Credit Agreement dated December 3, 2004 by and among Cox Communications, Inc., Lenders, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
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This agreement is between Cox Communications, Inc., a group of lenders, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as the administrative agent. It sets the terms for a credit facility, including loans, revolving credit, and letters of credit. The agreement outlines the obligations of Cox Communications to repay borrowed amounts, pay interest and fees, and comply with financial covenants. It also details the rights and responsibilities of the lenders and the agent, as well as conditions for borrowing, events of default, and remedies. The agreement is effective as of December 3, 2004.
EX-10.1 2 g92227exv10w1.txt EX-10.1 CREDIT AGREEMENT, DATED DECEMBER 3, 2004 Exhibit 10.1 EXECUTION COPY CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of December 3, 2004 by and among COX COMMUNICATIONS, INC. and The Lenders Party Hereto and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. as Administrative Agent For The Lenders -------------------- CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC. and LEHMAN COMMERCIAL PAPER INC. Syndication Agents -------------------- CITIGROUP LEHMAN BROTHERS INC. J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC. GLOBAL MARKETS INC. Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners -------------------- COX COMMUNICATIONS, INC. Table of Contents
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iii The exhibits listed below have been omitted and will be provided to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request. List of Exhibits Exhibit 2.01(a) - Term Loan Commitments Exhibit 2.02(a) - Revolving Commitments Exhibit 2.03(f)(iv) - Eurocurrency Liabilities (Regulation D) Exhibit 6.01 - List of Subsidiaries Exhibit 6.03 - List of Actions Pending Exhibit 6.15 - Franchise Agreements Exhibit 7.01(a) - Opinion of the Company's Counsel addressed to the Lenders Exhibit 7.01(b) - Officer's Certificate Exhibit 9.01(d) - List of Liens and Security Interests Exhibit 13.02 - Addresses for Notices Exhibit 13.07(c) - Assignment and Acceptance iv THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT, made as of the 3rd day of December, 2004, is among COX COMMUNICATIONS, INC. (the "Company"), the LENDERS party hereto and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent for the Lenders (hereinafter in such capacity called the "Administrative Agent"), CITICORP NORTH AMERICA, INC. and LEHMAN COMMERCIAL PAPER INC., as Syndication Agents, and CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC., LEHMAN BROTHERS INC. and J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC., as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners. The Company has requested the Lenders to extend Commitments (such term and each other capitalized term used and not otherwise defined herein having the meaning assigned to it in Article I) under which the Company may obtain extensions of credit in an aggregate principal or face amount at any time outstanding not greater than $3,500,000,000, consisting of $2,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Term Loans, and up to $1,500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Conventional Revolving Loans (of which up to $200,000,000 may be in the form of letters of credit). The proceeds of the Borrowings made and the letters of credit issued hereunder will be used by the Company as provided in Article V. The Lenders are willing to establish the credit facilities referred to in the preceding paragraph upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows: ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS Section 1.01 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following words and terms shall have the respective meanings indicated opposite each of them: "Acquisition Intercompany Loan" shall mean a loan made to Cox Holdings, Inc. by the Company on the day payment is due for the CCI Minority Shares allocated to and purchased by Cox Holdings, Inc. pursuant to the Tender Offer, if (i) the proceeds of such loan are used to fund Acquisition Payments, (ii) all obligations in respect of such loan are assumed on such day by Merger Sub, (iii) after giving effect to such use of proceeds and the transfer of shares of the Company to Merger Sub as provided in the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will own a number of shares of the Company sufficient to permit it to cause the Merger to be completed forthwith as a "short-form" merger and (iv) the obligations in respect of such loan are discharged in the Merger. "Acquisition Payments" shall mean payments of (a) the purchase price for CCI Minority Shares purchased in the Tender Offer, whether paid directly by the Company in the Tender Offer or paid by a Subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, Inc. from proceeds of an Acquisition Intercompany Loan, (b) the merger consideration for the Merger upon effectiveness of the Merger and any amounts payable to stockholders who have sought statutory appraisal rights, (c) fees and expenses incurred or payable by the Company in connection with the Tender Offer or the Merger or (d) payments to holders of vested stock option rights upon cancellation of such option rights in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement. "Additional Credit Agreements" shall mean (a) the Credit Agreement dated as of December 3, 2004, among Cox Enterprises, Inc., the lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, Citicorp North America, Inc. and Lehman Commercial Paper Inc., as syndication agents, and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Lehman Brothers Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners and (b) the Eighteen-Month Credit Agreement dated as of December 3, 2004 among the Company, the lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, Citicorp North America, Inc. and Lehman Commercial Paper Inc., as syndication agents, and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Lehman Brothers Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners. "Affiliate" shall mean, when used with respect to a specified Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified. "Agreement" shall mean this Credit Agreement, as the same may be amended from time to time. "Alternate Base Rate" shall mean, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greater of (a) the Floating Rate in effect on such day; or (b) the Federal Funds Borrowing Rate in effect for such day plus 1/2 of 1%. For purposes of this Agreement, any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Floating Rate or the Federal Funds Borrowing Rate shall be effective on the effective date of such change in the Floating Rate or the Federal Funds Borrowing Rate. "Alternate Base Rate Loans" shall mean those Loans which may be made under this Agreement and which are described in Section 2.03(c)(i) on which the Company shall pay interest at a rate based on the Alternate Base Rate. "Alternate Base Rate Margin" for any date shall be zero unless the Margin Percentage with respect to the Eurodollar Rate for such date exceeds 1.00%; and if the Margin Percentage with respect to the Eurodollar Rate for such date exceeds 1.00%, the Alternate Base Rate Margin for such date will be the Margin Percentage with respect to the Eurodollar Rate for such date less 1.00%. "Applicable Revolver Percentage" shall mean, with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage of the aggregate amount of the Revolving Commitments represented by such Lender's Revolving Commitment at such time. If the Revolving Commitments have terminated or expired, the Applicable Revolver Percentage shall be determined based upon the Revolving Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments. "Arrangers" shall mean Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Lehman Brothers Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. "Assignment and Acceptance" shall have the meaning specified in Section 13.07(c). "Basic Subscribers" shall mean all of the following which are receiving basic cable television service provided by the CATV Systems: (a) the number of single family dwellings, plus the number of individual households in multiple dwelling units, purchasing basic cable television service, (b) the number of commercial rate customers purchasing basic cable television service and (c) the number of courtesy and free service customers. "Borrowing" shall mean a Term Loan Borrowing or a Conventional Revolving Borrowing. "Borrowing Date" shall mean a date upon which a Borrowing or Discretionary Revolving Loan is to be made under Article II. 2 "Borrowing Pro Rata Share" shall mean, with respect to any Lender as to any Borrowing of Conventional Revolving Loans or Term Loans, a fraction (expressed as a percentage rounded upward, if necessary, to the nearest whole multiple of 0.000000001%) (A) the numerator of which shall be the amount of such Lender's Commitment for such Loans and (B) the denominator of which shall be the aggregate amount of all Lenders' Commitments for such Loans. "Business Day" shall mean a day when the Administrative Agent is open for business; provided that if the applicable Business Day relates to Eurodollar Loans, it shall mean a day when the Administrative Agent is open for business and banks are open for dealings in Dollar deposits in the London interbank market. "CATV Systems" shall mean the cable television distribution systems owned and operated, directly or indirectly, by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that receive television and video signals by antenna, microwave transmission or satellite transmission and which amplify such signals and distribute them via coaxial or fiber optic cable. "CCI Existing Credit Agreement" shall have the meaning specified in Section 8.09. "CCI Minority Shares" shall mean shares of the common stock of the Company not owned by Cox Enterprises, Inc. and its Subsidiaries, including any shares of restricted stock or shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options. "Closing Date" shall mean December 8, 2004 or any later Business Day occurring on or before July 19, 2005 designated by the Company and Cox Enterprises, Inc. as the date of the first borrowing under any of this Agreement, the Additional Credit Agreements or the Existing Credit Agreements (as amended and restated as of the date hereof). "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. "Commitments" shall mean the Revolving Commitments and Term Loan Commitments, as such Commitments may be reduced from time to time pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. "Commitment Fees" shall have the meaning specified in Section 4.03. "Commitment Fee Rate" shall have the meaning specified in the definition of "Margin Percentage". "Consolidated Debt" shall mean, without duplication, all Debt of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis determined in accordance with GAAP, and including guaranties of indebtedness for borrowed money or for the deferred purchase price of Property and obligations under or with respect to standby letters of credit of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, but only to the extent such liabilities for guaranties or standby letters of credit in the aggregate exceed $50,000,000; provided further that for purposes of this definition, Consolidated Debt shall not include guaranties by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of overdrafts of any Restricted Subsidiary, which occur in the ordinary course of business and remain outstanding for a period not to exceed seven Business Days; provided further, that for purposes of computing the Leverage Ratio, such computation shall exclude any effect on the Company's or any Restricted Subsidiary's debt securities or Indexed Securities in respect of the accounting for all derivative financial instruments in accordance with GAAP, including derivative financial instruments that may be embedded in the Company's or any Restricted Subsidiary's debt securities or Indexed Securities and freestanding derivative financial instruments used by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary for hedging purposes, but such 3 computation shall in any event include the original principal amount and any accreted principal amount of such debt securities and Indexed Securities. The effect on the computation of the Leverage Ratio that may be excluded in respect of the accounting for all derivative financial instruments in accordance with GAAP includes: (i) entries associated with the mark-to-market of all freestanding and embedded derivative financial instruments classified as a component of the Company's or any Restricted Subsidiary's debt securities or Indexed Securities in the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and (ii) entries to record and accrete additional debt discount that may arise from the bifurcation of derivative financial instruments embedded in the Company's or any Restricted Subsidiary's debt securities or Indexed Securities. "Consolidated Interest Expense" shall mean, as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Company for the period of four fiscal quarters then ended, the sum of (i) interest expense, after giving effect to any net payments made or received by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to interest rate swaps, caps and floors or other similar agreements, and (ii) capitalized interest expense, in each case of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, all on a consolidated basis determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that for purposes of this definition, interest expense shall exclude any effect on interest expense in respect of the accounting for all derivative financial instruments in accordance with GAAP, including derivative financial instruments that may be embedded in the Company's or any Restricted Subsidiary's debt securities or Indexed Securities and freestanding derivative financial instruments that may be used by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary for hedging purposes. The effect on interest expense that may be excluded in respect of the accounting for all derivative financial instruments in accordance with GAAP includes: (i) entries to record noncash interest expense (or income) associated with the mark-to-market of freestanding and embedded derivative financial instruments, (ii) noncash interest expense associated with the accretion of additional debt discount that may arise from the bifurcation of derivative financial instruments embedded in the Company's or any Restricted Subsidiary's debt securities or Indexed Securities, and (iii) noncash interest expense (or income) that may arise if the Company's or any Restricted Subsidiary's hedging strategies become ineffective, as determined in accordance with GAAP. "Consolidated Net Worth" shall mean total assets of the Company and all Restricted Subsidiaries less all liabilities of the Company and all Restricted Subsidiaries, as determined in accordance with GAAP. "Consolidated Operating Cash Flow" shall mean, as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Company for the period of four fiscal quarters then ended, the sum of (i) operating income of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (less cash dividends and other cash distributions to the holders of minority interests in the Company's Restricted Subsidiaries), to the extent otherwise reflected in operating income before giving effect to depreciation, amortization, other non-cash charges and equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated investees on a consolidated basis determined in accordance with GAAP and non-recurring one-time charges and (ii) cash dividends and cash distributions, other than extraordinary distributions, for such period from unconsolidated investees of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis determined in accordance with GAAP, minus, without duplication, (iii) the amount of cash payments in respect of items that were originally reflected in operating income (whether in such period or any earlier period) as non-cash charges; provided that the Company's Unit Appreciation Plan Expense shall not be included in the calculation of Consolidated Operating Cash Flow. "Control" shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. "Controlling" and "Controlled" have meanings correlative thereto. 4 "Conventional Revolving Borrowing" shall mean a Borrowing of Conventional Revolving Loans made by the Company under Section 2.02(a), as converted or continued under Section 2.07. "Conventional Revolving Loans" shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.02(a). "Counsel for the Company" shall mean Dow, Lohnes & Albertson, PLLC. "Cox Family" shall include those certain trusts commonly referred to as the Dayton-Cox Trust A, the Barbara Cox Anthony Atlanta Trust, the Anne Cox Chambers Atlanta Trust, Barbara Cox Anthony, Garner Anthony, Anne Cox Chambers, and the estates, executors and administrators, and lineal descendants of the above-named individuals, any private foundation or other charitable entity of which the above-described individuals constitute a majority of the trustees, directors or managers, and any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other entity in which the above-named trusts or above-described individuals and the estates, executors and administrators, and lineal descendants of the above-named individuals in the aggregate have a direct or indirect beneficial interest or voting control of greater than 50%. "Debentures" shall mean the Company's Exchangeable Subordinated Discount Debentures due 2020 in an aggregate original principal amount at maturity of $1,643,617,000. "Debt" shall mean with respect to any Person and without duplication (i) indebtedness for borrowed money or for the deferred purchase price of Property in respect of which such Person is liable, contingently or otherwise, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, or in respect of which such Person directly or indirectly assures a creditor against loss, and (ii) the capitalized portions of obligations under leases which shall have been or should have been, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capital leases. "Default Rate" shall mean a rate per annum (for the actual number of days elapsed, based on a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be) which shall be equal to the lesser of (i) in the case of a Term Loan or Conventional Revolving Loan, the Alternate Base Rate plus the Alternate Base Rate Margin plus 1% or the Highest Lawful Rate, (ii) in the case of a Discretionary Revolving Loan, the Negotiated Rate plus 1% or the Highest Lawful Rate, and (iii) in the case of LC Disbursements, the Alternate Base Rate plus the Alternate Base Rate Margin plus 1% or the Highest Lawful Rate. "Depositary" shall have the meaning specified in Section 13.03. "Discretionary Revolving Loan Interest Period" shall mean the period which shall commence on the Borrowing Date with respect to a Discretionary Revolving Loan and shall end on a date which shall be agreed to by the Company and the Lender, by telephone (to be promptly confirmed in writing by the Company); provided that no Discretionary Revolving Loan Interest Period shall extend beyond the Revolving Credit Termination Date. "Discretionary Revolving Loans" shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.06(a). "Dollars" and "$" shall mean lawful currency of the United States of America. "ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. "Eurodollar Event" shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.03(d)(i). 5 "Eurodollar Loans" shall mean those Loans which may be made under this Agreement and which are described in Section 2.03(c)(ii) on which the Company shall pay interest at a rate based on the Eurodollar Rate. "Eurodollar Rate" for any Interest Period shall mean, for each Eurodollar Loan comprising part of a Borrowing, an interest rate per annum equal to the per annum rate appearing on Page 3750 of the Dow Jones Market Service (or on any successor or substitute page of such Service, or any successor to or substitute for such Service, providing rate quotations comparable to those currently provided on such page of such Service, as determined by the Administrative Agent from time to time for purposes of providing quotations of interest rates applicable to dollar deposits in the London interbank market) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, as the rate for dollar deposits with a maturity comparable to such Interest Period. In the event that such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the "Eurodollar Rate" with respect to such Borrowing for such Interest Period shall be the rate at which dollar deposits of $5,000,000 and for a maturity comparable to such Interest Period are offered by the principal London office of the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period. "Event of Default" shall mean any of the events specified in Article X; provided that there has been satisfied any requirement in connection with such event for the giving of notice, or the lapse of time, or the happening of any further condition, event or act, and "Default" shall mean any of such events, whether or not any such requirement has been satisfied. "Excluded Taxes" shall mean, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Lender, any Lender or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Company hereunder: (a) taxes that are imposed on or measured by its overall net income by the United States; (b) taxes that are imposed on or measured by its overall net income or profits (and franchise taxes imposed on or measured by income, earnings or retained earnings) by (i) the state or foreign jurisdiction in or under the laws of which it is organized or any political subdivision thereof, (ii) the state or foreign jurisdiction of its principal office or Lending Office, or (iii) any state or foreign jurisdiction solely as a result of a current or former connection between it and such jurisdiction (other than any such connection arising solely from its having executed, delivered or performed its obligations or received payment under, or enforced, this Agreement, the Loans or the Letters of Credit) or any political subdivision thereof; (c) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which it is located, or any political subdivision thereof; and (d) in the case of a Foreign Lender, any U.S. withholding tax that is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party hereto (or designates a new Lending Office, but only to the extent greater than the amount of any Indemnified Taxes to which such Foreign Lender would be entitled at the time of such designation) or is attributable to such Foreign Lender's failure or inability (other than as a result of a Change in Law) to comply with Section 2.05. "Existing Credit Agreements" shall mean (a) the Five-Year Credit Agreement dated as of June 4, 2004, among the Company, the lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, Bank of America, N.A., as co-syndication agent, Wachovia Bank, National Association, as co-syndication agent, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., as co-lead arranger and joint 6 bookrunner, and Banc of America Securities, LLC, as co-lead arranger and joint bookrunner and (b) the Five-Year Credit Agreement dated as of June 4, 2004, among Cox Enterprises, Inc., the lenders party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, Bank of America, N.A., as co-syndication agent, Wachovia Bank, National Association, as co-syndication agent, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., as co-lead arranger and joint bookrunner, and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC, as co-lead arranger and joint bookrunner. "FCC" shall mean the Federal Communications Commission or any successor governmental agency thereto. "Federal Funds Borrowing Rate" shall mean, for any day, a fluctuating interest rate per annum equal to the weighted average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the quotations for such day received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it. "Federal Funds Rate Loans" shall mean those Loans which may be made under this Agreement and which are described in Section 2.03(c)(iii) on which the Company shall pay interest at a rate based on the Federal Funds Borrowing Rate. "Financial Institution" shall mean an entity which regularly engages in one or more of the following activities: making loans, issuing letters of credit or purchasing loans or loan commitments or interests in loans, loan commitments or letters of credit. "Floating Rate" shall mean, as of a particular date, the prime rate most recently determined by JPMCB. Without notice to the Company or any other Person, the Floating Rate shall change automatically from time to time as and in the amount by which said prime rate shall fluctuate, with each such change to be effective as of the date of each change in such prime rate. The Floating Rate is a reference rate and does not necessarily represent the lowest or best rate actually charged to any customer. JPMCB may make commercial loans or other loans at rates of interest at, above or below the Floating Rate. "Foreign Lender" shall mean any Lender that is not a "United States person" (as such term is defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code). "Franchise Agreements" shall mean all material franchise agreements or other substantially similar agreements to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party. "GAAP" shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America. "Highest Lawful Rate" shall mean the maximum nonusurious interest rate, if any, that at any applicable time may be contracted for, taken, reserved, charged or received on any Loan, LC Disbursement or on the other amounts which may be owing to any Lender pursuant to this Agreement (including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 2.06) under the laws applicable to such Lender and this transaction. "Homes Passed" shall mean the total of (a) the number of single family residences capable of being serviced without further line construction; (b) the number of units in multi-family 7 residential buildings capable of being serviced without further line construction; and (c) the number of then current commercial service accounts regardless of the number of units serviced or the equivalent billing units. "Indemnified Taxes" shall mean Taxes other than Excluded Taxes. "Indenture" shall mean the Indenture, dated as of June 27, 1995, between the Company and the Bank of New York, as Trustee, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 12, 1999, the Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 19, 2000, and the Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 5, 2003 (and as the same may be further supplemented from time to time). "Indexed Securities" shall mean securities or financial contracts of the Company issued and outstanding from time to time whose fair value is derived from an index, such as the trading price of another referenced security. "Interest Election Request" shall mean a request by the Company to convert or continue a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.07. "Interest Payment Date" shall mean the last day of each Interest Period. "Interest Period" shall mean, with respect to each Eurodollar Loan hereunder, the period commencing on the Borrowing Date of such Loan or the date such Borrowing is continued or converted from another type of Borrowing and ending one, two, three or six months thereafter, as the Company may select in the Notice of Term Loan Borrowing, Notice of Conventional Revolving Borrowing or Interest Election Request; provided that (i) no Interest Period with respect to Term Loans shall extend beyond the Term Loan Maturity Date and no Interest Period with respect to Conventional Revolving Loans shall extend beyond the Revolving Credit Termination Date, (ii) whenever the last day of any Interest Period would otherwise occur on a day other than a Business Day, the last day of such Interest Period shall be extended to occur on the next succeeding Business Day; provided that with respect to Eurodollar Loans, any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day only if such Business Day does not fall in another month, and in the event the next succeeding Business Day falls in another month, the Interest Period for such Eurodollar Loan shall be accelerated so that such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day, (iii) any Interest Period that begins on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last month of such Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day of the last month of such Interest Period and (iv) until the earlier of (A) the completion of syndication as determined by the Arrangers and (B) the 30th day following the Closing Date, all Eurodollar Loans shall have an Interest Period of one month. In no event shall there be more than 10 Interest Periods in effect at any one time. "Investment" shall have the meaning specified in Section 9.05. "Issuing Lender" shall mean, with respect to any Letter of Credit, JPMCB, Bank of America, N.A. or Wachovia Bank, National Association, as selected by the Company, in its capacity as issuer of such Letter of Credit, and its successors in such capacity as provided in Section 2.10(i). Each Issuing Lender may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of such Issuing Lender, in which case the term "Issuing Lender" shall include any such Affiliate executing this Agreement as Issuing Lender, in its capacity as issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder. "JPMCB" shall mean JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., a national banking association having its principal offices located at 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017. 8 "LC Disbursement" shall mean a payment made by an Issuing Lender pursuant to a Letter of Credit. "LC Exposure" shall mean, at any time, the sum of (i) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time plus (ii) the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of the Company at such time. The LC Exposure of any Lender at any time shall be its Applicable Revolver Percentage of the total LC Exposure at such time. "LC Participation Fee" shall have the meaning specified in Section 4.04. "Lender Affiliate" shall mean, (a) with respect to any Lender, (i) an Affiliate of such Lender or (ii) any entity (whether a corporation, partnership, trust or otherwise) that is primarily engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and is Controlled by a Lender or an Affiliate of such Lender and (b) with respect to any Lender that is a fund which invests in bank loans and similar extensions of credit, any other fund that invests in bank loans and similar extensions of credit and is Controlled by the same investment advisor as such Lender or by an Affiliate of such investment advisor. "Lenders" shall mean the Persons listed on Exhibits 2.01(a) and 2.02(a), each such Lender's respective successors (which successors shall include any entity resulting from a merger or consolidation) and any other Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance. "Lending Office" shall mean, with respect to any Lender, as to a Conventional Revolving Loan or Term Loan, its principal office in the city identified with such Lender, in Section 13.02, or such other office or branch of such Lender as it shall designate in writing from time to time to the Company. "Letter of Credit" shall mean a letter of credit issued by an Issuing Lender pursuant to Section 2.10. "Leverage Ratio" shall mean, at any time, the ratio of (a) Consolidated Debt (less the aggregate amount of cash and cash equivalents of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries representing the unused proceeds of securities issued after the date hereof to refinance Debt obligations scheduled to mature within 90 days) as of the last day of the fiscal quarter most recently ended for which financial statements shall have been delivered to the Lenders pursuant to Section 8.02 to (b) Pro Forma Consolidated Operating Cash Flow for the period ending on such day; provided that for purposes of determining the Leverage Ratio as of any date occurring on or before December 30, 2005 (but not as of December 31, 2005 or any time thereafter) Consolidated Debt shall be reduced by the difference (if a positive number) between (i) the Leverage Ratio Credit and (ii) the Leverage Ratio Credit Reduction, if any, on such date. "Leverage Ratio Credit" shall mean, for any date occurring on or before December 30, 2005, $1,000,000,000. "Leverage Ratio Credit Reduction" shall mean, for any date occurring on or before December 30, 2005, an amount equal to the aggregate amount of all net cash proceeds received by the Company at any time after the Closing Date from (a) the issuance and sale of capital stock of the Company or as an equity contribution (net of underwriting discounts and commissions and other issuance costs) or (b) from the sale or disposition of capital stock or other equity interests of a Subsidiary or the assets of a business of the Company or a Subsidiary (net of (i) the costs of the sale or disposition, (ii) 9 taxes paid or payable by the Company or a Subsidiary or an Affiliate in connection with or as a result of the sale or disposition, (iii) proceeds of the sale applied to the payment of debt or other obligations of the Company or a Subsidiary required to be repaid, redeemed or repurchased in connection with or as a result of the sale or disposition and (iv) any reserve established by the Company for the payment of any post-closing obligations, such as working capital adjustments and indemnities, that may become payable by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary under the agreements relating to the sale or disposition), except any sale or disposition made for an aggregate purchase consideration of less than $50,000,000. "Lien" shall mean, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, charge or security interest in, on or of such asset and (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sales agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset. "Loans" shall mean Term Loans and Conventional Revolving Loans (in each case whether Federal Funds Rate Loans, Alternate Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Loans) and Discretionary Revolving Loans. "Majority Lenders" shall mean (a) until expiration or termination of the Revolving Commitments, Lenders having more than 50% of the Revolving Commitments, outstanding Term Loans and unfunded Commitments for Term Loans and (b) after expiration or termination of the Revolving Commitments, Lenders having more than 50% of the aggregate outstanding Loans and LC Exposure. "Margin Percentage" shall mean at any date that percentage (a) to be added to the Eurodollar Rate or the Federal Funds Borrowing Rate, as appropriate, pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(ii) or Section 2.03(c)(iii) for purposes of determining the per annum rate of interest applicable from time to time to Federal Funds Rate Loans and Eurodollar Loans and (b) to be used in computing the Commitment Fee Rate pursuant to Section 4.03, set forth under the appropriate column below opposite the Category corresponding to the Company's corporate credit ratings by S&P or Moody's, respectively, on such date: Margin Percentage