its, and each of its Domestic Subsidiaries, fiscal years to end on December 31 of each year and (b) each of its, and each of its Domestic Subsidiaries, fiscal quarters to end on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year.
SECTION 6.11. Additional Security; Further Assurances. (a) The US Borrower will, promptly after (i) the creation or acquisition of any Domestic Subsidiary, notify the Administrative Agent thereof and cause such Domestic Subsidiary to duly authorize, execute and deliver counterparts of the US Collateral and Guaranty Agreement, (ii) the creation or acquisition of any Wholly-Owned Foreign Subsidiary, notify the Administrative Agent thereof and cause such Wholly-Owned Foreign Subsidiary to duly authorize, execute and deliver counterparts of the Foreign Guaranty, (iii) the creation or acquisition of any Wholly-Owned Foreign Subsidiary organized under the laws of Canada
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(or any province or territory thereof) or of England and Wales in the United Kingdom, notify the Administrative Agent thereof and cause each such Wholly-Owned Foreign Subsidiary to duly authorize, execute and deliver counterparts of the applicable Security Documents that any such Wholly-Owned Foreign Subsidiary would have been required to duly authorize, execute and deliver on the Effective Date if same were a Credit Party on such date and (iv) any Wholly-Owned Foreign Subsidiary (other than a Foreign Subsidiary described in clause (iii) above) created or acquired after the Effective Date has or at any time acquires assets with a fair market value (as determined in good faith by the US Borrower) that equals or exceeds $50,000,000, notify the Administrative Agent thereof and cause each such Wholly-Owned Foreign Subsidiary to duly authorize, execute and deliver counterparts of security agreements, pledge agreements and other security documentation that the Collateral Agent may request, in the case of each of clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) above, together with each of the other relevant certificates, opinions of counsel and other documentation that such Subsidiary would have been required to deliver pursuant to Sections 3.03, 3.04, 3.09, 3.10, 3.11, 3.12 and 3.13, as applicable, on the Effective Date and together with such other certificates, opinions of counsel and other documentation as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request (although no Wholly-Owned Foreign Subsidiary shall be required to enter into any Guaranty or Security Document pursuant to this Section 6.11 to the extent that the entering into of any such Guaranty or Security Document by such Wholly-Owned Foreign Subsidiary would not be permitted under applicable law or to the extent that the Collateral Agent determines that the detriment (including as a result of the cost) to any Borrower of such Wholly-Owned Foreign Subsidiarys entering into such Guaranty or Security Document, as applicable, would be excessive in view of the related benefits to be received by the Secured Parties.
(b) Subject to clause (a) of this Section 6.11, Holdings will, and will cause each of the other Credit Parties to, (i) grant to the Collateral Agent security interests and mortgages in such assets and properties of Holdings and such Credit Parties as are not covered by the original Security Documents, and as may be reasonably requested from time to time by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders, and (ii) subject to the last sentence of this Section 6.11(b), grant a mortgage in any Real Property located in the United States and grant a fixed charge over any Real Property located in Canada or the United Kingdom, the fair market value of which (as determined in good faith by senior management of the US Borrower) is
greater than, if such Real Property is located in (A) the United States, $5,000,000 or (B) Canada or the United Kingdom, $20,000,000, unless the Collateral Agent determines that the detriment (including as a result of the cost) to the Borrowers of entering into such mortgage or fixed charge, as applicable, would be excessive in view of the related benefits to be received by the Secured Parties (all such security and guaranty documentation referred to in clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 6.11 are collectively referred to as the
Additional Security and Guaranty Documents), in each case (in the case of a Wholly-Owned Foreign Subsidiary) to the extent that the entering into of such Additional Security and Guaranty Documents by such Wholly-Owned Foreign Subsidiaries is permitted under applicable law. All such Additional Security and Guaranty Documents shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Administrative Agent and, in the case of security documentation, shall constitute valid and enforceable perfected security interests, hypothecations and mortgages superior to and prior to the rights of all third Persons and subject to no other Liens except for Permitted Liens. The
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Additional Security and Guaranty Documents or instruments related thereto shall have been duly recorded or filed in such manner and in such places as are required by law to give the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent the Liens, rights, powers and privileges purported to be created thereby and all Taxes, fees and other charges payable in connection therewith shall have been paid in full. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 6.11(b) shall not apply to (and Holdings and its Subsidiaries shall not be required to grant a mortgage in or fixed charge over, as applicable) any Real Property the fair market value of which (as determined in good faith by senior management of the US Borrower) is less than, if such Real Property is located in (A) the United States, $5,000,000 or (B) Canada or the United Kingdom, $20,000,000.
(c) Holdings will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, at the expense of Holdings and the Borrowers, make, execute, endorse, acknowledge, file and/or deliver to the Collateral Agent from time to time such vouchers, invoices, schedules, confirmatory assignments, conveyances, financing statements, transfer endorsements, powers of attorney, certificates, real property surveys, reports and other assurances or instruments and take such further steps relating to the Collateral covered by any of the Security Documents as the Collateral Agent may reasonably require. Furthermore, each of Holdings and each Borrower shall cause to be delivered to the Collateral Agent such opinions of counsel, title insurance and other related documents as may be reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent to assure itself that this Section 6.11 has been complied with.
(d) Holdings and each Borrower agree that each action required above by this Section 6.11 shall be completed as soon as possible, but in no event later than (x) in the case of clauses (a)(i) and (ii) of this Section, 10 Business Days, or (y) in the case of other clauses in this Section, 90 days (or, in each case, such later date as may be acceptable to the Administrative Agent) after such action is either requested to be taken by the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or the Required Lenders or required to be taken by Holdings and its Subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of this Section 6.11; provided that in no event will Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries be required to take any action, other than using its commercially reasonable efforts, to obtain consents from third parties with respect to its compliance with this Section 6.11.
SECTION 6.12. Use of Proceeds. All proceeds of the Loans shall be used as provided in Section 5.05.
SECTION 6.13. Permitted Acquisitions. (a) Subject to the provisions of this Section 6.13 and the requirements contained in the definition of Permitted Acquisition, the US Borrower and its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries may from time to time effect Permitted Acquisitions, so long as: (i) no Default or Event of Default shall be in existence at the time of the consummation of the proposed Permitted Acquisition or immediately after giving effect thereto; (ii) the US Borrower shall have given the Administrative Agent and the Lenders at least five Business Days prior written notice of any Permitted Acquisition; (iii) calculations are made by the US Borrower of compliance with the covenants contained in Sections 7.09 and 7.10 (in each case, giving effect to the last sentence appearing therein) for the relevant Calculation Period, on a Pro Forma Basis as if the respective Permitted Acquisition (as well as all other Permitted Acquisitions theretofore consummated after the first day of such Calculation Period) had occurred on the first day of such Calculation
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Period, and such calculations shall show that such financial covenants would have been complied with if the Permitted Acquisition had occurred on the first day of such Calculation Period (for this purpose, (A) if the first day of the respective Calculation Period occurs prior to the Effective Date, calculated as if the covenants contained in said Sections 7.09 and 7.10 (in each case, giving effect to the last sentence appearing therein) had been applicable from the first day of the Calculation Period and (B) using the covenant levels contained in such Sections 7.09 and 7.10 for the Test Period ending December 31, 2005, in connection with a Permitted Acquisition consummated prior to December 31, 2005); (iv) the Maximum Permitted Consideration payable in connection with the proposed Permitted Acquisition does not exceed $50,000,000; (v) all representations and warranties contained herein and in the other Credit Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of the date of such Permitted Acquisition (both before and after giving effect thereto), unless stated to relate to a specific earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date; and (vi) the US Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an officers certificate executed by an Authorized Officer of the US Borrower, certifying, to the best of such officers knowledge, compliance with the requirements of preceding clauses (i) through (v), inclusive, and containing the calculations required by the preceding clauses (iii) and (iv); provided, however, that so long as the Maximum Permitted Consideration paid in connection with the proposed Permitted Acquisition, when combined with the Maximum Permitted Consideration paid in connection with all other Permitted Acquisitions consummated in the same fiscal quarter as such proposed Permitted Acquisition, does not exceed $25,000,000, the US Borrower shall not be required to comply with clause (ii) above in connection with such Permitted Acquisition and the substance of the officers certificate otherwise required to be delivered pursuant to clause (vi) above shall instead be included as part of the next officers certificate required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent under Section 6.01(d).
(b) At the time of each Permitted Acquisition involving the creation or acquisition of a Subsidiary, or the acquisition of capital stock or other equity interests of any Person, the capital stock or other equity interests thereof created or acquired in connection with such Permitted Acquisition shall be pledged for the benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to the US Collateral and Guaranty Agreement or appropriate Foreign Pledge Agreement in accordance with the requirements of Section 7.15.
(c) Holdings and each Borrower shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary that is formed to effect a Permitted Acquisition or that is acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition to, comply with, and execute and deliver all of the documentation required by, Sections 6.11 and 7.15, to the reasonable satisfaction of the Administrative Agent.
(d) The consummation of each Permitted Acquisition shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by Holdings and each Borrower that the certifications by the US Borrower (or by one or more of its Authorized Officers) pursuant to Section 6.13(a) are true and correct and that all conditions thereto have been satisfied and that same is permitted in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, which representation and warranty shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty for all purposes hereunder, including Articles IV and VIII.
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SECTION 6.14. Performance of Obligations. Holdings will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, perform all of its obligations under the terms of each mortgage, deed of trust, indenture, loan agreement or credit agreement and each other material agreement, contract or instrument by which it is bound, except such non-performance as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 6.15. Maintenance of Company Separateness. Holdings will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries and Unrestricted Subsidiaries to, satisfy customary Company formalities, including, as applicable, the holding of regular board of directors and shareholders meetings or action by directors or shareholders without a meeting and the maintenance of Company offices and records. Neither Holdings nor any of its Subsidiaries shall make any payment to a creditor of any Unrestricted Subsidiary in respect of any liability of any Unrestricted Subsidiary, or enter into any Synthetic Purchase Agreement in respect of any liability of any Unrestricted Subsidiary, and no bank account of any Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be commingled with any bank account of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries. Any financial statements distributed to any creditors of any Unrestricted Subsidiary shall clearly establish or indicate the Company separateness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary from Holdings and its Subsidiaries. Finally, neither Holdings nor any of its Subsidiaries shall take any action, or conduct its affairs in a manner, that is likely to result in the Company existence of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or Unrestricted Subsidiaries being ignored, or in the assets and liabilities of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries being substantively consolidated with those of any other such Person or any Unrestricted Subsidiary in a bankruptcy, reorganization or other insolvency proceeding.
SECTION 6.16. Contributions. Holdings will, upon its receipt thereof, contribute as an equity contribution to the capital of the US Borrower any cash proceeds received by Holdings (i) from any asset sale, any incurrence of Indebtedness (other than Permitted Holdings Refinancing Indebtedness), any Recovery Event affecting Holdings or its property or assets, any sale or issuance of its equity (other than equity the cash proceeds of which are used by Holdings to repurchase or redeem Holdings Notes or Permitted Holdings Refinancing Indebtedness), any cash capital contributions or any tax refunds received by it and (ii) in respect of any indemnification right of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries under any Document (except to the extent the US Collateral Assignment requires such proceeds to be otherwise applied).
SECTION 6.17. Holdings Notes and Permitted Holdings Refinancing Indebtedness. Holdings will pay (a) until December 15, 2007, all interest on (and any liquidated damages in respect of) the Holdings 2012 Notes, (b) until June 1, 2008, all interest on (and any liquidated damages in respect of) the Holdings 2013 Notes and (c) during the period specified in the Permitted Holdings Refinancing Documents with respect to any Permitted Holdings Refinancing Indebtedness, which period shall in no event end prior to (i) December 15, 2007, in the case of any initial or successive Permitted Holdings Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of Holdings 2012 Notes or (ii) June 1, 2008, in the case of any initial or successive Permitted Holdings Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of Holdings 2013 Notes, all interest on (and any liquidated damages in respect of) such Permitted Holdings Refinancing Indebtedness, in the case of each of clauses (a), (b)
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and (c) above solely through accretion of additional principal or the issuance of additional Holdings Notes or such Permitted Holdings Refinancing Indebtedness, as applicable, rather than in cash.
ARTICLE VII
Negative Covenants
Each of Holdings and each Borrower hereby covenants and agrees that as of the Effective Date and thereafter for so long as this Agreement is in effect and until the Total Commitment has terminated, no Letters of Credit or Notes are outstanding and the Loans, LC Disbursements and all amounts due in respect of B/As, together with interest, fees and all other Loan Document Obligations (other than any indemnities described in Section 10.12 that are not then due and payable) incurred hereunder, are paid in full:
SECTION 7.01. Business. (a) Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, engage directly or indirectly in any business other than a Permitted Business.
(b) Holdings will not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to engage (directly or indirectly) in any business other than a Permitted Business.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else in this Agreement to the contrary, Holdings will not engage in any business or own any significant assets or have any material liabilities other than (i) its ownership of the equity interests in the US Borrower and (ii) those liabilities that it is responsible for under this Agreement and the other Documents to which it is a party; provided that Holdings may engage in those activities that are incidental to (A) the maintenance of its existence in compliance with applicable law, (B) legal, tax and accounting matters in connection with any of the foregoing activities, (C) transactions by Holdings expressly permitted under Sections 7.06(b) and (e) through (l), the proviso to Section 7.07 and Section 7.12(a), (D) (1) consummation of a Qualified Public Offering and (2) the payment of transaction costs and expenses in connection with a Qualified Public Offering as contemplated by Section 7.06(i) and (E) as necessary to permit the incurrence of any Permitted Holdings Refinancing Indebtedness.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything else in this Agreement to the contrary, none of NSULC1, US Holdco, Newco, Canadian LP, Subco and Sideco will engage in any business or have any Indebtedness or significant liabilities to any Person that is not a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of Holdings or, in the case of US Holdco, own any significant assets, other than (i) its ownership of the equity interests in (A) in the case of NSULC1, Newco, US Holdco, Canadian LP, the Canadian Borrower, Subco and Sideco, (B) in the case of Canadian LP, the Canadian Borrower, Sideco and Subco, (C) in the case of Newco, Canadian LP, the Canadian Borrower, Sideco and Subco and (D) in the case of US Holdco, GSL and GSLM and (ii) those liabilities that it is responsible for under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents to which it is a party; provided that each of the foregoing entities may engage in those activities that are incidental to (A) the maintenance of its existence in compliance with applicable law and (B) legal, tax and accounting matters in connection with any of the foregoing
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activities; and provided further that Canadian LP may undertake investments in cash and Cash Equivalents in an aggregate amount not to exceed $5,000,000 at any one time.
SECTION 7.02. Consolidation; Merger; Sale or Purchase of Assets; etc. Holdings will not, nor will Holdings permit any of its Subsidiaries to, wind up, liquidate or dissolve its affairs or enter into any transaction of merger, amalgamation or consolidation, or convey, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of all or any part of its property or assets (other than inventory in the ordinary course of business), or enter into any sale-leaseback transactions, or purchase or otherwise acquire (in one or a series of related transactions) any part of the property or assets (other than purchases or other acquisitions of inventory, materials, general intangibles, equipment, goods and services in the ordinary course of business) of any Person or agree to do any of the foregoing at any future time, except that the following shall be permitted:
(a) the US Borrower and its Subsidiaries may, as lessee, enter into operating leases in the ordinary course of business with respect to real, personal, movable or immovable property;
(b) Capital Expenditures by the US Borrower and its Subsidiaries to the extent not in violation of Section 7.11;
(c) Investments permitted pursuant to Section 7.05 and the disposition or liquidation of Cash Equivalents in the ordinary course of business;
(d) the US Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries may sell or otherwise dispose of assets (excluding capital stock of, or other equity interests in, Subsidiaries, Joint Ventures and Unrestricted Subsidiaries) that, in the reasonable opinion of such Person, are obsolete, uneconomic or no longer useful in the conduct of such Persons business, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(e) any Subsidiary of the US Borrower may convey, lease, license, sell or otherwise transfer all or any part of its business, properties and assets to the US Borrower or to any Subsidiary Guarantor that is a Wholly-Owned Domestic Subsidiary, so long as any security interests granted to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to the applicable Security Documents in the assets so transferred shall remain in full force and effect and perfected (to at least the same extent as in effect immediately prior to such transfer) and all actions required to maintain said perfected status have been taken;
(f) any Foreign Subsidiary of the US Borrower may convey, lease, license, sell or otherwise transfer all or any part of its business, properties and assets to a Wholly-Owned Foreign Subsidiary of the US Borrower, so long as (i) any security interests granted to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to the applicable Security Documents in the assets so transferred shall remain in full force and perfected (to at least the same extent as in effect immediately prior to such transfer) and all actions required to maintain said perfected status have been taken and (ii) the aggregate fair market value (as determined in good faith by Holdings) of all such assets so transferred to Wholly-Owned Foreign Subsidiaries that are not Foreign Credit Parties shall not exceed $7,500,000;
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(g) any Subsidiary of the US Borrower may merge with and into, or be dissolved or liquidated into, the US Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor that is a Wholly-Owned Domestic Subsidiary, so long as (i) the US Borrower or such Subsidiary Guarantor is the surviving corporation of any such merger, dissolution or liquidation and (ii) any security interests granted to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to the applicable Security Documents in the assets and capital stock of such Subsidiary shall remain in full force and effect and perfected (to at least the same extent as in effect immediately prior to such merger, dissolution or liquidation) and all actions required to maintain said perfected status have been taken;
(h) any Foreign Subsidiary of the US Borrower may merge with and into, or be dissolved or liquidated into, the Canadian Borrower, the UK Borrower or any other Wholly-Owned Foreign Subsidiary of the US Borrower (provided that the Canadian Borrower shall not merge with and into, or be dissolved or liquidated into, the UK Borrower and the UK Borrower shall not merge with and into, or be dissolved or liquidated into, the Canadian Borrower), so long as (i)(A) in the case of any such merger, dissolution or liquidation involving the Canadian Borrower, the Canadian Borrower is the surviving corporation thereof and (B) in the case of any such merger, dissolution or liquidation involving the UK Borrower, the UK Borrower is the surviving corporation thereof, (ii) in the case of any such merger, dissolution or liquidation involving a Foreign Credit Party, such Foreign Credit Party is the surviving corporation thereof, (iii) in all other cases, such Wholly-Owned Foreign Subsidiary is the surviving corporation of any such merger, dissolution or liquidation and (iv) any security interests granted to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to the applicable Security Documents in the assets and capital stock of such Foreign Subsidiary shall remain in full force and effect and perfected (to at least the same extent as in effect immediately prior to such merger, dissolution or liquidation) and all actions required to maintain said perfected status have been taken;
(i) the US Borrower and its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries shall be permitted to make Permitted Acquisitions, so long as such Permitted Acquisitions are effected in accordance with the requirements of Section 6.13;
(j) the US Borrower and its Subsidiaries may, in the ordinary course of business, license, as licensor or licensee, patents, trademarks, copyrights and know-how to or from third Persons or one another, so long as any such license by the US Borrower or any such Subsidiary in its capacity as licensor is permitted to be assigned pursuant to the relevant Security Agreement (to the extent that a security interest in such patents, trademarks, copyrights and know-how is granted thereunder) and does not otherwise prohibit the granting of a Lien by the US Borrower or any such Subsidiary pursuant to such Security Agreement in the intellectual property covered by such license;
(k) the US Borrower and its Domestic Subsidiaries may transfer assets (other than cash) to Wholly-Owned Foreign Subsidiaries, so long as (i) no Default or Event of Default exists at the time of the respective transfer and (ii) the aggregate fair market value of all such assets so transferred (determined in good faith by senior management of Holdings) to all such Wholly-Owned Foreign Subsidiaries does not exceed $15,000,000;
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(l) the US Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries may sell or otherwise dispose of the capital stock of, or other equity interests in, any of their respective Subsidiaries (other than the Canadian Borrower or the UK Borrower, the equity interests of which may not be sold or otherwise disposed of pursuant to this subsection (l)), Joint Ventures and Unrestricted Subsidiaries; provided that (i) in the case of a sale or other disposition of the capital stock or other equity interests of any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the US Borrower, 100% of the capital stock or other equity interests of such Subsidiary shall be so sold or disposed of, (ii) each such sale or disposition shall be for an amount at least equal to the fair market value thereof (as determined in good faith by senior management of Holdings), (iii) each such sale 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 by Holdings in good faith, of any other consideration) shall be in the form of cash and (iv) the aggregate Net Sale Proceeds of all assets sold or otherwise disposed of pursuant to this clause (l) shall not exceed $30,000,000 in the aggregate;
(m) the US Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries may enter into agreements to (i) sell excess capacity at one or more of its facilities or (ii) lease or sublease real property in the ordinary course of business to the extent such property is not used or useful in the business of the US Borrower or its Subsidiaries; provided that any such agreements do not interfere in any material respect with the operations of the US Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or otherwise leave the US Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries with insufficient capacity to meet its own ongoing (and reasonably anticipated) requirements;
(n) the US Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries may effect Permitted Sale-Leaseback Transactions in accordance with the definition thereof; provided that (i) the aggregate amount of all proceeds received by the US Borrower and its Subsidiaries from all Permitted Sale-Leaseback Transactions consummated on and after the Effective Date shall not exceed $25,000,000 and (ii) the Net Sale Proceeds from all such Permitted Sale-Leaseback Transactions are applied to repay Term Loans as provided in Section 2.12(c) and/or reinvested in replacement assets or retained to the extent permitted by Section 2.12(c);
(o) the US Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries may enter into agreements to effect acquisitions and dispositions of stock or assets, so long as the respective transaction is permitted pursuant to the provisions of this Section 7.02; provided that the US Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries may enter into agreements to effect acquisitions and dispositions of capital stock or assets in transactions not permitted by the provisions of this Section 7.02 at the time the respective agreement is entered into, so long as in the case of each such agreement, such agreement shall be expressly conditioned upon obtaining the requisite consent of the Required Lenders under this Agreement or the repayment of all Loan Document Obligations hereunder as a condition precedent to the consummation of the respective transaction and, if for any reason the transaction is not consummated because of a failure to obtain such consent, the aggregate liability of Holdings and any of its Subsidiaries under any such agreement shall not exceed $7,500,000;
(p) the US Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries may sell or otherwise dispose of assets (excluding capital stock of, or other equity interests in, Subsidiaries, Joint Ventures and Unrestricted Subsidiaries) during each fiscal year of the US Borrower having an aggregate fair
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market value not in excess of $35,000,000; provided that, except with respect to asset dispositions or transfers arising out of, or in connection with, the events described in clauses (a) and (b) of the definition of Recovery Event, (i) each such sale or disposition shall be for an amount at least equal to the fair market value thereof (as determined in good faith by senior management of Holdings) and (ii) to the extent any such sale or disposition (or any series of related sales or dispositions) generates Net Sale Proceeds (or involves assets the fair market value of which (as determined in good faith by senior management of Holdings) is) equal to or greater than $3,000,000, such sale or disposition (or series of related sales or dispositions) 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 by Holdings in good faith, of any other consideration) shall be in the form of cash, provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, up to $10,000,000 of such consideration in the aggregate in any fiscal year of the US Borrower may be in the form of (A) assets to be owned by the US Borrower or any of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries and used in connection with a Permitted Business and/or (B) 100% of the capital stock of any entity that owns assets used in a Permitted Business, which entity shall, as a result of such acquisition, become a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the US Borrower (and, if the Person that sold such assets was (1) a US Credit Party, such Wholly-Owned Subsidiary shall become a US Credit Party or (2) a Foreign Credit Party, such Wholly-Owned Subsidiary shall become a Foreign Credit Party); and
(q) the White Salt Sale.
To the extent the Required Lenders waive the provisions of this Section 7.02 with respect to the sale or other disposition of any Collateral, or any Collateral is sold or otherwise disposed of as permitted by this Section 7.02, such Collateral (unless transferred to the US Borrower or a Subsidiary thereof) shall (except as otherwise provided above) be sold or otherwise disposed of free and clear of the Liens created by the Security Documents and the Administrative Agent shall take such actions (including directing the Collateral Agent to take such actions) as are appropriate in connection therewith.
SECTION 7.03. Liens. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon or with respect to any property or assets of any kind (real or personal, tangible or intangible, movable or immovable) of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or sell any such property or assets subject to an understanding or agreement, contingent or otherwise, to repurchase such property or assets (including sales of accounts receivable or notes with recourse to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries) or assign any right to receive income, except for the following (collectively, the Permitted Liens):
(a) inchoate Liens for Taxes not yet due and payable or Liens for Taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies being contested in accordance with Section 6.04;
(b) Liens in respect of property or assets of the US Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries imposed by law that were incurred in the ordinary course of business and that have not arisen to secure Indebtedness for borrowed money, such as carriers, materialmens, warehousemens and mechanics Liens, statutory and common law landlords Liens, and other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business, and that either (i) do not in the aggregate
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materially detract from the value of such property or assets or materially impair the use thereof in the operation of the business of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, which proceedings have the effect of preventing the forfeiture or sale of the property or assets subject to such Lien;
(c) Liens created by or pursuant to this Agreement and the Security Documents;
(d) Liens in existence on the Effective Date that are listed, and the property subject thereto described, in Schedule VII, without giving effect to any extensions or renewals thereof;
(e) Liens arising from judgments, decrees, awards or attachments in circumstances not constituting an Event of Default under Section 8.09; provided that the aggregate amount of cash and property (determined on a fair market value basis) of Holdings and its Subsidiaries deposited or delivered to secure the respective judgment or decree or subject to attachment shall not exceed $15,000,000 at any time;
(f) Liens (other than any Lien imposed by ERISA) (i) incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business of the US Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries in connection with workers compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security, (ii) to secure the performance by the US Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries of tenders, statutory obligations (other than excise taxes), surety, stay, customs and appeal bonds, statutory bonds, bids, leases, government contracts, trade contracts, performance and return of money bonds and other similar obligations (exclusive of obligations for the payment of borrowed money) to the extent incurred in the ordinary course of business or (iii) to secure the performance by the US Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries of any lease of Real Property, to the extent incurred or made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices and to the extent such Liens (A) consist of deposits or (B) do not apply to any assets other than assets located at the Real Property subject to such lease; provided that the aggregate amount of deposits at any time pursuant to subclauses (ii) and (iii) above shall not exceed $20,000,000 in the aggregate;
(g) (i) licenses, sublicenses, leases or subleases granted to third Persons in the ordinary course of business not interfering in any material respect with the business of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries and (ii) any interest or title of a licensor, lessor or sublessor under any lease permitted by this Agreement;
(h) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, minor defects or irregularities in title, encroachments and other similar charges or encumbrances, in each case not securing Indebtedness and not interfering in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of the US Borrower and of its Subsidiaries taken as a whole;
(i) Liens arising from precautionary UCC financing statements regarding operating leases;
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(j) Liens created pursuant to Capital Leases permitted pursuant to Section 7.04(d); provided that (i) such Liens only serve to secure the payment of Indebtedness arising under such Capitalized Lease Obligation (and other Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.04(d) and incurred from the same Person as such Indebtedness) and (ii) the Lien encumbering the asset giving rise to the Capitalized Lease Obligation does not encumber any asset of Holdings or any other asset of the US Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (other than other assets subject to Capitalized Lease Obligations and/or other Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 7.04(d), in each case owing to the same Person as such Capitalized Lease Obligation);
(k) Permitted Encumbrances;
(l) Liens arising pursuant to purchase money mortgages or security interests securing Indebtedness representing the purchase price (or financing of the purchase price within 90 days after the respective purchase) of assets acquired after the Effective Date; provided that (i) any such Liens attach only to the assets so purchased, upgrades thereon and, if the asset so purchased is an upgrade, the original asset itself (and such other assets financed by the same financing source), (ii) the Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness incurred from the same financing source to purchase other assets and excluding Indebtedness representing obligations to pay installation and delivery charges for the property so purchased) secured by any such Lien does not exceed 100% of the lesser of the fair market value or the purchase price of the property being purchased at the time of the incurrence of such Indebtedness and (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby is permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 7.04(d);
(m) Liens on property or assets acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition, or on property or assets of a Subsidiary of the US Borrower in existence at the time such Subsidiary is acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition; provided that (i) any Indebtedness that is secured by such Liens is permitted to exist under Section 7.04(d) and (ii) such Liens are not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation or anticipation of, such Permitted Acquisition and do not attach to any asset of Holdings or any other asset of the US Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;
(n) Liens arising out of any consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into by the US Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business to the extent such Liens do not attach to any assets other than the goods subject to such consignment or similar arrangements;
(o) Liens securing insurance premium financing arrangements; provided that such Liens are limited to the applicable insurance contracts;
(p) Liens (i) incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with the purchase or shipping of goods or assets (or the related assets and proceeds thereof), which Liens are in favor of the seller or shipper of such goods or assets and only attach to such goods or assets, and (ii) 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; and
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(q) additional Liens incurred by the US Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries, so long as the value of the property subject to such Liens, and the Indebtedness and other obligations secured thereby, do not exceed $7,500,000.
SECTION 7.04. Indebtedness. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, contract, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:
(a) Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this Agreement and the other Credit Documents;
(b) Indebtedness existing on the date hereof and described on Schedule III (as reduced by any repayments thereof before, on or after the Effective Date), without giving effect to any subsequent extension, renewal or refinancing thereof (Retained Existing Indebtedness);
(c) Swap Agreements entered into (i) to hedge or mitigate risks to which the US Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries has actual exposure (other than those in respect of shares of capital stock or other equity ownership interests of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries) or (ii) in order to effectively cap, collar or exchange interest rates (from fixed to floating rates, from one floating rate to another floating rate or otherwise) with respect to any interest-bearing liability or investment of Holdings, the US Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries);
(d) (i) Indebtedness of a Subsidiary acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition (or Indebtedness assumed by the US Borrower or any of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition as a result of a merger or consolidation or the acquisition of an asset securing such Indebtedness) (the Permitted Acquired Debt), so long as such Indebtedness was not incurred in connection with, or in anticipation or contemplation of, such Permitted Acquisition and (ii) Capitalized Lease Obligations and Indebtedness of the US Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries representing purchase money Indebtedness secured by Liens permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(1); provided that the sum of (1) the aggregate principal amount of all Permitted Acquired Debt at any time outstanding plus (2) the aggregate amount of Capitalized Lease Obligations incurred pursuant to this Section 7.04(d) on and after the Effective Date and outstanding at any time (including Indebtedness evidenced by Capitalized Lease Obligations arising from Permitted Sale-Leaseback Transactions) plus (3) the aggregate principal amount of all such purchase money Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this Section 7.04(d) on and after the Effective Date and outstanding at any time, shall not exceed $40,000,000;
(e) Indebtedness constituting Intercompany Loans to the extent permitted by Section 7.05(f);
(f) Permitted Subordinated Refinancing Indebtedness, so long as no Default or Event of Default is in existence at the time of any incurrence thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto; provided that no Subsidiary of Holdings shall Guaranty any Permitted Subordinated Refinancing Indebtedness unless such Subsidiary is a US Credit Party and such Guaranty is subordinated to the Guaranty of such Subsidiary pursuant to the US Collateral and Guaranty Agreement on terms no less favorable to the Lenders than the subordination provisions of the Permitted Subordinated Refinancing Indebtedness;
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(g) unsecured Indebtedness of the US Borrower and any other US Credit Party that is a Subsidiary Guarantor incurred under the Senior Subordinated Notes and the other Senior Subordinated Note Documents in an aggregate principal amount not in excess of the aggregate principal amount of the Senior Subordinated Notes outstanding immediately after the consummation of the Debt Tender Offer (which shall in no event exceed $3,500,000); provided that no Subsidiary of Holdings shall Guaranty any Indebtedness or other obligations under the Senior Subordinated Notes unless such Subsidiary is a US Credit Party and such Guaranty is subordinated to the Guaranty pursuant to the US Collateral and Guaranty Agreement on terms no less favorable to the Lenders than the subordination provisions of the Senior Subordinated Notes;
(h) unsecured Indebtedness of Holdings under (i) Holdings Notes having an aggregate accreted value of $303,100,000, plus the aggregate principal amount of any additional Holdings Notes issued, or the additional accretion of principal on the Holdings Notes, in each case after the date hereof in respect of regularly scheduled interest payments thereon in accordance with the terms thereof and hereof and less the amount of any repayments of principal thereof after the Effective Date and (ii) any Permitted Holdings Refinancing Indebtedness, so long as no Default or Event of Default is in existence at the time of incurrence of such Permitted Holdings Refinancing Indebtedness and immediately after giving effect thereto;
(i) Indebtedness of the US Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that may be deemed to exist in connection with agreements providing for indemnification, payment of purchase price, purchase price adjustments, earn-outs and similar obligations in connection with acquisitions or sales of assets and/or businesses effected in accordance with the requirements of this Agreement (so long as any such obligations are those of the Person making the respective acquisition or sale and are not guaranteed by any other Person);
(j) Contingent Obligations of (i) the US Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries as a guarantor of the lessee or contracting party, as the case may be, under any lease or other contract pursuant to which the US Borrower or any of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries is the lessee or contracting party so long as such lease or other contract is otherwise permitted hereunder, and (ii) the US Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries as a guarantor of any Capitalized Lease Obligation to which a Joint Venture is a party or any contract entered into by such Joint Venture in the ordinary course of business, provided that the maximum liability of the US Borrower or any such Subsidiary in respect of any obligations as described pursuant to this clause (ii) is permitted as an Investment on such date pursuant to the requirements of Section 7.05(o);
(k) Indebtedness with respect to performance bonds, surety bonds, appeal bonds or customs bonds required in the ordinary course of business or in connection with the enforcement of rights or claims of the US Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or in connection with judgments that do not result in a Default or an Event of Default;
(l) Indebtedness of the US Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries consisting of (i) the financing of insurance premiums in the ordinary course of business or (ii) take-or-pay obligations contained in supply arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business and on a basis consistent with past practice;
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(m) additional Indebtedness of the US Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries not otherwise permitted pursuant to this Section 7.04, so long as the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness permitted by this clause (m), when added to the aggregate liquidation preference for all Disqualified Preferred Stock issued after the Effective Date pursuant to Section 7.13(c), does not exceed $50,000,000 at any time outstanding;
(n) unsecured Indebtedness of the US Borrower incurred under any Additional Senior Subordinated Notes and any Additional Senior Subordinated Note Documents (and any guaranty of such Indebtedness by any other US Credit Party that is a Subsidiary Guarantor) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $200,000,000; provided that (i) at the time of any such issuance of Additional Senior Subordinated Notes (and after giving effect thereto), (A) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (B) on a Pro Forma Basis (including, to the extent any Permitted Acquisition or Subsidiary Redesignation has occurred during the applicable Test Period, giving effect to such Permitted Acquisition and/or Subsidiary Redesignation on a Pro Forma Basis) after giving effect to the issuance of such Additional Senior Subordinated Notes and the application of the proceeds therefrom (1) the US Borrower shall be in compliance with Section 7.09 and Section 7.10 of this Agreement computed as if such Additional Senior Subordinated Notes had been outstanding during the most recently ended period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the US Borrower and (2) the Adjusted Total Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 4.25 to 1.00 as of the last day of the most recently ended four fiscal quarters of the US Borrower and (C) the US Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate to the effect set forth in clauses (A) and (B) above, together with all relevant calculations related thereto, and (ii) no Subsidiary of Holdings shall guaranty any Indebtedness or other obligations under such Additional Senior Subordinated Notes unless such Subsidiary is a US Credit Party and such guaranty is subordinated to the guaranty pursuant to the US Collateral and Guaranty Agreement on terms no less favorable to the Lenders than the subordination provisions of such Additional Senior Subordinated Notes; and
(o) unsecured Indebtedness of the US Borrower incurred under any Additional Senior Subordinated Notes and any Additional Senior Subordinated Note Documents (and any guaranty of such Indebtedness by any other US Credit Party that is a Subsidiary Guarantor) in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $325,000,000 (less the aggregate principal amount of Incremental Term Loans made pursuant to Section 2.23); provided that (i) at the time of any such issuance of Additional Senior Subordinated Notes (and after giving effect thereto), (A) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (B) on a Pro Forma Basis (including, to the extent any Permitted Acquisition or Subsidiary Redesignation has occurred during the applicable Test Period, giving effect to such Permitted Acquisition and/or Subsidiary Redesignation on a Pro Forma Basis) after giving effect to the issuance of such Additional Senior Subordinated Notes and the application of the proceeds therefrom (1) the US Borrower shall be in compliance with Section 7.09 and Section 7.10 of this Agreement computed as if such Additional Senior Subordinated Notes had been outstanding during the most recently ended period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the US Borrower and (2) the Adjusted Total Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 4.25 to 1.00 as of the last day of the most recently ended four fiscal quarters of the US Borrower and (C) the US Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate to the effect set forth in clauses (A) and (B) above, together with all relevant calculations related thereto, and (ii) promptly after the date on which Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries receives any Net Cash Proceeds from the issuance of any such
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Additional Senior Subordinated Notes, an amount equal to the amount of such Net Cash Proceeds shall be applied pursuant to Section 7.12(a)(iv) to repay or repurchase Holdings Notes or Permitted Holdings Refinancing Indebtedness; and provided further that no Subsidiary of Holdings shall guaranty any Indebtedness or other obligations under such Additional Senior Subordinated Notes unless such Subsidiary is a US Credit Party and such guaranty is subordinated to the guaranty pursuant to the US Collateral and Guaranty Agreement on terms no less favorable to the Lenders than the subordination provisions of such Additional Senior Subordinated Notes.
SECTION 7.05. Advances; Investments; Loans. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, lend money or extend credit or make advances to any Person, or purchase or acquire any stock, obligations or securities of, or any other interest in, or guarantee any Indebtedness or other obligations of, or make any capital contribution to, any Person, or purchase or own a futures contract or otherwise become liable for the purchase or sale of currency or other commodities at a future date in the nature of a futures contract, or hold any cash or Cash Equivalents (any of the foregoing, an Investment), except:
(a) the US Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries may invest in cash and Cash Equivalents;
(b) the US Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries may acquire and hold receivables owing to it, if created or acquired in the ordinary course of business and payable or dischargeable in accordance with customary trade terms (including the dating of receivables) of the US Borrower or such Subsidiary;
(c) the US Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries may acquire and own investments (including debt obligations and equity securities) received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of suppliers and customers and in settlement of delinquent obligations of, and other disputes with, customers and suppliers arising in the ordinary course of business;
(d) Swap Agreements entered into in compliance with Section 7.04(c) shall be permitted;
(e) advances, loans and investments in existence on the Effective Date and listed on Schedule IX shall be permitted, without giving effect to any additions thereto or replacements thereof, it being understood that any additional Investments made with respect to such existing Investments shall be permitted only if independently permitted under the other provisions of this Section 7.05;
(f) the US Borrower and any of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries may make intercompany loans and advances between and among one another (collectively, Intercompany Loans); provided that (i) at no time shall the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Intercompany Loans made pursuant to this clause (f) by Credit Parties to Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties, when added to the aggregate amount of contributions, capitalizations and forgiveness theretofore made pursuant to Section 7.05(n) in respect of
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Wholly-Owned Foreign Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties, exceed $25,000,000 (determined without regard to any write-downs or write-offs of such loans and advances), (ii) (A) the Canadian Intercompany Loan, the UK Intercompany Loan and the Canadian LP Intercompany Loans shall be evidenced by the Canadian Intercompany Note, the UK Intercompany Note and the Canadian LP Intercompany Notes, respectively (which shall be pledged to the Collateral Agent (1) in the case of the UK Intercompany Note, pursuant to the US Collateral and Guaranty Agreement and (2) in the case of the Canadian Intercompany Note and the Canadian LP Intercompany Notes, pursuant to the applicable Foreign Pledge Agreement or Foreign Security Agreement), and (B) the obligations of the Canadian Borrower under the Canadian Intercompany Loan shall be Foreign Obligations guaranteed under the Foreign Guaranty, the obligations of the UK Borrower under the UK Intercompany Loan shall be Foreign Obligations guaranteed under the Foreign Guaranty and the obligations of Sideco under the Canadian LP Intercompany Loans shall be Foreign Obligations guaranteed under the Foreign Guaranty, (iii) if any such Intercompany Loan (other than the Canadian Intercompany Loan, UK Intercompany Loan and Canadian LP Intercompany Loans) made by a Credit Party is evidenced by a promissory note or other instrument, such promissory note or other instrument shall be an Intercompany Note and such Intercompany Note shall be pledged to the Collateral Agent to the extent required pursuant to the US Collateral and Guaranty Agreement or the applicable Foreign Pledge Agreement and (iv) each Intercompany Loan made either (A) to the US Borrower or (B) by a Wholly-Owned Foreign Subsidiary to a US Credit Party or by a Non-Credit Party to a Credit Party shall include (or, if not evidenced by an Intercompany Note, the books and records of the respective parties shall note that such Intercompany Loan is subject to) the subordination provisions attached as an Annex to the form of Intercompany Note;
(g) loans and advances by the US Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries to employees of Holdings and any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and for bona fide business purposes (including travel and entertainment expenses) shall be permitted, so long as the aggregate principal amount thereof at any time outstanding (determined without regard to any write-downs or write-offs of such loans and advances) shall not exceed $5,000,000;
(h) Holdings may acquire and hold obligations of one or more officers or other employees of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with such officers or employees acquisition of shares of Holdings Common Stock, so long as no cash is actually advanced by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries to such officers or employees in connection with the acquisition of any such obligations;
(i) the US Borrower and any of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries may make Permitted Acquisitions in accordance with the relevant requirements of Section 6.13;
(j) Holdings and its Subsidiaries may own the capital stock of their respective Subsidiaries created or acquired in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (so long as all amounts invested in such Subsidiaries are independently permitted under another provision of this Section 7.05);
(k) the US Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries may receive and hold promissory notes and other non-cash consideration received in connection with any asset sale permitted by Section 7.02(d), (l) or (q);
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(l) the US Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries may convey, lease, license, sell or otherwise transfer or acquire assets and properties to the extent permitted by Section 7.02(e), (f), (g), (h) or (k);
(m) the US Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries may make advances in the form of a prepayment of expenses, so long as such expenses were incurred in the ordinary course of business and are being paid in accordance with customary trade terms of the US Borrower or such Subsidiary;
(n) the US Borrower and its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries may make cash capital contributions to their respective Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries, and may capitalize or forgive any Indebtedness owed to them by a Wholly-Owned Foreign Subsidiary and outstanding under clause (f) of this Section 7.05; provided that the aggregate amount of such contributions, capitalizations and forgiveness on and after the Effective Date made to Wholly-Owned Foreign Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties, when added to the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Intercompany Loans made to Wholly-Owned Foreign Subsidiaries that are not Credit Parties under such clause (f) (determined without regard to any write-downs or write-offs thereof) shall not exceed an amount equal to $25,000,000;
(o) in addition to Investments permitted by clauses (a) through (n) and (p) of this Section 7.05, the US Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries may make additional loans, advances and other Investments to or in a Person in an aggregate amount for all loans, advances and other Investments made pursuant to this clause (o) (determined without regard to any write-downs or write-offs thereof), net of cash repayments of principal in the case of loans, sale proceeds in the case of Investments in the form of debt instruments and cash equity returns (whether as a distribution, dividend, redemption or sale) in the case of equity investments, not to exceed $60,000,000 at any time outstanding; and
(p) the US Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries may guarantee any Indebtedness or other obligations of another Person to the extent expressly permitted under clauses (a), (e), (f), (g), (j), (n) or (o) of Section 7.04 or clause (d) of Section 7.04 to the extent such guaranty exists on the date of the applicable Permitted Acquisition.
SECTION 7.06. Dividends, etc. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, declare or pay any dividends or return any capital to its stockholders or authorize or make any other distribution, payment or delivery of property or cash to its stockholders as such, or redeem, retire, purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, for consideration, any shares of any class of its capital stock, now or hereafter outstanding (or any warrants for or options or stock appreciation rights in respect of any of such shares), or set aside any funds for any of the foregoing purposes, and Holdings will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to enter into any Synthetic Purchase Agreement with respect to or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of any class of the capital stock of Holdings or any other Subsidiary, as the case may be, now or hereafter outstanding (or any options or warrants or stock appreciation rights issued by such Person with respect to its capital stock), and Holdings will not permit any of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries to enter into any Synthetic Purchase Agreement with respect to, or purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, for consideration, any shares of any class of capital stock of Holdings
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(all of the foregoing, except to the extent paid by such Person to its shareholders with the common stock of such Person, Dividends), except that:
(a) any Subsidiary of the US Borrower may pay Dividends to the US Borrower or any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the US Borrower; provided that any Dividends received by NSULC1 are distributed or otherwise transferred by NSULC1 within three Business Days to NASC;
(b) the US Borrower may pay cash Dividends to Holdings to enable Holdings to, and Holdings may, redeem or purchase shares of Holdings Common Stock, Preferred Stock of Holdings or options to purchase Holdings Common Stock or Preferred Stock of Holdings, as the case may be, in either case held by former employees, consultants, officers or directors of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries following the termination of their employment or resignation from their respective positions (by death, disability or otherwise) issued to any such employees, consultants, officers or directors; provided that (i) the only consideration paid by Holdings in respect of such redemptions and/or purchases shall be cash and/or forgiveness of liabilities, (ii) the sum of (A) the aggregate amount paid by Holdings in cash in respect of all such Dividends, redemptions and/or purchases made pursuant to this Section 7.06(b) plus (B) the aggregate amount of liabilities so forgiven, in each case after the Effective Date, shall not exceed $10,000,000 and (iii) at the time of any cash Dividend, payment or forgiveness of liabilities permitted to be made pursuant to this Section 7.06(b), no Default or Event of Default shall then exist or result therefrom;
(c) so long as no Default or Event of Default exists or would result therefrom, the US Borrower may pay cash Dividends to Holdings to enable Holdings to, and Holdings may, pay regularly accruing cash Dividends on Disqualified Preferred Stock issued pursuant to Section 7.13(c), with such Dividends to be paid in accordance with the terms of the respective certificate of designation therefor;
(d) any Subsidiary of the US Borrower that is not a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary may pay cash Dividends to its shareholders, members or partners generally, so long as the US Borrower or its respective Subsidiary that owns the equity interest or interests in the Subsidiary paying such Dividends receives at least its proportionate share thereof (based upon its relative holdings of equity interests in the Subsidiary paying such Dividends and taking into account the relative preferences, if any, of the various classes of equity interests in such Subsidiary or the terms of any agreements applicable thereto);
(e) the US Borrower may pay cash Dividends to Holdings so long as the proceeds thereof are promptly used by Holdings to pay operating expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business (including outside directors and professional fees, expenses and indemnities) and other similar corporate overhead costs and expenses; provided that the aggregate amount of all cash Dividends paid pursuant to this clause (e) shall not exceed $5,000,000 in any fiscal year of the US Borrower;
(f) the US Borrower may pay cash Dividends to Holdings at the times and in the amounts necessary to enable Holdings to pay its Taxes; provided that (i) the aggregate amount of cash Dividends paid pursuant to this clause (f) to enable Holdings to pay United States
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Federal and state income taxes at any time shall not exceed the aggregate amount of such United States Federal and state income taxes equal to the aggregate amount of such taxes actually owing by Holdings (determined as if Holdings were the ultimate taxpayer for its consolidated group) at such time for the respective period and (ii) any refunds received by Holdings shall promptly be returned by Holdings to the US Borrower;
(g) Holdings may pay regularly accruing Dividends with respect to Qualified Preferred Stock through the issuance of additional shares of Qualified Preferred Stock (but not in cash or other property), in accordance with the terms of the documentation governing the same;
(h) the US Borrower may pay cash Dividends to Holdings in an aggregate amount not to exceed $15,000,000; provided that (i) the proceeds thereof are promptly used by Holdings to pay customary transaction costs and expenses incurred in connection with Permitted Holdings Refinancing Indebtedness and (ii) at the time of the payment of such Dividends and after giving effect thereto no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;
(i) the US Borrower may pay cash Dividends to Holdings in an aggregate amount not to exceed $5,000,000; provided that (i) the proceeds thereof are promptly used by Holdings to pay customary transaction costs and expenses incurred in connection with a Qualified Public Offering and (ii) at the time of the payment of such Dividends and after giving effect thereto no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;
(j) the US Borrower may pay cash Dividends to Holdings so long as the proceeds thereof are promptly used by Holdings to pay (and Holdings may use such proceeds to pay) regular quarterly cash Dividends with respect to Holdings Common Stock; provided that (A) the aggregate amount of such payments in each fiscal year of the US Borrower does not exceed the sum of (1) $55,000,000 and (2) 50% of Consolidated Net Income (calculated solely for this purpose without regard to clauses (a)(i) through a(iii) of the definition of Consolidated Net Income) for the immediately preceding fiscal year, (B) at the time of the payment of such Dividends (and, if applicable, such cash interest payments) and after giving effect thereto no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (C) on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to the payment of such Dividends (and, if applicable, such cash interest payments) (1) the US Borrower is in compliance with Section 7.09 and Section 7.10 as of the last day of the most recently ended four fiscal quarters of the US Borrower and (2) the Adjusted Total Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 4.25 to 1.00 as of the last day of the most recently ended four fiscal quarters of the US Borrower and (D) prior to the payment of any such Dividend, if requested by the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, dated the date of the payment of such Dividend and signed by the chief financial officer of the US Borrower, confirming compliance with clauses (A), (B) and (C) above and containing the calculations necessary for demonstrating such compliance;
(k) the US Borrower may pay cash Dividends to Holdings so long as the proceeds thereof are promptly used by Holdings to pay regularly scheduled cash interest payments in respect of any Holdings Notes or Permitted Holdings Refinancing Indebtedness; provided that (A) such cash interest payments are permitted to be made at such time pursuant to Section 6.18, (B) the aggregate amount of such payments does not exceed the amount necessary to enable Holdings to pay such scheduled interest payments in respect of Holdings Notes or
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Permitted Holdings Refinancing Indebtedness outstanding on such payment dates, (C) at the time of the payment of such Dividends (and such cash interest payments) and after giving effect thereto no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (D) on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to the payment of such Dividends (and such cash interest payments) (1) the US Borrower is in compliance with Section 7.09 and Section 7.10 as of the last day of the most recently ended four fiscal quarters of the US Borrower and (2) the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is greater than or equal to 1.25 to 1.00 as of the last day of the most recently ended four fiscal quarters of the US Borrower and (E) prior to the payment of any such Dividend, the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, dated the date of the payment of such Dividend and signed by the chief financial officer of the US Borrower, confirming compliance with clauses (B), (C) and (D) above and containing the calculation necessary for demonstrating such compliance; and
(l) the US Borrower may pay cash Dividends to Holdings using the proceeds of Incremental Term Loans or other funds so long as the proceeds thereof are promptly used by Holdings to (i) redeem, repurchase or repay Holdings Notes or Permitted Holdings Refinancing Indebtedness in accordance with Section 7.12(a)(iv) or (ii) pay the Holdings 2012 Notes at final maturity, provided that, in the case of clause (ii), each of the conditions applicable to a repayment or repurchase of Holdings Notes and Permitted Holdings Refinancing Indebtedness at that time pursuant to Section 7.12(a)(iv) has been satisfied (treating each reference in such Section to repayment or repurchase as a reference to payment at final maturity).
SECTION 7.07. Transactions with Affiliates and Unrestricted Subsidiaries. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any transaction or series of transactions with any Affiliate of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or any of its Unrestricted Subsidiaries other than on terms and conditions substantially as favorable to Holdings or such Subsidiary as would be reasonably expected to be obtainable by Holdings or such Subsidiary at the time in a comparable arms-length transaction with a Person other than an Affiliate; provided that the following shall in any event be permitted under this Section 7.07: (a) the Transaction; (b) (i) transactions by and among Holdings and its Subsidiaries or (ii) transactions to the extent expressly permitted by Sections 7.02(e), (f), (g), (h) or (k), 7.04(f), (j) or (n) or 7.06; (c) customary fees to directors of Holdings and its Subsidiaries; (d) Holdings and its Subsidiaries may enter into employment arrangements with respect to the procurement of services with their respective officers and employees in the ordinary course of business; (e) the payment of consulting, management or other fees to the US Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof that is a Credit Party by any of their respective Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business; (f) Holdings, its Subsidiaries and the US Borrower may prepare and make all necessary filings with the SEC and take all other customary actions reasonably necessary in order to consummate a Qualified Public Offering; and (g) the payment by Holdings to unaffiliated third parties of customary transaction costs in connection with the incurrence of Permitted Holdings Refinancing Indebtedness, the performance by Holdings of its obligations under any customary purchase agreement entered into in connection with an offering of Permitted Holdings Refinancing Indebtedness and the performance by Holdings of its obligations under any customary registration rights agreement entered into in connection with an offering of Permitted Holdings Refinancing Indebtedness pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act.
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SECTION 7.08. Designated Senior Debt. Neither Holdings nor any Borrower shall designate any Indebtedness (other than the Loan Document Obligations) as Designated Senior Debt (or any similar term) (as defined in the Senior Subordinated Note Documents or the Holdings Notes Documents and, on and after the execution and delivery thereof, any agreement relating to Additional Senior Subordinated Indebtedness, Permitted Subordinated Refinancing Indebtedness or initial or successive Permitted Holdings Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the Holdings 2013 Notes); provided that Indebtedness under the Senior Subordinated Notes or under any Additional Senior Subordinated Notes or Permitted Subordinated Refinancing Indebtedness may be designated as Designated Senior Debt under the Holdings Notes Documents in respect of the Holdings 2013 Notes and any Holdings Notes Documents in respect of initial or successive Permitted Holdings Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of the Holdings 2013 Notes.
SECTION 7.09. Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio. The US Borrower will not permit the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio for any Test Period ending on the last day of any fiscal quarter of the US Borrower during any period specified below to be less than the ratio set forth opposite such period below:
| | | | | | |
Period | | | | Ratio | |
Effective Date to December 31, 2005 | | | | | 2.50:1.0 | |
January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2007 | | | | | 2.75:1.0 | |
January 1, 2008 to Thereafter | | | | | 3.00:1.0 | |
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, all calculations of compliance with this Section 7.09 shall be made on a Pro Forma Basis.
SECTION 7.10. Adjusted Total Leverage Ratio. The US Borrower will not permit the Adjusted Total Leverage Ratio on the last day of any fiscal quarter of the US Borrower ending on any date during any period specified below to exceed the respective ratio set forth opposite such period below:
| | | | | | |
Period | | | | Ratio | |
December 31, 2005 to March 31, 2008 | | | | | 4.50:1.0 | |
April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009 | | | | | 4.25:1.0 | |
April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2010 | | | | | 4.00:1.0 | |
April 1, 2010 to June 29, 2011 | | | | | 3.75:1.0 | |
June 30, 2011 to Thereafter | | | | | 3.50:1.0 | |
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained above or elsewhere in this Agreement, all calculations of compliance with this Section 7.10 shall be made on a Pro Forma Basis.
SECTION 7.11. Capital Expenditures. (a) Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, make any Capital Expenditures, except that (i) during the period from the Effective Date through and including December 31, 2006, the US Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries may make Capital Expenditures in an aggregate amount not to
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exceed $55,000,000 and (ii) during any fiscal year set forth in the table below, the US Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries may make Capital Expenditures, so long as the aggregate amount of such Capital Expenditures does not exceed in any fiscal year set forth below the sum of (A) the amount set forth opposite such fiscal year below plus (B) for each Acquired Business acquired after the Effective Date and prior to the first day of the respective fiscal year set forth below, 25% of the Acquired EBITDA of such Acquired Business for the trailing twelve months of such Acquired Business immediately preceding its acquisition for which financial statements for such Acquired Business have been made available to the US Borrower and the Lenders plus (C) for each Acquired Business acquired during the respective fiscal year, the amount for such Acquired Business specified in preceding clause (B) multiplied by a percentage, the numerator of which is the number of days in the fiscal year after the date of the respective acquisition and the denominator of which is 365 or 366, as the case may be:
| | | | | | |
Fiscal Year Ending | | | | Amount | |
December 31, 2007 | | | | $ | 55,000,000 | |
December 31, 2008 | | | | $ | 60,000,000 | |
December 31, 2009 | | | | $ | 40,000,000 | |
December 31, 2010 | | | | $ | 40,000,000 | |
December 31, 2011 | | | | $ | 40,000,000 | |
December 31, 2012 | | | | $ | 40,000,000 | |
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the amount of Capital Expenditures permitted to be made by the US Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to clause (a) above in any fiscal year set forth in the table above (before giving effect to any increase in such permitted expenditure amount pursuant to this clause (b)) is greater than the amount of such Capital Expenditures made by the US Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries during such fiscal year, such excess (the Rollover Amount) may be carried forward and utilized to make Capital Expenditures in succeeding fiscal years; provided that in no event shall the Rollover Amount available to be utilized in any succeeding fiscal year exceed 50% of the applicable permitted scheduled Capital Expenditure amount as set forth in clause (a) above for the fiscal year by reference to which the Rollover Amount was determined.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the US Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries may make Capital Expenditures (which Capital Expenditures will not be included in any determination under the foregoing clause (a)) with the Net Sale Proceeds of Asset Sales, to the extent such Net Sale Proceeds do not require, or result in, a mandatory repayment of Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.12(c) and such proceeds are reinvested as required by said Section 2.12(c), or with the Net Sale Proceeds of any sale, transfer or other disposition of assets that would constitute an Asset Sale but for the applicability of clause (g) of the definition of the term Asset Sale.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the US Borrower and any of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries may make Capital Expenditures (which Capital Expenditures will not be included in any determination under the foregoing clause (a)) constituting Permitted Acquisitions effected in accordance with the requirements of Section 7.02(i).
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SECTION 7.12. Limitation on Voluntary Payments and Modifications of Indebtedness; Modifications of Certificate of Incorporation, By-Laws and Certain Other Agreements; Issuances of Capital Stock; etc. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to:
(a) make or permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to make (or give any notice in respect of) any voluntary or optional payment or prepayment on or redemption, repurchase or acquisition for value of (including by way of entering into any Synthetic Purchase Agreement with respect thereto or depositing with the trustee with respect thereto or any other Person money or securities before due for the purpose of paying when due), or any prepayment or redemption as a result of any asset sale, excess cash flow recapture, exit event, change of control or similar event of, any Senior Subordinated Notes, Additional Senior Subordinated Notes, Permitted Subordinated Refinancing Indebtedness, Holdings Notes or Permitted Holdings Refinancing Indebtedness; provided that the US Borrower may consummate the Debt Tender Offer and, so long as no Default or Event of Default then exists or would result therefrom, (i) any Senior Subordinated Notes, Additional Senior Subordinated Notes and Permitted Subordinated Refinancing Indebtedness may be refinanced with Permitted Subordinated Refinancing Indebtedness, (ii) any Holdings Notes may be refinanced with Permitted Holdings Refinancing Indebtedness, (iii) the US Borrower may repurchase all or a portion of the Senior Subordinated Notes, Additional Senior Subordinated Notes, Permitted Subordinated Refinancing Indebtedness on the open market, in an aggregate Principal Amount for all purchases made pursuant to this clause (iii) not to exceed $20,000,000, so long as, on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to such repurchase, (A) the US Borrower is in compliance with Section 7.09 and Section 7.10 and (B) the Adjusted Total Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 2.75:1.00, in each case on the last day of the Test Period most recently ended prior to the consummation of the respective repurchase, (iv) Holdings may repay or repurchase all or a portion of the Holdings Notes or the Permitted Holdings Refinancing Indebtedness so long as, on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to such repayment or repurchase, (A) the US Borrower is in compliance with Section 7.09 and Section 7.10 and (B) the Adjusted Total Leverage Ratio is less than or equal to 4.25:1.00, in each case on the last day of the Test Period most recently ended prior to the consummation of the respective repayment of repurchase, and (v) Holdings and the US Borrower, as applicable, may apply the Net Cash Proceeds from one or more Qualified Public Offerings after the Effective Date to redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire for value Holdings Notes, Permitted Holdings Refinancing Indebtedness, Additional Senior Subordinated Notes, Senior Subordinated Notes or Permitted Subordinated Refinancing Indebtedness; provided that such redemption, repurchase or other acquisition occurs within 120 days of the date of consummation of the relevant Qualified Public Offering; provided further that, in the case of clauses (iii) and (iv) above, the US Borrower shall have delivered to the Administrative Agent an officers certificate executed by an Authorized Officer of the US Borrower certifying, to the best of such officers knowledge, compliance with the requirements of such clauses and containing the calculations necessary for demonstrating such compliance;
(b) amend or modify, or permit the amendment or modification of, any provision of the Holding Shareholder Subordinated Notes, the Senior Subordinated Note
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Documents, Holdings Notes Documents, the Canadian Intercompany Note, the UK Intercompany Note or the Canadian LP Intercompany Notes, or, after the incurrence or issuance thereof, amend or modify, or permit the amendment or modification of, any provision of any Qualified Preferred Stock, Disqualified Preferred Stock or Permitted Debt or of any agreement (including any purchase agreement, indenture, loan agreement, security agreement or certificate of designation relating thereto), in each case except for any such amendment or modification that could not reasonably be expected to be adverse to the interests of the Lenders in any material respect; and
(c) amend, modify or change in any way that could reasonably be expected to be adverse to the interests of the Lenders in any material respect any Debt Tender Offer Document, its certificate or articles of incorporation (including by the filing or modification of any certificate of designation other than any certificates of designation relating to Qualified Preferred Stock or Disqualified Preferred Stock issued as permitted herein), by-laws, certificate of partnership, partnership agreement, certificate of limited liability company, limited liability company agreement or any agreement entered into by it with respect to its capital stock or other equity interest (including any shareholders or similar agreement), or enter into any new agreement with respect to its capital stock or other equity interest that could reasonably be expected to be adverse in any material respect to the interests of the Lenders; provided that the foregoing clause shall not restrict the ability of Holdings and its Subsidiaries to amend their respective certificates of incorporation to authorize the issuance of capital stock otherwise permitted to be issued pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
SECTION 7.13. Limitation on Issuance of Capital Stock. (a) Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, issue (i) any Preferred Stock (other than Preferred Stock issued pursuant to clause (c), (d) or (e) below) or any options, warrants or rights to purchase Preferred Stock or (ii) any redeemable common stock unless, in either case, the issuance thereof is, and all terms thereof are, satisfactory to the Required Lenders in their sole discretion.
(b) Holdings will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to issue any capital stock (including by way of sales of treasury stock) or any options or warrants to purchase, or securities convertible into, capital stock, except (i) for transfers and replacements of then outstanding shares of capital stock, (ii) for stock splits, stock dividends and additional issuances that do not decrease the percentage ownership of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries in any class of the capital stock of such Subsidiaries, (iii) to qualify directors to the extent required by applicable law, (iv) that Subsidiaries formed after the Effective Date pursuant to Section 7.15 may issue capital stock in accordance with the requirements of Section 7.15 and (v) that Subsidiaries may issue common stock to the US Borrower and its Subsidiaries in connection with any transaction permitted by Section 7.05(n). All capital stock issued in accordance with this Section 7.13(b) shall, to the extent owned by any Credit Party and required by the US Collateral and Guaranty Agreement or a Foreign Pledge Agreement, be delivered to the Collateral Agent for pledge pursuant to such US Collateral and Guaranty Agreement or Foreign Pledge Agreement.
(c) Holdings may issue Disqualified Preferred Stock so long as (i) no Default or Event of Default then exists or would exist immediately after giving effect to the respective
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issuance, (ii) the aggregate liquidation preference for all Disqualified Preferred Stock issued after the Effective Date pursuant to this Section 7.13(c) shall not exceed, when combined with the aggregate principal amount of all then outstanding Indebtedness permitted by Section 7.04(m), $50,000,000, (iii) with respect to each issue of Disqualified Preferred Stock, the gross cash proceeds therefrom (or in the case of Disqualified Preferred Stock directly issued as consideration for a Permitted Acquisition, the fair market value thereof (as determined in good faith by Holdings) of the assets received therefor) shall not be less than the liquidation preference thereof at the time of issuance and (iv) the US Borrower shall furnish to the Administrative Agent a certificate by an Authorized Officer of the US Borrower certifying to the best of such officers knowledge as to compliance with the requirements of this Section 7.13(c).
(d) Holdings may issue Qualified Preferred Stock.
SECTION 7.14. Limitation on Certain Restrictions on Subsidiaries. Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of (a) Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries to create, incur or permit to exist any Lien upon any of its property or assets or (b) any such Subsidiary to (i) pay dividends or make any other distributions on its capital stock or any other interest or participation in its profits owned by Holdings or any Subsidiary of Holdings, or pay any Indebtedness owed to Holdings or a Subsidiary of Holdings, (ii) make loans or advances to Holdings or any Subsidiary of Holdings or (iii) transfer any of its properties or assets to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries except, in each case, for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of (A) applicable law, (B) this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, (C) the arrangements in effect on the date hereof identified on Schedule 7.14 (or to any extension or renewal of, or any amendment, modification or replacement not expanding the scope of, any such encumbrance or restriction), (D) customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest of Holdings or a Subsidiary of Holdings entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices, (E) customary provisions restricting assignment of any contract entered into by Holdings or any Subsidiary of Holdings in the ordinary course of business, (F) any agreement or instrument governing Permitted Acquired Debt, which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person or the properties or assets of the Person acquired pursuant to the respective Permitted Acquisition and so long as the respective encumbrances or restrictions were not created (or made more restrictive) in connection with or in anticipation of the respective Permitted Acquisition, (G) customary provisions restricting the assignment of licensing agreements, management agreements or franchise agreements entered into by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, (H) restrictions applicable to any Joint Venture that is a Subsidiary existing at the time of the acquisition thereof as a result of an Investment pursuant to Section 7.05 or a Permitted Acquisition effected in accordance with Section 6.13, provided that the restrictions applicable to such respective Joint Venture are not made worse, or more burdensome, from the perspective of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, than those as in effect immediately before giving effect to the consummation of the respective Investment or Permitted Acquisition, (I) any restriction or encumbrance with respect to a Subsidiary imposed pursuant to an agreement that has been entered into for the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the capital stock or assets of such
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Subsidiary, so long as such sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the capital stock or assets of such Subsidiary is permitted under this Agreement, (J) restrictions on the transfer of any asset pending the close of the sale of such asset so long as such sale is permitted under this Agreement, (K) the documentation governing Permitted Debt (other than Permitted Acquired Debt) so long as such restrictions are not materially more restrictive than those contained in the Senior Subordinated Note Documents (prior to giving effect to the consummation of the Debt Tender Offer), (L) restrictions on the transfer of assets securing purchase money obligations and Capitalized Lease Obligations otherwise permitted hereunder, (M) customary net worth provisions contained in Real Property leases entered into by Subsidiaries of the US Borrower so long as the US Borrower has determined in good faith that such net worth provisions could not reasonably be expected to impair the ability of the US Borrower and its Subsidiaries to meet their ongoing obligations (including those under this Agreement), (N) the Holdings Notes Documents and (O) any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement if such encumbrances or restrictions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness.
SECTION 7.15. Limitation on the Creation of Subsidiaries, Joint Ventures and Unrestricted Subsidiaries. (a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Holdings will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, establish, create or acquire after the Effective Date any Subsidiary or Unrestricted Subsidiary (other than Joint Ventures permitted to be established in accordance with the requirements of Section 7.05(o)); provided that (i) the US Borrower, any of its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries and any Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be permitted to establish, create or acquire an Unrestricted Subsidiary, so long as (A) if an Unrestricted Subsidiary is established, created or acquired by a Credit Party, the capital stock or other equity interests of such new Unrestricted Subsidiary that is owned by such Credit Party shall be pledged as, and to the extent, required pursuant to the US Collateral and Guaranty Agreement or a Foreign Pledge Agreement and the certificates (if any) representing such stock or other equity interests, together with appropriate powers duly executed in blank, shall be delivered to the Collateral Agent, and (B) all Investments by the US Borrower and its Subsidiaries in, or to acquire, any Unrestricted Subsidiary (including as a result of the designation thereof as provided in the definition of Unrestricted Subsidiary) are permitted pursuant to Section 7.05(o), (ii) the US Borrower and its Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries shall be permitted to establish or create Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries so long as, in each case, (A) at least 10 days (or such shorter period of time as is acceptable to the Administrative Agent) prior written notice thereof is given to the Administrative Agent, (B) the capital stock or other equity interests of such new Subsidiary are promptly pledged pursuant to, and to the extent required by, this Agreement and the US Collateral and Guaranty Agreement or a Foreign Pledge Agreement and the certificates, if any, representing such stock or other equity interests, together with stock or other appropriate powers duly executed in blank, are delivered to the Collateral Agent, (C) in the case of a Domestic Subsidiary, such new Domestic Subsidiary promptly executes a counterpart of the US Collateral and Guaranty Agreement, (D) in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary, such new Foreign Subsidiary promptly executes a counterpart of the Foreign Guaranty and, to the extent required by Section 6.11(a), the applicable Security Documents and (E) such new Subsidiary takes all actions required pursuant to Section 6.11 and (iii) Subsidiaries may be acquired pursuant to Permitted Acquisitions so long as, in each
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such case, (A) with respect to each Domestic Subsidiary and each Wholly-Owned Foreign Subsidiary acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition, the actions specified in the preceding clause (ii), shall be taken and (B) with respect to each Subsidiary that is acquired pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition, all capital stock or other equity interests thereof owned by any Credit Party shall be pledged pursuant to the US Collateral and Guaranty Agreement (in the case of a Foreign Subsidiary, to the extent required thereby) or a Foreign Pledge Agreement. In addition, each new Subsidiary that is required to execute any Credit Document shall execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, all other relevant documentation of the type described in Article V as such new Subsidiary would have had to deliver if such new Subsidiary were a Credit Party on the Effective Date.
(b) Holdings will not, nor will Holdings permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any Joint Venture, except to the extent permitted by Section 7.05(o).
ARTICLE VIII
Events of Default
Upon the occurrence of any of the following specified events (each, an Event of Default):
SECTION 8.01. Payments. Any Borrower shall (a) default in the payment when due of any principal of the Loans or the face amount of any B/A or (b) default, and such default shall continue for three or more Business Days, in the payment when due of any LC Disbursement (or any interest thereon), any interest on the Loans or any fees or any other amounts owing hereunder or under any other Credit Document; or
SECTION 8.02. Representations, etc. Any representation, warranty or statement made or deemed made by any Credit Party herein or in any other Credit Document or in any statement or certificate delivered pursuant hereto or thereto shall prove to be untrue in any material respect on the date as of which made or deemed made; or
SECTION 8.03. Covenants. Any Credit Party shall (a) default in the due performance or observance by it of any term, covenant or agreement contained in Section 6.01(f)(i), 6.10, 6.12, 6.13, 6.17, 6.18 or Article VII, or (b) default in the due performance or observance by it of any term, covenant or agreement (other than those referred to in Section 8.01, 8.02 or clause (a) of this Section 8.03) contained in this Agreement and such default shall continue unremedied for a period of at least 30 days after notice to the defaulting party by the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders; or
SECTION 8.04. Default Under Other Agreements. (a) Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries shall (i) default in any payment with respect to any Indebtedness (other than the Loan Document Obligations) beyond the period of grace, if any, provided in the instrument or agreement under which such Indebtedness was created or (ii) default in the observance or performance of any agreement or condition relating to any such Indebtedness or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing, securing or relating thereto, or any other event shall occur or condition exist, the effect of which default or other event or condition is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness (or a trustee or
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agent on behalf of such holder or holders) to cause (determined without regard to whether any notice is required), any such Indebtedness to become due prior to its stated maturity; or (b) any Indebtedness (other than the Loan Document Obligations) of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries shall be declared to be due and payable, or shall be required to be prepaid other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment or as a mandatory prepayment (unless such required prepayment or mandatory prepayment results from a default thereunder or an event of the type that constitutes an Event of Default), prior to the stated maturity thereof; provided that it shall not constitute an Event of Default pursuant to clause (a) or (b) of this Section 8.04 unless the principal amount of any one issue of such Indebtedness, or the aggregate amount of all such Indebtedness referred to in clauses (a) and (b) above, exceeds $15,000,000 at any one time; or
SECTION 8.05. Bankruptcy, etc. Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries shall commence a voluntary case concerning itself under Title 11 of the United States Code entitled Bankruptcy, as now or hereafter in effect, or any successor thereto (the Bankruptcy Code) or under any similar law of any jurisdiction; or an involuntary case is commenced against Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries and the petition is not controverted within 20 days, or is not dismissed within 60 days, after commencement of the case; or a receiver or custodian (as defined in the Bankruptcy Code or in any similar law of any jurisdiction) is appointed for, or takes charge of, all or substantially all of the property of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries; or Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries commences any other proceeding under any reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debt, relief of debtors, dissolution, insolvency or liquidation or similar law of any jurisdiction whether now or hereafter in effect relating to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries; or there is commenced against Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries any such proceeding that remains undismissed for a period of 60 days; or Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries is adjudicated insolvent or bankrupt; or any order of relief or other order approving any such case or proceeding is entered; or Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries suffers any appointment of any receiver, custodian or the like for it or any substantial part of its property to continue undischarged or unstayed for a period of 60 days; or Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or any Company action is taken by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing; or
SECTION 8.06. Pension Matters. (a)(i) Any Plan shall fail to satisfy the minimum funding standard required for any plan year or part thereof under Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA or a waiver of such standard or extension of any amortization period is sought or granted under Section 412 of the Code or Section 303 or 304 of ERISA, (ii) a Reportable Event shall have occurred, (iii) any Plan that is subject to Title IV of ERISA is, shall have been or is likely to be terminated or to be the subject of termination proceedings under ERISA, (iv) any Plan shall have an Unfunded Current Liability, (v) a contribution required to be made by Holdings or any Subsidiary of Holdings with respect to a Plan, a Multiemployer Plan or a Foreign Pension Plan has not been timely made, (vi) Holdings or any Subsidiary of Holdings or any ERISA Affiliate has incurred or is likely to incur any liability to or on account of a Multiemployer Plan or (vii) Holdings or any Subsidiary of Holdings has incurred or is likely to incur liabilities pursuant to one or more employee welfare benefit plans (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA) that provide benefits to retired employees or other former employees (other than as required by Section
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601 of ERISA) or pursuant to any Plan or Foreign Pension Plan; (b) there shall result from the event or events set forth in this Section 8.06 the imposition of a lien, the granting of a security interest, or a liability; and (c) such lien, security interest or liability, individually and/or in the aggregate, in the opinion of the Required Lenders, has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect; or
SECTION 8.07. Security Documents. (a) Any Security Document shall cease to be, or shall be asserted by any Credit Party or any Person acting on behalf of any Credit Party not to be, in full force and effect, or shall cease to give, or shall be asserted by any Credit Party or any Person acting on behalf of any Credit Party not to give, the Collateral Agent the Liens, rights, powers and privileges purported to be created thereby in favor of the Collateral Agent, superior to and prior to the rights of all third Persons (except as permitted by Section 7.03), and subject to no other Liens (except as permitted by Section 7.03), or (b) any Credit Party shall default in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or agreement on its part to be performed or observed pursuant to any such Security Document and such default shall continue beyond any cure or grace period specifically applicable thereto pursuant to the terms of any such Security Document; or
SECTION 8.08. Guaranties. Any Guaranty or any provision thereof shall cease to be in full force and effect, or any Guarantor or any Person acting by or on behalf of such Guarantor shall deny or disaffirm such Guarantors obligations under the relevant Guaranty or any Guarantor shall default in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or agreement on its part to be performed or observed pursuant to any Guaranty; or
SECTION 8.09. Judgments. One or more judgments or decrees shall be entered against Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries involving a liability (to the extent not either paid or covered by insurance) in excess of $15,000,000 for all such judgments and decrees and all such judgments or decrees shall not have been vacated, discharged or stayed or bonded pending appeal within 60 days from the entry thereof; or
SECTION 8.10. Ownership. A Change of Control Event shall have occurred; or
SECTION 8.11. Remedies Blockage. Any holder of any Holdings Notes or Permitted Holdings Refinancing Indebtedness shall take any action to cause such Indebtedness or any other obligations in respect thereof to become due and payable, institute any legal proceedings (including any involuntary bankruptcy proceeding) against Holdings or otherwise to enforce or collect upon such Indebtedness or any other obligations in respect thereof or take any other action to enforce such holders remedies with respect thereto;
then, and in any such event, and at any time thereafter, if any Event of Default shall then be continuing, the Administrative Agent shall, upon the written request of the Required Lenders, by written notice to the Borrowers, take any or all of the following actions, without prejudice to the rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to enforce its claims against any Guarantor or any Borrower except as otherwise specifically provided for in this Agreement (provided that if an Event of Default specified in Section 8.05 shall occur with respect to any Borrower, the result
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that would occur upon the giving of written notice by the Administrative Agent as specified in clauses (a), (b) and (c) below shall occur automatically without the giving of any such notice): (a) declare the Total Commitment terminated, whereupon the Commitment of each Lender shall forthwith terminate immediately and any Commitment Fees shall forthwith become due and payable without any other notice of any kind; (b) declare the principal of and any accrued interest in respect of all Loans, B/As then outstanding and all other Loan Document Obligations owing hereunder (including LC Disbursements) to be, whereupon the same shall become, forthwith due and payable by the Borrowers without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by each Credit Party; (c) enforce, as Collateral Agent (or direct the Collateral Agent to enforce), any or all of the Liens and security interests created pursuant to the Security Documents; (d) terminate any Letter of Credit that may be terminated in accordance with its terms; (e) direct the US Borrower to pay (and the US Borrower hereby agrees upon receipt of such notice, or upon the occurrence of any Event of Default specified in Section 8.05, to pay) to the Collateral Agent at the applicable Notice/Payment Office such additional amounts of cash, to be held as security for the US Borrowers reimbursement obligations in respect of Letters of Credit then outstanding, equal to the aggregate Stated Amount of all Letters of Credit then outstanding; and (f) apply any cash collateral as provided in Section 2.12.
ARTICLE IX
Administrative Agent
SECTION 9.01. Appointment. Each Lender and the Letter of Credit Issuer hereby irrevocably designates and appoints JPMCB as Administrative Agent (for purposes of this Article IX, the term Administrative Agent shall mean JPMCB in its capacity as Administrative Agent hereunder and in its capacity as Collateral Agent pursuant to the Security Documents), Calyon New York Branch as Syndication Agent, Bank of America, N.A. as Co-Documentation Agent and The Bank of Nova Scotia as Co-Documentation Agent, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. as Co-Lead Arranger and Joint Bookrunner and Goldman Sachs Credit Partners L.P. as Co-Lead Arranger and Joint Bookrunner, in each case to act as specified herein and in the other Credit Documents, and each such Lender hereby irrevocably authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, together with, in the case of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The Administrative Agent agrees to act as such upon the express conditions contained in this Article IX. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary elsewhere in this Agreement or in any other Credit Document, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein or in the other Credit Documents, or any fiduciary relationship with any Lender, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Agreement or otherwise exist against the Administrative Agent. The provisions of this Article IX are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and neither Holdings nor any of its Subsidiaries shall have any rights as a third party beneficiary of any of the provisions hereof. In performing its functions and duties under this
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Agreement, the Administrative Agent shall act solely as agent of the Lenders and does not assume and shall not be deemed to have assumed any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with or for Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, neither of the Co-Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners nor (in their capacities as such) Agents listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under any Credit Document.
SECTION 9.02. Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may execute any of its duties under this Agreement or any other Credit Document by or through agents, sub-agents or attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel concerning all matters pertaining to such duties. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agents or attorneys-in-fact selected by it with reasonable care. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent or attorney-in-fact may perform any and all 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 or attorney-in-fact and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent or attorney-in-fact, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as the Administrative Agent.
SECTION 9.03. Exculpatory Provisions. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its affiliates or any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates shall be (a) liable for any action lawfully taken or omitted to be taken by it or such person in its capacity as Administrative Agent under or in connection with this Agreement or the other Credit Documents (except for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable decision) or (b) responsible in any manner to any of the Lenders for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by Holdings, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers contained in this Agreement or the other Credit Documents, any other Document or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Document or for any failure of Holdings, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder. The Administrative Agent shall not be under any obligation to any Lender to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Agreement or the other Documents, or to inspect the properties, books or records of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible to any Lender for the effectiveness, genuineness, validity, enforceability, collectability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Document or for any representations, warranties, recitals or statements made herein or therein or made in any written or oral statement or in any financial or other statements, instruments, reports, certificates or any other documents in connection herewith or therewith furnished or made by the Administrative Agent to the Lenders or by or on behalf of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries to the Administrative Agent or any Lender or be required to ascertain or inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms, conditions, provisions, covenants or agreements contained herein or therein or as to the use of the proceeds of the Loans or of the existence or possible existence of any Default or Event of Default.
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SECTION 9.04. Reliance by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any note, writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, cablegram, telegram, facsimile, telex or teletype message, statement, order or other document or conversation (including any electronic message, internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) reasonably believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person or Persons and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including counsel to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries), independent accountants and other experts selected by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action under this Agreement or any other Credit Document unless it shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Required Lenders as it deems appropriate or it shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the Lenders against any and all liability and expense that may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. The Administrative Agent shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents in accordance with a request of the Required Lenders, and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding upon all the Lenders.
SECTION 9.05. Notice of Default. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default until the Administrative Agent has actually received notice from a Lender or a Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing such Default or Event of Default and stating that such notice is a notice of default. In the event that the Administrative Agent receives such a notice, the Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice thereof to the Lenders. The Administrative Agent shall take such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default as shall be reasonably directed by the Required Lenders; provided that, unless and until the Administrative Agent shall have received such directions, the Administrative Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Default or Event of Default as it shall deem advisable in the best interests of the Lenders.
SECTION 9.06. Nonreliance on the Administrative Agent and Other Lenders. Each Lender and the Letter of Credit Issuer expressly acknowledges that none of the Administrative Agent and any of its respective officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates has made any representations or warranties to it and that no act by the Administrative Agent hereinafter taken, including any review of the affairs of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by the Administrative Agent to any Lender. Each Lender represents to the Administrative Agent that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of and investigation into the business, assets, operations, property, financial and other condition, prospects and creditworthiness of Holdings and its Subsidiaries and made its own decision to make its Loans hereunder and enter into this Agreement. Each Lender and the Letter of Credit Issuer also represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not
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taking action under this Agreement, and to make such investigation as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the business, assets, operations, property, financial and other condition, prospects and creditworthiness of Holdings and its Subsidiaries. The Administrative Agent shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the business, operations, assets, property, financial and other condition, prospects or creditworthiness of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries that may come into the possession of the Administrative Agent or any of its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys-in-fact or affiliates in any capacity.
SECTION 9.07. Indemnification. The Lenders agree to indemnify the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such ratably according to their respective percentages as used in determining the Required Lenders at such time or, if the Commitments have terminated and all Loans have been repaid in full, as determined immediately prior to such termination and repayment (with such percentages to be determined as if there are no Defaulting Lenders), from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, reasonable expenses or disbursements of any kind whatsoever that may at any time (including at any time following the payment of the Loan Document Obligations) be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any other Credit Document, or any documents contemplated by or referred to herein or the transactions contemplated hereby or any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with any of the foregoing, but only to the extent that any of the foregoing is not paid by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries; provided that no Lender shall be liable to the Administrative Agent for the payment of any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting primarily from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Administrative Agent (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable decision). If any indemnity furnished to the Administrative Agent for any purpose shall, in the opinion of the Administrative Agent, be insufficient or become impaired, the Administrative Agent may call for additional indemnity and cease, or not commence, to do the acts indemnified against until such additional indemnity is furnished. The agreements in this Section 9.07 shall survive the payment of all Loan Document Obligations.
SECTION 9.08. Administrative Agent in its Individual Capacity. The Administrative Agent and its respective affiliates may make loans to, accept deposits from and generally engage in any kind of business with Holdings and its Subsidiaries as though the Administrative Agent were not the Administrative Agent hereunder. With respect to the Loans made by it and all Loan Document Obligations owing to it, the Administrative Agent shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent, and the terms Lender and Lenders shall include the Administrative Agent in its individual capacity.
SECTION 9.09. Holders. The Administrative Agent may deem and treat the payee of any Note as the owner thereof for all purposes hereof unless and until a written notice of the assignment, transfer or endorsement thereof, as the case may be, shall have been filed with the Administrative Agent. Any request, authority or consent of any Person
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or entity who, at the time of making such request or giving such authority or consent, is the holder of any Note shall be conclusive and binding on any subsequent holder, transferee, assignee or endorsee, as the case may be, of such Note or of any Note or Notes issued in exchange therefor.
SECTION 9.10. Resignation of the Administrative Agent. (a) The Administrative Agent may resign from the performance of all its functions and duties hereunder and/or under the other Credit Documents at any time by giving written notice to Holdings and the Lenders. Such resignation shall take effect upon the appointment of a successor Administrative Agent pursuant to clauses (b) and (c) below or as otherwise provided below.
(b) Upon any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall appoint a successor Administrative Agent hereunder or thereunder who shall be a commercial bank or trust company reasonably acceptable to Holdings.
(c) If a successor Administrative Agent shall not have been so appointed within 30 Business Days after the acting Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, the Administrative Agent, with the consent of Holdings (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), shall then appoint a successor Administrative Agent who shall serve as Administrative Agent hereunder or thereunder until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided above.
(d) If no successor Administrative Agent has been appointed pursuant to clause (b) or (c) above by the 30th Business Day after the date such notice of resignation was given by the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agents resignation shall become effective and the Required Lenders shall thereafter perform all the duties of the Administrative Agent hereunder and/or under any other Credit Document until such time, if any, as the Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided above.
(e) After the Administrative Agents resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.12 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.
SECTION 9.11. Power of Attorney. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent is hereby expressly authorized (with the right of sub-delegation) by and on behalf of each Lender to enter into any Security Document required to be executed and delivered pursuant to this Agreement or the other Credit Documents in order to secure the obligations of the Borrowers and Guarantors hereunder and thereunder. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to all declarations, and may appoint any attorney-in-fact to act on its behalf, as it considers necessary or useful in connection with the entering into of such Security Documents. The Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent shall further be entitled to rescind, amend and/or execute new and different versions of the aforementioned Security Documents in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Each Lender hereby grants to each of the Administrative Agent and the
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Collateral Agent an irrevocable power of attorney, in such Lenders name, to take the actions contemplated above in this Section 9.11.
SECTION 9.12. Trustee Provisions. (a) The Collateral Agent shall hold the security constituted by the Foreign Security Agreements, Foreign Pledge Agreements, and Foreign Mortgages, in each case executed by, or in respect of the equity interests in, a Subsidiary organized under the laws of England and Wales in the United Kingdom (each an English Security Document) as agent and trustee for each of the Lenders in accordance with their terms. The Collateral Agent shall not be liable for any failure, omission, or defect in registering, protecting or perfecting the security constituted by any English Security Document or any security created thereby.
(b) The Collateral Agent has no obligation to enquire into or check the title which any Credit Party may have to any property over which security is intended to be created by any English Security Document or to insure any such property.
(c) The Collateral Agent is not under any obligation to hold any title deeds, English Security Documents or any other documents in connection with the property charged by any Security Document or any other such security in its own possession or to take any steps to protect or preserve the same. The Collateral Agent may permit the relevant Credit Party, any bank providing safe custody services or any professional adviser of the Collateral Agent to retain all such title deeds, English Security Documents and other documents in its possession.
(d) All amounts received by the Collateral Agent under the English Security Documents may be (i) invested in any investment for the time being authorized by English law for the investment by trustees of trust money or in any other investments which may be selected by the Collateral Agent with the consent of the Required Lenders; or (ii) placed on deposit at such bank or institution (including the Administrative Agent or Lender) and upon such terms as the Collateral Agent may think fit. Any and all such monies and all interest thereon shall be paid over to the Collateral Agent forthwith upon demand by the Collateral Agent.
(e) Each Lender confirms its approval of the English Security Documents and authorizes and directs the Collateral Agent (by itself or by such person(s) as it may nominate) to execute and enforce the same as trustee (or agent) or as otherwise provided (and whether or not expressly in the Lenders names) on its behalf.
ARTICLE X
Miscellaneous
SECTION 10.01. Payment of Expenses, etc. The Borrowers jointly and severally agree to: (a) pay all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent (including the reasonable fees and disbursements of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP and no more than one local and one foreign counsel to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent in each applicable jurisdiction) in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution and delivery of the Credit Documents and the documents and instruments referred to therein and any
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amendment, waiver or consent relating thereto and in connection with the Administrative Agents syndication efforts with respect to this Agreement; (b) pay all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, each Letter of Credit Issuer and each of the Lenders in connection with the enforcement of the Credit Documents and the documents and instruments referred to therein and, after an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the protection of the rights of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, each Letter of Credit Issuer and each of the Lenders thereunder (including the reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel plus no more than one local and one foreign counsel in each applicable jurisdiction, and consultants for the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Letter of Credit Issuers and the Lenders); (c) pay and hold each of the Lenders harmless from and against any and all present and future stamp and other similar taxes with respect to the foregoing matters and save each of the Lenders harmless from and against any and all liabilities with respect to or resulting from any delay or omission (other than to the extent attributable to such Lender) to pay such taxes; and (d) indemnify the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, each Letter of Credit Issuer and each Lender and their affiliates and each of their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives, trustees, affiliates and agents from and hold each of them harmless against any and all losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses incurred by any of them as a result of, or arising out of, or in any way related to, or by reason of, (i) any investigation, litigation or other proceeding (whether or not the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, any Letter of Credit Issuer or any Lender is a party thereto and whether or not any such investigation, litigation or other proceeding is between or among the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, any Letter of Credit Issuer, any Lender, any Credit Party or any third Person or otherwise) related to the entering into and/or performance of this Agreement or any other Document or the use of the proceeds of any Loans or B/As hereunder or any drawing on any Letter of Credit or the Transaction or the consummation of any other transactions contemplated in any Document (but excluding any such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses to the extent incurred by reason of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Person to be indemnified (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable decision)), or (ii) the actual or alleged presence or Release of Hazardous Materials on, at or from any real property currently or formerly owned or operated by Holdings or its Subsidiaries or any Environmental Claim, in each case, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel and independent consultants incurred in connection with any such investigation, litigation or other proceeding. To the extent that the undertaking to indemnify, pay or hold harmless the Administrative Agent or any Lender set forth in the preceding sentence may be unenforceable because it is violative of any law or public policy, the Borrowers jointly and severally shall make the maximum contribution to the payment and satisfaction of each of the indemnified liabilities that is permissible under applicable law.
SECTION 10.02. Right of Setoff. In addition to any rights now or hereafter granted under applicable law or otherwise, and not by way of limitation of any such rights, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, each Letter of Credit Issuer and each Lender are hereby authorized at any time or from time to time, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind to any Credit
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Party or to any other Person, any such notice being hereby expressly waived, to set off and to appropriate and apply any and all deposits (general or special) and any other Indebtedness at any time held or owing by the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, such Letter of Credit Issuer or such Lender (including by branches and agencies of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, such Letter of Credit Issuer and such Lender wherever located) to or for the credit or the account of any Credit Party against and on account of the Loan Document Obligations of any Credit Party to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, such Letter of Credit Issuer or such Lender under this Agreement or under any of the other Credit Documents, including all interests in Loan Document Obligations of any Credit Party purchased by such Lender pursuant to Section 2.19(c), and all other claims of any nature or description arising out of or connected with this Agreement or any other Credit Document, irrespective of whether or not the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, such Letter of Credit Issuer or such Lender shall have made any demand hereunder and although said Loan Document Obligations shall be contingent or unmatured.
SECTION 10.03. Notices; Authorized Representative. (a) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing (including facsimile communication) and mailed, faxed or delivered by overnight courier, if to any Credit Party, at the address specified in Schedule 10.03 or in the other relevant Credit Documents, as the case may be; if to the Administrative Agent or any Letter of Credit Issuer, at such Persons applicable Notice/Payment Office; if to any Lender, at its address specified for such Lender on such Lenders Administrative Questionnaire; or at such other address for any party as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to the other parties hereto. All such notices and communications shall be effective when received. References herein to the taking of any action hereunder of an administrative nature by any Borrower shall be deemed to include references to the US Borrowers taking such action on such Borrowers behalf and the Administrative Agent is expressly authorized to accept any such action taken by the US Borrower as having the same effect as if taken by such Borrower. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, notices, requests, demands and other communications made to Lenders in their capacity as such may be made by electronic transmission.
(b) For greater certainty, and without limiting the powers of the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, or any other Person acting as an agent for the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent pursuant to any Credit Document, hereunder or under any of the other Credit Documents, each of Holdings and the Borrowers hereby acknowledges that the Administrative Agent shall, for purposes of holding any security granted by any of Holdings or any Subsidiary of Holdings on property pursuant to the laws of the Province of Quebec to secure obligations of Holdings or such Subsidiary of Holdings under any debenture, be the holder of an irrevocable power of attorney (
fondè de pouvoir) (within the meaning of the
Civil Code of Quebec) for all present and future Secured Parties and in particular for all present and future holders of any such debenture. The Lenders hereby irrevocably constitute, to the extent necessary, the Administrative Agent as the holder of an irrevocable power of attorney (
fondè de pouvoir) (within the meaning of Article 2692 of the
Civil Code of Quebec) in order to hold security granted by any of Holdings or any Subsidiary of Holdings in the Province of Quebec to secure the obligations of any of Holdings or any Subsidiary of Holdings under any debenture, which is hereby ratified and confirmed by and on behalf of all
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Secured Parties. Each assignee of the Administrative Agent or a Lender shall be deemed to have confirmed and ratified the constitution of the Administrative Agent as the holder of such irrevocable power of attorney (fondè de pouvoir) by execution of an Assignment and Assumption Agreement. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 32 of the An Act respecting the special powers of legal persons (Quebec), the Administrative Agent may acquire and be the holder of any debenture. Each of Holdings and the Borrowers hereby acknowledges that such debenture constitutes a title of indebtedness, as such term is used in Article 2692 of the Civil Code of Quebec. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained herein is intended to revoke the provisions of Section 10.03(b) of the Existing Credit Agreement with respect to the role of the Canadian Agent as described therein.
SECTION 10.04. Benefit of Agreement. (a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of the Letter of Credit Issuer that issues any Letter of Credit), except that (i) no Credit Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by any Credit Party without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section. 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 (including any Affiliate of the Letter of Credit Issuer that issues any Letter of Credit), Participants (to the extent provided in paragraph (c) of this Section) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent, the Letter of Credit Issuer and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
(b) (i) Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) below, any Lender may 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 Commitments and the Loans at the time owing to it and the outstanding B/As accepted and purchased by it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) of (A) the US Borrower, provided that no consent of the US Borrower shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund (as defined below) or, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any other assignee, (B) the Administrative Agent, provided that no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment of all or any portion of a Term Loan to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund and (C) the Letter of Credit Issuer, provided that no consent of the Letter of Credit Issuer shall be required for an assignment of all or any portion of a Term Loan or Term Commitment.
| (ii) | | Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions: (A) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lenders Commitment or Loans and B/As of any Tranche, the amount of the Commitment or Loans and B/As of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption Agreement with respect to such assignment is delivered |
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| | | to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than $5,000,000 or, in the case of a Term Loan, $1,000,000, unless the US Borrower and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), provided that no such consent of the US Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (B) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lenders rights and obligations under this Agreement, provided that this clause (B) shall not be construed to prohibit assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lenders rights and obligations in respect of one Tranche of Commitments or Loans and B/As, (C) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption Agreement, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500, provided that assignments made pursuant to Section 2.20(b) or Section 10.11(b) shall not require the signature of the assigning Lender to become effective, (D) the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire and any tax forms required by Section 2.18 and (E) in the case of any assignment of all or a portion of any Lenders Global Revolving Loan Commitment, the assignee must be capable of complying with its obligations to make Loans to the US Borrower, the UK Borrower and the Canadian Borrower and accept and purchase B/As in US Dollars, Canadian Dollars and Sterling, as applicable, as provided in Sections 2.01 and 2.07. |
For purposes of paragraph (b) of this Section, the term Approved Fund and CLO have the following meanings:
Approved Fund means (a) a CLO and (b) with respect to any Lender that is a fund that invests in bank loans and similar extensions of credit, any other fund that invests in bank loans and similar extensions of credit and is managed by the same investment advisor as such Lender or by an Affiliate of such investment advisor.
CLO means an entity (whether a corporation, partnership, trust or otherwise) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course and is administered or managed by a Lender or an Affiliate of such Lender.
| (iii) | | Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (b)(v) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption Agreement, the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption Agreement, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption Agreement, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption Agreement covering all of the assigning Lenders rights and obligations under this |
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| | | Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.16, 2.17, 2.18 and 10.01 and to any fees payable hereunder that have accrued for such Lenders account but have not yet been paid). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (c)(i) of this Section. |
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| (iv) | | The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as an agent of the US Borrower, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Assumption Agreement delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amount of the Loans and LC Disbursements owing to and B/As of, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the Register). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and Holdings, the US Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Letter of Credit Issuer 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 US Borrower, the Letter of Credit Issuer and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. |
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| (v) | | Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Assumption Agreement executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, the assignees completed Administrative Questionnaire and any tax forms required by Section 2.18(e) (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption Agreement and record the information contained therein in the Register. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph. |
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| (vi) | | The words execution, signed, signature and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption Agreement 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. |
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(c) (i) Any Lender may, without the consent of the US Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Letter of Credit Issuer or the Swingline Lender, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (each a Participant) in all or a portion of such Lenders rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments and the Loans owing to it and B/As accepted and purchased by it), provided that (A) such Lenders obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (C) Holdings, the US Borrower, the Administrative Agent, the Letter of Credit Issuer and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lenders 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 the Credit Documents and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of the Credit Documents, provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in the first proviso, or clause (A) of the third proviso, to Section 10.11(a) that affects such Participant. Subject to paragraph (c)(ii) of this Section, the US Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.16, 2.17 and 2.18 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.02 as though it were a Lender, provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.19 as though it were a Lender.
| (ii) | | A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.16 or Section 2.18 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 US Borrowers prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Non-US Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.18 unless the US Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the US Borrower, to comply with Section 2.18 as though it were a Lender. |
(d) Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest, provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a
Granting Lender) may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle (an
SPV), identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and the US Borrower, the option to provide to the Borrowers all or any part of any Loan that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make to any Borrower pursuant to this Agreement,
provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any SPV to make any Loan or accept and purchase any B/A and (ii) if an SPV elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to provide all or any part of such Loan or accept and purchase all or any part of
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such B/A, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Loan or accept and purchase such B/A pursuant to the terms hereof. The making of a Loan or acceptance and purchase of a B/A by an SPV hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Loan were made or such B/A were accepted and purchased by such Granting Lender. Each party hereto hereby agrees that no SPV shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement (all liability for which shall remain with the 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 indebtedness of any SPV, such party will not institute against, or join any other person in instituting against, such SPV any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceedings under the laws of the United States or any State thereof. In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 10.04, any SPV may (i) with notice to, but without the prior written consent of, any Borrower and the Administrative Agent and without paying any processing fee therefor, assign all or a portion of its interests in any Loans or B/As to the Granting Lender or to any financial institutions (consented to by the US Borrower and Administrative Agent) providing liquidity or credit support to or for the account of such SPV to support the funding or maintenance of Loans and B/As and (ii) disclose on a confidential basis any non-public information relating to its Loans and B/As to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety, guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPV.
SECTION 10.05. No Waiver; Remedies Cumulative. No failure or delay on the part of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, any Lender or the Letter of Credit Issuer in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Credit Document and no course of dealing between any Credit Party and the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, any Lender or the Letter of Credit Issuer shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder or under any other Credit Document preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege hereunder or thereunder. The rights and remedies herein expressly provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies that the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, any Lender or the Letter of Credit Issuer would otherwise have. No notice to or demand on any Credit Party in any case shall entitle any Credit Party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances or constitute a waiver of the rights of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lenders or the Letter of Credit Issuer to any other or further action in any circumstances without notice or demand.
SECTION 10.06. Calculations; Computations. (a) The financial statements to be furnished to the Lenders pursuant hereto shall be made and prepared in accordance with GAAP and, except as set forth in the notes thereto or as otherwise disclosed in writing by the US Borrower to the Lenders, be consistently applied throughout the periods involved; provided that (i) to the extent expressly required pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, certain calculations shall be made on a Pro Forma Basis, (ii) to the extent compliance with Section 7.09 or 7.10 or the determination of any of the Adjusted Total Leverage Ratio, the Total Leverage Ratio, the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio and the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio would include periods occurring prior to the Effective Date, such calculation shall be adjusted on a Pro Forma Basis to give effect to the
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Transaction as if same had occurred on the first day of the respective period, (iii) in the case of any determinations of Consolidated Interest Expense, Consolidated Fixed Charges or Consolidated EBITDA for any portion of any Test Period that ends prior to the Effective Date, all computations determining compliance with Section 7.09 or 7.10 and all determinations of the Adjusted Total Leverage Ratio, the Total Leverage Ratio (including as used in the definition of Applicable Rate), the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio and the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated in accordance with the definition of Test Period contained herein and (iv) for purposes of calculating the Applicable Rate, financial ratios, financial terms, all covenants and related definitions, all such calculations based on the operations of the US Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis shall be made without giving effect to the operations of any Unrestricted Subsidiaries.
| (b)(i) | | The Administrative Agent shall determine the US Dollar Equivalent of any Borrowing denominated in Canadian Dollars or Sterling or any B/A accepted and purchased under Section 2.07 as of each date (with such date to be reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent) that is on or about the date of a Notice of Borrowing, Interest Election Request or request for an acceptance and purchase of B/As with respect to such Borrowing or B/A, in each case using the Spot Exchange Rate for the applicable currency in relation to US Dollars in effect on the date of determination and each such amount shall be the US Dollar Equivalent of such Borrowing or B/A until the next required calculation thereof pursuant to this Section 10.06(b)(i). The Administrative Agent shall in addition determine the US Dollar Equivalent of any Borrowing denominated in Canadian Dollars or Sterling or any B/A accepted and purchased under Section 2.07 as of the CAM Exchange Date as set forth in Section 2.21. |
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| (ii) | | The Administrative Agent shall determine the US Dollar Equivalent of any Canadian Dollar Letter of Credit as of each date (with such date to be reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent) that is on or about the date of each request for the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Canadian Dollar Letter of Credit, using the Spot Exchange Rate for Canadian Dollars in relation to US Dollars in effect on the date of determination, and each such amount shall be the US Dollar Equivalent of such Letter of Credit until the next required calculation thereof pursuant to this Section 10.06(b)(ii). The Administrative Agent shall in addition determine the US Dollar Equivalent of any Canadian Dollar Letter of Credit as of the CAM Exchange Date as set forth in Section 2.21. |
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| (iii) | | The US Dollar Equivalent of any LC Disbursement made by any Letter of Credit Issuer in respect of any Canadian Dollar Letter of Credit and not reimbursed by the US Borrower shall be determined as set forth in paragraphs (e) or (l) of Section 2.05, as applicable. In addition, the Canadian Dollar LC Exposure shall be determined as set forth in paragraph (j) of Section 2.05, at the time and in the circumstances specified therein. |
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(c) For the purpose of determining compliance with Sections 7.04(d), (g) and (o), any interest on any Indebtedness theretofore incurred pursuant to such Sections that is capitalized and/or paid in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms shall not be treated as an incurrence of additional Indebtedness for purposes of determining compliance with the dollar limitations set forth therein.
(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in clause (a) of this Section 10.06, for purposes of determining compliance with any incurrence tests set forth in Article VI or VII (excluding Sections 7.09 and 7.10), any amounts so incurred or expended (to the extent incurred or expended in a currency other than US Dollars) shall be converted into US Dollars on the basis of the US Dollar Equivalent of the respective such amounts as in effect on the date of such incurrence or expenditure under any provision of any such Section that has an aggregate US Dollar limitation provided for therein (and to the extent the respective incurrence test limits the aggregate amount outstanding (or expended) at any time and is expressed in US Dollars, all outstanding amounts originally incurred or expended in a currency other than US Dollars shall be converted into US Dollars on the basis of the US Dollar Equivalent of the respective such amounts as in effect on the date any new incurrence or expenditures made under any provision of any such Section that regulates the US Dollar amount outstanding (or expended) at any time).
Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time, provided that, if the US Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the US Borrower requests an amendment to any provision (including any definition) hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the US Borrower that the Required Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith.
SECTION 10.07. GOVERNING LAW; SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; VENUE. (a) THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER AND THEREUNDER SHALL, EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED OTHERWISE IN CERTAIN OF THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS, BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND BE GOVERNED BY THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT MAY BE BROUGHT IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK OR OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, IN EACH CASE WHICH ARE LOCATED IN THE COUNTY OF NEW YORK, AND, BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT, EACH OF HOLDINGS AND EACH BORROWER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY ACCEPTS FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, THE JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS. EACH
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OF HOLDINGS AND EACH BORROWER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY DESIGNATES, APPOINTS AND EMPOWERS CT CORPORATION SYSTEM, WITH OFFICES ON THE DATE HEREOF AT 111 EIGHTH AVENUE, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10011, AS ITS DESIGNEE, APPOINTEE AND AGENT TO RECEIVE, ACCEPT AND ACKNOWLEDGE FOR AND ON ITS BEHALF, AND IN RESPECT OF THE PROPERTY OF HOLDINGS AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES, SERVICE OF ANY AND ALL LEGAL PROCESS, SUMMONS, NOTICES AND DOCUMENTS THAT MAY BE SERVED IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING. IF FOR ANY REASON SUCH DESIGNEE, APPOINTEE AND AGENT SHALL CEASE TO BE AVAILABLE TO ACT AS SUCH, EACH OF HOLDINGS AND EACH BORROWER AGREES TO DESIGNATE A NEW DESIGNEE, APPOINTEE AND AGENT IN NEW YORK COUNTY ON THE TERMS AND FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS PROVISION SATISFACTORY TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT UNDER THIS AGREEMENT. EACH OF HOLDINGS AND EACH BORROWER HEREBY FURTHER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH COURTS LACK JURISDICTION OVER HOLDINGS AND EACH BORROWER, AND AGREES NOT TO PLEAD OR CLAIM, IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT BROUGHT IN ANY OF THE AFORESAID COURTS, THAT ANY SUCH COURT LACKS JURISDICTION OVER SUCH CREDIT PARTY. EACH OF HOLDINGS AND EACH BORROWER FURTHER IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO THE SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY THE MAILING OF COPIES THEREOF BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, POSTAGE PREPAID, TO HOLDINGS AND EACH BORROWER, AT ITS ADDRESS FOR NOTICES PURSUANT TO SECTION 10.03, SUCH SERVICE TO BECOME EFFECTIVE 30 DAYS AFTER SUCH MAILING. EACH OF HOLDINGS AND EACH BORROWER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION TO SUCH SERVICE OF PROCESS AND FURTHER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES AND AGREES NOT TO PLEAD OR CLAIM IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING COMMENCED HEREUNDER OR UNDER ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS WAS IN ANY WAY INVALID OR INEFFECTIVE. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, THE COLLATERAL AGENT, ANY LENDER OR THE HOLDER OF ANY NOTE TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO COMMENCE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS OR OTHERWISE PROCEED AGAINST ANY CREDIT PARTY IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.
(b) EACH OF HOLDINGS AND EACH BORROWER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY OF THE AFORESAID ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT BROUGHT IN THE COURTS REFERRED TO IN CLAUSE (a) ABOVE AND HEREBY FURTHER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES AND AGREES NOT TO PLEAD OR CLAIM IN ANY SUCH COURT THAT ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.
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SECTION 10.08. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the different parties hereto on separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument. A complete set of counterparts executed by all the parties hereto shall be lodged with the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent.
SECTION 10.09. [Reserved]
SECTION 10.10. Headings Descriptive. The headings of the several sections and subsections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or construction of any provision of this Agreement.
SECTION 10.11. Amendment or Waiver, etc. (a) Except as provided in Section 2.23, neither this Agreement nor any other Credit Document nor any terms hereof or thereof may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated unless such change, waiver, discharge or termination is in writing and, in the case of this Agreement, signed by the respective Credit Parties party hereto and the Required Lenders or, in the case of any other Credit Document, signed by the respective Credit Parties hereto and the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent party thereto with the consent of the Required Lenders; provided that no such change, waiver, discharge or termination shall, without the consent of each Lender (other than a Defaulting Lender) (with Loan Document Obligations being directly affected thereby in the case of the following clauses (i) and (vi), and in such case only to the extent of such Loan Document Obligations), (i) extend the final scheduled maturity of any Loan or Note or extend the Revolving Loan Maturity Date or extend the required date of reimbursement of any LC Disbursement or extend the stated maturity of any Letter of Credit beyond the Revolving Loan Maturity Date (it being understood that any change to, or the deletion of, the proviso to the definition of Term Loan Maturity Date is not an extension of the final scheduled maturity of any Loans or Notes hereunder), or reduce the rate or amount or extend the time of payment of interest or fees thereon, or reduce the principal amount of any Loan, B/A or LC Disbursement or extend any Scheduled Repayment or any scheduled payment of principal of any Incremental Term Loan or reduce the amount of any such Scheduled Repayment or scheduled payment (it being understood that any amendment or modification to the financial definitions in this Agreement or to Section 10.06(a) shall not constitute a reduction in any rate of interest or fees for purposes of this clause (i)), (ii) release all or substantially all the Collateral (except as expressly permitted in this Agreement and/or the Security Documents) under all the Security Documents, (iii) release the Guaranty by Holdings or any other material Guaranty (except as expressly provided in the Guaranties) or limit the liability of Holdings or the applicable Credit Party under any such Guaranty, (iv) amend, modify or waive any provision of this Section 10.11 (except for technical amendments with respect to additional extensions of credit pursuant to this Agreement that afford the protections to such additional extensions of credit of the type provided to the Term Loans and the Revolving Loan Commitments on the Effective Date), (v) reduce the percentage specified in the definition of Required Lenders (it being understood that, with the consent of the Required Lenders, additional extensions of credit pursuant to this Agreement may be included in the determination of the Required Lenders on substantially the same basis as the extensions of Term Loans and Revolving Loan Commitments are included on the Effective Date), (vi) amend, modify or waive any
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other provisions of any Credit Document specifying the number or percentage of Lenders (or Lenders of any Tranche) required to waive, amend or modify any rights thereunder or grant any consent thereunder, (vii) consent to the assignment or transfer by any Borrower of any of its respective rights and obligations under this Agreement or any other Credit Document or (viii) amend, modify or waive the requirement set forth in Section 2.19(b) that funds be applied ratably among the parties entitled thereto; and provided further that no such changes, waivers, discharge or termination shall (i) change any provisions of any Credit Document in a manner that by its terms adversely affects the rights in respect of payments, or Collateral to secure payments, due to Lenders holding Loans of any Tranche differently than those holding Loans of any other Tranche, without the written consent of Lenders holding a majority in interest of the outstanding Loans and unused Commitments of each adversely affected Tranche, or (ii) modify the protections afforded to an SPV pursuant to the provisions of Section 10.04(e) without the written consent of such SPV; provided further, that any waiver, amendment or modification of this Agreement that by its terms affects the rights or duties under this Agreement of Lenders holding Loans or Commitments of a particular Tranche (but not the Lenders holding Loans or Commitments of any other Tranche) may be effected by an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by Holdings, each Borrower and the requisite percentage in interest of the affected Tranche of Lenders that would be required to consent thereto under this Section if such Tranche of Lenders were the only Tranche of Lenders hereunder at the time; provided further that no such change, waiver, discharge or termination shall (A) increase the Commitments of any Lender over (or reduce, on a non-pro rata basis, the Commitments of any Lender from) the amount thereof then in effect without the consent of such Lender (it being understood that waivers or modifications of conditions precedent, covenants, Defaults or Events of Default or of a mandatory reduction in the US Total Revolving Loan Commitment or Global Total Revolving Loan Commitment shall not constitute an increase of the Commitment of any Lender, and that an increase in the available portion of any Commitment of any Lender shall not constitute an increase in the Commitment of such Lender), (B) without the consent of each Letter of Credit Issuer, amend, modify or waive any provision of Section 2.05 or alter its rights or obligations with respect to Letters of Credit, (C) without the consent of the Swingline Lender, alter its rights or obligations with respect to Swingline Loans or (D) without the consent of the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, amend, modify or waive any provision of Article X as same applies to the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as the case may be, or any other provision as same relates to the rights or obligations of the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as the case may be.
(b) In connection with any proposed amendment, modification, waiver or termination (a
Proposed Change) requiring the consent of all affected Lenders, if the consent of the Required Lenders (and, to the extent any Proposed Change requires the consent of Lenders holding Loans of any Tranche pursuant to clause (i) of the second proviso of paragraph (a) of this Section, the consent of a majority in interest of the outstanding Loans and unused Commitments of such Tranche) to such Proposed Change is obtained, but the consent to such Proposed Change of other Lenders whose consent is required is not obtained (any such Lender whose consent is not obtained as described in paragraph (a) of this Section being referred to as a
Non-Consenting Lender), then, so long as the Lender that is acting as Administrative Agent is
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not a Non-Consenting Lender, at the US Borrowers request, any assignee that is acceptable to the Administrative Agent shall have the right, with the Administrative Agents consent, to purchase from such Non-Consenting Lender, and such Non-Consenting Lender agrees that it shall, upon the US Borrowers request, sell and assign to such assignee, at no expense to such Non-Consenting Lender, all the Commitments, Term Loans and US Revolving Credit Exposure and Global Revolving Credit Exposure of such Non-Consenting Lender for an amount equal to the principal balance of all Term Loans and Revolving Loans and B/As (and funded participations in Swingline Loans and unreimbursed LC Disbursements) held by such Non-Consenting Lender and all accrued interest and fees with respect thereto through the date of sale, such purchase and sale to be consummated pursuant to an executed Assignment and Assumption Agreement in accordance with Section 10.04(b) (which Assignment and Assumption Agreement need not be signed by such Non-Consenting Lender); provided that as a condition precedent to the effectiveness of such sale or assignment such assignee consents, or has consented, to the Proposed Change.
SECTION 10.12. Survival. All indemnities set forth herein including in Sections 2.11(g), 2.18, 9.04, 9.07 and 10.01 shall, subject to the provisions of Section 10.16 (to the extent applicable), survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making and repayment of the Loans and B/As.
SECTION 10.13. Domicile of Loans and Commitments. Each Lender may transfer and carry its Loans and/or Commitments at, to or for the account of any branch office, subsidiary or affiliate of such Lender; provided that no Borrower shall be responsible for increased costs arising under Section 2.16 or 2.18 resulting from any such transfer to the extent such increased costs would not otherwise be applicable to such Lender in the absence of such transfer (although the Borrowers shall be obligated to pay any other increased costs of the type described above resulting from changes after the date of the respective transfer).
SECTION 10.14. Confidentiality. (a) Each of the Lenders agrees that it will use its reasonable efforts not to disclose without the prior consent of Holdings (other than to its directors, trustees, employees, officers, auditors, counsel or other professional advisors, to affiliates or to another Lender if the disclosing Lender or such Lenders holding or parent company in its sole discretion determines that any such party should have access to such information; provided that such persons shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 10.14 to the same extent as such Lender) any information with respect to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries that is furnished by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to this Agreement; provided that any Lender may disclose any such information (i) that is publicly known at the time of the disclosure or that has become generally available to the public, (ii) that becomes available to the Administrative Agent, the Letter of Credit Issuer or any Lender on a non-confidential basis from a source other than Holdings or any of the Borrowers, (iii) as may be required or appropriate (A) in any report, statement or testimony submitted to any Governmental Authority (including the Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and similar organizations (whether in the United States or elsewhere) or their successors) having or claiming to have jurisdiction over such Lender or (B) in connection with any request or requirement of any such regulatory body (including any securities exchange or self-regulatory organization), (iv) as may be required or appropriate in response to any summons or subpoena or in connection with any litigation
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or other legal process, (v) to comply with any law, order, regulation or ruling applicable to such Lender, and (vi) to any prospective transferee in connection with any contemplated transfer of any of the Notes or any interest therein by such Lender or to any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any Swap Agreement relating to any Credit Party and its Loan Document Obligations under the Credit Documents; provided that such prospective transferee or actual or prospective counterparty agrees to be bound by this Section 10.14 to the same extent as such Lender.
(b) Each of Holdings and the Borrowers hereby acknowledges and agrees that each Lender may share with any of its Affiliates any information related to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries (including any nonpublic customer information regarding the creditworthiness of Holdings and its Subsidiaries); provided that such Persons shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 10.14 to the same extent as such Lender.
SECTION 10.15. Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.
SECTION 10.16. Limitation on Additional Amounts, etc. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 2.16 or 2.18, unless a Lender gives notice to the US Borrower, the Canadian Borrower or the UK Borrower, as the case may be, that it is obligated to pay an amount under such Section within six months after the later of (a) the date the Lender incurs the respective increased costs, Taxes, loss, expense or liability, reduction in amounts received or receivable or reduction in return on capital or (b) the date such Lender has actual knowledge of its incurrence of the respective increased costs, Taxes, loss, expense or liability, reductions in amounts received or receivable or reduction in return on capital, then such Lender shall only be entitled to be compensated for such amount by the US Borrower, the Canadian Borrower or the UK Borrower, as the case may be, pursuant to said Section 2.16 or 2.18, as the case may be, to the extent of the costs, Taxes, loss, expense or liability, reduction in amounts received or receivable or reduction in return on capital that are incurred or suffered on or after the date that occurs six months prior to such Lender giving notice to the US Borrower, the Canadian Borrower or the UK Borrower, as the case may be, that it is obligated to pay the respective amounts pursuant to said Section 2.16 or 2.18, as the case may be. This Section 10.16 shall have no applicability to any Section of this Agreement other than said Sections 2.16 and 2.18.
SECTION 10.17. Judgment Currency. (a) Each Borrowers obligation hereunder and under the other Credit Documents to make payments in US Dollars or, (i) in the case of a Canadian Dollar Revolving Loan or B/A or B/A Equivalent Loan, in Canadian Dollars or (ii) in the case of a Sterling Revolving Loan, in Sterling (in any such case, the Obligation Currency) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender or recovery pursuant to any judgment expressed in or converted into any currency other than the Obligation Currency, except to the extent that such tender or recovery results in the effective receipt by the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the respective Letter of Credit Issuer or the respective Lender of the full amount of the Obligation Currency
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expressed to be payable to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, such Letter of Credit Issuer or such Lender under this Agreement or the other Credit Documents. If, for the purpose of obtaining or enforcing judgment against any Borrower in any court or in any jurisdiction, it becomes necessary to convert into or from any currency other than the Obligation Currency (such other currency being hereinafter referred to as the Judgment Currency) an amount due in the Obligation Currency, the conversion shall be made, at the Canadian Dollar Equivalent or Sterling Equivalent thereof or, in the case of conversions into other currencies, at the rate of exchange quoted by the Administrative Agent, determined, in each case, as of the date immediately preceding the day on which the judgment is given (such Business Day being hereinafter referred to as the Judgment Currency Conversion Date).
(b) If there is a change in the rate of exchange prevailing between the Judgment Currency Conversion Date and the date of actual payment of the amount due, each of the US Borrower, Canadian Borrower and UK Borrower covenants and agrees to pay, or cause to be paid, such additional amounts, if any (but in any event not a lesser amount), as may be necessary to ensure that the amount paid in the Judgment Currency, when converted at the rate of exchange prevailing on the date of payment, will produce the amount of the Obligation Currency that could have been purchased with the amount of Judgment Currency stipulated in the judgment or judicial award at the rate of exchange prevailing on the Judgment Currency Conversion Date.
(c) For purposes of determining any rate of exchange for this Section 10.17, such amounts shall include any premium and costs payable in connection with the purchase of the Obligation Currency.
SECTION 10.18. Immunity. To the extent that the Canadian Borrower or UK Borrower has or hereafter may acquire any immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service or notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, or otherwise) with respect to itself or its property, each of the Canadian Borrower and UK Borrower hereby irrevocably waives such immunity in respect of its obligations hereunder and under the other Credit Documents to which it is a party to the extent permitted by applicable law and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, agrees that the waivers set forth in this Section 10.18 shall be to the fullest extent permitted under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976 of the United States and are intended to be irrevocable for purposes of such Act.
SECTION 10.19. USA Patriot Act. Each Lender hereby notifies Holdings and each of the Borrowers that pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the Patriot Act), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies Holdings and each of the Borrowers, which information includes the name and address of Holdings and each of the Borrowers and other information that will allow such Lender to identify Holdings and each of the Borrowers in accordance with the Patriot Act.
[Signature Pages Follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused their duly authorized officers to execute and deliver this Agreement as of the date first above written.
| | | | |
| | COMPASS MINERALS INTERNATIONAL, INC., |
| | by | | |
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| | | | Name: |
| | | | Title: |
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| | COMPASS MINERALS GROUP, INC., as US Borrower, |
| | by | | |
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| | | | Name: |
| | | | Title: |
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| | SIFTO CANADA CORP., as Canadian Borrower, |
| | by | | |
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| | | | Name: |
| | | | Title: |
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| | SALT UNION LIMITED, as UK Borrower, |
| | by | | |
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| | | | Name: |
| | | | Title: |
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| | JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent |
| | by | | |
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| | | | Name: |
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| | CALYON NEW YORK BRANCH, as Syndication Agent, |
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| | BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Co-Documentation Agent, |
| | by | | |
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| | | | Name: |
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| | THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, as Co-Documentation Agent, |
| | by | | |
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| | | | Name: |
| | | | Title: |
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| | SIGNATURE PAGE |
| | TO THE AMENDED |
| | AND RESTATED |
| | CREDIT AGREEMENT |
| | DATED AS OF December 22, 2005 |
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| | Name of Institution |
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