CREDIT AGREEMENT Dated as of December 7, 2010 among GLOBAL PAYMENTS INC., The Other Borrowers Party Hereto, BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer and The Other Lenders Party Hereto MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED, SUNTRUST ROBINSON HUMPHREY, INC. and WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC, as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Book Managers SUNTRUST BANK and WELLS FARGOBANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Co-Syndication Agents BBVA COMPASS and THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD., NEW YORK BRANCH, as Co-Documentation Agents TABLE OF CONTENTS
Exhibit 10.1
Published CUSIP Number: 37943VAJ2
CREDIT AGREEMENT
Dated as of December 7, 2010
among
GLOBAL PAYMENTS INC.,
The Other Borrowers Party Hereto,
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer
and
The Other Lenders Party Hereto
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED,
SUNTRUST ROBINSON HUMPHREY, INC.
and
WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC,
as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Book Managers
SUNTRUST BANK
and
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Co-Syndication Agents
BBVA COMPASS
and
THE BANK OF TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ, LTD., NEW YORK BRANCH,
as Co-Documentation Agents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS | 1 | |||
1.01 | Defined Terms | 1 | ||
1.02 | Other Interpretive Provisions | 24 | ||
1.03 | Accounting Terms | 25 | ||
1.04 | Rounding | 26 | ||
1.05 | Exchange Rates; Currency Equivalents | 26 | ||
1.06 | Additional Alternative Currencies | 26 | ||
1.07 | Change of Currency | 27 | ||
1.08 | Times of Day | 27 | ||
1.09 | Letter of Credit Amounts | 28 | ||
ARTICLE II THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS | 28 | |||
2.01 | Revolving Loans | 28 | ||
2.02 | Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations | 28 | ||
2.03 | Letters of Credit | 31 | ||
2.04 | Swing Line Loans | 40 | ||
2.05 | Prepayments | 42 | ||
2.06 | Repayment of Loans | 44 | ||
2.07 | Termination or Reduction of Aggregate Revolving Commitments | 44 | ||
2.08 | Interest | 45 | ||
2.09 | Fees | 46 | ||
2.10 | Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate | 46 | ||
2.11 | Evidence of Debt | 47 | ||
2.12 | Payments Generally; Administrative Agents Clawback | 48 | ||
2.13 | Sharing of Payments by Lenders | 49 | ||
2.14 | Cash Collateral | 50 | ||
2.15 | Defaulting Lenders | 51 | ||
2.16 | Designated Borrowers | 53 | ||
ARTICLE III TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY | 54 | |||
3.01 | Taxes | 54 | ||
3.02 | Illegality | 58 | ||
3.03 | Inability to Determine Rates | 59 | ||
3.04 | Increased Costs | 60 | ||
3.05 | Compensation for Losses | 61 | ||
3.06 | Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders | 62 | ||
3.07 | Survival | 62 | ||
ARTICLE IV CONDITIONS PRECEDENT | 63 | |||
4.01 | Conditions to Effectiveness and Initial Credit Extension | 63 | ||
4.02 | Conditions to all Credit Extensions | 64 | ||
ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES | 65 | |||
5.01 | Organization; Powers | 65 | ||
5.02 | Authorization; Enforceability | 65 | ||
5.03 | Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts | 66 | ||
5.04 | Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change | 66 | ||
5.05 | Properties | 66 | ||
5.06 | Litigation and Environmental Matters | 66 | ||
5.07 | Compliance with Laws and Agreements | 67 |
i
5.08 | Investment Company Status | 67 | ||
5.09 | Taxes | 67 | ||
5.10 | ERISA | 67 | ||
5.11 | Subsidiaries | 67 | ||
5.12 | Margin Securities | 67 | ||
5.13 | Disclosure | 68 | ||
5.14 | Taxpayer Identification Number; Other Identifying Information | 68 | ||
ARTICLE VI AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS | 68 | |||
6.01 | Financial Statements and Other Information | 68 | ||
6.02 | Notices of Material Events | 70 | ||
6.03 | Maintenance of Existence | 70 | ||
6.04 | Payment of Obligations | 71 | ||
6.05 | Maintenance of Properties; Insurance | 71 | ||
6.06 | Books and Records; Inspection Rights | 71 | ||
6.07 | Compliance with Laws | 71 | ||
6.08 | Use of Proceeds | 71 | ||
6.09 | Additional Guarantors | 71 | ||
ARTICLE VII NEGATIVE COVENANTS | 72 | |||
7.01 | Subsidiary Indebtedness | 72 | ||
7.02 | Liens | 73 | ||
7.03 | Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets | 74 | ||
7.04 | Lines of Business | 75 | ||
7.05 | Transactions with Affiliates | 75 | ||
7.06 | Restrictive Agreements | 75 | ||
7.07 | Accounting Changes | 76 | ||
7.08 | Leverage Ratio | 76 | ||
7.09 | Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio | 76 | ||
ARTICLE VIII EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES | 76 | |||
8.01 | Events of Default | 76 | ||
8.02 | Application of Funds | 78 | ||
ARTICLE IX ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT | 79 | |||
9.01 | Appointment and Authority | 79 | ||
9.02 | Rights as a Lender | 79 | ||
9.03 | Exculpatory Provisions | 80 | ||
9.04 | Reliance by Administrative Agent | 80 | ||
9.05 | Delegation of Duties | 81 | ||
9.06 | Resignation of Administrative Agent | 81 | ||
9.07 | Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders | 82 | ||
9.08 | No Other Duties, Etc. | 82 | ||
9.09 | Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim | 82 | ||
9.10 | Guaranty Matters | 83 | ||
ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS | 83 | |||
10.01 | Amendments, Etc. | 83 | ||
10.02 | Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication | 84 | ||
10.03 | No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement | 86 | ||
10.04 | Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver | 87 | ||
10.05 | Payments Set Aside | 88 | ||
10.06 | Successors and Assigns | 89 |
ii
10.07 | Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality | 93 | ||
10.08 | Right of Setoff | 94 | ||
10.09 | Interest Rate Limitation | 94 | ||
10.10 | Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness | 94 | ||
10.11 | Survival of Representations and Warranties | 95 | ||
10.12 | Severability | 95 | ||
10.13 | Replacement of Lenders | 95 | ||
10.14 | Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc. | 96 | ||
10.15 | Waiver of Jury Trial | 97 | ||
10.16 | No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility | 97 | ||
10.17 | Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents | 98 | ||
10.18 | USA PATRIOT Act | 98 | ||
10.19 | Judgment Currency | 98 | ||
SIGNATURES | S-1 |
iii
SCHEDULES | ||||
1.01 | Mandatory Cost Formula | |||
2.01 | Revolving Commitments and Applicable Percentages | |||
5.11 | Subsidiaries | |||
7.01 | Existing Indebtedness | |||
7.02 | Existing Liens | |||
7.08 | Existing Restrictions | |||
11.02 | Administrative Agents Office; Certain Addresses for Notices | |||
EXHIBITS | ||||
Form of | ||||
A-1 | Loan Notice | |||
A-2 | Swing Line Loan Notice | |||
B-1 | Revolving A Note (Domestic) | |||
B-2 | Revolving A Note (Foreign) | |||
B-3 | Revolving B Note (Domestic) | |||
B-4 | Revolving B Note (Foreign) | |||
B-5 | Swing Line Note | |||
C | Compliance Certificate | |||
D | Assignment and Assumption | |||
E | Subsidiary Guaranty | |||
F | Borrower Request and Assumption Agreement | |||
G | Borrower Notice | |||
H | Company Guaranty |
i
CREDIT AGREEMENT
This CREDIT AGREEMENT (Agreement) is entered into as of December 7, 2010, among GLOBAL PAYMENTS INC., a Georgia corporation (the Company), the other Borrowers from time to time party hereto, each Lender (defined below) from time to time party hereto, and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer.
The Company has requested that the Lenders provide a revolving credit facility in Dollars (defined below) and in Alternative Currencies (defined below), and the Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS
1.01 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
Acquired Entity means the assets, in the case of an acquisition of assets, or Equity Interests (or, if the context requires, the Person that is the issuer of such Equity Interests), in the case of an acquisition of Equity Interests, acquired by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to an Acquisition.
Acquisition means any transaction, or any series of related transactions, consummated on or after the date of this Agreement, by which any Person (i) acquires any going business or all or substantially all of the assets of any firm, corporation, partnership, limited liability company or division or other business unit or segment thereof, whether through purchase of assets, merger or otherwise, or (ii) directly or indirectly acquires (in one transaction or as the most recent transaction in a series of transactions) at least a majority (in number of votes) of the securities of a corporation which have ordinary voting power for the election of directors (other than securities having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) or a majority (by percentage or voting power) of the outstanding ownership interests of a partnership or limited liability company.
Administrative Agent means Bank of America in its capacity as administrative agent under any of the Loan Documents, or any successor administrative agent.
Administrative Agents Office means, with respect to any currency, the Administrative Agents address and, as appropriate, account as set forth on Schedule 11.02 with respect to such currency, or such other address or account with respect to such currency as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify to the Company and the Lenders.
Administrative Questionnaire means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.
Affiliate means, with respect to any Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.
1
Aggregate Revolving A Commitments means the aggregate Revolving A Commitments of all the Revolving A Lenders. The aggregate principal amount of the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments in effect on the Closing Date is TWO HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS ($200,000,000).
Aggregate Revolving B Commitments means the aggregate Revolving B Commitments of all the Revolving B Lenders. The aggregate principal amount of the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments in effect on the Closing Date is FOUR HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS ($400,000,000).
Aggregate Revolving Commitments means the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments and/or the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments, as applicable.
Agreement means this Credit Agreement.
Alternative Currency means, (a) with respect to Revolving A Loans, each of Euro, Sterling, Canadian Dollars, Hong Kong Dollars and each other currency (other than Dollars) that is approved in accordance with Section 1.06, (b) with respect to Revolving B Loans, each of Euro, Sterling, Canadian Dollars and each other currency (other than Dollars) that is approved in accordance with Section 1.06 and (c) with respect to Letters of Credit, each of Euro, Sterling, Canadian Dollars and each other currency (other than Dollars) that is approved in accordance with Section 1.06.
Alternative Currency Equivalent means, at any time, with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the equivalent amount thereof in the applicable Alternative Currency as determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, at such time on the basis of the Spot Rate (determined in respect of the most recent Revaluation Date) for the purchase of such Alternative Currency with Dollars.
Applicable Percentage means, with respect to any Lender at any time, (a) with respect to such Revolving A Lenders Revolving A Commitment, the percentage of the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments represented by such Revolving A Lenders Revolving A Commitment at such time, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.15; provided that if the commitment of each Revolving A Lender to make Revolving A Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions under the Revolving A Tranche have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02 or if the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage of each Revolving A Lender shall be determined based on the Applicable Percentage of such Revolving A Lender most recently in effect, giving effect to any subsequent assignments and (b) with respect to such Revolving B Lenders Revolving B Commitment, the percentage of the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments represented by such Revolving B Lenders Revolving B Commitment at such time, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.15; provided that if the commitment of each Revolving B Lender to make Revolving B Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions under the Revolving B Tranche have been terminated pursuant to Section 8.02 or if the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments have expired, then the Applicable Percentage of each Revolving B Lender shall be determined based on the Applicable Percentage of such Revolving B Lender most recently in effect, giving effect to any subsequent assignments. The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.
Applicable Rate means the following percentages per annum, based upon the Leverage Ratio as set forth in the most recent Compliance Certificate received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 6.01(c):
2
Pricing Level | Leverage Ratio | Eurocurrency Rate Loans and Letter of Credit Fees | Base Rate Loans | Commitment Fee | ||||||||||
1 | < 0.50 to 1.00 | 1.375 | % | 0.375 | % | 0.175 | % | |||||||
2 | ³ 0.50 to 1.00, and < 1.00 to 1.00 | 1.500 | % | 0.500 | % | 0.200 | % | |||||||
3 | ³ 1.00 to 1.00, and < 1.50 to 1.00 | 1.750 | % | 0.750 | % | 0.225 | % | |||||||
4 | ³ 1.50 to 1.00, and < 2.00 to 1.00 | 2.000 | % | 1.000 | % | 0.275 | % | |||||||
5 | ³ 2.00 to 1.00, and < 2.50 to 1.00 | 2.250 | % | 1.250 | % | 0.325 | % | |||||||
6 | ³ 2.50 to 1.00 | 2.500 | % | 1.500 | % | 0.400 | % |
Any increase or decrease in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Leverage Ratio shall become effective as of the first Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(c); provided that if a Compliance Certificate is not delivered when due in accordance with such Section, then, upon the request of the Required Lenders, Pricing Level 6 shall apply as of the first Business Day after the date on which such Compliance Certificate was required to have been delivered and shall remain in effect until the date on which such Compliance Certificate is delivered. Subject to the proviso in the immediately preceding sentence, the Applicable Rate in effect from the Closing Date through the first Business Day immediately following the date a Compliance Certificate is delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(c) for the fiscal quarter of the Company ending November 30, 2010 shall be determined based upon Pricing Level 3. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this definition, the determination of the Applicable Rate for any period (other than the period addressed in the immediately proceeding sentence) shall be subject to the provisions of Section 2.10(b).
Applicable Time means, with respect to any borrowings and payments in any Alternative Currency, the local time in the place of settlement for such Alternative Currency as may be determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to be necessary for timely settlement on the relevant date in accordance with normal banking procedures in the place of payment.
Approved Fund means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its activities and that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.
Arrangers means Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and in their capacity as joint lead arrangers and joint book managers.
Asset Sale means the sale (including any transaction that has the economic effect of a sale), transfer or other disposition (by way of merger or otherwise, including sales in connection with a sale and leaseback transaction, or as a result of any condemnation or casualty in respect of property) by the Company or any Subsidiary to any Person other than a Credit Party, of (a) any Equity Interests of any Subsidiary, or (b) any other assets of the Company or any Subsidiary (other than inventory licenses and sublicenses granted in the ordinary course of business, obsolete or worn out assets, scrap, cash
3
equivalents, and marketable securities, in each case disposed of in the ordinary course of business), except sales, transfers or other dispositions of any assets in one transaction or a series of related transactions having a value not in excess of $10,000,000.
Assignee Group means two or more Eligible Assignees that are Affiliates of one another or two or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor.
Assignment and Assumption means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 10.06(b)), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit D or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.
Audited Financial Statements means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2010, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders equity and cash flows for such fiscal year of the Company and its Subsidiaries, including the notes thereto.
Availability Period means, (a) with respect to the Revolving A Commitments, the period from and including the Closing Date to the earliest of (i) the Maturity Date, (ii) the date of termination of the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments in their entirety pursuant to Section 2.07, and (iii) the date of termination of the commitment of each Revolving A Lender to make Revolving A Loans and of the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions under the Revolving A Tranche pursuant to Section 8.02 and (b) with respect to the Revolving B Commitments, the period from and including the Closing Date to the earliest of (i) the Maturity Date, (ii) the date of termination of the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments in their entirety pursuant to Section 2.07, and (iii) the date of termination of the commitment of each Revolving B Lender to make Revolving B Loans and the obligation of the L/C Issuer to make L/C Credit Extensions under the Revolving B Tranche pursuant to Section 8.02.
Bank of America means Bank of America, N.A. and its successors.
Base Rate means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus 1/2 of 1%, (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Bank of America as its prime rate and (c) subject to Section 3.02, a reference rate equal to the Eurocurrency Rate (for Base Rate Loans) plus 1%. The prime rate is a rate set by Bank of America based upon various factors including Bank of Americas costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in such rate announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.
Base Rate Loan means a Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate. All Base Rate Loans shall be denominated in Dollars.
Board means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States.
Borrower means a Revolving A Borrower and/or a Revolving B Borrower, as applicable.
Borrower Materials has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.
Borrowing means each of the following: (a) a borrowing of Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04 and (b) a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Loans of the same Type and, in the case of
4
Eurocurrency Rate Loans, having the same Interest Period made by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01.
Business Day means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the Laws of, or are in fact closed in, the state where the Administrative Agents Office with respect to Obligations denominated in Dollars is located and:
(a) if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in Dollars, any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in Dollars in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, or any other dealings in Dollars to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, means any such day on which dealings in deposits in Dollars are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank eurodollar market;
(b) if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in Euro, any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in Euro in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, or any other dealings in Euro to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan, means a TARGET Day;
(c) if such day relates to any interest rate settings as to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in a currency other than Dollars or Euro, means any such day on which dealings in deposits in the relevant currency are conducted by and between banks in the London or other applicable offshore interbank market for such currency; and
(d) if such day relates to any fundings, disbursements, settlements and payments in a currency other than Dollars or Euro in respect of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in a currency other than Dollars or Euro, or any other dealings in any currency other than Dollars or Euro to be carried out pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any such Eurocurrency Rate Loan (other than any interest rate settings), means any such day on which banks are open for foreign exchange business in the principal financial center of the country of such currency.
Canadian Dollars means the lawful currency of Canada.
Canadian Receivables means the accounts receivable of Global Payments Direct generated in the ordinary course of business of its merchant processing business in Canada, including VISA receivables, debit card receivables, merchant charge-back receivables and merchant business receivables (relating to fees owed to Global Payments Direct by its Canadian VISA merchants) generated in connection with such business.
Canadian Receivables Collateral means, collectively, the Canadian Receivables, the accounts maintained by Global Payments Direct with Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and into which are deposited only proceeds of the Canadian Receivables and other sums anticipated for use in connection with the settlement of the Canadian Receivables, and any foreign exchange hedging contracts entered into by Global Payments Direct in order to mitigate foreign currency exchange risk arising in respect of obligations under the Canadian Receivables Credit Facility, together with all products and proceeds of the foregoing.
Canadian Receivables Credit Facility means the documents evidencing the credit facility made available to Global Payments Direct by Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce providing for short-term advances to Global Payments Direct made in respect of the Canadian Receivables, with the obligations of Global Payments Direct under such credit facility to be Guaranteed by the Company and certain
5
Subsidiaries, together with any refinancings or replacements of such credit facility and any amendments or modifications of such credit facility or refinancing or replacement, in each case to the extent any such refinancing, replacement, amendment or modification is not on terms or otherwise less favorable in any material respect to the Lenders or the Administrative Agent.
Capital Lease Obligations of any Person means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP, and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.
Cash Collateralize means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender (as applicable) and the Lenders, as collateral for L/C Obligations, Obligations in respect of Swing Line Loans or obligations of Lenders to fund participations in respect of either thereof (as the context may require), cash or deposit account balances or, if the L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender benefitting from such collateral shall agree in its reasonable discretion, other credit support, in each case pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to (a) the Administrative Agent and (b) the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender (as applicable). Cash Collateral shall have a meaning correlative to the foregoing and shall include the proceeds of such cash collateral and other credit support.
Change in Control means the occurrence of one or more of the following events: (a) the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any entity, organization or group (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder as in effect on the date hereof) of 50% or more of the outstanding shares of the voting stock of the Company; (b) during any period of up to 12 months, individuals who at the beginning of such 12 month period were directors of the Company (together with any new directors whose election or nomination for election by the Companys board of directors was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were either directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved) cease for any reason (other than death, disability or voluntary retirement not for reasons related to an actual or proposed change of control) to constitute at least a majority of the directors of the Company then in office); (c) the Company ceases to own (directly or indirectly) 100% of the outstanding shares of the voting stock of each Designated Borrower; or (d) the occurrence of any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in a single transaction or series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to any Person or group (as defined above).
Change in Law means the occurrence, after the date of this Agreement, of any of the following: (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or (c) the making or issuance of any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority.
Closing Date means December 7, 2010.
Code means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Commitment Fee has the meaning specified in Section 2.09(a).
Company has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.
6
Company Guaranty means the Company Guaranty substantially in the form of Exhibit H (including any and all supplements thereto) executed and delivered by the Company, in favor of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Swap Providers.
Compliance Certificate means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C.
Control means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. Controlling and Controlled have meanings correlative thereto.
Cost of Funds Rate means, as of any day, the annual rate of interest equal to the sum of (i) the cost of funds offered to the Administrative Agent in the London interbank market for overdrafts denominated in an Alternative Currency plus (ii) the Applicable Margin for Eurocurrency Rate Loans.
Credit Extension means each of the following: (a) a Borrowing and (b) an L/C Credit Extension.
Credit Parties means, collectively, each Borrower and each Guarantor.
Debtor Relief Laws means the Bankruptcy Code of the United States, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief Laws of the United States or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect and affecting the rights of creditors generally.
Default means any event or condition that constitutes an Event of Default or that, with the giving of any notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.
Default Rate means (a) when used with respect to Obligations other than Letter of Credit Fees, an interest rate equal to (i) the Base Rate plus (ii) the Applicable Rate, if any, applicable to Base Rate Loans plus (iii) 2% per annum; provided, however, that with respect to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan (or a Loan bearing interest at the Cost of Funds Rate), the Default Rate shall be an interest rate equal to the interest rate (including any Applicable Rate and any Mandatory Cost) otherwise applicable to such Loan plus 2% per annum, in each case to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws and (b) when used with respect to Letter of Credit Fees, a rate equal to the Applicable Rate plus 2% per annum.
Defaulting Lender means, subject to Section 2.15(b), any Lender, as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent, that (a) has failed to perform any of its funding obligations hereunder, including in respect of its Loans or participations in respect of Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans, within three (3) Business Days of the date required to be funded by it hereunder, unless such obligation is the subject of a good faith dispute, (b) has notified the Company or the Administrative Agent in writing that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations or has made a public statement to that effect with respect to its funding obligations hereunder (unless such obligation is the subject of a good faith dispute) or generally under other agreements in which it commits to extend credit, (c) has failed, within three (3) Business Days after written request by the Administrative Agent, to confirm in a manner satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that it will comply with its prospective funding obligations, unless such obligation is the subject of a good faith dispute, provided, that such Lender shall cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (c) upon written confirmation from the Administrative Agent to such Lender and the Company that such Lender has confirmed in writing its intention to comply with all of its prospective funding obligations, or (d) has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, (i) become the subject of a proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) had a receiver, conservator, trustee, administrator, assignee for the benefit of creditors or similar Person charged with reorganization or
7
liquidation of its business or a custodian appointed for it or (iii) taken any action in furtherance of, or indicated its consent to, approval of or acquiescence in any such proceeding or appointment; provided, that, a Lender shall not be a Defaulting Lender solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any Equity Interests in that Lender or any direct or indirect parent company thereof by a Governmental Authority.
Designated Borrower means any Subsidiary that has been designated as a Borrower pursuant to the terms hereof and that has not ceased to be a Borrower pursuant to the terms hereof.
Dollar and $ mean lawful money of the United States.
Dollar Equivalent means, at any time, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, such amount, and (b) with respect to any amount denominated in any Alternative Currency, the equivalent amount thereof in Dollars as determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, at such time on the basis of the Spot Rate (determined in respect of the most recent Revaluation Date) for the purchase of Dollars with such Alternative Currency.
Domestic Subsidiary means any Subsidiary that is organized under the laws of any political subdivision of the United States.
EBITDA means, for any period, the sum of the following (without duplication) in each case determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP: (a) with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries (excluding any Persons or assets that became Acquired Entities at any time during such period), the sum of each of the following for such period: (i) Net Income, (ii) income taxes, (iii) depreciation, (iv) amortization, and (v) Interest Expense; and (b) EBITDA of any Persons or assets that became Acquired Entities at any time during such period, calculated on a pro forma basis for such Acquired Entities for the entire period in a manner otherwise consistent with this definition and the definitions referred to herein.
EBITR means, for the Company and its Subsidiaries for any period, an amount equal to the sum of each of the following for such period (without duplication) in each case determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP: (a) EBITDA (excluding EBITDA of Acquired Entities as described in clause (b) of the definition of EBITDA) plus (b) Lease Expense, minus (c) depreciation and amortization.
Eligible Assignee means any Person that meets the requirements to be an assignee under Section 10.06(b)(ii) and (iv) (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 10.06(b)(ii)).
EMU means the economic and monetary union in accordance with the Treaty of Rome 1957, as amended by the Single European Act 1986, the Maastricht Treaty of 1992 and the Amsterdam Treaty of 1998.
EMU Legislation means the legislative measures of the European Council for the introduction of, changeover to or operation of a single or unified European currency.
Environmental Laws means all laws, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, the management, release or threatened release of any Hazardous Material or to health and safety matters.
8
Environmental Liability means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of the Company or any Subsidiary directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.
Equity Interests means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any such equity interest.
ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
ERISA Affiliate means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with the Company, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.
ERISA Event means (a) any Reportable Event; (b) the existence with respect to any Plan of an accumulated funding deficiency (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(d) of the Code or Section 303(d) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (d) the incurrence by the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (e) the receipt by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (f) the incurrence by the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the receipt by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the Company or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.
Euro and EUR mean the lawful currency of the Participating Member States introduced in accordance with the EMU Legislation.
Eurocurrency Base Rate means
(a) for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the rate per annum equal to (i) the British Bankers Association LIBOR Rate, as published by Reuters (or other commercially available source providing quotations of BBA LIBOR as designated by the Administrative Agent from time to time) (BBA LIBOR) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period (with respect to Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars) or on the day of the commencement of such Interest Period (with respect to Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies), for deposits in the relevant currency (for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period) with a term equivalent to such Interest Period (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%), or (ii) if such published rate is not available at such time for any reason, the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate at which deposits in the relevant
9
currency for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period in Same Day Funds in the approximate amount of the Eurocurrency Rate Loan being made, continued or converted by Bank of America and with a term equivalent to such Interest Period would be offered by Bank of Americas London Branch (or other Bank of America branch or Affiliate) to major banks in the London or other offshore interbank market for such currency at their request at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period (with respect to Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars) or on the day of the commencement of such Interest Period (with respect to Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies); or
(b) for any interest rate calculation with respect to a Base Rate Loan, the rate per annum equal to (i) BBA LIBOR, at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time on the day that is two Business Days prior to the date of determination for Dollar deposits being delivered in the London interbank market for a term of one month commencing that day or (ii) if such published rate is not available at such time for any reason, the rate determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate at which deposits in Dollars for delivery on the date of determination in same day funds in the approximate amount of the Base Rate Loan being made, continued or converted by Bank of America and with a term equal to one month would be offered by Bank of Americas London Branch to major banks in the London interbank eurodollar market at their request at the date and time of determination.
Eurocurrency Rate means (a) for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurocurrency Rate Loan, a rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent pursuant to the following formula:
Eurocurrency Rate = | Eurocurrency Base Rate | |||
1.00 - Eurocurrency Reserve Percentage |
And (b) for any day with respect to any Base Rate Loan bearing interest at a rate based on the Eurocurrency Rate, a rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent pursuant to the following formula:
Eurocurrency Rate = | Eurocurrency Base Rate | |||
1.00 - Eurocurrency Reserve Percentage |
Eurocurrency Reserve Percentage means, for any day during any Interest Period, the reserve percentage (expressed as a decimal, carried out to five decimal places) in effect on such day, whether or not applicable to any Lender, under regulations issued from time to time by the Board for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including any emergency, supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement) with respect to Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as Eurocurrency liabilities). The Eurocurrency Rate for each outstanding Eurocurrency Rate Loan shall be adjusted automatically as of the effective date of any change in the Eurocurrency Reserve Percentage.
Eurocurrency Rate Loan means a Loan that bears interest at a rate based on clause (a) of the definition of Eurocurrency Rate. Eurocurrency Rate Loans may be denominated in Dollars or in an Alternative Currency. All Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies must be Eurocurrency Rate Loans.
Event of Default has the meaning specified in Section 8.01.
Excluded Taxes means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Borrower
10
hereunder, (a) taxes imposed on or measured by its overall net income (however denominated), and franchise taxes imposed on it (in lieu of net income taxes), by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the Laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable Lending Office is located, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which any such Borrower is located, (c) any backup withholding tax that is required by the Code to be withheld from amounts payable to a Lender that has failed to comply with clause (A) of Section 3.01(e)(ii), and (d) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Company under Section 10.13), any withholding tax that (i) is required to be imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender pursuant to the Laws in force at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party hereto (or designates a new Lending Office) or (ii) is attributable to such Foreign Lenders failure or inability (other than as a result of a Change in Law) to comply with clause (B) of Section 3.01(e)(ii), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or, in either case, its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from any such Borrower with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 3.01(a)(ii) or (iii) and (c) any Taxes imposed on any withholdable payment payable to such recipient as a result of the failure of such recipient to satisfy the applicable requirements as set forth after December 31, 2012 in FATCA to establish that such payment is exempt from withholding under FATCA. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this definition, Excluded Taxes shall not include any withholding tax imposed at any time on payments made by or on behalf of a Foreign Obligor to any Lender hereunder or under any other Loan Document, provided that such Lender shall have complied with Section 3.01(e)(i).
Existing Credit Agreements means (a) that certain Loan Agreement dated as of June 23, 2008 by and among the Company, JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as agent, and a syndicate of lenders and (b) the 2009 Credit Agreement.
FATCA means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code and any regulations or official interpretations thereof.
Federal Funds Effective Rate means, for any day, the rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers on such day, as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the Business Day next succeeding such day; provided that (a) if such day is not a Business Day, the Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day shall be such rate on such transactions on the next preceding Business Day as so published on the next succeeding Business Day, and (b) if no such rate is so published on such next succeeding Business Day, the Federal Funds Effective Rate for such day shall be the average rate (rounded upward, if necessary, to a whole multiple of 1/100 of 1%) charged to Bank of America on such day on such transactions as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent.
Fee Letter means the letter agreement, dated October 29, 2010, among the Company, the Administrative Agent and MLPFS.
Financial Officer means the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or controller of the Company.
Fiscal Quarter means any fiscal quarter of the Company.
Fiscal Year means any fiscal year of the Company.
Fixed Charges means, without duplication, for the Company and its Subsidiaries for any period, the sum of each of the following for such period: (a) Interest Expense, and (b) Lease Expense.
11
Foreign Lender means, with respect to any Borrower, any Lender (or Affiliate of a Lender making a Loan) that is organized under the Laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which such Borrower is resident for tax purposes (including such a Lender when acting in the capacity of the L/C Issuer). For purposes of this definition, the United States, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.
Foreign Obligor means a Credit Party that is a Foreign Subsidiary.
Foreign Subsidiary means any Subsidiary of the Company other than a Domestic Subsidiary.
Foreign Subsidiary Borrower means each Borrower that is a Foreign Subsidiary.
Fronting Exposure means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, (a) with respect to the L/C Issuer, such Defaulting Lenders Applicable Percentage of the outstanding L/C Obligations other than L/C Obligations as to which such Defaulting Lenders participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof and (b) with respect to the Swing Line Lender, such Defaulting Lenders Applicable Percentage of Swing Line Loans other than Swing Line Loans as to which such Defaulting Lenders participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders or Cash Collateralized in accordance with the terms hereof.
Funding Indemnity Letter means a letter by and among the Company and the Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, entered into on or prior to the date that is three Business Days prior to the Closing Date pursuant to which the Company agrees to compensate the Lenders for certain losses, costs or expenses incurred by such Lender as a result of any failure for any reason to make the Loan Borrowings on the date set forth therein, in the form agreed to by the parties thereto.
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.
Governmental Authority means the government of the United States, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.
Guarantee of or by any Person (the guarantor) means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person (the primary obligor) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or obligation; provided, that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.
12
Guaranteed Parties means the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and any Swap Provider.
Guarantors means the collective reference to (a) each Subsidiary that qualifies as a Significant Subsidiary as provided herein and each additional Subsidiary that executes and delivers to the Administrative Agent a Subsidiary Guaranty Supplement pursuant to Section 6.09 and (b) the Company, in its capacity as a guarantor of the Obligations of the Designated Borrowers.
Hazardous Materials means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.
Hong Kong Dollars and H$ mean the lawful currency of Hong Kong, China.
Honor Date has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(c).
Indebtedness of any Person means, without duplication, (a) obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (b) obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (c) obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business on terms customary in the trade), (d) obligations of such Person under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement(s) relating to property acquired by such Person, (e) Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (f) obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of letters of credit, acceptances or similar extensions of credit, (g) Guarantees by such Person of the type of indebtedness described in clauses (a) through (f) above, (h) all indebtedness of a third party secured by any lien on property owned by such Person, whether or not such indebtedness has been assumed by such Person, (i) all obligations of such Person, contingent or otherwise, to purchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire for value any Equity Interests of such Person, and (j) off-balance sheet liability retained in connection with asset securitization programs, synthetic leases, sale and leaseback transactions or other similar obligations arising with respect to any other transaction which is the functional equivalent of or takes the place of borrowing but which does not constitute a liability on the consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Subsidiaries. Indebtedness shall not include obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary under any Settlement Facility or any contingent obligations under surety bonds or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business
Indemnified Taxes means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.
Indemnitees has the meaning specified in Section 10.04(b).
Information has the meaning specified in Section 10.07.
Intellectual Property means the collective reference to all rights, priorities and privileges relating to intellectual property, whether arising under United States, multi-national or foreign laws or otherwise, including copyrights, copyright licenses, patents, patent licenses, trademarks, trademark licenses, technology, know-how processes and all rights to sue at law or in equity for any infringement or other impairment thereof, including the right to receive all proceeds in damages therefrom.
Interest Expense means, for the Company and its Subsidiaries for any period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (without duplication), total interest expense, including
13
without limitation the interest component of any payments in respect of Capital Lease Obligations (whether capitalized or expensed) during such period (whether or not actually paid during such period).
Interest Payment Date means, (a) as to any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan and the Maturity Date; provided, however, that if any Interest Period for a Eurocurrency Rate Loan exceeds three months, the respective dates that fall every three months after the beginning of such Interest Period shall also be Interest Payment Dates; and (b) as to any Base Rate Loan (including a Swing Line Loan), the last Business Day of each February, May, August and November, and the Maturity Date.
Interest Period means, as to each Eurocurrency Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date such Eurocurrency Rate Loan is disbursed or converted to or continued as a Eurocurrency Rate Loan and ending on the date one week, two weeks or one, two, three or six months thereafter, as selected by the applicable Borrower in its Loan Notice or such other period that is twelve months or less requested by the applicable Borrower and consented to by all the Lenders required to fund or maintain a portion of such Loan; provided that:
(a) any Interest Period that would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such Business Day falls in another calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day;
(b) any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and
(c) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date.
IRS means the United States Internal Revenue Service.
ISP means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the International Standby Practices 1998 published by the Institute of International Banking Law & Practice, Inc. (or such later version thereof as may be in effect at the time of issuance).
Issuer Documents means with respect to any Letter of Credit, the Letter of Credit Application, and any other document, agreement and instrument entered into by the L/C Issuer and the Company (or any Subsidiary) or in favor of the L/C Issuer and relating to any such Letter of Credit.
Lease Expense for any period, the aggregate amount of fixed and contingent rentals payable by the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to leases of real and personal property (excluding Capital Lease Obligations) determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP for such period.
Laws means, collectively, all international, foreign, Federal, state and local statutes, treaties, rules, guidelines, regulations, ordinances, codes and administrative or judicial precedents or authorities, including the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority charged with the enforcement, interpretation or administration thereof, and all applicable administrative orders, directed duties, requests, licenses, authorizations and permits of, and agreements with, any Governmental Authority, in each case whether or not having the force of law.
14
L/C Advance means, with respect to each Lender with a Revolving Commitment under the applicable Revolving Tranche, such Lenders funding of its participation in any L/C Borrowing in accordance with its Applicable Percentage.
L/C Borrowing means an extension of credit resulting from a drawing under any Letter of Credit which has not been reimbursed on the date when made or refinanced as a Borrowing of Revolving A Loans or Revolving B Loans, as applicable.
L/C Credit Extension means, with respect to any Letter of Credit, the issuance thereof or extension of the expiry date thereof, or the increase of the amount thereof.
L/C Issuer means Bank of America in its capacity as issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, or any successor issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder.
L/C Obligations means, as at any date of determination, the sum of (a) the aggregate amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit under the Revolving A Tranche plus (b) the aggregate amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit under the Revolving B Tranche plus (c) the aggregate of all Unreimbursed Amounts, including all L/C Borrowings. For purposes of computing the amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.06. For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the ISP, such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be outstanding in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.
Lender means each of the Persons identified as a Lender on the signature pages hereto and their successors and assigns and, as the context requires, includes the Swing Line Lender. The term Lender shall include the Revolving A Lenders and/or the Revolving B Lenders, as applicable.
Lending Office means, as to any Lender, the office or offices of such Lender described as such in such Lenders Administrative Questionnaire, or such other office or offices as a Lender may from time to time notify the Company and the Administrative Agent.
Letter of Credit means any standby letter of credit issued hereunder. Letters of Credit may be issued in Dollars or in an Alternative Currency.
Letter of Credit Application means an application and agreement for the issuance or amendment of a letter of credit in the form from time to time in use by the L/C Issuer.
Letter of Credit Expiration Date means the day that is five days prior to the Maturity Date then in effect (or, if such day is not a Business Day, the next preceding Business Day).
Letter of Credit Fee has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(h).
Letter of Credit Sublimit means (a) with respect to Letters of Credit issued under the Revolving A Tranche, an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments and (ii) the difference of (x) $100,000,000 minus (y) the aggregate amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit issued under the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments and (b) with respect to Letters of Credit issued under the Revolving B Tranche, an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments and (ii) the difference of (x) $100,000,000 minus (y) the aggregate amount available to be drawn under all outstanding Letters of Credit issued under the Aggregate
15
Revolving A Commitments. The Letter of Credit Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments and the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments, as applicable.
Leverage Ratio means, as of the end of any Fiscal Quarter, the ratio of Total Debt of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of such date to EBITDA of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Quarter and the immediately preceding three Fiscal Quarters.
Lien means, 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 sale 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.
Loan means an extension of credit by a Lender to a Borrower under Article II in the form of a Revolving A Loan, Revolving B Loan or Swing Line Loan.
Loan Documents means this Agreement, the Notes, the Fee Letter, the Subsidiary Guaranty, any Subsidiary Guaranty Supplements, the Company Guaranty, each Issuer Document, the Funding Indemnity Letter, and all other documents and agreements contemplated hereby and executed by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in favor of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.
Loan Notice means a notice of (a) a Borrowing of Loans, (b) a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or (c) a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, in each case pursuant to Section 2.02(a), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1.
Mandatory Cost means, with respect to any period, the percentage rate per annum determined in accordance with Schedule 1.01.
Material Adverse Effect means, with respect to any event, act, condition or occurrence of whatever nature (including any adverse determination in any litigation, arbitration, or governmental investigation or proceeding), whether singly or in conjunction with any other event or events, act or acts, condition or conditions, occurrence or occurrences, whether or not related, a material adverse change in, or a material adverse effect upon, any of (a) the financial condition, results of operations, business, or properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders under the Loan Documents, or the ability of any of the Credit Parties to perform its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party (such obligations to include, without limitation, payment of the Obligations and observance and performance of the covenants set forth in Articles VI and VII hereof), as applicable, or (c) the legality, validity or enforceability of any Loan Document.
Material Indebtedness means (a) Indebtedness (other than the Loans), or obligations in respect of one or more Swap Agreements, of any one or more of the Company and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $25,000,000 and (b) the Existing Credit Agreements. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the principal amount of the obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary in respect of any Swap Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that the Company or such Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Swap Agreement were terminated at such time.
Material Subsidiary means each Subsidiary that, as of the most recent Fiscal Quarter, for the period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters then ended, for which financial statements have been delivered, or are required to have been delivered, pursuant to Section 6.01, contributed more than ten percent (10%)
16
of the Companys consolidated revenues for such period. Such determinations shall be made with respect to Subsidiaries at each time that the financial statements for the Company and its Subsidiaries are delivered, or are required to be delivered, pursuant to Section 6.01, provided that if a Person becomes a Subsidiary pursuant to or in connection with an Acquisition, then such determination shall be made as of the date such Acquisition is consummated, based on the financial statements of such Person for its most recent quarter end (for the four fiscal quarters then ended) for which financial statements are available (which may be unaudited).
Maturity Date means December 7, 2015; provided that if such date is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the next preceding Business Day.
MLPFS means Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated.
Multiemployer Plan means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
Net Income means, for any period, net income of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, but excluding therefrom (to the extent included therein) (a) any earnings of Designated Subsidiaries and any equity interests in the earnings of joint ventures or other Persons that are not Subsidiaries, in each case to the extent such earnings are not actually paid in cash, and the Company or its Subsidiaries do not have the ability to cause such earnings to be paid in cash, to the Company or its Subsidiaries (other than Designated Subsidiaries) with respect to such period, and (b) the after-tax impact of Non-Recurring Non- Cash Items. Further, Non-Recurring Cash Items will only be reflected (on an after-tax basis) in net income as such amounts are paid, and the cash portions of any restructuring charge will only be reflected (on an after-tax basis) in net income for pre-tax amounts that exceed the Restructuring Charge Limit.
Net Worth means, as of any date, total shareholders equity reflected on the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of such date prepared in accordance with GAAP.
Non-Recurring Cash Items means, for any period, an accounting item that impacts cash and is generally non-recurring in nature, including without limitation, the cash portions of gains, losses, asset impairments, restructuring charges, extraordinary items, unusual items, and the cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles. For illustrative purposes, an example of a Non-Recurring Cash Item is a restructuring charge that includes cash severance payments.
Non-Recurring Non-Cash Items means, for any period, an accounting item that does not impact cash and is generally non-recurring in nature, including without limitation, the non-cash portions of gains, losses, asset impairments, restructuring charges, extraordinary items, unusual items, and the cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles.
Notes means the Revolving A Notes, Revolving B Notes and/or the Swing Line Loan Notes, individually or collectively, as appropriate.
Obligations means, collectively, all unpaid principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on all Loans or Letters of Credit, accrued and unpaid fees, and expenses, reimbursements, indemnities and other obligations of any Credit Party to the Lenders or to any Lender, the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent or any Indemnitee hereunder arising under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and all amounts payable by any Borrower under any Related Swap Agreement, and including interest and fees that accrue after the commencement by or against any Credit Party or any Affiliate thereof of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Laws naming such Person as the debtor in such proceeding, regardless of whether such interest and fees are allowed claims in such proceeding.
17
Organization Documents means, (a) with respect to any corporation, the certificate or articles of incorporation and the bylaws (or equivalent or comparable constitutive documents with respect to any non-U.S. jurisdiction); (b) with respect to any limited liability company, the certificate or articles of formation or organization and operating agreement; and (c) with respect to any partnership, joint venture, trust or other form of business entity, the partnership, joint venture or other applicable agreement of formation or organization and any agreement, instrument, filing or notice with respect thereto filed in connection with its formation or organization with the applicable Governmental Authority in the jurisdiction of its formation or organization and, if applicable, any certificate or articles of formation or organization of such entity.
Other Taxes means all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or under any other Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
Outstanding Amount means (a) with respect to any Loans on any date, the Dollar Equivalent amount of the aggregate outstanding principal amount thereof after giving effect to any borrowings and prepayments or repayments of any Loans occurring on such date; and (b) with respect to any L/C Obligations on any date, the Dollar Equivalent amount of the outstanding amount of such L/C Obligations after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension occurring on such date and any other changes in the aggregate amount of the L/C Obligations as of such date, including as a result of any reimbursements by the Company of Unreimbursed Amounts.
Overnight Rate means, for any day, (a) with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the greater of (i) the Federal Funds Effective Rate and (ii) an overnight rate determined by the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, or the Swing Line Lender, as the case may be, in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation, and (b) with respect to any amount denominated in an Alternative Currency, the rate of interest per annum at which overnight deposits in the applicable Alternative Currency, in an amount approximately equal to the amount with respect to which such rate is being determined, would be offered for such day by a branch or Affiliate of Bank of America in the applicable offshore interbank market for such currency to major banks in such interbank market.
Participant has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(d).
Participating Member State means each state so described in any EMU Legislation.
PBGC means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.
Permitted Encumbrances means:
(a) Liens imposed by law for taxes that are not yet due or are being contested in compliance with Section 6.04;
(b) carriers, warehousemens, mechanics, materialmens, repairmens and other like Liens imposed by law, arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not Indebtedness, which do not in the aggregate materially impair the use thereof in the operation of the business;
18
(c) pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations;
(d) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business;
(e) judgment liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under clause (j) of Article VIII; and
(f) easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Company or any Subsidiary;
provided that the term Permitted Encumbrances shall not include any Lien securing Indebtedness.
Permitted Pari Passu Indebtedness means senior secured indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor providing for Liens securing such indebtedness and the Obligations as described in this Agreement on a pari passu basis with respect to all assets serving as collateral for such indebtedness and the Obligations, and providing for guaranties of such indebtedness by no Subsidiaries of the Company or any Guarantor other than Guarantors under this Agreement, and if such indebtedness is secured by Liens, subject in all respects to an intercreditor agreement negotiated in good faith by the Administrative Agent acting on behalf of the Lenders and the holders of such indebtedness or such holders trustee, agent, or other representative, and making provisions for, among other things, the sharing of proceeds of collateral and amounts received or collected from guarantors in connection with such indebtedness and the Obligations.
Person means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.
Plan means any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an employer as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.
Platform has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.
Public Lender has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.
Register has the meaning specified in Section 10.06(c).
Related Parties means, with respect to any Person, such Persons Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, members and advisors of such Person and of such Persons Affiliates.
Related Swap Agreement means any Swap Agreement that is entered into by and between a Borrower and a Swap Provider.
19
Reportable Event means a reportable event as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations issued under such section, with respect to a Plan, excluding, however, such events as to which the PBGC by regulation waived the requirement of Section 4043(a) of ERISA that it be notified within 30 days of the occurrence of such event, provided, however, that a failure to meet the minimum funding standard of Section 412 of the Code and of Section 302 of ERISA shall be a Reportable Event regardless of the issuance of any such waiver of the notice requirement in accordance with either Section 4043(a) of ERISA or Section 412(d) of the Code.
Request for Credit Extension means (a) with respect to a Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Loans, a Loan Notice, (b) with respect to an L/C Credit Extension, a Letter of Credit Application and (c) with respect to a Swing Line Loan, a Swing Line Loan Notice.
Required Lenders means, as of any date of determination, Lenders holding in the aggregate more than 50% of (a) the unfunded Revolving Commitments, the outstanding Loans, L/C Obligations and participations therein or (b) if the Revolving Commitments have been terminated, the outstanding Loans, L/C Obligations and participations therein; provided, however, that when used with respect to any Revolving Tranche, as appropriate, Required Lenders shall mean Lenders holding in the aggregate more than 50% of (a) the unfunded Revolving Commitments of such Revolving Tranche, the outstanding Loans, L/C Obligations and participations therein of such Revolving Tranche or (b) if the Revolving Commitments of such Revolving Tranche have been terminated, the outstanding Loans, L/C Obligations and participations therein of such Revolving Tranche. The unfunded Revolving Commitments of, and the outstanding Loans held or deemed held by, any Defaulting Lender shall be excluded for purposes of making a determination of Required Lenders.
Restructuring Charge Limit means during any Fiscal Year, an amount equal to three percent (3%) of the Net Worth of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the end of the immediately preceding Fiscal Year.
Revaluation Date means (a) with respect to any Loan, each of the following: (i) each date of a Borrowing of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency, (ii) each date of a continuation of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency pursuant to Section 2.02, and (iii) such additional dates as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably determine or the Required Lenders shall reasonably require; and (b) with respect to any Letter of Credit, each of the following: (i) each date of issuance of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, (ii) each date of an amendment of any such Letter of Credit having the effect of increasing the amount thereof (solely with respect to the increased amount), (iii) each date of any payment by the L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, and (iv) such additional dates as the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer shall reasonably determine or the Required Lenders shall reasonably require.
Revolving A Borrower means each of the Company and any Designated Borrower that is identified on Schedule 5.11 as a Revolving A Borrower or becomes a Revolving A Borrower under the terms of Section 2.16.
Revolving A Borrowing means a Borrowing comprised of Revolving A Loans.
Revolving A Commitment means, as to each Revolving A Lender, its obligation to (a) make Revolving A Loans to the Revolving A Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.01, (b) purchase participations in L/C Obligations and (c) purchase participations in Swing Line Loans, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Revolving A Lenders name on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Revolving A Lender
20
becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be increased or decreased from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.
Revolving A Exposure means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving A Loans of any Revolving A Lender, plus such Revolving A Lenders Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations under the Revolving A Tranche plus such Revolving A Lenders Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all Swing Line Loans.
Revolving A Lender means each Lender with a Revolving A Commitment.
Revolving A Loan has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(a).
Revolving A Note has the meaning specified in Section 2.11(a).
Revolving A Tranche means the Revolving A Commitments, the Revolving A Loans, the L/C Obligations for Letters of Credit issued under to the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments and the Swing Line Loans.
Revolving B Borrower means each of the Company and any Designated Borrower that is identified on Schedule 5.11 as a Revolving B Borrower or becomes a Revolving B Borrower under the terms of Section 2.16.
Revolving B Borrowing means a Borrowing comprised of Revolving B Loans.
Revolving B Commitment means, as to each Revolving B Lender, its obligation to (a) make Revolving B Loans to the Revolving B Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.01 and (b) purchase participations in L/C Obligations, in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed the amount set forth opposite such Revolving B Lenders name on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Revolving B Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable, as such amount may be increased or decreased from time to time in accordance with this Agreement.
Revolving B Exposure means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving B Loans of any Revolving B Lender, plus such Revolving B Lenders Applicable Percentage of the Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations under the Revolving B Tranche.
Revolving B Lender means each Lender with a Revolving B Commitment.
Revolving B Loan has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(b).
Revolving B Note has the meaning specified in Section 2.11(a).
Revolving B Tranche means the Revolving B Commitments, the Revolving B Loans and the L/C Obligations for Letters of Credit issued under to the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments.
Revolving Commitment means, a Revolving A Commitment and/or a Revolving B Commitment, as applicable.
Revolving Tranche means the Revolving A Tranche and/or the Revolving B Tranche, as applicable.
21
Same Day Funds means (a) with respect to disbursements and payments in Dollars, immediately available funds, and (b) with respect to disbursements and payments in an Alternative Currency, same day or other funds as may be reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to be customary in the place of disbursement or payment for the settlement of international banking transactions in the relevant Alternative Currency.
SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any of its principal functions.
Settlement Asset means any cash, receivable or other property due to a Person in consideration for customer settlements made or arranged, or to be made or arranged, by such Person or an Affiliate of such Person.
Settlement Facilities means credit facilities obtained by the Company or any Subsidiary that provide for funding of short-term timing differences related to customer settlements.
Settlement Payment means the transfer, or contractual undertaking (including by automated clearing-house transaction) to effect a transfer, of cash or other property to effect a customer settlement.
Significant Subsidiary means each wholly owned Domestic Subsidiary that, as of the most recent Fiscal Quarter, for the period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters then ended, for which financial statements have been delivered, or are required to have been delivered, pursuant to Section 6.01, contributed more than one percent (1%) (on a consolidated basis) of the Companys consolidated revenues for such period. Such determinations shall be made with respect to Subsidiaries at each time that the financial statements for the Company and its Subsidiaries are delivered, or are required to be delivered, pursuant to Section 6.01, provided that if a Person becomes a Subsidiary pursuant to or in connection with an Acquisition, then such determination shall be made as of the date such Acquisition is consummated, based on the financial statements of such Person for its most recent quarter end (for the four fiscal quarters then ended) for which financial statements are available (which may be unaudited).
Special Notice Currency means at any time an Alternative Currency, other than the currency of a country (a) that is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development at such time and (b) is located in North America or Europe.
Spot Rate for an Alternative Currency means the rate determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, to be the rate quoted by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, as the spot rate for the purchase by such Person of such Alternative Currency with Dollars through its principal foreign exchange trading office at approximately 11:00 a.m. London time on the date two Business Days prior to the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made; provided that the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer may obtain such spot rate from another financial institution designated by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer if the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, does not have as of the date of determination a spot buying rate for any such Alternative Currency; and provided further that the L/C Issuer may use such spot rate quoted on the date as of which the foreign exchange computation is made in the case of any Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency.
Sterling and £ mean the lawful currency of the United Kingdom.
Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person (the parent) at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting
22
power or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held, or (b) that is, as of such date, otherwise Controlled, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent, or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent, and the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parents consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to a Subsidiary or to Subsidiaries shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Company.
Subsidiary Guarantors means each Subsidiary that is at any time a party to the Subsidiary Guaranty, whether on the Closing Date, pursuant to the execution and delivery to the Administrative Agent of a Subsidiary Guaranty Supplement pursuant to Section 6.09, or otherwise.
Subsidiary Guaranty means the Subsidiary Guaranty substantially in the form of Exhibit E (including any and all supplements thereto) executed and delivered by the Subsidiary Guarantors, in favor of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Swap Providers.
Subsidiary Guaranty Supplement means each Supplement substantially in the form of Annex I to the Subsidiary Guaranty executed and delivered by a Subsidiary pursuant to Section 6.09.
Surety Indemnification Obligations means all obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary to indemnify any issuers for amounts required to be paid under any surety bonds issued by such issuers and posted in accordance with applicable legal requirements with any Governmental Authority at the request and for the use of the Company or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of its business.
Swap Agreement means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Company or the Subsidiaries shall be a Swap Agreement.
Swap Provider means any Person that, at the time it enters into a Swap Agreement is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender, in its capacity as a party to such Swap Agreement.
Swing Line Lender means Bank of America in its capacity as provider of Swing Line Loans, or any successor swing line lender hereunder.
Swing Line Loan has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(a).
Swing Line Loan Notice means a notice of a Borrowing of Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(b), which, if in writing, shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit B-1.
Swing Line Note has the meaning specified in Section 2.12(a).
Swing Line Sublimit means an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $100,000,000 and (b) the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments. The Swing Line Sublimit is part of, and not in addition to, the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments.
TARGET Day means any day on which the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer (TARGET) payment system (or, if such payment system ceases to be
23
operative, such other payment system (if any) determined by the Administrative Agent to be a suitable replacement) is open for the settlement of payments in Euro.
Taxes means all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding), assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.
Total Debt means at any date, all Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries measured on a consolidated basis as of such date (excluding therefrom, however, without duplication, Guarantees of Indebtedness of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries, respectively, by such Person or any such Subsidiary).
Total Revolving A Outstandings means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Revolving A Loans, all Swing Line Loans and all L/C Obligations under the Revolving A Tranche.
Total Revolving B Outstandings means the aggregate Outstanding Amount of all Revolving B Loans and all L/C Obligations under the Revolving B Tranche.
Total Revolving Outstandings means the Total Revolving A Outstandings and/or the Total Revolving B Outstandings, as applicable.
Transactions means the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrowers of this Agreement and the borrowing of Loans, the use of the proceeds thereof.
Type means, with respect to a Loan, its character as a Base Rate Loan or a Eurocurrency Rate Loan.
United Kingdom and UK mean the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
United States and U.S. mean the United States of America.
Unreimbursed Amount has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(c)(i).
Withdrawal Liability means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.
2006 Credit Agreement means that certain Credit Agreement dated as of November 16, 2006 by and among the Company, JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, as agent and a syndicate of lenders.
2009 Credit Agreement means that certain Term Loan Agreement dated as of July 10, 2009 by and among the Company, Global Payments U.K. Ltd, Bank of America, as agent and a syndicate of lenders.
1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions. With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:
(a) The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words include, includes and
24
including shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase without limitation. The word will shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word shall. Unless the context requires otherwise, (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document (including any Organization Document) shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein or in any other Loan Document), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Persons successors and assigns, (iii) the words herein, hereof and hereunder, and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document, shall be construed to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not to any particular provision thereof, (iv) all references in a Loan Document to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or interpreting such law and any reference to any law or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and (vi) the words asset and property shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.
(b) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word from means from and including; the words to and until each mean to but excluding; and the word through means to and including.
(c) Section headings herein and in the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.
1.03 Accounting Terms.
(a) Generally. All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP applied on a consistent basis, as in effect from time to time, applied in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the Audited Financial Statements, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein.
(b) Changes in GAAP. If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Company or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Company shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that, until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein and (ii) the Company shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP.
(c) Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities. All references herein to consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries or to the determination of any amount
25
for the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis or any similar reference shall, in each case, be deemed to include each variable interest entity that the Company is required to consolidate pursuant to FASB Interpretation No. 46 Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities: an interpretation of ARB No. 51 (January 2003) as if such variable interest entity were a Subsidiary as defined herein.
1.04 Rounding.
Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Company pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated in accordance with this Agreement and, if necessary, by carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).
1.05 Exchange Rates; Currency Equivalents.
(a) The Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, shall determine the Spot Rates as of each Revaluation Date to be used for calculating Dollar Equivalent amounts of Credit Extensions and Outstanding Amounts denominated in Alternative Currencies. Such Spot Rates shall become effective as of such Revaluation Date and shall be the Spot Rates employed in converting any amounts between the applicable currencies until the next Revaluation Date to occur. Except for purposes of financial statements delivered by Credit Parties hereunder or calculating financial covenants hereunder or except as otherwise provided herein, the applicable amount of any currency (other than Dollars) for purposes of the Loan Documents shall be such Dollar Equivalent amount as so determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as applicable.
(b) Wherever in this Agreement in connection with a Borrowing, conversion, continuation or prepayment of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan or the issuance, amendment or extension of a Letter of Credit, an amount, such as a required minimum or multiple amount, is expressed in Dollars, but such Borrowing, Eurocurrency Rate Loan or Letter of Credit is denominated in an Alternative Currency, such amount shall be the relevant Alternative Currency Equivalent of such Dollar amount (rounded to the nearest unit of such Alternative Currency, rounded upward to the nearest 1000 units), as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be.
1.06 Additional Alternative Currencies.
(a) The Company may from time to time request that Eurocurrency Rate Loans be made and/or Letters of Credit be issued in a currency other than those specifically listed in the definition of Alternative Currency; provided that such requested currency is a lawful currency (other than Dollars) that is readily available and freely transferable and convertible into Dollars. In the case of any such request with respect to the making of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, such request shall be subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under the applicable Revolving Tranche; and in the case of any such request with respect to the issuance of Letters of Credit, such request shall be subject to the approval of the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer.
(b) Any such request shall be made to the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m., 15 Business Days prior to the date of the desired Credit Extension (or such other time or date as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent and, in the case of any such request pertaining to Letters of Credit, the L/C Issuer, in its or their sole discretion). In the case of any
26
such request pertaining to Eurocurrency Rate Loans, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender under the applicable Revolving Tranche thereof; and in the case of any such request pertaining to Letters of Credit, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the L/C Issuer thereof. Each Lender under the applicable Revolving Tranche (in the case of any such request pertaining to Eurocurrency Rate Loans) or the L/C Issuer (in the case of a request pertaining to Letters of Credit) shall notify the Administrative Agent, not later than 11:00 a.m., seven Business Days after receipt of such request whether it consents, in its sole discretion, to the making of Eurocurrency Rate Loans or the issuance of Letters of Credit, as the case may be, in such requested currency.
(c) Any failure by a Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to respond to such request within the time period specified in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be a refusal by such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, to permit Eurocurrency Rate Loans to be made or Letters of Credit to be issued in such requested currency. If the Administrative Agent and all the Lenders under the applicable Revolving Tranche consent to making Eurocurrency Rate Loans in such requested currency, the Administrative Agent shall so notify the Company and such currency shall thereupon be deemed for all purposes to be an Alternative Currency hereunder for purposes of any Borrowings of Eurocurrency Rate Loans; and if the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer consent to the issuance of Letters of Credit in such requested currency, the Administrative Agent shall so notify the Company and such currency shall thereupon be deemed for all purposes to be an Alternative Currency hereunder for purposes of any Letter of Credit issuances. If the Administrative Agent shall fail to obtain consent to any request for an additional currency under this Section 1.06, the Administrative Agent shall promptly so notify the Company.
1.07 Change of Currency.
(a) Each obligation of the Borrowers to make a payment denominated in the national currency unit of any member state of the European Union that 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, in relation to the currency of any such member state, the basis of accrual of interest expressed in this Agreement in respect of that currency shall be inconsistent 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 such member state adopts the Euro as its lawful currency; provided that if any Borrowing in the currency of such member state 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) Each provision of this Agreement shall be subject to such reasonable changes of construction as agreed to by the Administrative Agent and the Company from time to time to be appropriate to reflect the adoption of the Euro by any member state of the European Union and any relevant market conventions or practices relating to the Euro.
(c) Each provision of this Agreement also shall be subject to such reasonable changes of construction as agreed to by the Administrative Agent and the Company from time to time to be appropriate to reflect a change in currency of any other country and any relevant market conventions or practices relating to the change in currency.
1.08 Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).
27
1.09 Letter of Credit Amounts.
Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to be the Dollar Equivalent of the stated amount of such Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided, however, that with respect to any Letter of Credit that, by its terms or the terms of any Issuer Document related thereto, provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be the Dollar Equivalent of the maximum stated amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.
ARTICLE II
THE COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT EXTENSIONS
2.01 Revolving Loans.
(a) Revolving A Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Revolving A Lender severally agrees to make loans (each such loan, a Revolving A Loan) to the Revolving A Borrowers in Dollars and one or more Alternative Currencies from time to time on any Business Day during the Availability Period in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Revolving A Lenders Revolving A Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Borrowing of Revolving A Loans, (i) the Total Revolving A Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments, (ii) the aggregate Revolving A Exposure of any Revolving A Lender shall not exceed such Revolving A Lenders Revolving A Commitment and (iii) the Total Revolving Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Revolving Commitments. Within the limits of each Revolving A Lenders Revolving A Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Revolving A Borrowers may borrow under this Section 2.01, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.01. Revolving A Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurocurrency Rate Loans, or a combination thereof, as further provided herein.
(b) Revolving B Loans. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Revolving B Lender severally agrees to make loans (each such loan, a Revolving B Loan) to the Revolving B Borrowers in one or more Alternative Currencies from time to time on any Business Day during the Availability Period in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of such Revolving B Lenders Revolving B Commitment; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Borrowing of Revolving B Loans, (i) the Total Revolving B Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments, (ii) the aggregate Revolving B Exposure of any Revolving B Lender shall not exceed such Revolving B Lenders Revolving B Commitment and (iii) the Total Revolving Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Revolving Commitments. Within the limits of each Revolving B Lenders Revolving B Commitment, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Revolving B Borrowers may borrow under this Section 2.01, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.01. Revolving B Loans may be Eurocurrency Rate Loans, as further provided herein.
(c) The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to the extent practicable to allocate Borrowings such that equal percentages are outstanding on an approximate basis under the Revolving A Tranche and the Revolving B Tranche.
2.02 Borrowings, Conversions and Continuations.
28
(a) Each Borrowing, each conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be made upon the applicable Borrowers irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than (i) 11:00 a.m. on the requested date of any Borrowings of Base Rate Loans, (ii) 1:00 p.m. three Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars or of any conversion of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars to Base Rate Loans, and (iii) 11:00 a.m. four Business Days prior to the requested date of any Borrowing or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in any Alternative Currency (or five Business Days in the case of a Special Notice Currency); provided, however, that if such Borrower wishes to request Eurocurrency Rate Loans having an Interest Period other than one week, two weeks, one, two, three or six months in duration as provided in the definition of Interest Period, the applicable notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than (i) 1:00 p.m. four Business Days prior to the requested date of such Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars, or (ii) 11:00 a.m. five Business Days prior to the requested date of such Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in any Alternative Currency, whereupon the Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice to the applicable Lenders of such request and determine whether the requested Interest Period is acceptable to all of them. In the case of a request pursuant to the proviso in the preceding sentence, not later than (i) 1:00 p.m. three Business Days before the requested date of such Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars, or (ii) 11:00 a.m. four Business Days prior to the requested date of such Borrowing, conversion or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in any Alternative Currency, the Administrative Agent shall notify such Borrower (which notice may be by telephone) whether or not the requested Interest Period has been consented to by all the applicable Lenders. Each telephonic notice by the applicable Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Financial Officer. Each Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. Each Borrowing of or conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the requested Borrowing is to be a Revolving A Borrowing or a Revolving B Borrowing, (ii) whether such Borrower is requesting a Borrowing, a conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, or a continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans, (iii) the requested date of the Borrowing, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iv) the principal amount of Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (v) the Type of Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Loans are to be converted, (vi) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto, and (vii) the currency of the Loans to be Borrowed. If the applicable Borrower fails to specify a Type of Loan in a Loan Notice or if such Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Base Rate Loans; provided, however, that in the case of a failure to timely request a continuation of Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency, such Loans shall be continued as Eurocurrency Rate Loans in such Alternative Currency with an Interest Period of one month. Any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurocurrency Rate Loans. If the applicable Borrower requests a Borrowing of, conversion to, or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans in any such Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month. No Loan may be converted into or continued as a Loan denominated in a different currency.
29
(b) Following receipt of a Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each applicable Lender of the amount (and currency) of its Applicable Percentage of the applicable Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the applicable Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each applicable Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans or continuation of Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency, in each case as described in the preceding subsection. In the case of a Borrowing, each applicable Lender shall make the amount of its Loan available to the Administrative Agent in Same Day Funds at the Administrative Agents Office for the applicable currency not later than (i) 1:00 p.m., in the case of any Loan denominated in Dollars or (ii) the Applicable Time specified by the Administrative Agent in the case of any Loan denominated in an Alternative Currency, in each case on the Business Day specified in the applicable Loan Notice. Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions set forth in Sections 4.01, the Administrative Agent shall make all funds so received available to the applicable Borrower in like funds as received by the Administrative Agent either by (i) crediting the account of such Borrower on the books of Bank of America with the amount of such funds or (ii) wire transfer of such funds, in each case in accordance with instructions provided to (and reasonably acceptable to) the Administrative Agent by such Borrower; provided, however, that if, on the date of a Borrowing of Revolving Loans, there are L/C Borrowings outstanding, then the proceeds of such Borrowing, first, shall be applied to the payment in full of any such L/C Borrowings and second, shall be made available to such Borrower as provided above. Each Lender, at its option, may make any Eurocurrency Loans by causing any domestic or, if such Loan is denominated in an Alternative Currency, foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Eurocurrency Loan (and in the case of an Affiliate, the provisions of Sections 3.01, 3.02, 3.03, 3.04 and 3.05 shall apply to such Affiliate to the same extent as they apply to such Lender).
(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurocurrency Rate Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurocurrency Rate Loan. During the existence of an Event of Default, at the request of the Required Lenders or the Administrative Agent, no Loans may be requested as, converted to or, if such Loan is denominated in Dollars, continued as Eurocurrency Rate Loans. During the existence of an Event of Default, Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency may be maintained and at the end of the Interest Period with respect thereto shall automatically be continued as Eurocurrency Rate Loans in such Alternative Currency with an Interest Period of one month.
(d) The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the applicable Borrower and the applicable Lenders of the interest rate applicable to any Interest Period for Eurocurrency Rate Loans upon determination of such interest rate. At any time that Base Rate Loans are outstanding, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Company and the Lenders of any change in Bank of Americas prime rate used in determining the Base Rate promptly following the public announcement of such change.
(e) After giving effect to all Borrowings, all conversions of Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than seven Interest Periods in effect under the Revolving A Tranche and seven Interest Periods under the Revolving B Tranche.
(f) The Company may at any time and from time to time, upon prior written notice by the Company to the Administrative Agent, increase the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments and/or the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments (but not the Letter of Credit Sublimit or the Swing Line Sublimit) by a maximum aggregate amount of up to ONE HUNDRED FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS ($150,000,000) as follows; provided that:
30
(i) the Aggregate Revolving Commitments shall not exceed $750,000,000;
(ii) any such increase shall be in a minimum principal amount of $10,000,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof;
(iii) no Default or Event of Default shall exist and be continuing at the time of any such increase;
(iv) no existing Lender shall be under any obligation to increase its Revolving Commitment and any such decision whether to increase its Revolving Commitment shall be in such Lenders sole and absolute discretion;
(v) (A) any new Lender shall join this Agreement by executing such joinder documents required by the Administrative Agent and/or (B) any existing Lender electing to increase its Revolving Commitment shall have executed a commitment agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; and
(vi) as a condition precedent to such increase, the Company shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate of each Credit Party dated as of the date of such increase (in sufficient copies for each Lender) signed by a Responsible Officer of such Credit Party (A) certifying and attaching the resolutions adopted by such Credit Party approving or consenting to such increase, and (B) in the case of the Company, certifying that, before and after giving effect to such increase, (1) the representations and warranties contained in Article V and the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such increase, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they are true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date, and (2) no Default or Event of Default exists.
The Borrowers under the applicable Revolving Tranche shall prepay any Loans owing by them and outstanding on the date of any such increase (and pay any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05) to the extent necessary to keep the outstanding Loans ratable with any revised Revolving Commitments arising from any nonratable increase in the Revolving Commitments under this Section.
2.03 Letters of Credit.
(a) The Letter of Credit Commitment.
(i) Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (A) the L/C Issuer agrees, in reliance upon the agreements of the Lenders set forth in this Section 2.03, (1) from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the Closing Date until the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, to issue Letters of Credit denominated in Dollars or one or more Alternative Currencies for the account of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and to amend or extend Letters of Credit previously issued by it, in accordance with subsection (b) below, and (2) to honor drawings under the Letters of Credit; and (B) the Lenders under the applicable Revolving Tranche severally agree to participate in Letters of Credit issued for the account of the Company or its Subsidiaries and any drawings thereunder; provided that after giving effect to any L/C Credit Extension with respect to any Letter of Credit, (v) the Total Revolving Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate
31
Revolving Commitments, (w) the aggregate Revolving A Exposure of any Revolving A Lender shall not exceed such Lenders Revolving A Commitment, (x) the aggregate Revolving B Exposure of any Revolving B Lender shall not exceed such Revolving B Lenders Revolving B Commitment, (y) the Outstanding Amount of the L/C Obligations shall not exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit and (z) the Total Revolving Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Revolving Commitments. Each request by the Company or any Borrower for the issuance or amendment of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be a representation by the Company or such Borrower that the L/C Credit Extension so requested complies with the conditions set forth in the proviso to the preceding sentence. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Companys and the applicable Borrowers ability to obtain Letters of Credit shall be fully revolving, and accordingly the Company or such Borrower may, during the foregoing period, obtain Letters of Credit to replace Letters of Credit that have expired or that have been drawn upon and reimbursed.
(ii) The L/C Issuer shall not issue any Letter of Credit if:
(A) subject to Section 2.03(b)(iii), the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur more than twelve months after the date of issuance or last extension, unless the Required Lenders of the Revolving Tranche under which such Letter of Credit is to be issued have approved such expiry date; or
(B) the expiry date of such requested Letter of Credit would occur after the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, unless all the Lenders have approved such expiry date.
(iii) The L/C Issuer shall not be under any obligation to issue any Letter of Credit if:
(A) any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator shall by its terms purport to enjoin or restrain the L/C Issuer from issuing such Letter of Credit, or any Law applicable to the L/C Issuer or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the L/C Issuer shall prohibit, or request that the L/C Issuer refrain from, the issuance of letters of credit generally or such Letter of Credit in particular or shall impose upon the L/C Issuer with respect to such Letter of Credit any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which the L/C Issuer is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date, or shall impose upon the L/C Issuer any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense which was not applicable on the Closing Date and which the L/C Issuer in good faith deems material to it;
(B) the issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more material policies of the L/C Issuer applicable to letters of credit generally applied on a consistent basis to similarly situated letter of credit applicants;
(C) except as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer, such Letter of Credit is in an initial stated amount less than $10,000;
32
(D) such Letter of Credit is to be denominated in a currency other than Dollars or an Alternative Currency, as applicable for the Revolving Tranche under which such Letter of Credit is issued; or
(E) any Lender is at that time a Defaulting Lender, unless the L/C Issuer has entered into arrangements, including the delivery of Cash Collateral, satisfactory to the L/C Issuer (in its reasonable discretion) with the applicable Borrowers or such Defaulting Lender to eliminate the L/C Issuers actual or potential Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 2.15(a)(iv)) with respect to the Defaulting Lender arising from either the Letter of Credit then proposed to be issued or that Letter of Credit and all other L/C Obligations as to which the L/C Issuer has actual or potential Fronting Exposure, as it may elect in its sole discretion.
(iv) The L/C Issuer shall not amend any Letter of Credit if the L/C Issuer would not be permitted at such time to issue the Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof.
(v) The L/C Issuer shall be under no obligation to amend any Letter of Credit if (A) the L/C Issuer would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its amended form under the terms hereof, or (B) the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit does not accept the proposed amendment to such Letter of Credit.
(vi) The L/C Issuer shall act on behalf of the Lenders with respect to any Letters of Credit issued by it and the documents associated therewith, and the L/C Issuer shall have all of the benefits and immunities (A) provided to the Administrative Agent in Article IX with respect to any acts taken or omissions suffered by the L/C Issuer in connection with Letters of Credit issued by it or proposed to be issued by it and Issuer Documents pertaining to such Letters of Credit as fully as if the term Administrative Agent as used in Article IX included the L/C Issuer with respect to such acts or omissions, and (B) as additionally provided herein with respect to the L/C Issuer.
(b) Procedures for Issuance and Amendment of Letters of Credit; Auto-Extension Letters of Credit.
(i) Each Letter of Credit shall be issued or amended, as the case may be, upon the request of the applicable Borrower delivered to the L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) in the form of a Letter of Credit Application, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of such Borrower. Such Letter of Credit Application must be received by the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. at least two (2) Business Days (or such later date and time as the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer may agree in a particular instance in their sole discretion) prior to the proposed issuance date or date of amendment, as the case may be. In the case of a request for an initial issuance of a Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the L/C Issuer: (A) the proposed issuance date of the requested Letter of Credit (which shall be a Business Day); (B) the amount and currency thereof; (C) the expiry date thereof; (D) the name and address of the beneficiary thereof; (E) the documents to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (F) the full text of any certificate to be presented by such beneficiary in case of any drawing thereunder; (G) the purpose and nature of the requested Letter of Credit; (H) whether such Letter of Credit is to be issued under the
33
Revolving A Tranche or the Revolving B Tranche and (I) such other matters as the L/C Issuer may require. In the case of a request for an amendment of any outstanding Letter of Credit, such Letter of Credit Application shall specify in form and detail satisfactory to the L/C Issuer (A) the Letter of Credit to be amended; (B) the proposed date of amendment thereof (which shall be a Business Day); (C) the nature of the proposed amendment; and (D) such other matters as the L/C Issuer may require. Additionally, the applicable Borrower shall furnish to the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent such other documents and information pertaining to such requested Letter of Credit issuance or amendment, including any Issuer Documents, as the L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent may require.
(ii) Promptly after receipt of any Letter of Credit Application, the L/C Issuer will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has received a copy of such Letter of Credit Application from the applicable Borrower and, if not, the L/C Issuer will provide the Administrative Agent with a copy thereof. Unless the L/C Issuer has received written notice from any Lender under the applicable Revolving Tranche, the Administrative Agent or any Credit Party, at least one Business Day prior to the requested date of issuance or amendment of the applicable Letter of Credit, that one or more applicable conditions contained in Article V shall not be satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the L/C Issuer shall, on the requested date, issue a Letter of Credit for the account of the Company or the applicable Subsidiary or enter into the applicable amendment, as the case may be, in each case in accordance with the L/C Issuers usual and customary business practices. Immediately upon the issuance of each Letter of Credit, each Lender under the applicable Revolving Tranche shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the L/C Issuer a risk participation in such Letter of Credit in an amount equal to the product of such Lenders Applicable Percentage times the amount of such Letter of Credit.
(iii) If a Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the L/C Issuer agrees to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic extension provisions (each, an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit); provided that any such Auto-Extension Letter of Credit must permit the L/C Issuer to prevent any such extension at least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day (the Non-Extension Notice Date) in each such twelve-month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Unless otherwise directed by the L/C Issuer, the applicable Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the L/C Issuer for any such extension. Once an Auto-Extension Letter of Credit has been issued, the Lenders under the applicable Revolving Tranche shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the L/C Issuer to permit the extension of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the Letter of Credit Expiration Date; provided, however, that the L/C Issuer shall not permit any such extension if (A) the L/C Issuer has determined that it would not be permitted, or would have no obligation, at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its revised form (as extended) under the terms hereof (by reason of the provisions of clause (ii) or (iii) of Section 2.03(a) or otherwise), or (B) it has received notice (which may be by telephone or in writing) on or before the day that is seven Business Days before the Non-Extension Notice Date from the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Borrower that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 4.02 is not then satisfied, and in each case directing the L/C Issuer not to permit such extension.
34
(iv) Promptly after its delivery of any Letter of Credit or any amendment to a Letter of Credit to an advising bank with respect thereto or to the beneficiary thereof, the L/C Issuer will also deliver to the applicable Borrower and the Administrative Agent a true and complete copy of such Letter of Credit or amendment.
(c) Drawings and Reimbursements; Funding of Participations.
(i) Upon receipt from the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of any notice of a drawing under such Letter of Credit, the L/C Issuer shall notify the applicable Borrower and the Administrative Agent thereof. In the case of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, the applicable Borrower shall reimburse the L/C Issuer in such Alternative Currency, unless (A) the L/C Issuer (at its option) shall have specified in such notice that it will require reimbursement in Dollars, or (B) in the absence of any such requirement for reimbursement in Dollars, the applicable Borrower shall have notified the L/C Issuer promptly following receipt of the notice of drawing that such Borrower will reimburse the L/C Issuer in Dollars. In the case of any such reimbursement in Dollars of a drawing under a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency, the L/C Issuer shall notify the applicable Borrower of the Dollar Equivalent of the amount of the drawing promptly following the determination thereof. Not later than 1:00 p.m. on the date of any payment by the L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit to be reimbursed in Dollars, or the Applicable Time on the date of any payment by the L/C Issuer under a Letter of Credit to be reimbursed in an Alternative Currency (each such date, an Honor Date), the applicable Borrower shall reimburse the L/C Issuer through the Administrative Agent in an amount equal to the amount of such drawing and in the applicable currency; provided that such Borrower has received notice of such payment by 11:00 a.m., or two hours prior to the Applicable Time with respect to a Letter of Credit to be reimbursed in an Alternative Currency, on such Honor Date, and if such Borrower receives notice of such payment after such time, such Borrower shall make such payment not later than 11:00 a.m., or the Applicable Time with respect to a Letter of Credit to be reimbursed in an Alternative Currency, on the Business Day following receipt of such notice (together with interest thereon). If the applicable Borrower fails to so reimburse the L/C Issuer by such time, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender under the applicable Revolving Tranche of the Honor Date, the amount of the unreimbursed drawing (expressed in Dollars in the amount of the Dollar Equivalent thereof in the case of a Letter of Credit denominated in an Alternative Currency) (the Unreimbursed Amount), and the amount of such Lenders Applicable Percentage thereof. In such event, the Company shall be deemed to have requested a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans to be disbursed on the Honor Date in an amount equal to the Unreimbursed Amount, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified in Section 2.02 or the prior notice required therefor for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the amount of the unutilized portion of the Aggregate Revolving Commitments under the Applicable Revolving Tranche and the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than the delivery of a Loan Notice). Any notice given by the L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.03(c)(i) may be given by telephone if immediately confirmed in writing; provided that the lack of such an immediate confirmation shall not affect the conclusiveness or binding effect of such notice.
(ii) Each Lender under the applicable Revolving Tranche shall upon any notice pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) make funds available (and the Administrative Agent
35
may apply Cash Collateral provided for this purpose) to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer, in Dollars, at the Administrative Agents Office for dollar-denominated payments in an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the Unreimbursed Amount not later than 1:00 p.m. on the Business Day specified in such notice by the Administrative Agent, whereupon, subject to the provisions of Section 2.03(c)(iii), each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Loan to the Company in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the L/C Issuer in Dollars.
(iii) With respect to any Unreimbursed Amount that is not fully refinanced by a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans because the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 cannot be satisfied, the Company shall be deemed to have incurred from the L/C Issuer an L/C Borrowing in the amount of the Unreimbursed Amount that is not so refinanced, which L/C Borrowing shall be due and payable on demand (together with interest) and shall bear interest at the Default Rate. In such event, each Lenders payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(ii) shall be deemed payment in respect of its participation in such L/C Borrowing and shall constitute an L/C Advance from such Lender in satisfaction of its participation obligation under this Section 2.03.
(iv) Until each Lender under the applicable Revolving Tranche funds its Revolving Loan or L/C Advance pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) to reimburse the L/C Issuer for any amount drawn under any Letter of Credit, interest in respect of such Lenders Applicable Percentage of such amount shall be solely for the account of the L/C Issuer.
(v) Each Lenders obligation to make Revolving Loans or L/C Advances to reimburse the L/C Issuer for amounts drawn under Letters of Credit, as contemplated by this Section 2.03(c), shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the L/C Issuer, any Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided, however, that each Lenders obligation to make Revolving Loans pursuant to this Section 2.03(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than delivery by a Borrower of a Loan Notice). No such making of an L/C Advance shall relieve or otherwise impair the obligation of the Borrowers to reimburse the L/C Issuer for the amount of any payment made by the L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit, together with interest as provided herein.
(vi) If any Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.03(c) by the time specified in Section 2.03(c)(ii), then, without limiting the other provisions of this Agreement, the L/C Issuer shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the L/C Issuer at a rate per annum equal to the Overnight Rate. A certificate of the L/C Issuer submitted to any Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (vi) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
36
(d) Repayment of Participations.
(i) At any time after the L/C Issuer has made a payment under any Letter of Credit and has received from any Lender such Lenders L/C Advance in respect of such payment in accordance with Section 2.03(c), if the Administrative Agent receives for the account of the L/C Issuer any payment in respect of the related Unreimbursed Amount or interest thereon (whether directly from a Borrower or otherwise, including proceeds of Cash Collateral applied thereto by the Administrative Agent), the Administrative Agent will distribute to such Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Lenders L/C Advance was outstanding) in the same funds as those received by the Administrative Agent.
(ii) If any payment received by the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 2.03(c)(i) is required to be returned under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the L/C Issuer in its discretion), each Lender under the applicable Revolving Tranche shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the L/C Issuer its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned by such Lender, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate from time to time in effect. The obligations of the Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
(e) Obligations Absolute. The obligation of each Borrower to reimburse the L/C Issuer for each drawing under each Letter of Credit and to repay each L/C Borrowing shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances, including the following:
(i) any lack of validity or enforceability of such Letter of Credit, this Agreement or any other Loan Document;
(ii) the existence of any claim, counterclaim, setoff, defense or other right that any Borrower or any Subsidiary may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit (or any Person for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the L/C Issuer or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or by such Letter of Credit or any agreement or instrument relating thereto, or any unrelated transaction;
(iii) any draft, demand, certificate or other document presented under such Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a drawing under such Letter of Credit;
(iv) any payment by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or any payment made by the L/C Issuer under such Letter of Credit to any Person purporting to be a trustee in bankruptcy, debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other representative of or successor to any
37
beneficiary or any transferee of such Letter of Credit, including any arising in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law;
(v) any adverse change in the relevant exchange rates or in the availability of the relevant Alternative Currency to any Borrower or any Subsidiary or in the relevant currency markets generally; or
(vi) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, including any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any Borrower or any Subsidiary.
The applicable Borrower shall promptly examine a copy of each Letter of Credit and each amendment thereto that is delivered to it and, in the event of any claim of noncompliance with such Borrowers instructions or other irregularity, such Borrower will immediately notify the L/C Issuer. The applicable Borrower shall be conclusively deemed to have waived any such claim against the L/C Issuer and its correspondents unless such notice is given as aforesaid.
(f) Role of L/C Issuer. Each Lender and each Borrower agree that, in paying any drawing under a Letter of Credit, the L/C Issuer shall not have any responsibility to obtain any document (other than any sight draft, certificates and documents expressly required by such Letter of Credit) or to ascertain or inquire as to the validity or accuracy of any such document or the authority of the Person executing or delivering any such document. None of the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of the L/C Issuer shall be liable to any Lender for (i) any action taken or omitted in connection herewith at the request or with the approval of the Lenders or the Required Lenders, as applicable; (ii) any action taken or omitted in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct; or (iii) the due execution, effectiveness, validity or enforceability of any document or instrument related to any Letter of Credit or Issuer Document. Each Borrower hereby assumes all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee with respect to its use of any Letter of Credit; provided, however, that this assumption is not intended to, and shall not, preclude such Borrowers pursuing such rights and remedies as it may have against the beneficiary or transferee at law or under any other agreement. None of the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent, any of their respective Related Parties nor any correspondent, participant or assignee of the L/C Issuer shall be liable or responsible for any of the matters described in clauses (i) through (vi) of Section 2.03(e); provided, however, that anything in such clauses to the contrary notwithstanding, a Borrower may have a claim against the L/C Issuer, and the L/C Issuer may be liable to such Borrower, to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct, as opposed to consequential or exemplary, damages suffered by such Borrower which such Borrower proves were caused by the L/C Issuers willful misconduct or gross negligence or the L/C Issuers willful failure to pay under any Letter of Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary of a sight draft and certificate(s) strictly complying with the terms and conditions of a Letter of Credit unless the L/C Issuer is prevented or prohibited from so paying as a result of any order or directive of any court or other Governmental Authority. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, the L/C Issuer may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and the L/C Issuer shall not be responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign a Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason.
38
(g) Applicability of ISP. Unless otherwise expressly agreed by the L/C Issuer and the applicable Borrower when a Letter of Credit is issued, the rules of the ISP shall apply to each Letter of Credit.
(h) Letter of Credit Fees. The Company shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender under the applicable Revolving Tranche in accordance with its Applicable Percentage a Letter of Credit fee (the Letter of Credit Fee) for each Letter of Credit equal to the Applicable Rate times the Dollar Equivalent of the daily maximum amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit; provided, however, any Letter of Credit Fees otherwise payable for the account of a Defaulting Lender with respect to any Letter of Credit as to which such Defaulting Lender has not provided Cash Collateral satisfactory to the L/C Issuer pursuant to this Section 2.03 shall be payable, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable Law, to the other Lenders under the applicable Revolving Tranche in accordance with the upward adjustments in their respective Applicable Percentages allocable to such Letter of Credit pursuant to Section 2.15(a)(iv), with the balance of such fee, if any, payable to the L/C Issuer for its own account. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.09. Letter of Credit Fees shall be (i) computed on a quarterly basis in arrears and (ii) due and payable on the first Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. If there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the daily amount available to be drawn under each Letter of Credit shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, upon the request of the Required Lenders while any Event of Default exists, all Letter of Credit Fees shall accrue at the Default Rate.
(i) Fronting Fee and Documentary and Processing Charges Payable to L/C Issuer. The Company shall pay directly to the L/C Issuer for its own account a fronting fee with respect to each Letter of Credit, at the rate per annum specified in the Fee Letter, computed on the Dollar Equivalent of the actual daily maximum amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit (whether or not such maximum amount is then in effect under such Letter of Credit) and on a quarterly basis in arrears. Such fronting fee shall be due and payable on the first Business Day after the end of each March, June, September and December in respect of the most recently-ended quarterly period (or portion thereof, in the case of the first payment), commencing with the first such date to occur after the issuance of such Letter of Credit, on the Letter of Credit Expiration Date and thereafter on demand. For purposes of computing the daily amount available to be drawn under any Letter of Credit, the amount of such Letter of Credit shall be determined in accordance with Section 1.09. In addition, the Company shall pay directly to the L/C Issuer for its own account the customary issuance, presentation, amendment and other processing fees, and other standard costs and charges, of the L/C Issuer relating to letters of credit as from time to time in effect. Such customary fees and standard costs and charges are due and payable on demand and are nonrefundable.
(j) Conflict with Issuer Documents. In the event of any conflict between the terms hereof and the terms of any Issuer Document, the terms hereof shall control.
(k) Letters of Credit Issued for Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding that a Letter of Credit issued or outstanding hereunder is in support of any obligations of, or is for the account of, a Subsidiary, the applicable Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the L/C Issuer hereunder for any and all drawings under such Letter of Credit. Each Borrower hereby acknowledges that the
39
issuance of Letters of Credit for the account of Subsidiaries inures to the benefit of the such Borrower, and that such Borrowers business derives substantial benefits from the businesses of such Subsidiaries.
2.04 Swing Line Loans.
(a) Swing Line Facility. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swing Line Lender, in reliance upon the agreements of the other Revolving A Lenders set forth in this Section 2.04, may in its sole discretion make loans (each such loan, a Swing Line Loan) to the Company in Dollars from time to time on any Business Day during the Availability Period in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount of the Swing Line Sublimit; provided, however, that after giving effect to any Swing Line Loan, (i) the Total Revolving A Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments, (ii) the aggregate Revolving A Exposure of any Revolving A Lender shall not exceed such Revolving A Lenders Revolving A Commitment and (iii) the Total Revolving Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Revolving Commitments, and provided, further, that the Company shall not use the proceeds of any Swing Line Loan to refinance any outstanding Swing Line Loan. Within the foregoing limits, and subject to the other terms and conditions hereof, the Company may borrow under this Section 2.04, prepay under Section 2.05, and reborrow under this Section 2.04. Each Swing Line Loan shall be a Base Rate Loan. Immediately upon the making of a Swing Line Loan, each Revolving A Lender shall be deemed to, and hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from the Swing Line Lender a risk participation in such Swing Line Loan in an amount equal to the product of such Revolving A Lenders Applicable Percentage times the amount of such Swing Line Loan.
(b) Borrowing Procedures. Each Borrowing of Swing Line Loans shall be made upon the Companys irrevocable notice to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on the requested borrowing date, and shall specify (i) the amount to be borrowed, which shall be a minimum principal amount of $500,000 and integral multiples of $100,000 in excess thereof, and (ii) the requested borrowing date, which shall be a Business Day. Each such telephonic notice must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent of a written Swing Line Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Company. Promptly after receipt by the Swing Line Lender of any telephonic Swing Line Loan Notice, the Swing Line Lender will confirm with the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Administrative Agent has also received such Swing Line Loan Notice and, if not, the Swing Line Lender will notify the Administrative Agent (by telephone or in writing) of the contents thereof. Unless the Swing Line Lender has received notice (by telephone or in writing) from the Administrative Agent (including at the request of any Lender) prior to 2:00 p.m. on the date of the proposed Borrowing of Swing Line Loans (A) directing the Swing Line Lender not to make such Swing Line Loan as a result of the limitations set forth in the first proviso to the first sentence of Section 2.04(a), or (B) that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Article V is not then satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swing Line Lender will, not later than 3:00 p.m. on the borrowing date specified in such Swing Line Loan Notice, make the amount of its Swing Line Loan available to the Company.
(c) Refinancing of Swing Line Loans.
(i) The Swing Line Lender at any time in its sole discretion may request, on behalf of the Company (which hereby irrevocably requests and authorizes the Swing Line
40
Lender to so request on its behalf), that each Revolving A Lender make a Base Rate Loan in an amount equal to such Revolving A Lenders Applicable Percentage of the amount of Swing Line Loans then outstanding. Such request shall be made in writing (which written request shall be deemed to be a Loan Notice for purposes hereof) and in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.02, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified therein for the principal amount of Base Rate Loans, but subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 (other than the delivery of a Loan Notice) and provided that, after giving effect to such Borrowing, the Total Revolving A Outstandings shall not exceed the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments. The Swing Line Lender shall furnish the Company with a copy of the applicable Loan Notice promptly after delivering such notice to the Administrative Agent. Each Revolving A Lender shall make an amount equal to its Applicable Percentage of the amount specified in such Loan Notice available to the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds (and the Administrative Agent may apply Cash Collateral available with respect to the applicable Swing Line Loan) for the account of the Swing Line Lender at the Administrative Agents Office not later than 1:00 p.m. on the day specified in such Loan Notice, whereupon, subject to Section 2.04(c)(ii), each Revolving A Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Base Rate Loan to the Company in such amount. The Administrative Agent shall remit the funds so received to the Swing Line Lender.
(ii) If for any reason any Swing Line Loan cannot be refinanced by such a Borrowing of Revolving A Loans in accordance with Section 2.04(c)(i), the request for Base Rate Loans submitted by the Swing Line Lender as set forth herein shall be deemed to be a request by the Swing Line Lender that each of the Revolving A Lenders fund its risk participation in the relevant Swing Line Loan and each Revolving A Lenders payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender pursuant to Section 2.04(c)(i) shall be deemed payment in respect of such participation.
(iii) If any Revolving A Lender fails to make available to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swing Line Lender any amount required to be paid by such Revolving A Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.04(c) by the time specified in Section 2.04(c)(i), the Swing Line Lender shall be entitled to recover from such Revolving A Lender (acting through the Administrative Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the Swing Line Lender at a rate per annum equal to the Overnight Rate. A certificate of the Swing Line Lender submitted to any Revolving A Lender (through the Administrative Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (iii) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(iv) Each Revolving A Lenders obligation to make Revolving A Loans or to purchase and fund risk participations in Swing Line Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (A) any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right that such Revolving A Lender may have against the Swing Line Lender, the Company or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (B) the occurrence or continuance of a Default, or (C) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing; provided, however, that each Revolving A Lenders obligation to make Revolving A Loans pursuant to this Section 2.04(c) is subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02. No such purchase or funding of risk participations shall relieve or otherwise impair
41
the obligation of the Company to repay Swing Line Loans, together with interest as provided herein.
(d) Repayment of Participations.
(i) At any time after any Revolving A Lender has purchased and funded a risk participation in a Swing Line Loan, if the Swing Line Lender receives any payment on account of such Swing Line Loan, the Swing Line Lender will distribute to such Revolving A Lender its Applicable Percentage of such payment (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Revolving A Lenders risk participation was funded) in the same funds as those received by the Swing Line Lender.
(ii) If any payment received by the Swing Line Lender in respect of principal or interest on any Swing Line Loan is required to be returned by the Swing Line Lender under any of the circumstances described in Section 10.05 (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Swing Line Lender in its discretion), each Revolving A Lender shall pay to the Swing Line Lender its Applicable Percentage thereof on demand of the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate. The Administrative Agent will make such demand upon the request of the Swing Line Lender. The obligations of the Revolving A Lenders under this clause shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
(e) Interest for Account of Swing Line Lender. The Swing Line Lender shall be responsible for invoicing the Company for interest on the Swing Line Loans. Until each Revolving A Lender funds its Revolving A Loans that are Base Rate Loans or risk participation pursuant to this Section 2.04 to refinance such Revolving A Lenders Applicable Percentage of any Swing Line Loan, interest in respect of such Applicable Percentage shall be solely for the account of the Swing Line Lender.
(f) Payments Directly to Swing Line Lender. The Company shall make all payments of principal and interest in respect of the Swing Line Loans directly to the Swing Line Lender.
2.05 Prepayments.
(a) Optional Prepayments.
(i) Any Revolving A Borrower may, upon notice from such Revolving A Borrower to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Revolving A Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty and any Revolving B Borrower may, upon notice from such Revolving B Borrower to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Revolving B Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided, in each case, that (x) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than (A) 1:00 p.m. three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Dollars, (B) 11:00 a.m. four Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies, and (C) 11:00 a.m. on the date of prepayment of Base Rate Loans; (y) any prepayment of Eurocurrency Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $5,000,000 or a whole
42
multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof; and (z) any prepayment of Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment, the Loans to be prepaid, and the Type(s) of Loans to be prepaid and, if Eurocurrency Rate Loans are to be prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each applicable Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lenders Applicable Percentage of such prepayment. If such notice is given by a Borrower, such Borrower shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein. Any prepayment of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. Subject to Section 2.15, each such prepayment shall be applied to the Loans of the applicable Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages.
(ii) Swing Line Loans. The Company may, upon notice to the Swing Line Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at any time or from time to time, voluntarily prepay Swing Line Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Swing Line Lender and the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. on the date of the prepayment, and (ii) any such prepayment shall be in a minimum principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof (or, if less, the entire principal thereof then outstanding). Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment. If such notice is given by the Company, the Company shall make such prepayment and the payment amount specified in such notice shall be due and payable on the date specified therein.
(b) Mandatory Prepayments of Loans.
(i) Revolving A Commitments. If for any reason, including exchange rate fluctuations, the Total Revolving A Outstandings at any time exceed the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments then in effect, the Revolving A Borrowers shall promptly following notice from the Administrative Agent prepay Revolving A Loans and/or the Swing Line Loans and/or Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations under the Revolving A Tranche in an aggregate amount equal to such excess; provided, however, that the Revolving A Borrowers shall not be required to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(i) unless after the prepayment in full of the Revolving A Loans and the Swing Line Loans the Total Revolving A Outstandings exceed the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments then in effect.
(ii) Revolving B Commitments. If for any reason, including exchange rate fluctuations, the Total Revolving B Outstandings at any time exceed the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments then in effect, the Revolving B Borrowers shall promptly following notice from the Administrative Agent prepay Revolving B Loans and/or Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations in an aggregate amount equal to such excess; provided, however, that the Revolving B Borrowers shall not be required to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations under the Revolving B Tranche pursuant to this Section 2.05(b)(i) unless after the prepayment in full of the Revolving B Loans the Total Revolving B Outstandings exceed the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments then in effect.
43
(iii) Application of Mandatory Prepayments. All amounts required to be paid pursuant to (A) Section 2.05(b)(i) shall be applied to Revolving A Loans and Swing Line Loans and (after all Revolving A Loans and Swing Line Loans have been repaid) to Cash Collateralize L/C Obligations under the Revolving A Tranche and (B) Section 2.05(b)(ii) shall be applied to Revolving B Loans and (after all Revolving B Loans and Swing Line Loans have been repaid) to Cash Collateralize L/C Obligations under the Revolving B Tranche;
Within the parameters of the applications set forth above, prepayments shall be applied as directed by the Borrower. All prepayments under this Section 2.05(b) shall be subject to Section 3.05, but otherwise without premium or penalty, and shall be accompanied by interest on the principal amount prepaid through the date of prepayment.
2.06 Repayment of Loans.
(a) Revolving Loans. The Borrowers shall repay to the Lenders on the Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of all Revolving Loans outstanding on such date.
(b) Swing Line Loans. The Company shall repay each Swing Line Loan on the earlier to occur of (i) the date within two (2) Business Days of demand therefor by the Swing Line Lender and (ii) the Maturity Date.
2.07 Termination or Reduction of Aggregate Revolving Commitments.
(a) The Company may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, (i) terminate the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments or the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments, (ii) from time to time permanently reduce the Letter of Credit Sublimit and/or the Swing Line Sublimit, (iii) from time to time permanently reduce the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments to an amount not less than the Outstanding Amount of Revolving A Loans, Swing Line Loans and L/C Obligations under the Revolving A Tranche or (iv) from time to time permanently reduce the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments to an amount not less than the Outstanding Amount of Revolving B Loans and L/C Obligations under the Revolving B Tranche; provided that (A) any such notice shall be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 12:00 noon three (3) Business Days prior to the date of termination or reduction, (B) any such partial reduction shall be in an aggregate amount of $2,000,000 or any whole multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and (C) the Company shall not terminate or reduce (x) (1) the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Total Revolving A Outstandings would exceed the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments, (2) the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Total Revolving B Outstandings would exceed the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments, (3) the Letter of Credit Sublimit if, after giving effect thereto, the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations not fully Cash Collateralized hereunder would exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit, or (4) the Swing Line Sublimit if, after giving effect thereto and to any concurrent prepayments hereunder, the Outstanding Amount of Swing Line Loans would exceed the Swing Line Sublimit.
(b) Notice. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any termination or reduction of the Letter of Credit Sublimit, the Swing Line Sublimit, the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments or the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments under this Section 2.07. Upon any reduction of the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments, the Revolving A Commitment of each Revolving A Lender shall be reduced by such Revolving A Lenders Applicable
44
Percentage of such reduction amount and upon any reduction of the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments, the Revolving B Commitment of each Revolving B Lender shall be reduced by such Revolving B Lenders Applicable Percentage of such reduction amount. All fees in respect of the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments and the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments accrued until the effective date of any termination of the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments or Aggregate Revolving B Commitments, as applicable, shall be paid on the effective date of such termination.
2.08 Interest.
(a) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) below, (i) each Eurocurrency Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof for each Interest Period at a rate per annum equal to the Eurocurrency Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Rate plus (in the case of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan of any Lender which is lent from a Lending Office in the United Kingdom or a Participating Member State, but not in the case of any Loan denominated in Dollars made to any Borrower) the Mandatory Cost; (ii) each Base Rate Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate; and (iii) each Swing Line Loan shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the applicable borrowing date at a rate per annum equal to the sum of (A) the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate minus (B) the Commitment Fee.
(b) (i) If any amount of principal of any Loan is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
(ii) If any amount (other than principal of any Loan) payable by any Borrower under any Loan Document is not paid when due (without regard to any applicable grace periods), whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, then upon the request of the Required Lenders, such amount shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
(iii) Upon the request of the Required Lenders, while any Event of Default exists, the Borrowers shall pay interest on the principal amount of all outstanding Obligations hereunder at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.
(iv) Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including interest on past due interest) shall be due and payable upon demand.
(c) Interest on each Loan shall be due and payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date applicable thereto and at such other times as may be specified herein. Interest hereunder shall be due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof before and after judgment, and before and after the commencement of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law.
45
2.09 Fees.
In addition to certain fees described in subsections (h) and (i) of Section 2.03:
(a) Commitment Fee. The Company shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of each Lender in accordance with its Applicable Percentage, a commitment fee (the Commitment Fee) at a rate per annum equal to:
(i) with respect to the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments, the product of (i) the Applicable Rate times (ii) the actual daily amount by which the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments exceed the sum of (y) the Outstanding Amount of Revolving A Loans and (z) the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations under the Revolving A Tranche, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.15; and
(ii) with respect to the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments, the product of (i) the Applicable Rate times (ii) the actual daily amount by which the Aggregate Revolving B Commitments exceed the sum of (y) the Outstanding Amount of Revolving B Loans and (z) the Outstanding Amount of L/C Obligations under the Revolving B Tranche, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.15.
The Commitment Fee shall accrue at all times during the Availability Period, including at any time during which one or more of the conditions in Article V is not met, and shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears on the first Business Day of after the end of each March, June, September and December, commencing with the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and on the Maturity Date; provided, that (A) no Commitment Fee shall accrue on the Revolving Commitment(s) of a Defaulting Lender so long as such Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender and (B) any Commitment Fee accrued with respect to the Revolving Commitment(s) of a Defaulting Lender during the period prior to the time such Lender became a Defaulting Lender and unpaid at such time shall not be payable by the Company so long as such Lender shall be a Defaulting Lender. The Commitment Fee shall be calculated quarterly in arrears, and if there is any change in the Applicable Rate during any quarter, the actual daily amount shall be computed and multiplied by the Applicable Rate separately for each period during such quarter that such Applicable Rate was in effect. For purposes of clarification, Swing Line Loans shall not be considered outstanding for purposes of determining the unused portion of the Aggregate Revolving A Commitments.
(b) The Company shall pay (i) to the Arrangers and the Administrative Agent for their own respective accounts, in Dollars, fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Fee Letter, and (ii) to the Lenders, in Dollars, such fees, if any, as shall have been separately agreed upon in writing in the amounts and at the times so specified. All such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.
2.10 Computation of Interest and Fees; Retroactive Adjustments of Applicable Rate.
(a) All computations of interest for Base Rate Loans (including Base Rate Loans determined by reference to the Eurocurrency Rate) shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and actual days elapsed. All other computations of fees and interest shall be made on the basis of a 360-day year and actual days elapsed (which results in more fees or interest, as applicable, being paid than if computed on the basis of a 365-day year), or, in the case of interest in respect of Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies if market practice differs from the foregoing, in accordance with such market practice. Interest shall accrue on each
46
Loan for the day on which the Loan is made, and shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid, provided that any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall, subject to Section 2.12(a), bear interest for one day. Each determination by the Administrative Agent of an interest rate or fee hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
(b) If, as a result of any restatement of or other adjustment to the financial statements of the Company or for any other reason, the Company or the Lenders determine that (i) the Leverage Ratio as calculated by the Company as of any applicable date was inaccurate and (ii) a proper calculation of the Leverage Ratio would have resulted in higher pricing for such period, the Company shall immediately and retroactively be obligated to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lenders, promptly on demand by the Administrative Agent (or, after the occurrence of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Company under the Bankruptcy Code of the United States or other applicable Debtor Relief Law, automatically and without further action by the Administrative Agent or any Lender), an amount equal to the excess of the amount of interest and fees that should have been paid for such period over the amount of interest and fees actually paid for such period. This paragraph shall not limit the rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, as the case may be, under Article VIII. The Companys obligations under this paragraph shall survive the termination of all commitments and the repayment of all Obligations hereunder.
2.11 Evidence of Debt.
(a) The Loans made by each Lender shall be evidenced by one or more accounts or records maintained by such Lender and by the Administrative Agent in the ordinary course of business. The accounts or records maintained by the Administrative Agent and each Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error of the amount of the Loans made by the Lenders under the applicable Revolving Tranche to the Borrowers under the applicable Revolving Tranche and the interest and payments thereon. Any failure to so record or any error in doing so shall not, however, limit or otherwise affect the obligations of the Borrowers hereunder to pay any amount owing with respect to their respective Obligations. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by any Lender and the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error. Upon the request of any Revolving A Lender or Revolving B Lender to a Revolving A Borrower or a Revolving B Borrower, as applicable, made through the Administrative Agent, such Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (through the Administrative Agent) a promissory note, which shall evidence such Lenders Loans to such Borrower in addition to such accounts or records. Each such promissory note shall (i) in the case of Revolving A Loans, be in the form of (x) Exhibit B-1 with respect to the Company or any other Revolving A Borrower that is a Domestic Subsidiary and (y) Exhibit B-2 with respect to any Revolving A Borrower that is a Foreign Subsidiary Borrower (each a Revolving A Note), (ii) in the case of Revolving B Loans, be in the form of (x) Exhibit B-3 with respect to the Company or any other Revolving B Borrower that is a Domestic Subsidiary and (y) Exhibit B-4 with respect to any Revolving B Borrower that is a Foreign Subsidiary Borrower (each a Revolving B Note) and (ii) in the case of Swing Line Loans, be in the form of Exhibit B-5 (a Swing Line Note). Each Lender may attach schedules to a Note and endorse thereon the date, Type (if applicable), amount, currency and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.
(b) In addition to the accounts and records referred to in subsection (a), each Lender and the Administrative Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice accounts or
47
records evidencing the purchases and sales by such Lender of participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans, as applicable. In the event of any conflict between the accounts and records maintained by the Administrative Agent and the accounts and records of any Lender in respect of such matters, the accounts and records of the Administrative Agent shall control in the absence of manifest error.
2.12 Payments Generally; Administrative Agents Clawback.
(a) General. All payments to be made by the Borrowers shall be made without condition or deduction for any counterclaim, defense, recoupment or setoff. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein and except with respect to principal of and interest on Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies, all payments by the Borrowers hereunder shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the applicable Administrative Agents Office in Dollars and in Same Day Funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the date specified herein. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by the Borrowers hereunder with respect to principal and interest on Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies shall be made to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the respective Lenders to which such payment is owed, at the applicable Administrative Agents Office in the applicable Alternative Currency and in Same Day Funds not later than the Applicable Time on the dates specified herein. The Administrative Agent will promptly distribute to each Lender its Applicable Percentage (or other applicable share as provided herein) of such payment in like funds as received by wire transfer to such Lenders Lending Office. All payments received by the Administrative Agent (i) after 2:00 p.m., in the case of payments in Dollars, or (ii) after the Applicable Time specified by the Administrative Agent in the case of payments in an Alternative Currency, shall in each case be deemed received on the next succeeding Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue. Except as may otherwise be provided in the definition of Interest Period, if any payment to be made by any Borrower shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall be made on the next following Business Day, and such extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest or fees, as the case may be.
(b) (i) Funding by Lenders; Presumption by Administrative Agent. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing of Eurocurrency Rate Loans (or, in the case of any Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, prior to 12:00 noon on the date of such Borrowing) that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lenders share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 2.02 (or, in the case of a Borrowing of Base Rate Loans, that such Lender has made such share available in accordance with and at the time required by Section 2.02) and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the applicable Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the applicable Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount in Same Day Funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to such Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (A) in the case of a payment to be made by such Lender, the Overnight Rate, plus any administrative, processing or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing, and (B) in the case of a payment to be made by such Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Loans (in the case of Loans denominated in Dollars) or the Cost of Funds Rate (in all other cases).
48
If such Borrower and such Lender shall pay such interest to the Administrative Agent for the same or an overlapping period, the Administrative Agent shall promptly remit to such Borrower the amount of such interest paid by such Borrower for such period. If such Lender pays its share of the applicable Borrowing to the Administrative Agent, then the amount so paid shall constitute such Lenders Loan included in such Borrowing. Any payment by such Borrower shall be without prejudice to any claim such Borrower may have against a Lender that shall have failed to make such payment to the Administrative Agent.
(ii) Payments by Borrowers; Presumptions by Administrative Agent. 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 L/C Issuer hereunder that such 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 applicable Lenders or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount due. In such event, if such Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or the L/C 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 the L/C Issuer, in Same Day Funds with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the Overnight Rate.
A notice of the Administrative Agent to any Lender or any Borrower with respect to any amount owing under this subsection (b) shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
(c) Failure to Satisfy Conditions Precedent. If any Lender makes available to the Administrative Agent funds for any Loan to be made by such Lender to any Borrower as provided in the foregoing provisions of this Article II, and such funds are not made available to such Borrower by the Administrative Agent because the conditions to the applicable Borrowing set forth in Article IV are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof, the Administrative Agent shall return such funds (in like funds as received from such Lender) to such Lender, without interest.
(d) Obligations of Lenders Several. The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Loans, to fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans and to make payments pursuant to Section 10.04(c) are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan or to make any payment under Section 10.04(c) on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Loan or to make its payment under Section 10.04(c).
(e) Funding Source. Nothing herein shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan in any particular place or manner.
2.13 Sharing of Payments by Lenders. If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of the Loans made by it, or the participations in L/C Obligations or in Swing Line Loans held by it resulting in such Lenders receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Loans or participations and
49
accrued interest thereon greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans and subparticipations in L/C Obligations and, if such Lender is a Revolving A Lender, Swing Line Loans of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans and other amounts owing them, provided that:
(i) if any such participations or subparticipations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations or subparticipations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest; and
(ii) the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by or on behalf of a Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender), (y) the application of Cash Collateral provided for in Section 2.14 or (z) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans or subparticipations in L/C Obligations or Swing Line Loans to any assignee or participant, other than an assignment to the Company or any Subsidiary thereof (as to which the provisions of this Section 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 setoff 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.
2.14 Cash Collateral.
(a) Certain Credit Support Events. Upon the request of the Administrative Agent or the L/C Issuer (i) if the L/C Issuer has honored any full or partial drawing request under any Letter of Credit and such drawing has resulted in an L/C Borrowing or (ii) if, as of the Letter of Credit Expiration Date, any L/C Obligation for any reason remains outstanding, the Company shall, in each case, immediately Cash Collateralize the then Outstanding Amount of all L/C Obligations. At any time that there shall exist a Defaulting Lender, immediately upon the request of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, the Company shall deliver to the Administrative Agent Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to cover all Fronting Exposure (after giving effect to Section 2.15(a)(iv) and any Cash Collateral provided by the Defaulting Lender).
(b) Grant of Security Interest. All Cash Collateral (other than credit support not constituting funds subject to deposit) shall be maintained in blocked, interest bearing deposit accounts at the Administrative Agent. The Company, and to the extent provided by any Lender, such Lender, hereby grants to (and subjects to the control of) the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders (including the Swing Line Lender) and agrees to maintain, a first priority security interest in all such cash, deposit accounts and all balances therein, and all other property so provided as collateral pursuant hereto, and in all balances therein, and all other property so provided as collateral pursuant hereto, and in all proceeds of the foregoing, all as security for the obligations to which such Cash Collateral may be
50
applied pursuant to Section 2.14(c). If at any time the Administrative Agent determines that Cash Collateral is subject to any right or claim of any Person other than the Administrative Agent as herein provided, or that the total amount of such Cash Collateral is less than the applicable Fronting Exposure and other obligations secured thereby, the Company or the relevant Defaulting Lender will, promptly upon demand by the Administrative Agent, pay or provide to the Administrative Agent additional Cash Collateral in an amount sufficient to eliminate such deficiency.
(c) Application. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Cash Collateral provided under any of this Section 2.14 or Sections 2.03, 2.04, 2.05, 2.15 or 8.02 in respect of Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans shall be held and applied in satisfaction of the specific L/C Obligations, Swing Line Loans, obligations to fund participations therein (including, as to Cash Collateral provided by a Defaulting Lender, any interest accrued on such obligation) and other obligations for which the Cash Collateral was so provided, prior to any other application of such property as may be provided herein.
(d) Release. Cash Collateral (or the appropriate portion thereof) provided to reduce Fronting Exposure or other obligations shall be released promptly following (i) the elimination of, or reduction of, the applicable Fronting Exposure or other obligations giving rise thereto (including by the termination of Defaulting Lender status of the applicable Lender) or (ii) the Administrative Agents good faith determination that there exists excess Cash Collateral; provided, however, (x) that Cash Collateral furnished by or on behalf of a Credit Party shall not be released during the continuance of a Default or Event of Default to the extent there are outstanding Obligations hereunder (and following application as provided in this Section 2.14 may be otherwise applied in accordance with Section 8.03) and (y) the Person providing Cash Collateral and the L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as applicable, may agree that Cash Collateral shall not be released but instead held to support future anticipated Fronting Exposure or other obligations.
2.15 Defaulting Lenders.
(a) Adjustments. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as that Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by applicable Law:
(i) Waivers and Amendment. The Defaulting Lenders right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement shall be restricted as set forth in Section 10.01.
(ii) Reallocation of Payments. Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amount received by the Administrative Agent for the account of that Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article VIII or otherwise, and including any amounts made available to the Administrative Agent by that Defaulting Lender pursuant to Section 10.08), shall be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows: first, to the payment of any amounts owing by that Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder; second, to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by that Defaulting Lender to the L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender hereunder; third, if so determined by the Administrative Agent or requested by the L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, to be held as Cash Collateral for future funding obligations of that Defaulting Lender of any participation in any Swing Line Loan or Letter of Credit; fourth, as the Company may request (so long as no Default
51
or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Loan in respect of which that Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent; fifth, if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Company, to be held in a non-interest bearing deposit account and released in order to satisfy obligations of that Defaulting Lender to fund Loans under this Agreement; sixth, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, the L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lenders breach of its obligations under this Agreement; seventh, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Company as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Company against that Defaulting Lender as a result of that Defaulting Lenders breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and eighth, to that Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction; provided, that, if (x) such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or L/C Borrowings in respect of which that Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share and (y) such Loans or L/C Borrowings were made at a time when the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 were satisfied or waived, such payment shall be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and L/C Borrowings owed to, all non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or L/C Borrowings owed to, that Defaulting Lender. Any payments, prepayments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post Cash Collateral pursuant to this Section 2.15(a)(ii) shall be deemed paid to and redirected by that Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.
(iii) Certain Fees. The Defaulting Lender (x) shall not be entitled to receive any Commitment Fee pursuant to Section 2.09(a) for any period during which such Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Company shall not be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to such Defaulting Lender) and (y) shall be limited in its right to receive Letter of Credit Fees as provided in Section 2.03(h).
(iv) Reallocation of Applicable Percentages to Reduce Fronting Exposure. During any period in which there is a Defaulting Lender, for purposes of computing the amount of the obligation of each non-Defaulting Lender to acquire, refinance or fund participations in Letters of Credit or Swing Line Loans pursuant to Sections 2.03 and 2.04, the Applicable Percentage of each non-Defaulting Lender with a Revolving Commitment under the applicable Revolving Tranche shall be computed without giving effect to the Revolving Commitment of that Defaulting Lender; provided, that, (x) each such reallocation shall be given effect only if, at the date the applicable Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, no Default or Event of Default exists; and (y) the aggregate obligation of each non-Defaulting Lender to acquire, refinance or fund participations in Letters of Credit and, if a Revolving A Lender, Swing Line Loans shall not exceed the positive difference, if any, of (1) the Revolving Commitment of that non-Defaulting Lender minus (2) the aggregate Outstanding Amount of the Revolving Loans of that Lender.
(b) Defaulting Lender Cure. If the Company, the Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuer agree in writing in their sole discretion that a Defaulting Lender should no longer be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein (which may include arrangements with respect to any Cash
52
Collateral), that Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase that portion of outstanding Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determined to be necessary to cause the Revolving Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit and, if such Lender is a Revolving A Lender, Swing Line Loans to be held on a pro rata basis by the Lenders in accordance with their Applicable Percentages (without giving effect to Section 2.15(a)(iv)), whereupon that Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided, that, no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Company while that Lender was a Defaulting Lender; provided, further, that, except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from that Lender having been a Defaulting Lender.
2.16 Designated Borrowers.
(a) The Company may at any time, upon not less than ten (10) Business Days notice from the Company to the Administrative Agent (or such shorter period as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), designate any additional wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company (an Applicant Borrower) as a Borrower to receive Loans hereunder by delivering to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly deliver counterparts thereof to each Lender) a duly executed notice and agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit F (a Borrower Request and Assumption Agreement), which Borrower Request and Assumption Agreement shall specify whether the Borrower is a Revolving A Borrower or a Revolving B Borrower. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that prior to any Applicant Borrower becoming entitled to utilize the credit facilities provided for herein, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall have received such supporting resolutions, incumbency certificates, opinions of counsel and other documents or information, in form, content and scope reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, as may be required by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion, and Notes signed by such new Borrowers to the extent any Lenders so request. If the Administrative Agent and the Lenders under the applicable Revolving Tranche agree that an Applicant Borrower shall be entitled to receive Loans under that Revolving Tranche, then promptly following receipt of (x) all documentation and other information required by bank regulatory authorities under the applicable know your customer and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Patriot Act and (y) all such requested resolutions, incumbency certificates, opinions of counsel and other documents or information, the Administrative Agent shall send a notice in substantially the form of Exhibit G (a Borrower Notice) to the Company and the Lenders specifying the effective date upon which the Applicant Borrower shall constitute a Borrower for purposes hereof, whereupon each of the Lenders agrees to permit such Borrower to receive Loans hereunder, on the terms and conditions set forth herein, and each of the parties agrees that such Borrower otherwise shall be a Borrower for all purposes of this Agreement; provided that no Loan Notice or Letter of Credit Application may be submitted by or on behalf of such Borrower until the date five (5) Business Days after such effective date.
(b) The Obligations of the Company and each Revolving A Borrower that is a Domestic Subsidiary shall be joint and several in nature regardless of which such Person actually receives Credit Extensions hereunder or the amount of such Credit Extensions received or the manner in which the Administrative Agent or any Lender accounts for such Credit Extensions on its books and records. Each of the obligations of the Company and each Revolving A Borrower that is a Domestic Subsidiary with respect to Credit Extensions made to it, and each such Revolving A Borrowers obligations arising as a result of the joint and several liability of such Revolving A Borrower hereunder, with respect to Credit Extensions made to and other Obligations owing by the Company and the other Revolving A Borrowers that are Domestic
53
Subsidiaries hereunder, shall be separate and distinct obligations, but all such obligations shall be primary obligations of each such Revolving A Borrower.
(c) The Obligations of the Company and each Revolving B Borrower that is a Domestic Subsidiary shall be joint and several in nature regardless of which such Person actually receives Credit Extensions hereunder or the amount of such Credit Extensions received or the manner in which the Administrative Agent or any Lender accounts for such Credit Extensions on its books and records. Each of the obligations of the Company and each Revolving B Borrower that is a Domestic Subsidiary with respect to Credit Extensions made to it, and each such Revolving B Borrowers obligations arising as a result of the joint and several liability of such Revolving B Borrower hereunder, with respect to Credit Extensions made to and other Obligations owing by the Company and the other Revolving B Borrowers that are Domestic Subsidiaries hereunder, shall be separate and distinct obligations, but all such obligations shall be primary obligations of each such Revolving B Borrower.
(d) The Obligations of the Borrowers that are Foreign Subsidiaries shall be several in nature.
(e) Each Subsidiary of the Company that is or becomes a Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.16 hereby irrevocably appoints the Company as its agent for all purposes relevant to this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents, including (i) the giving and receipt of notices, (ii) the execution and delivery of all documents, instruments and certificates contemplated herein and all modifications hereto, and (iii) the receipt of the proceeds of any Loans made by the Lenders, to any such Borrower hereunder. Any acknowledgment, consent, direction, certification or other action which might otherwise be valid or effective only if given or taken by all Borrowers, or by each Borrower acting singly, shall be valid and effective if given or taken only by the Company, whether or not any such other Borrower joins therein. Any notice, demand, consent, acknowledgement, direction, certification or other communication delivered to the Company in accordance with the terms of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been delivered to each Designated Borrower.
(f) The Company may from time to time, upon not less than ten (10) Business Days notice from the Company to the Administrative Agent (or such shorter period as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent in its sole discretion), terminate a Designated Borrowers status as such, provided that there are no outstanding Loans payable by such Designated Borrower, or other amounts payable by such Designated Borrower on account of any Loans made to it, as of the effective date of such termination. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Lenders of any such termination of a Designated Borrowers status.
ARTICLE III
TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY
3.01 Taxes.
(a) Payments Free of Taxes; Obligation to Withhold; Payments on Account of Taxes.
(i) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the respective Borrowers hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall to the extent permitted by applicable Laws be made free and clear of and without reduction or
54
withholding for any Taxes. If, however, applicable Laws require any Borrower or the Administrative Agent to withhold or deduct any Tax, such Tax shall be withheld or deducted in accordance with such Laws as determined by such Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, upon the basis of the information and documentation to be delivered pursuant to subsection (e) below.
(ii) If any Borrower or the Administrative Agent shall be required by the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes, including both United States Federal backup withholding and withholding taxes, from any payment, then (A) the Administrative Agent shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by the Administrative Agent to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e) below, (B) the Administrative Agent shall timely pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with the Code, and (C) to the extent that the withholding or deduction is made on account of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, the sum payable by such Borrower shall be increased as necessary so that after any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the Administrative Agent or Lender, as the case may be, receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such withholding or deduction been made.
(iii) If any Borrower or the Administrative Agent shall be required by any applicable Laws other than the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes from any payment, then (A) such Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as required by such Laws, shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by it to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e) below, (B) such Borrower or the Administrative Agent, to the extent required by such Laws, shall timely pay the full amount so withheld or deducted by it to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with such Laws, and (C) to the extent that the withholding or deduction is made on account of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, the sum payable by such Borrower shall be increased as necessary so that after any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the Administrative Agent, Lender or L/C Issuer, as the case may be, receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such withholding or deduction been made.
(b) Payment of Other Taxes by the Borrowers. Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) above, each Borrower shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable Laws.
(c) Tax Indemnifications.
(i) Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) above, each Borrower shall, and does hereby, indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender and the L/C Issuer, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) withheld or deducted by such Borrower or the Administrative Agent or paid by the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or
55
legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. Each Borrower shall also, and does hereby, indemnify the Administrative Agent, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, for any amount which a Lender or the L/C Issuer for any reason fails to pay indefeasibly to the Administrative Agent as required by clause (ii) of this subsection. Upon the reasonable request of a Borrower, the Lenders and the Agent agree to use their reasonable efforts to cooperate with such Borrower in contesting the imposition of or claiming a refund of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes paid by such Borrower that such Borrower reasonably believes were not correctly or legally asserted or for which a refund is available upon filing for an exemption or reduction therefore under applicable Law. A certificate as to the amount of any such payment or liability delivered to a Borrower by a Lender or the L/C Issuer (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender or the L/C Issuer, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
(ii) Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) above, each Lender and the L/C Issuer shall, and does hereby, indemnify each Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, against any and all Taxes and any and all related losses, claims, liabilities, penalties, interest and expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for such Borrower or the Administrative Agent) incurred by or asserted against such Borrower or the Administrative Agent by any Governmental Authority as a result of the failure by such Lender or the L/C Issuer to deliver, or as a result of the inaccuracy, inadequacy or deficiency of, any documentation required to be delivered by such Lender or the L/C Issuer to such Borrower or the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (e). Each Lender and the L/C Issuer hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender or the L/C Issuer under this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this clause (ii). The agreements in this clause (ii) shall survive the resignation and/or replacement of the Administrative Agent, any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender or the L/C Issuer, the termination of the commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other Obligations.
(d) Evidence of Payments. Upon request by a Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, after any payment of Taxes by such Borrower or by the Administrative Agent to a Governmental Authority as provided in this Section 3.01, such Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Administrative Agent shall deliver to such Borrower, as the case may be, the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of any return required by Laws to report such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to such Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be.
(e) Status of Lenders; Tax Documentation.
(i) Each Lender shall deliver to the Borrowers and to the Administrative Agent, when reasonably requested by a Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable Laws or by the taxing authorities of any jurisdiction and such other reasonably requested information as will permit such Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, to determine (A) whether or not payments made by such Borrower hereunder or under any other Loan Document are subject to Taxes, (B) if applicable, the required rate of withholding or deduction, and (C) such Lenders entitlement to any available exemption from, or
56
reduction of, applicable Taxes in respect of all payments to be made to such Lender by a Borrower pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise to establish such Lenders status for withholding tax purposes in the applicable jurisdictions.
(ii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if a Borrower is resident for tax purposes in the United States,
(A) any Lender that is a United States person within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code shall deliver to such Borrower and the Administrative Agent executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 or such other documentation or information prescribed by applicable Laws or reasonably requested by such Borrower on behalf of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable such Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements; and
(B) each Foreign Lender that is entitled under the Code or any applicable treaty to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax with respect to payments hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall deliver to the Company and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the request of the Company on behalf of the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent, but only if such Foreign Lender is legally entitled to do so), whichever of the following is applicable:
(I) executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN claiming eligibility for benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party,
(II) executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI,
(III) executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY and all required supporting documentation,
(IV) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under section 881(c) of the Code, (x) a certificate to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not (A) a bank within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (B) a 10 percent shareholder of such Borrower within the meaning of section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or (C) a controlled foreign corporation described in section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code and (y) executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN, or
(V) executed originals of any other form prescribed by applicable Laws as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in United States Federal withholding tax together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable Laws to permit such Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.
57
(iii) Each Lender shall promptly (A) notify the Company and the Administrative Agent of any change in circumstances which would modify or render invalid any claimed exemption or reduction, and (B) take such steps as shall not be materially disadvantageous to it, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, and as may be reasonably necessary (including the re-designation of its Lending Office) to avoid any requirement of applicable Laws of any jurisdiction that any Borrower or the Administrative Agent make any withholding or deduction for taxes from amounts payable to such Lender.
(iv) Each of the Borrowers shall promptly deliver to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, as the Administrative Agent or such Lender shall reasonably request, on or prior to the Closing Date (or such later date on which it first becomes a Borrower), and in a timely fashion thereafter, such documents and forms required by any relevant taxing authorities under the Laws of any jurisdiction, duly executed and completed by such Borrower, as are required to be furnished by such Lender or the Administrative Agent under such Laws in connection with any payment by the Administrative Agent or any Lender of Taxes or Other Taxes, or otherwise in connection with the Loan Documents, with respect to such jurisdiction.
(f) Treatment of Certain Refunds. Unless required by applicable Laws, at no time shall the Administrative Agent have any obligation to file for or otherwise pursue on behalf of a Lender or the L/C Issuer, or have any obligation to pay to any Lender or the L/C Issuer, any refund of Taxes withheld or deducted from funds paid for the account of such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be. If the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer 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 any Borrower or with respect to which such Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section, it shall pay to such Borrower an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by such Borrower under this Section with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses and net of any loss or gain realized in the conversion of such funds from or to another currency incurred by the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that such Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, agrees to repay the amount paid over to such Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent, such Lender or the L/C Issuer in the event the Administrative Agent or such Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. This subsection shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes that it deems confidential) to any Borrower or any other Person.
3.02 Illegality. If any Lender determines that any Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund Loans whose interest is determined by reference to the Eurocurrency Rate (whether denominated in Dollars or Alternative Currencies), or to determine or charge interest rates based upon the Eurocurrency Rate, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars or any Alternative Currency in the applicable interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to the Company through the Administrative Agent, (i) any obligation of such Lender to make or continue Eurocurrency Rate Loans in the affected currency or currencies or, in the case of Eurocurrency Rate Loans in Dollars, to convert Base
58
Rate Loans to Eurocurrency Rate Loans or, if such notice relates to the unlawfulness or asserted unlawfulness of charging interest based on the Eurocurrency Rate, to make Base Rate Loans as to which the interest rate is determined with reference to the Eurocurrency Base Rate, shall be suspended, until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Company that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist. Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrowers shall, upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), either prepay or convert all such Eurocurrency Rate Loans of such Lender and Base Rate Loans as to which the interest rate is determined with reference to the Eurocurrency Base Rate to Base Rate Loans (in the case of Loans denominated in Dollars) as to which the rate of interest is not determined with reference to the Eurocurrency Base Rate, or to Loans bearing interest at the Cost of Funds Rate (in the case of Loans denominated in Alternative Currencies), either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurocurrency Rate Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Eurocurrency Rate Loans or a Base Rate Loan as to which the interest rate is determined with reference to the Eurocurrency Base Rate. Notwithstanding the foregoing and despite the illegality for such a Lender to make, maintain or fund Eurocurrency Rate Loans or Base Rate Loans as to which the interest rate is determined with reference to the Eurocurrency Base Rate, that Lender shall remain committed to make and maintain Base Rate Loans as to which the rate of interest is not determined with reference to the Eurocurrency Base Rate and shall be entitled to recover interest at such Base Rate. Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrowers shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted. If any event described in this Section 3.02 occurs and results in the application of the Cost of Funds Rate, then at the request of the Administrative Agent or the Company, the Administrative Agent and the Company shall enter into negotiations for a period of no more than 30 days for the purpose of agreeing to a substitute basis for determining the rate of interest to be applied to the Loans, and any substitute basis agreed upon shall be binding on all of the parties to this Agreement.
3.03 Inability to Determine Rates. If the Required Lenders under any Revolving Tranche determine that for any reason in connection with any request for a Eurocurrency Rate Loan or a Base Rate Loan under such Revolving Tranche as to which the interest rate is determined with reference to the Eurocurrency Base Rate or a conversion to or continuation thereof that (a) deposits (whether in Dollars or an Alternative Currency) are not being offered to banks in the applicable offshore interbank market for such currency for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Loan, (b) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining the Eurocurrency Base Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurocurrency Rate Loan (whether denominated in Dollars or an Alternative Currency) under such Revolving Tranche or in connection with a Base Rate Loan under such Revolving Tranche, or (c) the Eurocurrency Base Rate for any requested Interest Period with respect to a proposed Eurocurrency Rate Loan under such Revolving Tranche or in connection with a Base Rate Loan under such Revolving Tranche does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, the Administrative Agent will promptly so notify the Company and each Lender. Thereafter, the obligation of the Lenders under such Revolving Tranche to make or maintain Eurocurrency Rate Loans under such Revolving Tranche in the affected currency or currencies, and Base Rate Loans under such Revolving Tranche as to which the interest rate is determined with reference to the Eurocurrency Base Rate, shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent (upon the instruction of the Required Lenders under such Revolving Tranche) revokes such notice and during such period Base Rate Loans under such Revolving Tranche shall be made and continued based on the interest rate determined by the greater of clauses (a) and (b) in the definition of Base Rate. Upon receipt of such notice, the Company may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans under such Revolving Tranche in the affected currency or currencies or, failing that, will be deemed to have converted such request into a request for (x) a Borrowing of (or conversion to) Base Rate Loans in the amount specified therein, in the case of Loans denominated in Dollars, or (y) a Borrowing of (or conversion to) a Loan bearing interest at the Cost of Funds Rate in the case of Loans denominated in an Alternative Currency. If any event described in the first sentence of this Section 3.03 occurs and results
59
in the application of the Cost of Funds Rate, then at the request of the Administrative Agent or the Company, the Administrative Agent and the Company shall enter into negotiations for a period of no more than 30 days for the purpose of agreeing to a substitute basis for determining the rate of interest to be applied to the applicable Loans, and any substitute basis agreed upon shall be binding on all of the parties to this Agreement.
3.04 Increased Costs.
(a) Increased Costs Generally. If any Change in Law shall:
(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except (A) any reserve requirement reflected in the Eurocurrency Rate and (B) the requirements of the Bank of England and the Financial Services Authority or the European Central Bank reflected in the Mandatory Cost, other than as set forth below) or the L/C Issuer;
(ii) subject any Lender or the L/C Issuer to any tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to this Agreement, any Letter of Credit, any participation in a Letter of Credit or any Eurocurrency Rate Loan made by it, or change the basis of taxation of payments to such Lender in respect thereof (except for Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes covered by Section 3.01 and the imposition of, or any change in the rate of, any Excluded Tax payable by such Lender or the L/C Issuer);
(iii) result in the failure of the Mandatory Cost, as calculated hereunder, to represent the cost to any Lender of complying with the requirements of the Bank of England and/or the Financial Services Authority or, if applicable, the European Central Bank in relation to its making, funding or maintaining Eurocurrency Rate Loans; or
(iv) impose on any Lender or the L/C Issuer or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or Eurocurrency Rate Loans made by such Lender;
and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining any Loan the interest on which is determined by reference to the Eurocurrency Rate (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to increase the cost to such Lender or the L/C Issuer of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or the L/C Issuer hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender or the L/C Issuer, the Company will pay (or cause the applicable Borrower to pay) to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.
(b) Capital Requirements. If any Lender or the L/C Issuer determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or the L/C Issuer or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lenders or the L/C Issuers holding company, if any, regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lenders or the L/C Issuers capital or on the capital of such Lenders or the L/C Issuers holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Revolving Commitments of such Lender or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by the L/C
60
Issuer, to a level below that which such Lender or the L/C Issuer or such Lenders or the L/C Issuers holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lenders or the L/C Issuers policies and the policies of such Lenders or the L/C Issuers holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Company will pay (or cause the applicable Borrower to pay) to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer or such Lenders or the L/C Issuers holding company for any such reduction suffered.
(c) Certificates for Reimbursement. A certificate of a Lender or the L/C Issuer setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or the L/C Issuer or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in subsection (a) or (b) of this Section and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Company shall pay (or cause the applicable Borrower to pay) such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.
(d) Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or the L/C Issuer to demand compensation pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lenders or the L/C Issuers right to demand such compensation, provided that no Borrower shall be required to compensate a Lender or the L/C Issuer pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than nine months prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Company of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lenders intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the nine-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).
(e) Additional Reserve Requirements. To the extent not already reflected in the calculation of any interest rate, the Company shall pay (or cause the applicable Borrower to pay) to each Lender or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, as long as such Lender or the L/C Issuer shall be required to comply with any reserve ratio requirement or analogous requirement of any central banking or financial regulatory authority imposed in respect of the maintenance of the Revolving Commitments or the funding of the Eurocurrency Rate Loans, such additional costs (expressed as a percentage per annum and rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest five decimal places) equal to the actual costs allocated to such Revolving Commitment or Loan by such Lender or the L/C Issuer (as determined by such Lender or the L/C Issuer in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive), which shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided the Company shall have received at least 10 days prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional costs from such Lender or the L/C Issuer. If a Lender fails to give notice 10 days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional costs shall be due and payable 10 days from receipt of such notice.
3.05 Compensation for Losses. Upon demand of any Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) from time to time, the Company shall promptly compensate such Lender for and hold such Lender harmless from any loss, cost or expense incurred by it as a result of:
(a) any continuation, conversion, payment or prepayment of any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period for such Loan (whether voluntary, mandatory, automatic, by reason of acceleration, or otherwise);
61
(b) any failure by any Borrower (for a reason other than the failure of such Lender to make a Loan) to prepay, borrow, continue or convert any Loan other than a Base Rate Loan on the date or in the amount notified by the applicable Borrower;
(c) any failure by any Borrower to make payment of any Loan (or interest due thereon) denominated in an Alternative Currency on its scheduled due date or any payment thereof in a different currency; or
(d) any assignment of a Eurocurrency Rate Loan on a day other than the last day of the Interest Period therefor as a result of a request by the Company pursuant to Section 10.13;
including any loss of anticipated profits, any foreign exchange losses and any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan, from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained or from the performance of any foreign exchange contract. The Company shall also pay (or cause the applicable Borrower to pay) any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing.
For purposes of calculating amounts payable by the Company (or the applicable Borrower) to the Lenders under this Section 3.05, each Lender shall be deemed to have funded each Eurocurrency Rate Loan made by it at the Eurocurrency Base Rate used in determining the Eurocurrency Rate for such Loan by a matching deposit or other borrowing in the offshore interbank market for such currency for a comparable amount and for a comparable period, whether or not such Eurocurrency Rate Loan was in fact so funded.
3.06 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.
(a) Designation of a Different Lending Office. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or any Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender or the L/C Issuer pursuant to Section 3.01, or if any Lender or the L/C Issuer gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, then such Lender or the L/C Issuer shall, as applicable, use reasonable efforts to designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender or the L/C Issuer, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 3.01 or 3.04, as the case may be, in the future, or eliminate the need for the notice pursuant to Section 3.02, as applicable, and (ii) in each case, would not subject such Lender or the L/C Issuer to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender or the L/C Issuer. The Company hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender or the L/C Issuer in connection with any such designation or assignment.
(b) Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, 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 3.01, the Company may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 10.13.
3.07 Survival. All of the Borrowers obligations under this Article III shall survive the termination of the commitments and the repayment of all other Obligations hereunder, and resignation of the Administrative Agent.
62
ARTICLE IV
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
4.01 Conditions to Effectiveness and Initial Credit Extension. The occurrence of the Closing Date and the obligation of the L/C Issuer each Lender to make its initial Credit Extension hereunder on the Closing Date is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions precedent:
(a) 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.
(b) The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received (i) from each Borrower, a Note for each Lender as has been requested by such Lender, (ii) from the Guarantors, the Subsidiary Guaranty signed by all such parties and (iii) from the Company, the Company Guaranty signed by the Company.
(c) The Administrative Agent shall have received the favorable written opinions (addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated the Closing Date), in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and covering such other matters relating to the Credit Parties, this Agreement, the Loan Documents or the Transactions as the Required Lenders shall reasonably request. The Borrowers hereby request such counsel to deliver such opinions.
(d) The Administrative Agent shall have received such documents and certificates as the Administrative Agent or its counsel may reasonably request relating to the organization, existence and good standing of each Credit Party, the authorization of the Transactions to which such Credit Party is a party, and any other legal matters relating to the Credit Parties, this Agreement, the Loan Documents or the Transactions, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.
(e) The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by the President of the Company or a Financial Officer, confirming that:
(i) on the Closing Date, both before and after giving effect to the Credit Extensions and the other Transactions occurring on such date, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and
(ii) the representations and warranties contained in Article V of this Agreement (including, without limitation, the representation and warranty set forth in Section 5.04(b)) shall be true in all material respects on and as of the date of such Borrowing except for changes expressly permitted herein and except to the extent that such representations and warranties relate solely to an earlier date (in which event such representations and warranties shall have been true in all material respects on and as of such earlier date).
(f) The Administrative Agent shall have received all fees and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Closing Date, including (i) any fees payable under this Agreement or
63
the Fee Letter, and (ii) to the extent invoiced, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses required to be reimbursed or paid by the Company hereunder.
(g) The Administrative Agent shall have received certified copies of all consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations, filings and orders required to be made or obtained by all Borrowers and all Guarantors in connection with the financings evidenced by this Agreement and the other Transactions, and all such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations, filings and orders shall be in full force and effect and all applicable waiting periods shall have expired, and no investigation or inquiry by any Governmental Authority in respect of such financings or other Transactions shall be ongoing.
(h) Since May 31, 2010, there shall have occurred no events, acts, conditions or occurrences of whatever nature, singly or in the aggregate, that have had, or are reasonably expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.
(i) No actions, suits or other legal proceedings shall be pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against or affecting the Borrowers or the Guarantors and seeking to enjoin, restrain, or otherwise challenge or contest the validity of the financings evidenced by this Agreement or the other Transactions. The Company shall have delivered or otherwise made available to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders the consolidated financial statements for the Company and its Subsidiaries for the Fiscal Year ended May 31, 2010, including balance sheet and income and cash flow statements, audited by independent public accountants of recognized national standing and prepared in conformity with GAAP, and the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the Fiscal Quarter and year-to-date period ended August 31, 2010, and such other financial information as the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders may have reasonably requested.
(j) The Company shall have duly completed and submitted to the Administrative Agent a Loan Notice for funding of its Loans, and the Administrative Agent shall have received, not less than three Business Days prior to the Closing Date, a fully-executed Funding Indemnity Letter.
(k) The Administrative Agent shall have received evidence that (i) the 2006 Credit Agreement shall have been terminated concurrently with the Closing Date and all indebtedness thereunder shall have been repaid concurrently with the Closing Date and (i) the U.S. dollars loans under the 2009 Term Loan Agreement shall have been repaid concurrently with the Closing Date.
(l) The Administrative Agent shall have received all other documents, certificates, and other information as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.
Without limiting the generality of the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 9.03, for purposes of determining compliance with the conditions specified in this Section 4.01, each Lender that has signed this Agreement shall be deemed to have consented to, approved or accepted or to be satisfied with, each document or other matter required thereunder to be consented to or approved by or acceptable or satisfactory to a Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from such Lender prior to the proposed Closing Date specifying its objection thereto.
4.02 Conditions to all Credit Extensions.
64
The obligation of each Lender to honor any Request for Credit Extension is subject to the following conditions precedent:
(a) The representations and warranties of the Company and each other Credit Party contained in Article V or any other Loan Document, or which are contained in any document furnished at any time under or in connection herewith or therewith, shall be true and correct on and as of the date of such Credit Extension, except to the extent that such representations and warranties specifically refer to an earlier date, in which case they shall be true and correct as of such earlier date.
(b) No Default shall exist, or would result from such proposed Credit Extension or from the application of the proceeds thereof.
(c) The Administrative Agent and, if applicable, the L/C Issuer and/or the Swing Line Lender shall have received a Request for Credit Extension in accordance with the requirements hereof.
(d) In the case of a Credit Extension to be denominated in an Alternative Currency under any Revolving Tranche, there shall not have occurred any change in national or international financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls which in the reasonable opinion of the Required Lenders (in the case of any Loans to be denominated in an Alternative Currency) under such Revolving Tranche or the L/C Issuer (in the case of any Letter of Credit to be denominated in an Alternative Currency) would make it impracticable for such Credit Extension to be denominated in the relevant Alternative Currency.
Each Request for Credit Extension submitted by a Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty that the conditions specified in Sections 4.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Credit Extension.
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Each Borrower represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:
5.01 Organization; Powers. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is required.
5.02 Authorization; Enforceability. The Transactions are within each Credit Partys organizational powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary organizational action and, if required, the action by the holders of such Credit Partys Equity Interests. This Agreement and each other Loan Document has been duly executed and delivered by each Credit Party thereto and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of each Credit Party, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable Debtor Relief Law and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.
65
5.03 Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts. The Transactions (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect, (b) will not violate any applicable law or regulation or Organization Documents of any of the Credit Parties or any order of any Governmental Authority, (c) will not violate or result in a default under any material indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon any of the Credit Parties or its assets (including either of the Existing Credit Agreements), and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of any of the Credit Parties, other than as expressly permitted by the Loan Documents.
5.04 Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change.
(a) The Company has heretofore furnished to the Lenders its consolidated balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows (i) as of and for the Fiscal Year ended May 31, 2010, reported on by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent public accountants, and (ii) as of and for the Fiscal Quarter and the portion of the Fiscal Year ended August 31, 2010, certified by its chief financial officer. Such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such dates and for such periods in accordance with GAAP, subject to year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes in the case of the statements referred to in clause (ii) above.
(b) Since May 31, 2010, there have been no events, acts, conditions or occurrences, singly or in the aggregate, that have had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
5.05 Properties.
(a) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has good title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all its real and Personal property sufficient for the conduct of its business, except for minor defects in title that do not interfere with its ability to conduct its business as currently conducted or to utilize such properties for their intended purposes, in each case free and clear of all Liens except as expressly permitted by the Loan Documents.
(b) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries owns, or is licensed to use, all Intellectual Property necessary for the conduct of its business, free and clear of all Liens except as expressly permitted by the Loan Documents, and the use thereof by the Company and its Subsidiaries does not infringe upon the rights of any other Person, except for any such infringements that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
5.06 Litigation and Environmental Matters.
(a) There are no actions, suits or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of the Borrowers, threatened against or affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (i) as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination and that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) that involve this Agreement or the Transactions.
(b) Except with respect to any other matters that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Company nor
66
any of its Subsidiaries (i) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law, or (ii) has become subject to any Environmental Liability.
5.07 Compliance with Laws and Agreements. Except where such compliance is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all laws, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property and all indentures, agreements and other instruments binding upon it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No Default has occurred and is continuing.
5.08 Investment Company Status. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is an investment company as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940.
5.09 Taxes. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has timely filed or caused to be filed all Tax returns and reports required to have been filed and has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it, except (a) Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the Company or such Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books adequate reserves or (b) to the extent that the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
5.10 ERISA. No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which liability is reasonably expected to occur, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The present value of all accumulated benefit obligations under each Plan (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed by more than $5,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of such Plan, and the present value of all accumulated benefit obligations of all underfunded Plans (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed by more than $5,000,000 the fair market value of the assets of all such underfunded Plans.
5.11 Subsidiaries. Schedule 5.11 to this Agreement lists each Subsidiary of the Company as of the Closing Date and accurately sets forth for such Subsidiary the type of entity, its jurisdiction of organization, the holders of its Equity Interests, and whether as of the Closing Date such Subsidiary is a Significant Subsidiary and/or a Material Subsidiary.
5.12 Margin Securities. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) is engaged in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock as defined in Regulation U of the Board, or (ii) has used any proceeds of any Loans or Letters of Credit to purchase or carry any such margin stock contrary to the provisions of Regulation U or Regulation X of the Board.
67
5.13 Disclosure. None of the reports, financial statements, certificates and other information furnished by or on behalf of any Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading at the time made or delivered; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrowers represent only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time.
5.14 Taxpayer Identification Number; Other Identifying Information. The true and correct (a) U.S. taxpayer identification number of the Company and (b) unique identification number of each Designated Borrower that has been issued by its jurisdiction of organization, are each set forth on Schedule 11.02.
ARTICLE VI
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
So long as any Lender shall have any Revolving Commitment hereunder or any Loan or other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, each Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders and the Administrative Agent that:
6.01 Financial Statements and Other Information. The Company will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:
(a) within 100 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Company (or such shorter period for the delivery of such statements as is required by either of the Existing Credit Agreements), its audited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous Fiscal Year, all reported on by Deloitte & Touche LLP or other independent public accountants of recognized national standing (without a going concern or like qualification or exception and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied;
(b) within 50 days after the end of each of the first three Fiscal Quarters of each Fiscal Year of the Company (or such shorter period for the delivery of such statements as is required by either of the Existing Credit Agreements), its consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations and cash flows as of the end of and for such Fiscal Quarter and the then elapsed portion of the Fiscal Year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous Fiscal Year, all certified by one of its Financial Officers as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;
(c) concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a) or (b) above, a Compliance Certificate signed by a Financial Officer (i) certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and, if a Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, (ii) setting forth reasonably detailed
68
calculations demonstrating compliance with Sections 7.08 and 7.09, and (iii) describing in reasonable detail any change in GAAP or in the application thereof that has occurred since the date of the audited financial statements for the immediately preceding Fiscal Year that is material with respect to the financial statements accompanying such certificate;
(d) promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all annual and quarterly reports filed by the Company or any Subsidiary with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions of said Commission, or with any national securities exchange, as the case may be;
(e) promptly upon the receipt thereof, a copy of any management letter or management report prepared by the Companys independent certified public accountants in conjunction with the financial statements described in Section 6.01(a); and
(f) promptly following any request therefor, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Company or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of this Agreement, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.
Notwithstanding the foregoing requirements for delivery of annual and quarterly financial statements and reports and other filings in Section 6.01(a), (b) and (d) above, and notices required to be given pursuant to Section 6.02, such delivery and notice requirements may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which the Company posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on the Companys website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 11.02; or (ii) on which such documents are posted on the Companys behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent) including, to the extent the Lenders and the Administrative Agent have access thereto and such documents are available thereon, the EDGAR Database and sec.gov; provided that the Company shall notify the Administrative Agent and each Lender (by telecopier or electronic mail) of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents. Notwithstanding anything contained herein, in every instance the Company shall be required to provide paper copies of the Compliance Certificates required by Section 6.01(c) to the Administrative Agent. Except for such Compliance Certificates, the Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery or to maintain copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Company with any such request for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.
The Company hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or MLPFS will make available to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Company hereunder (collectively, Borrower Materials) by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the Platform) and (b) certain of the Lenders (each, a Public Lender) may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to either of the Company or its Affiliates, or the respective securities of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons securities. The Company hereby agrees that so long as the Company is the issuer of any outstanding debt or equity securities that are registered or issued pursuant to a private offering or is actively contemplating issuing any such securities (w) all Borrower Materials that are to be made available to Public Lenders shall be
69
clearly and conspicuously marked PUBLIC which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word PUBLIC shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Borrower Materials PUBLIC, the Company shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, MLPFS and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the Company or its securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws (provided that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 10.07); (y) all Borrower Materials marked PUBLIC are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated Public Side Information; and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Arranger shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked PUBLIC as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated Public Side Information. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be under any obligation to mark any Borrower Materials PUBLIC.
6.02 Notices of Material Events. The Company will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender prompt (and in any event within five Business Days) written notice of the following:
(a) the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default;
(b) the filing or commencement of any actions, suits or proceedings by or before any arbitrators or Governmental Authorities against or affecting the Company or any Subsidiaries or other Affiliates thereof that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(c) if and when the Company or any member of the ERISA Affiliate (i) gives or is required to give notice to the PBGC of any Reportable Event with respect to any Plan which might reasonably be expected to constitute grounds for a termination of such Plan under Title IV of ERISA, or knows that the plan administrator of any Plan has given or is required to give notice of any such Reportable Event, a copy of the notice of such Reportable Event given or required to be given to the PBGC, (ii) receives notice of complete or partial withdrawal liability under Title IV of ERISA, a copy of such notice, or (iii) receives notice from the PBGC under Title IV of ERISA of an intent to terminate or appoint a trustee to administer any Plan, a copy of such notice, in each case where such Reportable Event, withdrawal liability, termination or appointment could reasonably be expected to have or cause a Material Adverse Effect; and
(d) the cancellation or termination of any material agreement or the receipt or sending of written notice of default or intended termination or cancellation of any material agreement, in any case that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Each notice delivered under this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of a Financial Officer or other executive officer of the Company setting forth the details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.
6.03 Maintenance of Existence. Each Borrower shall at all times maintain its legal existence in the jurisdiction of its organization. The Company shall cause each of the Material Subsidiaries to maintain its legal existence, provided, that (i) the Company may dissolve Subsidiaries from time to time if (x) the Company has determined that such dissolution is desirable, and (y) such dissolution could not reasonably be expected to have or cause a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) the Company or any Subsidiary may eliminate or discontinue a business line pursuant to Section 7.03(c).
70
6.04 Payment of Obligations. The Company will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, pay its obligations, including Tax liabilities, that, if not paid, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, and the Company or such Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and (b) the failure to make payment pending such contest could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
6.05 Maintenance of Properties; Insurance. The Company will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, (a) keep and maintain all property material to the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (b) maintain and keep in full force and effect all rights in respect of Intellectual Property used in the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and (c) maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies or through adequate self-insurance programs, insurance in such amounts and against such risks as are customarily maintained by companies engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations or consistent with past practices of the Company and such Subsidiaries.
6.06 Books and Records; Inspection Rights. The Company will (i) keep, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to keep, proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP shall be made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities; and (ii) permit, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to permit, representatives of any Lender, after written notice to an officer of the Company or Subsidiary, at such Lenders expense during any period in which a Default or Event of Default is not in existence and at the Companys expense during any period in which a Default or Event of Default is in existence, to visit (which date of visit shall be two (2) Business Days after the date such request is made or any earlier date as may be mutually agreed by the Company and such Lender) and inspect any of their respective properties, to examine and make abstracts from any of their respective books and records and to discuss their respective affairs, finances and accounts with their respective officers, employees and independent public accountants. The Company agrees to cooperate and assist in such visits and inspections, in each case at such reasonable times and as often as may reasonably be desired. Notwithstanding the foregoing, during any period in which no Event of Default is in existence, neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender may engage in (i) more than two inspections per Fiscal Year or (ii) discussions with the Companys independent public accountants, unless the Company shall have otherwise consented to same.
6.07 Compliance with Laws. The Company will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries and each of its ERISA Affiliates to, comply with applicable laws (including but not limited to ERISA), regulations, executive orders, and similar requirements of governmental authorities (including but not limited to PBGC), except where the necessity of such compliance is being contested in good faith through appropriate proceedings or except where the noncompliance with which could not be reasonably expected to cause or result in a Material Adverse Effect.
6.08 Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loans shall be used solely (a) to refinance existing Indebtedness and pay fees, costs and expenses related thereto and (b) for working capital, capital expenditures, Acquisitions and other lawful corporate purposes.
6.09 Additional Guarantors. (a) Not later than 30 days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree) after the date required for delivery of any quarterly or annual financial statements pursuant to Section 6.01, if any Domestic Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor as of the period end date of such financial statements would qualify as of such period end date as a Significant Subsidiary
71
or (b) promptly (or such period as the Administrative Agent may agree) after the date that any Subsidiary becomes a guarantor with respect to any Existing Credit Agreement, the Company shall cause such Subsidiary to execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent a Subsidiary Guaranty Supplement pursuant to which such Subsidiary agrees to be bound by the terms and provisions of the Subsidiary Guaranty, accompanied by (i) all other Loan Documents related thereto, (ii) certified copies of the certificates or articles of incorporation, organization or formation, by-laws, limited liability company agreements, partnership agreements, and other applicable Organization Documents, appropriate authorizing resolutions of the board of directors, board of managers, or comparable body, and opinions of counsel for such Subsidiary comparable to those delivered pursuant to Section 4.01, and (iii) such other documents as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request. The Company may request that any Guarantor cease to be a Guarantor and be released and discharged from its obligations under the Subsidiary Guaranty if (i) the Equity Interests of such Guarantor are being sold or otherwise disposed of, or such Guarantor is being dissolved, in a transaction not prohibited by the terms of this Agreement, or (ii) such Guarantor both (A) (x) has ceased to qualify as a Significant Subsidiary as indicated by the most recent quarterly or annual financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.01 or (y) after giving pro forma effect to any Asset Sale or sale or other disposition made by such Guarantor or Subsidiaries of such Guarantor as if such Asset Sale or disposition occurred during the most recent period for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 6.1, would cease to qualify as a Significant Subsidiary and (B) has or is being released as a guarantor of the obligations of the Company and/or the Borrowers, as applicable, under both of the Existing Credit Agreements (if and to the extent then existing, as applicable).
ARTICLE VII
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
So long as any Lender shall have any Revolving Commitment hereunder or any Loan or other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding, each Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lenders and the Administrative Agent that:
7.01 Subsidiary Indebtedness. No Borrower will permit any Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party to create, incur or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, other than:
(a) Indebtedness existing on the date of this Agreement and described on Schedule 7.01;
(b) Indebtedness secured by Liens permitted pursuant to the terms of Section 7.02(a)(iii);
(c) Indebtedness of such Subsidiary owing to the Company or any other Subsidiary;
(d) [Reserved];
(e) Indebtedness arising from the renewal or extension of any Indebtedness described in clauses (a) and (b) above or (f) below, provided that the amount of such Indebtedness is not increased and any Liens securing such Indebtedness attached only to the assets previously serving as collateral for such Indebtedness prior to such renewal or extension;
(f) Indebtedness owing by such Subsidiary that was in existence at the time such Person first became a Subsidiary, or at the time such Person was merged into or consolidated with a Subsidiary, which Indebtedness was not created or incurred in contemplation of such event,
72
provided that such Indebtedness is at the time permitted pursuant to the terms of Section 7.02 (in the case of any Indebtedness secured by any Liens on assets of such Subsidiary);
(g) Indebtedness resulting from Surety Indemnification Obligations of such Subsidiary;
(h) Indebtedness, if any, which may be deemed to exist with respect to Swap Agreements;
(i) Indebtedness, if any, that may exist in respect of deposits or payments made by customers or clients of such Subsidiaries;
(j) Indebtedness owed in respect of any netting services, overdrafts and related liabilities arising from treasury, depository and cash management services or in connection with any automated clearinghouse transfers of funds; and
(k) other Indebtedness of such Subsidiaries not described in clauses (a) through (j) above so long as on the date of such incurrence or creation the sum of (A) the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness and (B) the aggregate principal amount of all other Indebtedness incurred under this clause (k) and outstanding on such date, does not exceed an amount equal to fifteen percent (15%) of Net Worth as at the end of the Companys most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been made available, or are required to have been made available, to the Administrative Agent prior to such date.
7.02 Liens. No Borrower will, nor will any Borrower permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, or assign or sell any income or revenues (including accounts receivable) or rights in respect of any thereof, except:
(a) (i) Liens existing on the date of this Agreement and described on Schedule 7.02 securing Indebtedness outstanding on the date of this Agreement;
(ii) Liens existing on any asset of any Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary, or at the time such Person was merged into or consolidated with the Company or a Subsidiary, which Lien was not created in contemplation of such event and, if such Lien secures Indebtedness of a Subsidiary, such Indebtedness is permitted pursuant to the terms of Section 7.01;
(iii) Liens on any asset securing Indebtedness (including, without limitation, a Capital Lease Obligation) incurred or assumed for the purpose of financing all or any part of the cost of acquiring or constructing such asset, provided that such Lien (x) attaches to such asset (and no other asset) concurrently with or within 18 months after the acquisition or completion of construction thereof, and (y) secures solely such Indebtedness incurred or assumed for the purpose of financing all or any part of the cost of acquiring or constructing such asset; provided that the aggregate amount of Indebtedness secured by Liens permitted pursuant to this clause (a)(iii) of this Section 7.02 shall count toward usage of the basket for Liens contained in clause (k) below;
(b) Liens securing Permitted Pari Passu Indebtedness, provided that all requirements and conditions set forth in the definition of the term Permitted Pari Passu Indebtedness shall be satisfied at all times any such Liens are in effect;
73
(c) Liens securing Indebtedness owing by the Company or any Subsidiary to any Credit Party;
(d) Liens arising out of the refinancing, extension, renewal or refunding of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien permitted by any of the foregoing clauses (a) through (c) of this Section, provided that (i) such Indebtedness is not secured by any additional assets, and (ii) the amount of such Indebtedness secured by any such Lien is not increased;
(e) Permitted Encumbrances;
(f) Liens in respect of any taxes which are either (x) not, as at any date of determination, due and payable or (y) being contested in good faith as permitted by Section 6.04;
(g) Liens (x) on the Canadian Receivables Collateral securing obligations under the Canadian Receivables Credit Facility; and (y) securing obligations arising under other Settlement Facilities and attaching only to those receivables payable in respect of such Settlement Facilities;
(h) Liens on cash and cash equivalents deposited or pledged in the ordinary course of business to secure Surety Indemnification Obligations;
(i) Liens arising due to any cash pooling, netting or composite accounting arrangements;
(j) customary rights of set-off, revocation, refund or chargeback or similar rights under deposit, disbursement or concentration account agreements or under the Uniform Commercial Code (or comparable foreign law) or arising by operation of law in favor of banks or other financial institutions where the Company or any of the Subsidiaries maintains deposit, disbursement or concentration accounts in the ordinary course of business; and
(k) other Liens securing Indebtedness in an aggregate amount not to exceed 10% of Net Worth as at the end of the Companys most recently ended Fiscal Quarter for which financial statements have been made available, or are required to have been made available, to the Administrative Agent.
7.03 Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets. No Borrower will, nor will any Borrower permit any of its Material Subsidiaries to, consolidate or merge with or into, or effect any Asset Sale to, any other Person, or discontinue or eliminate any Material Subsidiary or business segment, provided that:
(a) the Company may merge with another Person if (i) the Company is the corporation surviving such merger and (ii) immediately after giving effect to such merger, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;
(b) any Borrower (other than the Company) may merge with another Person if (i) such Borrower is the Person surviving such merger, and (ii) immediately after giving effect to such merger, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;
(c) Subsidiaries other than Borrowers (i) may merge with, and sell assets to, another Subsidiary, provided that if one of the Persons involved in such merger or sale is a Credit Party, the surviving Person or transferee in any such transaction is or becomes by virtue thereof a Credit Party, (ii) may merge with, and sell assets to, the Company, so long as the surviving Person or
74
transferee in any such transaction is the Company, and (iii) may merge with another Person (other than the Company or another Subsidiary) if (x) such Subsidiary is the Person surviving such merger or such Person becomes a Subsidiary by virtue thereof, and (y) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;
(d) the Company and its Subsidiaries may eliminate or discontinue business lines and segments from time to time if such elimination or discontinuance could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(e) so long as no Event of Default shall then have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom, the Company and its Subsidiaries may effect any Asset Sale so long as the assets to be sold pursuant to all such Asset Sales during any Fiscal Year have not contributed, in the aggregate, more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the EBITDA of the Company for the then-most recently completed period of four consecutive Fiscal Quarters for which financial statements are available (with the determination of such contribution to EBITDA to be made by the Company in a manner reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent); and
(f) Subsidiaries which are formed for the sole purpose of (1) merging into Persons that will become Subsidiaries or (2) acquiring the assets or Equity Interests of Persons and thereafter becoming Subsidiaries, may merge with such Persons or consolidate those Persons assets with the assets of those Subsidiaries so long as such acquisitions and related transactions are otherwise permitted by this Agreement.
7.04 Lines of Business. No Borrower, nor any Significant Subsidiary shall conduct or enter into any business, either directly or through any other Subsidiary, except for any business that is the same or substantially similar as that of the Company or its existing Subsidiaries or such other businesses arising therefrom or reasonably related to the payment services, financial services, transaction processing or money transfer businesses.
7.05 Transactions with Affiliates. No Borrower will, nor will any Borrower permit any Subsidiary to, sell, lease or otherwise transfer any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates, in any case where such transactions, singly or in the aggregate, are material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except (a) at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable to the Company or such Subsidiary in any material respect than could be obtained on an arms-length basis from unrelated third parties, and (b) transactions between or among the Company and any Guarantors not involving any other Affiliate.
7.06 Restrictive Agreements. No Borrower will, nor will any Borrower permit any Material Subsidiary or any Subsidiary that owns (directly or indirectly) any Equity Interests in any Material Subsidiary to, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective, any consensual encumbrance or restriction (excluding any such encumbrance or restriction under this Agreement) on the ability of any Borrower or any Subsidiary of a Borrower to grant any Liens on any of its assets to secure any of the Obligations, except (i) any such encumbrance or restriction with respect to the granting of Liens imposed by a lessor under any capital lease or by a lender extending purchase money financing in respect of any asset or assets of any Borrower or any Subsidiary, so long as such encumbrances or restrictions does not so encumber or restrict any other assets or property of any Borrower or any Subsidiary, (ii) any such encumbrance or restriction set forth in Permitted Pari Passu Indebtedness, (iii) any such existing encumbrances or restrictions in any Indebtedness of a Subsidiary of the Company permitted pursuant to the terms of Section 7.01, or Indebtedness of the Company resulting from the merger or consolidation of another Person into or with the Company, which Indebtedness existed at the
75
time of such merger or consolidation and was not created or incurred in contemplation of such event, (iv) those encumbrances or restrictions more particularly described in Schedule 7.06, (v) any such encumbrance or restriction consisting of customary provisions (x) contained in any license or other contract governing intellectual property rights of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries restricting or conditioning the sublicensing or assignment thereof, (y) restricting subletting or assignment of any leases governing leasehold interests of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (z) contained in any agreement relating to the sale, transfer or other disposition of a Subsidiary or any property or assets pending such sale or other disposition, provided such encumbrances or restrictions apply only to such Subsidiary, property or assets, (vi) any encumbrance or restriction existing solely as a result of a requirement of any applicable law, (vii) any such encumbrance or restriction pursuant to an agreement between the Company or its Subsidiary with the Person (other than any Affiliate of the Company) owning the minority of the outstanding Equity Interests in a non-wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company requiring the consent of such Person prior to taking the actions described above with respect to such non-wholly owned Subsidiary and (viii) any such encumbrance or restriction pursuant to the Existing Credit Agreements.
7.07 Accounting Changes. No Borrower will, nor will any Borrower permit any Subsidiary to, make any significant change in accounting practices, except as required or permitted by GAAP.
7.08 Leverage Ratio. The Leverage Ratio at the end of each Fiscal Quarter shall not be greater than 3.25 to 1.00 for the Fiscal Quarter just ended and the immediately preceding three Fiscal Quarters.
7.09 Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. The ratio of (i) EBITR to (ii) Fixed Charges as at the end of each Fiscal Quarter, shall not be less than 2.50 to 1.00 for the Fiscal Quarter just ended and the immediately preceding three Fiscal Quarters.
ARTICLE VIII
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
8.01 Events of Default. Any of the following shall constitute an Event of Default:
(a) The Company or the applicable Borrower shall fail to pay when and as required to be paid herein, any principal of any Loan or any L/C Obligation;
(b) the Company or the applicable Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or on any L/C Obligation or any fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in clause (a) of this Article) payable under this Agreement, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied thereafter for a period of five Business Days;
(c) any representation or warranty made or deemed made in writing by or on behalf of any Borrower or any Subsidiary in or in connection with this Agreement, in any other Loan Document, or any amendment or modification hereof or waiver hereunder, or in any report, certificate, financial statement or other document furnished pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any amendment or modification hereof or waiver hereunder, shall prove to have been untrue or incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made;
76
(d) the Company or any applicable Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 6.02(a), Section 6.03 (with respect to the Companys existence) or Section 6.08, or in Article VII;
(e) any Credit Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in any Loan Document (other than those specified in clause (a), (b), (c) or (d) of this Article), and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days after (i) any officer of any Borrower becomes aware thereof, or (ii) notice thereof from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower (which notice will be given at the request of any Lender);
(f) the Company or any Subsidiary shall fail to make any payment (whether of principal or interest and regardless of amount) in respect of any Material Indebtedness, when and as the same shall become due and payable or within any applicable grace period for such payment;
(g) any event or condition occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to scheduled maturity or that enables or permits (with or without the giving of notice, the lapse of time or both) the holders of any Material Indebtedness or any trustees or agents on its or their behalf to cause any Material Indebtedness to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity; provided that this clause (g) shall not apply to secured Indebtedness or Indebtedness of a Subsidiary that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness or of all the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary, as the case may be, in a transaction otherwise expressly permitted under this Agreement, and such Indebtedness is paid at or prior to the time it becomes due as a result of such transaction;
(h) an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of any Borrower or any Material Subsidiary or its debts, or of a substantial part of its assets, under any Debtor Relief Law or (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for any Borrower or any Material Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for 60 days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;
(i) any Borrower or any Material Subsidiary shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any Debtor Relief Law, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in clause (h) of this Article, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for any Borrower or any Material Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or cease to pay its debts generally as such debts become due, (vi) take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;
(j) one or more final judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $25,000,000 (exclusive of amounts covered by insurance) shall be rendered against the Company, any Subsidiary or any combination thereof and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of 60 consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed or deferred, or the judgment or judgments shall not have been paid in full or otherwise released or discharged;
77
(k) the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates shall fail to pay when due any material amount which it shall have become liable to pay to the PBGC or to a Plan under Title IV of ERISA; or notice of intent to terminate a Plan or Plans shall be filed under Title IV of ERISA by the Company, any of its ERISA Affiliates, any plan administrator or any combination of the foregoing; or the PBGC shall institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate or to cause a trustee to be appointed to administer any such Plan or Plans or a proceeding shall be instituted by a fiduciary of any such Plan or Plans to enforce Section 515 or 4219(c) (5) of ERISA and such proceeding shall not have been dismissed within 30 days thereafter; or federal tax liens and/or liens of the PBGC under Section 4068 of ERISA shall be rendered or filed against the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates which shall continue unsatisfied, unreleased and unstayed for a period of 60 days; or a condition shall exist by reason of which the PBGC would be entitled to obtain a decree adjudicating that any such Plan or Plans must be terminated; or the Company or any its ERISA Affiliates shall be obligated to contribute to, terminate its participation in, or incur any withdrawal liability with respect to, a Multiemployer Plan; provided, that no Default or Event of Default shall arise under this paragraph (k) unless, in the reasonable opinion of the Required Lenders, when taken together with all other events described in this clause (k) that have occurred, the foregoing matters could reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Company and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount exceeding $25,000,000;
(l) a Change in Control shall occur; or
(m) (i) the Subsidiary Guaranty shall cease to be enforceable, (ii) the Company Guaranty shall cease to be enforceable, (iii) any Borrower or any Subsidiary shall assert that any Loan Document is not enforceable, or (iv) any default or event of default under any other Loan Document shall occur or exist and continue in effect beyond any applicable period to cure such default or event of default;
then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to any Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of this Section), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of, or may, with the consent of, the Required Lenders, by notice to the Company, take either or both of the following actions, at the same or different times: (i) terminate the Revolving Commitments, and thereupon the Revolving Commitments shall terminate immediately, (ii) declare all Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrowers accrued hereunder, shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by each of the Borrowers, (iii) require that the Company Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations (in an amount equal to the Outstanding Amount thereof) and (iv) exercise on behalf of itself, the Lenders all rights and remedies available to it, the Lenders under the Loan Documents; and in case of any event with respect to any Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of this Section, the Revolving Commitments shall automatically terminate and the principal of all Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other Obligations accrued hereunder, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by each of the Borrower, and the obligation of the Company to Cash Collateralize the L/C Obligations as aforesaid shall become effective, in each case without further act of the Administrative Agent or any Lender.
8.02 Application of Funds. After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.01 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable and the L/C Obligations have automatically be required to be Cash Collateralized as set forth in the last paragraph of Section 8.01), any
78
amounts received on account of the Obligations shall be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:
First, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities, expenses and other amounts (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent to the extent payable under Section 10.04 and amounts payable under Article III) payable to the Administrative Agent in its capacity as such;
Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations arising under the Loan Documents constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts (other than principal, interest and Letter of Credit Fees) payable to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders and the L/C Issuer to the extent payable under Section 10.04 and amounts payable under Article III), ratably among them in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Second payable to them;
Third, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting accrued and unpaid Letter of Credit Fees and interest on the Loans, L/C Borrowings and Obligations arising under the Loan Documents, ratably among the Lenders and the L/C Issuer in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third payable to them;
Fourth, to (a) payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting unpaid principal of the Loans, L/C Borrowings and Obligations then owing under Related Swap Agreements and (b) Cash Collateralize that portion of L/C Obligations comprised of the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit, ratably among the Lenders, the Swap Providers and the L/C Issuer in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Fourth held by them;
Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been indefeasibly paid in full, to the Company or as otherwise required by Law.
Subject to Sections 2.03(c) and 2.14, amounts used to Cash Collateralize the aggregate undrawn amount of Letters of Credit pursuant to clause Fourth above shall be applied to satisfy drawings under such Letters of Credit as they occur. If any amount remains on deposit as Cash Collateral after all Letters of Credit have either been fully drawn or expired, such remaining amount shall be applied to the other Obligations, if any, in the order set forth above.
ARTICLE IX
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
9.01 Appointment and Authority. Each of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer hereby irrevocably appoints Bank of America to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, and the Company shall not have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.
9.02 Rights as a Lender. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term Lender or Lenders shall, unless
79
otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Company or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.
9.03 Exculpatory Provisions. The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:
(a) shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing;
(b) shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents that the Administrative Agent is required to exercise as directed in writing by the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be expressly provided for herein or in the other Loan Documents), provided that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that, in its opinion or the opinion of its counsel, may expose the Administrative Agent to liability or that is contrary to any Loan Document or applicable law; and
(c) shall not, except as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to the Company or any of its Affiliates that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as the Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.
The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 11.01 and 8.01) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given to the Administrative Agent by the Company, a Lender or the L/C Issuer.
The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered hereunder or thereunder or in connection herewith or therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth herein or therein or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent.
9.04 Reliance by Administrative Agent.
The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it
80
to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or the L/C Issuer, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or the L/C Issuer unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or the L/C Issuer prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Credit Parties), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.
9.05 Delegation of Duties. The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.
9.06 Resignation of Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Company. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, in consultation with the Company, to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may on behalf of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above; provided that if the Administrative Agent shall notify the Company and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment, then such resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (1) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and (2) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender and the L/C Issuer directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided for above in this Section. Upon the acceptance of a successors appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section). The fees payable by the Company to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Company and such successor. After the retiring Administrative Agents resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 10.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.
Any resignation by Bank of America as Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section shall also constitute its resignation as L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender. Upon the acceptance of a successors appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, (a) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender, (b)
81
the retiring L/C Issuer and Swing Line Lender shall be discharged from all of their respective duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents, and (c) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to the retiring L/C Issuer to effectively assume the obligations of the retiring L/C Issuer with respect to such Letters of Credit.
9.07 Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.
9.08 No Other Duties, Etc. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Bookrunners or Arrangers listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender or the L/C Issuer hereunder.
9.09 Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or any other judicial proceeding relative to any Credit Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or L/C Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on any Borrower) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise
(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans, L/C Obligations and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders, the L/C Issuer and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.03(i) and (j), 2.09 and 11.04) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and
(b) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and the L/C Issuer to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.09 and 11.04.
Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Administrative Agent to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Lender or the L/C Issuer any plan of reorganization,
82
arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Obligations or the rights of any Lender to authorize the Administrative Agent to vote in respect of the claim of any Lender in any such proceeding.
9.10 Guaranty Matters. The Lenders and the L/C Issuer irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion, to release any Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under the Subsidiary Guaranty if such Person either ceases to be a Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted hereunder or is eligible to be released from its Subsidiary Guaranty in accordance with a request by any Borrower pursuant to the last sentence of Section 6.09. Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agents authority to release any Subsidiary Guarantor from its obligations under the Subsidiary Guaranty pursuant to this Section 9.10.
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
10.01 Amendments, Etc. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent to any departure by the Company or any other Credit Party therefrom, shall be effective unless in writing signed by the Required Lenders and the Company or the applicable Credit Party, as the case may be, and acknowledged by the Administrative Agent, and each such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that no such amendment, waiver or consent shall:
(a) extend or increase the Revolving Commitment of any Lender (or reinstate any Revolving Commitment terminated pursuant to Section 8.01) without the written consent of such Lender;
(b) postpone any date fixed by this Agreement or any other Loan Document for any payment (excluding any mandatory prepayment) of principal, interest, fees or other amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby;
(c) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or L/C Borrowing, or (subject to clause (ii) of the second proviso to this Section 10.01) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document (whether directly or indirectly through an amendment to the definition of the term Applicable Rate or the term Leverage Ratio to the extent (but only to the extent) such amendment would effect a reduction in such rate of interest or fees pursuant to the Applicable Rate) without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided, however, that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of Default Rate or to waive any obligation of the Borrowers to pay interest at the Default Rate;
(d) change Section 2.13 or Section 8.02 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender;
(e) change any provision of this Section or the definition of Required Lenders or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to amend, waive or otherwise modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder without the written consent of each Lender; or
83
(f) release the Company from its obligations under the Loan Documents or all or substantially all of the value of the Subsidiary Guaranty or the Company Guaranty, without the written consent of each Lender, except, with respect to the Subsidiary Guaranty, to the extent the release of any Subsidiary Guarantor is permitted pursuant to Section 9.10 (in which case such release may be made by the Administrative Agent acting alone);
and, provided further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) unless also signed by the L/C Issuer, no amendment, waiver or consent shall affect the rights or duties of the L/C Issuer under this Agreement or any Issuer Document relating to any Letter of Credit issued or to be issued by it; (iii) unless also signed by the Swing Line Lender, no amendment, waiver or consent shall affect the rights or duties of the Swing Line Lender under this Agreement; (iv) the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto; and (v) no Defaulting Lender shall have any right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent hereunder (and any amendment, waiver or consent which by its terms requires the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender may be effected with the consent of the applicable Lenders other than Defaulting Lenders), except that (x) the Revolving Commitment of any Defaulting Lender may not be increased or extended without the consent of such Lender and (y) any waiver, amendment or modification requiring the consent of all Lenders or each affected Lender that by its terms affects any Defaulting Lender more adversely than other affected Lenders shall require the consent of such Defaulting Lender.
If any Lender does not consent to a proposed amendment, waiver, consent or release with respect to any Loan Document that requires the consent of such Lender and that has been approved by the Required Lenders, the Company may replace such non-consenting Lender in accordance with Section 10.13; provided that such amendment, waiver, consent or release can be effected as a result of the assignment contemplated by such Section (together with all other such assignments required by the Company to be made pursuant to this paragraph).
10.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.
(a) Notices Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopier as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:
(i) if to the Company or any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower or the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 11.02; and
(ii) if to any other Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire.
Notices and other communications sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices and other communications sent by telecopier shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient). Notices and other communications delivered through electronic
84
communications to the extent provided in subsection (b) below, shall be effective as provided in such subsection (b).
(b) Electronic Communications. Notices and other communications to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or the L/C Issuer pursuant to Article II if such Lender or the L/C Issuer, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication. The Administrative Agent or the Company may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it, provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.
Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the senders receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the return receipt requested function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.
(c) The Platform. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED AS IS AND AS AVAILABLE. THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the Agent Parties) have any liability to any Borrower, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of such Borrowers or the Administrative Agents transmission of Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided, however, that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to any Borrower, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).
(d) Change of Address, Etc. Each of the Company, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Company, the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Swing Line Lender. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent
85
from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, telecopier number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender. Furthermore, each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the Private Side Information or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lenders compliance procedures and applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws, to make reference to Borrower Materials that are not made available through the Public Side Information portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to the Company or its securities for purposes of United States Federal or state securities laws.
(e) Reliance by Administrative Agent, L/C Issuer and Lenders. The Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Loan Notices and Swing Line Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of a Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any confirmation thereof. The Company shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of a Credit Party. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.
10.03 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement. No failure by any Lender, the L/C Issuer or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay by any such Person in exercising, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Credit Parties or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 8.01 for the benefit of all the Lenders; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender from exercising the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender, as the case may be) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (c) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 10.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.13), or (d) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Credit Party under any Debtor Relief Law; and provided, further, that if at any time there is no Person acting as Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 8.01 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b), (c) and (d) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.13, any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.
86
10.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.
(a) Costs and Expenses. The Company shall pay (i) all reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any one outside counsel (in addition to any reasonably necessary special counsel and up to one local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction) for the Administrative Agent), in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated) (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the L/C Issuer in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all out of pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lender (or any Affiliate of such Lender for expenses incurred in connection with duties performed under Section 2.02) related (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any one outside counsel (in addition to any reasonably necessary special counsel and up to one local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction) for the Administrative Agent or any Lender, and any additional counsel reasonably necessary in the case of any actual or potential conflict of interest identified by the Administrative Agent or by one or more Lenders), in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit.
(b) Indemnification. The Company shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender and the L/C Issuer, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an Indemnitee) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by any Borrower or any other Credit Party arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, in the case of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including in respect of any matters addressed in Section 3.01), (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by the L/C Issuer to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by any Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to any Borrower or any Subsidiary, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by any Borrower or any other Credit Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or (y) result from a claim brought by any Borrower or any other Credit Party against an Indemnitee for a material breach of such Indemnitees obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if a
87
Borrower or such other Credit Party has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 10.04(b), with respect to any individual claim (or series of related claims), in no event shall the Borrowers be required to reimburse the legal fees and expenses of more than one outside counsel (in addition to any reasonably necessary special counsel and up to one local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction, but excluding any in-house counsel) for all Indemnitees collectively, as well as any additional counsel reasonably necessary in the case of any actual or potential conflict of interest identified by the Administrative Agent or by one or more Indemnitees
(c) Reimbursement by Lenders. To the extent that the Company for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section to be paid by them to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof), the L/C Issuer or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent), the L/C Issuer or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lenders Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought) of such unpaid amount, provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or the L/C Issuer in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or L/C Issuer in connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.12(d).
(d) Waiver of Consequential Damages, Etc. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, no Borrower shall assert, and each of them hereby waives on behalf of itself and the other Credit Parties, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof. No Indemnitee referred to in subsection (b) above shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by others of any information or other materials obtained through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, other than for direct or actual damages resulting from either (i) the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee as determined by a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, or (ii) the material breach of such Indemnitees confidentiality obligations under this Agreement or any other Loan Document as determined by a final and nonappealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction.
(e) Payments. All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than ten Business Days after demand therefor.
(f) Survival. The agreements in this Section shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent and the L/C Issuer, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Revolving Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations.
10.05 Payments Set Aside. To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of any Borrower is made to the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any
88
part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then (a) to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred, and (b) each Lender and the L/C Issuer severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent upon demand its applicable share (without duplication) of any amount so recovered from or repaid by the Administrative Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such payment is made at a rate per annum equal to the applicable Overnight Rate from time to time in effect, in the applicable currency of such recovery or payment. The obligations of the Lenders and the L/C Issuer under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.
10.06 Successors and Assigns.
(a) Successors and Assigns Generally. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that no Borrower may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section, or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (f) of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d) of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
(b) Assignments by Lenders. Any Lender may at any time after the Closing Date 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 Revolving Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it (including for purposes of this subsection (b), participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans)); provided that any such assignment shall be subject to the following conditions:
(i) Minimum Amounts.
(A) in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining amount of a Lenders Revolving Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to such Lender or in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, no minimum amount need be assigned; and
(B) in any case not described in subsection (b)(i)(A) of this Section, the aggregate amount of Revolving Commitment and the principal outstanding balance of the Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment, determined as of the date the Assignment and Assumption with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent or, if Trade Date is specified in the Assignment and Assumption, as of the Trade Date, shall not be less than $5,000,000, unless each of the Administrative Agent and, so long as no
89
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company otherwise consents (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided, however, that concurrent assignments to members of an Assignee Group and concurrent assignments from members of an Assignee Group to a single Eligible Assignee (or to an Eligible Assignee and members of its Assignee Group) will be treated as a single assignment for purposes of determining whether such minimum amount has been met.
(ii) Required Consents. No consent shall be required for any assignment except to the extent required by subsection (b)(i)(B) of this Section and, in addition:
(A) the consent of the Company (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required unless (1) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of such assignment or (2) such assignment is to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund;
(B) the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender with a Revolving Commitment in respect of the Revolving Commitment subject to such assignment, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund;
(C) the consent of the L/C Issuer (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment that increases the obligation of the assignee to participate in exposure under one or more Letters of Credit (whether or not then outstanding); and
(D) the consent of the Swing Line Lender (such consent not to unreasonably withheld or delayed) shall be required for any assignment in respect of the Revolving A Commitment if such assignment is to a Person that is not a Lender with a Revolving A Commitment, an Affiliate of such Lender or an Approved Fund with respect to such Lender.
(iii) Assignment and Assumption. The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment. The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.
(iv) No Assignment to Certain Persons. No such assignment shall be made (A) to the Company or any of the Companys Affiliates or Subsidiaries, or (B) to any Defaulting Lender or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Person who, upon becoming a Lender hereunder, would constitute any of the foregoing Persons described in this clause (B) or (C) to a natural person.
(v) Certain Additional Payments. In connection with any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder, no such assignment shall be effective unless and until, in addition to the other conditions thereto set forth herein, the parties to the assignment shall make such additional payments to the Administrative Agent in an aggregate amount sufficient, upon distribution thereof as appropriate (which
90
may be outright payment, purchases by the assignee of participations or subparticipations, or other compensating actions, including funding, with the consent of the Company and the Administrative Agent, the applicable pro rata share of Loans previously requested but not funded by the Defaulting Lender, to each of which the applicable assignee and assignor hereby irrevocably consent), to (x) pay and satisfy in full all payment liabilities then owed by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder (and interest accrued thereon) and (y) acquire (and fund as appropriate) its full pro rata share of all Loans and participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Loans in accordance with its Applicable Percentage. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any assignment of rights and obligations of any Defaulting Lender hereunder shall become effective under applicable Law without compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, then the assignee of such interest shall be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender for all purposes of this Agreement until such compliance occurs.
Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning Lenders rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto) but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05 and 11.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment. Upon request, each Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d) of this Section.
(c) Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Company (and such agency being solely for tax purposes), shall maintain at the Administrative Agents Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Revolving Commitments of, and principal amounts of the Loans and L/C Obligations owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the Register). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. In addition, the Administrative Agent shall maintain on the Register information regarding the designation, and revocation of designation, of any Lender as a Defaulting Lender. The Register shall be available for inspection by any Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
(d) Participations. Any Lender may at any time, without the consent of, or notice to, any Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to any Person (other than a natural person, a Defaulting Lender or the Company or any of the Companys Affiliates or Subsidiaries) (each, a Participant) in all or a portion of such Lenders rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Revolving Commitment and/or the Loans (including such Lenders participations in L/C Obligations and/or Swing Line Loans) owing to it); provided that (i) such Lenders obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations
91
and (iii) the Company, the Administrative Agent, the other Lenders and the L/C Issuer 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 this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in clauses (i) through (vii) of the Section 10.01(a) that affects such Participant. Subject to subsection (e) of this Section, the Company agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.13 as though it were a Lender.
(e) Limitations upon Participant Rights. A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 3.01 or 3.04 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Companys prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 3.01 unless the Company is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Company, to comply with Section 3.01(e) as though it were a Lender.
(f) Certain Pledges. Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement (including under its Note(s), if any) to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank; provided that no such pledge or assignment shall release such Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.
(g) | Resignation as L/C Issuer or Swing Line Lender after Assignment. |
(i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time Bank of America assigns all of its Revolving Commitment and Loans pursuant to subsection (b) above, Bank of America may, upon thirty days notice to the Company and the Lenders, resign as L/C Issuer. In the event of any such resignation as L/C Issuer, the Company shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor L/C Issuer hereunder; provided, however, that no failure by the Company to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of Bank of America as L/C Issuer. If Bank of America resigns as L/C Issuer, it shall retain all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the L/C Issuer hereunder with respect to all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the effective date of its resignation as L/C Issuer and all L/C Obligations with respect thereto (including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in Unreimbursed Amounts pursuant to Section 2.03(c)). Upon the appointment of a successor L/C Issuer, (x) such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring L/C Issuer, and (y) the successor L/C Issuer shall issue letters of credit in substitution for the Letters of Credit, if any, outstanding at the time of such succession or make other arrangements satisfactory to Bank of America to effectively assume the obligations of Bank of America with respect to such Letters of Credit.
92
(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if at any time Bank of America assigns all of its Revolving A Commitment and Revolving A Loans pursuant to subsection (b) above, Bank of America may, upon thirty days notice to the Company, resign as Swing Line Lender. In the event of any such resignation as Swing Line Lender, the Company shall be entitled to appoint from among the Lenders a successor Swing Line Lender hereunder; provided, however, that no failure by the Company to appoint any such successor shall affect the resignation of Bank of America as Swing Line Lender. If Bank of America resigns as Swing Line Lender, it shall retain all the rights of the Swing Line Lender provided for hereunder with respect to Swing Line Loans made by it and outstanding as of the effective date of such resignation, including the right to require the Lenders to make Base Rate Loans or fund risk participations in outstanding Swing Line Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(c). Upon the appointment of a successor Swing Line Lender, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Swing Line Lender.
10.07 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, members, advisors and representatives and to any direct or indirect contractual counterparty (or such contractual counterpartys professional advisor) under any Swap Contract relating to Loans outstanding under this Agreement (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to a Borrower and its obligations, (g) with the consent of the Company or (h) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the L/C Issuer or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Company.
For purposes of this Section, Information means all information received from the Company or any Subsidiary in connection with the Transactions relating to the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their respective businesses, other than any such information that is available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or the L/C Issuer on a nonconfidential basis prior to disclosure by the Company or any Subsidiary. Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.
Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the L/C Issuer acknowledges that (a) the Information may include material non-public information concerning the Company or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public
93
information and (c) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws.
10.08 Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender, the L/C Issuer and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender, the L/C Issuer or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of any Borrower (other than, for the avoidance of doubt, any Settlement Assets except to effect Settlement Payments such Lender is obligated to make to a third party in respect of such Settlement Assets or as otherwise agreed in writing between the Company and such Lender) against any and all of the obligations of such Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender or the L/C Issuer, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or the L/C Issuer shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of such Borrower may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender or the L/C Issuer different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness; provided, that, in the event that any Defaulting Lender shall exercise any such right of setoff, (x) all amounts so set off shall be paid over immediately to the Administrative Agent for further application in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.15 and, pending such payment, shall be segregated by such Defaulting Lender from its other funds and deemed held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and (y) the Defaulting Lender shall provide promptly to the Administrative Agent a statement describing in reasonable detail the Obligations owing to such Defaulting Lender as to which it exercised such right of setoff. The rights of each Lender, the L/C Issuer and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Lender, the L/C Issuer or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender and the L/C Issuer agrees to notify the Company and the Administrative Agent promptly after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.
10.09 Interest Rate Limitation. As used in this Agreement the term interest does not include any fees (including, but not limited to, any loan fee, periodic fee, unused commitment fee or waiver fee) or other charges imposed on the Borrowers in connection with the indebtedness evidenced by this Agreement, other than the interest described herein. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by applicable Law (the Maximum Rate). If the Administrative Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the Maximum Rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Loans or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to the Company. In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged, or received by the Administrative Agent or a Lender exceeds the Maximum Rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee, or premium rather than interest, (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate, and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder. It is the express intent hereof no Borrower shall pay, and no Lender receive, directly or indirectly, interest in excess of that which may be lawfully paid under applicable Law, including the usury laws in force in the State of Georgia.
10.10 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto in different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the
94
subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Administrative Agent and when the Administrative Agent shall have received counterparts hereof that, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy or other electronic imaging means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.
10.11 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Borrowing, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied.
10.12 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, (a) the legality, validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall not be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions. The invalidity of a provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 10.12, if and to the extent that the enforceability of any provisions in this Agreement relating to Defaulting Lenders shall be limited by Debtor Relief Laws, as determined in good faith by the Administrative Agent, the L/C Issuer or the Swing Line Lender, as applicable, then such provisions shall be deemed to be in effect only to the extent not so limited.
10.13 Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, 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 3.01, or if any Lender is a Defaulting Lender, or if any circumstance exists under Section 10.01 that gives any Borrower the right to replace a Lender as a party hereto, then the Company may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 10.06), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:
(a) the Company shall have paid to the Administrative Agent the assignment fee specified in Section 10.06(b);
(b) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and L/C Advances, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts under Section 3.05) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Company (in the case of all other amounts);
(c) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 3.01, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter;
95
(d) such assignment does not violate applicable Laws; and
(e) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a Non-Consenting Lenders failure to consent to a proposed change, waiver, discharge or termination with respect to any Loan Document, the applicable replacement bank, financial institution or Approved Fund consents to the proposed change, waiver, discharge or termination; provided that the failure by such Non-Consenting Lender to execute and deliver an Assignment and Assumption shall not impair the validity of the removal of such Non-Consenting Lender and the mandatory assignment of such Non-Consenting Lenders Revolving Commitments and outstanding Loans and participations in L/C Obligations and Swing Line Loans pursuant to this Section 10.13 shall nevertheless be effective without the execution by such Non-Consenting Lender of an Assignment and Assumption.
A Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Company to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.
10.14 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.
(a) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA.
(b) SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. EACH BORROWER IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS, FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA SITTING IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF FULTON COUNTY AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OF THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF GEORGIA, AND ANY APPELLATE COURT FROM ANY THEREOF, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN SUCH GEORGIA STATE COURT OR, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN SUCH FEDERAL COURT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER OR THE L/C ISSUER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST ANY BORROWER OR ANY OTHER CREDIT PARTY OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.
(c) WAIVER OF VENUE. EACH BORROWER IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT IN ANY COURT REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SECTION. EACH OF THE
96
PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT.
(d) SERVICE OF PROCESS. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 10.02. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT WILL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY PARTY HERETO TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW. Each Foreign Subsidiary Borrower irrevocably designates and appoints the Company, as its authorized agent, to accept and acknowledge on its behalf, service of any and all process which may be served in any suit, action or proceeding of the nature referred to in Section 10.14(b). The Company hereby represents, warrants and confirms that the Company has agreed to accept such appointment. Said designation and appointment shall be irrevocable by each Foreign Subsidiary Borrower until all Obligations payable by such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower shall have been paid in full in accordance with the provisions hereof and such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower shall have been terminated as a Borrower hereunder. Each Foreign Subsidiary Borrower hereby consents to process being served in any suit, action or proceeding of the nature referred to in Section 10.14(b) by service of process upon the Company as provided in this Section 10.14(d); provided that, to the extent lawful and possible, notice of said service upon such agent shall be mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopier to the Company and (if applicable to) such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower at its address set forth on Section 10.02. Each Foreign Subsidiary Borrower irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, all claim of error by reason of any such service in such manner and agrees that such service shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower in any suit, action or proceeding and shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be taken and held to be valid and personal service upon personal delivery to such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower.
10.15 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.
10.16 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), each Borrower acknowledges and agrees, and acknowledges its Affiliates understanding, that: (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and the Lenders, are arms-length commercial transactions between such Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and the Lenders, on the other hand, (B) such Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) such Borrower is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii) (A) the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and the Lenders each are and have been acting solely as a principal and, except as
97
expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, have not been, are not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for such Borrower or any of its Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) neither the Administrative Agent nor the Arranger nor the Lenders have any obligation to such Borrower or any of its Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and the Lenders and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of such Borrower and its Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent nor the Arranger nor the Lenders have any obligation to disclose any of such interests to such Borrower or its Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by law, each Borrower hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and the Lenders with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.
10.17 Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents. The words execution, signed, signature, and words of like import in any Assignment and Assumption or in any amendment or other modification hereof (including waivers and consents) 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.
10.18 USA PATRIOT Act. Each Lender that is subject to the Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the 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 Act), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Credit Parties, which information includes the name and address of each Credit Party and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify such Credit Party in accordance with the Act. Each Borrower shall (and the Company shall cause each Subsidiary Guarantor to), promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent or such Lender reasonably requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable know your customer and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Act.
10.19 Judgment Currency. If, for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary to convert a sum due hereunder or any other Loan Document in one currency into another currency, the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Administrative Agent could purchase the first currency with such other currency on the Business Day preceding that on which final judgment is given. The obligation of each Borrower in respect of any such sum due from it to the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder or under the other Loan Documents shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the Judgment Currency) other than that in which such sum is denominated in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement (the Agreement Currency), be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase the Agreement Currency with the Judgment Currency. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent or any Lender from any Borrower in the Agreement Currency, such Borrower agrees, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, against such loss. If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is
98
greater than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in such currency, the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, agrees to return the amount of any excess to such Borrower (or to any other Person who may be entitled thereto under applicable law).
99
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Borrower has executed this Agreement as of the date stated at the top of the first page hereof, intending to create an instrument executed under seal.
GLOBAL PAYMENTS, INC., as a Borrower | ||
By: | /s/ David E. Mangum | |
Name: | David E. Mangum | |
Title: | Chief Financial Officer | |
GLOBAL PAYMENTS DIRECT, INC., as a Borrower | ||
By: | /s/ David E. Mangum | |
Name: | David E. Mangum | |
Title: | Treasurer | |
GLOBAL PAYMENTS UK LTD., as a Borrower | ||
By: | /s/ David E. Mangum | |
Name: | David E. Mangum | |
Title: Authorized Signatory of Global Payments U.K. Ltd. | ||
GLOBAL PAYMENTS ACQUISITION CORPORATION 2 SARL, as a Borrower | ||
By: | /s/ David E. Mangum | |
Name: | David E. Mangum | |
Title: Authorized Signatory of Global Payments Acquisition Corporation 2 S.A.R.L. | ||
GLOBAL PAYMENTS ACQUISITION PS 2 C.V., as a Borrower | ||
By: | /s/ David E. Mangum | |
Name: | David E. Mangum | |
Title: | Treasurer |
Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent | ||
/s/ Angelo M. Martorana | ||
Assistant Vice President | ||
Bank of America, N.A., as Lender, Swing Line Lender and L/C Issuer | ||
/s/ Thomas M. Paulk | ||
Senior Vice President | ||
SunTrust Bank, as a Lender | ||
/s/ David A. Bennett | ||
Vice President | ||
Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as a Lender | ||
/s/ Kathleen H. Reedy | ||
Managing Director | ||
The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., New York Branch, as a Lender | ||
/s/ George Stoecklein | ||
Authorized Signatory | ||
Barclays Bank PLC, as a Lender | ||
/s/ Ritam Bhalla | ||
Vice President | ||
Branch Banking and Trust Company, as a Lender | ||
/s/ Brantley Echols | ||
Senior Vice President | ||
CIBC Inc., as a Lender | ||
/s/ Eoin Roche | ||
Executive Director | ||
/s/ Dominic J. Sorresso | ||
Executive Director | ||
CitiBank, N.A., as a Lender | ||
/s/ William Mandaro | ||
Director | ||
Comerica Bank, as a Lender | ||
/s/ Clayton Vanderpool | ||
Vice President | ||
Compass Bank, as a Lender | ||
/s/ Jeffrey A. Neikirk | ||
Managing Director |
Goldman Sachs Bank USA, as a Lender | ||
/s/ Mark Walton | ||
Authorized Signatory | ||
HSBC Bank USA, N.A., as a Lender | ||
/s/ Paul Silvester | ||
Deputy Head of FIG Americas |
TD Bank, N.A., as a Lender | ||
/s/ Marca Willner | ||
SVP | ||
UBS AG, Stamford Branch, as a Lender | ||
/s/ Irja R. Otsa | ||
Associate Director | ||
/s/ Mary E. Evans, | ||
Associate Director |