CREDIT AGREEMENT Dated as of January 2, 2009 Among

EX-10.34 2 dex1034.htm CREDIT AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF JANUARY 2, 2009 Credit Agreement, dated as of January 2, 2009

Exhibit 10.34

EXECUTION VERSION

CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of January 2, 2009

Among

MERCURY CASUALTY COMPANY,

as the Borrower,

MERCURY GENERAL CORPORATION,

as the Guarantor,

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent

And

The Other Lenders Party Hereto

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC,

as Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Book Manager


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I.    DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

   1

1.01

  

Defined Terms

   1

1.02

  

Other Interpretive Provisions

   17

1.03

  

Accounting Terms

   18

1.04

  

Rounding

   19

1.05

  

Times of Day

   19

ARTICLE II.    THE LOANS

   19

2.01

  

Loans

   19

2.02

  

Initial Borrowing, Conversions and Continuations of Loans

   19

2.03

  

Prepayments

   20

2.04

  

Repayment of Loans

   21

2.05

  

Interest

   21

2.06

  

Fees

   22

2.07

  

Computation of Interest and Fees

   22

2.08

  

Evidence of Debt

   22

2.09

  

Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback

   23

2.10

  

Sharing of Payments by Lenders

   24

ARTICLE III.    TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

   24

3.01

  

Taxes

   24

3.02

  

Illegality

   28

3.03

  

Inability to Determine Rates

   28

3.04

  

Increased Costs; Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans

   28

3.05

  

Compensation for Losses

   30

3.06

  

Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders

   30

3.07

  

Survival

   31

ARTICLE IV.    CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO LOANS

   31

4.01

  

Conditions of Effective Date

   31

4.02

  

Conditions to all Loans

   32

ARTICLE V.    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

   34

5.01

  

Existence, Qualification and Power

   34

5.02

  

Authorization; No Contravention

   34


5.03

  

Governmental Authorization; Other Consents

   34

5.04

  

Binding Effect

   34

5.05

  

Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect

   35

5.06

  

Litigation

   35

5.07

  

No Default

   36

5.08

  

Ownership of Property; Liens

   36

5.09

  

Environmental Compliance

   36

5.10

  

Insurance

   36

5.11

  

Taxes

   36

5.12

  

ERISA Compliance

   36

5.13

  

Subsidiaries; Equity Interests

   37

5.14

  

Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act

   37

5.15

  

Disclosure

   37

5.16

  

Compliance with Laws

   38

5.17

  

Taxpayer Identification Number

   38

5.18

  

First Priority Security Interest

   38

ARTICLE VI.    AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

   38

6.01

  

Financial Statements

   38

6.02

  

Certificates; Other Information

   39

6.03

  

Notices

   42

6.04

  

Payment of Obligations

   43

6.05

  

Preservation of Existence, Etc.

   43

6.06

  

Maintenance of Properties

   43

6.07

  

Maintenance of Insurance

   43

6.08

  

Compliance with Laws

   43

6.09

  

Books and Records

   44

6.10

  

Inspection Rights

   44

6.11

  

Use of Proceeds

   44

6.12

  

Bank as Principal Depository

   44

6.13

  

Further Assurances

   44

6.14

  

Collateral Value

   44

ARTICLE VII.    NEGATIVE COVENANTS

   45

7.01

  

Liens

   45

 

ii


7.02

  

Investments

   46

7.03

  

Indebtedness

   46

7.04

  

Fundamental Changes

   47

7.05

  

Dispositions

   48

7.06

  

Restricted Payments

   49

7.07

  

Change in Nature of Business

   49

7.08

  

Transactions with Affiliates

   49

7.09

  

Burdensome Agreements

   49

7.10

  

Use of Proceeds

   50

7.11

  

Financial Covenants

   50

ARTICLE VIII.    EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

   50

8.01

  

Events of Default

   50

8.02

  

Remedies Upon Event of Default

   53

8.03

  

Application of Funds

   53

ARTICLE IX.    ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

   54

9.01

  

Appointment and Authority

   54

9.02

  

Rights as a Lender

   54

9.03

  

Exculpatory Provisions

   54

9.04

  

Reliance by Administrative Agent

   55

9.05

  

Delegation of Duties

   55

9.06

  

Resignation of Administrative Agent

   55

9.07

  

Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders

   56

9.08

  

No Other Duties, Etc.

   56

9.09

  

Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim

   56

9.10

  

Collateral Matters

   57

ARTICLE X.    PARENT GUARANTEE

   57

10.01

  

Unconditional Guarantee

   57

10.02

  

Guarantee Absolute

   58

10.03

  

Waivers

   58

10.04

  

Subrogation

   59

10.05

  

Survival

   59

10.06

  

Severability

   59

 

iii


ARTICLE XI.    MISCELLANEOUS

   60

11.01

  

Amendments, Etc

   60

11.02

  

Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication

   61

11.03

  

No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies; Enforcement

   63

11.04

  

Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver

   63

11.05

  

Payments Set Aside

   65

11.06

  

Successors and Assigns

   66

11.07

  

Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality

   69

11.08

  

Right of Setoff

   70

11.09

  

Interest Rate Limitation

   70

11.10

  

Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness

   70

11.11

  

Survival of Representations and Warranties

   70

11.12

  

Severability

   71

11.13

  

Replacement of Lenders

   71

11.14

  

Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc

   72

11.15

  

Waiver of Jury Trial

   72

11.16

  

California Proceedings

   73

11.17

  

No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility

   73

11.18

  

Electronic Execution of Assignments and Certain Other Documents

   74

11.19

  

USA PATRIOT Act

   74

11.20

  

Time of the Essence

   74

11.21

  

Entire Agreement

   74

 

iv


SCHEDULES

 

1.01   

Collateral Advance Rates

2.01   

Commitments and Applicable Percentages

5.13   

Subsidiaries; Other Equity Investments

11.02   

Administrative Agent’s Office; Certain Addresses for Notices

EXHIBITS

Form of

 

A   

Loan Notice

B   

Note

C-1   

Compliance Certificate

C-2   

Collateral Value Certificate

D-1   

Assignment and Assumption

D-2   

Administrative Questionnaire

E-1   

Security Agreement

E-2   

Control Agreement

F   

Opinion Matters

 

v


CREDIT AGREEMENT

This CREDIT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is entered into as of January 2, 2009, among MERCURY CASUALTY COMPANY, a California corporation (the “Borrower”), MERCURY GENERAL CORPORATION, a California corporation (the “Parent”), each lender from time to time party hereto (collectively, the “Lenders” and individually, a “Lender”), and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

The Borrower has requested that the Lenders provide a term loan facility, and the Lenders are willing to do so on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

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

ARTICLE I.

DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

1.01 Defined Terms.

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

Account Bank” means any “bank” within the meaning of Section 9-102(a)(8) of the UCC at which any deposit account constituting a Collateral Account is held, which shall be (a) located in the United States and (b) reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

Act” has the meaning specified in Section 11.17.

Acquisition” means the acquisition of all outstanding capital stock of AIS Management, LLC, a California limited liability company (“AIS”) which is the parent company of Auto Insurance Specialists, LLC, a California limited liability company, and Poliseek AIS Insurance Solutions, Inc.

Acquisition Agreement” means the Stock Purchase Agreement by and among Aon Corporation, Aon Services Group, Inc. and the Borrower dated as of October 10, 2008 entered into in connection with the Acquisition.

Acquisition Documents” means the Acquisition Agreement and the related documents delivered pursuant thereto.

Adjusted Fair Market Value” means with respect to any Eligible Collateral, an amount equal to the product of the Fair Market Value of such Eligible Collateral and the applicable percentage with respect to such Eligible Collateral as set forth on Schedule 1.01.

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


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

Administrative Questionnaire” means an Administrative Questionnaire in substantially the form of Exhibit D-2 or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

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

Aggregate Commitments” means the Commitments of all the Lenders.

Agreement” means this Credit Agreement.

Annual Statement” means with respect to any Insurance Subsidiary, the annual financial statement of such Insurance Subsidiary as required to be filed with the Applicable Insurance Regulatory Authority, together with all exhibits or schedules filed therewith, prepared in conformity with SAP.

Applicable Percentage” means with respect to any Lender at any time, the percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) of such Lender’s Loans divided by the Outstanding Amount. The initial Applicable Percentage of each Lender is set forth opposite the name of such Lender on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Assumption pursuant to which such Lender becomes a party hereto, as applicable.

Applicable Insurance Regulatory Authority” means, with respect to any Material Insurance Subsidiary, the California Department of Insurance or similar Governmental Authority located in (x) the jurisdiction in which such Person is domiciled or (y) such other jurisdiction which due to the nature of such Person’s activities, has regulatory authority over such Person, and any federal Governmental Authority regulating the insurance industry.

Applicable Rate” means 1.25%.

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

Arranger” means Banc of America Securities LLC, in its capacity as sole lead arranger and sole book manager.

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

Assignment and Assumption” means an assignment and assumption entered into by a Lender and an assignee (with the consent of any party whose consent is required by Section 11.06(b)), and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit D-1 or any other form approved by the Administrative Agent.

 

2


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

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

Base Rate” means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2 of 1% and (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced from time to time by Bank of America as its “prime rate” and (c) the Eurodollar Rate for a one-month Interest Period commencing on such day plus 0.50% The “prime rate” is a rate set by Bank of America based upon various factors including Bank of America’s costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in such rate announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.

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

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

Borrower Materials” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

Borrower Statutory Surplus” means, on any date, the amount (determined in accordance with SAP) of the Borrower’s surplus as at the last day of any fiscal quarter ending on or most recently ended prior to such date.

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

Cash” means Dollars held in a Collateral Account.

Cash Equivalents” means at any time:

(a) time deposits and certificates of deposit, maturing not more than two years after the date of determination, which are issued by the applicable Securities Intermediary; and

(b) investments in money market funds or short-term asset management accounts offered by the Securities Intermediary which are acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

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

 

3


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

(a) any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except that a person or group shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all securities that such person or group has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time (such right, an “option right”)), directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of the equity securities of the Parent entitled to vote for members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the Parent on a fully-diluted basis (and taking into account all such securities that such person or group has the right to acquire pursuant to any option right);

(b) during any period of 12 consecutive months, a majority of the members of the board of directors or other equivalent governing body of the Parent cease to be composed of individuals (i) who were members of that board or equivalent governing body on the first day of such period, (ii) whose election or nomination to that board or equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clause (i) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body or (iii) whose election or nomination to that board or other equivalent governing body was approved by individuals referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of that board or equivalent governing body (excluding, in the case of both clause (ii) and clause (iii), any individual whose initial nomination for, or assumption of office as, a member of that board or equivalent governing body occurs as a result of an actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents for the election or removal of one or more directors by any person or group other than a solicitation for the election of one or more directors by or on behalf of the board of directors); or

(c) the Parent ceases to own, directly or indirectly, 100% of the Equity Interests in the Borrower, free and clear of Liens.

Closing Date” means the first date all the conditions precedent in Sections 4.01 and 4.02 are satisfied or waived in accordance with Section 11.01.

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Collateral” means all property and assets that are from time to time subject to the Security Agreement.

Collateral Account” means (a) account no. 244398 at The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, National Association as to which the Borrower, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, National Association and the Administrative Agent have entered into a Control Agreement, and (b) any other account at The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, National Association or another Securities Intermediary or Account Bank as to which such Securities Intermediary or Account Bank, as the case may be, the Borrower and the Administrative Agent have entered into a Control Agreement.

 

4


Collateral Value” means, on any date, an amount equal to the sum of the Adjusted Fair Market Value of all Eligible Collateral.

Collateral Value Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C-2 with such changes therein as the Administrative Agent and the Borrower may reasonably agree from time to time.

Compliance Certificate” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C-1.

Consolidated Parent Debt” means, as of any date of determination, the balance sheet amount of the consolidated Indebtedness of the Parent and its Subsidiaries on that date.

Consolidated Parent Net Worth” means, as of any date of determination, for the Parent and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, Shareholders’ Equity of the Parent and its Subsidiaries on that date.

Consolidated Statutory Net Income” means, for any period, for the Borrower, the net statutory income of the Borrower for that period excluding (a) extraordinary gains and extraordinary losses and (b) dividends and other distributions from its Subsidiaries and other Affiliates for such period, calculated in accordance with SAP.

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

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

Control Agreement” means an agreement between the Borrower, the applicable Securities Intermediary or Account Bank, as the case may be, and the Administrative Agent with respect to any Collateral Account substantially in the form of Exhibit E-2 or such other form as may be reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

Corporate Securities” means publicly traded debt securities (other than preferred stock) denominated in Dollars issued by a corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership or similar entity organized in the United States.

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

 

5


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

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

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

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

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

Eligible Collateral” means Cash, Cash Equivalents, Corporate Securities, Federal Agency Debt, Government Debt and Municipal Securities which (a) are denominated in Dollars, (b) if applicable, have the required rating and/or maximum tenor as set forth on Schedule 1.01, (c) are capable of being marked to market on a daily basis and capable of being cleared by the Depository Trust Company and (d) are held in a Collateral Account.

Environmental Laws” means any and all Federal, state, local, and foreign statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, decrees, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses, agreements or governmental restrictions relating to pollution and the protection of the environment or the release of any materials into the environment, including those related to hazardous substances or wastes, air emissions and discharges to waste or public systems.

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

Equity Interests” means, with respect to any Person, all of the shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, all of the securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person or warrants, rights or options for the purchase or acquisition from such Person of such shares (or such other interests),

 

6


and all of the other ownership or profit interests in such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are outstanding on any date of determination.

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

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

ERISA Event” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a “substantial employer” (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal (within the meanings of Sections 4203 and 4205 of ERISA) by the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or receipt by the Parent or any ERISA Affiliate of notice from any Multiemployer Plan that it is in “reorganization” (within the meaning of Section 4241 of ERISA); (d) the filing of a notice of intent by the plan administrator to terminate, the treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (e) an event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan.

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

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

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

 

7


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 a Loan Party hereunder, (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by its overall net income or gross receipts (however denominated), and franchise Taxes imposed on it (in lieu of net income taxes), by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the Laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of any Lender, in which its applicable Lending Office is located, (b) any branch profits Taxes imposed by the United States or any similar Tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which such Loan Party is located, (c) any backup withholding Tax that is withheld from amounts payable to a Lender that has failed to comply with clause (A) of Section 3.01(e)(ii), and (d) in the case of a Foreign Lender (other than an assignee pursuant to a request by the Borrower under Section 11.13 in which the Borrower has agreed to pay the applicable withholding taxes), any United States withholding tax that (i) is imposed on amounts payable to such Foreign Lender pursuant to the Laws in force at the time such Foreign Lender becomes a party hereto (or designates a new Lending Office) or (ii) is attributable to such Foreign Lender’s failure or inability (other than as a result of a Change in Law) to comply with clause (B) of Section 3.01(e)(ii), except to the extent that such Foreign Lender (or its assignor, if any) was entitled, at the time of designation of a new Lending Office (or assignment), to receive additional amounts from such Loan Party with respect to such withholding tax pursuant to Section 3.01(a)(ii) or (iii).

Existing Term Loan Agreement” means that certain Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated as of January 2, 2009 between the Borrower and Bank of America.

Fair Market Value” means (a) with respect to any Government Debt, Federal Agency Debt, or other publicly-traded security (other than those set forth in clause (b)) the closing price for such security on Bloomberg, Inc. or, if Bloomberg, Inc. is not available, another quotation service reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, (b) with respect to Cash and Cash Equivalents, the amounts thereof, and (c) with respect to any Eligible Collateral (other than those set forth in clauses (a), and (b)), the price for such Eligible Collateral on the date of calculation obtained from a generally recognized source reasonably approved by the Administrative Agent or the most recent bid quotation from such approved source (or, if no generally recognized source exists as to such Eligible Collateral, any other source specified by the Borrower to which the Administrative Agent does not reasonably object).

Federal Agency” means any of the following agencies of the federal government of the United States: (a) Government National Mortgage Association; (b) the Export-Import Bank of the United States; (c) the Farmers Home Administration, an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture; (d) the United States General Services Administration; (e) the United States Maritime Administration; (f) the United States Small Business Administration; (g) the Commodity Credit Corporation; (h) the Rural Electrification Administration; (i) the Rural Telephone Bank; (j) Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority; (k) the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation; (l) the Federal National Mortgage Association; (m) the Federal Housing Finance Board; (n) the Federal Home Loan Bank; and (o) such other federal agencies as are reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

Federal Agency Debt” means evidence of Freely Transferable Indebtedness that constitutes obligations of a Federal Agency.

 

8


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

Fee Letter” means the letter agreement, dated December 15, 2008, among the Loan Parties, the Administrative Agent and Bank of America and the Arranger.

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

Freely Transferable” means securities which are freely transferable and traded in established and recognized markets and as to which there are readily available price quotations.

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

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

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

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

Government Debt” means Freely Transferable Indebtedness issued by the U.S. Treasury Department or backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

(d) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business);

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

(f) capital leases and Synthetic Lease Obligations;

 

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

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

For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person. The amount of any net obligation under any Swap Contract on any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value thereof as of such date. The amount of any capital lease or Synthetic Lease Obligation as of any date shall be deemed to be the amount of Attributable Indebtedness in respect thereof as of such date.

Indemnified Taxes” means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

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

Information” has the meaning specified in Section 11.07.

Insurance License” means any license, certificate of authority, permit or other authorization which is required to be obtained from any Governmental Authority in connection with the operation, ownership or transaction of insurance or reinsurance business.

Insurance Subsidiary” means each of the Borrower and any other Subsidiary of the Parent which is licensed by any Governmental Authority to engage in the insurance and/or reinsurance business.

Interim Statement” means with respect to any Insurance Subsidiary, any interim statutory financial statement or financial report (whether quarterly, semiannually or otherwise) of such Insurance Subsidiary as required to be filed with the Applicable Insurance Regulatory Authority, together with all exhibits or schedules filed therewith, prepared in conformity with SAP.

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

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

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

 

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

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

Investment” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person, whether by means of (a) the purchase or other acquisition of capital stock or other securities of another Person or (b) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, Guarantee or assumption of debt of, or purchase or other acquisition of any other debt or equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person and any arrangement pursuant to which the investor Guarantees Indebtedness of such other Person. For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of any Investment shall be the amount actually invested, without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment.

IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

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

Lender” and “Lenders” have the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph hereto.

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

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

Loan” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.

 

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

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

Loan Parties” means, collectively, the Borrower and the Parent.

Margin Stock” has the meaning specified in Regulation U issued by the FRB.

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

Material Insurance Subsidiary” means the Borrower and each other Insurance Subsidiary which is Material Party.

Material Party” means each Loan Party and each Subsidiary of the Parent whose consolidated assets or revenues exceed 10% of the consolidated assets or revenues of the Parent and its Subsidiaries for the most recent fiscal quarter for which financial statements have been delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b).

Maturity Date” means January 2, 2012 if such date is not a Business Day, the Maturity Date shall be the next succeeding Business Day.

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

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

Municipal Securities” means publicly traded debt securities issued by any state or municipality or subdivision or instrumentality thereunder located in the United States.

NAIC” means the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and any successor thereto.

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

 

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

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

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

Outstanding Amount” means the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Loans on any date after giving effect to any prepayments of Loans, occurring on such date.

Parent” has the meaning specified in the introductory paragraph.

Parent Debt to Capital Ratio” means the ratio, expressed as a percentage, of (a) Consolidated Parent Debt to (b) Parent Net Worth plus Consolidated Parent Debt.

Parent Net Worth” means, as of any date of determination, the consolidated shareholders’ equity of the Parent calculated in accordance with GAAP.

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

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

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

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

 

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

Platform” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

Post-Closing Filings” has the meaning specified in Section 5.03.

Public Lender” has the meaning specified in Section 6.02.

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

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

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

Required Lenders” means, as of any date of determination, Lenders holding in the aggregate more than 50% of the Outstanding Amount. In the event that the Borrower or any of its Affiliates become the owner of Loans in accordance with Section 11.06(b)(v) or a participant in Loans in accordance with Section 11.06(d), such Person shall not have a vote and such Person’s Loans shall be excluded in calculating the Outstanding Amount for purposes of determining Required Lenders unless 100% of the Lenders approved the assignment of such Loans to such Person.

Responsible Officer” means the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, corporate secretary, treasurer, assistant treasurer or controller of a Loan Party and, solely for purposes of notices given pursuant to Article II, any other officer of the applicable Loan Party so designated by any of the foregoing officers in a notice to the Administrative Agent. Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership and/or other action on the part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer shall be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party.

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

Risk Based Capital Ratio” means, as to any Material Insurance Subsidiary, the “risk based capital ratio” calculated in accordance with SAP pursuant to the requirements of the Applicable Insurance Regulatory Authority in such Material Insurance Subsidiary’s domicile.

 

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SAP” means, as to any Material Insurance Subsidiary, the accounting practices prescribed or permitted by NAIC, if then applicable to such Material Insurance Subsidiary, or the Applicable Insurance Regulatory Authority of the jurisdiction of domicile of such Material Insurance Subsidiary for the preparation of Annual Statements, Interim Statements and other financial reports by insurance companies of the same type as such Material Insurance Subsidiary.

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

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

Securities Intermediary” means any “securities intermediary” within the meaning of Section 8.102(a)(14) of the UCC at which any securities account constituting a Collateral Account is held, which shall be (a) located in the United States and (b) reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

Security Agreement” means a security agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit E-1 entered into on the Closing Date.

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

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

 

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

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

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

Threshold Amount” means $25,000,000.

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

UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of New York.

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

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

Unmatured Surviving Obligations” means, as of any date, Obligations that by their terms survive the termination of this Agreement or any other Loan Document and are not due and payable as of such date.

1.02 Other Interpretive Provisions.

With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:

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

 

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agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein or in any other Loan Document), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (iii) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document, shall be construed to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not to any particular provision thereof, (iv) all references in a Loan Document to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or interpreting such law and any reference to any law or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and (vi) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

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

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

1.03 Accounting Terms.

(a) Generally. All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data (including financial ratios and other financial calculations) required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with GAAP or SAP, as applicable.

(b) Changes in GAAP or SAP. If any change in GAAP or SAP from that used in preparing the financial statements described in Section 5.05 would affect the computation of any financial ratio or requirement set forth in any Loan Document, and either the Borrower or the Required Lenders shall so request, the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP or SAP, as applicable (subject to the approval of the Required Lenders); provided that, until so amended, (i) such ratio or requirement shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP or SAP, as applicable prior to such change therein and (ii) the Borrower shall provide to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders financial statements and other documents required under this Agreement or as reasonably requested hereunder setting forth a reconciliation between calculations of such ratio or requirement made before and after giving effect to such change in GAAP or SAP, as applicable.

 

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1.04 Rounding.

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

1.05 Times of Day.

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

ARTICLE II.

THE COMMITMENTS AND LOANS

2.01 Loans.

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Lender severally agrees to make loans (each such loan, a “Loan”) to the Borrower on the Closing Date not to exceed $120,000,000. Loans may be Base Rate Loans or Eurodollar Rate Loans, as further provided herein.

2.02 Initial Borrowing, Conversions and Continuations of Loans.

(a) The initial borrowing hereunder and each conversion of Loans from one Type to the other, and each continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be made upon the Borrower’s irrevocable notice to the Administrative Agent, which may be given by telephone. Each such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (i) three Business Days prior to the requested date of the initial borrowing hereunder of, or the conversion to or continuation of, Eurodollar Rate Loans or (ii) on the Business Day of the requested date of the initial borrowing hereunder of, or conversion to, Base Rate Loans; provided, however, that if the Borrower wishes to request Eurodollar Rate Loans having an Interest Period other than one, two, three or six months in duration as provided in the definition of “Interest Period,” the applicable notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. four Business Days prior to the requested date of such conversion or continuation, whereupon the Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice to the Lenders of such request and determine whether the requested Interest Period is acceptable to all of them. Not later than 11:00 a.m., three Business Days before the requested date of such conversion or continuation, the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower (which notice may be by telephone) whether or not the requested Interest Period has been consented to by all the Lenders. Each telephonic notice by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) must be confirmed promptly by delivery to the Administrative Agent of a written Loan Notice, appropriately completed and signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower. The initial borrowing hereunder of and each conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $3,000,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof. The initial borrowing hereunder of or conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof. Each Loan Notice (whether telephonic or written) shall specify (i) whether the Borrower is requesting the initial borrowing hereunder of, a conversion of Loans from one Type

 

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to the other, or a continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, (ii) the requested date of the initial borrowing hereunder, conversion or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (iii) the principal amount of Loans to be borrowed, converted or continued, (iv) the Type of Loans to be borrowed or to which existing Loans are to be converted, and (v) if applicable, the duration of the Interest Period with respect thereto. If the Borrower fails to specify a Type of Loan in a Loan Notice or if the Borrower fails to give a timely notice requesting a conversion or continuation, then the applicable Loans shall be made as, or converted to, Eurodollar Rate Loans with a one-month Interest Period. Any such automatic conversion to Base Rate Loans shall be effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurodollar Rate Loans. If the Borrower requests a conversion to, or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans in any such Loan Notice, but fails to specify an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower may request that Loans made on the Closing Date bear interest at a rate equal to the sum of (x) the “overnight rate” as quoted by the Administrative Agent on the Closing Date plus (y) the Applicable Rate provided the Borrower delivers to the Administrative Agent no later than 10:00 a.m. on the Closing Date (1) a Loan Notice requesting such rate and (2) a Loan Notice requesting conversion of the Loans made on the Closing Date to a Eurodollar Loan(s) on the second Business Day after the Closing Date. Thereafter, all conversions and continuations shall be made in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.02(a).

(b) Following receipt of a Loan Notice, the Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the contents thereof, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by the Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to Eurodollar Rate Loans with a one-month Interest Period described in the preceding subsection.

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

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

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

2.03 Voluntary Prepayments.

The Borrower may, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, at any time or from time to time voluntarily prepay Loans in whole or in part without premium or penalty; provided that (i) such notice must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (A) three Business Days prior to any date of prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans and (B) on the date of

 

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prepayment of Base Rate Loans; (ii) any prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $3,000,000 or a whole multiple of $500,000 in excess thereof; and (iii) any prepayment of Base Rate Loans shall be in a principal amount of $500,000 or a whole multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof or, in each case, if less, the entire principal amount thereof then outstanding. Each such notice shall specify the date and amount of such prepayment and the Type(s) of Loans to be prepaid and, if Eurodollar Rate Loans are to be prepaid, the Interest Period(s) of such Loans. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender of its receipt of each such notice, and of the amount of such Lender’s Applicable Percentage of such prepayment. If the Borrower gives notice of voluntary prepayment to the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall pay all accrued interest, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. Each such prepayment shall be applied to the Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages. If such notice is given by the Borrower and such prepayment is not made on the date stipulated in the notice, the applicable Loans shall be automatically converted to Base Rate Loans on such date, and the Borrower shall pay all accrued interest and any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. Amounts repaid may not be reborrowed.

2.04 Repayment of Loans.

The Borrower shall repay to the Lenders on the Maturity Date the aggregate principal amount of Loans outstanding on such date.

2.05 Interest.

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

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

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

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

 

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

(v) The Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower in writing of the imposition of the Default Rate.

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

2.06 Fees.

The Borrower shall pay to the Arranger and the Administrative Agent for their own respective accounts fees in the amounts and at the times specified in the Fee Letter. Such fees shall be fully earned when paid and shall not be refundable for any reason whatsoever.

2.07 Computation of Interest and Fees.

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

2.08 Evidence of Debt.

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

 

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2.09 Payments Generally; Administrative Agent’s Clawback.

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

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

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

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

 

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2.10 Sharing of Payments by Lenders.

If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of the Loans made by it, resulting in such Lender’s receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Loans and accrued interest thereon greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall (a) notify the Administrative Agent of such fact, and (b) purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans of the other Lenders, or make such other adjustments as shall be equitable, so that the benefit of all such payments shall be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans and other amounts owing them, provided that:

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

(ii) the provisions of this Section shall not be construed to apply to (x) any payment made by the Borrower pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement or (y) any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Loans to any assignee or participant (provided, however, if such assignment or participation was made to the Parent or any of its Affiliates or Subsidiaries other than in accordance with Section 11.06(b)(v) or (c), as applicable, the provisions of this Section shall apply to such payment).

Each Loan Party consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against such Loan Party rights of setoff and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of such Loan Party in the amount of such participation.

ARTICLE III.

TAXES, YIELD PROTECTION AND ILLEGALITY

3.01 Taxes.

(a) Payments Free of Taxes; Obligation to Withhold; Payments on Account of Taxes.

(i) Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall to the extent permitted by applicable Laws be made free and clear of and without reduction or withholding for any Taxes. If, however, applicable Laws require the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to withhold or deduct any Tax, such Tax shall be withheld or deducted in accordance with such Laws as determined by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, upon the basis of the information and documentation to be delivered pursuant to subsection (e) below.

(ii) If the Borrower or the Administrative Agent shall be required by the Code to withhold or deduct any Taxes, including both United States Federal backup withholding and withholding taxes, from any payment, then (A) the Administrative Agent shall withhold or make such deductions as are determined by the Administrative Agent to be required based upon the information and documentation it has received pursuant to subsection (e) below, (B) the Administrative Agent shall timely pay the full

 

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amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with the Code, and (C) to the extent that the withholding or deduction is made on account of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, the sum payable by the Borrower shall be increased as necessary so that after any required withholding or the making of all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) the Administrative Agent or Lender, as the case may be, receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such withholding or deduction been made.

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

(c) Tax Indemnifications. (i) Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) above, the Borrower shall, without duplication, and does hereby, indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) withheld or deducted by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent or paid by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. The Borrower shall also, and does hereby, indemnify the Administrative Agent, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, for any amount which a Lender for any reason fails to pay indefeasibly to the Administrative Agent as required by clause (ii) of this subsection. A certificate as to the amount of any such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower by a Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

(ii) Without limiting the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) above, each Lender shall, and does hereby, indemnify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and shall make payment in respect thereof within 10 days after demand therefor, against any and all Taxes and any and all related losses, claims, liabilities, penalties, interest and expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Borrower or the Administrative Agent) incurred by or asserted against the Borrower or the Administrative Agent by any Governmental Authority as a result of the failure by such Lender to deliver, or as a result of the inaccuracy, inadequacy or deficiency of, any documentation required to be delivered by such Lender to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (e). Each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to set off and apply any and all amounts at any time owing to such Lender under this Agreement or any other Loan Document against any amount due to the Administrative Agent under this clause (ii). The agreements in this clause (ii) shall survive the resignation and/or replacement of the Administrative Agent, any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Aggregate Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all other Obligations.

 

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(d) Evidence of Payments. Upon request by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, after any payment of Taxes by the Borrower or by the Administrative Agent to a Governmental Authority as provided in this Section 3.01, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent or the Administrative Agent shall deliver to the Borrower, as the case may be, the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of any return required by Laws to report such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be.

(e) Status of Lenders; Tax Documentation. (i) Each Lender shall deliver to the Borrower and to the Administrative Agent, at the time or times prescribed by applicable Laws or when reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by applicable Laws or by the taxing authorities of any jurisdiction and such other reasonably requested information as will permit the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, to determine (A) whether or not payments made hereunder or under any other Loan Document are subject to Taxes, (B) if applicable, the required rate of withholding or deduction, and (C) such Lender’s entitlement to any available exemption from, or reduction of, applicable Taxes in respect of all payments to be made to such Lender by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise to establish such Lender’s status for withholding tax purposes in the applicable jurisdiction.

(ii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if the Borrower is resident for tax purposes in the United States,

(A) any Lender that is a “United States person” within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 or such other documentation or information prescribed by applicable Laws or reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements; and

(B) each Foreign Lender that is entitled under the Code or any applicable treaty to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax with respect to payments hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall deliver to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the request of the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, but only if such Foreign Lender is legally entitled to do so), whichever of the following is applicable:

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

 

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(2) executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI,

(3) executed originals of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY and all required supporting documentation,

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

(5) executed originals of any other form prescribed by applicable Laws as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in United States Federal withholding tax together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable Laws to permit the Borrower or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.

(iii) Each Lender shall promptly (A) notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent of any change in circumstances which would modify or render invalid any claimed exemption or reduction, and (B) take such steps as shall not be materially disadvantageous to it, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, and as may be reasonably necessary (including the re-designation of its Lending Office) to avoid any requirement of applicable Laws of any jurisdiction that the Borrower or the Administrative Agent make any withholding or deduction for taxes from amounts payable to such Lender.

(f) Treatment of Certain Refunds. Unless required by applicable Laws, at no time shall the Administrative Agent have any obligation to file for or otherwise pursue on behalf of a Lender, or have any obligation to pay to any Lender, any refund of Taxes withheld or deducted from funds paid for the account of such Lender. If the Administrative Agent or any Lender determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section, it shall pay to the Borrower an amount equal to such refund (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower under this Section with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund), provided that the Borrower, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent or such Lender in the event the Administrative Agent or such Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. This subsection shall not be construed to require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes that it deems confidential) to the Borrower or any other Person.

 

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

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

3.04 Increased Costs; Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans.

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

(i) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any reserve requirement contemplated by Section 3.04(e));

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

 

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

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

(b) Capital Requirements. If any Lender determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or any Lending Office of such Lender or such Lender’s holding company, if any, regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, 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 could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

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

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

(e) Reserves on Eurodollar Rate Loans. The Borrower shall pay to each Lender, as long as such Lender shall be required to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency funds or deposits (currently known as “Eurocurrency liabilities”), additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Eurodollar Rate Loan

 

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equal to the actual costs of such reserves allocated to such Loan by such Lender (as determined by such Lender in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive), which shall be due and payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Loan, provided the Borrower shall have received at least 10 Business Days’ prior notice (with a copy to the Administrative Agent) of such additional interest from such Lender. If a Lender fails to give notice 10 Business Days prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date, such additional interest shall be due and payable 10 Business Days from receipt of such notice.

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

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

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

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

including any loss of anticipated profits and any loss or expense arising from the liquidation or reemployment of funds obtained by it to maintain such Loan or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such funds were obtained. The Borrower shall also pay any customary administrative fees charged by such Lender in connection with the foregoing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Borrower shall not be liable to pay such amounts in the event that a Eurodollar Loan is not continued or a Base Rate Loan is not converted into a Eurodollar Loan in accordance with the Borrower’s Loan Notice for the same due to a written request of a Lender pursuant to Section 3.02 or a written notice from the Required Lenders pursuant to Section 3.03.

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

3.06 Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders.

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

 

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such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

(b) Replacement of Lenders. If any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04, or if any Lender gives a notice pursuant to Section 3.02, or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01, the Borrower may replace such Lender in accordance with Section 11.13.

3.07 Survival.

All of the Borrower’s obligations under this Article III shall survive, repayment of all other Obligations hereunder and resignation of the Administrative Agent.

ARTICLE IV.

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO LOANS

4.01 Documentary Conditions of Closing Date.

The obligation of each Lender to make the Loans hereunder is subject to the Administrative Agent’s receipt of the following, each of which shall be originals, electronic copies or facsimiles (followed promptly by originals) unless otherwise specified, each properly executed by a Responsible Officer of the signing Loan Party, each dated the Closing Date (or, in the case of certificates of governmental officials, a recent date before the Closing Date) and each in form and substance and number reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and each of the Lenders:

(a) Executed counterparts of this Agreement and the Security Agreement.

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

(c) Such documents and certifications as the Administrative Agent may reasonably require to evidence that each Loan Party is duly organized or formed, and that each Loan Party is validly existing, in good standing and qualified to engage in business in each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification including, in the case of the Borrower, certificates from the California Department of Insurance and any other Applicable Insurance Regulatory Authority having jurisdiction over the Borrower, except to the extent that failure to be so qualified could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(d) A favorable opinion of legal counsel to the Loan Parties, addressed to the Administrative Agent and each Lender, as to the matters set forth in Exhibit F and such other matters concerning the Loan Parties and the Loan Documents as the Required Lenders may reasonably request.

 

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

(f) A certificate of a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying (A) a true and correct copy of the Acquisition Documents, (B) that concurrent with making of the Loans, the closing of the Acquisition will occur in accordance with the terms of the Acquisition Documents without waiver of any material condition thereof, and (C) the Acquisition complies in all material respects with applicable legal requirements, and all necessary consents and approvals from any Governmental Authority required for the consummation of the Acquisition were duly obtained, and continue to be in full force and effect, except for such requirements, consents or approvals that would not, in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(g) A certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower certifying that after giving effect to the closing of the Acquisition and making of the Loans (A) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing under the Loan Documents or will result from the making of the Loan, (B) all warranties and representations contained in this Agreement are true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof; and (C) no Material Adverse Effect has occurred since September 30, 2008.

(h) A duly completed Compliance Certificate on a proforma basis after giving effect to the Acquisition as of the last day of the fiscal quarter of the Parent ended on September 30, 2008, signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower and the Parent.

(i) A duly completed Collateral Value Certificate calculated as of the most recent Business Day signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.

(j) A Control Agreement with respect to the Collateral Account executed by the parties thereto.

(k) Such other assurances, certificates, documents, consents or opinions as the Administrative Agent or the Lenders reasonably may require.

4.02 Conditions Precedent to Loans.

The obligation of each Lender to make Loans is further subject to the following conditions precedent:

(a) The Administrative Agent shall have received reasonably satisfactory evidence that the Lenders have a valid and perfected first priority lien and security interest in the Collateral.

 

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(b) The absence of any action, suit, investigation or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in any court or before any arbitrator or governmental authority that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or restrain, enjoin or otherwise prohibit the Acquisition.

(c) The Borrower shall have a financial strength rating by A.M. Best Company, Inc. of A- stable or better.

(d) There shall have been no amendment to the Acquisition Agreement that is adverse to the Lenders (and the Lenders shall have received a copy of all amendments) except such amendments as have received the written approval of the Administrative Agent (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

(e) The receipt of any material governmental and other third party approvals required for the intended use of the proceeds of the Senior Credit Facility, the granting of the Collateral and the Acquisition.

(f) All conditions precedent in the Acquisition Documents (other than payment of the purchase price thereunder) have been satisfied or otherwise waived (with the approval of the Administrative Agent (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed)) and the closing thereunder shall occur on the Closing Date.

(g) The Existing Credit Agreement shall have been (or concurrently with the Closing Date is being) amended in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent to revise the statutory surplus covenant and provide for collateral for the obligations thereunder on the same terms and conditions as this Agreement.

(h) The Lenders shall have received two year projections for the Loan Parties giving effect to the Acquisition.

(i) Any fees required to be paid on or before the Closing Date shall have been paid.

(j) Unless waived by the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall have paid all fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent (directly to such counsel if requested by the Administrative Agent) to the extent invoiced prior to the Closing Date, plus such additional amounts of such fees, charges and disbursements as shall constitute its reasonable estimate of such fees, charges and disbursements incurred or to be incurred by it through the closing proceedings (provided that such estimate shall not thereafter preclude a final settling of accounts between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent).

 

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ARTICLE V.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

Each Loan Party represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders on the Closing Date that:

5.01 Existence, Qualification and Power.

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

5.02 Authorization; No Contravention.

The execution, delivery and performance by each Loan Party of each Loan Document to which such Person is party, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other organizational action, and do not and will not (a) contravene the terms of any of such Person’s Organization Documents; (b) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or the creation of any Lien under, or require any payment to be made under (i) any Contractual Obligation to which such Person is a party or affecting such Person or the properties of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries, which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) any order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority or any arbitral award to which such Person or its property is subject; or (c) violate any Law.

5.03 Governmental Authorization; Other Consents.

No approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is necessary or required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, any Loan Party of this Agreement or any other Loan Document; except (a) for approvals, consents, exemptions, authorizations, actions, notices or filings (i) which have already been obtained or made or (ii) for which the failure to obtain or make could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and such failure could be cured without unreasonable delay or cost and (b) the Borrower is required to file post-closing reports pursuant to California Insurance Code section 1185 et seq. with the California Department of Insurance and NAIC with respect to the Acquisition and the Borrower’s granting of Collateral pursuant to the Loan Documents (the “Post-Closing Filings”).

5.04 Binding Effect.

This Agreement has been, and each other Loan Document, when delivered hereunder, will have been, duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is party thereto. This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document when so delivered will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against each Loan Party that is party thereto in accordance with its terms.

 

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5.05 Financial Statements; No Material Adverse Effect.

(a) The unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Parent and its Subsidiaries dated September 30, 2008, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the fiscal quarter ended on that date (i) were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period covered thereby, except as otherwise expressly noted therein, and (ii) fairly present the financial condition of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as of the date thereof and their results of operations for the period covered thereby, subject, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), to the absence of footnotes and to normal year-end audit adjustments.

(b) (i) The Annual Statement of the Borrower as of and for the year ending December 31, 2007 (including, without limitation, the provisions made therein for investments and the valuation thereof, reserves, policy and contract claims and statutory liabilities) as filed with the Applicable Insurance Regulatory Authority and the Interim Statement of the Borrower as of and for the calendar quarter ended September 30, 2008 as filed with the Applicable Insurance Regulatory Authority (collectively, the “Statutory Financial Statements”), have been prepared in all material respects in accordance with SAP applied on a consistent basis (except as noted therein). Each such Statutory Financial Statement was in material compliance with applicable Law when filed. The Statutory Financial Statements fairly present the financial position, the results of operations, changes in equity and changes in financial position of the Borrower as of and for the respective dates and periods indicated therein in accordance with SAP applied on a consistent basis, except as set forth in the notes thereto.

(c) The Investments of the Borrower reflected in the Statutory Financial Statements comply in all material respects with all applicable requirements of the California Department of Insurance as well as those of any other Applicable Insurance Regulatory Authority relating to Investments in respect of which the Borrower may invest its funds.

(d) The provisions made by the Borrower in the Statutory Financial Statements for reserves, policy and contract claims and statutory liabilities are in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of the Applicable Insurance Regulatory Authority, and have been computed in accordance with SAP.

(e) Marketable securities and short term investments reflected in the Statutory Financial Statements are valued at cost, amortized cost or market value, as required by applicable Law.

(f) Since September 30, 2008, there has been no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.06 Litigation.

There are no actions, suits, proceedings, claims or disputes pending or, to the knowledge of either Loan Party after due and diligent investigation, threatened or contemplated, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or against any of their properties or revenues that (a) purport to affect the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby, or (b) either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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

5.08 Ownership of Property; Liens. Each of the Parent and each Subsidiary has good record and marketable title in fee simple to, or valid leasehold interests in, all real property necessary or used in the ordinary conduct of its business, except for such defects in title as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.09 Environmental Compliance. The Parent and its Subsidiaries conduct in the ordinary course of business a review of the effect of existing Environmental Laws and claims alleging potential liability or responsibility for violation of any Environmental Law on their respective businesses, operations and properties, and as a result thereof the Parent has reasonably concluded that such Environmental Laws and claims could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.10 Insurance. The properties of the Parent and its Subsidiaries are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Parent, in such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance compatible with the following standards), with such deductibles and covering such risks as are customarily carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where the Parent or the applicable Subsidiary operates.

5.11 Taxes. The Parent and its Subsidiaries have filed all material Federal, state and other tax returns and reports required to be filed (taking into account extensions), and have paid all material Federal, state and other taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges levied or imposed upon them or their properties, income or assets otherwise due and payable, except those which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance with GAAP. To the knowledge of the Borrower, there is no proposed tax assessment against the Parent or any Subsidiary that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

5.12 ERISA Compliance.

(a) Except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) each Plan is in compliance with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and other Federal or state Laws; (ii) each Plan that is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS or an application for such a letter is currently being processed by the IRS with respect thereto and, to the best knowledge of each Loan Party, nothing has occurred which would prevent, or cause the loss of, such qualification; and (iii) the Parent and each ERISA Affiliate have made all required contributions to each Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Code has been made with respect to any Plan.

 

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

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

5.13 Subsidiaries; Equity Interests. As of the Closing Date, (a) the Parent has no Subsidiaries other than those specifically disclosed in Part (a) of Schedule 5.13, and all of the outstanding Equity Interests in such Subsidiaries have been validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by the Person and in the amounts specified on Part (a) of Schedule 5.13 free and clear of all consensual Liens and such Schedule correctly indicates, as of the Closing Date, whether such Subsidiary is a Material Party, an Insurance Subsidiary or a Material Insurance Subsidiary, and (b) the Parent and its Subsidiaries do not have any equity investments in any other corporation or entity other than those specifically disclosed in Part(b) of Schedule 5.13 or, in the case of Insurance Subsidiaries, maintained in their investment portfolio in the ordinary course of business.

5.14 Margin Regulations; Investment Company Act.

(a) The Borrower is not engaged, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the FRB), or extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock. Less than 25% of the assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) consists of Margin Stock.

(b) None of the Parent, any Person Controlling the Parent, or any Subsidiary is or is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

5.15 Disclosure. The Parent has disclosed to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, and all other matters known to it, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. No report, financial statement, certificate or other information furnished (whether in writing or orally) by or on behalf of any Loan Party to the Administrative Agent or any Lender in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered hereunder

 

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or under any other Loan Document (in each case, as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, the Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time such projected financial information was prepared.

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

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

5.18 First Priority Security Interest. The Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, has a first priority perfected security interest in the Collateral pledged by the Borrower pursuant to the Security Agreement.

5.19 Insurance Licenses. Each Insurance Subsidiary has all Insurance Licenses necessary to conduct its business except to the extent the failure to have such Insurance License would not have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth in its SEC filings, to the best of the each Loan Party’s knowledge, (a) no Insurance License of any Insurance Subsidiary is the subject of a proceeding for suspension or revocation or any similar proceedings, (b) there is no sustainable basis for such a suspension or revocation, and (c) no such suspension or revocation is threatened by any Applicable Insurance Regulatory Authority; except, in each case referred to in clauses (a)-(c), to the extent that such event could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

ARTICLE VI.

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

So long as any Loan or other Obligation (other than Unmatured Surviving Obligations) hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied, the Loan Parties shall, and shall (except in the case of the covenants set forth in Sections 6.01, 6.02, 6.03, and 6.14) cause each Subsidiary to:

6.01 Financial Statements. Deliver to the Administrative Agent:

(a) as soon as available, but in any event within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Parent (commencing with the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008), a consolidated balance sheet of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal year, and the related consolidated statements of income or operations, statement of shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for such fiscal year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, such consolidated statements to be audited and accompanied by a report and opinion of KPMG or

 

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another independent certified public accountant of nationally recognized standing reasonably acceptable to the Required Lenders, which report and opinion shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and shall not be subject to any “going concern” or like qualification or exception or any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit;

(b) as soon as available, but in any event within fifty-five (55) days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Parent (commencing with the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2009), a consolidated balance sheet of the Parent and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such fiscal quarter, the related consolidated statements of income or operations for such fiscal quarter and for the portion of the Parent’s fiscal year then ended, and cash flows for the portion of the Parent’s fiscal year then ended, in each case setting forth in comparative form, as applicable, the figures for the corresponding fiscal quarter of the previous fiscal year and the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail, certified by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Parent as fairly presenting the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Parent and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, subject only to year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

(c) within five (5) Business Days after the applicable regulatory filing date, but in any event not later than fifty-five (55) days after the end of each calendar quarter (commencing with the calendar quarter ended March 31, 2009) in respect of which an Interim Statement is required to be filed, a copy of each Interim Statement of the Borrower for such calendar quarter, prepared in accordance with SAP;

(d) within five (5) Business Days after the applicable regulatory filing date for each calendar year (commencing with the filing for calendar year ended December 31, 2008), but in any event within ninety (90) days after the end of each calendar year, a copy of the Annual Statement of the Borrower for such calendar year prepared in accordance with SAP; and

(e) within five (5) Business Days after the applicable regulatory filing date for each calendar year (commencing with the filing for calendar year ended December 31, 2008), but in any event prior to June 10th of the year in which such filing is required, a copy of the annual audit for the Borrower for such calendar year prepared in accordance with the Annual Audited Financial Reports instructions contained in the annual statement instructions prepared by the NAIC from time to time by KPMG or other independent public accountants of recognized national standing.

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

6.02 Certificates; Other Information. Deliver to the Administrative Agent:

(a) concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(a) and (b) (commencing with the delivery of the financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008), a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller of the Borrower and the Parent;

 

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

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

(d) within fifteen (15) days after being delivered to any Material Insurance Subsidiary, any final Report on Examination issued by the Applicable Insurance Regulatory Authority or the NAIC that results in material adjustments to the financial statements referred to in Sections 6.01(c), (d) or (e);

(e) promptly, upon written request of the Administrative Agent, a copy of each “Statement of Actuarial Opinion” and “Management Discussion and Analysis” for any Material Insurance Subsidiary which is required to be provided to the Applicable Insurance Regulatory Authority as to the adequacy of loss reserves of such Person;

(f) within five (5) Business Days of receipt, a copy of any financial examination reports by any Applicable Insurance Regulatory Authority with respect to any Material Insurance Subsidiary relating to the insurance business of such Person (when, and if, prepared); provided, such Material Insurance Subsidiary shall only be required to deliver any interim report hereunder at such time as such Material Insurance Subsidiary has knowledge that a final report will not be issued and delivered to the Administrative Agent, within ninety (90) days of any such interim report;

(g) within five (5) Business Days of such notice, notice of actual suspension, termination or revocation of any material Insurance License of any Material Insurance Subsidiary by any Applicable Insurance Regulatory Authority;

(h) promptly upon notice thereof, any change in the A.M. Best Rating financial strength rating of any Material Insurance Subsidiaries;

(i) as soon as available, but in any event within 10 Business Days after the end of each calendar month of each fiscal year, a Collateral Value Certificate executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower calculated as of the last Business Day of such calendar month;

(j) promptly, at the request of the Administrative Agent, a Collateral Value Certificate for any given Business Day executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower calculated as of the close of business on such Business Day; and

 

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

(l) promptly after filing, a copy of the Post-Closing Filings.

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

The Loan Parties hereby acknowledge that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Arranger will make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Loan Parties hereunder (collectively, “Borrower Materials”) by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the “Platform”) and (b) certain of the Lenders (each, a “Public Lender”) may have personnel who do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Parent or its Affiliates, or the respective securities of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons’ securities. Each Loan Party hereby agrees that (w) all Borrower Materials that are to be made available to Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word “PUBLIC” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof; (x) by marking Borrower Materials “PUBLIC,” the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Arranger and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws (provided, however, that to the extent such Borrower Materials constitute Information, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 11.07); (y) all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Side Information;” and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Arranger shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform that is not designated “Public Side Information.”

 

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

(a) of the occurrence of any Default;

(b) of the commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries involving an amount in excess of 10% of Borrower Statutory Surplus as calculated as of the most recently ended fiscal quarter for which statutory statements were delivered or were required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6.01(c) or (d).

(c) of the commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting the Parent or any Subsidiary other than the Borrower and its Subsidiaries that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

(d) of receipt of notice from any Governmental Authority notifying the Borrower or any of its Insurance Subsidiaries of a hearing relating to a suspension, termination or revocation of any Insurance License, including any request by a Governmental Authority which commits the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to take, or refrain from taking, any action or which otherwise materially and adversely affects the authority of the Borrower or any such Insurance Subsidiary to conduct its business;

(e) (i) any breach or non-performance of, or any default under, a Contractual Obligation of the Parent or any Subsidiary and (ii) of any dispute, litigation, investigation, proceeding or suspension between a Material Insurance Subsidiary and any Governmental Authority, in each case, to the extent the same has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(f) of any matter that has resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(g) of the occurrence of any ERISA Event;

(h) of any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by the Parent or any Material Party;

(i) notice of any actual or, to the Borrower’s knowledge, proposed set-off, claims, withholdings or other defenses to which any material portion of the Collateral or the Administrative Agent’s rights with respect to any material portion of the Collateral are subject;

(j) of any announcement by A.M. Best & Company, Inc. of any change in or change in the outlook for a financial strength rating by A.M Best Company, Inc. of any Material Insurance Subsidiary, and

(k) of any announcement by S&P or Moody’s of any change in the Parent’s non-credit-enhanced, senior unsecured long-term debt.

 

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

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

6.05 Preservation of Existence, Etc. (a) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its legal existence and good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization except in a transaction permitted by Section 7.04 or 7.05; (b) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges, permits, licenses and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except to the extent that failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (c) preserve or renew all of its registered patents, trademarks, trade names and service marks, the non-preservation of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.06 Maintenance of Properties. (a) Maintain, preserve and protect all of its material properties and equipment necessary in the operation of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted; and (b) make all necessary repairs thereto and renewals and replacements thereof except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

6.07 Maintenance of Insurance. Maintain with financially sound and reputable insurance companies not Affiliates of the Parent, insurance with respect to its properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by Persons engaged in the same or similar business, of such types and in such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance compatible with the following standards) as are customarily carried under similar circumstances by such other Persons.

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

 

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6.09 Books and Records. (a) Maintain proper books of record and account, in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP or SAP, as applicable consistently applied shall be made of all financial transactions and matters involving the assets and business of the Parent or such Subsidiary, as the case may be; and (b) maintain such books of record and account in material conformity with all applicable requirements of any Governmental Authority having regulatory jurisdiction over the Parent or such Subsidiary, as the case may be.

6.10 Inspection Rights. Permit representatives and independent contractors of the Administrative Agent and each Lender to visit and inspect any of its properties, to examine its corporate, financial and operating records, and make copies thereof or abstracts therefrom, and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and independent public accountants, all at the expense of the Borrower and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may be reasonably desired, upon reasonable advance notice to the Borrower; provided, however, that as long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower shall not bear the expense of more than one visit per year; provided, further, that when an Event of Default exists the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of the Borrower at any time during normal business hours and without advance notice.

6.11 Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of the Loans to make the Acquisition and pay fees and expenses in connection therewith and hereunder.

6.12 Bank as Principal Depository. To, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain Bank of America as its primary depository bank, including for the maintenance of business, cash management, operating and administrative deposit accounts.

6.13 Further Assurances. Promptly upon the request of the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall execute, acknowledge, deliver and record and do any and all such further acts and deeds as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request from time to time in order to insure that the Obligations are secured by a first priority perfected interest in the assets of the Borrower stated to be pledged pursuant to the Security Agreement and to perfect and maintain the validity, effectiveness and priority of the Security Agreement and the Liens created thereby. Without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Borrower shall not give directions or entitlement orders to the Securities Intermediary party to any Control Agreement to make a delivery to the Borrower or any other Person of assets or properties from the Collateral Account except in connection with the sale of the Eligible Collateral the proceeds of which will be deposited into the Collateral Account. The Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, agrees that provided (i) no Default exists and is continuing and (ii) after giving effect to the proposed delivery, the Collateral Value is equal to or in excess of the Outstanding Amount, the Administrative Agent shall consent to and give instructions to the holder of the Collateral Account permitting any such delivery within one Business Day of a request.

6.14 Collateral Value. (a) For purposes of calculating Collateral Value on any date, the Adjusted Fair Market Value of the following shall be excluded: (i) any Collateral which directly includes sub-prime mortgage assets, (ii) the portion of any issue of Eligible Collateral (other than Government Debt) which exceeds 10% of the Adjusted Fair Market Value of all Eligible Collateral, (iii) without duplication of any amount excluded pursuant to clause (ii), the portion of Eligible Collateral of any issuer (other than Government Debt) which exceeds 10% of the Adjusted Fair Market Value of all Eligible Collateral, (iv) the portion of the Eligible Collateral

 

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that is rated A-/A3, BBB+/Baa1 or BBB/Baa2 and exceeds 20% of the Adjusted Fair Market Value of all Eligible Collateral, and (v) without duplication of any amount excluded pursuant to clause (iv), the portion of the Eligible Collateral that is rated BBB+/Baa1 or BBB/Baa2 and exceeds 10% of the Adjusted Fair Market Value of all Eligible Collateral.

(b) If at any time the Outstanding Amount shall exceed (the amount of such excess, the “Collateral Shortfall”) the Collateral Value for three consecutive Business Days, an Event of Default shall occur unless within three Business Days of the date the Collateral Shortfall occurred no Collateral Shortfall exists as a result of (i) a change in the Collateral Value due to market fluctuations, (ii) a deposit of additional securities in the Collateral Account and/or (iii) prepayment of the Outstanding Amount. Any prepayment made pursuant to this Section 6.14(b) shall be made without premium or penalty provided any prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be accompanied by all accrued interest on the amount prepaid, together with any additional amounts required pursuant to Section 3.05. Each such prepayment shall be applied to the Loans of the Lenders in accordance with their respective Applicable Percentages. Amounts so prepaid may not be reborrowed.

ARTICLE VII.

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

The Loan Parties agree that so long as any Loan or other Obligation (other than Unmatured Surviving Obligations) hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied:

7.01 Liens. The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit its Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than the following:

(a) Liens pursuant to any Loan Document;

(b) Liens securing the Existing Term Loan Agreement provided that the outstanding principal amount thereof does not exceed $18,000,000 or any additional amount permitted pursuant to Section 7.03(b);

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

(d) carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business which are not overdue for a period of more than 60 days or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted, if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of the applicable Person in accordance with GAAP;

(e) pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation, other than any Lien imposed by ERISA;

 

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(f) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts and leases (other than Indebtedness), statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

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

(h) Liens on assets other than the Collateral or any Equity Interests in any Subsidiary of the Borrower provided the amount of outstanding Indebtedness and other obligations (other than judicial judgments(including surety and appeal bonds)) secured thereby does not exceed $50,000,000 at any time; and

(i) Liens on assets other than the Collateral and any Equity Interest in any Subsidiary of the Borrower securing judicial judgments (including surety and appeal bonds) provided the outstanding amount secured thereby does not exceed $100,000,000 at any time.

7.02 Investments. The Material Insurance Subsidiaries shall not make any Investments, except:

(a) Investments disclosed on Schedule 5.14;

(b) Investments maintained in such Material Insurance Subsidiary’s investment portfolio in the ordinary course of business and in compliance with applicable Law;

(c) Investments by such Material Insurance Subsidiary in its Subsidiaries or by a Subsidiary of such Material Insurance Subsidiary in such Material Insurance Subsidiary; and

(d) Trade accounts receivables.

7.03 Indebtedness. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall not create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness except:

(a) Indebtedness under the Loan Documents;

(b) Indebtedness under the Existing Term Loan Agreement and refinancings, refundings, renewals or extensions thereof; provided that the amount of such Indebtedness is not increased at the time of such refinancing, refunding, renewal or extension except by an amount equal to a reasonable premium or interest and other reasonable amounts paid, and fees and expenses reasonably incurred, in connection with such refinancing;

(c) obligations (contingent or otherwise) existing or arising under any Swap Contract, provided that (i) such obligations are (or were) entered into by such Person in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of directly mitigating risks associated with fluctuations in interest rates or foreign exchange rates, (ii) such Swap Contract is not (and is not required by GAAP to be) accounted for as speculative in nature, and (iii) such Swap Contract does not contain any provision exonerating the non-defaulting party from its obligation to make payments on outstanding transactions to the defaulting party;

 

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(d) Guarantees of Indebtedness permitted pursuant to this Section 7.03;

(e) Indebtedness owed to any Person providing property, casualty or liability insurance to the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower, so long as the outstanding amount of such Indebtedness does not exceed $5,000,000 at any time, and shall be incurred only to defer the cost of, such insurance for the year in which such Indebtedness is incurred and such Indebtedness shall be outstanding only during such year;

(f) (i) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business; provided that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five Business Days of its incurrence, (ii) Indebtedness in respect of credit cards provided the outstanding amount of such Indebtedness does not exceed $500,000 at any time and is extinguished within 60 days from the date of invoice, and (iii) Indebtedness in respect of purchase cards provided such Indebtedness is extinguished within 60 days from the date of invoice;

(g) contingent (but not matured) reimbursement, indemnification or similar obligations (including any arising by right of subrogation) of the Borrower or of one or more Subsidiaries in respect of stay or appeal bonds; and

(h) Indebtedness not exceeding an aggregate principal amount of $150,000,000 at any time outstanding.

7.04 Fundamental Changes. The Parent shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, or acquire (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets of or Equity Interests in, or assets which constitute a business unit of, any Person, or except that:

(a) so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom, the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries may acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) the assets of any Person which constitute a business unit provided that the aggregate purchase price paid for all such acquisitions in any fiscal year does not exceed 10% of the Statutory Surplus of the Borrower as of the most recently ended fiscal year;

(b) so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom, any Subsidiary (other than the Borrower or its Subsidiaries) may merge with (i) the Parent, provided that the Parent shall be the continuing or surviving person, or (ii) any one or more other Subsidiaries (other than the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries);

(c) so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom, any Subsidiary of the Borrower may merge with (i) the Borrower, provided that the Borrower shall be the continuing or surviving Person, or (ii) any one or more other Subsidiaries of the Borrower;

 

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(d) so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom, the Borrower may merge or consolidate with any Person (other than the Parent) provided (i) either the Borrower is the continuing or surviving Person or the continuing or surviving Person is organized in the United States and assumes all obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which the Borrower is a party in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (ii) the Borrower has provided the Lenders with advance notice of such merger or consolidation and provided a pro forma Compliance Certificate giving effect to such merger or consolidation;

(e) so long as no Default exists or would result therefrom, the Parent may merge or consolidate with any Person (other than the Borrower) provided that (i) such merger or consolidation does not result in a Change of Control, (ii) either the Parent is the continuing or surviving Person or the continuing or surviving Person is organized in the United States and assumes all obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which the Parent is a party in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (iii) the Parent has provided the Lenders with advance notice of such merger or consolidation and provided a pro forma Compliance Certificate giving effect to such merger or consolidation; and

(f) the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (other than the Borrower and its Subsidiaries) may purchase or otherwise acquire all or substantially all the assets or Equity Interests in, any other Person provided (i) no Default exists or would result thereof and (ii) the Borrower has provided the Lenders with advance notice of such acquisition and provided a pro forma Compliance Certificate giving effect to such acquisition.

7.05 Dispositions. The Parent and its Subsidiaries shall not make any Disposition or enter into any agreement to make any Disposition, except:

(a) Dispositions of obsolete or worn out property or property no longer useful in the business of Parent and its Subsidiaries, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business;

(b) Dispositions of Investments in the ordinary course of business;

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

(d) Dispositions of property by any Subsidiary (other than the Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries) to the Parent or another Subsidiary;

(e) Dispositions of property by the Parent or any Subsidiary (other than the Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries) for fair market value;

(f) Dispositions by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries for fair market value in an aggregate amount not exceeding 10% of the Borrower’s Statutory Surplus in any calendar year provided (x) no Default exists or would result therefrom and (y) after giving effect to such transaction the Loan Parties would be in pro forma compliance with Section 7.11;

 

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(g) leases, subleases, licenses or sublicenses of property in the ordinary course of business and which do not materially interfere with the business of the Parent and its Subsidiaries;

(h) transfers of property subject to casualty events upon receipt of the insurance payments with respect to such casualty event;

(i) sales or discounts without recourse of accounts receivable arising in the ordinary course of business in connection with the compromise or collection thereof; and

(j) Dispositions by any Subsidiary of the Borrower to the Borrower or another Subsidiary of the Borrower.

7.06 Restricted Payments. The Borrower shall not declare or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, or incur any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to do so, (other than dividends paid in capital stock) if a Default exists or would occur as a result of such payment.

7.07 Change in Nature of Business. The Parent shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to , engage in any material line of business substantially different from those lines of business conducted by the Parent and its Subsidiaries on the date hereof or any business substantially related or incidental thereto.

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

7.09 Burdensome Agreements. The Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any Contractual Obligation (other than this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the Existing Term Loan Agreement) that (a) limits the ability (i) of any Subsidiary of the Borrower to make Restricted Payments to the Borrower to otherwise transfer property to the Borrower, (ii) of any Subsidiary of the Borrower to Guarantee the Indebtedness of the Borrower or (iii) of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens on property of such Person; provided, however, that this clause (iii) shall not prohibit any negative pledge incurred or provided in favor of any holder of secured Indebtedness permitted under Section 7.01 and Section 7.03) solely to the extent any such negative pledge relates to the property financed by or the subject of such Indebtedness; or (b) requires the grant of a Lien to secure an obligation of such Person if a Lien is granted to secure another obligation of such Person, except in each case for prohibitions or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

(i) customary non-assignment provisions with respect to leases or licensing agreements entered into by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices; and

 

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(ii) any restriction or encumbrance with respect to any asset of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries imposed pursuant to an agreement which has been entered into for the sale or disposition of such assets or all or substantially all of the capital stock or assets of such Subsidiary, so long as such sale or disposition is permitted under this Agreement.

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

7.11 Financial Covenants.

(a) Borrower Statutory Surplus. The Borrower shall not permit the Borrower Statutory Surplus to be less than an amount equal to the sum of (a) $750,000,000 plus (b) 25% of Borrower Statutory Net Income earned in each calendar year commencing with the calendar year ending December 31, 2008.

(b) Debt to Capital Ratio. The Parent shall not permit the Parent Debt to Capital Ratio to exceed thirty- percent (30%).

(c) Risk Based Capital Ratio. The Loan Parties shall not permit the Risk Based Capital Ratio of the Borrower or any other Material Insurance Subsidiary to be less than 200%.

ARTICLE VIII.

EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

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

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

(b) Specific Covenants. Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in any of Section 6.03, 6.05(a), 6.10, 6.11, 6.13 or 6.14 or Article VII; or Article X.

(c) Financial Information. Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in Section 6.01 or 6.02 on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for 10 days after the earlier of (i) written notice from the Administrative Agent of such failure or (ii) the date a Responsible Officer becomes aware of such failure;

(d) Other Defaults. Any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other covenant or agreement (not specified in subsection (a), (b) or (c) above) contained in any Loan Document on its part to be performed or observed and such failure continues for 30 days after the earlier of (i) written notice from the Administrative Agent of such failure or (ii) the date a Responsible Officer becomes aware of such failure; or

 

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

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

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

(h) Inability to Pay Debts; Attachment. (i) The Parent or any Subsidiary that is a Material Party becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due, or (ii) any writ or warrant of attachment or execution or similar process is issued or levied against all or any material part of the property of any such Person and remains unsatisfied, unreleased, unvacated or unfully bonded for a period of 30 consecutive days after its issue or levy; or

 

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(i) Judgments. There is entered against the Parent or any Subsidiary that is a Material Party (i) one or more final judgments or orders for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all such judgments or orders) exceeding the Threshold Amount (to the extent not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which the insurer does not dispute coverage), or (ii) any one or more non-monetary final judgments that have, or could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and, in either case, (A) enforcement proceedings are commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order, or (B) there is a period of 30 consecutive days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, is not in effect and such judgment is not satisfied; or

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

(k) Invalidity of Loan Documents. Any Loan Document, at any time after its execution and delivery and for any reason other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder or satisfaction in full of all the Obligations (other than Unmatured Surviving Obligations), ceases to be in full force and effect; or any Borrower or any other Person contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document; or any Borrower denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any Loan Document, or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any Loan Document; or the Administrative Agent shall cease to have a first priority perfected Lien on any Collateral;

(l) Government Action. (a) Any Insurance License of the Borrower or any of its Material Insurance Subsidiaries (i) shall be revoked by the Applicable Insurance Regulatory Authority, (ii) shall be suspended by the Applicable Insurance Regulatory Authority for a period in excess of thirty days or (iii) shall not be reissued or renewed by the Applicable Insurance Regulatory Authority upon the expiration thereof following application for such reissuance or renewal of such Person, or (b) any Applicable Insurance Regulatory Authority shall issue any order of conservation or seizure, however denominated, relating to the Borrower or any Material Insurance Subsidiary or shall take any other action to exercise Control (i) over the Borrower or any Material Insurance Subsidiary or (ii) over any assets of the Borrower or any Material Insurance Subsidiary; which, in the case of each of clauses (a) and (b) above, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

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

 

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

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

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

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

8.03 Application of Funds. After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02, any amounts received on account of the Obligations (including proceeds of Collateral) shall be applied by the Administrative Agent in the following order:

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

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

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

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

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

 

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ARTICLE IX.

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

9.01 Appointment and Authority. Each of the Lenders hereby irrevocably appoints Bank of America to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article (other than the consent right of the Borrower contained in Section 9.06) are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and no Loan Party shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.

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

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

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

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

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

The Administrative Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it (i) with the consent or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith shall be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in Sections 11.01 and 8.02) or (ii) in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until notice describing such Default is given to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or a Lender.

 

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

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

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

9.06 Resignation of Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may at any time give notice of its resignation to the Lenders and the Borrower. Upon receipt of any such notice of resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right, with the consent of the Borrower (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), to appoint a successor, which shall be a bank with an office in the United States, or an Affiliate of any such bank with an office in the United States. If no such successor shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and consented to by the Borrower and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent meeting the qualifications set forth above and consented to by the Borrower; provided that if the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that no qualifying Person has accepted such appointment or the Borrower has not consented to such appointment, then such

 

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resignation shall nonetheless become effective in accordance with such notice and (1) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (except that in the case of any collateral security held by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Lenders under any of the Loan Documents, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to hold such collateral security until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed) and (2) all payments, communications and determinations provided to be made by, to or through the Administrative Agent shall instead be made by or to each Lender directly, until such time as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent and the Borrower consents to such appointment, as provided for above in this Section. Notwithstanding the foregoing, consent of the Borrower shall not be required during the existence of an Event of Default. Upon the acceptance of a successor’s appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder, such successor shall succeed to and become vested with all of the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring (or retired) Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from all of its duties and obligations hereunder or under the other Loan Documents (if not already discharged therefrom as provided above in this Section). The fees payable by the Borrower to a successor Administrative Agent shall be the same as those payable to its predecessor unless otherwise agreed between the Borrower and such successor. After the retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the provisions of this Article and Section 11.04 shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the retiring Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent.

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

9.08 No Other Duties, Etc. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Bookrunners or Arrangers listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent or a Lender hereunder.

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

(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Loans and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and their respective agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.06 and 11.04) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

 

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

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Administrative Agent and its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Administrative Agent under Sections 2.06 and 11.04.

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

9.10 Collateral Matters. The Lenders irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion, to release any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document (i) upon payment in full of all Obligations (other than Unmatured Surviving Obligations), (ii) as permitted hereunder or under any other Loan Document, or (iii) subject to Section 11.01, if approved, authorized or ratified in writing by the Required Lenders. Upon request by the Administrative Agent at any time, the Required Lenders will confirm in writing the Administrative Agent’s authority to release such Collateral.

ARTICLE X.

PARENT GUARANTEE

10.01 Unconditional Guarantee. For valuable consideration, receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, and to induce each Lender to make Loans to the Borrower and to induce the Administrative Agent to act hereunder, the Parent hereby unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees to each Lender and the Administrative Agent the punctual payment when due, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, of all Obligations of the Borrower, whether for principal, interest, fees, expenses, indemnification or otherwise, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent or now existing or hereafter arising (such Obligations being the “Guaranteed Obligations”). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Parent’s liability shall extend to all amounts that constitute part of the Guaranteed Obligations and would be owed by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent or any Lender under this Agreement but for the fact that they are unenforceable or not allowable due to the existence of a bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding involving the Borrower or its Affiliates. This is a guarantee of payment and not of collection merely.

 

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10.02 Guarantee Absolute. The Parent guarantees that the Guaranteed Obligations will be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, regardless of any law or order now or hereafter in effect in any jurisdiction affecting any of such terms or the rights of any Lender or the Administrative Agent with respect thereto. The Obligations of the Parent under this Article X are independent of the Guaranteed Obligations, and a separate action or actions may be brought and prosecuted against the Parent to enforce this Article X, irrespective of whether any action is brought against the Borrower or whether the Borrower is joined in any such action or actions. The liability of the Parent under this guarantee shall be irrevocable, absolute and unconditional irrespective of, and the Parent hereby irrevocably waives any defense it may now or hereafter have in any way relating to, any or all of the following:

(a) any lack of validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto;

(b) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from this Agreement (other than this Article X) (provided that nothing in this clause (b) shall modify any right that the Parent has to approve amendments to the Loan Documents);

(c) any taking, exchange, release or non-perfection of any collateral or any taking, release or amendment or waiver of or consent to departure from any other guaranty, for all or any of the Guaranteed Obligations;

(d) any change, restructuring or termination of the corporate structure or existence of the Borrower or any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization or other similar proceeding affecting the Borrower or any of its assets or any resulting release or discharge of any obligation of the Borrower under this Agreement; or

(e) any other circumstance (including, without limitation, any statute of limitations to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law) which might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a legal or equitable discharge of, the Parent or the Borrower (other than a discharge arising from the payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations).

This guaranty shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any payment of any of the Guaranteed Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be returned by any Lender or the Administrative Agent upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Parent or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made.

10.03 Waivers.

(a) The Parent hereby expressly waives promptness, diligence, notice of acceptance, presentment, demand for payment, protest, any requirement that any right or power be exhausted or any action be taken against the Borrower or against any other guarantor of all or any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations, and all other notices and demands whatsoever.

 

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(b) The Parent hereby waives any right to revoke this guaranty, and acknowledges that this guaranty is continuing in nature and applies to all Guaranteed Obligations, whether existing now or in the future and regardless of whether Guaranteed Obligations are reduced to zero at any time or from time to time (other than a reduction to zero due to the payment in full in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations).

(c) The Parent acknowledges that it will receive substantial direct and indirect benefits from the financing arrangements contemplated herein and that the waivers set forth in this Article X are knowingly made in contemplation of such benefits.

10.04 Subrogation. The Parent will not exercise any rights that it may now or hereafter acquire against the Borrower or any other guarantor that arise from the existence, payment, performance or enforcement of the Guaranteed Obligations under this Agreement, including, without limitation, any right of subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution or indemnification and any right to participate in any claim or remedy of the Administrative Agent, or any Lender against the Borrower or any other guarantor or any Collateral, whether or not such claim, remedy or right arises in equity or under contract, statute or common law, including, without limitation, the right to take or receive from the Borrower or any other guarantor, directly or indirectly, in cash or other property or by set-off or in any other manner, payment or security on account of such claim, remedy or right, unless and until all of the Guaranteed Obligations (other than Unmatured Surviving Obligations) shall have been paid in full in cash. If any amount shall be paid to the Parent in violation of the preceding sentence at any time prior to the later of the payment in full in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations (other than Unmatured Surviving Obligations), such amount shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, and the Lenders and shall forthwith be paid to the Administrative Agent to be credited and applied to the Guaranteed Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, or to be held as collateral for any Guaranteed Obligations thereafter arising.

10.05 Survival. This guaranty is a continuing guarantee and shall (a) remain in full force and effect until payment in full in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations, (b) be binding upon the Parent and its successors and assigns, (c) inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by each Lender (including each assignee Lender pursuant to Section 11.06), and the Administrative Agent and their respective successors, transferees and assigns and (d) shall be reinstated if at any time any payment to a Lender or the Administrative Agent hereunder is required to be restored by such Lender or the Administrative Agent. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing clause (c), any transferee of any interest in any Loan of a Lender pursuant to Section 11.06 shall become vested with all the rights in respect thereof granted to such Lender herein or otherwise.

10.06 Severability. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article X to the contrary, in the event that any action is brought seeking to invalidate the Parent’s obligations under this Article X under any fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer theory, the Parent shall be liable under this Article X only for an amount equal to the maximum amount of liability that could have been incurred under applicable law by the Parent under any guarantee of the Obligations of the Borrower (or any portion thereof) at the time of the execution and delivery of this Agreement (or, if such date is determined not to be the appropriate date for determining the enforceability of the Parent’s obligations under this Article X for fraudulent conveyance or

 

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transfer purposes, on the date determined to be so appropriate) without rendering such a hypothetical guarantee voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer (the “Maximum Guaranteed Obligations”) and not for any greater amount, as if the stated amount of the Guaranteed Obligations had instead been the Maximum Guaranteed Obligations.

ARTICLE XI.

MISCELLANEOUS

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

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

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

(c) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified herein on, any Loan or (subject to clause (ii) of the second proviso to this Section 11.01) any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document without the written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby; provided, however, that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of “Default Rate” or to waive any obligation of the Borrower to pay interest at the Default Rate;

(d) change Section 2.09. Section 2.10 or Section 8.03 in a manner that would alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby without the written consent of each Lender;

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

(f) except as expressly provided in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, release all or substantially all of the Collateral without the consent of each Lender; provided, however, that only the consent of the Required Lenders shall be necessary to amend the definition of “Eligible Collateral,” the “Adjusted Fair Market Value,” or any other related definition or the Collateral advance rates on Schedule 1.01;

(g) release the Parent from its obligations under the Article X without the written consent of each Lender;

 

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and, provided further, that (i) no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; and (ii) the Fee Letter may be amended, or rights or privileges thereunder waived, in a writing executed only by the parties thereto.

11.02 Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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(c) The Platform. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE.” THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY ANY AGENT PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE PLATFORM. In no event shall the Administrative Agent or any of its Related Parties (collectively, the “Agent Parties”) have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses of any kind (whether in tort, contract or otherwise) arising out of the Borrower’s or the Administrative Agent’s transmission of Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided, however, that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person for indirect, special, incidental, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages).

(d) Change of Address, Etc. Each of the Borrower and the Administrative Agent may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto. Each other Lender may change its address, telecopier or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, telecopier number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender. Furthermore, each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the “Private Side Information” or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures and applicable Law, including United States Federal and state securities Laws, to make reference to Borrower Materials that are not made available through the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal or state securities laws.

(e) Reliance by Administrative Agent and Lenders. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any notices (including telephonic Loan Notices) purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower even if (i) such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not preceded or followed by any other form of notice specified herein, or (ii) the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from any

 

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confirmation thereof. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Lender and the Related Parties of each of them from all losses, costs, expenses and liabilities resulting from the reliance by such Person on each notice purportedly given by or on behalf of the Borrower other than any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses that are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Related Party of any of them. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Administrative Agent may be recorded by the Administrative Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.

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

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the authority to enforce rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Loan Documents against the Loan Parties or any of them shall be vested exclusively in, and all actions and proceedings at law in connection with such enforcement shall be instituted and maintained exclusively by, the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 8.02 for the benefit of all the Lenders; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit (a) the Administrative Agent from exercising on its own behalf the rights and remedies that inure to its benefit (solely in its capacity as Administrative Agent) hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, (b) any Lender from exercising setoff rights in accordance with Section 11.08 (subject to the terms of Section 2.10), or (c) any Lender from filing proofs of claim or appearing and filing pleadings on its own behalf during the pendency of a proceeding relative to any Loan Party under any Debtor Relief Law; and provided, further, that if at any time there is no Person acting as Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, then (i) the Required Lenders shall have the rights otherwise ascribed to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 8.02 and (ii) in addition to the matters set forth in clauses (b) and (c) of the preceding proviso and subject to Section 2.10, any Lender may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, enforce any rights and remedies available to it and as authorized by the Required Lenders.

11.04 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

(a) Costs and Expenses. The Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates (including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Administrative Agent), in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities (excluding any fees paid to the Lenders in connection with the syndication) provided for herein, the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent or any Lender (including the reasonable fees,

 

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charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Administrative Agent or any Lender), and shall pay all reasonable fees and time charges for attorneys who may be employees of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (A) in connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or (B) in connection with the Loans made hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans.

(b) Indemnification by the Borrower. The Borrower shall indemnify the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof), each Lender, and each Related Party of any of the foregoing Persons (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses (including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee), and shall indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee from all fees and time charges and disbursements for attorneys who may be employees of any Indemnitee, incurred by any Indemnitee or asserted against any Indemnitee by any third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or thereunder, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or, in the case of the Administrative Agent (and any sub-agent thereof) and its Related Parties only, the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including in respect of any matters addressed in Section 3.01), (ii) any Loan or the use or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom, (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto, IN ALL CASES, WHETHER OR NOT CAUSED BY OR ARISING, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, OUT OF THE COMPARATIVE, CONTRIBUTORY OR SOLE NEGLIGENCE OF THE INDEMNITEE; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses (x) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee, (y) result from a claim brought by the Borrower or any other Loan Party against an Indemnitee for breach in bad faith of such Indemnitee’s obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, if the Borrower or such other Loan Party has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, or (z) to the extent such amounts relate to Taxes and are governed by Section 3.01.

(c) Reimbursement by Lenders. To the extent that the Borrower for any reason fails to indefeasibly pay any amount required under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section to be paid by it to the Administrative Agent (or any sub-agent thereof) or any Related Party of any of the foregoing, each Lender severally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) or such Related Party, as the case may be, such Lender’s Applicable Percentage (determined as of the time that the applicable unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is

 

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sought) of such unpaid amount, provided that the unreimbursed expense or indemnified loss, claim, damage, liability or related expense, as the case may be, was incurred by or asserted against the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) in its capacity as such, or against any Related Party of any of the foregoing acting for the Administrative Agent (or any such sub-agent) in connection with such capacity. The obligations of the Lenders under this subsection (c) are subject to the provisions of Section 2.09(c).

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

(e) Payments. All amounts due under this Section shall be payable not later than ten Business Days after demand therefor.

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

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

 

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11.06 Successors and Assigns.

(a) Successors and Assigns Generally. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that neither the Borrower nor any other Loan Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent and each Lender and no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder except (i) to an assignee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section, (ii) by way of participation in accordance with the provisions of subsection (d) of this Section, or (iii) by way of pledge or assignment of a security interest subject to the restrictions of subsection (f) of this Section (and any other attempted assignment or transfer by any party hereto shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants to the extent provided in subsection (d) of this Section and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

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

(i) Minimum Amounts.

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

(iv) Assignment and Assumption. The parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Assumption, together with a processing and recordation fee in the amount of $3,500; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, elect to waive such processing and recordation fee in the case of any assignment. The assignee, if it is not a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire.

(v) No Assignment to Borrower. No such assignment shall be made to the Parent or any of the Parent’s Affiliates or Subsidiaries without the consent of the Required Lenders.

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

Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Assumption, the assignee thereunder shall be a party to this Agreement and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Assumption, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Assumption covering all of the assigning 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 and subject to the obligations of Sections 3.01, 3.04, 3.05, and 11.04 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such assignment. Upon request, the Borrower (at its expense) shall execute and deliver a Note to the assignee Lender. Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this subsection shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with subsection (d) of this Section.

(c) Register. The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s Office a copy of each Assignment and Assumption delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and principal amounts of the Loans owing to each Lender pursuant to the terms

 

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

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

Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement; provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, waiver or other modification described in the first proviso to Section 11.01 that affects such Participant. Subject to subsection (e) of this Section, the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.01, 3.04 and 3.05 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section (other than Unmatured Surviving Obligations). To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 11.08 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.10 as though it were a Lender.

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

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

 

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11.07 Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality. Each of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its Affiliates and to its and its Affiliates’ respective partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, trustees, advisors and representatives (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it (including any self-regulatory authority, such as the NAIC), (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process; provided that the Person who is required to make such disclosure pursuant to a subpoena or similar legal process shall, to the extent reasonably practical, provide notice thereof to the Loan Parties and an opportunity to challenge such subpoena or legal process, as applicable; provided, further, that such Person shall not be liable for failure to provide such notice, (d) to any other party hereto, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower and its obligations, (g) with the consent of the Borrower or (h) to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section, (y) becomes available to the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Parent and its Subsidiaries, unless the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any of their respective Affiliates obtains such information with knowledge that the source is violating a confidentiality agreement with the Parent and its Subsidiaries.

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

11.13 Replacement of Lenders. If (i) any Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04; (ii) the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 3.01; (iii) any Lender delivers notice pursuant to Section 3.02; or (iv) pursuant to the provisions of Section 11.01, the agreement of any Lender is required for any amendment, waiver or consent and the Required Lenders have agreed to such amendment, waiver or consent, then the Borrower may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in, and consents required by, Section 11.06), all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment), provided that:

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

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

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

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

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

 

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11.14 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Etc.

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

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

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

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

11.15 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR

 

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ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

11.16 California Proceedings. If any action or proceeding is filed in a court of the State of California by or against any party hereto in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (a) the court shall, and is hereby directed to, make a general reference pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure Section 638 to a referee (who shall be a single active or retired judge) to hear and determine all of the issues in such action or proceeding (whether of fact or of law) and to report a statement of decision, provided that at the option of any party to such proceeding, any such issues pertaining to a “provisional remedy” as defined in California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1281.8 shall be heard and determined by the court, and (b) without limiting the generality of Section 11.04, the Borrower shall be solely responsible to pay all fees and expenses of any referee appointed in such action or proceeding

11.17 No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility. In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), each Loan Party acknowledges and agrees that: (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Administrative Agent and the Arranger, are arm’s-length commercial transactions between each Loan Party and its respective Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Arranger, on the other hand, (B) each Loan Party has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) each Loan Party is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (ii) (A) the Administrative Agent and the Arranger each is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for any Loan Party or any of its respective Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) neither the Administrative Agent nor the Arranger has any obligation to any Loan Party or any of its respective Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Administrative Agent and the Arranger and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of any Loan Party or any of its respective Affiliates, and neither the Administrative Agent nor the Arranger has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to any Loan Party or any of its respective Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by law, each Loan Party hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Administrative Agent and the Arranger with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.

 

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

11.19 USA PATRIOT Act. Each Lender that is subject to the Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies each Loan Party that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Act”), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each Loan Party, which information includes the name and address of such Loan Party and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify such Loan Party in accordance with the Act. Each Loan Party shall, promptly following a request by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, provide all documentation and other information that the Administrative Agent or such Lender requests in order to comply with its ongoing obligations under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the Act.

11.20 Time of the Essence. Time is of the essence of the Loan Documents.

11.21 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the other Loan Documents represent the final agreement among the parties and may not be contradicted by evidence of prior, contemporaneous, or subsequent oral agreements of the parties. There are no unwritten oral agreements among the parties.

 

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

 

MERCURY CASUALTY COMPANY
By:   /s/ THEODORE STALICK
Name:    Theodore R. Stalick
Title:   Vice President and Chief Financial Officer


MERCURY GENERAL CORPORATION
By:   /s/ THEODORE STALICK
Name:    Theodore R. Stalick
Title:   Vice President and Chief Financial Officer


BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as
Administrative Agent
By:   /s/ KIP DAVIS
Name:    Kipling Davis
Title:   Senior Vice President


BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender
By:   /s/ KIP DAVIS 
Name:   Kipling Davis 
Title:   Senior Vice President


SCHEDULE 1.01

COLLATERAL VALUE CALCULATION

 

Eligible Collateral    Applicable Percentage of Fair Market Value
Cash    100%
Cash Equivalents    90%
Government Debt with maturities of less than ten years    95%
Government Debt with maturities of ten years or longer    90%
Federal Agency Debt with maturities of less than two years    95%
Federal Agency Debt with maturities of two years or more but less than ten years    90%
Federal Agency Debt with maturities of ten years or longer    85%
Corporate Securities rated at least AA- by S&P or Aa3 by Moody’s    85%
Corporate Securities rated less than AA- but at least A- by S&P or less than Aa3 but at least A3 by Moody’s with maturities between two and ten years    80%
Corporate Securities rated less than A- but at least BBB by S&P or less than A3 but at least Baa2 by Moody’s    75%
Municipal Securities rated at least AA- by S&P or Aa3 by Moody’s    85%
Municipal Securities rated less than AA- but at least A- by S&P or less than Aa3 but at least A3 by Moody’s    80%
Municipal Securities rated less than A- but at least BBB by S&P or less than A3 but at least Baa2 by Moody’s    75%


In the case of a split rating for any security, the higher rating will apply; in the case of a multiple split rating, the rating that is one level lower than the higher rating will apply; and if there is only one rating, such rating will apply.


SCHEDULE 2.01

APPLICABLE PERCENTAGES

 

Lender

   Commitment    Applicable
Percentage
 

Bank of America, N.A.

   $ 120,000,000    100.000000000

Total

   $ 120,000,000    100.000000000


SCHEDULE 5.13

SUBSIDIARIES AND

OTHER EQUITY INVESTMENTS

Part (a). Subsidiaries of Parent.

 

Entity Name

  

Outstanding Equity Interests and Ownership

  

Type of Subsidiary

Borrower    Parent - 100%    Material Insurance Subsidiary
Mercury Insurance Company    Borrower - 100%    Material Insurance Subsidiary
California Automobile Insurance Company    Parent - 100%    Insurance Subsidiary
Mercury Insurance Company of Illinois    Parent - 100%    Insurance Subsidiary
Mercury Insurance Company of Georgia    California Automobile Insurance Company - 100%    Insurance Subsidiary
Mercury Indemnity Company of Georgia    Parent - 100%    Insurance Subsidiary
Mercury National Insurance Company    Mercury Insurance Company of Illinois - 100%    Insurance Subsidiary
American Mercury Insurance Company    Parent - 100%    Insurance Subsidiary
American Mercury Lloyds Insurance Company    Mercury Select Management Company, Inc. is attorney-in-fact    Insurance Subsidiary
Mercury Insurance Company of Florida    Parent - 100%    Insurance Subsidiary
Mercury Indemnity Company of America    Parent - 100%    Insurance Subsidiary
California General Underwriters Insurance Company    Borrower - 100%    Insurance Subsidiary


Entity Name

  

Outstanding Equity Interests and Ownership

  

Type of Subsidiary

Mercury County Mutual Insurance Company    Mercury Insurance Services, LLC manages and controls through a management agreement    Insurance Subsidiary
Mercury Select Management Company, Inc.    American Mercury Insurance Company - 100%   
American Mercury MGA, Inc.    American Mercury Insurance Company - 100%   
Mercury Group, Inc.    Parent - 100%   
Concord Insurance Services, Inc.    Parent - 100%   
Mercury Insurance Services, LLC    Borrower - 100%   

Part (b). Other Equity Investments.

None.


SCHEDULE 11.02

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S OFFICE;

CERTAIN ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES

BORROWER:

MERCURY CASUALTY COMPANY

4484 Wilshire Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90010

Attention: Ted Stalick
  Chief Financial Officer

Telephone: (323)  ###-###-####

Facsimile: (323)  ###-###-####

Electronic Mail: ***@***

Website Address: www.mercuryinsurance.com

U.S. Taxpayer Identification Number: 95 ###-###-####

PARENT:

MERCURY GENERAL CORPORATION

4484 Wilshire Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90010

Attention: Ted Stalick
  Chief Financial Officer

Telephone: (323)  ###-###-####

Facsimile: (323)  ###-###-####

Electronic Mail: ***@***

Website Address: www.mercuryinsurance.com

U.S. Taxpayer Identification Number: 95 ###-###-####

ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT:

Administrative Agent’s Office

(for payments and Requests for Loans):

Bank of America, N.A.

Street Address: 2001 Clayton Road

Mail Code: CA4 702 02 25

Concord, California 94520

Attention: Tina Obcena

Telephone: 925 ###-###-####

Facsimile: 888 ###-###-####

Electronic Mail: ***@***

Account No.: 375 083 6479

Ref: Mercury Casualty Company

ABA# 026009593


Other Notices as Administrative Agent:

Bank of America, N.A.

Agency Management

1455 Market Street

Mail Code: CA5-701-05-19

San Francisco, CA 94103-1399

Attention: Aamir Saleem

Telephone: 415-43.6-2769

Facsimile: 415 ###-###-####

Electronic Mail: ***@***

LENDER:

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A

333 S. Hope St., 13th Fl.

Los Angeles, CA 90071

Attention: Craig McGuire

Telephone: (213)  ###-###-####

Facsimile: (213)  ###-###-####

Electronic Mail: ***@***

With a copy to:

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.

Mail Code: TX1-492-64-01

Bank Of America Plaza

901 Main St

Dallas Texas ###-###-####

Attention: Kip Davis

Telephone: (214)  ###-###-####

Facsimile: (213)  ###-###-####

Electronic Mail: ***@***


EXHIBIT A

FORM OF LOAN NOTICE

Date:                     ,             

 

To: Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is made to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of January 2, 2009 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the “Agreement”; the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among Mercury Casualty Company, a California corporation (the “Borrower”), Mercury General Corporation, a California corporation (the “Parent”), the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

The undersigned hereby requests (select one):

¨ [Initial Borrowing of Loans]        ¨ A conversion or continuation of Loans

 

1. On          (a Business Day).

 

2. In the amount of $            .

 

3. Comprised of                     .
  [Type of Loan requested]

 

4. For Eurodollar Rate Loans: with an Interest Period of              months.

 

MERCURY CASUALTY COMPANY
By:     
Name:     
Title:     

 

A-1


EXHIBIT B

FORM OF NOTE

_______________________

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned (the “Borrower”) hereby promises to pay to                          or registered assigns (the “Lender”), in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement (as hereinafter defined), the principal amount of each Loan from time to time made by the Lender to the Borrower under that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of January 2, 2009 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the “Agreement”; the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among the Borrower, the Parent, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

The Borrower promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Loan from the date of such Loan until such principal amount is paid in full, at such interest rates and at such times as provided in the Agreement. All payments of principal and interest shall be made to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lender in Dollars in immediately available funds at the Administrative Agent’s Office. If any amount is not paid in full when due hereunder, such unpaid amount shall bear interest, to be paid upon demand, from the due date thereof until the date of actual payment (and before as well as after judgment) computed at the per annum rate set forth in the Agreement.

This Note is one of the Notes referred to in the Agreement, is entitled to the benefits thereof and may be prepaid in whole or in part subject to the terms and conditions provided therein. This Note is entitled to the benefits of the guaranty of the Parent and is also secured by the Collateral. Upon the occurrence and continuation of one or more of the Events of Default specified in the Agreement, all amounts then remaining unpaid on this Note shall become, or may be declared to be, immediately due and payable all as provided in the Agreement. Loans made by the Lender shall be evidenced by one or more loan accounts or records maintained by the Lender in the ordinary course of business. The Lender may also attach schedules to this Note and endorse thereon the date, amount and maturity of its Loans and payments with respect thereto.

The Borrower, for itself, its successors and assigns, hereby waives diligence, presentment, protest and demand and notice of protest, demand, dishonor and non-payment of this Note.

 

B-1


THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

MERCURY CASUALTY COMPANY
By:     
Name:     
Title:     

 

B-2


LOANS AND PAYMENTS WITH RESPECT THERETO

 

Date

       

Type of
Loan Made

       

Amount of
Loan Made

       

End of

Interest
Period

       

Amount of
Principal or
Interest
Paid This
Date

       

Outstanding
Principal
Balance
This Date

       

Notation
Made By

                                   
                                   
                                   
                                   

 

B-3


EXHIBIT C-1

FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

Financial Statement Date:                     

 

To: Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is made to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of January 2, 2009 (as amended, restated, extended, supplemented or otherwise modified in writing from time to time, the “Agreement”; the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among Mercury Casualty Company, a California corporation (the “Borrower”), Mercury General Corporation, a California corporation (the “Parent”), the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent.

The undersigned Responsible Officer hereby certifies as of the date hereof that he/she is the [chief executive officer] [chief financial officer] [treasurer] [controller] of the Parent and the Borrower, and that, as such, he/she is authorized to execute and deliver this Certificate to the Administrative Agent on the behalf of the Parent and the Borrower, and that:

[Use following paragraph 1 for fiscal year-end financial statements]

1. The Parent has delivered the year-end audited financial statements required by Section 6.01(a) of the Agreement for the fiscal year of the Parent ended as of the above date.

[Use following paragraph 1 for fiscal quarter-end financial statements]

1. The Parent has delivered the unaudited financial statements required by Section 6.01(b) of the Agreement for the fiscal quarter of the Borrower ended as of the above date. Such financial statements fairly present the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Parent and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP as at such date and for such period, subject only to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

[Use following paragraph 2 for Annual Financial Statements]

2. Attached as Schedule 1 hereto is a true and correct copy of the Annual Statement of the Borrower as at the end of the calendar year ended                         ,              which has been prepared in accordance with SAP, and fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial position of the Borrower for the periods indicated and on a basis consistent with prior periods.

[Use following paragraph 2 for Interim Statements]

2. Attached as Schedule 1 hereto is a true and correct copy of the Interim Statement of the Borrower as at the end of the calendar quarter ended                         ,              which has been prepared in accordance with SAP, and fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial position of the Borrower for the periods indicated and on a basis consistent with prior periods.

 

C-1-1


3. The undersigned has reviewed and is familiar with the terms of the Agreement and has made, or has caused to be made under his/her supervision, a detailed review of the transactions and condition (financial or otherwise) of the Parent and the Borrower during the accounting period covered by the attached financial statements.

4. A review of the activities of the Parent and the Borrower during such fiscal period has been made under the supervision of the undersigned with a view to determining whether during such fiscal period the Parent and the Borrower performed and observed all their respective Obligations under the Loan Documents, and

[select one:]

[to the best knowledge of the undersigned, during such fiscal period the Company performed and observed each covenant and condition of the Loan Documents applicable to it, and no Default has occurred and is continuing.]

—or—

[to the best knowledge of the undersigned, during such fiscal period the following covenants or conditions have not been performed or observed and the following is a list of each such Default and its nature and status:]

5. The financial covenant analyses and information set forth on Schedule 2 attached hereto are true and accurate on and as of the date of this Certificate.

 

C-1-2


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate as of                         ,                         .

 

MERCURY CASUALTY COMPANY
By:     
Name:     
Title:     
MERCURY GENERAL CORPORATION
By:     
Name:     
Title:     

 

C-1-3


$120MM TML

Date:                     ,             

For the Quarter/Year ended

                                 (“Statement Date”)

SCHEDULE 2

to the Compliance Certificate

($ in 000’s)

 

I.      Section 7.11(a) – Borrower Statutory Surplus.

  

A.     Statutory Surplus of Borrower

   $ ______________

B.     Initial Surplus Requirement

   $ 750,000

C.     25% of the Net Income for calendar year ending 12/31/08

   $ ______________

D.     25% of the Net Income for calendar year ending 12/31/09

   $ ______________

E.     25% of the Net Income for calendar year ending 12/31/10

   $ ______________

F.      25% of the Net Income for calendar year ending 12/31/11

   $ ______________

G.     25% of the Net Income for calendar year ending 12/31/12

   $ ______________

H.     Borrower Surplus Requirement (sum of Item B plus Items C, D, E, F and G, as applicable)

   $ ______________

II.     Section 7.11 (b) – Debt to Capital Ratio.

  

A.     Consolidated Debt of the Parent

   $ ______________

B.     Parent Net Worth

   $ ______________

C.     Item A plus Item B

   $ ______________

D.     Ratio of Item A to Item C

     ______________

Item II is not permitted to exceed 30%.

  

III.   Section 7.11 (c) – Risk-Based Capital Ratio of the Borrower and Each Material Insurance Company Subsidiary of the Parent.

  

A.     Borrower

     ______________

B.     Parent’s Material Insurance Company Subsidiaries

  

1.                                                                               

     ______________

2.                                                                               

     ______________

3.                                                                               

     ______________

4.                                                                               

     ______________

Each ratio in Item III must be a minimum of 200%.

  

 

C-1-4


EXHIBIT C-2

FORM OF COLLATERAL VALUE CERTIFICATE

 

To: Bank of America, National Association,
  as Administrative Agent
 

333 S. Hope St., 13th Floor

  Los Angeles, CA 90071

 

  Re: Mercury Casualty Company

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We refer to the Credit Agreement dated as of January 2, 2009 (as amended or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) among Mercury Casualty Company, a California corporation (the “Borrower”), Mercury General Corporation, a California corporation (the “Parent”), various financial institutions from time to time party thereto (the “Lenders”) and Bank of America, National Association, as administrative agent for the Lender (the “Administrative Agent”). This Certificate, together with supporting calculations attached hereto set forth in reasonable detail, is delivered to you pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meanings herein as in the Credit Agreement.

We hereby certify and warrant to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that at the close of business on                     ,              (the “Collateral Value Calculation Date”), the Collateral Value was $            .

We hereby further certify and warrant to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that the information and computations contained herein are true and correct in all material respects as of the Collateral Value Calculation Date.

 

C-2-1


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower has caused this Certificate to be executed and delivered by an authorized officer this              day of                     ,             .

 

MERCURY CASUALTY COMPANY
By:     
Name:     
Title:     

 

C-2-2


SCHEDULE I TO COLLATERAL VALUE CERTIFICATE

DATED AS OF:                     

 

I. COLLATERAL VALUE CALCULATION    [FORM TO BE PROVIDED BY MERCURY]

 

C-2-2


SCHEDULE II TO COLLATERAL VALUE

CERTIFICATE DATED AS OF                     ,             

[Attach list of Eligible Collateral by Category

(including Rating)]

 

C-2-3


EXHIBIT D-1

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

This Assignment and Assumption (this “Assignment and Assumption”) is dated as of the Effective Date set forth below and is entered into by and between [the][each]1 Assignor identified in item 1 below ([the][each, an] “Assignor”) and [the][each]2 Assignee identified in item 2 below ([the][each, an] “Assignee”). [It is understood and agreed that the rights and obligations of [the Assignors][the Assignees]3 hereunder are several and not joint.]4 Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement identified below (the “Credit Agreement”), receipt of a copy of which is hereby acknowledged by the Assignee. The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Assumption as if set forth herein in full.

For an agreed consideration, [the][each] Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to [the Assignee][the respective Assignees], and [the][each] Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from [the Assignor][the respective Assignors], subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions and the Credit Agreement, as of the Effective Date inserted by the Administrative Agent as contemplated below (i) all of [the Assignor’s][the respective Assignors’] rights and obligations in [its capacity as a Lender][their respective capacities as Lenders] under the Credit Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto to the extent related to the amount and percentage interest identified below of all of such outstanding rights and obligations of [the Assignor][the respective Assignors] under the respective facilities identified below5) and (ii) to the extent permitted to be assigned under applicable law, all claims, suits, causes of action and any other right of [the Assignor (in its capacity as a Lender)][the respective Assignors (in their respective capacities as Lenders)] against any Person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in connection with the Credit Agreement, any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the loan transactions governed thereby or in any way based on or related to any of the foregoing, including, but not limited to, contract claims, tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other claims at law or in equity related to the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clause (i) above (the rights and obligations sold and assigned by [the][any] Assignor to [the][any] Assignee pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above being referred to herein collectively as [the][an] “Assigned Interest”). Each such sale and assignment is without recourse to [the][any] Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and Assumption, without representation or warranty by [the][any] Assignor.

 

1 For bracketed language here and elsewhere in this form relating to the Assignor(s), if the assignment is from a single Assignor, choose the first bracketed language. If the assignment is from multiple Assignors, choose the second bracketed language.

 

2 For bracketed language here and elsewhere in this form relating to the Assignee(s), if the assignment is to a single Assignee, choose the first bracketed language. If the assignment is to multiple Assignees, choose the second bracketed language.

 

3 Select as appropriate.

 

4 Include bracketed language if there are either multiple Assignors or multiple Assignees.

 

5 Include all applicable subfacilities.

 

D-1-1


1. Assignor[s]:    ____________________________
   ____________________________
2. Assignee[s]:    ____________________________
   ____________________________
[for each Assignee, indicate [Affiliate][Approved Fund] of [identify Lender]]
3. Borrower:    Mercury Casualty Company
4. Administrative Agent:    Bank of America, N.A., as the administrative agent under the Credit Agreement

5. Credit Agreement: Credit Agreement, dated as of January 2, 2009 among Mercury Casualty Company, Mercury General Corporation, the Lenders from time to time party thereto, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent

6. Assigned Interest[s]:6

 

Assignor[s]7

 

Assignee[s]8

 

Aggregate

Amount of

Loans

for all Lenders9

 

Amount of

Loans

Assigned

 

Percentage

Assigned of

Loans10

 

CUSIP

Number

    $________________   $_________   ____________%  
    $________________   $_________   ____________%  
    $________________   $_________   ____________%  

[7. Trade Date:                     ]11

Effective Date:                         , 20         [TO BE INSERTED BY ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND WHICH SHALL BE THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF RECORDATION OF TRANSFER IN THE REGISTER THEREFOR.]

 

6

The reference to “Loans” in the table should be used only if the Credit Agreement provides for Term Loans.

 

7

List each Assignor, as appropriate.

 

8

List each Assignee, as appropriate.

 

9

Amounts in this column and in the column immediately to the right to be adjusted by the counterparties to take into account any payments or prepayments made between the Trade Date and the Effective Date.

 

10

Set forth, to at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Loans of all Lenders thereunder.

 

11

To be completed if the Assignor and the Assignee intend that the minimum assignment amount is to be determined as of the Trade Date.

 

D-1-2


The terms set forth in this Assignment and Assumption are hereby agreed to:

 

ASSIGNOR
[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]
By:     
Name:     
Title:     
ASSIGNEE
[NAME OF ASSIGNEE]
By:     
Name:     
Title:     

 

[Consented to and]12 Accepted:

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent

By:     
Name:     
Title:     
MERCURY CASUALTY COMPANY13
By:     
Name:     
Title:     

 

12

To be added only if the consent of the Administrative Agent or Borrower is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.

 

13

To be added only if the consent of the Borrower is required by the terms of the Credit Agreement.

 

D-1-3


ANNEX 1 TO ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

[                                ]1

STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR

ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION

1. Representations and Warranties.

1.1. Assignor. [The][Each] Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of [the][[the relevant] Assigned Interest, (ii) [the][such] Assigned Interest is free and clear of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Loan Documents or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of any Loan Document or (iv) the performance or observance by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person of any of their respective obligations under any Loan Document.

1.2. Assignee. [The][Each] Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Assumption and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Credit Agreement, (ii) it meets all the requirements to be an assignee under Section 11.06(b)(iii), (v) and (vi) of the Credit Agreement (subject to such consents, if any, as may be required under Section 11.06(b)(iii) of the Credit Agreement), (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be bound by the provisions of the Credit Agreement as a Lender thereunder and, to the extent of [the][the relevant] Assigned Interest, shall have the obligations of a Lender thereunder, (iv) it is sophisticated with respect to decisions to acquire assets of the type represented by [the][such] Assigned Interest and either it, or the Person exercising discretion in making its decision to acquire [the][such] Assigned Interest, is experienced in acquiring assets of such type, (v) it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, and has received or has been accorded the opportunity to receive copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.01 thereof, as applicable, and such other documents and information as it deems appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase [the][such] Assigned Interest, (vi) it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Assumption and to purchase [the][such] Assigned Interest, and (vii) if it is a Foreign Lender, attached hereto is any documentation required to be delivered by it pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by [the][such] Assignee; and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, [the][any] Assignor 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 the Loan Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

 

1

Describe Credit Agreement at option of Administrative Agent.

 

D-1-4


2. Payments. From and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments in respect of [the][each] Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to [the][the relevant] Assignor for amounts which have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to [the][the relevant] Assignee for amounts which have accrued from and after the Effective Date.

3. General Provisions. This Assignment and Assumption shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Assignment and Assumption may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Assumption by telecopy shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Assumption. This Assignment and Assumption shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

D-1-5


EXHIBIT D-2

FORM OF ADMINISTRATIVE QUESTIONNAIRE

See attached.

 

D-2-1


ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS REPLY FORM – US DOLLAR ONLY

CONFIDENTIAL

FAX ALONG WITH COMMITMENT LETTER TO: Aamir Saleem

                                                                                          FAX # 415 ###-###-####

I. Borrower Name:   Mercury Casualty Company.

                                    $120,000,000                  Type of Credit Facility   3-Year Term Loan Credit Facility

II. Legal Name of Lender of Record for Signature Page:

 

 

 

 

   

Signing Credit Agreement                 YES                  NO

 

   

Coming in via Assignment                 YES                  NO

III. Type of Lender: _________________________________________________________________________________________

(Bank, Asset Manager, Broker/Dealer, CLO/CDO, Finance Company, Hedge Fund, Insurance, Mutual Fund, Pension Fund, Other Regulated Investment Fund, Special Purpose Vehicle, Other – please specify)

 

IV. Domestic Address:     V. Eurodollar Address:
       
       
       
       

VI. Contact Information:

Syndicate level information (which may contain material non-public information about the Borrower and its related parties or their respective securities will be made available to the Credit Contact(s). The Credit Contacts identified must be able to receive such information in accordance with his/her institution’s compliance procedures and applicable laws, including Federal and State securities laws.

 

   

Credit Contact

 

Primary Operations Contact

  

Secondary
Operations Contact

Name:             
Title:             
Address:             
              
Telephone:             
Facsimile:             
E Mail Address:              

Does Secondary Operations Contact need copy of notices?          YES          NO

 

  1   

 

D-2-2


ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS REPLY FORM – US DOLLAR ONLY

CONFIDENTIAL

 

     

Letter of Credit Contact

  

Draft Documentation Contact

  

Legal Counsel

Name:               
Title:               
Address:               
Telephone:               
Facsimile:               
E Mail Address:                

VII. Lender’s Standby Letter of Credit, Commercial Letter of Credit, and Bankers’ Acceptance Fed Wire Payment Instructions (if applicable):

 

Pay to:     
  (Bank Name)
   
  (ABA #)
   
  (Account #)
   
  (Attention)

VIII. Lender’s Fed Wire Payment Instructions:

 

Pay to:        
  (Bank Name)  
       
  (ABA #)   (City/State)
       
  (Account #)   (Account Name)
       
  (Attention)  

 

  2   

 

D-2-3


ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS REPLY FORM – US DOLLAR ONLY

CONFIDENTIAL

IX. Organizational Structure and Tax Status

Please refer to the enclosed withholding tax instructions below and then complete this section accordingly:

Lender Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN):                           -                              

Tax Withholding Form Delivered to Bank of America*:

                     W-9

                     W-8BEN

                     W-8ECI

                     W-8EXP

                     W-8IMY

NON-U.S. LENDER INSTITUTIONS

1. Corporations:

If your institution is incorporated outside of the United States for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and is the beneficial owner of the interest and other income it receives, you must complete one of the following three tax forms, as applicable to your institution: a.) Form W-8BEN (Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner), b.) Form W-8ECI (Income Effectively Connected to a U.S. Trade or Business), or c.) Form W-8EXP (Certificate of Foreign Government or Governmental Agency).

A U.S. taxpayer identification number is required for any institution submitting a Form W-8ECI. It is also required on Form
W-8BEN for certain institutions claiming the benefits of a tax treaty with the U.S. Please refer to the instructions when completing the form applicable to your institution. In addition, please be advised that U.S. tax regulations do not permit the acceptance of faxed forms. An original tax form must be submitted.

2. Flow-Through Entities

If your institution is organized outside the U.S., and is classified for U.S. federal income tax purposes as either a Partnership, Trust, Qualified or Non-Qualified Intermediary, or other non-U.S. flow-through entity, an original Form W-8IMY (Certificate of Foreign Intermediary, Foreign Flow-Through Entity, or Certain U.S. branches for United States Tax Withholding) must be completed by the intermediary together with a withholding statement. Flow-through entities other than Qualified Intermediaries are required to include tax forms for each of the underlying beneficial owners.

Please refer to the instructions when completing this form. In addition, please be advised that U.S. tax regulations do not permit the acceptance of faxed forms. Original tax form(s) must be submitted.

 

  3   

 

D-2-4


ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS REPLY FORM – US DOLLAR ONLY

CONFIDENTIAL

U.S. LENDER INSTITUTIONS:

If your institution is incorporated or organized within the United States, you must complete and return Form W-9 (Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification). Please be advised that we require an original form W-9.

Pursuant to the language contained in the tax section of the Credit Agreement, the applicable tax form for your institution must be completed and returned on or prior to the date on which your institution becomes a lender under this Credit Agreement. Failure to provide the proper tax form when requested will subject your institution to U.S. tax withholding.

 

* Additional guidance and instructions as to where to submit this documentation can be found at this link:

 

 
   

Tax Form Tool Kit

(2006) (2).doc

 

X. Bank of America Payment Instructions:

 

Pay to:  

Bank of America, N.A.

ABA # 026009593

New York, NY

Acct. # 375 083 6479

Attn: Corporate Credit Services

Ref: Mercury Casualty Company

 

  4   

 

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EXHIBIT E-1

FORM OF SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

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EXHIBIT E-2

FORM OF CONTROL AGREEMENT

 

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EXHIBIT F

OPINION MATTERS

The matters contained in the following Sections of the Credit Agreement should be covered by the legal opinion:

 

   

Section 5.01(a), (b) and (c)

 

   

Section 5.02

 

   

Section 5.03

 

   

Section 5.04

 

   

Section 5.14(b)

 

   

Section 5.18 (perfection opinion only)

 

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EXHIBIT E-1

FORM OF SECURITY AGREEMENT

THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) dated as of January 2, 2009 is between MERCURY CASUALTY COMPANY, a California corporation (the “Pledgor”), and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., in its capacity as Administrative Agent for the Lenders referred to below (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”).

WITNESSETH

WHEREAS, the Pledgor, Mercury General Corporation (the “Parent”), certain financial institutions from time to time party thereto (the “Lenders”) and the Administrative Agent entered into that certain Credit Agreement dated as of January 2, 2009 (as amended, modified or restated from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”) whereunder the Lenders agreed to provide a term loan facility to the Pledgor; and

WHEREAS, as a condition precedent to the effectiveness of the Credit Agreement, the Pledgor is required to execute and deliver this Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the Obligations of the Pledgor under the Credit Agreement are to be secured pursuant to this Agreement;

NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the Loans made to the Pledgor by the Lenders for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Definitions. When used herein, (a) the terms Certificated Security, Chattel Paper, Commodities Contract, Control, Deposit Account, Financial Assets, General Intangibles, Instrument, Investment Property, Proceeds, Securities Account, Securities Intermediary, Security, Security Certificate, Security Entitlement and Uncertificated Security shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in Article 8 or Article 9, as applicable, of the Uniform Commercial Code (as defined below) and (b) the following terms have the following meanings (such definitions to be applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms):

Administrative Agent - see the Preamble.

Agreement - see the Preamble.

Collateral means all property and rights of the Pledgor in which a security interest is granted hereunder.

Collateral Account means the Securities Account and the Deposit Account.

Control Agreement - see Section 5.

Credit Agreement - see the Recitals.

 

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Deposit Account means any demand deposit account established and maintained in connection with the Securities Account.

Lender - see the Recitals.

Liabilities means all Obligations (monetary or otherwise) of the Pledgor.

Pledgor - see the Preamble.

Securities Account means securities account no. 244398 maintained by the Pledgor at The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, National Association and any future securities account maintained by the Pledgor at a Securities Intermediary so long as the Pledgor has complied with the provisions of Section 5(a) hereof.

Uniform Commercial Code means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of New York on the date of this Agreement; provided, however, as used in Section 7 hereof, “Uniform Commercial Code” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the applicable jurisdiction.

Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

2. Grant of Security Interest. As security for the payment of all Liabilities, the Pledgor hereby grants to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the Lenders, a continuing security interest in all of the Pledgor’s right, title and interest in, the following, whether now or hereafter existing or acquired:

(A) the Collateral Account, (B) all Cash and Financial Assets at any time credited to or carried in the Collateral Account (including without limitation (i) Securities (whether constituting Certificated Securities or Uncertificated Securities), (ii) Security Entitlements, (iii) Commodities Contracts and other Investment Property, (iv) General Intangibles, (v) Instruments and (vi) Chattel Paper), and (C) all products and Proceeds (including without limitation all dividends, distributions and payments received thereon or in exchange or substitution thereof) with respect to any of the foregoing;

together with all books, records, writings, databases, information and other property relating to, used or useful in connection with, evidencing, embodying, incorporating or referring to any of the foregoing.

3. Warranties. The Pledgor warrants that:

(a) no financing statement or other filing or registration evidencing a Lien (other than any which may have been filed on behalf of the Administrative Agent or in connection with security interests or liens expressly permitted by the Credit Agreement) covering any of the Collateral is on file in any public office;

 

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(b) the Pledgor is and will be the lawful owner of all Collateral, free of all liens and claims whatsoever, other than Liens permitted under Section 7.01(c) of the Credit Agreement (which Liens are junior to the security interest created hereunder), with full power and authority to execute this Agreement and perform the Pledgor’s obligations hereunder, and to subject the Collateral to the security interest hereunder;

(c) all written information with respect to Collateral set forth in any schedule, certificate or other writing at any time heretofore or hereafter furnished by the Pledgor to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, and all other written information heretofore or hereafter furnished by the Pledgor to the Administrative Agent or any Lender, is and will be true and correct in all material respects as of the date furnished;

(d) the Pledgor’s true legal name as registered in the jurisdiction in which such Pledgor is organized or incorporated, jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, organizational identification number as designated by the jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, chief executive office, and principal place of business are set forth on Schedule 1 hereto;

(e) during the five years preceding the date hereof the Pledgor has not been known by any legal name different from the one set forth on the signature page of this Agreement nor has the Pledgor been the subject of any merger or other corporate reorganization;

(f) the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance by the Pledgor of its obligations hereunder are within the Pledgor’s corporate powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, have received all necessary governmental approval (if any shall be required), and do not and will not contravene or conflict with any provision of the Organization Documents of the Pledgor or violate any Law, any material Contractual Obligation or any judgment, order or decree which is binding upon the Pledgor; and

(g) this Agreement is a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Pledgor, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except that the enforceability of this Agreement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law) and creates a valid and, after all appropriate financing statements are filed and the Control Agreements executed, first priority security interest in the Collateral and such security interest is entitled to all applicable rights, priorities and benefits afforded by the Uniform Commercial Code.

4. Agreements of the Pledgor. The Pledgor (a) will, upon request of the Administrative Agent, execute such documents (and pay the cost of filing or recording the same in all public offices reasonably deemed appropriate by the Administrative Agent) and do such other acts and things, as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in connection with the perfection and enforcement of the security interest granted hereunder; (b) hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to file financing statements describing the Collateral as described in Section 2 herein, and to file financing statements without its signature (to the extent allowed by applicable law); (c) shall not take any action or omit to take any action that would result in the termination of the Control Agreement without the prior consent of the Administrative Agent or in accordance with Section 5(a) and shall otherwise comply in all material respects with the

 

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provisions of the Control Agreement; (d) will cause the Administrative Agent’s security interest in Collateral to be and remain continuously perfected by Control free and clear of all Liens other than Liens permitted under Section 7.01(c) of the Credit Agreement (which Liens are junior to the security interest created hereunder) to secure the payment of the Liabilities; (e) will keep its records concerning the Collateral in such a manner as will enable the Administrative Agent or its designees to determine at any time the status of the Collateral; (f) will furnish the Administrative Agent such information concerning the Pledgor and the Collateral as the Administrative Agent may from time to time reasonably request; (g) will, upon request of the Administrative Agent, stamp on its records concerning the Collateral, and add a notation on all Chattel Paper constituting a portion of the Collateral, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, of the security interest of the Administrative Agent hereunder; (h) will reimburse the Administrative Agent for all reasonable expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and legal expenses, incurred by the Administrative Agent in seeking to collect or enforce any rights in respect of the Collateral; (i) will pay to the Securities Intermediary any charges or costs imposed by the Securities Intermediary pursuant to agreements with the Securities Intermediary; and (j) agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Administrative Agent, its successors and assigns and its directors, officers, employees and agents, from and against any and all losses, liabilities, damages, obligations, deficiencies, payments, costs and expenses sustained or incurred by the Administrative Agent in any way arising from or related to the Administrative Agent’s actions with respect to the Securities Intermediary other than any such losses, liabilities, damages, obligations, deficiencies, payment costs or expenses which are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Administrative Agent, its successors and assigns, or its directors, officers, employees or agents.

Any reasonable expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent in protecting, preserving and maintaining any Collateral shall be borne by the Pledgor. Whenever an Event of Default shall be existing and continuing, the Pledgor shall at the request of the Administrative Agent do any and all lawful acts and execute any and all proper documents reasonably required by the Administrative Agent in aid of such enforcement and the Pledgor shall promptly, upon demand, reimburse and indemnify the Administrative Agent for all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent in the exercise of its rights under this Section 4.

5. Investments.

(a) The Pledgor shall, no later than the date hereof, cause the Securities Intermediary to enter into a control agreement (such agreement, as amended, modified or restated from time to time, the “Initial Control Agreement”) in substantially the form hereto as Exhibit A. The Pledgor and the Administrative Agent agree that the Pledgor shall have the right to move the Collateral Account from the current Securities Intermediary to a new Securities Intermediary provided that (i) such new Securities Intermediary is reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and (ii) the Pledgor, such New Securities Intermediary and the Administrative Agent have entered into a control agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent (such new control agreement, as amended, modified or restated from time to time, a “New Control Agreement,” and together with the Initial Control Agreement, the “Control Agreement”).

 

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(b) The Pledgor shall not give instructions or entitlement orders to the Securities Intermediary that would require the Securities Intermediary to advance any margin or other credit for the benefit of the Pledgor or engage in any securities lending with respect to the Collateral.

(c) The Pledgor shall not give instructions or entitlement orders to the Securities Intermediary to make a delivery to the Pledgor or any other Person of assets or properties from any of the Collateral Account without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit giving instructions or entitlement orders with respect to (i) any sale, investment or reinvestment of Collateral, the proceeds of which will be deposited into the Collateral Account or (ii) any purchase or other acquisition of assets which will be held in the Collateral Account. The Administrative Agent shall consent to and give instructions to the Securities Intermediary permitting any such delivery within one Business Day of a request so long as (i) no Default exists and (ii) after giving effect to the proposed delivery, the Collateral Value is equal to or in excess of Outstanding Amount.

(d) As long as no Event of Default exists, and is continuing, the Pledgor shall be the sole party entitled to exercise for any purpose any and all (i) voting rights and (ii) powers, in either case arising from or relating to the Pledgor’s interest in respect of any Investment Property (including the power to direct the Securities Intermediary with respect to the investment of funds or sale of Investment Property); provided, however, the Pledgor shall not exercise such rights or powers in a manner, or consent to any action that would in any manner impair the enforceability of the Administrative Agent’s lien on any of the Collateral. At any time an Event of Default exists, and is continuing, upon notice from the Administrative Agent, all rights of the Pledgor provided in this Section 5(c) shall cease, and all voting rights and powers described herein shall thereupon be vested in the Administrative Agent who shall have the sole and exclusive right and authority to exercise such voting rights and powers. The Administrative Agent hereby agrees that it shall not issue to the Securities Intermediary a Notice of Exclusive Control (as defined in any Control Agreement) unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be existing at the time such Notice of Exclusive Control is issued.

6. Event of Default. Whenever an Event of Default shall be existing, and is continuing, the Administrative Agent may exercise from time to time any rights and remedies available to it under applicable law and in addition may sell or otherwise dispose of the Collateral or any part thereof. In connection therewith, the Collateral may be sold in one or more sales, at public or private sale, conducted by an officer or agent of, or auctioneer or attorney for, the Administrative Agent, at the Administrative Agent’s place of business or elsewhere, for cash, upon credit or for other property, for immediate or future delivery, on such terms as the Administrative Agent shall deem appropriate and at such price or prices as the Administrative Agent shall deem best. The Administrative Agent or any Lender may be the purchaser of any or all of the Collateral so sold at a public sale. The Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, at any such sale, restrict the prospective bidders or purchasers who will provide assurances reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent that the Collateral may be offered and sold to them without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and without registration or qualification under any other applicable state or federal law. Any notification of intended disposition of any of the Collateral required by law shall be deemed reasonably and properly given if given at least five Business Days before such disposition. Any proceeds of any

 

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disposition by the Administrative Agent of any of the Collateral may be applied to payment of reasonable expenses in connection with the Collateral, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and legal expenses, and any balance of such proceeds may be applied by the Administrative Agent toward the payment of such of the Liabilities, and in such order of application, as the Administrative Agent may from time to time elect.

7. Administrative Agent Rights and Powers.

(a) The Pledgor hereby irrevocably appoints the Administrative Agent as the Pledgor’s attorney-in-fact (which appointment as attorney-in-fact is coupled with an interest), with full authority in the place and stead of the Pledgor and in the name of the Pledgor, effective from time to time in the Administrative Agent’s discretion to take any action and to execute any instrument which the Administrative Agent may reasonably deem necessary or advisable to carry out the provisions of this Agreement, including to ask, demand, collect, sue for, recover and receive moneys due and to become due under or in connection with the Collateral, to receive, indorse and collect any drafts or other Instruments, Documents and Chattel Paper in connection therewith and to file any claims or take any action or institute any proceedings which the Administrative Agent may reasonably deem necessary or desirable for the collection thereof or to enforce compliance with the terms and conditions of the Assigned Agreements or this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall not be obligated to exercise any right or duty as attorney-in-fact or have any duty to the Pledgor in connection therewith. The Administrative Agent agrees that it shall not exercise any of the rights provided pursuant to the appointment contained in this clause (a) unless an Event of Default shall be existing and is continuing.

(b) The powers conferred on the Administrative Agent hereunder shall not impose any duty upon it to exercise any such powers. Except for the safe custody of any Collateral in its possession and the accounting for moneys actually received by it hereunder, the Administrative Agent shall have no duty as to any Collateral or as to the taking of any necessary steps to preserve any rights pertaining to any Collateral.

(c) The Pledgor hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to file at any time appropriate Uniform Commercial Code Financing Statements in such jurisdictions and offices as the Administrative Agent deems reasonably necessary in connection with the perfection of a security interest in the Collateral granted hereunder.

8. Rights and Remedies. All payments received by the Pledgor in respect of the Collateral shall either be deposited into the Collateral Account or be received in trust for the benefit of the Lenders, shall be segregated from other funds of the Pledgor, and shall be forthwith paid over to the Administrative Agent in the same form as so received (with any necessary indorsement) for application to the Liabilities as provided in this Agreement.

9. General. The Administrative Agent shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of any of the Collateral in its possession if it takes such action as the Pledgor requests in writing (but failure of the Administrative Agent to comply with any such request shall not of itself be deemed a failure to exercise reasonable care, and no failure of the Administrative Agent to preserve or protect any rights with respect to such Collateral

 

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against prior parties, or to do any act with respect to the preservation of such Collateral not so requested by the Pledgor, shall be deemed of itself a failure to exercise reasonable care in the custody or preservation of such Collateral) or if it takes such action for that purpose as the Administrative Agent takes with its own property.

All notices hereunder shall be in writing either by facsimile or other electronic transmission or overnight courier and shall be sent to the applicable party at its address set forth in the Credit Agreement or at such other address as such party may, by notice to the other party as provided therein, have designated as its address for such purpose. Notices by facsimile or other electronic transmission shall be deemed to have been given when sent; notices sent by overnight courier shall be deemed to have been given when delivered for overnight delivery; and notices sent by hand delivery shall be deemed to have been given when received.

The Pledgor agrees to pay all reasonable expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and legal expenses) paid or incurred by the Administrative Agent in endeavoring to collect the Liabilities, or any part thereof, and in enforcing this Agreement, and such obligations will themselves be Liabilities.

No delay on the part of the Administrative Agent in the exercise of any right or remedy shall operate as a waiver thereof, and no single or partial exercise by the Administrative Agent of any right or remedy shall preclude other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or remedy.

This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect until all Liabilities have been paid in full and the Obligations have terminated whereupon the remaining Collateral shall be returned to the Pledgor. If at any time all or any part of any payment theretofore applied by the Administrative Agent or any Lender to any of the Liabilities is or must be rescinded or returned by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for any reason whatsoever (including, without limitation, the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Pledgor), such Liabilities shall, for the purposes of this Agreement, to the extent that such payment is or must be rescinded or returned, be deemed to have continued in existence, notwithstanding such application by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, and this Agreement shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, as to such Liabilities, all as though such application by the Administrative Agent or such Lender had not been made.

This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this Agreement.

The rights and privileges of the Administrative Agent hereunder shall inure to the benefit of its successors and assigns.

 

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This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the different parties hereto on separate counterparts, and each such counterpart shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.

ANY LITIGATION BASED HEREON, OR ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, MAY BE BROUGHT AND MAINTAINED IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK OR IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT ANY SUIT SEEKING ENFORCEMENT AGAINST ANY COLLATERAL OR OTHER PROPERTY MAY BE BROUGHT, AT THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S OPTION, IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION WHERE SUCH COLLATERAL OR OTHER PROPERTY MAY BE FOUND. EACH OF THE PLEDGOR AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT HEREBY EXPRESSLY AND IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANY SUCH LITIGATION AS SET FORTH ABOVE. THE PLEDGOR FURTHER IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO THE SERVICE OF PROCESS BY REGISTERED MAIL, POSTAGE PREPAID, TO THE ADDRESS SET FORTH IN THE CREDIT AGREEMENT (OR SUCH OTHER ADDRESS AS IT SHALL HAVE SPECIFIED IN WRITING TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AS ITS ADDRESS FOR NOTICES HEREUNDER) OR BY PERSONAL SERVICE WITHIN OR WITHOUT THE STATE OF NEW YORK. THE PLEDGOR HEREBY EXPRESSLY AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY SUCH LITIGATION BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT REFERRED TO ABOVE AND ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH LITIGATION HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.

EACH OF THE PLEDGOR, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND (BY ACCEPTING THE BENEFITS HEREOF) EACH LENDER HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING TO ENFORCE OR DEFEND ANY RIGHTS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AND ANY AMENDMENT, INSTRUMENT, DOCUMENT OR AGREEMENT DELIVERED OR WHICH MAY IN THE FUTURE BE DELIVERED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THEREWITH OR ARISING FROM ANY BANKING RELATIONSHIP EXISTING IN CONNECTION WITH ANY OF THE FOREGOING, AND AGREES THAT ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE TRIED BEFORE A COURT AND NOT BEFORE A JURY.

If any action or proceeding is filed in a court of the State of California by or against any party hereto in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (a) the court shall, and is hereby directed to, make a general reference pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure Section 638 to a referee (who shall be a single active or retired judge) to hear and determine all of the issues in such action or proceeding (whether of fact or of law) and to report a statement of decision, provided that at the option of any party to such proceeding, any such issues pertaining to a “provisional remedy” as defined in California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1281.8 shall be heard and determined by the court, and (b) without limiting the generality of this Section 9, the Pledgor shall be solely responsible to pay all fees and expenses of any referee appointed in such action or proceeding.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

MERCURY CASUALTY COMPANY
By:    
Name:    
Title:    

 

BANK OF AMERICA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Administrative Agent
By:    
Name:    
Title:    

 

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SCHEDULE 1

ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION

 

Legal Name:    Mercury Casualty Company
Jurisdiction of Incorporation:    California
Organizational Identification Number:    C0550947
Chief Executive Office:    4484 Wilshire Blvd.
   Los Angeles, CA 90010
Principal Place of Business:    555 West Imperial Highway
   Brea, CA 92821

 

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EXHIBIT A

FORM OF CONTROL AGREEMENT

 

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EXHIBIT E-2

COLLATERAL ACCOUNT CONTROL AGREEMENT

AGREEMENT, dated as of January 2, 2009 among Mercury Casualty Company, a California corporation (“Pledgor”), Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent for certain Lenders referred to below (“Secured Party”) and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, National Association (“Securities Intermediary”).

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, Pledgor, certain financial institutions from time to time (“Lenders”) and Secured Party have entered into Credit Agreement dated as of January 2, 2009 (as amended, modified or restated from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”);

WHEREAS, Pledgor and Secured Party entered into that certain Security Agreement dated as of January 2, 2009 (as amended, modified or restated from time to time, the “Collateral Agreement”) pursuant to which Pledgor has agreed to pledge to Secured Party the Collateral (as defined below) in order to secure the repayment of Pledgor’s obligations to Secured Party and Lenders under the Credit Agreement; and

WHEREAS, Secured Party and Pledgor have requested Securities Intermediary to hold the Collateral and to perform certain other functions as more fully described herein; and

WHEREAS, Securities Intermediary has agreed to act on behalf of Secured Party and Pledgor in respect of Collateral delivered to Securities Intermediary by Pledgor for the benefit of the Secured Party, subject to the terms hereof;

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises set forth hereafter, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Whenever used in this Agreement, the following words shall have the meanings set forth below:

1. “Account” shall mean the account established and maintained by Securities Intermediary hereunder in the name of Pledgor with Account Number 244398. The Account shall be deemed to consist of a “securities account” (within the meaning of Section 8-501(a) of the UCC) for purposes of the UCC with respect to all property other than uninvested funds or cash and a “deposit account” (within the meaning of Section 9-102 of the UCC) for purposes of the UCC with respect to uninvested funds or cash deposited in or credited to the Account.

2. “Authorized Person” shall be any person, whether or not an officer or employee of Secured Party or Pledgor, duly authorized by Secured Party or Pledgor, respectively, to give Oral and/or Written Instructions on behalf of Secured Party or Pledgor, respectively, such persons to be designated in a Certificate of Authorized Persons which contains a specimen signature of such person.

3. “BNYM Affiliate” shall mean any office, branch or subsidiary of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation.

4. “Collateral” shall mean the investment property and all proceeds thereof held in the Account.

5. “Depository” shall mean the Treasury/Reserve Automated Debt Entry System maintained at The Federal Reserve Bank of New York for receiving and delivering securities, The Depository Trust Company and any other clearing corporation within the meaning of Section 8-102 of the UCC or otherwise authorized to act as a securities depository or clearing agency, and their respective successors and nominees.

6. “Notice of Exclusive Control” shall mean a written notice given by Secured Party to Securities Intermediary that Secured Party is exercising sole and exclusive control of the Collateral.


7. “Oral Instructions” shall mean verbal instructions received by Securities Intermediary.

8. “UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of California.

9. “Written Instructions” shall mean written communications received by Securities Intermediary via S.W.I.F.T., tested telex, letter, facsimile transmission, or other method or system specified by Securities Intermediary as available for use in connection with this Agreement.

The terms “bank”, “deposit account”, “entitlement holder”, “entitlement order”, “financial asset”, “investment property”, “proceeds”, “security”, “securities account” “security entitlement” and “securities intermediary” shall have the meanings set forth in Articles 8 and 9 of the UCC.

ARTICLE II

APPOINTMENT AND STATUS OF SECURITIES INTERMEDIARY;

ACCOUNT

1. Appointment; Identification of Collateral. Secured Party and Pledgor each hereby appoints Securities Intermediary to perform its duties as hereinafter set forth and authorizes Securities Intermediary to hold Collateral in the Account in registered form in its name or the name of its nominees. Securities Intermediary hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to establish and maintain the Account and appropriate records identifying the Collateral in the Account as pledged by Pledgor to Secured Party. Pledgor hereby authorizes Securities Intermediary to comply with all Oral and Written Instructions, including, without limitation, entitlement orders, instructions with respect to disposition of funds and any Notice of Exclusive Control, originated by Secured Party with respect to the Collateral and Securities Intermediary hereby agrees to comply with all such Oral and Written Instructions without further consent or direction from Pledgor or any other party.

2. Status of Securities Intermediary. To the extent the Account constitutes a deposit account, Securities Intermediary shall, subject to the terms of this Agreement, comply with instructions originated by the Secured Party directing disposition of funds in such Account without further consent of the Pledgor. Such deposit account shall be deemed to be maintained with Securities Intermediary acting in its capacity as a “bank” (within the meaning of Section 9-102(a)(8) of the UCC). To the extent the Account constitutes a securities account, the parties agree that Securities Intermediary is a securities intermediary, and intend that all property other than cash or uninvested funds held in the Account shall be treated as financial assets.

3. Use of Depositories. Secured Party and Pledgor hereby authorize Securities Intermediary to utilize Depositories to the extent possible in connection with its performance hereunder. Collateral held by Securities Intermediary in a Depository will be held subject to the rules, terms and conditions of such Depository. Where Collateral is held in a Depository, Securities Intermediary shall identify on its records as belonging to Pledgor and pledged to Secured Party a quantity of securities as part of a fungible bulk of securities held in Securities Intermediary’s account at such Depository. Securities deposited in a Depository will be represented in accounts which include only assets held by Securities Intermediary for its customers.

ARTICLE III

COLLATERAL SERVICES

1. Notice of Exclusive Control. Until Securities Intermediary receives a Notice of Exclusive Control from Secured Party, Securities Intermediary is authorized to act upon any Oral or Written Instructions, including entitlement orders, from Secured Party and any joint, Written Instructions from Pledgor and Secured Party. Secured Party may, subject to terms of the Collateral Agreement, exercise sole and exclusive control of the Account and the Collateral held therein at any time by delivering to Securities Intermediary a Notice of Exclusive Control. Upon receipt of a Notice of Exclusive Control, Securities Intermediary shall, without inquiry and in reliance upon such Notice, thereafter comply with Oral or Written Instructions (including entitlement orders) solely from Secured Party with respect to the Account.

2. Collateral Removal; Substitutions. Until Securities Intermediary receives a Notice of Exclusive Control from Secured Party, Securities Intermediary is authorized to act upon Oral or Written Instructions, including entitlement orders, from Secured Party and any joint, Written Instructions from Pledgor and Secured Party to transfer Collateral from the Account or substitute other Collateral for any Collateral then held in the Account (“Substitute Collateral”). It shall be Pledgor’s sole responsibility to ensure that at all times the market value of Collateral in the Account (including Substitute Collateral) shall not be less than the amount Pledgor is required to maintain pursuant to the Collateral Agreement.

 

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3. Payment of Proceeds. Except as otherwise permitted pursuant to Section 2 of this Articl III, Securities Intermediary shall credit to the Account all proceeds received by it with respect to the Collateral both before and after receipt of a Notice of Exclusive Control.

4. Advances by Securities Intermediary. Until Securities Intermediary receives a Notice of Exclusive Control, Securities Intermediary is authorized to act upon Pledgor’s Oral or Written Instructions to Securities Intermediary to settle transactions involving the Account. Pledgor shall ensure that the market value of the Collateral in the Account after settlement of any such transactions shall not be less than the amount Pledgor is required to maintain pursuant to the Collateral Agreement. If any advance of funds is made by Securities Intermediary to purchase, or to make payment on or against delivery of any investment property to be held in the Account, Securities Intermediary shall have a continuing security interest in and right of setoff against such investment property and the proceeds thereof, until such time as Securities Intermediary is repaid the amount of such advance. Secured Party’s security interest in and lien on the Collateral shall be subordinate to Securities Intermediary’s security interest and right of set-off pursuant hereto, whether hereunder or pursuant to law.

5. Statements. Securities Intermediary shall furnish Pledgor and Secured Party with advices of transactions affecting the Account and monthly Account statements. Each of Pledgor and Secured Party may elect to receive advices and statements electronically through the Internet to an email address specified by it for such purpose. By electing to use the Internet for this purpose, each of Pledgor and Secured Party acknowledges that such transmissions are not encrypted and therefore are insecure. Each of Pledgor and Secured Party further acknowledges that there are other risks inherent in communicating through the Internet such as the possibility of virus contamination and disruptions in service, and agrees that Securities Intermediary shall not be responsible for any loss, damage or expense suffered or incurred by Pledgor, Secured Party, or any person claiming by or through Pledgor or Secured Party as a result of the use of such methods.

6. Notice of Adverse Claims. Upon receipt of written notice of any lien, encumbrance or adverse claim against the Account or any portion of the Collateral carried therein, Securities Intermediary shall use reasonable efforts to notify Secured Party and Pledgor as promptly as practicable under the circumstances.

ARTICLE IV

GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. Standard of Care; Indemnification. (a) Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, Securities Intermediary shall not be liable for any costs, expenses, damages, liabilities or claims, including attorneys’ fees (“Losses”) incurred by or asserted against Pledgor or Secured Party, except those Losses arising out of the negligence or willful misconduct of Securities Intermediary. Securities Intermediary shall have no liability whatsoever for the action or inaction of any Depository. In no event shall Securities Intermediary be liable for special, indirect or consequential damages, or lost profits or loss of business, arising in connection with this Agreement.

(b) Securities Intermediary may enter into subcontracts, agreements and understandings with any BNYM Affiliate, whenever and on such terms and conditions as it deems necessary or appropriate, to perform its services hereunder. No such subcontract, agreement or understanding shall discharge Securities Intermediary from its obligations hereunder.

(c) Secured Party and Pledgor agree, jointly and severally, to indemnify Securities Intermediary and hold Securities Intermediary harmless from and against any and all Losses sustained or incurred by or asserted against Securities Intermediary by reason of or as a result of any action or inaction, or arising out of Securities Intermediary’s performance hereunder, including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel incurred by Securities Intermediary in a successful defense of claims by Pledgor or Secured Party; provided, that Pledgor and Secured Party shall not indemnify Securities Intermediary for those Losses arising out of Securities Intermediary’s negligence or willful misconduct. This indemnity shall be a continuing obligation of Pledgor and Secured Party, their respective successors and assigns, notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement.

 

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2. No Obligation Regarding Quality of Collateral. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Securities Intermediary shall be under no obligation to inquire into, and shall not be liable for, any Losses incurred by Pledgor, Secured Party or any other person as a result of the receipt or acceptance of fraudulent, forged or invalid Collateral, or Collateral which otherwise is not freely transferable or deliverable without encumbrance in any relevant market.

3. No Responsibility Concerning Collateral Agreement. Pledgor and Secured Party hereby agree that, notwithstanding references to the Collateral Agreement in this Agreement, Securities Intermediary has no interest in, and no duty, responsibility or obligation with respect to, the Collateral Agreement (including without limitation, no duty, responsibility or obligation to monitor Pledgor’s or Secured Party’s compliance with the Collateral Agreement or to know the terms of the Collateral Agreement).

4. No Duty of Oversight. Securities Intermediary is not at any time under any duty to monitor the value of any Collateral in the Account or whether the Collateral is of a type required to be held in the Account, or to supervise the investment of, or to advise or make any recommendation for the purchase, sale, retention or disposition of any Collateral.

5. Advice of Counsel. Securities Intermediary may, with respect to questions of law, obtain the advice of counsel and shall be fully protected with respect to anything done or omitted by it in good faith in conformity with such advice.

6. No Collection Obligations. Securities Intermediary shall be under no obligation to take action to collect any amount payable on Collateral in default, or if payment is refused after due demand and presentment.

7. Fees and Expenses. Pledgor agrees to pay to Securities Intermediary the fees as may be agreed upon from time to time. Pledgor shall reimburse Securities Intermediary for all reasonable costs associated with transfers of Collateral to Securities Intermediary and records kept in connection with this Agreement. Pledgor shall also reimburse Securities Intermediary for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses which are a normal incident of the services provided hereunder.

8. Effectiveness of Instructions; Reliance; Risk Acknowledgements; Additional Terms. (a) Subject to the terms below, Securities Intermediary shall be entitled to rely upon any Written or Oral Instructions actually received by Securities Intermediary and reasonably believed by Securities Intermediary to be duly authorized and delivered. Secured Party and Pledgor each agrees (i) to forward to Securities Intermediary Written Instructions confirming its Oral Instructions by the close of business of the same day that such Oral Instructions are given to Securities Intermediary, and (ii) the fact that such confirming Written Instructions are not received or that contrary Written Instructions are received by Securities Intermediary shall in no way affect the validity or enforceability of transactions authorized and effected by Securities Intermediary pursuant to its Oral Instructions.

(b) If Securities Intermediary receives Written Instructions which appear on their face to have been transmitted via (i) computer facsimile, email, the Internet or other insecure electronic method, or (ii) secure electronic transmission containing applicable authorization codes, passwords and/or authentication keys, Secured Party and Pledgor each understands and agrees that Securities Intermediary cannot determine the identity of the actual sender of such Written Instructions and that Securities Intermediary shall conclusively presume that such Written Instructions have been sent by an Authorized Person. Secured Party and Pledgor shall be responsible for ensuring that only its Authorized Persons transmit such Written Instructions to Securities Intermediary and that all of its Authorized Persons treat applicable user and authorization codes, passwords and/or authentication keys with extreme care.

(c) Secured Party and Pledgor each acknowledges and agrees that it is fully informed of the protections and risks associated with the various methods of transmitting Written Instructions to Securities Intermediary and that there may be more secure methods of transmitting Written Instructions than the method(s) selected by it. Secured Party and Pledgor each agrees that the security procedures (if any) to be followed in connection with its transmission of Written Instructions provide to it a commercially reasonable degree of protection in light of its particular needs and circumstances.

(d) If Secured Party or Pledgor elects to transmit Written Instructions through an on-line communication system offered by Securities Intermediary, its use thereof shall be subject to the Terms and Conditions attached hereto as Appendix I. If Secured Party or Pledgor elects (with Securities Intermediary’s prior consent) to transmit Written Instructions through an on-line communications service owned or operated by a third party, it agrees that Securities Intermediary shall not be responsible or liable for the reliability or availability of any such service.

 

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9. Inspection. Upon reasonable request and provided Securities Intermediary shall suffer no significant disruption of its normal activities, Secured Party or Pledgor shall have access to Securities Intermediary’s books and records relating to the Account during Securities Intermediary’s normal business hours. Upon reasonable request, copies of any such books and records shall be provided to Secured Party or Pledgor at its expense.

10. Account Disclosure. Securities Intermediary is authorized to supply any information regarding the Account which is required by any law or governmental regulation now or hereafter in effect.

11. Force Majeure. Securities Intermediary shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including without limitation, acts of God; earthquakes; fires; floods; wars; civil or military disturbances; sabotage; epidemics; riots; interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, computer (hardware or software) or communications service; accidents; labor disputes; acts of civil or military authority; governmental actions; inability to obtain labor, material, equipment or transportation.

12. Pricing Services. Securities Intermediary may, as an accommodation, provide pricing or other information services to Pledgor and/or Secured Party in connection with this Agreement. Securities Intermediary may utilize any vendor (including securities brokers and dealers) believed by it to be reliable to provide such information. Under no circumstances shall Securities Intermediary be liable for any loss, damage or expense suffered or incurred by Pledgor or Secured Party as a result of errors or omissions with respect to any pricing or other information utilized by Securities Intermediary hereunder.

13. Use of BNYM Affiliates. Securities Intermediary is hereby authorized to delegate its duties hereunder to any BNYM Affiliate (so long as any BNYM Affiliate that is a custodian of record for the Collateral must (1) be on the California Department of Insurance’s list of qualified custodians (or qualify as a matter of law under Section 1104.9 of the California Insurance Code) and (2) have an approved custodian agreement on file with the California Department of Insurance pursuant to which the collateral is held), whenever and on such terms and conditions as it deems necessary or appropriate to perform its services hereunder, without any further notice to Secured Party or Pledgor. Secured Party and Pledgor each agrees to be bound by all actions taken by a BNYM Affiliate pursuant to the preceding sentence to the same extent as if they were taken by Securities Intermediary, it being understood and agreed that no such assignment or delegation shall discharge Securities Intermediary from its obligations hereunder. Secured Party and Pledgor each further agrees that any BNYM Affiliate providing services pursuant to the foregoing authorization shall be entitled to all of the protections afforded to Securities Intermediary under this Agreement (including, without limitation, pursuant to Article III, paragraph 5 and Article IV). If so advised by Securities Intermediary, Secured Party and Pledgor shall provide Oral or Written Instructions or other information to a BNYM Affiliate rather than to Securities Intermediary.

14. No Implied Duties. Securities Intermediary shall have no duties or responsibilities whatsoever except such duties and responsibilities as are specifically set forth in this Agreement, and no covenant or obligation shall be implied against Securities Intermediary in connection with this Agreement.

ARTICLE V

MISCELLANEOUS

1. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate upon (a) Securities Intermediary’s receipt of Written Instructions from Secured Party expressly stating that Secured Party no longer claims any security interest in the Collateral, (b) transfer of the Collateral to Secured Party subsequent to Securities Intermediary’s receipt of a Notice of Exclusive Control, or (c) by any party upon not less than ninety (90) days prior written notice of termination to the other parties, provided that termination pursuant to (c) above shall not affect or terminate Secured Party’s security interest in the Collateral. Upon termination pursuant to (c) above, Securities Intermediary shall follow such reasonable Written Instructions of Secured Party concerning the transfer of Collateral. Except as otherwise provided herein, all obligations of the parties to each other hereunder shall cease upon termination of this Agreement.

2. Certificates of Authorized Persons. Secured Party and Pledgor agree to furnish to Securities Intermediary a new Certificate of Authorized Persons in the event of any change in the then present Authorized Persons. Until such new Certificate is received, Securities Intermediary shall be fully protected in acting upon Written Instructions of such present Authorized Persons.

 

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3. Notices. (a) Any notice or other instrument in writing, authorized or required by this Agreement to be given to Securities Intermediary, shall be sufficiently given if addressed to Securities Intermediary and received by it at its offices at: Los Angeles Office: 700 South Flower Street, Suite 200, Los Angeles, California 90017-4104; San Francisco Office: 550 Kearny St., Suite 600, San Francisco, California 94108; Seattle Office: Two Union Square, 601 Union Street, Suite 520, Seattle, Washington 98101-2321, or at such other place as Securities Intermediary may from time to time designate in writing.

(b) Any notice or other instrument in writing, authorized or required by this Agreement to be given to Secured Party shall be sufficiently given if addressed to Secured Party and received by it at its offices at 333 S. Hope St., 13th Fl., Los Angeles, CA 90071, Attn: Craig McGuire with a copy to Bank of America, N.A., Mail Code: TX1-492-64-01, Bank of America Plaza, 901 Main St., Dallas, TX ###-###-####, Attn: Kip Davis, or at such other place as Secured Party may from time to time designate in writing.

(c) Any notice or other instrument in writing, authorized or required by this Agreement to be given to Pledgor shall be sufficiently given if addressed to Pledgor and received by it at its offices at 4484 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90010, Attn: Ted Stalick, or at such other place as Pledgor may from time to time designate in writing.

4. Cumulative Rights; No Waiver. Each and every right granted to Securities Intermediary hereunder or under any other document delivered hereunder or in connection herewith, or allowed it by law or equity, shall be cumulative and may be exercised from time to time. No failure on the part of Securities Intermediary to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right will operate as a waiver thereof, nor will any single or partial exercise by Securities Intermediary of any right preclude any other future exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right.

5. Severability; Amendments; Assignment. In case any provision in or obligation under this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected thereby. This Agreement may not be amended or modified in any manner except by a written agreement executed by the parties hereto. This Agreement shall extend to and shall be binding upon the parties hereto, and their respective successors and assigns; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not be assignable by any party without the written consent of the other parties.

6. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Immunity; Jury Trial Waiver. This Agreement and the Account shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of California. The State of California shall be deemed to be the location of the Securities Intermediary. Secured Party, Pledgor and Securities Intermediary hereby consent to the jurisdiction of a state or federal court situated in Los Angeles or San Francisco, California in connection with any dispute arising hereunder. To the extent that in any jurisdiction Secured Party or Pledgor may now or hereafter be entitled to claim, for itself or its assets, immunity from suit, execution, attachment (before or after judgment) or other legal process, Secured Party and Pledgor each irrevocably agrees not to claim, and hereby waives, such immunity. Secured Party, Pledgor and Securities Intermediary each hereby irrevocably waives any and all rights to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement.

7. No Third Party Beneficiaries. In performing hereunder, Securities Intermediary is acting solely on behalf of Secured Party and Pledgor and no contractual or service relationship shall be deemed to be established hereby between Securities Intermediary and any other person.

8. Headings. Section headings are included in this Agreement for convenience only and shall have no substantive effect on its interpretation.

9. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but such counterparts shall, together, constitute only one instrument.

10. USA PATRIOT ACT. Pledgor and Secured Party hereby acknowledge that Securities Intermediary is subject to federal laws, including the Customer Identification Program (CIP) requirements under the USA PATRIOT Act and its implementing regulations, pursuant to which Securities Intermediary must obtain, verify and record information that allows Securities Intermediary to identify each of Pledgor and Secured Party. Accordingly, prior to opening an Account hereunder Securities Intermediary will ask Pledgor and/or Secured Party to provide certain information including, but not limited to, Pledgor’s and/or Secured Party’s name, physical address, tax identification number and other information that will help Securities Intermediary to identify and verify each of Pledgor’s and Secured Party’s identity such as

 

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organizational documents, certificate of good standing, license to do business, or other pertinent identifying information. Pledgor and Secured Party agree that Securities Intermediary cannot open an Account hereunder unless and until the Securities Intermediary verifies the Pledgor’s and/or Secured Party’s identity in accordance with its CIP.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Secured Party, Pledgor and Securities Intermediary have caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective officers, thereunto duly authorized, as of the day and year first above written.

 

MERCURY CASUALTY COMPANY
By:    
Title:  

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent
By:    
Title:  

 

Control Agreement

(Credit Agreement)


THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
By:    
Title:  

 

Control Agreement

(Credit Agreement)


APPENDIX I

ELECTRONIC SERVICES TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. License; Use. (a) This Appendix I shall govern the use of electronic communications, information delivery, portfolio management and banking services, that The Bank of New York Mellon and its affiliates (“BNYM”) may provide to Pledgor and Secured Party (hereinafter collectively referred to as “Customer”), such as The Bank of New York Mellon Inform and The Bank of New York Mellon CA$H-Register Plus®, and any computer software, proprietary data and documentation provided by BNYM to Customer in connection therewith (collectively, the “Electronic Services”). In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Appendix I and the main body of this Agreement with respect to Customer’s use of the Electronic Services, the terms of this Appendix I shall control.

(b) BNYM grants to Customer a personal, nontransferable and nonexclusive license to use the Electronic Services to which Customer subscribes solely for the purpose of transmitting instructions and information (“Written Instructions”), obtaining reports, analyses and statements and other information and data, making inquiries and otherwise communicating with BNYM in connection with the Customer’s relationship with BNYM. Customer shall use the Electronic Services solely for its own internal and proper business purposes and not in the operation of a service bureau. Except as set forth herein, no license or right of any kind is granted to Customer with respect to the Electronic Services. Customer acknowledges that BNYM and its suppliers retain and have title and exclusive proprietary rights to the Electronic Services, including any trade secrets or other ideas, concepts, know-how, methodologies, and information incorporated therein and the exclusive rights to any copyrights, trade dress, look and feel, trademarks and patents (including registrations and applications for registration of either), and other legal protections available in respect thereof. Customer further acknowledges that all or a part of the Electronic Services may be copyrighted or trademarked (or a registration or claim made therefor) by BNYM or its suppliers. Customer shall not take any action with respect to the Electronic Services inconsistent with the foregoing acknowledgments, nor shall Customer attempt to decompile, reverse engineer or modify the Electronic Services. Customer may not copy, distribute, sell, lease or provide, directly or indirectly, the Electronic Services or any portion thereof to any other person or entity without BNYM’s prior written consent. Customer may not remove any statutory copyright notice or other notice included in the Electronic Services. Customer shall reproduce any such notice on any reproduction of any portion of the Electronic Services and shall add any statutory copyright notice or other notice upon BNYM’s request.

(c) Portions of the Electronic Services may contain, deliver or rely on data supplied by third parties (“Third Party Data”), such as pricing data and indicative data, and services supplied by third parties (“Third Party Services”) such as analytic and accounting services. Third Party Data and Third Party Services supplied hereunder are obtained from sources that BNYM believes to be reliable but are provided without any independent investigation by BNYM. BNYM and its suppliers do not represent or warrant that the Third Party Data or Third Party Services are correct, complete or current. Third Party Data and Third Party Services are proprietary to their suppliers, are provided solely for Customer’s internal use, and may not be reused, disseminated or redistributed in any form. Customer shall not use any Third Party Data in any manner that would act as a substitute for obtaining a license for the data directly from the supplier. Third Party Data and Third Party Services should not be used in making any investment decision. BNYM AND ITS SUPPLIERS ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY RESULTS OBTAINED FROM THE USE OF OR RELIANCE UPON THIRD PARTY DATA OR THIRD PARTY SERVICES. BNYM’s suppliers of Third Party Data and Services are intended third party beneficiaries of this Section 1(c) and Section 5 below.

(d) Customer understands and agrees that any links in the Electronic Services to Internet sites may be to sites sponsored and maintained by third parties. BNYM make no guarantees, representations or warranties concerning the information contained in any third party site (including without limitation that such information is correct, current, complete or free of viruses or other contamination), or any products or services sold through third party sites. All such links to third party Internet sites are provided solely as a convenience to Customer and Customer accesses and uses such sites at its own risk. A link in the Electronic Services to a third party site does not constitute BNYM’s endorsement, authorisation or sponsorship of such site or any products and services available from such site.

2. Equipment. Customer shall obtain and maintain at its own cost and expense all equipment and services, including but not limited to communications services, necessary for it to utilize and obtain access to the Electronic Services, and BNYM shall not be responsible for the reliability or availability of any such equipment or services.

3. Proprietary Information. The Electronic Services, and any proprietary data (including Third Party Data), processes, software, information and documentation made available to Customer (other than which are or become part of the public domain or are legally required to be made available to the public) (collectively, the “Information”), are the exclusive and confidential property of BNYM or its suppliers. However, for the avoidance of doubt, reports generated by Customer containing information relating to its account(s) (except for Third Party Data contained therein) are not deemed to be within the meaning of the term “Information.” Customer shall keep the Information confidential by using the same care and discretion that Customer uses with respect to its own confidential property and trade secrets, but not less than reasonable care. Upon termination of the Agreement or the licenses granted herein for any reason, Customer shall return to BNYM any and all copies of the Information which are in its possession or under its control (except that Customer may retain reports containing Third Party Data, provided that such Third Party Data remains subject to the provisions of this Appendix). The provisions of this Section 3 shall not affect the copyright status of any of the Information which may be copyrighted and shall apply to all information whether or not copyrighted.

4. Modifications. BNYM reserves the right to modify the Electronic Services from time to time. Customer agrees not to modify or attempt to modify the Electronic Services without BNYM’s prior written consent. Customer acknowledges that any modifications to the Electronic Services, whether by Customer or BNYM and whether with or without BNYM’s consent, shall become the property of BNYM.

5. NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. BNYM AND ITS MANUFACTURERS AND SUPPLIERS MAKE NO WARRANTIES OR REPRESENTATIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE ELECTRONIC SERVICES OR ANY THIRD PARTY DATA OR THIRD PARTY SERVICES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN FACT OR IN LAW, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. CUSTOMER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE ELECTRONIC SERVICES, THIRD PARTY DATA AND THIRD PARTY SERVICES ARE PROVIDED “AS IS.” TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL BNYM OR ANY SUPPLIER BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, WHETHER DIRECT, INDIRECT SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL, WHICH CUSTOMER MAY INCUR IN CONNECTION WITH THE ELECTRONIC SERVICES, THIRD PARTY DATA OR THIRD PARTY SERVICES, EVEN IF BNYM OR SUCH SUPPLIER KNEW OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. IN NO EVENT SHALL BNYM OR ANY SUPPLIER BE LIABLE FOR ACTS OF GOD, MACHINE OR COMPUTER BREAKDOWN OR MALFUNCTION, INTERRUPTION OR MALFUNCTION OF COMMUNICATION FACILITIES, LABOR DIFFICULTIES OR ANY OTHER SIMILAR OR DISSIMILAR CAUSE BEYOND THEIR REASONABLE CONTROL.

6. Security; Reliance; Unauthorized Use; Funds Transfers. BNYM will establish security procedures to be followed in connection with the use of the Electronic Services, and Customer agrees to comply with the security procedures. Customer understands and agrees that the security procedures are intended to determine whether instructions received by BNYM through the Electronic Services are authorized but are not (unless otherwise specified in writing) intended to detect any errors contained in such instructions. Customer will cause all persons utilizing the Electronic Services to treat any user and authorization codes, passwords,


authentication keys and other security devices with the highest degree of care and confidentiality. Upon termination of Customer’s use of the Electronic Services, Customer shall return to BNYM any security devices (e.g., token cards) provided by BNYM. BNYM is hereby irrevocably authorized to comply with and rely upon on Written Instructions and other communications, whether or not authorized, received by it through the Electronic Services. Customer acknowledges that it has sole responsibility for ensuring that only Authorized Persons use the Electronic Services and that to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law BNYM shall not be responsible nor liable for any unauthorized use thereof or for any losses sustained by Customer arising from or in connection with the use of the Electronic Services or BNYM’s reliance upon and compliance with Written Instructions and other communications received through the Electronic Services. With respect to instructions for a transfer of funds issued through the Electronic Services, when instructed to credit or pay a party by both name and a unique numeric or alpha-numeric identifier (e.g. ABA number or account number), the BNYM, its affiliates, and any other bank participating in the funds transfer, may rely solely on the unique identifier, even if it identifies a party different than the party named. Such reliance on a unique identifier shall apply to beneficiaries named in such instructions as well as any financial institution which is designated in such instructions to act as an intermediary in a funds transfer. It is understood and agreed that unless otherwise specifically provided herein, and to the extent permitted by applicable law, the parties hereto shall be bound by the rules of any funds transfer system utilized to effect a funds transfer hereunder.

7. Acknowledgments. BNYM shall acknowledge through the Electronic Services its receipt of each Written Instruction communicated through the Electronic Services, and in the absence of such acknowledgment BNYM shall not be liable for any failure to act in accordance with such Written Instruction and Customer may not claim that such Written Instruction was received by BNYM. BNYM may in its discretion decline to act upon any instructions or communications that are insufficient or incomplete or are not received by BNYM in sufficient time for BNYM to act upon, or in accordance with such instructions or communications.

8. Viruses. Customer agrees to use reasonable efforts to prevent the transmission through the Electronic Services of any software or file which contains any viruses, worms, harmful component or corrupted data and agrees not to use any device, software, or routine to interfere or attempt to interfere with the proper working of the Electronic Services.

9. Encryption. Customer acknowledges and agrees that encryption may not be available for every communication through the Electronic Services, or for all data. Customer agrees that BNYM may deactivate any encryption features at any time, without notice or liability to Customer, for the purpose of maintaining, repairing or troubleshooting its systems.

10. On-Line Inquiry and Modification of Records. In connection with Customer’s use of the Electronic Services, BNYM may, at Customer’s request, permit Customer to enter data directly into a BNYM database for the purpose of modifying certain information maintained by BNYM’s systems, including, but not limited to, change of address information. To the extent that Customer is granted such access, Customer agrees to indemnify and hold BNYM harmless from all loss, liability, cost, damage and expense (including attorney’s fees and expenses) to which BNYM may be subjected or which may be incurred in connection with any claim which may arise out of or as a result of changes to BNYM database records initiated by Customer.

11. Agents. Customer may, on advance written notice to the BNYM, permit its agents and contractors (“Agents”) to access and use the Electronic Services on Customer’s behalf, except that the BNYM reserves the right to prohibit Customer’s use of any particular Agent for any reason. Customer shall require its Agent(s) to agree in writing to be bound by the terms of the Agreement, and Customer shall be liable and responsible for any act or omission of such Agent in the same manner, and to the same extent, as though such act or omission were that of Customer. Each submission of a Written Instruction or other communication by the Agent through the Electronic Services shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Customer that the Agent continues to be duly authorized by the Customer to so act on its behalf and the BNYM may rely on the representations and warranties made herein in complying with such Written Instruction or communication. Any Written Instruction or other communication through the Electronic Services by an Agent shall be deemed that of Customer, and Customer shall be bound thereby whether or not authorized. Customer may, subject to the terms of this Agreement and upon advance written notice to the Bank, provide a copy of the Electronic Service user manuals to its Agent if the Agent requires such copies to use the Electronic Services on Customer’s behalf. Upon cessation of any such Agent’s services, Customer shall promptly terminate such Agent’s access to the Electronic Services, retrieve from the Agent any copies of the manuals and destroy them, and retrieve from the Agent any token cards or other security devices provided by BNYM and return them to BNYM

 

Appendix I Page 2