EX-4.2 Second Lien Credit Agreement

Contract Categories: Business Finance - Credit Agreements
EX-4.2 4 l13312aexv4w2.htm EX-4.2 SECOND LIEN CREDIT AGREEMENT EX-4.2 Second Lien Credit Agreement
 

EXHIBIT 4.2

EXECUTION COPY

 
SECOND LIEN CREDIT AGREEMENT

dated as of

April 8, 2005

among

THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY,
as Borrower,

The LENDERS Party Hereto,

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS,
as Collateral Agent

and

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
as Administrative Agent

     
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.,
  DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.,
as Joint Lead Arranger
  as Joint Lead Arranger
and Joint Bookrunner
  and Joint Bookrunner
 

[CS&M 6701-315]

 


 

Table of Contents

         
    Page  
ARTICLE I
       
 
       
Definitions
       
 
       
SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms
    1  
SECTION 1.02. Foreign Currency Translation
    25  
SECTION 1.03. Terms Generally
    25  
SECTION 1.04. Accounting Terms; GAAP
    26  
 
       
ARTICLE II
       
 
       
The Credits
       
 
       
SECTION 2.01. Commitments
    26  
SECTION 2.02. Loans and Borrowings
    27  
SECTION 2.03. Borrowing Procedure
    27  
SECTION 2.04. Funding of Borrowings
    28  
SECTION 2.05. Interest Elections
    28  
SECTION 2.06. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt
    30  
SECTION 2.07. Prepayment of Loans
    30  
SECTION 2.08. Fees
    32  
SECTION 2.09. Interest
    32  
SECTION 2.10. Alternate Rate of Interest
    33  
SECTION 2.11. Increased Costs
    33  
SECTION 2.12. Break Funding Payments
    34  
SECTION 2.13. Taxes
    35  
SECTION 2.14. Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Setoffs
    36  
SECTION 2.15. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders
    38  
 
       
ARTICLE III
       
 
       
Representations and Warranties
       
 
       
SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers
    38  
SECTION 3.02. Authorization; Enforceability
    39  
SECTION 3.03. Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts
    39  
SECTION 3.04. Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Change
    39  
SECTION 3.05. Litigation and Environmental Matters
    40  
SECTION 3.06. Compliance with Laws and Agreements
    40  
SECTION 3.07. Investment and Holding Company Status
    40  

 


 

         
    Page  
SECTION 3.08. ERISA and Canadian Pension Plans
    40  
SECTION 3.09. Disclosure
    41  
SECTION 3.10. Security Interests
    41  
SECTION 3.11. Use of Proceeds
    43  
 
       
ARTICLE IV
       
 
       
Conditions
       
 
       
SECTION 4.01. Effective Date
    43  
 
       
ARTICLE V
       
 
       
Affirmative Covenants
       
 
       
SECTION 5.01. Financial Statements and Other Information
    46  
SECTION 5.02. Notices of Defaults
    48  
SECTION 5.03. Existence; Conduct of Business
    48  
SECTION 5.04. Maintenance of Properties
    48  
SECTION 5.05. Books and Records; Inspection and Audit Rights
    49  
SECTION 5.06. Compliance with Laws
    49  
SECTION 5.07. Insurance
    49  
SECTION 5.08. Guarantees and Collateral
    49  
 
       
ARTICLE VI
       
 
       
Negative Covenants
       
 
       
SECTION 6.01. Indebtedness and Preferred Equity Interests
    51  
SECTION 6.02. Liens
    55  
SECTION 6.03. Sale and Leaseback Transactions
    56  
SECTION 6.04. Fundamental Changes
    56  
SECTION 6.05. Investments, Loans, Advances and Guarantees
    57  
SECTION 6.06. Asset Dispositions
    59  
SECTION 6.07. Restricted Payments
    61  
SECTION 6.08. Capital Expenditures
    62  
 
       
ARTICLE VII
       
 
       
Events of Default
       
 
       
SECTION 7.01. Events of Default
    62  

ii 


 

         
    Page  
 
       
ARTICLE VIII
       
 
       
The Agents
       
 
       
ARTICLE IX
       
 
       
Miscellaneous
       
 
       
SECTION 9.01. Notices
    67  
SECTION 9.02. Waivers; Amendments
    68  
SECTION 9.03. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver
    69  
SECTION 9.04. Successors and Assigns
    71  
SECTION 9.05. Survival
    74  
SECTION 9.06. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness
    75  
SECTION 9.07. Severability
    75  
SECTION 9.08. Right of Setoff
    75  
SECTION 9.09. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process
    75  
SECTION 9.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
    76  
SECTION 9.11. Headings
    76  
SECTION 9.12. Confidentiality
    76  
SECTION 9.13. Interest Rate Limitation
    77  
SECTION 9.14. Security Documents
    77  
SECTION 9.15. Additional Financial Covenants
    78  
SECTION 9.16. Lenders Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement
    78  
SECTION 9.17. USA Patriot Act Notice
    78  
           
SCHEDULES:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Schedule 1.01A
 
 
Consent Subsidiaries
Schedule 1.01B
 
 
Mortgaged Properties
Schedule 1.01C
 
 
Senior Subordinated-Lien Indebtedness
Schedule 2.01
 
 
Commitments
Schedule 3.10(b)
 
 
Mortgaged Properties
Schedule 3.10(c)
 
 
Material Intellectual Property
Schedule 4.01
 
 
Post-Effective Date Delivery Requirements
Schedule 6.01
 
 
Existing Indebtedness
Schedule 6.02
 
 
Existing Liens
Schedule 6.05(k)(ii)
 
 
Additional Equity Interests
Schedule 6.06
 
 
Asset Dispositions
Schedule 6.08
 
 
Customer Capital Expenditures

iii 


 

           
         
EXHIBITS:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exhibit A
 
 
Form of Borrowing Request
 
Exhibit B
 
 
Form of Interest Election Request
 
Exhibit C
 
 
Form of Promissory Note
 
Exhibit D
 
 
Form of Assignment and Assumption
 
Exhibit E-1
 
 
Form of Opinion of Borrower’s Outside Counsel
 
Exhibit E-2
 
 
Form of Opinion of Borrower’s General Counsel
 
Exhibit F
 
 
Form of Lenders Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement
 
Exhibit G
 
 
Form of First Lien Guarantee and Collateral Agreement
 
Exhibit H
 
 
Form of Guarantee and Collateral Agreement
 
Exhibit I
 
 
Third Lien Collateral Agreement
 
Exhibit J
 
 
Form of European Guarantee and Collateral Agreement
 

iv 


 

               SECOND LIEN CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of April 8, 2005 (this “Agreement”), among THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY; the LENDERS party hereto; DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, as Collateral Agent; and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

          The Borrower has requested that the Lenders extend credit to the Borrower in the form of Loans in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $1,200,000,000. The Lenders are willing to extend such credit to the Borrower on the terms and subject to the conditions herein set forth. The proceeds of Borrowings hereunder will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries.

          Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

Definitions

          SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

          “ABL Facilities Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Term Loan and Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of February 19, 2004, as amended, among the Borrower, certain lenders, JPMCB, as administrative agent, Citicorp USA, Inc., as syndication agent, and Bank of America, N.A. and CIT Financial Group, as documentation agents.

          “ABR”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Alternate Base Rate.

          “Adjusted LIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) equal to (a) the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate.

          “Administrative Agent” means JPMCB, in its capacity as administrative agent for the Lenders hereunder, and its successors in such capacity.

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

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

          “Agents” means the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent.

 


 

2

          “Alternate Base Rate” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greater of (a) the Prime Rate in effect on such day and (b) the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day plus 1/2 of 1%. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate or the Federal Funds Effective Rate, respectively.

          “Approved Fund” means (a) with respect to any Lender, a CLO managed by such Lender or by an Affiliate of such Lender and (b) with respect to any Lender that is a fund which invests in bank loans and similar extensions of credit, any other fund that invests in bank loans and similar extensions of credit and is managed by the same investment advisor as such Lender or by an Affiliate of such investment advisor.

          “Arrangers” means J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., as Joint Lead Arranger and Joint Bookrunner, and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as Joint Lead Arranger and Joint Bookrunner, for the credit facility established by this Agreement.

          “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 9.04), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in the form of Exhibit D or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

          “Attributable Debt” means, with respect to any Sale and Leaseback Transaction, the present value (computed in accordance with GAAP and, in the case of a Sale and Leaseback Transaction that does not result in Capital Lease Obligations, as if the obligations incurred in connection with such Sale and Leaseback Transaction were Capital Lease Obligations) of the total obligations of the lessee for rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such Sale and Leaseback Transaction (including any period for which such lease has been extended). In the case of any lease which is terminable by the lessee upon payment of a penalty, the Attributable Debt shall be the lesser of (i) the Attributable Debt determined assuming termination upon the first date such lease may be terminated (in which case the Attributable Debt shall also include the amount of the penalty, but no rent shall be considered as required to be paid under such lease subsequent to the first date upon which it may be so terminated) and (ii) the Attributable Debt determined assuming no such termination.

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

          “Borrower” means The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, an Ohio corporation.

          “Borrowing” means Loans of the same Class and Type made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.

          “Borrowing Request” means a request by the Borrower for a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03 in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto.


 

3

          “Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided that, when used in connection with a Eurodollar Loan, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in dollar deposits in the London interbank market.

          “Canadian Benefit Plans” means all material employee benefit plans of any nature or kind whatsoever that are not Canadian Pension Plans and are maintained or contributed to by any Credit Party having employees in Canada.

          “Canadian Pension Plans” means each plan which is a registered pension plan within the meaning of the Income Tax Act (Canada).

          “Canadian Security Agreements” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

          “Capital Expenditures” means, for any period, (a) the additions to property, plant and equipment and other capital expenditures of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries that are (or would be) set forth in a statement of cash flows of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period prepared in accordance with GAAP, excluding capitalized software expenses, and (b) Capital Lease Obligations incurred by the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries during such period (other than any such Capital Lease Obligations that shall relate to assets acquired in transactions reflected in Capital Expenditures for any earlier period). For purposes of this definition, (i) the purchase price of equipment or other fixed assets that are purchased simultaneously with the trade-in of existing assets or with insurance proceeds shall be included in Capital Expenditures only to the extent of the gross amount by which such purchase price exceeds the credit granted by the seller of such assets for the assets being traded in at such time or the amount of such insurance proceeds, as the case may be, (ii) acquisitions permitted by Section 6.05(f) shall be excluded and (iii) “Capital Expenditures” in respect of any period shall be reduced by the amount of Customer Capital Expenditures that are directly paid by customers during such period and by the amount of reimbursements the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall have received during such period from customers in respect of Customer Capital Expenditures; provided that (A) the aggregate amount of such reductions in respect of Customer Capital Expenditures under the program specified in Schedule 6.08 shall not exceed $160,000,000 during the term of this Agreement and (B) the aggregate amount of such reductions in respect of Customer Capital Expenditures made other than under the programs specified in Schedule 6.08 shall not exceed $50,000,000 in any fiscal year. “Capital Expenditures” shall also include all Investments made under Section 6.05(l)(ii).

          “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.


 

4

          “Cash Equivalent” means, at any time, a financial instrument issued by any permitted issuer of a Permitted Investment that at such time is immediately convertible to cash at face value without any penalty, premium or loss of discount.

          “Change in Control” means (a) the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person or group (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder as in effect on the date hereof), of Equity Interests representing more than 50% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of the Borrower; or (b) occupation of a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors of the Borrower by Persons who were neither (i) directors on the date hereof or nominated by the board of directors of the Borrower nor (ii) appointed by directors so nominated.

          “Change in Law” means (a) the adoption of any law, rule or regulation after the date of this Agreement, (b) any change in any law, rule or regulation or in the interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority after the date of this Agreement or (c) compliance by any Lender (or, for purposes of Section 2.11(b), by any lending office of such Lender or by such Lender’s holding company, if any) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement.

          “CLO” means any entity (whether a corporation, partnership, trust or otherwise) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course and is administered or managed by a Lender or an Affiliate of such Lender.

          “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

          “Collateral” means all the assets and rights that secure any of the Obligations pursuant to the Security Documents.

          “Collateral Agent” means Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, in its capacity as collateral agent for the Lenders under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and the other Security Documents.

          “Commitment” means, with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make Loans on the Effective Date, expressed as an amount representing the maximum permitted aggregate amount of the Loans to be made by such Lender. The amount of each Lender’s Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01. The aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Commitments is $1,200,000,000.

          “Consent Subsidiary” means (a) any Subsidiary listed on Schedule 1.01A and (b) any Subsidiary not on Schedule 1.01A or formed or acquired after the Effective Date, in respect of which (A) the consent of any Person other than the Borrower or any Wholly Owned Subsidiary is required by applicable law or the terms of any organizational document of such Subsidiary or other agreement of such Subsidiary or any


 

5

Affiliate of such Subsidiary in order for such Subsidiary to execute the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement as a Grantor or a Subsidiary Guarantor and perform its obligations thereunder, or in order for Equity Interests of such Subsidiary to be pledged under the Security Documents, as the case may be, and (B) the Borrower endeavored in good faith to obtain such consents and such consents shall not have been obtained. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Subsidiary shall be a Consent Subsidiary at any time that it is a guarantor of, or has provided any collateral to secure, Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Borrower, and any Consent Subsidiary (including a Consent Subsidiary listed in Schedule 1.01A) that at any time ceases to meet the test set forth in clause (A) shall cease to be a Consent Subsidiary. No Subsidiary shall be a Consent Subsidiary if it is a Guarantor or a Grantor under the First Lien Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or the Third Lien Collateral Agreement, a US Guarantor or a US Facilities Grantor under the European Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or a Subsidiary Guarantor or Grantor Subsidiary Guarantor under the Junior Lien Indenture.

          “Consolidated EBITDA” means, for any period, Consolidated Net Income for such period plus (a) without duplication and to the extent deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Income, the sum for the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries of (i) Consolidated Interest Expense for such period, (ii) income tax expense for such period, (iii) all amounts attributable to depreciation and amortization for such period, (iv) all non-cash non-recurring charges for such period, (v) all Rationalization Charges for such period, (vi) other expense for such period, (vii) equity in losses of affiliates for such period, (viii) foreign exchange currency losses for such period and (ix) minority interest in net income of subsidiaries for such period, minus (b) without duplication, to the extent included in determining such Consolidated Net Income (except with respect to (ii) and (iii) below), (i) any non-cash extraordinary gains for such period, (ii) cash expenditures (other than Rationalization Charges) during such period in respect of items that resulted in non-cash non-recurring charges during any prior period after March 31, 2005, (iii) Excess Cash Rationalization Charges, (iv) other income for such period, (v) equity in earnings of affiliates for such period, (vi) foreign exchange currency gains for such period and (vii) minority interest in net losses of subsidiaries for such period, all determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP. Each item referred to in this definition and not defined elsewhere in this Agreement will be computed by a method consistent with that used in preparing the financial statements referred to in Section 3.04.

          “Consolidated Interest Expense” means, for any period, the sum, without duplication, of (a) the consolidated interest expense (including imputed interest expense in respect of Capital Lease Obligations and excluding fees and other origination costs included in interest expense and arising from Indebtedness incurred at any time) of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period, determined in accordance with GAAP but excluding capitalized interest, (b) all cash dividends paid during such period in respect of Permitted Preferred Stock and (c) all finance expense related to Securitization Transactions of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period, excluding amortization of origination and other fees.


 

6

          “Consolidated Net Income” means, for any period, the net income or loss of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period determined in accordance with GAAP.

          “Consolidated Net Secured Indebtedness” means, at any date, (a) the sum for the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period, without duplication, of (i) all Indebtedness (other than obligations in respect of Swap Agreements) that is included on the Borrower’s consolidated balance sheet and is secured by any assets of the Borrower or a Consolidated Subsidiary, (ii) all Capital Lease Obligations, (iii) all synthetic lease financings, (iv) all Indebtedness of South Pacific Tyres that is secured by any of its assets or assets of the Borrower or a Consolidated Subsidiary and (v) all Securitization Transactions, minus (b) the aggregate amount of cash, cash equivalents and Permitted Investments in excess of $400,000,000 held at such time by the Borrower and the Consolidated Subsidiaries, all determined in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of computing Consolidated Net Secured Indebtedness, the amount of any synthetic lease financing shall equal the amount that would be capitalized in respect of such lease if it were a Capital Lease Obligation.

          “Consolidated Revenue” means, for any period, the revenues of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such period, determined in accordance with GAAP.

          “Consolidated Subsidiary” means, at any date, each Subsidiary the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the Borrower in the Borrower’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP.

          “Consolidated Total Assets” means, at any date, the total assets of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, determined in accordance with GAAP.

          “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.

          “Credit Documents” means this Agreement, any promissory notes delivered pursuant to Section 2.06(e), the Security Documents, the Lenders Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement and the Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement.

          “Credit Facilities Agreements” means this Agreement, the First Lien Agreement and the European Facilities Agreement.

          “Credit Facilities Documents” means the Credit Facilities Agreements, the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, the First Lien Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, the European Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and the other Security Documents (as such term is defined in any Credit Facilities Agreement).


 

7

          “Credit Party” means the Borrower, each Subsidiary Guarantor and each Grantor.

          “Customer Capital Expenditures” shall mean all or any portion of the purchase price of equipment or other fixed assets purchased for use in the business of the Borrower or any Subsidiary that is paid directly, or reimbursed to the Borrower or any Subsidiary, by customers of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries that are not Affiliates of the Borrower.

          “Default” means any event or condition which constitutes an Event of Default or which upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.

          “Designated Debt” means Indebtedness of the Borrower that matures during any of the calendar years 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

          “Disclosure Documents” means (a) the Information Memorandum, (b) reports of the Borrower on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, and any amendments thereto, that shall have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or prior to March 24, 2005, or (ii) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission after such date and prior to the Effective Date and delivered to the Administrative Agent prior to the date hereof.

          “Dividend Availability Period” means a period commencing on the first date that the Applicable Ratings are Ba2 or better and BB or better, respectively, and ending on the first date thereafter that either Applicable Rating has for a consecutive 12-month period been lower than Ba3 or BB-. If at any time either, but not both, of the Applicable Ratings is not so maintained as a public rating, the Applicable Rating that is not maintained shall be disregarded and the commencement, continuance or termination of any Dividend Availability Period shall be based solely on the Applicable Rating that is maintained as a public rating (i.e., as if the Applicable Rating not so maintained were Ba2 or better or BB or better, as applicable). At any time that each of the Applicable Ratings is not maintained as a public rating, each shall be deemed to be lower than Ba3 or BB-, as applicable.

          “dollars” or “$” refers to lawful money of the United States of America.

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

          “Effective Date” means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 4.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 9.02).

          “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 presence, the


 

8

management or release of, or exposure to, any Hazardous Materials or to health and safety matters.

          “Environmental Liability” means all liabilities, obligations, damages, losses, claims, actions, suits, judgments, orders, fines, penalties, fees, expenses and costs (including administrative oversight costs, natural resource damages and remediation costs), whether contingent or otherwise, arising out of or relating to (a) compliance or non-compliance with 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 of any Hazardous Materials 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 limited liability companies, beneficial interests in trusts or other equity ownership interests in any Persons, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holders thereof to purchase or acquire any such equity interests.

          “Equity Proceeds” means Net Cash Proceeds from issuances or sales of Equity Interests (other than to directors, officers or employees of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in connection with compensation or incentive arrangements) of the Borrower after the Effective Date.

          “ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.

          “ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with the Borrower or any Subsidiary, 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”, as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder, with respect to any Plan (other than an event for which the 30-day notice period is waived or an event described in Section 4043.33 of Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations); (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) as to which a waiver has not been obtained; (c) the incurrence by the Borrower, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (d) the treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 of ERISA; (e) any event or condition, other than the Transactions, that would be materially likely to result in the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Plan or Multiemployer Plan under Section 4042 of ERISA; (f) the receipt by the Borrower, a Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice of an intention to terminate any Plan or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (g) the incurrence by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate of any liability under Title IV of


 

9

ERISA with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (h) the receipt by the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from the Borrower, any Subsidiary 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” or “” means the lawful currency of the member states of the European Union that have adopted a single currency in accordance with applicable law or treaty.

          “Eurodollar”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.

          “European Facilities Agreement” means the Amended and Restated Term Loan and Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of March 31, 2003, as amended and restated as of the date hereof, among the European JV, the other borrowers thereunder, certain lenders, certain issuing banks, J.P. Morgan Europe Limited, as administrative agent, and JPMCB, as collateral agent.

          “European Guarantee and Collateral Agreement” means the amended and restated European Guarantee and Collateral Agreement among the Borrower, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Grantors, certain other Subsidiaries and JPMCB, in its capacity as collateral agent under the credit agreements described therein, substantially in the form of Exhibit J, as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein).

          “European JV” means Goodyear Dunlop Tires Europe B.V.

          “Event of Default” has the meaning assigned to such term in Article VII.

          “Excess Cash Rationalization Charges” means, for any period, cash expenditures of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries in such period with respect to Rationalization Charges recorded on the Borrower’s consolidated income statement after March 31, 2005; provided, however, that for such cash expenditures incurred after March 31, 2005, Excess Cash Rationalization Charges shall only include the aggregate amount of such cash expenditures which exceed the sum of $150,000,000 plus 50% of Equity Proceeds received after the Effective Date.

          “Excluded Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary with only nominal assets and no operations. No Subsidiary shall be an Excluded Subsidiary if it is a Guarantor or a Grantor under the First Lien Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or the Third Lien Collateral Agreement, a US Guarantor or a US Facilities Grantor under the European Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or a Subsidiary Guarantor or Grantor Subsidiary Guarantor under the Junior Lien Indenture.


 

10

          “Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder, (a) income or franchise taxes imposed on (or measured by) its net income by the United States or by the jurisdiction 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 described in clause (a) above and (c) (i) any withholding tax that is imposed by the United States on amounts payable to a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 2.15(b)) at the time such Foreign Lender first becomes a party to this Agreement (or designates a new lending office), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new lending office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from the Borrower with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 2.13(a) or (ii) any withholding tax that is imposed by the United States on amounts payable to a Foreign Lender that is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure to comply with Section 2.13(e).

          “Federal Funds Effective Rate” means, for any day, the weighted average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day that is a Business Day, the average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the quotations for such day for such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

          “Financial Officer” means the chief financial officer, principal accounting officer, treasurer or any assistant treasurer of the Borrower.

          “First Lien Agreement” means the First Lien Credit Agreement dated as of the date hereof, among the Borrower, certain lenders, certain issuing banks, Citicorp USA, Inc., as syndication agent, and JPMCB, as administrative agent, as amended, restated, waived, replaced (whether or not upon termination, whether or not pursuant Section 6.01(m) and whether with the original lenders or otherwise), refinanced, restructured or otherwise modified from time to time (except to the extent any such amendment, restatement, supplement, waiver, replacement, refinancing, restructuring or other modification thereto would be prohibited by the terms of this Agreement).

          “First Lien Guarantee and Collateral Agreement” means the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement among the Borrower, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Grantors, certain other Subsidiaries and JPMCB, substantially in the form of Exhibit G, as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein).

          “Foreign Lender” means any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than that in which the Borrower is located. For purposes of this


 

11

definition, the United States, each State thereof and the District of Columbia shall be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.

          “Foreign Pledge Agreement” means a pledge agreement securing the Obligations or any of them that is governed by the law of a jurisdiction other than the United States and reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Collateral Agent.

          “Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States or any of its territories or possessions or any political subdivision thereof.

          “GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.

          “Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States, Canada, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state, provincial, territorial 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.

          “Grantors” means the Borrower and each North American Subsidiary that has become, or is required to become, a Grantor (as defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement) and, if applicable, a party to any Canadian Security Agreement pursuant to Section 4.01(k) or Section 5.08.

          “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 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 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 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 (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness; provided, that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The amount of any Guarantee of any guaranteeing person shall be deemed to be the lower of (a) an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such Guarantee is made and (b) the maximum amount for which such guaranteeing person may be liable pursuant to the terms of the instrument embodying such Guarantee, unless such primary obligation and the maximum amount for which such guaranteeing person may be liable are not stated or determinable, in which case the amount of such Guarantee shall be such guaranteeing person’s maximum reasonably anticipated liability (assuming such person is required to perform) in respect thereof as determined in such person’s good faith.


 

12

          “Guarantee and Collateral Agreement” means the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement among the Borrower, the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Grantors, certain other Subsidiaries and the Collateral Agent substantially in the form of Exhibit H, as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein).

          “Hazardous Materials” means (a) petroleum products and byproducts, asbestos, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, chlorofluorocarbons and all other ozone-depleting substances; and (b) any pollutant or contaminant or any hazardous, toxic, radioactive or otherwise regulated chemical, material, substance or waste that is prohibited, limited or regulated pursuant to any applicable Environmental Law.

          “Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person, (d) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (e) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed, (f) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, (g) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (h) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and letters of guaranty, (i) all Securitization Transactions of such Person and (j) all obligations of such Person in respect of Swap Agreements of such Person. The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in such entity.

          “Indemnified Taxes” means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

          “Indemnitee” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.03.

          “Information” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.12.

          “Information Memorandum” means the Confidential Information Memorandum dated February 2005 relating to the Borrower and the Transactions.

          “Intellectual Property” has the meaning set forth in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

          “Intercompany Items” means obligations owed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary.

          “Interest Coverage Ratio” means, at the time of each determination under Section 6.01(q) or 6.05(b), the ratio, determined on a pro forma basis, at such time of (i)


 

13

Consolidated EBITDA to (ii) Consolidated Interest Expense for the most recently ended period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which financial statements have been delivered under Section 5.01(a) or (b) (or, at any time prior to the first delivery of such financial statements, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004).

          “Interest Election Request” means a request by the Borrower to convert or continue a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.05 in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto.

          “Interest Payment Date” means (a) with respect to any ABR Loan, the last day of each March, June, September and December and (b) with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months’ duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months’ duration after the first day of such Interest Period.

          “Interest Period” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, two, three or six months thereafter, as the Borrower may elect; provided that (i) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day and (ii) any Interest Period pertaining to a Eurodollar Borrowing that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period. For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and, in the case of a Borrowing, thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.

          “Investments” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.05.

          “JPMCB” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., and its successors.

          “Junior Lien Indenture” means the Indenture dated as of March 12, 2004, among the Borrower, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee.

          “Junior Securities” means, collectively, any Senior Subordinated-Lien Indebtedness and any Indebtedness or preferred Equity Interests issued under Section 6.01(r).

          “Lenders” means the Persons listed on Schedule 2.01 and any other Person that shall have become a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption, other than any such Person that ceases to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Assumption.


 

14

          “Lenders Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement” means the Lenders Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement between the Collateral Agent and the collateral agent under the First Lien Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit F, as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein).

          “LIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, the rate appearing on Page 3750 of the Dow Jones Market Service (or on any successor or substitute page of such Service, or any successor to or substitute for such Service, providing rate quotations comparable to those currently provided on such page of such Service, as determined by the Administrative Agent from time to time for purposes of providing quotations of interest rates applicable to dollar deposits in the London interbank market) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, as the rate for dollar deposits with a maturity comparable to such Interest Period. In the event that such rate is not available at such time for any reason with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing, then the “LIBO Rate” with respect to such Eurodollar Borrowing for such Interest Period shall be the rate (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) at which dollar deposits of $5,000,000 and for a maturity comparable to such Interest Period are offered by the principal London office of the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period.

          “Lien” means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, French delegation of claims, lien, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, charge or security interest in, on or of such asset, (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 and (c) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities.

          “Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement” means the Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement dated as of March 12, 2004, among JPMCB, Wilmington Trust Company, the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors.

          “Loans” means the loans made by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement.

          “Lockbox Agreements” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

          “Lockbox Deposit Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

          “Lockbox Deposit Account Institution” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.


 

15

          “Lockbox System” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

          “Majority Lenders” means, at any time, Lenders having Loans representing more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the total Loans outstanding (or, if the Loans have not yet been made, Lenders having Commitments representing more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the total Commitments).

          “Material Adverse Change” means a material adverse change in or effect on (a) the business, operations, properties, assets or financial condition (including as a result of the effects of any contingent liabilities thereon) of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Credit Parties, taken as a whole, to perform obligations under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents that are material to the rights or interests of the Lenders or (c) the rights of or benefits available to the Lenders under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents that are material to the interests of the Lenders.

          “Material Foreign Subsidiary” means, at any time, each Foreign Subsidiary that had assets with an aggregate book value in excess of $50,000,000 as of December 31, 2004, or if later, as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which financial statements have been delivered (or deemed delivered) pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or (b).

          “Material Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (other than the Loans), or obligations in respect of one or more Swap Agreements, of any one or more of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $50,000,000. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “principal amount” of the obligations of the Borrower 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 Borrower or such Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Swap Agreement were terminated at such time, calculated in accordance with the terms of such Swap Agreement.

          “Material Intellectual Property” means all Intellectual Property of the Borrower and the Grantors, other than Intellectual Property that in the aggregate is not material to the business of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

          “Material Subsidiary” means, at any time, each Subsidiary other than Subsidiaries that do not represent more than 2.5% for any such individual Subsidiary, or more than 5% in the aggregate for all such Subsidiaries, of either (a) Consolidated Total Assets or (b) Consolidated Revenue for the period of four fiscal quarters most recently ended.

          “Maturity Date” means April 30, 2010.

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


 

16

          “Mortgage” means a mortgage or deed of trust, assignment of leases and rents, or other security documents reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Collateral Agent granting a Lien on any Mortgaged Property to secure the Obligations.

          “Mortgaged Property” means, at any time, each parcel of real property listed in Schedule 1.01B and the improvements thereto.

          “Multiemployer Plan” means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

          “NAIC” means the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

          “Net Cash Proceeds” means, with respect to any Prepayment Event, (a) the cash proceeds received in respect of such event including (i) any cash received in respect of any non-cash proceeds (including as a result of any monetization of non-cash proceeds), but only as and when received, (ii) in the case of a casualty, insurance proceeds received, and (iii) in the case of a condemnation or similar event, condemnation awards and similar payments received, net of (b) the sum of (A) all reasonable fees, discounts, commissions and out-of-pocket expenses (including any legal, title and recording tax expenses) paid by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries to third parties (other than Affiliates) in connection with such event, (B) in the case of a sale, transfer or other disposition of any property or asset (including pursuant to a Sale and Leaseback Transaction or a casualty or a condemnation or similar proceeding), the amount of all payments required to be made by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries as a result of such event to repay Indebtedness (other than the Loans) secured by such asset or otherwise subject to mandatory prepayment as a result of such event (it being understood that in the case of a Prepayment Event that results in a reduction of the amount of the Borrowing Base (as defined in the First Lien Agreement), the Net Cash Proceeds in respect of such event shall be reduced by this clause (B) by an amount equal to the reduction in the Borrowing Base that would have resulted had such event occurred on the date of the Borrowing Base Certificate (as defined in the First Lien Agreement) most recently delivered under the First Lien Agreement prior to the date of such event), and (C) the amount of all taxes paid (or reasonably estimated to be payable) by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries (including taxes required to be paid or withheld in respect of the transfer of amounts from the recipient thereof to a Borrower), and the amount of any reserves established by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries to fund contingent liabilities reasonably estimated to be payable, in each case during the year that such event occurred or the next succeeding year and that are directly attributable to such event (as determined reasonably and in good faith by a Financial Officer of the Borrower); provided, that to the extent and at the time any such amounts are released to the Borrower or any Subsidiary from such reserve, such amounts shall constitute Net Cash Proceeds. Notwithstanding the foregoing, amounts that would otherwise constitute Net Cash Proceeds shall not constitute Net Cash Proceeds to the extent that (x) currency or foreign exchange controls prevent the repatriation of such amounts to the United States or (y) the recipient of such amounts is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary and (1) the consent of any Person other than the Borrower or any Wholly Owned Subsidiary is required by applicable law or the terms of any organizational document of such non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary or other


 

17

agreement of such Subsidiary or any Affiliate of such Subsidiary in order for such Subsidiary to transfer such amounts to the Borrower (whether by distribution, loan or advance, repayment of intercompany Indebtedness or other commercially reasonable means) and (2) the Borrower endeavored in good faith to obtain such consents and such consents shall not have been obtained to permit the transfer of such proceeds by any of such means. The Net Cash Proceeds received by any non-Wholly Owned Subsidiary shall be deemed to equal the amount determined as set forth above multiplied by the Borrower’s aggregate direct or indirect percentage ownership of such Subsidiary. The Net Cash Proceeds of any event that is not a Prepayment Event shall be determined as if such event were a Prepayment Event.

          “Net Intercompany Items” means, in the case of any Subsidiary, (a) the aggregate amount of the Intercompany Items owed by the Borrower or any other Subsidiary to such Subsidiary minus (b) the aggregate amount of the Intercompany Items owed by such Subsidiary to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary.

          “North American Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary organized under the laws of the United States or Canada or any of their respective states, provinces, territories or possessions or any political subdivision of any thereof.

          “Obligations” means (a) the due and punctual payment of (i) the principal of and interest (including interest accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding) on the Loans, when and as due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, upon one or more dates set for prepayment or otherwise and (ii) all other monetary obligations of the Credit Parties to any of the Secured Parties under this Agreement and each of the other Credit Documents, including fees, costs, expenses and indemnities, whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise (including monetary obligations incurred during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), and (b) the due and punctual performance of all other obligations of the Credit Parties to any of the Secured Parties under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents.

          “Other Taxes” means any and all present or future stamp, documentary, excise, recording, transfer, sales, property or similar taxes, charges or levies arising from any payment made under any Credit Document or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, any Credit Document.

          “Participant” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04.

          “PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.

          “Perfection Certificate” means a certificate in the form of Exhibit II to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or any other form approved by the Collateral Agent.

          “Permitted Encumbrances” means:


 

18

          (a) (i) Liens imposed by law for taxes that are not yet due or are being contested and (ii) deemed trusts and Liens to which the Priority Payables Reserve relates for taxes, assessments or other charges or levies that are not yet due and payable;

          (b) carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s and other Liens imposed by law, arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more than 30 days (or any longer grace period available under the terms of the applicable underlying obligation) or are being contested;

          (c) Liens created and pledges and deposits made (including cash deposits to secure obligations in respect of letters of credit provided) in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations;

          (d) Liens created and deposits made to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business, and Liens created and deposits made prior to March 31, 2003 in the ordinary course of business to secure the performance of surety bonds;

          (e) judgment liens;

          (f) supplier’s liens in inventory, other assets supplied or accounts receivable that result from retention of title or extended retention of title arrangements arising in connection with purchases of goods in the ordinary course of business; and

          (g) easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on real property and other Liens incidental to the conduct of business or ownership of property that arise automatically by operation of law or arise in the ordinary course of business and that do not materially detract from the value of the property of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries or of the Collateral, in each case taken as a whole, or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or otherwise adversely affect in any material respect the rights or interests of the Lenders;

provided that (except as provided in clause (d) above) the term “Permitted Encumbrances” shall not include any Lien securing Indebtedness for borrowed money.

          “Permitted Investments” means:

          (a) direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States (or by any agency thereof to the extent such obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States), in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof;


 

19

          (b) investments in commercial paper maturing within 270 days from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of acquisition, ratings of A1 from Standard & Poor’s and P1 from Moody’s;

          (c) investments in certificates of deposit, banker’s acceptances and time deposits maturing within 180 days from the date of acquisition thereof and issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money market deposit accounts issued or offered by any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States or any State thereof which has a short term deposit rating of A1 from Standard & Poor’s and P1 from Moody’s and has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000;

          (d) fully collateralized repurchase agreements with a term of not more than 30 days for securities described in clause (a) above and entered into with a financial institution described in clause (c) above;

          (e) money market funds that (i) comply with the criteria set forth in Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, (ii) are rated AAA by Standard & Poor’s and Aaa by Moody’s and (iii) have portfolio assets of at least $5,000,000,000; and

          (f) in the case of any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary, (i) marketable direct obligations issued or unconditionally guaranteed by the sovereign nation in which such Subsidiary is organized and is conducting business or issued by any agency of such sovereign nation and backed by the full faith and credit of such sovereign nation, in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition, so long as the indebtedness of such sovereign nation is rated at least A by Standard & Poor’s or A2 by Moody’s or carries an equivalent rating from a comparable foreign rating agency, (ii) investments of the type and maturity described in clauses (b) through (e) of foreign obligors, which investments or obligors have ratings described in such clauses or equivalent ratings from comparable foreign rating agencies, (iii) investments of the type and maturity described in clause (c) in any obligor organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States that (A) is a branch or subsidiary of a Lender or the ultimate parent company of a Lender under one of the Credit Facilities Agreements (but only if such Lender meets the ratings and capital, surplus and undivided profits requirements of such clause (c)) or (B) carries a rating at least equivalent to the rating of the sovereign nation in which it is located, and (iv) other investments of the type and maturity described in clause (c) in obligors organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States in any country in which such Subsidiary is located; provided, that the investments permitted under this subclause (iv) shall be made in amounts and jurisdictions consistent with the Borrower’s policies governing short-term investments.

          “Permitted Preferred Stock” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.01(r).


 

20

          “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 or Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code, and in respect of which the Borrower, any Subsidiary 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.

          “Prepayment Event” means:

     (a) any sale, transfer, lease or other disposition (including pursuant to a Sale and Leaseback Transaction other than a Sale and Leaseback Transaction consummated not more than 180 days after the acquisition or completion of construction of the assets subject thereto) of any property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than the European JV and its Subsidiaries) to any Person other than the Borrower or any Credit Party, other than any sale, transfer, lease or other disposition (i) described in clause (b), (c), (d) or (i) of Section 6.06 or in Part III of Schedule 6.06 or in subclause (ii) of clause (f) of Section 6.06, or (ii) that results in Net Cash Proceeds not exceeding $15,000,000; and

     (b) any casualty or other insured damage to, or any taking under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding of, any property or asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary (other than the European JV and its Subsidiaries), but only to the extent that the Net Cash Proceeds from such event exceed $15,000,000 and then, if the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent that it or the applicable Subsidiary intends to apply such Net Cash Proceeds to repair, restore or replace the property or asset that shall have been damaged or taken, such event shall constitute a Prepayment Event only if such repair, restoration or replacement shall not have commenced within 180 days after such event and the Net Cash Proceeds of such event will be deemed for purposes of Section 2.07 to equal the amount not so applied.

          “Prime Rate” means the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by JPMCB (or any successor Administrative Agent appointed or chosen pursuant to Article VIII hereof) as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in New York City. Each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced as being effective.

          “Priority Payables Reserve” means, at any time, the sum, without duplication, of any deductions made pursuant to the definitions contained in the First Lien Agreement of “Additional Inventory Reserves”, “Inventory Reserves”, “Eligible Inventory” and “Inventory Value”, and the full amount of the liabilities at such time which have a trust imposed to provide for payment thereof or a security interest, Lien or charge ranking or capable of ranking, in each case senior to or pari passu with the Liens


 

21

created under the Security Documents under Canadian federal, provincial, territorial, county, municipal or local law with respect to claims for goods and services taxes, sales tax, income tax, workers’ compensation obligations, vacation pay or pension fund obligations.

          “Rationalization Charges” means, for any period, cash and non-cash charges related to rationalization actions designed to reduce capacity, eliminate redundancies and reduce costs. Rationalization Charges will be computed by a method consistent with that used in preparing the financial statements referred to in Section 3.04.

          “Register” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04.

          “Related Parties” means, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents, counsel, trustee and other advisors of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates.

          “Restricted Payment” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interests in the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property) on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancelation or termination of any such Equity Interests or any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such Equity Interests.

          “Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means any arrangement whereby the Borrower or a Subsidiary shall sell or transfer any property, real or personal, used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereinafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease from the buyer or transferee property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property sold or transferred, other than any such transaction entered into with respect to any property or any improvements thereto at the time of, or within 180 days after, the acquisition or completion of construction of such property or such improvements (or, if later, the commencement of commercial operation of any such property), as the case may be, to finance the cost of such property or such improvements, as the case may be.

          “Secured Parties” means the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and each Lender.

          “Securitization Transaction” means, with respect to any Person, (i) any transfer by such Person of accounts receivable, rights to future lease payments or residuals or other financial assets, and related property, or interests therein (a) to a trust, partnership, corporation or other entity, which transfer is funded in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, by the incurrence or issuance by the transferee or any successor transferee of Indebtedness or securities that are to receive payments from, or that represent interests in, the cash flow derived from such accounts receivable or interests, or (b) directly to one or more investors or other purchasers, (ii) any Indebtedness of such Person secured substantially entirely by accounts receivable, rights to future lease payments or residuals or other financial assets, and related property or (iii) any factoring


 

22

transaction involving substantially entirely accounts receivable, rights to future lease payments or residuals or other financial assets, and related property; provided that “Securitization Transaction” shall not include (A) the sale by any Foreign Subsidiary, in the ordinary course of its business, of drafts with a bank or other financial institution as the maker (or otherwise primarily responsible for the payment thereof), bankers acceptances or similar instruments received by such Foreign Subsidiary from a customer operating in a jurisdiction other than the United States or any of its territories or possessions or any political subdivision thereof in satisfaction of accounts receivable or otherwise as consideration for goods sold or services provided to such customer, (B) the sale, in the ordinary course of business, of drafts not payable on demand received by the Borrower or any Subsidiary from a customer in satisfaction of accounts receivable or otherwise as consideration for goods sold or services provided to such customer pursuant to an arrangement (1) initiated by and entered into at the request of such customer, and (2) under which a financial institution has agreed as part of a financing program established for and at the request of such customer to buy such drafts from such customer’s vendors (which arrangements may be modified by the Borrower or any Subsidiary to contemplate the repurchase of such drafts by such customer, or other actions by such customer to reinstate or to pay receivables in respect of which such drafts were created, in the event of any failure by such financial institution to buy such drafts) or (C) the sale of accounts receivable or proceeds thereof from customers of the Borrower and its Affiliates to the extent such sale (x) is initiated by and entered into a the request of such customers, and (y) involves the sale of such accounts receivable to financial institutions as part of financing programs established for and at the request of such customers. The amount of any Securitization Transaction shall be deemed at any time to be the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Indebtedness or securities referred to in the preceding sentence or, if there shall be no such principal amount, the equivalent outstanding amount of the funded investment.

          “Security Documents” means the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, the Foreign Pledge Agreements, the Canadian Security Agreements, the Mortgages and each other instrument or document delivered pursuant to Section 5.08 to secure any of the Obligations.

          “Senior Secured Leverage Ratio” means, at the time of each determination under Section 2.07(b) or 6.06(a), the ratio, determined on a pro forma basis, at such time of (a) Consolidated Net Secured Indebtedness at such time to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the most recently ended period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which financial statements have been delivered under Section 5.01(a) or (b) (or, at any time prior to the first delivery of such financial statements, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004).

          “Senior Subordinated-Lien Collateral Agent” means, as to any Senior Subordinated-Lien Indebtedness, the collateral agent under the applicable Senior Subordinated-Lien Indebtedness Security Documents.

          “Senior Subordinated-Lien Governing Documents” means each Indenture or other agreement or instrument providing for the issuance or setting forth the terms of any Senior Subordinated-Lien Indebtedness.


 

23

          “Senior Subordinated-Lien Indebtedness” means Indebtedness of the Borrower that (a) is secured by Liens permitted under Section 6.02(m), but that is not secured by Liens on any additional assets, (b) constitutes Initial Junior Indebtedness or Designated Junior Obligations under and as defined in the Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement, and the Liens securing which are subordinated under the Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement to the Liens securing the Obligations and (c) does not contain provisions inconsistent with the restrictions of Schedule 1.01C. Each of the Borrower’s 11% Senior Secured Notes due 2011 and its Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2011 issued on March 12, 2004, and the Indebtedness under the Third Lien Agreement are Senior Subordinated-Lien Indebtedness.

          “Senior Subordinated-Lien Indebtedness Security Documents” means, as to any Senior Subordinated-Lien Indebtedness, the security agreements, pledge agreements, mortgages and other documents creating Liens on assets of the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors to secure the applicable Senior Subordinated-Lien Obligations.

          “Senior Subordinated-Lien Obligations” means, as to any Senior Subordinated-Lien Indebtedness, (a) the principal of and all premium or make-whole amounts, if any, and interest payable in respect of such Senior Subordinated-Lien Indebtedness, (b) any amounts payable under Guarantees of such Senior Subordinated-Lien Indebtedness by Subsidiaries and (c) all other amounts payable by the Borrower or any Subsidiary under such Senior Subordinated-Lien Indebtedness, the applicable Senior Subordinated-Lien Indebtedness Security Documents (to the extent such amounts relate to such Senior Subordinated-Lien Indebtedness) or the applicable Senior Subordinated-Lien Governing Documents.

          “Specified Jurisdiction” means The United States of America and Canada.

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

          “Statutory Reserve Rate” means a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentages (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the Board to which the Administrative Agent is subject, with respect to the Adjusted LIBO Rate, for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency Liabilities” in Regulation D of the Board). Such reserve percentages shall include those imposed pursuant to such Regulation D. Eurodollar Loans shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under such Regulation D or any comparable regulation. The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

          “subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person (the “parent”) at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity the


 

24

accounts of which are consolidated with those of the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting 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 by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent.

          “Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Borrower (other than Tire & Wheel Assemblies, Inc. at any time when not more than 50% of the Equity Interests or 50% of the voting power are, as of such date, owned or Controlled by the Borrower).

          “Subsidiary Guarantor” means any Subsidiary that has become, or is required to become, a Guarantor (as defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement) pursuant to Section 4.01(k) or Section 5.08.

          “Swap Agreement” means any agreement, including any master 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 or prices for one or more 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.

          “Taxes” means any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any Governmental Authority.

          “Third Lien Agreement” means the Third Lien Credit Agreement dated as of the date hereof, among the Borrower, certain Subsidiaries of the Borrower party thereto, certain lenders and JPMCB, as administrative agent.

          “Third Lien Collateral Agreement” means the Collateral Agreement dated as of March 12, 2004, among the Borrower, the Subsidiary of the Borrower identified therein and Wilmington Trust Company, as collateral agent, attached as Exhibit I hereto.

          “Total Assets” of any Subsidiary means (a) in the case of any Subsidiary organized in a Specified Jurisdiction, (i) the total assets of such Subsidiary, excluding Intercompany Items, plus (ii) if the Net Intercompany Items of such Subsidiary shall be positive, the amount of such Net Intercompany Items; and (b) in the case of any other Subsidiary, the total assets of such Subsidiary, excluding Intercompany Items.

          “Transactions” means the execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement and by the Borrower, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Grantors, as applicable, of the other Credit Documents, the borrowing of the Loans, the creation of the Liens and Guarantees provided for in the Security Documents and the other transactions contemplated hereby.


 

25

          “2003 MGCA” means the Amended and Restated Master Guarantee and Collateral Agreement dated as of March 31, 2003, among the Borrower, the subsidiary guarantors thereunder, the subsidiary grantors thereunder, certain other Subsidiaries, certain financial institutions, and the Collateral Agent thereunder.

          “Type”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether the rate of interest on such Loan, or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing, is determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the Alternate Base Rate.

          “Wholly Owned Subsidiary” of any person shall mean a subsidiary of such person of which securities (except for directors’ qualifying shares) or other ownership interests representing 100% of the Equity Interests are, at the time any determination is being made, owned, controlled or held by such person or one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries of such person or by such person and one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries of such person.

          “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.

          SECTION 1.02. Foreign Currency Translation. For purposes of determining compliance as of any date with Section 6.01, 6.02, 6.03, 6.05 or 6.06, amounts incurred or outstanding in currencies other than dollars shall be translated into dollars at the exchange rates in effect on the first Business Day of the fiscal quarter in which such determination occurs or in respect of which such determination is being made, as such exchange rates shall be determined in good faith by the Borrower. No Default or Event of Default shall arise as a result of any limitation set forth in dollars in Section 6.01, 6.02, 6.03, 6.05 or 6.06 being exceeded solely as a result of changes in currency exchange rates from those rates applicable on the first Business Day of the fiscal quarter in which such determination occurs or in respect of which such determination is being made. For purposes of determining compliance as of any date with Section 6.08, amounts incurred in Euros during 2005 shall be translated into dollars at the exchange rate of $1.25 to €1.00, and amounts incurred in Euros during any subsequent year shall be translated into dollars at the exchange rate determined by the Borrower and used in its Annual Operating Plan for such year (which exchange rate shall be determined reasonably and set forth in the first certificate delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(c) during such year).

          SECTION 1.03. Terms Generally. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. Unless the context requires otherwise (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to


 

26

any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, but shall not be deemed to include the subsidiaries of such Person unless express reference is made to such subsidiaries, (c) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (d) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement, and (e) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

          SECTION 1.04. Accounting Terms; GAAP. (a) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided that, if the Borrower notifies the Administrative Agent that the Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower that the Majority Lenders request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith.

          (b) All pro forma computations required to be made under Section 6.01(q), 6.05(b) or 6.06(a) or for purposes of determining the Senior Secured Leverage Ratio giving effect to any incurrence of Indebtedness, Investment or Sale shall reflect on a pro forma basis such event, any related incurrence or reduction of Indebtedness or acquisition or Sale of assets, and, to the extent applicable, the historical earnings and cash flows associated with the assets acquired or disposed of, in each case as if such transaction occurred on the first day of the period in respect of which such computations are being made, but shall not take into account any projected synergies or similar benefits expected to be realized as a result of such event. In connection with such computations, if any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest expense on such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the date of determination had been the applicable rate for the entire period. Pro forma computations shall be made in good faith by a Financial Officer of the Borrower.

ARTICLE II

The Credits

          SECTION 2.01. Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender agrees to make a Loan to the Borrower on the Effective Date in a principal amount not exceeding its Commitment. Amounts paid or prepaid in respect of

 


 

27

Loans may not be reborrowed. The Commitments of Lenders shall expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Effective Date.

          SECTION 2.02. Loans and Borrowings. (a) Each Loan shall be part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments. The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided that the Commitments of the Lenders are several and no Lender shall be responsible for any other Lender’s failure to make Loans as required.

          (b) Subject to Section 2.10, each Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurodollar Loans as the Borrower may request in accordance herewith. Each Lender at its option may make any Eurodollar Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan; provided that any exercise of such option shall not affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

          (c) At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Eurodollar Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000. At the time that each ABR Borrowing is made, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000,000 and not less than $5,000,000. Borrowings of more than one Type may be outstanding at the same time; provided that there shall not at any time be more than a total of 20 Eurodollar Borrowings outstanding.

          (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Borrower shall not be entitled to request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Maturity Date.

          SECTION 2.03. Borrowing Procedure. To request a Borrowing on the Effective Date, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such request by telephone not later than 10:30 a.m., New York City time, on the Effective Date. Such telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Borrowing Request signed by the Borrower. Such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:

     (i) the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing;

     (ii) the proposed Effective Date, which shall be a Business Day;

     (iii) whether such Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing;

     (iv) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, the initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”; and

 


 

28

     (v) the location and number of the Borrower’s account to which funds are to be disbursed, which shall comply with the requirements of Section 2.04.

If no election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified, then the requested Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing. If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested Eurodollar Borrowing, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration. Promptly following receipt of a Borrowing Request in accordance with this Section, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of the amount of such Lender’s Loan to be made as part of the requested Borrowing.

          SECTION 2.04. Funding of Borrowings. (a) Each Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the Effective Date by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 12:30 p.m., New York City time, to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders. The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the Borrower by promptly crediting the amounts so received, in like funds, to the account designated by the Borrower in the Borrowing Request.

          (b) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the Effective Date that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of such Lender, the greater of the Federal Funds Effective Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation or (ii) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to ABR Loans. If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing. It is agreed that no payment by the Borrower under this paragraph will be subject to any break-funding payment under Section 2.12.

          SECTION 2.05. Interest Elections. (a) Each Borrowing initially shall be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request. Thereafter, the Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section. The Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion shall be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Loans

 


 

29

comprising such Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing.

          (b) To make an election pursuant to this Section, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent of such election by telephone (a) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 3:00 p.m., New York City time, three Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 10:30 a.m., New York City time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing. Each such telephonic Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or telecopy to the Administrative Agent of a written Interest Election Request signed by the Borrower.

          (c) Each telephonic and written Interest Election Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:

     (i) the Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies and, if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) below shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing);

     (ii) the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest Election Request, which shall be a Business Day;

     (iii) whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing; and

     (iv) if the resulting Borrowing is a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Interest Period to be applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”.

If any such Interest Election Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, then the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration.

          (d) Promptly following receipt of an Interest Election Request, the Administrative Agent shall advise each Lender of the details thereof and of such Lender’s portion of each resulting Borrowing.

          (e) If the Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Eurodollar Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period such Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing. Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent, at the request of the Majority Lenders, so notifies the Borrower, then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing (i) no outstanding Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing and

 


 

30

(ii) unless repaid, each Eurodollar Borrowing shall be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

          SECTION 2.06. Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt. (a) The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Loan on the Maturity Date.

          (b) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the Indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Loan made or held by such Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.

          (c) The Administrative Agent shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the Type thereof and the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each Lender’s share thereof.

          (d) The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (b) or (c) of this Section shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein (including any failure to record the making or repayment of any Loan) shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or prevent the Borrower’s obligations in respect of Loans from being discharged to the extent of amounts actually paid in respect thereof.

          (e) Any Lender may request that Loans made by it be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a promissory note payable to the order of such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns) in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit C hereto. Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 9.04) be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form payable to the order of the payee named therein (or, if such promissory note is a registered note, to such payee and its registered assigns).

          SECTION 2.07. Prepayment of Loans. (a) The Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time after the date that is six months after the Effective Date to voluntarily prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part, subject to paragraph (d) of this Section and Section 2.08(b). No prepayment may be made under this paragraph (a) at any time prior to the date that is six months after the Effective Date.

          (b) In the event and on each occasion that any Net Cash Proceeds are received by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of any Prepayment

 


 

31

Event, the Borrower shall, not later than the fifth Business Day after such Net Cash Proceeds are received, prepay Loans in an aggregate amount equal to the difference, if any, between (i) 50% of such Net Cash Proceeds and (ii) the portion of such Net Cash Proceeds required under Section 2.09(c) of the First Lien Agreement to be applied to prepay loans (with no corresponding reduction in commitments) under the First Lien Agreement (the “Available Amount”); provided that if the Senior Secured Leverage Ratio shall be less than 3.00 to 1.00 on the day such Net Cash Proceeds are received and no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing under clause (a), (b), (h), (i), (l) or (m) of Section 7.01 or as a result of a breach of Section 5.06, then no prepayment shall be required pursuant to this paragraph in respect of such Available Amount at such time. To the extent that the Borrower and the Subsidiaries do not apply all the Available Amount on or prior to the Business Day (the “Application Date”) next preceding the day that is 365 days after receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds to acquire assets that constitute Collateral at the time of such acquisition or will be owned by a Subsidiary, the Equity Interests of which constitute Collateral at the time of such acquisition, the Borrower shall, unless the Senior Secured Leverage Ratio shall be less than 3.00 to 1.00 on the Application Date, offer to prepay Loans on or prior to the Application Date in an amount equal to the portion of the Available Amount that shall not have been so applied; provided that no offer of prepayment shall be required to the extent such amount is required to be applied to prepay loans (with no corresponding reduction in commitments) under the First Lien Agreement on the Application Date, as required by Section 2.09(c) thereof. To effect any such offer, the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent by telephone (confirmed by telecopy) of the amount of the Loans subject to such offer to prepay and shall specify a date (not sooner than five Business Days after the date on which such notice is delivered but not later than three Business Days prior to the Application Date) by which each Lender shall be entitled to elect by written notice to the Administrative Agent to receive a prepayment of its Loan in an amount equal to such Lender’s ratable share of such prepayment amount based on the respective outstanding Loans of the Lenders. Promptly following receipt of any such notice relating to such offer of prepayment, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof and the Borrower shall prepay such Loans as the Lenders shall elect to have prepaid not later than the Application Date (and no prepayment shall be required in respect of amounts offered to Lenders who did not elect to accept a prepayment).

          (c) If on any date the aggregate principal amount, without duplication, of the outstanding loans, the undrawn amount of the outstanding letters of credit and the unused commitments under the First Lien Agreement shall be increased to an amount in excess of $1,750,000,000 (or in excess of any larger amount to which such outstanding loans, undrawn letters of credit and unused commitments shall theretofore have been increased if in connection with such increase the Borrower was required to offer to prepay Loans under this clause (c)), the Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent by telephone (confirmed by telecopy) of such excess and shall specify a date not sooner than five Business Days after the date on which such excess first arises by which each Lender shall be entitled to elect by written notice to the Administrative Agent to receive a prepayment of its Loan in an amount equal to such Lender’s ratable share of such excess based on the respective outstanding Loans of the Lenders. Promptly following receipt of any such notice relating to such an excess, the Administrative Agent shall advise the

 


 

32

Lenders of the contents thereof and the Borrower shall prepay such Loans as the Lenders shall elect to have prepaid Loans not later than three Business after the last day by which Lenders are permitted to elect to receive a prepayment (and no prepayment shall be required in respect of amounts offered to Lenders who did not elect to accept a prepayment).

          (d) The Borrower shall notify the Administrative Agent by telephone (confirmed by telecopy) of any prepayment under paragraph (a) or (b) above (i) in the case of prepayment of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 3:00 p.m., New York City time, three Business Days before the date of prepayment and (ii) in the case of prepayment of an ABR Borrowing, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, one Business Day before the date of prepayment. Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing or portion thereof to be prepaid. Promptly following receipt of any such notice relating to a Borrowing, the Administrative Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each partial prepayment of any Borrowing under paragraph (a) shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Borrowing of the same Type as provided in Section 2.02. Each prepayment of a Borrowing shall be applied ratably to the Loans included in the prepaid Borrowing. Prepayments shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.09.

          SECTION 2.08. Fees. (a) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, fees in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

          (b) All prepayments of Loans made pursuant to Section 2.07(a) on or after the first date on which such prepayments are permitted to be made under such paragraph (a) but on or prior to the first anniversary of the Effective Date will be accompanied by a prepayment fee equal to 1.00% of the aggregate principal amount of such prepayment. Such fee shall be paid by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, for the accounts of the Lenders, on the date of any such prepayment.

          (c) All fees and other amounts payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent for distribution, where applicable, to the Lenders. Fees paid shall not be refundable under any circumstances.

          SECTION 2.09. Interest. (a) The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing shall bear interest at the Alternate Base Rate plus 1.75% per annum.

          (b) The Loans comprising each Eurodollar Borrowing shall bear interest at the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus 2.75% per annum.

          (c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any principal of or interest on any Loan or any fee or other amount payable by the Borrower hereunder is not paid when due, whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise, such overdue amount

 


 

33

shall bear interest, after as well as before judgment, at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of overdue principal of any Loan, 2.00% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan as provided in the preceding paragraphs of this Section or (ii) in the case of any other amount, 2.00% plus the rate applicable to ABR Loans as provided in paragraph (a) of this Section.

          (d) Accrued interest on each Loan shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan, accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment and (iii) in the event of any conversion of any Eurodollar Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion.

          (e) All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except that interest computed by reference to the Alternate Base Rate at times when the Alternate Base Rate is based on the Prime Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day). The applicable Alternate Base Rate or Adjusted LIBO Rate shall be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

          SECTION 2.10. Alternate Rate of Interest. If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing:

          (a) the Administrative Agent determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate for such Interest Period; or

          (b) the Administrative Agent is advised by the Majority Lenders that the Adjusted LIBO Rate for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders (or any Lender) of making or maintaining their Loans (or its Loan) included in such Borrowing for such Interest Period;

then the Administrative Agent shall give notice thereof to the Borrower and the Lenders by telephone or telecopy as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Borrowing to, or continuation of any Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be ineffective and (ii) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be made as an ABR Borrowing. Each determination by the Administrative Agent hereunder shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

          SECTION 2.11. Increased Costs. (a) If any Change in Law shall:

     (i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit

 


 

34

extended by, any Lender (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted LIBO Rate); or

     (ii) impose on any Lender or the London interbank market any other condition (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Loans made by such Lender;

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining any Eurodollar Loan by an amount deemed by such Lender to be material, then the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

          (b) If any Lender determines that any Change in Law regarding capital requirements has had or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, in each case by an amount deemed by such Lender to be material, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans made by such Lender, to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company would have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

          (c) A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof, unless such amount is being contested by the Borrower in good faith.

          (d) Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than 180 days prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 180-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.

          SECTION 2.12. Break Funding Payments. In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default), (b) the conversion of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, (c) the failure to borrow, continue or prepay any Eurodollar Loan, or to convert any Loan to a Eurodollar Loan, on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto, or (d) the assignment of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period

 


 

35

applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.15, then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event. In the case of a Eurodollar Loan, such loss, cost or expense to any Lender shall be deemed to include an amount determined by such Lender to be the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest which would have accrued on the principal amount of such Loan had such event not occurred, at the Adjusted LIBO Rate that would have been applicable to such Loan, for the period from the date of such event to the last day of the then current Interest Period therefor (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, for the period that would have been the Interest Period for such Loan), over (ii) the amount of interest which would accrue on such principal amount for such period at the interest rate which such Lender would bid were it to bid, at the commencement of such period, for dollar deposits of a comparable amount and period from other banks in the eurodollar market. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to the Borrower. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof, unless such amount is being contested by the Borrower in good faith.

          SECTION 2.13. Taxes. (a) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower or any other Credit Party hereunder or under any other Credit Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes; provided that if the Borrower or any other Credit Party shall be required to deduct any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes from such payments, then (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions of such Taxes (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the Administrative Agent or Lender (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made (and the Borrower shall pay or cause such Credit Party to pay such increased amount), (ii) the Borrower or such other Credit Party shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower or such other Credit Party shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

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

          (c) In addition, the Borrower shall pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

 


 

36

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

          (e) Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments under this Agreement shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), at the time such Foreign Lender first becomes a party to this Agreement and at the time or times prescribed by applicable law, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrower as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate; provided that such Foreign Lender has received written notice from the Borrower advising it of the availability of such exemption or reduction and supplying all applicable documentation.

          SECTION 2.14. Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Setoffs. (a) Except as required or permitted under Section 2.07, 2.11, 2.12, 2.13, 2.15 or 9.03, each Borrowing, each payment or prepayment of principal of any Borrowing, each payment of interest on the Loans, each payment of fees and each refinancing of any Borrowing with a Borrowing of any Type, shall be allocated pro rata among the Lenders in accordance with the respective principal amounts of their outstanding Loans. Each Lender agrees that in computing such Lender’s portion of any Borrowing to be made hereunder, the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion, round each Lender’s percentage of such Borrowing to the next higher or lower whole dollar amount.

          (b) The Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest or fees, or of amounts payable under Section 2.11, 2.12 or 2.13 or otherwise) prior to 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without setoff, counterclaim or other deduction. Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon. All such payments shall be made to the Administrative Agent to the applicable account specified by the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable Lenders or, in any such case, to such other account as the Administrative Agent shall from time to time specify in a notice delivered to the Borrower, except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.11, 2.12, 2.13, 2.15 and 9.03 shall be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto. The Administrative Agent shall distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other Person in appropriate ratable shares to the appropriate recipient or recipients promptly following receipt thereof. If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension. All payments hereunder shall be made in dollars. Any payment required to be made by the Administrative Agent hereunder shall be deemed to have been

 


 

37

made by the time required if the Administrative Agent shall, at or before such time, have taken the necessary steps to make such payment in accordance with the regulations or operating procedures of the clearing or settlement system used by the Administrative Agent to make such payment.

          (c) If at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent to pay fully all amounts of principal, interest and fees then due hereunder, such funds shall be applied (i) first, towards payment of interest and fees then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties, and (ii) second, towards payment of principal then due hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal then due to such parties.

          (d) 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 its Loans resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Loans and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans of other Lenders to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans. If any participations are purchased pursuant to the preceding sentence and all or any portion of the payments giving rise thereto are recovered, such participations shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest. The provisions of this paragraph shall not be construed to apply to any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans to any assignee or participant, other than to the Borrower or any Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this paragraph shall apply). The Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law and under this Agreement, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

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

 


 

38

          (f) If any Lender shall fail to make any payment required to be made by it hereunder for the account of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender to satisfy such Lender’s obligations in respect of such payment until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid.

          SECTION 2.15. Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders. (a) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.11 or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.13, then such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or affiliates, if, in the judgment of such Lender, such designation or assignment (i) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.11 or 2.13, as the case may be, in the future and (ii) would not subject such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

          (b) If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.11, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.13, or if any Lender shall become the subject of any insolvency or similar proceeding or filing or default in its obligation to fund Loans hereunder, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 9.04), all its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (i) the Borrower shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, (ii) such Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee or the Borrower, as the case may be, and (iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.11 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.13, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments.

ARTICLE III

Representations and Warranties

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

          SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers. The Borrower and each of the other Credit Parties is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the

 


 

39

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, would not be reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Change, is qualified to do business, and is in good standing, in every jurisdiction where such qualification is required. Each Subsidiary of the Borrower other than the Credit Parties 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 is qualified to do business, and is in good standing, in every jurisdiction where such qualification is required, except for failures that, individually or in the aggregate, would not be materially likely to result in a Material Adverse Change.

          SECTION 3.02. Authorization; Enforceability. The Transactions to be entered into by each Credit Party are within such Credit Party’s powers and have been duly authorized. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower and constitutes, and each other Credit Document to which any Credit Party is to be a party, when executed and delivered by such Credit Party, will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower or such Credit Party, as the case may be, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

          SECTION 3.03. Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts. (a) Except to the extent that no Material Adverse Change would be materially likely to result, the Transactions (i) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except such as are required to perfect Liens created under the Security Documents and such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect, (ii) will not violate any applicable law or regulation or the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries or any order of any Governmental Authority, (iii) will not violate or result in a default under any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries or any of their assets, and (iv) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries, except Liens created under the Credit Documents.

          (b) The incurrence of each Loan, each Guarantee thereof under the Credit Documents and each Lien securing any of the Obligations, is permitted under the Junior Lien Indenture and each other indenture or other agreement governing any Senior Subordinated-Lien Indebtedness in effect at the time of such incurrence, and the Loans and Guarantees thereof under the Credit Documents constitute Designated Senior Obligations under the Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement.

          SECTION 3.04. Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Change. (a) The Borrower has heretofore furnished to the Lenders its consolidated balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004. Such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position and consolidated results of operations and

 


 

40

cash flows of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries as of such date and for such fiscal year in accordance with GAAP.

          (b) Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Documents, since December 31, 2004, there has been no event or condition that constitutes or would be materially likely to result in a Material Adverse Change, it being agreed that a reduction in any rating relating to the Borrower issued by any rating agency shall not, in and of itself, be an event or condition that constitutes or would be materially likely to result in a Material Adverse Change (but that events or conditions underlying or resulting from any such reduction may constitute or be materially likely to result in a Material Adverse Change).

          SECTION 3.05. Litigation and Environmental Matters. (a) Except as set forth in the Disclosure Documents, there are no actions, suits or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries (i) as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination and that if adversely determined would be materially likely, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Change or (ii) that involve the Credit Documents or the Transactions.

          (b) Except as set forth in the Disclosure Documents, and except with respect to matters that, individually or in the aggregate, would not be materially likely to result in a Material Adverse Change, neither the Borrower nor any of the 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, (ii) has become subject to any Environmental Liability, (iii) has received notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or (iv) knows of any basis for any Environmental Liability.

          SECTION 3.06. Compliance with Laws and Agreements. The Borrower and each of the 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 be in compliance, individually or in the aggregate, would not be materially likely to result in a Material Adverse Change. No Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

          SECTION 3.07. Investment and Holding Company Status. Neither the Borrower nor any of the Subsidiaries is (a) an “investment company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or (b) a “holding company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended.

          SECTION 3.08. ERISA and Canadian Pension Plans. (a) Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Documents, no ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred or are reasonably expected to occur, would be materially likely to result in a Material Adverse Change.

 


 

41

          (b) Except as would not be materially likely to result in a Material Adverse Change, (i) the Canadian Pension Plans are duly registered under the Income Tax Act (Canada) and all other applicable laws which require registration and no event has occurred which is reasonably likely to cause the loss of such registered status; (ii) all material obligations of each Credit Party (including fiduciary, funding, investment and administration obligations) required to be performed in connection with the Canadian Pension Plans and the funding agreements therefor have been performed in a timely fashion; (iii) to the knowledge of the Credit Parties there have been no improper withdrawals of the assets of the Canadian Pension Plans or the Canadian Benefit Plans; (iv) there are no outstanding material disputes concerning the assets of the Canadian Pension Plans or the Canadian Benefit Plans; and (v) each of the Canadian Pension Plans is being funded in accordance with the actuarial valuation reports last filed with the applicable Governmental Authorities and which are consistent with generally accepted actuarial principles.

          SECTION 3.09. Disclosure. Neither the Information Memorandum nor the reports, financial statements, certificates or other written information referred to in Section 3.04 or delivered after the date hereof by or on behalf of any Credit Party to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender pursuant to Section 5.01 (taken together with all other information so furnished and as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contained or will contain, in each case as of the date delivered, any material misstatement of fact or omitted or will omit to state, in each case as of the date delivered, any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information or other forward looking information, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time.

          SECTION 3.10. Security Interests. (a) When executed and delivered, each of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and the Canadian Security Agreements will be effective to create in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties a valid and enforceable security interest in the Collateral, to the extent contemplated by the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or the Canadian Security Agreements, as the case may be, and (i) when the Collateral constituting certificated securities (as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code) is delivered to the Collateral Agent (or its sub-agent for perfection) thereunder, together with instruments of transfer duly endorsed in blank, the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement will create, to the extent contemplated by the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, a perfected security interest in all right, title and interest of the Grantors in such certificated securities to the extent perfection is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in any applicable jurisdiction, subject to no other Lien other than Liens permitted under Section 6.02 that take priority over security interests in certificated securities perfected by the possession of such securities under the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the applicable jurisdiction, and (ii) when financing statements in appropriate form are filed, and any other applicable registrations are made, in the offices specified in the Perfection Certificate, the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and the Canadian Security Agreements will create a perfected security interest (or hypothec, as applicable) in all

 


 

42

right, title and interest of the Grantors in the remaining Collateral to the extent perfection can be obtained by filing Uniform Commercial Code financing statements and making such other applicable filings and registrations in such jurisdictions, subject to no other Lien other than Liens permitted under Section 6.02. The exclusion of the Consent Assets (as defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement) from the Collateral does not materially reduce the aggregate value of the Collateral.

          (b) Each Mortgage, upon execution and delivery by the parties thereto, will create in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a legal, valid and enforceable Lien on all the applicable mortgagor’s right, title and interest in and to the Mortgaged Properties subject thereto and the proceeds thereof, and when the Mortgages have been filed or registered in the counties specified in Schedule 3.10(b), the Mortgages will create perfected Liens on all right, title and interest of the mortgagors in the Mortgaged Properties and the proceeds thereof, prior and superior in right to Liens in favor of any other Person (other than as provided in the Lenders Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement and other than Liens or other encumbrances for which exceptions are taken in the policies of title insurance delivered in respect of the Mortgaged Properties on or prior to the Effective Date and Liens permitted under Section 6.02).

          (c) Upon (i) the recordation of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or a memorandum of such Agreement with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and (ii) the recordation of the Canadian Security Agreements with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and the Canadian Security Agreements, as the case may be, will create in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a perfected Lien on all right, title and interest of the Grantors in the Material Intellectual Property in which a security interest may be perfected by such recordation in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, as the case may be, in each case (i) prior and superior in right to any other Person and (ii) subject to no other Lien other than, in the case of (i) and (ii), as provided in the Lenders Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement and other than Liens permitted under Section 6.02 (it being understood that subsequent recordings in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, as the case may be, may be necessary to perfect a Lien on registered trademarks and trademark applications acquired by the Grantors after the Effective Date). As of the Effective Date, Schedule 3.10(c) sets forth all the Material Intellectual Property.

          (d) Upon the recordation of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration, the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement will create in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a perfected Lien on all right, title and interest of the Grantors in the Aircraft Collateral (as defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement) in which a security interest may be perfected by such recordation with the Federal Aviation Administration, in each case, other than as provided in the Lenders Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement, prior and superior in right to any other Person and subject to no other Lien other than Liens permitted under Section 6.02.

 


 

43

          (e) None of the Perfection Certificate or any other written information relating to the Collateral delivered after the date hereof by or on behalf of any Credit Party to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or any Lender pursuant to any provision of any Credit Document is or will be incorrect when delivered in any respect material to the rights or interests of the Lenders under the Credit Documents.

          SECTION 3.11. Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loans will be used only for the purposes referred to in the preamble to this Agreement. No part of the proceeds of any Loan will be used, whether directly or indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation of any of the Regulations of the Board, including Regulations T, U and X.

ARTICLE IV

Conditions

          SECTION 4.01. Effective Date. The obligations of the Lenders to make Loans hereunder shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived or deferred in accordance with Section 9.02 or the penultimate paragraph of this Section 4.01):

          (a) The Administrative Agent (or its counsel) shall have received from the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each Lender either (i) counterparts of this Agreement signed on behalf of each 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 each such party has signed a counterpart of this Agreement.

          (b) The Administrative Agent shall have received favorable written opinions (addressed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and dated the Effective Date) of (i) Covington & Burling, counsel for the Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit E-1, and (ii) the General Counsel, the Associate General Counsel or an Assistant General Counsel of the Borrower, substantially in the form of Exhibit E-2, and covering such other matters relating to the Credit Parties, the Credit Documents or the Transactions as the Administrative Agent or the Majority Lenders shall reasonably request.

          (c) 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 by the Credit Parties of the Transactions and any other legal matters relating to the Borrower, the other Credit Parties, the Credit Documents or the Transactions, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and its counsel.

          (d) The commitments under the ABL Facilities Agreement and the Deposit-Funded Agreement shall have terminated, all loans thereunder shall have been repaid, all other amounts outstanding or accrued for the accounts of or owing to the lenders thereunder (including the repayment or extension premium provided for in the

 


 

44

ABL Facilities Agreement) and all letters of credit thereunder (other than the “Existing Letters of Credit” as defined in the First Lien Agreement) shall have been canceled or returned. The European Facilities Agreement shall have become effective with a maturity not earlier than the Commitment Termination Date. The amendment and restatement of the European Guarantee and Collateral Agreement shall have become effective in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit J.

          (e) The Obligations shall have been designated by the Borrower as, and shall be, “Designated Senior Obligations” under the Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement.

          (f) The First Lien Agreement shall have become effective or shall concurrently become effective in substantially the form thereof most recently posted to IntraLinks prior to the date hereof with only such changes thereto as shall not be adverse to the Lenders in any material respect and shall have been approved by the Administrative Agent. All conditions to the effectiveness of the First Lien Agreement shall have been satisfied, and the First Lien Agreement shall have become effective. The Collateral Agent and the collateral agent under the First Lien Agreement shall have entered into the Lenders Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement.

          (g) The representations and warranties set forth in Article III and in the other Credit Documents (insofar as the representations and warranties in such other Credit Documents relate to the transactions provided for herein or to the Collateral securing the Obligations) shall be true and correct in all material respects on the Effective Date and the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate signed by a Financial Officer to the effect that the representations and warranties set forth in Article III shall be true and correct in all material respects on the Effective Date.

          (h) The Borrower and the other Credit Parties shall be in compliance with all the terms and provisions set forth herein and in the other Credit Documents in all material respects on their part to be observed or performed, and at the time of and immediately after the Effective Date, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing, and the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate signed by a Financial Officer to that effect.

          (i) The Administrative Agent shall have received all fees and other amounts due and payable on or prior to the Effective Date, including, to the extent invoiced, reimbursement or payment of all out-of-pocket expenses required to be reimbursed or paid by the Borrower hereunder.

          (j) The Administrative Agent shall have received (i) a completed Perfection Certificate dated the Effective Date and signed by a Financial Officer, together with all attachments contemplated thereby, and (ii) the results of a search of the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent) filings or registrations made with respect to the Credit Parties in the jurisdictions referred to in paragraph 1 of the Perfection Certificate and copies of the financing statements (or similar documents) disclosed by such search.

 


 

45

          (k) The Administrative Agent shall have received from the Borrower and each Domestic Subsidiary (other than the Excluded Subsidiaries and the Consent Subsidiaries) a counterpart of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Borrower or such Subsidiary as a Guarantor and (in the case of each Subsidiary that is a Grantor under the guarantee and collateral agreement under the Deposit-Funded Agreement) a Grantor. The Administrative Agent shall have received from the Canadian Grantors counterparts of the Canadian Security Agreements duly executed and delivered on behalf of such Canadian Grantors.

          (l) The Collateral Agent (or its sub-agent for perfection) shall have received certificates representing all Equity Interests (other than any uncertificated Equity Interests) pledged pursuant to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, together with undated stock powers or other instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank.

          (m) All Uniform Commercial Code financing statements or other personal property security filings and recordations with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office and the Federal Aviation Administration required by law or reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent to be filed or recorded to perfect the Liens intended to be created on the Collateral (to the extent such Liens may be perfected by filings under the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in any applicable jurisdiction or by filings or registrations under applicable Canadian personal property security legislation or by filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the Federal Aviation Administration) shall have been filed or recorded or delivered to the Collateral Agent for filing or recording.

          (n) The Collateral Agent shall have received (i) counterparts of a Mortgage with respect to each Mortgaged Property, duly executed and delivered by the record owner of such Mortgaged Property, (ii) a policy or policies of title insurance issued by a nationally recognized title insurance company insuring the Lien of each such Mortgage as a valid first Lien on the Mortgaged Property described therein, free of any other Liens (other than Liens referred to in such policies of title insurance and acceptable to the Administrative Agent and Liens permitted by Section 6.02), together with such endorsements as the Collateral Agent or the Majority Lenders may reasonably request, and (iii) such legal opinions and other documents as shall reasonably have been requested by the Collateral Agent with respect to any such Mortgage or Mortgaged Property.

          (o) The Administrative Agent shall have received from each “Deposit Account Institution” that is required to be party to a “Lockbox Agreement” (as such terms are defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement) evidence that such agreement has been duly executed by all requisite parties and has become effective.

          The Collateral Agent may enter into agreements with the Borrower to grant extensions of time for the perfection of security interests in or the delivery of surveys, title insurance, legal opinions or other documents with respect to particular assets where it determines that perfection cannot be accomplished or such documents cannot be delivered without undue effort or expense by the Effective Date or any later

 


 

46

date on which they are required to be accomplished or delivered under this Agreement or the Security Documents. Any failure of the Borrower to satisfy a requirement of any such agreement by the date specified therein (or any later date to which the Collateral Agent may agree) shall constitute a breach of the provision of this Agreement or the Security Document under which the original requirement was applicable. Without limiting the foregoing, it is anticipated that the actions listed on Schedule 4.01 will not have been completed by the Effective Date, and the Borrower covenants and agrees that each of such actions will be completed by the date specified for such action in such Schedule 4.01 (or any later date to which the Collateral Agent may agree) and that the Borrower will comply with all of the undertakings set forth in Schedule 4.01.

          The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders of the Effective Date in writing, and such notice shall be conclusive and binding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligations of the Lenders to make Loans hereunder shall not become effective unless each of the foregoing conditions shall have been satisfied (or waived pursuant to Section 9.02) at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on April 30, 2005 (and, in the event such conditions are not so satisfied or waived, the Commitments shall terminate at such time).

ARTICLE V

Affirmative Covenants

          Until the Commitments shall have expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder shall have been paid in full, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

          SECTION 5.01. Financial Statements and Other Information. The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender:

          (a) (i) as soon as available and in any event within 110 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, its audited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of income, 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 PricewaterhouseCoopers or other independent public accountants of recognized national standing (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 Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP consistently applied; and (ii) as soon as available and in any event on or before April 30 of each fiscal year of the Borrower, an annual operating plan for such fiscal year prepared by management of the Borrower in a manner consistent with past practice, which annual operating plan shall include, for such fiscal year, (A) annual and quarterly projected income statements, annual and quarterly projected statements of cash flow, and a projected year-end balance sheet as of the last day of such fiscal year, in each case, for the Borrower and its

 


 

47

Consolidated Subsidiaries, and (B) quarterly projections of unit and dollar sales, EBIT and operating cash flow by business unit;

          (b) as soon as available and in any event within 60 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, its consolidated balance sheet and related statements of income, stockholders’ equity 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 Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

          (c) other than in connection with the delivery of financial statements for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2005, not later than one Business Day after each delivery of financial statements under clause (a) or (b) above, a certificate of 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) demonstrating compliance with Sections 6.08 at the end of the period to which such financial statements relate and for each applicable period then ended, (iii) stating whether any change in GAAP or in the application thereof has occurred since the date of the most recent audited financial statements delivered under clause (a) above (or, prior to the delivery of any such financial statements, since December 31, 2004) and, if any such change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate and (iv) specifying the exchange rate determined by the Borrower and used in the annual operating plan delivered under clause (a) above for the then current fiscal year (which rate the Borrower agrees to determine reasonably);

          (d) promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary with the United States 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, or distributed by the Borrower to its shareholders generally, as the case may be;

          (e) other than in connection with the delivery of financial statements for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2005, not later than one Business Day after each delivery of financial statements under clause (a) or (b) above, and at such other times as the Borrower may determine, a certificate of a Financial Officer identifying each Domestic Subsidiary formed or acquired after the Effective Date and not previously identified in a certificate delivered pursuant to this paragraph, stating whether each such Domestic Subsidiary is a Consent Subsidiary and describing the factors that shall have led to the identification of any such Domestic Subsidiary as a Consent Subsidiary;

 


 

48

          (f) from time to time, all information and documentation required to be delivered under Section 4.04 of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement;

          (g) other than in connection with the delivery of financial statements for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2005, not later than one Business Day after each delivery of financial statements under clause (a) or (b) above, a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Borrower certifying that the requirements of Section 5.08 have been satisfied in all material respects; and

          (h) promptly following any request therefor, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of this Agreement or the other Credit Documents, or the perfection of the security interests created by the Security Documents, as the Administrative Agent or any Lender may reasonably request.

          Information required to be delivered pursuant to this Section 5.01 shall be deemed to have been delivered if such information, or one or more annual or quarterly reports containing such information, shall have been posted by the Administrative Agent on an IntraLinks or similar site to which the Lenders have been granted access or shall be available on the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission at http://www.sec.gov; provided that the Borrower shall deliver paper copies of such information to any Lender that requests such delivery. Information required to be delivered pursuant to this Section 5.01 may also be delivered by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent.

          SECTION 5.02. Notices of Defaults. The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and each Lender prompt written notice of the occurrence of any Default, together with a statement of a Financial Officer or other executive officer of the Borrower setting forth the details of the event or development requiring such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.

          SECTION 5.03. Existence; Conduct of Business. The Borrower will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to, do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence and the rights, licenses, permits, privileges and franchises material to the conduct of its business, except to the extent that failures to keep in effect such rights, licenses, permits, privileges and franchises would not be materially likely, individually or in the aggregate for all such failures, to result in a Material Adverse Change; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 6.04.

          SECTION 5.04. Maintenance of Properties. The Borrower will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to, keep and maintain all its property in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, except to the extent any failure to do so would not, individually or in the aggregate, be materially likely to result in a Material Adverse Change (it being understood that the foregoing shall not prohibit any sale of any assets permitted by Section 6.06).

 


 

49

          SECTION 5.05. Books and Records; Inspection and Audit Rights. The Borrower will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to, keep books of record and account sufficient to enable the Borrower to prepare the financial statements and other information required to be delivered under Section 5.01. The Borrower will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to, permit any representatives designated by the Administrative Agent (or by any Lender acting through the Administrative Agent), upon reasonable prior notice, to visit and inspect its properties (accompanied by a representative of the Borrower) and to discuss its affairs, finances and condition with its officers, all at such reasonable times and as often as reasonably requested.

          SECTION 5.06. Compliance with Laws. The Borrower will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to, comply with all laws, including Environmental Laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not be materially likely to result in a Material Adverse Change.

          SECTION 5.07. Insurance. The Borrower will, and will cause each of the Subsidiaries to, maintain, with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, insurance in such amounts and against such risks as are customary among companies of established reputation engaged in the same or similar businesses and operating in the same or similar locations, except to the extent the failure to do so would not be materially likely to result in a Material Adverse Change. The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, upon request, information in reasonable detail as to the insurance so maintained.

          SECTION 5.08. Guarantees and Collateral. (a) In the event that there shall at any time exist any North American Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary or Consent Subsidiary) that shall not be a party to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or the Canadian Security Agreements, as the case may be, the Borrower will promptly notify the Collateral Agent (including in such notice the information that would have been required to be set forth with respect to such Subsidiary in the Perfection Certificate if such Subsidiary had been one of the Grantors listed therein) and will, within 30 days (or such longer period as may be reasonable under the circumstances) after such notification, deliver to the Collateral Agent a supplement to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or the Canadian Security Agreements, as the case may be, in substantially the form specified therein, duly executed and delivered on behalf of such North American Subsidiary, pursuant to which such North American Subsidiary will become a party to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and a Subsidiary Guarantor and, if it elects to become a Grantor or if its Total Assets are greater than $10,000,000 as of December 31, 2004, or if later, as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or (b), a Grantor, in each case as defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement.

          (b) In the event that the Borrower or any other Grantor shall at any time directly own any Equity Interests of any Subsidiary (other than (i) Equity Interests in any Subsidiary with Total Assets not greater than $10,000,000 as of December 31, 2004, or if later, as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter for which financial statements have

 


 

50

been delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or (b), (ii) Equity Interests in any Excluded Subsidiary or Consent Subsidiary and (iii) Equity Interests already pledged in accordance with this paragraph or Section 4.01(l)), the Borrower will promptly notify the Collateral Agent and will, within 30 days (or such longer period as may be reasonable under the circumstances) after such notification, cause such Equity Interests to be pledged under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and cause to be delivered to the Collateral Agent (or its sub-agent for perfection) any certificates representing such Equity Interests, together with undated stock powers or other instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank; provided, that (A) no Grantor shall be required to pledge more than 65% of outstanding voting Equity Interests of any Foreign Subsidiary and (B) no Grantor shall be required to pledge any Equity Interests in any Foreign Subsidiary if a Financial Officer shall have delivered a certificate to the Administrative Agent certifying that the Borrower has determined, on the basis of reasonable inquiries in the jurisdiction of such Person, that such pledge would affect materially and adversely the ability of such Person to conduct its business in such jurisdiction.

          (c) In the event that the Borrower or any other Grantor shall at any time directly own any Equity Interests of any Material Foreign Subsidiary (other than Equity Interests already pledged in accordance with this paragraph and Equity Interests in any Consent Subsidiary), the Borrower will promptly notify the Collateral Agent and will take all such actions as the Collateral Agent shall reasonably request and as shall be available under applicable law to cause such Equity Interests to be pledged under a Foreign Pledge Agreement and cause to be delivered to the Collateral Agent (or its sub-agent for perfection) any certificates representing such Equity Interests, together with undated stock powers or other instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank; provided, that (A) no Grantor shall be required to pledge more than 65% of outstanding voting Equity Interests of any Foreign Subsidiary and (B) no Grantor shall be required to pledge any Equity Interests in any Person if a Financial Officer shall have delivered a certificate to the Administrative Agent certifying that the Borrower has determined, on the basis of reasonable inquiries in the jurisdiction of such Person, that such pledge would affect materially and adversely the ability of such Person to conduct its business in such jurisdiction.

          (d) In the event that the Borrower or any other Grantor shall at any time own any Material Intellectual Property (other than Material Intellectual Property as to which the actions required by this paragraph have already been taken), the Borrower will promptly notify the Collateral Agent and will file all Uniform Commercial Code financing statements or other applicable personal property security law filings and recordations with the Patent and Trademark Office or the Canadian Intellectual Property Office as shall be required by law or reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent to be filed or recorded to perfect the Liens intended to be created on the Collateral (to the extent such Liens may be perfected by filings under the Uniform Commercial Code or other personal property security legislation as in effect in any applicable jurisdiction or by filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the Canadian Intellectual Property Office); provided, that if the consents of Persons other than the Borrower and the Wholly Owned Subsidiaries would be required under applicable law or the terms of any agreement in order for a security interest to be created in any Material

 


 

51

Intellectual Property under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or the Canadian Security Agreements, as the case may be, a security interest shall not be required to be created in such Material Intellectual Property prior to the obtaining of such consents. The Borrower will endeavor in good faith to obtain any consents required to permit any security interest in Material Intellectual Property to be created under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or the Canadian Security Agreements, as the case may be.

          (e) The Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, execute any and all further documents, financing statements, agreements and instruments, and take all such further actions, as may be reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent in order to cause the security interests purported to be created by the Security Documents or required to be created under the terms of this Agreement to constitute valid security interests, perfected in accordance with this Agreement.

ARTICLE VI

Negative Covenants

          Until the Commitments shall have expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder shall have been paid in full, the Borrower covenants and agrees with the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

          SECTION 6.01. Indebtedness and Preferred Equity Interests. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Consolidated Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Indebtedness, or issue any preferred stock or other preferred Equity Interests, except:

          (a) Indebtedness under this Agreement (and related Indebtedness under the Security Documents);

          (b) Indebtedness under the First Lien Agreement and the European Facilities Agreement (and related Indebtedness under the “Security Documents”, as defined in such Agreements) in an amount for each such Agreement not greater than the aggregate amount of the outstanding loans and unfunded commitments of the lenders thereunder on the Effective Date, additional Indebtedness that may be incurred under the First Lien Agreement that does not result in the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness under the First Lien Agreement exceeding $1,750,000,000, and additional Indebtedness that may be incurred under the First Lien Agreement that results in the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness under the First Lien Agreement exceeding $1,750,000,000 if the Borrower shall have offered to prepay Loans under Section 2.07(c) in an amount not less than such excess;

          (c) other Indebtedness existing (or incurred pursuant to commitments to lend existing) on the date hereof, substantially all of which is set forth or described in Schedule 6.01 (which Schedule 6.01 (i) sets forth substantially all such Indebtedness and commitments outstanding on December 31, 2004, and (ii) shall be modified and delivered

 


 

52

to the Administrative Agent within 60 days after the date hereof to reflect substantially all of the Indebtedness and commitments outstanding on the date hereof);

          (d) Indebtedness owed to the Borrower or any Subsidiary and permitted under Section 6.05(c);

          (e) Guarantees expressly permitted under Section 6.05;

          (f) Indebtedness (including Securitization Transactions) of Foreign Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount (excluding Indebtedness existing or incurred under the other clauses of this Section 6.01 and under Section 6.05(c)) not greater than $600,000,000 outstanding at any time;

          (g) Securitization Transactions (other than those permitted by paragraphs (f), (j), (l), (r) and (t) of this Section) in an aggregate amount not greater than € 300,000,000 outstanding at any time;

          (h) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary incurred to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of any fixed or capital assets, including Capital Lease Obligations and any Indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition of any such assets or secured by a Lien on any such assets prior to the acquisition thereof; provided that such Indebtedness is incurred prior to or within 180 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement;

          (i) Attributable Debt of the Borrower or any Subsidiary incurred pursuant to Sale and Leaseback Transactions permitted by Section 6.03;

          (j) Indebtedness of any Person that shall have become a Subsidiary after the date hereof; provided that such Indebtedness shall have existed at the time such Person became a Subsidiary and shall not have been created in contemplation of or in connection with such Person becoming a Subsidiary;

          (k) obligations of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries existing on the date hereof (other than Guarantees, Securitization Transactions and Sale and Leaseback Transactions), that would not constitute Indebtedness that would appear as liabilities on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower under GAAP as in effect on the date hereof and that, as a result of changes in GAAP after the date hereof shall be required to be reflected on such a balance sheet as liabilities;

          (l) Indebtedness of any Subsidiary that is not a Consolidated Subsidiary under GAAP as in effect on the date hereof (and in the event that any such Subsidiary shall become a Consolidated Subsidiary, Indebtedness of such Subsidiary existing at the time it becomes a Consolidated Subsidiary);

          (m) any extension, renewal, refinancing or replacement of any Indebtedness referred to in any of clauses (a) through (l) above or (q) below that does not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof (except to the extent necessary to pay the fees, expenses, underwriting discounts and prepayment premiums in connection

 


 

53

therewith) or change the parties directly or indirectly responsible for the payment of such Indebtedness; provided that (i) any such refinancing or replacement Indebtedness shall not shorten the maturity of the Indebtedness refinanced or replaced or add a requirement not previously applicable to the Indebtedness refinanced or replaced that such Indebtedness be prepaid, redeemed, repurchased or defeased on one or more scheduled dates or upon the happening of one or more events (other than events of default or change of control events) before the maturity of the Indebtedness being refinanced or replaced; (ii) (A) any such refinancing or replacement of Indebtedness under any revolving credit or similar facility shall be accompanied by the termination of the portion of the commitments under such facility under which such refinanced or replaced Indebtedness shall have been outstanding and (B) any extension, renewal, refinancing or replacement of Indebtedness under any revolving credit or similar facility may be in an aggregate principal amount equal to the commitments under such facility at the time of such extension, renewal, refinancing or replacement, whether or not such commitments have been drawn at the time of such extension, renewal, refinancing or replacement; (iii) in the case of the refinancing of any Indebtedness that is not permitted to be prepaid, redeemed, defeased or otherwise discharged prior to its maturity, or in respect of which the Borrower determines in its sole discretion that the costs or difficulty of extinguishing such Indebtedness at the time such refinancing Indebtedness is incurred outweigh the advantages to the Borrower of such extinguishment, any such refinancing Indebtedness may be incurred up to one year in advance of the maturity of such Indebtedness to be refinanced and the proceeds thereof may, in lieu of being applied to refinance such Indebtedness, be used for any purpose permitted under this Agreement prior to the refinancing of such Indebtedness; and (iv) any such refinancing Indebtedness may be incurred up to six months after the extinguishment of the Indebtedness being refinanced;

          (n) Indebtedness arising from the honoring of a check, draft or similar instrument presented by the Borrower or a Subsidiary against insufficient funds;

          (o) Indebtedness pursuant to any Swap Agreement entered into to hedge against risks to which the businesses of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries are exposed, and not for speculative purposes, or in order to effectively cap, collar or exchange interest rates (from fixed to floating rates, from one floating rate to another floating rate or otherwise) with respect to any interest-bearing liability or investment of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

          (p) unsecured surety and performance bonds entered into in the ordinary course of business and not securing Indebtedness;

          (q) unsecured Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Grantor if, immediately after giving pro forma effect to the initial incurrence of such unsecured Indebtedness the Interest Coverage Ratio shall exceed 2.00 to 1.00;

          (r) other unsecured Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Borrower, or preferred Equity Interests of the Borrower (“Permitted Preferred Stock”), or any combination thereof, not maturing or required to be prepaid, redeemed, repurchased or defeased prior to the Maturity Date, whether on one or more scheduled dates or upon the

 


 

54

happening of one or more events (other than events of default (or similar events relating to Equity Interests) or change of control events), and any Guarantee of such Indebtedness provided by any Subsidiary that is a Guarantor under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement that is subordinated to the Obligations on terms in no material respect less favorable to the Lenders than market terms prevailing at the time such Guarantee is issued; provided that the aggregate principal or stated amount of such Indebtedness (or of the Indebtedness it Guarantees) or preferred Equity Interests created or assumed pursuant to this clause (q) and outstanding at any time, without duplication, shall not, taken together with the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness outstanding under clause (s) below, exceed $2,400,000,000; provided further, that for purposes of this paragraph, any trust preferred stock or similar preferred Equity Interest issued by a special purpose entity substantially all the assets of which consist of unsecured Indebtedness or preferred Equity Interests of the Borrower meeting the requirements of this paragraph will be deemed to be a preferred Equity Interest of the Borrower;

          (s) a Securitization Transaction in an aggregate amount not greater than $15,000,000 outstanding at any time involving accounts receivable, rights to future lease payments or residuals or other financial assets, and related property of Goodyear Australia Pty Limited;

          (t) Senior Subordinated-Lien Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Borrower in an aggregate principal amount outstanding not to exceed $1,400,000,000 at any time, in each case not maturing or required to be prepaid, redeemed, repurchased or defeased prior to the Maturity Date, whether on one or more scheduled dates or upon the happening of one or more events (other than as a result of events of default or change of control events or pursuant to customary provisions requiring that the Borrower offer to purchase such Senior Subordinated-Lien Indebtedness with the proceeds of asset sales to the extent such proceeds have not been invested in assets used in the Borrower’s business or used to prepay, redeem or purchase other Indebtedness (including Loans hereunder) or to provide cash collateral for reimbursement obligations in respect of letters of credit) (it being agreed that provisions comparable to those set forth in the Junior Lien Indenture or the Third Lien Agreement are customary), and related Guarantees by the Subsidiary Guarantors; provided that the Senior Subordinated-Lien Collateral Agent for such Senior Subordinated-Lien Indebtedness shall have executed and delivered (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), on its own behalf and on behalf of the obligees on such Senior Subordinated-Lien Indebtedness, an Accession Agreement under the Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement pursuant to which the obligations of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries in respect of such Senior Subordinated-Lien Indebtedness shall have become Designated Junior Obligations under the Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement;

          (u) Securitization Transactions of Foreign Subsidiaries (other than those permitted by paragraphs (f), (g), (j), (l) and (r) of this Section) in an aggregate amount not greater than $15,000,000 outstanding at any time; and

          (v) other Indebtedness in an aggregate amount at any time outstanding not to exceed $50,000,000.

 


 

55

          SECTION 6.02. Liens. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Consolidated 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 (other than sales of delinquent or doubtful receivables and other than any transaction excluded from the definition of “Securitization Transaction” under the proviso thereto), except:

          (a) Liens created under the Credit Facilities Documents;

          (b) Permitted Encumbrances;

          (c) any Lien on any property or asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule 6.02; provided that (i) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary and (ii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secured on the date hereof and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;

          (d) any Lien existing on any property or asset prior to the acquisition thereof by the Borrower or any Subsidiary or existing on any property or asset of any Person that shall have become a Subsidiary after the date hereof prior to the time such Person became a Subsidiary; provided that (i) such Lien secures Indebtedness permitted by clause (h) or (j) of Section 6.01, (ii) such Lien shall not have been created in contemplation of or in connection with such acquisition or such Person becoming a Subsidiary, as the case may be, (iii) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, and (iv) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it shall have secured on the date of such acquisition or the date such Person shall have become a Subsidiary, as the case may be, and extensions, renewals and replacements thereof that do not increase the outstanding principal amount thereof;

          (e) Liens on assets acquired, constructed or improved by the Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided that (i) such Liens secure Indebtedness permitted by clause (h) or (j) of Section 6.01, (ii) such Liens and the Indebtedness secured thereby are incurred prior to or within 180 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement, (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving such assets and (iv) such Liens shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or any Subsidiary;

          (f) Liens on assets of Foreign Subsidiaries securing Indebtedness incurred under Section 6.01(f), and (ii) in connection with Securitization Transactions permitted under Section 6.01(f) or (u);

          (g) in connection with Securitization Transactions permitted under Section 6.01(g) and (s);

          (h) Liens in connection with Sale and Leaseback Transactions permitted by Section 6.03;

 


 

56

          (i) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods (and proceeds thereof) securing obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances issued for the account of the Borrower or a Subsidiary to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such items of inventory or other goods;

          (j) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and related documentation (and proceeds thereof) securing reimbursement obligations in respect of trade letters of credit issued to ensure payment of the purchase price for such items of inventory or other goods;

          (k) any interest of a lessor in property subject to an operating lease;

          (l) Liens referred to in policies of title insurance with respect to Mortgaged Property delivered to the Administrative Agent prior to the Effective Date;

          (m) Liens on assets constituting Collateral (other than any such Collateral constituting Indenture Properties (as defined in the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement) or “manufacturing facilities” (as defined in the Swiss Franc Note Agreement), including Liens on the Borrower’s headquarters facilities in Akron, Ohio, created under any Senior Subordinated-Lien Indebtedness Security Documents to secure any Senior Subordinated-Lien Indebtedness incurred under Section 6.01(t); provided that such Liens shall be subordinate and junior to the Liens securing the Obligations on the terms set forth in the Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement;

          (n) Liens on assets constituting Collateral securing Indebtedness incurred under Section 6.01(m) (i) to refinance Indebtedness under the First Lien Agreement or (ii) pursuant to commitments replacing commitments under the First Lien Agreement;

          (o) Liens on assets constituting Collateral (as defined in the European Facilities Agreement) securing Indebtedness incurred under Section 6.01(m) to refinance Indebtedness under the European Facilities Agreement;

          (p) other Liens on assets not constituting Collateral; provided that the aggregate amount of the Indebtedness and other obligations secured by such Liens shall at no time exceed $50,000,000.

          SECTION 6.03. Sale and Leaseback Transactions. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of the Consolidated Subsidiaries to, enter into or be party to any Sale and Leaseback Transaction other than (a) Sale and Leaseback Transactions existing on the date hereof and any replacement Sale and Leaseback Transactions that do not involve assets other than those subject to the Sale and Leaseback Transactions they replace and do not increase the Attributable Debt related thereto and (b) other Sale and Leaseback Transactions the aggregate outstanding Attributable Debt in respect of which does not exceed $125,000,000.

          SECTION 6.04. Fundamental Changes. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, merge into, amalgamate or consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into, amalgamate or consolidate with it, or

 


 

57

sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions) assets (including capital stock of Subsidiaries) constituting all or substantially all the assets of the Borrower and its Consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or, in the case of the Borrower, liquidate or dissolve, except that, if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Default shall have occurred and be continuing (i) any Subsidiary may merge into the Borrower in a transaction in which the Borrower is the surviving corporation, (ii) any Subsidiary may merge into any other Subsidiary in a transaction in which the surviving entity is a Subsidiary; except that no Domestic Subsidiary may merge into a Foreign Subsidiary, (iii) any sale of a Subsidiary made in accordance with Section 6.06 may be effected by a merger of such Subsidiary and (iv) any Subsidiary may sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of its assets to the Borrower or to another Subsidiary; provided that any Investment that takes the form of a merger, amalgamation or consolidation (other than any merger, amalgamation or consolidation involving the Borrower) that is expressly permitted by Section 6.05 shall be permitted under this Section 6.04.

          SECTION 6.05. Investments, Loans, Advances and Guarantees. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of the Consolidated Subsidiaries to, purchase or acquire (including pursuant to any merger with any Person that was not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary prior to such merger) any capital stock, evidences of Indebtedness or securities (including any option, warrant or other right to acquire any of the foregoing) of, make any loans or advances to, make any Guarantee of any obligations of, or make any investment in, any other Person, or purchase or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) any assets of any other Person constituting a business unit (each of the foregoing, an “Investment” in such Person), except:

          (a) Permitted Investments;

          (b) any Investment by the Borrower or any Subsidiary if immediately after giving pro forma effect to such Investment the Interest Coverage Ratio shall exceed 2.00 to 1.00;

          (c) Investments by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries in Subsidiaries or the Borrower; provided that no Investment shall made by any Credit Party in a Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party pursuant to this clause (b) except Investments (A) to fund working capital needs of such Subsidiary, (B) to replace amounts available under credit facilities or other financings of such Subsidiary existing on the date hereof that shall have matured or shall have been terminated or reduced, (C) to cover losses from operations of such Subsidiary and (D) to provide funds for Capital Expenditures or acquisitions permitted to be made by such Subsidiary; provided further, that Equity Interests in the European JV or any subsidiary thereof may not be transferred to any Subsidiary that is not the European JV or any subsidiary thereof;

          (d) any Investment by a Credit Party in a Consolidated Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party in the form of a transfer of assets used in or directly relating to any manufacturing process (but excluding any cash or financial asset) from a jurisdiction having higher manufacturing costs to a jurisdiction having lower manufacturing costs;

 


 

58

provided that after giving effect to any such transfer or related series of transfers of assets having an aggregate book value in excess of $5,000,000, the aggregate book value of all assets subject to all such transfers involving assets having an aggregate book value in excess of $5,000,000 from and after the Effective Date, shall not exceed $250,000,000; and any Investment by Goodyear Dunlop Tires NA in a Consolidated Subsidiary;

          (e) Guarantees expressly permitted under Section 6.01;

          (f) the acquisition of any Equity Interest; provided that the aggregate consideration paid by the Borrower and the Subsidiaries in all such acquisitions (including Indebtedness assumed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary) shall not exceed $400,000,000 plus the aggregate amount of Equity Proceeds received after the Effective Date that shall not have been used (i) to make Capital Expenditures under clause (b) of Section 6.08 or (ii) to make other Investments under this clause (e);

          (g) Guarantees not permitted by any other clause of this Section 6.05 incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice in an aggregate amount for all such Guarantees at any time outstanding not exceeding $50,000,000;

          (h) Investments received in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of, or settlement of delinquent accounts and disputes with, customers and suppliers, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

          (i) Investments for consideration consisting solely of common stock of the Borrower;

          (j) Equity Interests and debt obligations obtained by the Borrower or any Subsidiary as consideration for any asset sale permitted under Section 6.06;

          (k) (i) Investments in an aggregate amount not greater than $150,000,000 during the term of this Agreement in Persons in which the Borrower or any Subsidiary had an Equity Interest on the date hereof that are (A) required to be made as a result of the exercise by other holders of Equity Interests of such Persons of put options or (B) required to avoid dilution of the Borrower’s or such Subsidiary’s percentage ownership interest therein; (ii) Investments in an aggregate amount not greater than $150,000,000 during the term of this Agreement consisting of the purchase of Equity Interests in or any business unit owned by or comprising part of the Person specified on Schedule 6.05(k)(ii); and (iii) Investments in Subsidiaries in which Persons other than the Borrower or any Subsidiary have minority Equity Interests at the time such Investments are made consisting of purchases of such minority interests in an aggregate amount not greater than $100,000,000 during the term of this Agreement;

          (l) any Investment that (i) is included in Capital Expenditures for the period during which such Investment is made and that is permitted under Section 6.08 or (ii) consists of the acquisition of all the Equity Interests in a Person (other than such portion of the Equity Interests in any Foreign Subsidiary as may be required by local law to be or pursuant to local market practice is customarily owned by a Person other than the

 


 

59

Borrower or a Subsidiary) not less than 90% of the assets of which are capital assets and that is permitted under Section 6.08 (the amount of the Capital Expenditure in respect thereof for purposes of determining compliance with Section 6.08 being deemed to be the consideration paid in respect of such acquisition plus the aggregate amount of the Indebtedness of such Person outstanding immediately after such acquisition);

          (m) Investments in Tire & Wheel Assemblies, Inc. in an aggregate amount at any time outstanding not greater than $50,000,000;

          (n) loans and advances to officers and employees of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;

          (o) Investments in prepaid expenses in the ordinary course of business or in respect of required pension fund contributions;

          (p) negotiable instruments held for collection and lease, utility, workers’ compensation, performance and other similar deposits in the ordinary course of business;

          (q) Investments in any Subsidiary that engages in no activities other than those related to a Securitization Transaction in order to capitalize such Subsidiary at a level customary for a securitization vehicle in such a transaction;

          (r) Investments constituting loans or advances by the European JV or any J.V. Subsidiary (as defined in the European Facilities Agreement) to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries as part of cash management consistent with past practices;

          (s) Investments of the proceeds of any Securitization Transaction under Section 6.01(s) in South Pacific Tyres; and

          (t) Investments not permitted by any other clause of this Section in an aggregate amount at any time outstanding not greater than $50,000,000.

          SECTION 6.06. Asset Dispositions. The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of the Consolidated Subsidiaries to, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of, including by means of any lease or license that is in effect a disposition (each, a “Sale”, which term shall include any transfer designated by the Borrower as a Sale under Section 12.13(e) of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement) any asset, including any Equity Interest, owned by it, nor will the Borrower permit any of the Subsidiaries to issue any additional Equity Interest in such Subsidiary, except:

          (a) any Sale by the Borrower or any Subsidiary if after immediately giving pro forma effect to such Sale the Senior Secured Leverage Ratio shall be less than 3.00 to 1.00;

          (b) Sales in the ordinary course of business of inventory and worn out or surplus equipment and Permitted Investments, and Sales in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices of assets other than property, plant, Investments in Subsidiaries and Intellectual Property; provided that licensing of

 


 

60

Intellectual Property in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices shall be permitted;

          (c) Sales to the Borrower or a Subsidiary; provided that any such sale, transfer or disposition by a Credit Party to a Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party shall be made in compliance with Section 6.05;

          (d) Sales of accounts receivable or interests therein in Securitization Transactions permitted under Sections 6.01(f), (g), (j), (l), (s) and (u) or in transactions excluded from the definition of “Securitization Transaction” under the proviso thereto;

          (e) Sales of assets in Sale and Leaseback Transactions permitted under Section 6.03;

          (f) (i) Sales of any Equity Interests in any Person that is not a Subsidiary and (ii) Sales, for tax planning or other business purposes, consistent with the Borrower’s past practices, of any Equity Interests in Foreign Subsidiaries to any Foreign Subsidiary whose Equity Interests have been pledged under any of the Security Documents; provided in the case of any Sale under this clause (ii) that the Collateral Agent is hereby authorized and directed to release any security interest under any Security Document in any Equity Interest subject to such Sale if (A) the seller thereof is the Borrower or a Domestic Subsidiary and such release is required in order to obtain the desired amount of consideration from such Sale or (B) after giving effect to such Sale the aggregate fair value of all Equity Interests subject to Sales under this clause (ii), other than those referred to in clause (A), when taken together with all Sales under clause (i)(1)(B) below, shall not exceed $100,000,000;

          (g) Sales to Persons other than the Borrower or any Subsidiary of assets listed on Schedule 6.06; provided that (i) at least 50% of the consideration received in each such Sale of the assets listed on Part I of Schedule 6.06 shall consist of cash, (ii) at least 75% of the consideration received in each such Sale listed on Part II of Schedule 6.06 shall consist of cash, and (iii) the Sale listed on Part III of Schedule 6.06 shall be effected in a manner substantially consistent with one of the transactions in respect thereof described on Part III;

          (h) Sales to the extent the aggregate value of the consideration received in any such Sale or series of related Sales does not exceed $10,000,000;

          (i) Investments expressly permitted by Section 6.05; and

          (j) Sales (other than Sales of accounts receivable or inventory that are not sold in connection with the Sale of a business or line of business) that are not permitted by any other clause of this Section 6.06; provided that (1) the aggregate consideration received in respect of all such Sales in reliance upon this clause (i) shall not exceed (A) $600,000,000 in the aggregate or (B) when taken together with all Sales under clause (f)(ii)(B) above, $100,000,000 in the aggregate with respect to (x) Sales of Equity Interests in Foreign Subsidiaries pledged as of the Effective Date pursuant to the Security Documents to secure the Obligations and (y) Sales of all or substantially all of the assets

 


 

61

of Foreign Subsidiaries whose Equity Interests have been pledged as of the Effective Date pursuant to the Security Documents to secure the Obligations, (2) all Sales permitted pursuant to this clause (i) shall be made for fair value, as reasonably determined by the Borrower, and (3) except with respect to $100,000,000 of consideration (determined net of any cash or Cash Equivalents subsequently realized on the Sale or the repayment of any portion of non-cash consideration received in connection with a Sale that represented non-cash consideration in excess of 25% of the total consideration received in such Sale) for all such Sales in the aggregate, at least 75% of the consideration received in each such Sale shall consist of cash.

          SECTION 6.07. Restricted Payments. (a) The Borrower will not, and will not permit any of the Subsidiaries to, declare or make, or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, except that (i) the Borrower may declare and pay dividends payable solely in additional shares of its common stock, (ii) so long as no Event of Default shall exist, the Borrower may declare and pay cash dividends and other regularly scheduled distributions on shares of its Permitted Preferred Stock, (iii) Subsidiaries may make Restricted Payments with respect to any class of their respective Equity Interests so long as such Restricted Payments are made ratably or on a basis more favorable to the Borrower and its Affiliates than ratably, (iv) the Borrower may make Restricted Payments pursuant to and in accordance with stock option or rights plans or other benefit plans for management, employees, directors or consultants of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, (v) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may make Investments in Subsidiaries expressly permitted by Section 6.05(c), Section 6.05(f) or Section 6.05(t) and Investments expressly permitted under Section 6.05(k), (vi) the Borrower may declare, so long as no Event of Default shall exist, and pay previously declared, cash dividends on its common stock in an aggregate amount during any fiscal year not to exceed $10,000,000 and (vii) the Borrower may during any Dividend Availability Period declare, so long as no Event of Default shall exist, and pay previously declared, cash dividends on its common stock (A) during any fiscal year, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $50,000,000 and (B) at any time, any additional amount that when taken together with all other dividends paid under this clause (vii) during the Dividend Availability Period shall not exceed 50% of the Borrower’s cumulative Consolidated Net Income for each fiscal quarter of the Borrower for which financial statements shall have been delivered under Section 5.01(a) or (b) commencing with the fiscal quarter during which the first day of the Dividend Availability Period occurred.

          (b) The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of the Subsidiaries to, make or agree to make, directly or indirectly, any payment or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property), except payments or distributions made in common stock of the Borrower, to any Person other than the Borrower or a Subsidiary in respect of principal of or interest on any Indebtedness the maturity of which is one year or more thereafter, or any payment or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, defeasance, acquisition, cancelation or termination of any Indebtedness of the Borrower or any Subsidiary the maturity of which is one year or more thereafter, except:

 


 

62

     (i) payments and prepayments under this Agreement (ratably in accordance with the Loans of the Lenders) and the other Credit Facilities Agreements;

     (ii) regularly scheduled and other mandatory interest and principal payments (including pursuant to sinking fund requirements) as and when due in respect of any Indebtedness;

     (iii) refinancings of Indebtedness to the extent permitted by Section 6.01(m), including the payment of customary fees, costs and expenses in connection therewith, and including additional cash payments in an aggregate amount for all such refinancings not to exceed, in the case of any refinancing, 5% of the principal amount being refinanced;

     (iv) the payment of secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness;

     (v) if no Event of Default shall exist or would exist after giving effect thereto, repurchases, repayments or prepayments of Designated Debt;

     (vi) if no Event of Default shall exist or would exist after giving effect thereto, repurchases, repayments or prepayments of Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries in an aggregate amount not greater than $100,000,000 during the term of this Agreement; and

     (vii) if no Event of Default shall exist, other repurchases, repayments or prepayments of Indebtedness in an aggregate amount not greater than $25,000,000 in any calendar year.

          SECTION 6.08. Capital Expenditures. The Borrower and the Subsidiaries will not make Capital Expenditures in any fiscal year in an amount greater than the sum of (a) $850,000,000; provided that to the extent that Capital Expenditures in any fiscal year are less than $850,000,000 plus any additional amount carried forward to such fiscal year pursuant to this proviso, such unused amount may be carried forward to the following fiscal year, plus (b) the aggregate amount of Equity Proceeds received after the Effective Date that shall not have been used (i) to make Capital Expenditures under this clause (c) or (ii) to make Investments under Section 6.05(f).

ARTICLE VII

Events of Default

          SECTION 7.01. Events of Default. If any of the following events (“Events of Default”) shall occur:

          (a) the Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment thereof or otherwise;

 


 

63

          (b) the Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount (other than an amount referred to in clause (a) of this Article) payable under this Agreement or any other Credit Document, when and as the same shall become due and payable, and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of (i) in the case of fees and interest payable under Sections 2.08 and 2.09, respectively, five Business Days, and (ii) in the case of any other fees, interest or other amounts (other than those referred to in paragraph (a) above), five Business Days after the earlier of (A) the day on which a Financial Officer first obtains knowledge of such failure and (B) the day on which written notice of such failure shall have been given to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent or any Lender;

          (c) any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of any Credit Party in any Credit Document or any amendment or modification thereof or waiver thereunder shall prove to have been incorrect when made or deemed made in any respect material to the rights or interests of the Lenders under the Credit Documents;

          (d) the Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 5.02, 5.03 (with respect to the Borrower’s existence) or 5.08 or in Article VI;

          (e) any Credit Party shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in any Credit Document (other than those specified in clauses (a), (b) and (d) of this Article), and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of 30 days after written notice thereof from the Administrative Agent to the Borrower (which notice will be given at the request of any Lender); provided that the failure of any Credit Party to perform any covenant, condition or agreement made in any Credit Document (other than this Agreement) shall not constitute an Event of Default unless such failure shall be (i) wilful or (ii) material to the rights or interests of the Lenders under the Credit Documents;

          (f) the Borrower or any Consolidated Subsidiary shall fail to make any payment of principal in respect of any Material Indebtedness at the scheduled due date thereof and such failure shall continue beyond any applicable grace period or any event or condition occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness (other than any Securitization Transaction existing on March 31, 2003) becoming due or being required to be prepaid, repurchased, redeemed, defeased or terminated prior to its scheduled maturity (other than, in the case of any Securitization Transaction, any event or condition not caused by an act or omission of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, if the Borrower shall furnish to the Administrative Agent a certificate to the effect that after the termination of such Securitization Transaction the Borrower and the Subsidiaries that are a party thereto have sufficient liquidity to operate their businesses in the ordinary course); provided that this clause (g) shall not apply to (i) secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement or (ii) Material Indebtedness of any Foreign Subsidiary if the Borrower is unable, due to applicable law restricting Investments in such Foreign Subsidiary, to make an Investment in such Foreign Subsidiary to fund the payment of such Material Indebtedness;

 


 

64

          (g) a Change in Control shall occur;

          (h) an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization, moratorium, suspension of payment or other relief in respect of the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary or its debts, or of a substantial part of its assets, under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for the 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 90 days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;

          (i) the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization, bankruptcy, moratorium, suspension of payment or other relief under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, (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 the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, (iv) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or (v) take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;

          (j) the Borrower or any Material Subsidiary shall admit in writing its inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due;

          (k) an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, would be materially likely to result in a Material Adverse Change;

          (l) Liens created under the Security Documents shall not be valid and perfected Liens on a material portion of the Collateral; or

          (m) any Guarantee of the Obligations under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or the Canadian Security Documents shall fail to be a valid, binding and enforceable Guarantee of one or more Subsidiary Guarantors where such failure would constitute or be materially likely to result in a Material Adverse Change;

then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to the Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, the Administrative Agent may, and at the request of the Majority Lenders shall, by notice to the Borrower, take any or all of the following actions, at the same or different times declare the 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 Borrower accrued hereunder, shall become due and payable

 


 

65

immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower; and in case of any event with respect to the Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article, the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of the Borrower accrued hereunder, shall automatically become due and payable, in each case without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by the Borrower.

ARTICLE VIII

The Agents

          Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints the Agents as its agents and authorizes the Agents to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Agents by the terms hereof and of the other Credit Documents, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto.

          The bank or banks serving as the Agents hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in their capacity as Lenders as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though they were not Agents, and such bank or banks and their Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if they were not Agents hereunder.

          The Agents shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing (a) the Agents shall not be subject to any fiduciary or other implied duties, regardless of whether a Default has occurred and is continuing, (b) the Agents shall not have any duty to take any discretionary action or exercise any discretionary powers, except discretionary rights and powers expressly contemplated hereby that the Agents are required to exercise in writing by the Majority Lenders, and (c) except as expressly set forth herein, the Agents shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information communicated to the Agents by or relating to the Borrower or any Subsidiary. The Agents shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by them with the consent or at the request of the Majority Lenders or the Lenders, as the case may be, or in the absence of their own gross negligence or wilful misconduct. In addition, the Agents shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice thereof is given to the Agents by the Borrower or a Lender, and the Agents 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 any Credit 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, (iv) the validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of this Agreement or any other agreement, instrument or document, or (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere herein or therein, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Agents.

 


 

66

          The Agents 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 believed by them to be genuine and to have been signed or sent by the proper Person. The Agents also may rely upon any statement made to them orally or by telephone and believed by them to be made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. The Agents may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrower), independent accountants and other experts selected by them with reasonable care, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by them in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

          The Agents may perform any and all their duties and exercise their rights and powers by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Agents. The Agents and any such sub-agent may perform any and all their duties and exercise their rights and powers through their respective Affiliates. The exculpatory provisions of the preceding paragraphs shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Affiliates of the Agents and any such sub-agent.

          Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Agent as provided below, either Agent may resign at any time by notifying the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon any such resignation, the Majority Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor with the Borrower’s written consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed and shall not be required from the Borrower if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing). If no successor shall have been so appointed by the Majority Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders, with the Borrower’s written consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed and shall not be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing), appoint a successor Agent which shall be a bank or an Affiliate thereof, in each case with a net worth of at least $1,000,000,000 and an office in New York, New York. Upon the acceptance of its appointment as Agent hereunder by a successor, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Agent, and the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder. After an Agent’s resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Article and Section 9.03 shall continue in effect for its benefit in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was acting as Agent.

          Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Agents or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Agents or any other Lender 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 related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

          Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein, each Lender acknowledges that the Administrative Agent is not acting as an agent of the Borrower and

 


 

67

that the Borrower will not be responsible for acts or failures to act on the part of the Administrative Agent.

          Without prejudice to the provisions of this Article VIII, each Lender hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Collateral Agent (and any successor acting as Collateral Agent) to act as the person holding the power of attorney (in such capacity, the “fondé de pouvoir”) of the Lenders as contemplated under Article 2692 of the Civil Code of Quebec, and to enter into, to take and to hold on their behalf, and for their benefit, any hypothec, and to exercise such powers and duties which are conferred upon the fondé de pouvoir under any hypothec. Moreover, without prejudice to such appointment and authorization to act as the person holding the power of attorney as aforesaid, each Lender hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Collateral Agent (and any successor acting as Collateral Agent) (in such capacity, the “Custodian”) to act as agent and custodian for and on behalf of the Lenders to hold and to be the sole registered holder of any debenture which may be issued under any hypothec, the whole notwithstanding Section 32 of the Act Respecting the Special Powers of Legal Persons (Quebec) or any other applicable law. In this respect, (i) the Custodian shall keep a record indicating the names and addresses of, and the pro rata portion of the obligations and indebtedness secured by any pledge of any such debenture and owing to each Lender, and (ii) each Lender will be entitled to the benefits of any charged property covered by any hypothec and will participate in the proceeds of realization of any such charged property, the whole in accordance with the terms hereof.

          Each of the fondé de pouvoir and the Custodian shall (a) have the sole and exclusive right and authority to exercise, except as may be otherwise specifically restricted by the terms hereof, all rights and remedies given to fondé de pouvoir and the Custodian (as applicable) with respect to the charged property under any hypothec, any debenture or pledge thereof relating to any hypothec, applicable laws or otherwise, (b) benefit from and be subject to all provisions hereof with respect to the Collateral Agent mutatis mutandis, including, without limitation, all such provisions with respect to the liability or responsibility to and indemnification by the Lenders, and (c) be entitled to delegate from time to time any of its powers or duties under any hypothec, any debenture or pledge thereof relating to any hypothec, applicable laws or otherwise and on such terms and conditions as it may determine from time to time. Any person who becomes a Lender shall be deemed to have consented to and confirmed: (y) the fondé de pouvoir as the person holding the power of attorney as aforesaid and to have ratified, as of the date it becomes a Lender, all actions taken by the fondé de pouvoir in such capacity, (z) the Custodian as the agent and custodian as aforesaid and to have ratified, as of the date it becomes a Lender, all actions taken by the Custodian in such capacity.

ARTICLE IX

Miscellaneous

          SECTION 9.01. Notices. (a) Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and subject to paragraph (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing

 


 

68

and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopy or e-mail, as follows:

     (i) if to the Borrower, to it at 1144 East Market Street, Akron, Ohio, 44316-0001, Attention of the Treasurer (Telecopy No. (330)  ###-###-#### or (330)  ###-###-####);

     (ii) if to the Administrative Agent, to JPMorgan Chase Bank, Loan & Agency Services Group, 1111 Fannin, 10th Floor, Houston, Texas 77002, Attention of Debbie Meche and Cliff Trapani (Telecopy No. (713)  ###-###-####), with a copy to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., 270 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017, Attention of Robert Kellas (Telecopy No. (212)  ###-###-####);

     (iii) if to the Collateral Agent, to Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, 222 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 2900, Chicago, IL 60606, Attention of Marla Heller (Telecopy No. (312)  ###-###-####); and

     (iv) if to a Lender, to it at its address (or telecopy number or e-mail address) set forth in Schedule 2.01 or its Administrative Questionnaire.

          (b) Notices and other communications to the Lenders hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices pursuant to Article II unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent and the applicable Lender. The Administrative Agent or the Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

          (c) Any party hereto may change its address, telecopy number or e-mail address for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. All notices and other communications given to any party hereto in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given on the date of receipt.

          SECTION 9.02. Waivers; Amendments. (a) No failure or delay by any of the Agents or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. The rights and remedies of the Agents and the Lenders hereunder are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) below, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of

 


 

69

a Loan shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether any Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.

          (b) No Credit Document or any provision thereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Credit Parties party thereto and the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, as the case may be, with the consent of the Majority Lenders; provided, that no such agreement shall (i) increase the Commitment or extend the expiration date of the Commitment of any Lender without the written consent of such Lender, (ii) reduce or forgive all or part of the principal amount of any Loan or reduce the rate of interest thereon, or reduce any fee payable hereunder, without the prior written consent of each Lender affected thereby, (iii) postpone the scheduled date of payment of the principal amount of any Loan or date for the payment of any interest on any Loan or any fee, or reduce the amount of, waive or excuse any such payment, without the prior written consent of each Lender adversely affected thereby, (iv) release all or substantially all the Subsidiary Guarantors from their Guarantees under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, or release all or substantially all the Collateral from the Liens of the Security Documents, without the written consent of each Lender, (v) change any provision of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or any other Security Document to alter the amount or allocation of any payment to be made to the Secured Parties, without the written consent of each adversely affected Lender, (vi) change Section 2.14 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of any payment without the written consent of each Lender adversely affected thereby, (vii) change any of the provisions of this Section or the definition of “Majority Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the written consent of each Lender or (viii) change any of the provisions of the second sentence of Section 2.07(a), without the written consent of each Lender; provided, further that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of any Agent under any Credit Document, or any provision of any Credit Document providing for payments by or to the Administrative Agent, in each case without the prior written consent of such Agent; provided further, that so long as the rights or interests of any Lender shall not be adversely affected in any material respect, the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement or any other Security Document may be amended without the consent of the Majority Lenders (A) to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency, or (B) to provide for the addition of any assets or classes of assets to the Collateral. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any provision of this Agreement may be amended by an agreement in writing entered into by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that will remain parties hereto after giving effect to such amendment if at the time such amendment becomes effective, each Lender not consenting thereto receives payment in full of the principal of and interest accrued on each Loan made by it and all other amounts owing to it or accrued for its account under this Agreement.

          SECTION 9.03. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver. (a) The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Agents, the Arrangers and their Affiliates (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements

 


 

70

of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, counsel for the Agents and the Arrangers, and other local and foreign counsel for the Agents and Arrangers, limited to one per jurisdiction, in connection with the Security Documents and the creation and perfection of the Liens created thereby and other local and foreign law matters) in connection with the arrangement and syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Credit 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) and (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Agents or any Lender, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Agents or any Lender, in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights in connection with this Agreement, including its rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or similar negotiations in respect of such Loans. The Borrower also shall pay all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Collateral Agent in connection with the creation and perfection of the security interests contemplated by this Agreement, including all filing, recording and similar fees and, as more specifically set forth above, the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel (including foreign counsel in connection with Foreign Pledge Agreements).

          (b) The Borrower shall indemnify each Agent, each Arranger and each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee and arising out of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement or any other Credit Document or other agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the syndication and arrangement of the credit facilities provided for herein, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations or the exercise by the parties hereto of their rights hereunder or thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, (ii) any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof, (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property currently or formerly owned or operated by the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries, or (iv) any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory 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 shall have resulted from the gross negligence or wilful misconduct of such Indemnitee or the breach by such Indemnitee of obligations set forth herein or in any other Credit Document.

          (c) To the extent that the Borrower fails to pay any amount required to be paid by it to any Agent or any Arranger under paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, each Lender severally agrees to pay to such Agent or Arranger, as the case may be, such Lender’s percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought based on the outstanding Loans of such Lender and the

 


 

71

other Lenders) 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 such Agent or Arranger in its capacity as such.

          SECTION 9.04. Successors and Assigns. (a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto, the Indemnitees and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that (i) the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower without such consent shall be null and void) and (ii) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, Indemnitees, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants (to the extent provided in paragraph (c) of this Section) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Agents, the Arrangers and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

          (b) (i)Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (b)(ii) below, any Lender may assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments and the Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) of:

          (A) the Borrower; provided that no consent of the Borrower shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund, a Federal Reserve Bank or, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any other assignee; and

          (B) the Administrative Agent; provided that no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment to an assignee that is a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, a Federal Reserve Bank or an Approved Fund.

     (ii) Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

          (A) except in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund, the amount of the Commitment or 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) shall not be less than $1,000,000 or, if smaller, the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitment or Loans unless each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent shall otherwise consent, provided (i) that no such consent of the Borrower shall be required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (ii) in the event of concurrent assignments to two or more assignees that are Affiliates of one another, or to two or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor or by affiliated investment advisors, all such concurrent assignments shall be aggregated in

 


 

72

determining compliance with this subsection;

          (B) each partial assignment shall be made as an assignment of a proportionate part of all the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement;

          (C) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee of $3,500; provided that in the event of concurrent assignments to two or more assignees that are Affiliates of one another, or to two or more Approved Funds managed by the same investment advisor or by affiliated investment advisors, only one such fee shall be payable; and

          (D) the assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

     (iii) Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (b)(iv) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto 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 Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.11, 2.12, 2.13 and 9.03). Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 9.04 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section. Each assignment hereunder shall be deemed to be an assignment of the related rights under the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and each other applicable Security Document.

     (iv) The Administrative Agent shall maintain at one of its offices 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 Commitment of, and principal amount of the Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “Register”). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 


 

73

          (v) Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Assumption executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, the assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (b) of this Section, the Administrative Agent shall accept such Assignment and Assumption and record the information contained therein in the Register. No assignment shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph.

          (vi) By executing and delivering an Assignment and Assumption, the assigning Lender thereunder and the assignee thereunder shall be deemed to confirm to and agree with each other and the other parties hereto as follows: (i) such assigning Lender warrants that it is the legal and beneficial owner of the interest being assigned thereby free and clear of any adverse claim; (ii) except as set forth in clause (i) above, such assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Credit Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto or thereto, or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of any of the foregoing, or the financial condition of the Credit Parties or the performance or observance by the Credit Parties of any of their obligations under this Agreement or under any other Credit Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto or thereto; (iii) each of the assignee and the assignor represents and warrants that it is legally authorized to enter into such Assignment and Assumption; (iv) such assignee confirms that it has received a copy of this Agreement, together with copies of any amendments or consents entered into prior to the date of such Assignment and Assumption and copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.01 and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into such Assignment and Assumption; (v) such assignee will independently and without reliance upon the Agents, such assigning Lender or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement; (vi) such assignee appoints and authorizes the Agents to take such action as agents on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement and the other Credit Documents as are delegated to them by the terms hereof and thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto; and (vii) such assignee agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all the obligations that by the terms of this Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

          (c) (i) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (each a “Participant”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitment and the Loans owing to it); provided that (A) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain

 


 

74

unchanged, (B) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (C) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver that affects such Participant and that, under Section 9.02, would require the consent of each affected Lender. Subject to paragraph (c)(ii) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.11, 2.12 and 2.13 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section. To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.14(d) as though it were a Lender.

     (ii) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.11 or 2.13 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent, which consent shall specifically refer to this exception. A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.13 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 2.13(e) as though it were a Lender.

               (d) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

               SECTION 9.05. Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Borrower herein and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the making of any Loans, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that any Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid and so long as the Commitment has not expired or terminated. The provisions of Sections 2.11, 2.12, 2.13

 


 

75

and 9.03 and Article VIII shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

          SECTION 9.06. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement, the other Credit Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Administrative Agent or the Arrangers constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement shall become effective as provided in Section 4.01. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

          SECTION 9.07. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction. No failure to obtain any approval required for the effectiveness of any provision of this Agreement shall affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement.

          SECTION 9.08. Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Loans shall have become due and payable pursuant to Article VII, each Lender and each of its Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other obligations at any time owing by such Lender or Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any of and all the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement held by such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement and although such obligations may be unmatured. The rights of each of the Lenders under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Lender may have.

          SECTION 9.09. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process. (a) This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York.

          (b) Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County and of the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or

 


 

76

proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State or, to the extent permitted by 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 shall affect any right that any party hereto may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement in the courts of any jurisdiction.

          (c) Each party hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

          (d) Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

          SECTION 9.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY 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 THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY 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 BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

          SECTION 9.11. Headings. Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

          SECTION 9.12. Confidentiality. Each of the Agents and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors who have been informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such

 


 

77

Information confidential, (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority (including the NAIC), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party to this Agreement, (e) to the extent necessary or advisable in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the enforcement of rights hereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower and its obligations, (g) with the written consent of the Borrower or (h) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (ii) becomes available to any Agent or any Lender on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower. For the purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from the Borrower or Persons acting on its behalf relating to the Borrower or its business, other than any such information that is available to any Agent or any Lender prior to disclosure by the Borrower on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Borrower that is not known by the recipient to be bound by a confidentiality agreement or other obligation of confidentiality with respect to such information.

          SECTION 9.13. Interest Rate Limitation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which are treated as interest on such Loan under applicable law (collectively, the “Charges”), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “Maximum Rate”) which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by the Lender holding such Loan in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the Alternate Base Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by such Lender.

          SECTION 9.14. Security Documents. Each Lender hereby irrevocably authorizes and directs the Collateral Agent to execute and deliver the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, the Lenders Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement, each other Security Document and the amendment and restatement as of the Effective Date of the European Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and to carry out the provisions thereof. Each Lender, by executing and delivering this Agreement, acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and the amendment and restatement of the European Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and approves and agrees to be bound by and to act in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and each other Security Document insofar as they relate to or require performance by the Lenders, specifically including (i) the provisions of Article VI of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement (governing the exercise of remedies under

 


 

78

the Security Documents and the distribution of the proceeds realized from such exercise), (ii) the provisions of Articles VIII and IX of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement (relating to the duties and responsibilities of the Collateral Agent thereunder and providing for the indemnification and the reimbursement of expenses of the Collateral Agent thereunder by the Lenders), and (iii) the provisions of Section 11.13 of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement (providing for releases of Guarantees of and Collateral securing the Obligations). Each party hereto further agrees that the foregoing provisions of the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement shall apply to each other Security Document. In the event that the Borrower shall incur Indebtedness to refinance or replace Indebtedness under the First Lien Agreement in compliance with Sections 6.01(m) and 6.02(n), each Lender hereby irrevocably authorizes and directs the Collateral Agent to enter into an intercreditor agreement on substantially the same terms as those of the Lenders Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement (as in effect at the time of such refinancing or replacement) with the holders of such Indebtedness or its representative.

          SECTION 9.15. Additional Financial Covenants. Notwithstanding anything else contained herein to the contrary, in the event that any maintenance financial covenant is included in the Third Lien Agreement or any Senior Subordinated-Lien Document (as defined in Schedule 1.01C), such covenant will be deemed to be added to Article VI of this Agreement automatically, without the need for any further action whatsoever.

          SECTION 9.16. Lenders Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement. Reference is made to the Lenders Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement dated as of April 8, 2005, among JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as collateral agent for the First Lien Secured Parties referred to therein; Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as collateral agent for the Second Lien Secured Parties referred to therein; The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company; and the subsidiaries of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company named therein (the “Lenders Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement”). Each Lender (a) hereby consents to the subordination of the Liens securing the Obligations on the terms set forth in the Lenders Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement, (b) hereby agrees that it will be bound by and will take no actions contrary to the provisions of the Lenders Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement and (c) hereby authorizes and instructs the Collateral Agent to enter into the Lenders Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement and to subject the Liens securing the Obligations to the provisions thereof. The foregoing provisions are intended as an inducement to the First Lien Secured Parties (as defined in the Lenders Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement) to extend credit to The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and its subsidiaries, and such First Lien Secured Parties are intended third party beneficiaries of such provisions and the provisions of the Lenders Lien Subordination and Intercreditor Agreement.

          SECTION 9.17. USA Patriot Act Notice. Each Lender and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Act”), it is required to obtain, verify

 


 

79

and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Act.

 


 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

         
    THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY,
 
       
       by    
           /s/ Darren R. Wells
       
      Name: Darren R. Wells
      Title:   Vice President and Treasurer
 
       
    JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
    individually and as Administrative Agent,
 
       
       by    
           /s/ Bernard J. Lillis
       
      Name: Bernard J. Lillis
      Title:   Managing Director
 
       
    DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS,
    individually and as Collateral Agent,
 
       
       by    
           /s/ Omayra Laucella
       
      Name: Omayra Laucella
      Title:   Vice President
 
       
       by    
           /s/ Paul O’Leary
       
      Name: Paul O’Leary
      Title:   Vice President

 


 

Signature Page to
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company’s
Second Lien Credit Agreement Dated as of
April 8, 2005

         
    LENDER: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.,
 
       
       by    
           /s/ Bernard J. Lillis
       
      Name: Bernard J. Lillis
      Title:   Managing Director

 


 

Signature Page to
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company’s
Second Lien Credit Agreement Dated as of
April 8, 2005

         
    LENDER: Bank of America, N.A.,
 
       
       by    
           /s/ Debra A. Rathberger
       
      Name: Debra A. Rathberger
      Title:   Senior Vice President

 


 

Signature Page to
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company’s
Second Lien Credit Agreement Dated as of
April 8, 2005

         
    LENDER: Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas,
 
       
       by    
           /s/ David Mayhew
       
      Name: David Mayhew
      Title:   Managing Director
 
       
       by    
           /s/ Stephen Cayer
       
      Name: Stephen Cayer
      Title:   Director

 


 

Signature Page to
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company’s
Second Lien Credit Agreement Dated as of
April 8, 2005

         
    LENDER: K2H Soleil-2 LLC,
 
       
       by    
           /s/ Dorian Herrera
       
      Name: Dorian Herrera
      Title:   Authorized Agent

 


 

Signature Page to
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company’s
Second Lien Credit Agreement Dated as of
April 8, 2005

         
    LENDER: MFS Floating Rate High Income Fund,
 
       
       by    
           /s/ Philip Robbins
       
      Name: Phillip Robbins
      Title:   Vice President

 


 

Signature Page to
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company’s
Second Lien Credit Agreement Dated as of
April 8, 2005

         
    LENDER: Natexis Banques Populaires,
 
       
       by    
           /s/ Nicolas Regent
       
      Name: Nicolas Regent
      Title:   Vice President Multinational
 
       
       by    
           /s/ P. J. van Tullen
       
      Name: P. J. van Tullen
      Title:   Group Head

 


 

Signature Page to
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company’s
Second Lien Credit Agreement Dated as of
April 8, 2005

         
    LENDER: Protective Life Insurance Company,
 
       
       by    
           /s/ Diane S. Griswold
       
      Name: Diane S. Griswold
      Title:   Assistant Vice President

 


 

Signature Page to
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company’s
Second Lien Credit Agreement Dated as of
April 8, 2005

         
    LENDER: UBS AG, Stamford Branch,
 
       
       by    
           /s/ Pamela Oh
       
      Name: Pamela Oh
      Title:   Associate Director Banking Products Services, US
 
       
       by    
           /s/ Janice L. Randolph
       
      Name: Janice L. Randolph
      Title:   Associate Director Banking Products Services, US