CREDIT AGREEMENT July 20, 2007 among NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION, VARIOUS LENDERS, GOLDMAN SACHS CREDIT PARTNERS L.P., as Syndication Agent BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent and GOLDMAN SACHS CREDIT PARTNERS L.P., and BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners and JPMORGANSECURITIES INC., and MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK (USA), and SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION, as Co-Documentation Agents
Exhibit 10.1
CREDIT AGREEMENT
July 20, 2007
among
NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION,
VARIOUS LENDERS,
GOLDMAN SACHS CREDIT PARTNERS L.P.,
as Syndication Agent
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent
and
GOLDMAN SACHS CREDIT PARTNERS L.P.,
and
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners
and
JPMORGAN SECURITIES INC.,
and
MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK (USA),
and
SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION,
as Co-Documentation Agents
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| $500,000,000 Senior Unsecured Credit Facility |
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION |
| 1 |
1.1. Definitions |
| 14 |
1.2. Accounting Terms |
| 15 |
1.3. Interpretation, etc. |
| 15 |
1.4. Times of Day |
| 15 |
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SECTION 2. LOANS |
| 15 |
2.1. Loans |
| 15 |
2.2. Pro Rata Shares; Availability of Funds |
| 16 |
2.3. Use of Proceeds |
| 16 |
2.4. Evidence of Debt; Register; Lenders Books and Records; Notes |
| 16 |
2.5. Interest on Loans |
| 17 |
2.6. Conversion/Continuation |
| 18 |
2.7. Default Interest |
| 19 |
2.8. Fees |
| 19 |
2.9. Scheduled Payments/Commitment Reductions |
| 19 |
2.10. Voluntary Prepayments/Commitment Reductions |
| 20 |
2.11. Application of Prepayments |
| 21 |
2.12. General Provisions Regarding Payments |
| 21 |
2.13. Ratable Sharing |
| 22 |
2.14. Making or Maintaining LIBO Rate Loans |
| 22 |
2.15. Increased Costs; Capital Adequacy |
| 24 |
2.16. Taxes; Withholding, etc. |
| 25 |
2.17. Obligation to Mitigate |
| 27 |
2.18. Removal or Replacement of a Lender |
| 28 |
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SECTION 3. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT |
| 29 |
3.1. Closing Date |
| 29 |
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SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
| 30 |
4.1. Organization; Requisite Power and Authority; Qualification |
| 30 |
4.2. Due Authorization |
| 31 |
4.3. No Conflict |
| 31 |
4.4. Governmental Consents |
| 31 |
4.5. Binding Obligation |
| 31 |
4.6. Historical Financial Statements |
| 31 |
4.7. No Material Adverse Change |
| 32 |
4.8. Adverse Proceedings, etc. |
| 32 |
4.9. Governmental Regulation |
| 32 |
4.10. Margin Stock |
| 32 |
4.11. Disclosure |
| 32 |
4.12. Patriot Act |
| 33 |
ii
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SECTION 5. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS |
| 33 |
5.1. Financial Statements and Other Reports |
| 33 |
5.2. Existence |
| 35 |
5.3. Payment of Taxes and Claims |
| 35 |
5.4. Maintenance of Properties |
| 36 |
5.5. Insurance |
| 36 |
5.6. Books and Records; Inspections |
| 36 |
5.7. Compliance with Laws |
| 36 |
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SECTION 6. NEGATIVE COVENANTS |
| 36 |
6.1. Liens |
| 36 |
6.2. Financial Covenants |
| 38 |
6.3. Fundamental Changes; Disposition of Assets |
| 38 |
6.4. Transactions with Shareholders and Affiliates |
| 39 |
6.5. Conduct of Business |
| 39 |
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SECTION 7. EVENTS OF DEFAULT |
| 39 |
7.1. Events of Default |
| 39 |
7.2. Application of Funds |
| 41 |
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SECTION 8. THE AGENT |
| 42 |
8.1. Appointment of the Agent |
| 42 |
8.2. Powers and Duties |
| 42 |
8.3. General Immunity |
| 42 |
8.4. Agent Entitled to Act as Lender |
| 44 |
8.5. Lenders Representations, Warranties and Acknowledgment |
| 44 |
8.6. Right to Indemnity |
| 44 |
8.7. Successor Agent |
| 45 |
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SECTION 9. MISCELLANEOUS |
| 46 |
9.1. Notices |
| 46 |
9.2. Expenses |
| 48 |
9.3. Indemnity |
| 48 |
9.4. Set-Off |
| 49 |
9.5. Amendments and Waivers |
| 49 |
9.6. Successors and Assigns; Participations |
| 50 |
9.7. Independence of Covenants |
| 53 |
9.8. Survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements |
| 53 |
9.9. No Waiver; Remedies Cumulative |
| 53 |
9.10. Marshalling; Payments Set Aside |
| 53 |
9.11. Severability |
| 54 |
9.12. Obligations Several; Independent Nature of Lenders Rights |
| 54 |
9.13. Headings |
| 54 |
9.14. APPLICABLE LAW |
| 54 |
9.15. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION |
| 54 |
9.16. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL |
| 55 |
9.17. Confidentiality |
| 55 |
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9.18. Counterparts |
| 56 |
9.19. Effectiveness |
| 56 |
9.20. Patriot Act |
| 56 |
9.21. Electronic Execution of Assignments |
| 56 |
9.22. No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility |
| 56 |
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APPENDICES: | ||
| A | Commitments |
| B | Notice Addresses |
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EXHIBITS: | A-1 | Funding Notice |
| A-2 | Conversion/Continuation Notice |
| B | Note |
| C | Compliance Certificate |
| D | Opinions of Counsel |
| E | Assignment Agreement |
| F | Certificate Re Non-bank Status |
| G | Closing Date Certificate |
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CREDIT AGREEMENT
This CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of July 20, 2007, is entered into by and among NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the Borrower), the Lenders party hereto from time to time, GOLDMAN SACHS CREDIT PARTNERS L.P. (GSCP), as Syndication Agent, and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. (Bank of America), as the Administrative Agent (together with its permitted successors in such capacity, the Agent).
RECITALS:
WHEREAS, capitalized terms used in these Recitals shall have the respective meanings set forth for such terms in Section 1.1 hereof;
WHEREAS, the Lenders have agreed to extend credit to the Borrower, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $500,000,000, the proceeds of which will be used to refinance debt incurred to repurchase shares of capital stock of the Borrower, and to pay related fees and expenses.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the agreements, provisions and covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
1.1 Definitions. The following terms used herein, including in the preamble, recitals and exhibits hereto, shall have the following meanings:
Administrative Questionnaire means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Agent.
Adverse Proceeding means any action, suit, proceeding, hearing (whether administrative, judicial or otherwise), governmental investigation or arbitration (whether or not purportedly on behalf of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries) at law or in equity, or before or by any Governmental Authority, domestic or foreign (including any Environmental Claims), whether pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any property of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.
Affected Lender as defined in Section 2.14(b).
Affected Loans as defined in Section 2.14(b).
Affiliate means, as applied to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, that Person. For the purposes of this definition, control (including, with correlative meanings, the terms controlling, controlled by and under common control with), as applied to any Person (other than an Eligible Assignee), means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power (i) to
vote 5% or more of the Securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors of such Person or (ii) to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of that Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by contract or otherwise.
Agent as defined in the preamble hereto.
Agent Parties as defined in Section 9.1(c).
Aggregate Amounts Due as defined in Section 2.13.
Agreement means this Credit Agreement, dated as of July , 2007, as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
Applicable Margin means (a) with respect to LIBO Rate Loans, as of any date, a percentage per annum determined by reference to the Public Debt Rating in effect on such date as set forth below:
Public Debt Rating |
| Applicable Margin |
Level 1 |
| 0.500% |
Level 2 |
| 0.625% |
Level 3 |
| 0.750% |
Level 4 |
| 1.000% |
Level 5 |
| 1.250% |
and (b) with respect to Base Rate Loans, 0.00%.
Arrangers means Goldman Sachs Credit Partners L.P. and Banc of America Securities LLC.
Assignment Agreement means an Assignment and Assumption Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit E, with such amendments or modifications as may be approved by the Agent.
Assignment Effective Date as defined in Section 9.6(b).
Authorized Officer means, as applied to any Person, any individual holding the position of chairman of the board (if an officer), chief executive officer, president or one of its senior vice presidents (or the equivalent thereof), and such Persons chief financial officer, corporate controller, chief legal officer, general counsel or treasurer.
Bank of America as defined in the preamble hereto.
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Bankruptcy Code means Title 11 of the United States Code entitled Bankruptcy, as now and hereafter in effect, or any successor statute.
Base Rate means for any day a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the higher of (a) the Federal Funds Effective 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. The prime rate is a rate set by Bank of America based upon various factors including Bank of Americas costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above, or below such announced rate. Any change in such rate announced by Bank of America shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.
Base Rate Loan means a Loan bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Base Rate.
Board of Governors means the Board of Governors of the United States Federal Reserve System, or any successor thereto.
Borrower as defined in the preamble hereto.
Borrower Materials as defined in Section 5.1(h).
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 of California and, if such day relates to any LIBO Rate Loan, means any such day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted by and between banks in the London interbank eurodollar market.
Capital Lease means, as applied to any Person, any lease of any property (whether real, personal or mixed) by that Person as lessee that, in conformity with GAAP, is or should be accounted for as a capital lease on the balance sheet of that Person.
Certificate re Non-Bank Status means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit F.
Change of Control means, at any time, (a) any Person or group (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) (i) shall have acquired beneficial ownership of 40% or more on a fully diluted basis of the voting and/or economic interest in the Equity Interests of the Borrower or (ii) shall have obtained the power (whether or not exercised) to elect a majority of the members of the board of directors (or similar governing body) of the Borrower; (b) the majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors (or similar governing body) of the Borrower cease to be occupied by Persons who either (i) were members of the board of directors of the Borrower on the Closing Date or (ii) were nominated for election by the board of directors of the Borrower, a majority of whom were directors on the Closing Date or whose election or nomination for election was previously approved by a majority of such directors.
Closing Date means the date on which the Loans are made.
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Closing Date Certificate means a Closing Date Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G.
Commitment means the commitment of a Lender to make or otherwise fund a Loan and Commitments means such commitments of all Lenders in the aggregate. The amount of each Lenders Commitment is set forth on Appendix A-1 or in the applicable Assignment Agreement, subject to any adjustment or reduction pursuant to the terms and conditions hereof. The aggregate amount of the Commitments as of the Closing Date is $500,000,000.
Compliance Certificate means a Compliance Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C.
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA means, for any period, an amount determined for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis equal to (i) Consolidated Net Income, plus, to the extent reducing Consolidated Net Income, the sum, without duplication, of amounts for (a) Consolidated Interest Expense, (b) provisions for taxes based on income, (c) total depreciation expense, (d) total amortization expense, and (e) other non-cash employee compensation and other charges reducing Consolidated Net Income (excluding any such non-cash charge to the extent that it represents an accrual or reserve for potential cash charge in any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash charge that was paid in a prior period), minus (ii) other non-cash gains increasing Consolidated Net Income for such period (excluding any such non-cash gain to the extent it represents the reversal of an accrual or reserve for potential cash gain in any prior period).
Consolidated Interest Expense means, for any period, total interest expense (including that portion attributable to Capital Leases in accordance with GAAP and capitalized interest) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis with respect to all outstanding Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries.
Consolidated Net Income means, for any period, (i) the net income (or loss) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for such period taken as a single accounting period determined in conformity with GAAP, minus (ii) any net extraordinary gains and plus (iii) any net extraordinary losses.
Consolidated Total Debt means, as at any date of determination, the aggregate stated balance sheet amount of all Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
Contractual Obligation means, as applied to any Person, any provision of any Security issued by that Person or of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, contract, undertaking, agreement or other instrument to which that Person is a party or by which it or any of its properties is bound or to which it or any of its properties is subject.
Conversion/Continuation Date means the effective date of a continuation or conversion, as the case may be, as set forth in the applicable Conversion/Continuation Notice.
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Conversion/Continuation Notice means a Conversion/Continuation Notice substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2.
Credit Document means any of this Agreement, the Notes, if any, and all other documents, instruments or agreements executed and delivered by the Borrower for the benefit of the Agent or any Lender in connection herewith.
Credit Extension means the making of a Loan.
Default means a condition or event that, after notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default.
Dollars and the sign $ mean the lawful money of the United States of America.
Eligible Assignee means (i) any Lender, any Affiliate of any Lender and any Related Fund (any two or more Related Funds being treated as a single Eligible Assignee for all purposes hereof), and (ii) any commercial bank, insurance company, investment or mutual fund or other entity that is an accredited investor (as defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act) which (A) extends credit or buys loans and (B) is approved by the Agent and, unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time any assignment is effected in accordance with Section 9.6, the Borrower, each such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed; provided, however, that neither the Borrower nor an Affiliate of the Borrower shall qualify as an Eligible Assignee.
Employee Benefit Plan means any employee benefit plan as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA which is or was sponsored, maintained or contributed to by, or required to be contributed by, the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates.
Environmental Claim means any investigation, notice, notice of violation, claim, action, suit, proceeding, demand, abatement order or other order or directive (conditional or otherwise), by any Governmental Authority or any other Person, arising (i) pursuant to or in connection with any actual or alleged violation of any Environmental Law; (ii) in connection with any Hazardous Material or any actual or alleged Hazardous Materials Activity; or (iii) in connection with any actual or alleged damage, injury, threat or harm to health, safety, natural resources or the environment.
Environmental Laws means any and all current or future foreign or domestic, federal or state (or any subdivision of either of them), statutes, ordinances, orders, rules, regulations, judgments, Governmental Authorizations, or any other requirements of Governmental Authorities relating to (i) environmental matters, including those relating to any Hazardous Materials Activity; (ii) the generation, use, storage, transportation or disposal of Hazardous Materials; or (iii) occupational safety and health, industrial hygiene, land use or the protection of human, plant or animal health or welfare, in any manner applicable to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any Facility.
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Equity Interests means any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of a corporation, any and all equivalent ownership interests in a Person (other than a corporation), including partnership interests and membership interests, and any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase or other arrangements or rights to acquire any of the foregoing.
ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and any successor thereto.
ERISA Affiliate means, as applied to any Person, (i) any corporation which is a member of a controlled group of corporations within the meaning of Section 414(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of which that Person is a member; (ii) any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) which is a member of a group of trades or businesses under common control within the meaning of Section 414(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of which that Person is a member; and (iii) any member of an affiliated service group within the meaning of Section 414(m) or (o) of the Internal Revenue Code of which that Person, any corporation described in clause (i) above or any trade or business described in clause (ii) above is a member.
ERISA Event means (i) a reportable event within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations issued thereunder with respect to any Pension Plan (excluding those for which the provision for 30-day notice to the PBGC has been waived by regulation); (ii) the failure to meet the minimum funding standard of Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code with respect to any Pension Plan (whether or not waived in accordance with Section 412(d) of the Internal Revenue Code) or the failure to make by its due date a required installment under Section 412(m) of the Internal Revenue Code with respect to any Pension Plan or the failure to make any required contribution to a Multiemployer Plan; (iii) the provision by the administrator of any Pension Plan pursuant to Section 4041(a)(2) of ERISA of a notice of intent to terminate such plan in a distress termination described in Section 4041(c) of ERISA; (iv) the withdrawal by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates from any Pension Plan with two or more contributing sponsors or the termination of any such Pension Plan resulting in liability to the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective Affiliates pursuant to Section 4063 or 4064 of ERISA; (v) the institution by the PBGC of proceedings to terminate any Pension Plan, or the occurrence of any event or condition which might constitute grounds under ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan; (vi) the imposition of liability on the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates pursuant to Section 4062(e) or 4069 of ERISA or by reason of the application of Section 4212(c) of ERISA; (vii) the withdrawal of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates in a complete or partial withdrawal (within the meaning of Sections 4203 and 4205 of ERISA) from any Multiemployer Plan if there is any potential liability therefore, or the receipt by the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates of notice from any Multiemployer Plan that it is in reorganization or insolvency pursuant to Section 4241 or 4245 of ERISA, or that it intends to terminate or has terminated under Section 4041A or 4042 of ERISA; (viii) the occurrence of an act or omission which could reasonably be expected to give rise to the imposition on the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates of fines, penalties, taxes or related charges under Chapter 43 of the Internal Revenue Code or under Section 409, Section 502(c), (i) or (l), or Section 4071 of ERISA in respect of any Employee
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Benefit Plan; or (ix) receipt from the Internal Revenue Service of final, no-appealable notice of the failure of any Pension Plan (or any other Employee Benefit Plan intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code) to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the failure of any trust forming part of any Pension Plan to qualify for exemption from taxation under Section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Event of Default means each of the conditions or events set forth in Section 7.1.
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.
Existing Multicurrency Credit Agreement means the Credit Agreement (Multicurrency) dated as of October 30, 2000, between the Borrower and Bank of America, N.A., as amended to the date hereof.
Exposure means, with respect to any Lender, as of any date of determination, the outstanding principal amount of the Loans of such Lender; provided, at any time prior to the making of the Loans, the Exposure of any Lender shall be equal to such Lenders Commitment.
Facility means any real property (including all buildings, fixtures or other improvements located thereon) now, hereafter or heretofore owned, leased, operated or used by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective predecessors or Affiliates.
Federal Funds Effective Rate means for any day, the rate per annum (expressed, as a decimal, rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next higher 1/100 of 1%) 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, (i) 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 (ii) 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 charged to the Agent, in its capacity as a Lender, on such day on such transactions as determined by the Agent.
Financial Officer Certification means, with respect to the financial statements for which such certification is required, the certification of the chief financial officer of the Borrower that such financial statements fairly present, in all material respects, the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the dates indicated and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the periods indicated, subject to changes resulting from audit and normal year-end adjustments.
Fiscal Quarter means a fiscal quarter of any Fiscal Year.
Fiscal Year means the fiscal year of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries ending the last Sunday of May of each calendar year.
Funding Notice means a notice substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1.
7
GAAP means, subject to the limitations on the application thereof set forth in Section 1.2, United States generally accepted accounting principles in effect as of the date of determination thereof.
Governmental Authority means any federal, state, municipal, national or other government, governmental department, commission, board, bureau, court, agency or instrumentality or political subdivision thereof or any entity, officer or examiner exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to any government or any court, in each case whether associated with a state of the United States, the United States, or a foreign entity or government.
Governmental Authorization means any permit, license, authorization, plan, directive, consent order or consent decree of or from any Governmental Authority.
GSCP as defined in the preamble hereto.
Hazardous Materials means any chemical, material or substance, exposure to which is prohibited, limited or regulated by any Governmental Authority or which may or could pose a hazard to the health and safety of the owners, occupants or any Persons in the vicinity of any Facility or to the indoor or outdoor environment.
Hazardous Materials Activity means any past, current, proposed or threatened activity, event or occurrence involving any Hazardous Materials, including the use, manufacture, possession, storage, holding, presence, existence, location, Release, threatened Release, discharge, placement, generation, transportation, processing, construction, treatment, abatement, removal, remediation, disposal, disposition or handling of any Hazardous Materials, and any corrective action or response action with respect to any of the foregoing.
Historical Financial Statements means as of the Closing Date, (i) the audited financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, for the Fiscal Years ending May 30, 2004, May 29, 2005 and May 28, 2006, consisting of balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows for such Fiscal Years, and (ii) the unaudited financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the most recent Fiscal Quarter ending at least 60 days prior to the Closing Date, consisting of a balance sheet and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows for the three-, six- or nine-month period, as applicable, ending on such date, and, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii), certified by the chief financial officer of the Borrower that they fairly present, in all material respects, the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the dates indicated and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the periods indicated, subject to changes resulting from audit and normal year-end adjustments.
Increased-Cost Lenders as defined in Section 2.18.
Indebtedness, as applied to any Person, means, without duplication, (i) all indebtedness for borrowed money; (ii) that portion of obligations with respect to Capital Leases that is properly classified as a liability on a balance sheet in conformity with GAAP; (iii) notes payable and drafts accepted representing extensions of credit whether or not representing obligations for borrowed money; (iv) any obligation owed for all or any part of the deferred
8
purchase price of property or services (excluding any such obligations incurred under ERISA), which purchase price is (a) due more than six months from the date of incurrence of the obligation in respect thereof or (b) evidenced by a note or similar written instrument; (v) all indebtedness secured by any Lien on any property or asset owned or held by that Person regardless of whether the indebtedness secured thereby shall have been assumed by that Person or is nonrecourse to the credit of that Person; (vi) the face amount of any letter of credit issued for the account of that Person or as to which that Person is otherwise liable for reimbursement of drawings; (vii) the direct or indirect guaranty, endorsement (otherwise than for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business), co-making, discounting with recourse or sale with recourse by such Person of the obligation of another; (viii) any obligation of such Person the primary purpose or intent of which is to provide assurance to an obligee that the obligation of the obligor thereof will be paid or discharged, or any agreement relating thereto will be complied with, or the holders thereof will be protected (in whole or in part) against loss in respect thereof; (ix) any liability of such Person for an obligation of another through any agreement (contingent or otherwise) (a) to purchase, repurchase or otherwise acquire such obligation or any security therefor, or to provide funds for the payment or discharge of such obligation (whether in the form of loans, advances, stock purchases, capital contributions or otherwise) or (b) to maintain the solvency or any balance sheet item, level of income or financial condition of another if, in the case of any agreement described under subclauses (a) or (b) of this clause (ix), the primary purpose or intent thereof is as described in clause (viii) above; and (x) all obligations of such Person in respect of any exchange traded or over the counter derivative transaction.
Indemnified Liabilities means, collectively, any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, claims, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses and disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever (including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for Indemnitees in connection with any investigative, administrative or judicial proceeding or hearing commenced or threatened by any Person, whether or not any such Indemnitee shall be designated as a party or a potential party thereto, and any fees or expenses incurred by Indemnitees in enforcing this indemnity), whether direct, indirect or consequential and whether based on any federal, state or foreign laws, statutes, rules or regulations (including securities and commercial laws, statutes, rules or regulations and Environmental Laws), on common law or equitable cause or on contract or otherwise, that may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against any such Indemnitee, in any manner relating to or arising out of (i) this Agreement or the other Credit Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (including the Lenders agreement to make Credit Extensions or the use or intended use of the proceeds thereof, or any enforcement of any of the Credit Documents); or (ii) the commitment letter (and any related fee letter) delivered by the Agent or any Lender to the Borrower with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Indemnitee as defined in Section 9.3.
Installment as defined in Section 2.9.
Interest Coverage Ratio means the ratio as of the last day of any Fiscal Quarter of (i) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the four-Fiscal Quarter period then ended to (ii) Consolidated Interest Expense for such four-Fiscal Quarter period.
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Interest Payment Date means with respect to (i) any Loan that is a Base Rate Loan, each March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Closing Date and the final maturity date of such Loan; and (ii) any Loan that is a LIBO Rate Loan, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such Loan.
Interest Period means, in connection with a LIBO Rate Loan, an interest period of one, two, three or six months (i) initially, commencing on the Closing Date or Conversion/Continuation Date thereof, as the case may be; and (ii) thereafter, commencing on the day on which the immediately preceding Interest Period expires; provided that:
(a) whenever the last day of any Interest Period would otherwise occur on a day other than a Business Day, the last day of such Interest Period shall be extended to occur on the next succeeding Business Day, provided, however, that, if such extension would cause the last day of such Interest Period to occur in the next following calendar month, the last day of such Interest Period shall occur on the next preceding Business Day;
(b) whenever the first day of any Interest Period occurs on a day of an initial calendar month for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that succeeds such initial calendar month by the number of months equal to the number of months in such Interest Period, such Interest Period shall end on the last Business Day of such succeeding calendar month; and
(c) no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Maturity Date.
Interest Rate Determination Date means, with respect to any Interest Period, the date that is two Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period.
Internal Revenue Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended to the date hereof and from time to time hereafter, and any successor statute.
Lender means each financial institution listed on the signature pages hereto as a Lender, and any other Person that becomes a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment Agreement.
Leverage Ratio means the ratio as of the last day of any Fiscal Quarter of (i) Consolidated Total Debt as of such day to (ii) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the four-Fiscal Quarter period ending on such date.
LIBO Rate means, for any Interest Period with respect to a LIBO 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 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 LIBO Rate for such Interest Period shall be the rate per annum determined by the 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
10
approximate amount of the LIBO Rate Loan being made, continued or converted by Bank of America and with a term equivalent to such Interest Period would be offered by Bank of Americas London branch 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.
LIBO Rate Loan means a Loan bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the LIBO Rate.
Lien means (i) any lien, mortgage, pledge, assignment, security interest, charge or encumbrance of any kind (including any agreement to give any of the foregoing, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, and any lease or license in the nature thereof) and any option, trust or other preferential arrangement having the practical effect of any of the foregoing and (ii) in the case of Securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such Securities.
Loan means a Loan made by a Lender to the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1(a).
Margin Stock as defined in Regulation U of the Board of Governors as in effect from time to time.
Material Adverse Effect means a material adverse effect on and/or material adverse developments with respect to (i) the business, financial condition or operations, of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (ii) the ability of the Borrower to fully and timely perform its Obligations; (iii) the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against the Borrower of a Credit Document; or (iv) the rights, remedies and benefits available to, or conferred upon, the Agent or any Lender under any Credit Document.
Material Subsidiary means each Subsidiary now existing or hereafter acquired or formed, and each successor thereto, which accounts for more than 5% of (i) the Consolidated gross revenues of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (ii) Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, or (iii) the consolidated assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, in each case, as of the last day of the most recently completed fiscal quarter of the Borrower with respect to which, pursuant to clauses (a) or (b) of Section 5.1, financial statements have been, or are required to have been, delivered by the Borrower.
Maturity Date means the earlier of (i) the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date, and (ii) the date that all Loans shall become due and payable in full hereunder, whether by acceleration or otherwise.
Moodys means Moodys Investor Services, Inc.
Multiemployer Plan means any Employee Benefit Plan which is a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA.
NAIC means The National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and any successor thereto.
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Non-Consenting Lender as defined in Section 2.18.
Nonpublic Information means information which has not been disseminated in a manner making it available to investors generally, within the meaning of Regulation FD.
Non-US Lender as defined in Section 2.16(c).
Note means a promissory note in the form of Exhibit B, as it may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
Notice means a Funding Notice or a Conversion/Continuation Notice.
Obligations means all obligations of every nature of the Borrower under any Credit Document, including obligations from time to time owed to the Agent (including any former Agent), the Lenders or any of them, whether for principal, interest (including interest which, but for the filing of a petition in bankruptcy with respect to the Borrower, would have accrued on any Obligation, whether or not a claim is allowed against the Borrower for such interest in the related bankruptcy proceeding), fees, expenses, indemnification or otherwise.
PBGC means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any successor thereto.
Pension Plan means any Employee Benefit Plan, other than a Multiemployer Plan, which is subject to Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code or Section 302 of ERISA.
Person means and includes natural persons, corporations, limited partnerships, general partnerships, limited liability companies, limited liability partnerships, joint stock companies, joint ventures, associations, companies, trusts, banks, trust companies, land trusts, business trusts or other organizations, whether or not legal entities, and Governmental Authorities.
Platform as defined in Section 5.1(h).
Principal Office means, for the Agent, such Persons Principal Office as set forth on Appendix B, or such other office or office of a third party or sub-agent, as appropriate, as such Person may from time to time designate in writing to the Borrower, the Agent and each Lender.
Pro Rata Share of any Lender means the percentage obtained by dividing (a) the Exposure of such Lender by (b) the aggregate Exposure of all Lenders.
Public Debt Rating means, as of any date, the rating that has been most recently announced by either S&P or Moodys, as the case may be, for any class of non-credit enhanced long-term senior unsecured debt issued by the Borrower or, if any such rating agency shall have issued more than one such rating, the lowest such rating issued by such rating agency. For purposes of the foregoing, (a) if only one of S&P and Moodys shall have in effect a Public Debt Rating, the Applicable Margin shall be determined by reference to the available rating; (b) if neither S&P nor Moodys shall have in effect a Public Debt Rating, the Applicable Margin
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will be set in accordance with Level 5 under the definition of Applicable Margin; (c) if the ratings established by S&P and Moodys shall fall within different levels, the Applicable Margin shall be based upon the higher rating unless the such ratings differ by two or more levels, in which case the applicable level will be deemed to be one level above the lower of such levels; (d) if any rating established by S&P or Moodys shall be changed, such change shall be effective as of the date on which such change is first announced publicly by the rating agency making such change; and (e) if S&P or Moodys shall change the basis on which ratings are established, each reference to the Public Debt Rating announced by S&P or Moodys, as the case may be, shall refer to the then equivalent rating by S&P or Moodys, as the case may be.
Public Lender as defined in Section 5.1(h).
Register as defined in Section 2.4(b).
Regulation D means Regulation D of the Board of Governors, as in effect from time to time.
Regulation FD means Regulation FD as promulgated by the US Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act and Exchange Act as in effect from time to time.
Related Fund means, with respect to any Lender that is an investment fund, any other investment fund that invests in commercial loans and that is managed or advised by the same investment advisor as such Lender or by an Affiliate of such investment advisor.
Related Parties means, with respect to any Person, such Persons Affiliates and the partners, directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and of such Persons Affiliates.
Release means any release, spill, emission, leaking, pumping, pouring, injection, escaping, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, dumping, leaching or migration of any Hazardous Material into the indoor or outdoor environment (including the abandonment or disposal of any barrels, containers or other closed receptacles containing any Hazardous Material), including the movement of any Hazardous Material through the air, soil, surface water or groundwater.
Replacement Lender as defined in Section 2.18.
Requisite Lenders means one or more Lenders having or holding Exposure and representing more than 50% of the Exposure of all Lenders.
S&P means Standard & Poors Ratings Group, a division of The McGraw Hill Corporation.
Securities means any stock, shares, partnership interests, voting trust certificates, certificates of interest or participation in any profit-sharing agreement or arrangement, options, warrants, bonds, debentures, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness, secured or unsecured, convertible, subordinated or otherwise, or in general any instruments commonly known as securities or any certificates of interest, shares or participations in
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temporary or interim certificates for the purchase or acquisition of, or any right to subscribe to, purchase or acquire, any of the foregoing.
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.
Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of stock or other ownership interests entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of the Person or Persons (whether directors, managers, trustees or other Persons performing similar functions) having the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof; provided, in determining the percentage of ownership interests of any Person controlled by another Person, no ownership interest in the nature of a qualifying share of the former Person shall be deemed to be outstanding.
Tax means any present or future tax, levy, impost, duty, assessment, charge, fee, deduction or withholding of any nature and whatever called, by whomsoever, on whomsoever and wherever imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed; provided, Tax on the overall net income of a Person shall be construed as a reference to a tax imposed by the jurisdiction in which that Person is organized or in which that Persons applicable principal office (and/or, in the case of a Lender, its lending office) is located or in which that Person (and/or, in the case of a Lender, its lending office) is deemed to be doing business on all or part of the net income, profits or gains (whether worldwide, or only insofar as such income, profits or gains are considered to arise in or to relate to a particular jurisdiction, or otherwise) of that Person (and/or, in the case of a Lender, its applicable lending office), including branch profits tax, minimum tax (in lieu of net income tax) and franchise tax imposed by such jurisdiction.
Terminated Lender as defined in Section 2.18.
Type of Loan means a Base Rate Loan or a LIBO Rate Loan.
UCC means the Uniform Commercial Code (or any similar or equivalent legislation) as in effect in any applicable jurisdiction.
U.S. Lender as defined in Section 2.16(c).
1.2. Accounting Terms. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in conformity with GAAP. Financial statements and other information required to be delivered by the Borrower to the Lenders pursuant to Section 5.1(a) and 5.1(b) shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP as in effect at the time of such preparation (and delivered together with the reconciliation statements provided for in Section 5.1(d), if applicable). Subject to the foregoing, calculations in connection with the definitions, covenants and other provisions hereof shall utilize accounting principles and policies in conformity with those used to prepare the Historical Financial Statements.
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1.3. Interpretation, etc. Any of the terms defined herein may, unless the context otherwise requires, be used in the singular or the plural, depending on the reference. References herein to any Section, Appendix or Exhibit shall be to a Section, an Appendix or an Exhibit, as the case may be, hereof unless otherwise specifically provided. The use herein of the word include or including, when following any general statement, term or matter, shall not be construed to limit such statement, term or matter to the specific items or matters set forth immediately following such word or to similar items or matters, whether or not non-limiting language (such as without limitation or but not limited to or words of similar import) is used with reference thereto, but rather shall be deemed to refer to all other items or matters that fall within the broadest possible scope of such general statement, term or matter. The terms lease and license shall include sub-lease and sub-license, as applicable.
1.4. Times of Day. Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Pacific time (daylight or standard, as applicable).
SECTION 2. LOANS
2.1 Loans.
(a) Commitments. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each Lender severally agrees to make, on the Closing Date, a Loan to the Borrower in an amount equal to such Lenders Commitment.
The Borrower may make only one borrowing under the Commitment which shall be on the Closing Date. Any amount borrowed under this Section 2.1(a) and subsequently repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed. Subject to Sections 2.10(a) and 2.11, all amounts owed hereunder shall be paid in full no later than the Maturity Date. Each Lenders Commitment shall terminate immediately and without further action on the Closing Date after giving effect to the funding of such Lenders Commitment on such date.
(b) Borrowing Mechanics.
(i) The Borrower shall deliver to the Agent a fully executed Funding Notice no later than three days prior to the Closing Date. Promptly upon receipt by the Agent of such Funding Notice, the Agent shall notify each Lender of the proposed borrowing.
(ii) Each Lender shall make its Loan available to the Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. on the Closing Date, by wire transfer of same day funds in Dollars, at the Principal Office designated by the Agent. Upon satisfaction or waiver of the conditions precedent specified herein, the Agent shall make the proceeds of the Loans available to the Borrower on the Closing Date by causing an amount of same day funds in Dollars equal to the proceeds of all such Loans received by the Agent from the Lenders to be credited to the account of the Borrower at the Principal Office designated by the Agent or to such other account as may be designated in writing to the Agent by the Borrower.
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2.2. Pro Rata Shares; Availability of Funds.
(a) Pro Rata Shares. All Loans shall be made by the Lenders simultaneously and proportionately to their respective Pro Rata Shares, it being understood that no Lender shall be responsible for any default by any other Lender in such other Lenders obligation to make a Loan requested hereunder nor shall any Commitment of any Lender be increased or decreased as a result of a default by any other Lender in such other Lenders obligation to make a Loan requested hereunder.
(b) Availability of Funds. Unless the Agent shall have been notified by any Lender prior to the Closing Date that such Lender does not intend to make available to the Agent the amount of such Lenders Loan requested on the Closing Date, the Agent may assume that such Lender has made such amount available to the Agent on the Closing Date and the Agent may, in its sole discretion, but shall not be obligated to, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount on the Closing Date. If such corresponding amount is not in fact made available to the Agent by such Lender, the Agent shall be entitled to recover such corresponding amount on demand from such Lender together with interest thereon, for each day from the Closing Date until the date such amount is paid to the Agent, at the customary rate set by the Agent for the correction of errors among banks for three Business Days and thereafter at the Base Rate. If such Lender does not pay such corresponding amount forthwith upon the Agents demand therefor, the Agent shall promptly notify the Borrower and the Borrower shall immediately pay such corresponding amount to the Agent together with interest thereon, for each day from the Closing Date until the date such amount is paid to the Agent, at the rate payable hereunder for Base Rate Loans. Nothing in this Section 2.2(b) shall be deemed to relieve any Lender from its obligation to fulfill its Commitments hereunder or to prejudice any rights that the Borrower may have against any Lender as a result of any default by such Lender hereunder.
2.3. Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Loans shall be applied by the Borrower to refinance debt incurred to repurchase shares of capital stock of the Borrower, and to pay related fees and expenses. No portion of the proceeds of any Credit Extension shall be used in any manner that causes or might cause such Credit Extension or the application of such proceeds to violate Regulation T, Regulation U or Regulation X of the Board of Governors or any other regulation thereof or to violate the Exchange Act.
2.4. Evidence of Debt; Register; Lenders Books and Records; Notes.
(a) Lenders Evidence of Debt. Each Lender shall maintain on its internal records an account or accounts evidencing the Obligations of the Borrower to such Lender, including the amounts of the Loans made by it and each repayment and prepayment in respect thereof. Any such recordation shall be conclusive and binding on the Borrower, absent manifest error; provided, that the failure to make any such recordation, or any error in such recordation, shall not affect the Borrowers Obligations in respect of any Loans; and provided further, in the event of any inconsistency between the Register and any Lenders records, the recordations in the Register shall govern.
(b) Register. The Agent (or its agent or sub-agent appointed by it) shall maintain at the Principal Office a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders and the Loans of each Lender from time to time (the Register). The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower or any Lender (with respect to any entry relating to such
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Lenders Loans) at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. The Agent shall record, or shall cause to be recorded, in the Register the Loans in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.6, and each repayment or prepayment in respect of the principal amount of the Loans, and any such recordation shall be conclusive and binding on the Borrower and each Lender, absent manifest error; provided, failure to make any such recordation, or any error in such recordation, shall not affect the Borrowers Obligations in respect of any Loan. The Borrower hereby designates Bank of America to serve as the Borrowers agent solely for purposes of maintaining the Register as provided in this Section 2.4, and the Borrower hereby agrees that, to the extent Bank of America serves in such capacity, Bank of America and its officers, directors, employees, agents, sub-agents and affiliates shall constitute Indemnitees.
(c) Notes. If so requested by any Lender by written notice to the Borrower (with a copy to the Agent) at least two Business Days prior to the Closing Date, the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender (and/or, if applicable and if so specified in such notice, to any Person who is an assignee of such Lender pursuant to Section 9.6) on the Closing Date a Note or Notes to evidence such Lenders Loan.
2.5. Interest on Loans.
(a) Except as otherwise set forth herein, each Loan shall bear interest on the unpaid principal amount thereof from the date made through repayment (whether by acceleration or otherwise) thereof as follows:
(i) if a Base Rate Loan, at the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin; or
(ii) if a LIBO Rate Loan, at the LIBO Rate plus the Applicable Margin.
(b) The basis for determining the rate of interest with respect to any Loan, and the Interest Period with respect to any LIBO Rate Loan, shall be selected by the Borrower and notified to the Agent and the Lenders pursuant to the applicable Funding Notice or Conversion/Continuation Notice, as the case may be. If on any day a Loan is outstanding with respect to which a Funding Notice or Conversion/Continuation Notice has not been delivered to the Agent in accordance with the terms hereof specifying the applicable basis for determining the rate of interest, then for that day such Loan shall be a Base Rate Loan.
(c) In connection with LIBO Rate Loans there shall be no more than five (5) Interest Periods outstanding at any time. In the event the Borrower fails to specify between a Base Rate Loan or a LIBO Rate Loan in the applicable Funding Notice or Conversion/Continuation Notice, such Loan (if outstanding as a LIBO Rate Loan) will be automatically converted into a Base Rate Loan on the last day of the then-current Interest Period for such Loan (or if outstanding as a Base Rate Loan will remain as, or (if not then outstanding) will be made as, a Base Rate Loan). In the event the Borrower fails to specify an Interest Period for any LIBO Rate Loan in the applicable Funding Notice or Conversion/Continuation Notice, the Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month. As soon as practicable after 9:00 a.m. on each Interest Rate Determination Date, the Agent shall determine (which determination shall, absent manifest error, be final, conclusive and binding upon all parties) the interest rate that shall apply to the LIBO Rate Loans for which an interest rate is then
17
being determined for the applicable Interest Period and shall promptly give notice thereof (in writing or by telephone confirmed in writing) to the Borrower and each Lender.
(d) Interest payable pursuant to Section 2.5(a) shall be computed (i) in the case of Base Rate Loans on the basis of a 365-day or 366-day year, as the case may be, and (ii) in the case of LIBO Rate Loans, on the basis of a 360-day year, in each case for the actual number of days elapsed in the period during which it accrues. In computing interest on any Loan, the date of the making of such Loan or the first day of an Interest Period applicable to such Loan or, with respect to a Loan, the last Interest Payment Date with respect to such Loan or, with respect to a Base Rate Loan being converted from a LIBO Rate Loan, the date of conversion of such LIBO Rate Loan to such Base Rate Loan, as the case may be, shall be included, and the date of payment of such Loan or the expiration date of an Interest Period applicable to such Loan or, with respect to a Base Rate Loan being converted to a LIBO Rate Loan, the date of conversion of such Base Rate Loan to such LIBO Rate Loan, as the case may be, shall be excluded; provided, if a Loan is repaid on the same day on which it is made, one days interest shall be paid on that Loan.
(e) Except as otherwise set forth herein, interest on each Loan (i) shall accrue on a daily basis and shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date with respect to interest accrued on and to each such payment date; (ii) shall accrue on a daily basis and shall be payable in arrears upon any prepayment of that Loan, whether voluntary or mandatory, to the extent accrued on the amount being prepaid; and (iii) shall accrue on a daily basis and shall be payable in arrears at maturity of the Loans, including final maturity of the Loans; provided, however, with respect to any voluntary prepayment of a Base Rate Loan, accrued interest shall instead be payable on the applicable Interest Payment Date.
2.6. Conversion/Continuation.
(a) Subject to Section 2.14 and so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and then be continuing, the Borrower shall have the option:
(i) to convert at any time all or any part of any Loan equal to $5,000,000 and integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess of that amount from one Type of Loan to another Type of Loan; provided, a LIBO Rate Loan may only be converted on the expiration of the Interest Period applicable to such LIBO Rate Loan unless the Borrower shall pay all amounts due under Section 2.14 in connection with any such conversion; or
(ii) upon the expiration of any Interest Period applicable to any LIBO Rate Loan, to continue all or any portion of such Loan equal to $5,000,000 and integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess of that amount as a LIBO Rate Loan.
(b) The Borrower shall deliver a Conversion/Continuation Notice to the Agent no later than 11:00 a.m. at least one Business Day in advance of the proposed conversion date (in the case of a conversion to a Base Rate Loan) and at least three Business Days in advance of the proposed conversion/continuation date (in the case of a conversion to, or a continuation of, a LIBO Rate Loan). In lieu of delivering a written Conversion/Continuation Notice, the Borrower may give the Agent telephonic notice by the required time of any proposed
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conversion/continuation; provided each such notice shall be promptly confirmed in writing by delivery of a Conversion/Continuation Notice to the Agent on or before the applicable date of the continuation/conversion. Neither the Agent nor any Lender shall incur any liability to the Borrower in acting upon any telephonic notice referred to above that the Agent believes in good faith to have been given by a duly authorized officer or other person authorized on behalf of the Borrower or for otherwise acting in good faith. Except as otherwise provided herein, a Conversion/Continuation Notice for conversion to, or continuation of, any LIBO Rate Loans (or telephonic notice in lieu thereof) shall be irrevocable on and after the related Interest Rate Determination Date, and the Borrower shall be bound to effect a conversion or continuation in accordance therewith.
2.7. Default Interest. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default under Section 7.1(a), the principal amount of all Loans outstanding and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any interest payments on the Loans or any fees or other amounts owed hereunder, shall thereafter bear interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code or other applicable bankruptcy laws) payable on demand at a rate that is 2% per annum in excess of the interest rate otherwise payable hereunder with respect to the applicable Loans (or, in the case of any such fees and other amounts, at a rate which is 2% per annum in excess of the interest rate otherwise payable hereunder for Base Rate Loans); provided, in the case of LIBO Rate Loans, upon the expiration of the Interest Period in effect at the time any such increase in interest rate is effective such LIBO Rate Loans shall thereupon become Base Rate Loans and shall thereafter bear interest payable upon demand at a rate which is 2% per annum in excess of the interest rate otherwise payable hereunder for Base Rate Loans. Payment or acceptance of the increased rates of interest provided for in this Section 2.7 is not a permitted alternative to timely payment and shall not constitute a waiver of any Event of Default or otherwise prejudice or limit any rights or remedies of the Agent or any Lender.
2.8. Fees.
The Borrower agrees to pay to the Agent such fees in the amounts and at the times separately agreed upon in that certain letter dated as of July 2, 2007 between the Borrower and the Agent.
2.9. Scheduled Payments/Commitment Reductions. The principal amounts of the Loans shall be repaid in consecutive quarterly installments (each, an Installment) in the aggregate amounts set forth below on the four quarterly scheduled Interest Payment Dates applicable to Loans, commencing September 30, 2007:
Amortization Date |
| Installments |
September 30, 2007 |
| $15,625,000 |
December 31, 2007 |
| $15,625,000 |
March 31, 2008 |
| $15,625,000 |
June 30, 2008 |
| $15,625,000 |
September 30, 2008 |
| $15,625,000 |
December 31, 2008 |
| $15,625,000 |
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Amortization Date |
| Installments |
March 31, 2009 |
| $15,625,000 |
June 30, 2009 |
| $15,625,000 |
September 30, 2009 |
| $15,625,000 |
December 31, 2009 |
| $15,625,000 |
March 31, 2010 |
| $15,625,000 |
June 30, 2010 |
| $15,625,000 |
September 30, 2010 |
| $15,625,000 |
December 31, 2010 |
| $15,625,000 |
March 31, 2011 |
| $15,625,000 |
June 30, 2011 |
| $15,625,000 |
September 30, 2011 |
| $62,500,000 |
December 31, 2011 |
| $62,500,000 |
March 31, 2012 |
| $62,500,000 |
June 30, 2012 |
| $62,500,000 |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) such Installments shall be reduced in connection with any voluntary prepayments of the Loans in accordance with Sections 2.10 and 2.11, as applicable; and (y) the Loans, together with all other amounts owed hereunder with respect thereto, shall, in any event, be paid in full no later than the Maturity Date.
2.10. Voluntary Prepayments/Commitment Reductions.
(a) Any time and from time to time (A) with respect to Base Rate Loans, the Borrower may prepay any such Loans on any Business Day in whole or in part, in an aggregate minimum amount of $5,000,000 and integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess of that amount; and (B) with respect to LIBO Rate Loans, the Borrower may prepay any such Loans on any Business Day in whole or in part in an aggregate minimum amount of $5,000,000 and integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess of that amount.
(b) All such prepayments shall be made (A) upon not less than one Business Days prior written or telephonic notice in the case of Base Rate Loans; and (B) upon not less than three Business Days prior written or telephonic notice in the case of LIBO Rate Loans; in each case given to the Agent by 11:00 a.m. on the date required and, if given by telephone, promptly confirmed in writing to the Agent (and the Agent will promptly transmit such telephonic or original notice for Loans by telefacsimile or telephone to each Lender). Upon the giving of any such notice, the principal amount of the Loans specified in such notice shall become due and payable on the prepayment date specified therein. Any such voluntary prepayment shall be applied as specified in Section 2.11.
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2.11. Application of Prepayments.
Any prepayment of Loans shall be applied (a) first to Base Rate Loans to the full extent thereof before application to LIBO Rate Loans, in each case in a manner which minimizes the amount of any payments required to be made by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.14(c) and (b) to the Installments thereof in inverse order of maturity.
2.12. General Provisions Regarding Payments.
(a) All payments by the Borrower of principal, interest, fees and other Obligations shall be made in Dollars in same day funds, without defense, setoff or counterclaim, free of any restriction or condition, and delivered to the Agent not later than 11:00 p.m. on the date due at the Principal Office designated by the Agent for the account of the Lenders; for purposes of computing interest and fees, funds received by the Agent after that time on such due date shall be deemed to have been paid by the Borrower on the next succeeding Business Day.
(b) All payments in respect of the principal amount of any Loan shall be accompanied by payment of accrued interest on the principal amount being repaid or prepaid, and all such payments (and, in any event, any payments in respect of any Loan on a date when interest is due and payable with respect to such Loan) shall be applied to the payment of interest then due and payable before application to principal.
(c) The Agent (or its agent or sub-agent appointed by it) shall promptly distribute to each Lender at such address as such Lender shall indicate in writing, such Lenders applicable Pro Rata Share of all payments and prepayments of principal and interest due hereunder, together with all other amounts due thereto, including all fees payable with respect thereto, to the extent received by the Agent.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions hereof, if any Conversion/Continuation Notice is withdrawn as to any Affected Lender or if any Affected Lender makes Base Rate Loans in lieu of its Pro Rata Share of any LIBO Rate Loans, the Agent shall give effect thereto in apportioning payments received thereafter.
(e) Whenever any payment to be made hereunder with respect to any Loan shall be stated to be due on a day that is not a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and such extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of payment of interest; provided, however, that, if such extension would cause payment of interest on or principal of LIBO Rate Loans to be made in the next following calendar month, such payment shall be made on the next preceding Business Day.
(f) The Borrower hereby authorizes the Agent to charge the Borrowers accounts with the Agent in order to cause timely payment to be made to the Agent of all principal, interest, fees and expenses due hereunder (subject to sufficient funds being available in its accounts for that purpose).
(g) The Agent shall deem any payment by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder that is not made in same day funds prior to 11:00 a.m. to be a non-conforming payment. Any such payment shall not be deemed to have been received by the Agent until the later of (i) the time such funds become available funds, and (ii) the applicable next Business Day. The Agent shall give prompt telephonic notice to the Borrower and each applicable Lender
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(confirmed in writing) if any payment is non-conforming. Any non-conforming payment may constitute or become a Default or Event of Default in accordance with the terms of Section 7.1(a). Interest shall continue to accrue on any principal as to which a non-conforming payment is made until such funds become available funds (but in no event less than the period from the date of such payment to the next succeeding applicable Business Day) at the rate determined pursuant to Section 2.7 from the date such amount was due and payable until the date such amount is paid in full.
2.13. Ratable Sharing. The Lenders hereby agree among themselves that if any of them shall, whether by voluntary payment (other than a voluntary prepayment of Loans made and applied in accordance with the terms hereof), through the exercise of any right of set-off or bankers lien, by counterclaim or cross action or by the enforcement of any right under the Credit Documents or otherwise, or as adequate protection of a deposit treated as cash collateral under the Bankruptcy Code, receive payment or reduction of a proportion of the aggregate amount of principal, interest, fees and other amounts then due and owing to such Lender hereunder or under the other Credit Documents (collectively, the Aggregate Amounts Due to such Lender) which is greater than the proportion received by any other Lender in respect of the Aggregate Amounts Due to such other Lender, then the Lender receiving such proportionately greater payment shall (a) notify the Agent and each other Lender of the receipt of such payment and (b) apply a portion of such payment to purchase participations (which it shall be deemed to have purchased from each seller of a participation simultaneously upon the receipt by such seller of its portion of such payment) in the Aggregate Amounts Due to the other Lenders so that all such recoveries of Aggregate Amounts Due shall be shared by all Lenders in proportion to the Aggregate Amounts Due to them; provided, if all or part of such proportionately greater payment received by such purchasing Lender is thereafter recovered from such Lender upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Borrower or otherwise, those purchases shall be rescinded and the purchase prices paid for such participations shall be returned to such purchasing Lender ratably to the extent of such recovery, but without interest. The Borrower expressly consents to the foregoing arrangement and agrees that any holder of a participation so purchased may exercise any and all rights of bankers lien, set-off or counterclaim with respect to any and all monies owing by the Borrower to that holder with respect thereto as fully as if that holder were owed the amount of the participation held by that holder.
2.14. Making or Maintaining LIBO Rate Loans.
(a) Inability to Determine Applicable Interest Rate. In the event that the Agent shall have determined (which determination shall be final and conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto), on any Interest Rate Determination Date with respect to any LIBO Rate Loans, that by reason of circumstances affecting the London interbank market adequate and fair means do not exist for ascertaining the interest rate applicable to such Loans on the basis provided for in the definition of LIBO Rate, the Agent shall on such date give notice (by telefacsimile or by telephone confirmed in writing) to the Borrower and each Lender of such determination, whereupon (i) no Loans may be made as, or converted to, LIBO Rate Loans until such time as the Agent notifies the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, and (ii) any Funding Notice or Conversion/Continuation Notice given by the Borrower with respect to the Loans in respect of which such determination was made shall be deemed to be rescinded by the Borrower.
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(b) Illegality or Impracticability of LIBO Rate Loans. In the event that on any date any Lender shall have determined (which determination shall be final and conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto but shall be made only after consultation with the Borrower and the Agent) that the making, maintaining or continuation of its LIBO Rate Loans (i) has become unlawful as a result of compliance by such Lender in good faith with any law, treaty, governmental rule, regulation, guideline or order (or would conflict with any such treaty, governmental rule, regulation, guideline or order not having the force of law even though the failure to comply therewith would not be unlawful), or (ii) has become impracticable, as a result of contingencies occurring after the date hereof which materially and adversely affect the London interbank market or the position of such Lender in that market, then, and in any such event, such Lender shall be an Affected Lender and it shall on that day give notice (by telefacsimile or by telephone confirmed in writing) to the Borrower and the Agent of such determination (which notice the Agent shall promptly transmit to each other Lender). Thereafter (1) the obligation of the Affected Lender to make Loans as, or to convert Loans to, LIBO Rate Loans shall be suspended until such notice shall be withdrawn by the Affected Lender, (2) to the extent such determination by the Affected Lender relates to a LIBO Rate Loan then being requested by the Borrower pursuant to a Funding Notice or a Conversion/Continuation Notice, the Affected Lender shall make such Loan as (or continue such Loan as or convert such Loan to, as the case may be) a Base Rate Loan, (3) the Affected Lenders obligation to maintain its outstanding LIBO Rate Loans (the Affected Loans) shall be terminated at the earlier to occur of the expiration of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the Affected Loans or when required by law, and (4) the Affected Loans shall automatically convert into Base Rate Loans on the date of such termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent a determination by an Affected Lender as described above relates to a LIBO Rate Loan then being requested by the Borrower pursuant to a Funding Notice or a Conversion/Continuation Notice, the Borrower shall have the option, subject to the provisions of Section 2.14(c), to rescind such Funding Notice or Conversion/Continuation Notice as to all Lenders by giving notice (by telefacsimile or by telephone confirmed in writing) to the Agent of such rescission on the date on which the Affected Lender gives notice of its determination as described above (which notice of rescission the Agent shall promptly transmit to each other Lender). Except as provided in the immediately preceding sentence, nothing in this Section 2.14(b) shall affect the obligation of any Lender other than an Affected Lender to make or maintain Loans as, or to convert Loans to, LIBO Rate Loans in accordance with the terms hereof. The Affected Lender shall use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly notify the Agent and the Borrower that it is withdrawing the notice referred to in the first sentence of this Section when the conditions giving rise thereto are no longer applicable.
(c) Compensation for Breakage or Non-Commencement of Interest Periods. The Borrower shall compensate each Lender, upon written request by such Lender (which request shall set forth the basis for requesting such amounts), for all reasonable losses, expenses and liabilities (including any interest paid by such Lender to the Lenders of funds borrowed by it to make or carry its LIBO Rate Loans and any loss, expense or liability sustained by such Lender in connection with the liquidation or re-employment of such funds but excluding loss of anticipated profits) which such Lender may sustain: (i) if for any reason (other than a default by such Lender) a borrowing of any LIBO Rate Loan does not occur on a date specified therefor in a Funding Notice or a telephonic request for borrowing, or a conversion to or continuation of any LIBO Rate Loan does not occur on a date specified therefor in a Conversion/Continuation Notice
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or a telephonic request for conversion or continuation; (ii) if any prepayment or other principal payment of, or any conversion of, any of its LIBO Rate Loans occurs on a date prior to the last day of an Interest Period applicable to that Loan; or (iii) if any prepayment of any of its LIBO Rate Loans is not made on any date specified in a notice of prepayment given by the Borrower.
(d) Booking of LIBO Rate Loans. Any Lender may make, carry or transfer LIBO Rate Loans at, to, or for the account of any of its branch offices or the office of an Affiliate of such Lender.
(e) Assumptions Concerning Funding of LIBO Rate Loans. Calculation of all amounts payable to a Lender under this Section 2.14 and under Section 2.15 shall be made as though such Lender had actually funded each of its relevant LIBO Rate Loans through the purchase of a LIBO deposit bearing interest at the rate obtained pursuant to the definition of LIBO Rate in an amount equal to the amount of such LIBO Rate Loan and having a maturity comparable to the relevant Interest Period and through the transfer of such LIBO deposit from an offshore office of such Lender to a domestic office of such Lender in the United States of America; provided, however, each Lender may fund each of its LIBO Rate Loans in any manner it sees fit and the foregoing assumptions shall be utilized only for the purposes of calculating amounts payable under this Section 2.14 and under Section 2.15.
2.15. Increased Costs; Capital Adequacy.
(a) Compensation For Increased Costs and Taxes. Subject to the provisions of Section 2.16 (which shall be controlling with respect to the matters covered thereby), in the event that any Lender shall determine (which determination shall, absent manifest error, be final and conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto) that any law, treaty or governmental rule, regulation (including, without limitation, Regulation D) or order, or any change therein or in the interpretation, administration or application thereof (including the introduction of any new law, treaty or governmental rule, regulation or order), or any determination of a court or governmental authority, in each case that becomes effective after the date hereof, or compliance by such Lender with any guideline, request or directive issued or made after the date hereof by any central bank or other governmental or quasi-governmental authority (whether or not having the force of law): (i) subjects such Lender (or its applicable lending office) to any additional Tax (other than any Tax on the overall net income of such Lender) with respect to this Agreement or any of the other Credit Documents or any of its obligations hereunder or thereunder or any payments to such Lender (or its applicable lending office) of principal, interest, fees or any other amount payable hereunder; (ii) imposes, modifies or holds applicable any reserve (including any marginal, emergency, supplemental, special or other reserve), special deposit, compulsory loan, FDIC insurance or similar requirement against assets held by, or deposits or other liabilities in or for the account of, or advances or loans by, or other credit extended by, or any other acquisition of funds by, any office of such Lender; or (iii) imposes any other condition (other than with respect to a Tax matter) on or affecting such Lender (or its applicable lending office) or its obligations hereunder or the London interbank market; and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Lender of agreeing to make, making or maintaining Loans hereunder or to reduce any amount received or receivable by such Lender (or its applicable lending office) with respect thereto; then, in any such case, the Borrower shall promptly pay to such Lender, upon receipt of the statement referred to in the next sentence, such additional amount or amounts
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(in the form of an increased rate of, or a different method of calculating, interest or otherwise as such Lender in its sole discretion shall determine) as may be necessary to compensate such Lender for any such increased cost or reduction in amounts received or receivable hereunder. Such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Agent) a written statement, setting forth in reasonable detail the basis for calculating the additional amounts owed to such Lender under this Section 2.15(a), which statement shall be conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto absent manifest error; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to this Section for any increased costs incurred more than 180 days prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower and the Agent of any event described in this Section (a Change in Law) which gives rise to such increased costs and of such Lenders intention to claim compensation therefor; provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs is retroactive, then the 180-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.
(b) Capital Adequacy Adjustment. In the event that any Lender shall have determined that the adoption, effectiveness, phase-in or applicability after the Closing Date of any law, rule or regulation (or any provision thereof) regarding capital adequacy, or any change therein or in the interpretation or administration thereof by any Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any Lender (or its applicable lending office) with any guideline, request or directive regarding capital adequacy (whether or not having the force of law) of any such Governmental Authority, central bank or comparable agency, has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on the capital of such Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender as a consequence of, or with reference to, such Lenders Loans, or participations therein or other obligations hereunder with respect to the Loans to a level below that which such Lender or such controlling corporation could have achieved but for such adoption, effectiveness, phase-in, applicability, change or compliance (taking into consideration the policies of such Lender or such controlling corporation with regard to capital adequacy), then from time to time, within five Business Days after receipt by the Borrower from such Lender of the statement referred to in the next sentence, the Borrower shall pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such controlling corporation on an after-tax basis for such reduction. Such Lender shall deliver to the Borrower (with a copy to the Agent) a written statement, setting forth in reasonable detail the basis for calculating the additional amounts owed to such Lender under this Section 2.15(b), which statement shall be conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto absent manifest error; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to this Section for any increased costs incurred more than 180 days prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrower and the Agent of any Change in Law which gives rise to such increased costs and of such Lenders intention to claim compensation therefor; provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs is retroactive, then the 180-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.
2.16. Taxes; Withholding, etc.
(a) Payments to Be Free and Clear. All sums payable by the Borrower hereunder and under the other Credit Documents shall (except to the extent required by law) be paid free and clear of, and without any deduction or withholding on account of, any Tax (other
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than a Tax on the overall net income of any Lender) imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by or within the United States of America or any political subdivision in or of the United States of America or any other jurisdiction from or to which a payment is made by or on behalf of the Borrower or by any federation or organization of which the United States of America or any such jurisdiction is a member at the time of payment.
(b) Withholding of Taxes. If the Borrower or any other Person is required by law to make any deduction or withholding on account of any such Tax from any sum paid or payable by the Borrower to the Agent or any Lender under any of the Credit Documents: (i) the Borrower shall pay or cause to be paid any such Tax before the date on which penalties attach thereto, such payment to be made (if the liability to pay is imposed on the Borrower) for its own account or (if that liability is imposed on the Agent or such Lender, as the case may be) on behalf of and in the name of the Agent or such Lender; (ii) the sum payable by the Borrower in respect of which the relevant deduction, withholding or payment is required shall be increased to the extent necessary to ensure that, after the making of that deduction, withholding or payment, the Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, receives on the due date a net sum equal to what it would have received had no such deduction, withholding or payment been required or made; and (iii) within thirty days after paying any sum from which it is required by law to make any deduction or withholding, and within thirty days after the due date of payment of any Tax which it is required by clause (i) above to pay, the Borrower shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Agent evidence satisfactory to the other affected parties of such deduction, withholding or payment and of the remittance thereof to the relevant taxing or other authority; provided, no such additional amount shall be required to be paid to any Lender under clause (ii) above except to the extent that any change after the date hereof (in the case of each Lender listed on the signature pages hereof on the Closing Date) or after the effective date of the Assignment Agreement pursuant to which such Lender became a Lender (in the case of each other Lender) in any such requirement for a deduction, withholding or payment as is mentioned therein shall result in an increase in the rate of such deduction, withholding or payment from that in effect at the date hereof or at the date of such Assignment Agreement, as the case may be, in respect of payments to such Lender.
(c) Evidence of Exemption From U.S. Withholding Tax. Each Lender that is not a United States Person (as such term is defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code) for U.S. federal income tax purposes (a Non-US Lender) shall deliver to the Agent for transmission to the Borrower, on or prior to the Closing Date (in the case of each Lender listed on the signature pages hereof on the Closing Date) or on or prior to the date of the Assignment Agreement pursuant to which it becomes a Lender (in the case of each other Lender), and at such other times as may be necessary in the determination of the Borrower or the Agent (each in the reasonable exercise of its discretion), (i) two original copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN, W-8ECI or W-8IMY (with required attachments) (or, in each case, any successor forms), properly completed and duly executed by such Lender, and such other documentation required under the Internal Revenue Code and reasonably requested by the Borrower to establish that such Lender is not subject to deduction or withholding of United States federal income tax with respect to any payments to such Lender of principal, interest, fees or other amounts payable under any of the Credit Documents, or (ii) if such Lender is not a bank or other Person described in Section 881(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and cannot deliver either Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI pursuant to clause (i) above, a Certificate re Non-Bank Status
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together with two original copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN (or any successor form), properly completed and duly executed by such Lender, and such other documentation required under the Internal Revenue Code and reasonably requested by the Borrower to establish that such Lender is not subject to deduction or withholding of United States federal income tax with respect to any payments to such Lender of interest payable under any of the Credit Documents. Each Lender that is a United States person (as such term is defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code) for United States federal income tax purposes (a U.S. Lender) shall deliver to the Agent and the Borrower on or prior to the Closing Date (or, if later, on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement) two original copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 (or any successor form), properly completed and duly executed by such Lender, certifying that such U.S. Lender is entitled to an exemption from United States backup withholding tax, or otherwise prove that it is entitled to such an exemption. Each Lender required to deliver any forms, certificates or other evidence with respect to United States federal income tax withholding matters pursuant to this Section 2.16(c) hereby agrees, from time to time after the initial delivery by such Lender of such forms, certificates or other evidence, whenever a lapse in time or change in circumstances renders such forms, certificates or other evidence obsolete or inaccurate in any material respect, that such Lender shall promptly deliver to the Agent for transmission to the Borrower two new original copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN, W-8ECI or W-8IMY (with required attachments), or a Certificate re Non-Bank Status and two original copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN (or any successor form), as the case may be, properly completed and duly executed by such Lender, and such other documentation required under the Internal Revenue Code and reasonably requested by the Borrower to confirm or establish that such Lender is not subject to deduction or withholding of United States federal income tax with respect to payments to such Lender under the Credit Documents, or notify the Agent and the Borrower of its inability to deliver any such forms, certificates or other evidence. The Borrower shall not be required to pay any additional amount to any Non-US Lender under Section 2.16(b)(iii) if such Lender shall have failed (1) to deliver the forms, certificates or other evidence referred to in the second sentence of this Section 2.16(c), or (2) to notify the Agent and the Borrower of its inability to deliver any such forms, certificates or other evidence, as the case may be; provided, if such Lender shall have satisfied the requirements of the first sentence of this Section 2.16(c) on the Closing Date or on the date of the Assignment Agreement pursuant to which it became a Lender, as applicable, nothing in this last sentence of Section 2.16(c) shall relieve the Borrower of its obligation to pay any additional amounts pursuant this Section 2.16 in the event that, as a result of any change in any applicable law, treaty or governmental rule, regulation or order, or any change in the interpretation, administration or application thereof, such Lender is no longer properly entitled to deliver forms, certificates or other evidence at a subsequent date establishing the fact that such Lender is not subject to withholding as described herein.
2.17. Obligation to Mitigate. Each Lender agrees that, as promptly as practicable after the officer of such Lender responsible for administering its Loans becomes aware of the occurrence of an event or the existence of a condition that would cause such Lender to become an Affected Lender or that would entitle such Lender to receive payments under Section 2.14, 2.15 or 2.16, it will, to the extent not inconsistent with the internal policies of such Lender and any applicable legal or regulatory restrictions, use reasonable efforts to (a) make, issue, fund or maintain its Credit Extensions, including any Affected Loans, through another office of such
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Lender, or (b) take such other measures as such Lender may deem reasonable, if as a result thereof the circumstances which would cause such Lender to be an Affected Lender would cease to exist or the additional amounts which would otherwise be required to be paid to such Lender pursuant to Section 2.14, 2.15 or 2.16 would be materially reduced and if, as determined by such Lender in its sole discretion, the making, funding or maintaining of such Loans through such other office or in accordance with such other measures, as the case may be, would not otherwise adversely affect such Loans or the interests of such Lender; provided, such Lender will not be obligated to utilize such other office pursuant to this Section 2.17 unless the Borrower agrees to pay all incremental expenses incurred by such Lender as a result of utilizing such other office as described above. A certificate as to the amount of any such expenses payable by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.17 (setting forth in reasonable detail the basis for requesting such amount) submitted by such Lender to the Borrower (with a copy to the Agent) shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
2.18. Removal or Replacement of a Lender. Anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, in the event that: (a) (i) any Lender (an Increased-Cost Lender) shall give notice to the Borrower that such Lender is an Affected Lender or that such Lender is entitled to receive payments under Section 2.14, 2.15 or 2.16, (ii) the circumstances which have caused such Lender to be an Affected Lender or which entitle such Lender to receive such payments shall remain in effect, and (iii) such Lender shall fail to withdraw such notice within five Business Days after the Borrowers request for such withdrawal; or (b) in connection with any proposed amendment, modification, termination, waiver or consent with respect to any of the provisions hereof as contemplated by Section 9.5(b), the consent of the Requisite Lenders shall have been obtained but the consent of one or more of such other Lenders (each a Non-Consenting Lender) whose consent is required shall not have been obtained; then, with respect to each such Increased-Cost Lender or Non-Consenting Lender (the Terminated Lender), the Borrower may, by giving written notice to the Agent and any Terminated Lender of its election to do so, elect to cause such Terminated Lender (and such Terminated Lender hereby irrevocably agrees) to assign its outstanding Loans in full to one or more Eligible Assignees (each a Replacement Lender) in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.6 and the Borrower shall pay the fees, if any, payable thereunder in connection with any such assignment from an Increased Cost Lender or a Non-Consenting Lender; provided, (1) on the date of such assignment, the Replacement Lender shall pay to Terminated Lender an amount equal to the principal of, and all accrued interest on, all outstanding Loans of the Terminated Lender; (2) on the date of such assignment, the Borrower shall pay any amounts payable to such Terminated Lender pursuant to Section 2.14(c), 2.15 or 2.16; or otherwise as if it were a prepayment and (3) in the event such Terminated Lender is a Non-Consenting Lender, each Replacement Lender shall consent, at the time of such assignment, to each matter in respect of which such Terminated Lender was a Non-Consenting Lender. Upon the prepayment of all amounts owing to any Terminated Lender, such Terminated Lender shall no longer constitute a Lender for purposes hereof; provided, any rights of such Terminated Lender to indemnification hereunder shall survive as to such Terminated Lender.
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SECTION 3. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
3.1. Closing Date. The obligation of each Lender to make any Credit Extension on the Closing Date is subject to the satisfaction, or waiver in accordance with Section 9.5, of the following conditions on or before the Closing Date:
(a) Credit Documents. The Agent shall have received sufficient copies of each Credit Document originally executed and delivered by the Borrower for each Lender.
(b) Organizational Documents; Incumbency. The Agent shall have received (i) sufficient copies of the Borrowers articles of incorporation, as amended, and its by-laws, as amended, and, to the extent applicable, certified as of a recent date by the appropriate governmental official, for each Lender, each dated the Closing Date or a recent date prior thereto; (ii) signature and incumbency certificates of the officers of such Person executing the Credit Documents; (iii) resolutions of the Board of Directors or similar governing body of the Borrower approving and authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents, certified as of the Closing Date by its secretary or an assistant secretary as being in full force and effect without modification or amendment; (iv) a good standing certificate from the applicable Governmental Authority of the Borrowers jurisdiction of incorporation, organization or formation, dated a recent date prior to the Closing Date; and (v) such other documents as the Agent may reasonably request.
(c) Governmental Authorizations and Consents. The Borrower shall have obtained all Governmental Authorizations and all consents of other Persons, in each case that are necessary or advisable in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Credit Documents and the foregoing shall be in full force and effect and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.
(d) Financial Statements. The Lenders shall have received from the Borrower the Historical Financial Statements.
(e) Opinions of Counsel to the Borrower. The Lenders shall have received originally executed copies of the favorable written opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Borrower, in the form of Exhibit D hereto, dated as of the Closing Date (and the Borrower hereby instructs such counsel to deliver such opinions to the Agent and the Lenders).
(f) Fees. The Borrower shall have paid to the Agent the fees payable on the Closing Date referred to in Section 2.8.
(g) Closing Date Certificate. The Borrower shall have delivered to the Agent an originally executed Closing Date Certificate, together with all attachments thereto.
(h) No Litigation. There shall not exist any action, suit, investigation, litigation, proceeding, hearing or other legal or regulatory developments, pending or threatened in any court or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority that, in the reasonable opinion of the Agent, singly or in the aggregate, materially impairs any of the other transactions contemplated by the Credit Documents, or that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
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(i) Completion of Proceedings. All partnership, corporate and other proceedings taken or to be taken in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and all documents incidental thereto not previously found acceptable by the Agent and its counsel shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Agent and such counsel, and the Agent and such counsel shall have received all such counterpart originals or certified copies of such documents as the Agent may reasonably request.
(j) Letter of Direction. The Agent shall have received a duly executed letter of direction from the Borrower addressed to the Agent, on behalf of itself and the Lenders, directing the disbursement on the Closing Date of the proceeds of the Loans made on such date.
(k) Patriot Act. Prior to the Closing Date, the Agent shall have received all documentation and other information required by bank regulatory authorities under applicable know-your-customer and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the U.S.A. Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)).
(l) Existing Indebtedness. On the Closing Date, the Borrower shall have repaid in full, or shall have made arrangements such that substantially contemporaneously with the initial Loans it will repay in full, all indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Agreement dated as of June 7, 2007 among the Borrower, the lenders parties thereto and GSCP, as lead arranger and administrative agent.
(m) Funding Notice. The Agent shall have received a fully executed and delivered Funding Notice as required pursuant to Section 2.1(b)(i);
(n) Representation and Warranties. As of the Closing Date, the representations and warranties contained herein and in the other Credit Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of that Closing Date to the same extent as though made on and as of that date, except to the extent such representations and warranties specifically relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall have been true and correct in all material respects on and as of such earlier date; and
(o) Event of Default. As of the Closing Date, no event shall have occurred and be continuing or would result from the consummation of the Credit Extension that would constitute an Event of Default or a Default.
SECTION 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
In order to induce the Lenders to enter into this Agreement and to make each Credit Extension to be made thereby, the Borrower represents and warrants to each Lender, on the Closing Date, that the following statements are true and correct:
4.1. Organization; Requisite Power and Authority; Qualification. The Borrower (a) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, (b) has all requisite power and authority to own and operate its properties, to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted, to enter into the Credit Documents and to carry out the transactions contemplated thereby, and (c) is qualified to do
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business and in good standing in every jurisdiction where its assets are located and wherever necessary to carry out its business and operations, except in jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing has not had, and could not be reasonably expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.
4.2. Due Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance of the Credit Documents have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Borrower.
4.3. No Conflict. The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of the Credit Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Credit Documents do not and will not (a) violate (i) any provision of any law or any governmental rule or regulation applicable to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) the articles of incorporation, as amended, or by-laws, as amended, of the Borrower, or (iii) any order, judgment or decree of any court or other agency of government binding on the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; (b) conflict with, result in a breach of or constitute (with due notice or lapse of time or both) a default under any Contractual Obligation of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; (c) result in or require the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; or (d) require any approval of stockholders, members or partners or any approval or consent of any Person under any Contractual Obligation of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, except for such approvals or consents which will be obtained on or before the Closing Date and disclosed in writing to the Lenders.
4.4. Governmental Consents. The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of the Credit Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Credit Documents do not and will not require any registration with, consent or approval of, or notice to, or other action to, with or by, any Governmental Authority, except for such registrations, consents or approvals which have been obtained on or before the Closing Date.
4.5. Binding Obligation. Each Credit Document has been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower and is the legally valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its respective terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or limiting creditors rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability.
4.6. Historical Financial Statements. The Historical Financial Statements were prepared in conformity with GAAP and fairly present, in all material respects, the financial position, on a consolidated basis, of the Persons described in such financial statements as at the respective dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows, on a consolidated basis, of the entities described therein for each of the periods then ended, subject, in the case of any such unaudited financial statements, to changes resulting from audit and normal year-end adjustments. As of the Closing Date, neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries has any contingent liability or liability for taxes, long-term lease or unusual forward or long-term commitment that is not reflected in the Historical Financial Statements or the notes thereto and which in any such case is material in relation to the business, operations, properties, assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
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4.7. No Material Adverse Change. Since May 28, 2006, no event, circumstance or change has occurred that has caused or evidences, either in any case or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
4.8. Adverse Proceedings, etc. There are no Adverse Proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries (a) is in violation of any applicable laws (including Environmental Laws) that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (b) is subject to or in default with respect to any final judgments, writs, injunctions, decrees, rules or regulations of any court or any federal, state, municipal or other governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, domestic or foreign, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
4.9. Governmental Regulation. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to regulation under the Federal Power Act or the Investment Company Act of 1940 or under any other federal or state statute or regulation which may limit its ability to incur Indebtedness or which may otherwise render all or any portion of the Obligations unenforceable. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is a registered investment company or a company controlled by a registered investment company or a principal underwriter of a registered investment company as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.
4.10. Margin Stock. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any Margin Stock. No part of the proceeds of the Loans made to the Borrower will be used to purchase or carry any such Margin Stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any such Margin Stock or for any purpose that violates, or is inconsistent with, the provisions of Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors.
4.11. Disclosure. No representation or warranty of the Borrower contained in any Credit Document or in any other documents, certificates or written statements furnished to the Agent or any Lender by or on behalf of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries for use in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, when taken as a whole, contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact (known to the Borrower, in the case of any document not furnished by either of them) necessary in order to make the statements contained herein or therein not misleading in light of the circumstances in which the same were made. Any projections and pro forma financial information contained in such materials are based upon good faith estimates and assumptions believed by the Borrower to be reasonable at the time made, it being recognized by the Lenders that such projections as to future events are not to be viewed as facts and that actual results during the period or periods covered by any such projections may differ from the projected results. There are no facts known (or which should upon the reasonable exercise of diligence be known) to the Borrower (other than matters of a general economic nature) that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect and that have not been disclosed herein or in such other
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documents, certificates and statements furnished to the Lenders for use in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.
4.12. Patriot Act. To the extent applicable, the Borrower is in compliance, in all material respects, with the (i) Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, and each of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) and any other enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto, and (ii) Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA Patriot Act of 2001). No part of the proceeds of the Loans will be used, directly or indirectly, for any payments to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.
SECTION 5. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
The Borrower covenants and agrees that, so long as any Commitment is in effect and until payment in full of all Obligations, the Borrower shall perform, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to perform, all covenants in this Section 5.
5.1. Financial Statements and Other Reports. The Borrower will deliver to the Agent (on behalf of itself and the Lenders):
(a) Quarterly Financial Statements. As soon as available, and in any event within 45 days after the end of each of the first three Fiscal Quarters of each Fiscal Year, commencing with the Fiscal Quarter in which the Closing Date occurs, the consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such Fiscal Quarter and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Quarter and for the period from the beginning of the then current Fiscal Year to the end of such Fiscal Quarter, setting forth in each case in comparative form the corresponding figures for the corresponding periods of the previous Fiscal Year, all in reasonable detail, together with a Financial Officer Certification with respect thereto;
(b) Annual Financial Statements. As soon as available, and in any event within 90 days after the end of each Fiscal Year, commencing with the Fiscal Year in which the Closing Date occurs, (i) the consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such Fiscal Year and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the corresponding figures for the previous Fiscal Year covered by such financial statements, in reasonable detail, together with a Financial Officer Certification with respect thereto; and (ii) with respect to such consolidated financial statements a report thereon of KPMG LLP or other independent certified public accountants of recognized national standing selected by the Borrower, and reasonably satisfactory to the Agent (which report shall be unqualified as to going concern and scope of audit, and shall state that such consolidated financial statements fairly present, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the dates indicated and the results of their operations and
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their cash flows for the periods indicated in conformity with GAAP applied on a basis consistent with prior years (except as otherwise disclosed in such financial statements) and that the examination by such accountants in connection with such consolidated financial statements has been made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards);
(c) Compliance Certificate. Together with each delivery of financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries pursuant to Sections 5.1(a) and 5.1(b), a duly executed and completed Compliance Certificate;
(d) Statements of Reconciliation after Change in Accounting Principles. If, as a result of any change in accounting principles and policies from those used in the preparation of the Historical Financial Statements, the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries delivered pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or 5.1(b) will differ in any material respect from the consolidated financial statements that would have been delivered pursuant to such subdivisions had no such change in accounting principles and policies been made, then, together with the first delivery of such financial statements after such change, one or more statements of reconciliation for all such prior financial statements in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent;
(e) Notice of Default. Promptly upon any Authorized Officer of the Borrower obtaining knowledge (i) of any condition or event that constitutes a Default or an Event of Default or that notice has been given to the Borrower with respect thereto; (ii) that any Person has given any notice to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or taken any other action with respect to any event or condition set forth in Section 7.1(b); or (iii) of the occurrence of any event or change that has caused or evidences, either in any case or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, a certificate of its Authorized Officer specifying the nature and period of existence of such condition, event or change, or specifying the notice given and action taken by any such Person and the nature of such claimed Event of Default, Default, default, event or condition, and what action the Borrower has taken, is taking and proposes to take with respect thereto;
(f) Notice of Litigation. Promptly upon any Authorized Officer of the Borrower obtaining knowledge of (i) the institution of, or non-frivolous threat of, any Adverse Proceeding not previously disclosed in writing by the Borrower to the Lenders, or (ii) any material development in any Adverse Proceeding that, in the case of either clause (i) or (ii), could be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or seeks to enjoin or otherwise prevent the consummation of, or to recover any damages or obtain relief as a result of, the transactions contemplated hereby, written notice thereof together with such other information as may be reasonably available to the Borrower to enable the Lenders and their counsel to evaluate such matters;
(g) Other Information. (A) Promptly upon their becoming available, copies of (i) all financial statements, reports, notices and proxy statements sent or made available generally by the Borrower to its security holders acting in such capacity or by any Subsidiary of the Borrower to its security holders other than the Borrower or another Subsidiary of the Borrower, (ii) all regular and periodic reports and all registration statements and prospectuses, if any, filed by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries with any securities exchange or with the Securities and
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Exchange Commission or any governmental or private regulatory authority, (iii) all press releases and other statements made available generally by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to the public concerning material developments in the business of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and (B) such other information and data with respect to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries as from time to time may be reasonably requested by the Agent or any Lender; and
(h) Certification of Public Information. The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Agent and/or the Arrangers will make available to the Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower 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 Borrower or its Affiliates, or the respective securities of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such Persons securities. The Borrower hereby agrees that it will use commercially reasonable efforts to identify that portion of the Borrower Materials that may be distributed to the Public Lenders and that (w) all such Borrower Materials 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 Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as not containing any material non-public information (although it may be sensitive and proprietary) 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 non-public information regarding the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and their businesses identified as such by the Borrower, they shall be treated as set forth in Section 9.17); (y) all Borrower Materials marked PUBLIC are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated Public Investor; and (z) the Agent and the Arrangers shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked PUBLIC as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated Public Investor.
5.2. Existence. Except as otherwise permitted under Section 6.4, the Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, at all times preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence and all rights and franchises, licenses and permits material to its business; provided, neither the Borrower (other than with respect to existence) or any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to preserve any such existence, right or franchise, licenses and permits if such Persons board of directors (or similar governing body) shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of such Person, and that the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to such Person or to the Lenders.
5.3. Payment of Taxes and Claims. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, pay all Taxes imposed upon it or any of its properties or assets or in respect of any of its income, businesses or franchises (other than de minimus Taxes) before any penalty or fine accrues thereon, and all claims (including claims for labor, services, materials and supplies, but not including any de minimus claims) for sums that have become due and payable and that by law have or may become a Lien upon any of its properties or assets, prior to the time when any penalty or fine shall be incurred with respect thereto; provided, no such Tax or claim need be paid if it is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and
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diligently conducted, so long as adequate reserve or other appropriate provision, as shall be required in conformity with GAAP shall have been made therefor. The Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, file or consent to the filing of any consolidated income tax return with any Person (other than the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries).
5.4. Maintenance of Properties. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain or cause to be maintained in good repair, working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, all material properties used or useful in the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and from time to time will make or cause to be made all appropriate repairs, renewals and replacements thereof.
5.5. Insurance. The Borrower will maintain or cause to be maintained, with financially sound and reputable insurers, such public liability insurance, third party property damage insurance, business interruption insurance and casualty insurance with respect to liabilities, losses or damage in respect of the assets, properties and businesses of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as may customarily be carried or maintained under similar circumstances by Persons of established reputation engaged in similar businesses, in each case in such amounts (giving effect to self-insurance), with such deductibles, covering such risks and otherwise on such terms and conditions as shall be customary for such Persons.
5.6. Books and Records; Inspections. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, keep proper books of record and accounts in which full, true and correct entries in conformity in all material respects with GAAP shall be made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities. The Borrower will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to, permit any authorized representatives designated by any Lender to visit and inspect any of the properties of the Borrower and any of its respective Subsidiaries, to inspect, copy and take extracts from its and their financial and accounting records, and to discuss its and their affairs, finances and accounts with its and their officers and independent public accountants, all upon reasonable notice and at such reasonable times during normal business hours and as often as may reasonably be requested.
5.7. Compliance with Laws. The Borrower will comply, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries and all other Persons, if any, on or occupying any Facilities to comply, with the requirements of all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority (including all Environmental Laws), noncompliance with which could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 6. NEGATIVE COVENANTS
The Borrower covenants and agrees that, so long as any Commitment is in effect and until payment in full of all Obligations, the Borrower shall perform, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to perform, all covenants in this Section 6.
6.1. Liens. The Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on or with respect to any property or asset of any kind (including any document or instrument in respect of goods or accounts receivable) of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, whether now owned or hereafter acquired
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or licensed, or any income, profits or royalties therefrom, or file or permit the filing of, or permit to remain in effect, any financing statement or other similar notice of any Lien with respect to any such property, asset, income, profits or royalties under the UCC of any State or under any similar recording or notice statute or under the intellectual property laws, rules or procedures, except:
(a) Liens for Taxes if obligations with respect to such Taxes are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted;
(b) statutory Liens of landlords, banks (and rights of set-off), of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, repairmen, workmen and materialmen, and other Liens imposed by law (other than any such Lien imposed pursuant to Section 401 (a)(29) or 412(n) of the Internal Revenue Code or by ERISA), in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business (i) for amounts not yet overdue or (ii) for amounts that are overdue and that (in the case of any such amounts overdue for a period in excess of five days) are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, so long as such reserves or other appropriate provisions, if any, as shall be required by GAAP shall have been made for any such contested amounts;
(c) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security, or to secure the performance of tenders, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, bids, leases, government contracts, trade contracts, performance and return-of-money bonds and other similar obligations (exclusive of obligations for the payment of borrowed money or other Indebtedness);
(d) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, encroachments, and other minor defects or irregularities in title, in each case which do not and will not interfere in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;
(e) any interest or title of a lessor or sublessor under any lease of real estate permitted hereunder;
(f) Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement permitted hereunder;
(g) purported Liens evidenced by the filing of precautionary UCC financing statements relating solely to operating leases of personal property entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(h) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods;
(i) any zoning or similar law or right reserved to or vested in any governmental office or agency to control or regulate the use of any real property;
(j) non-exclusive outbound licenses of patents, copyrights, trademarks and other intellectual property rights granted by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary
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course of business and not interfering in any respect with the ordinary conduct of or materially detracting from the value of the business of the Borrower or such Subsidiary;
(k) Liens securing purchase money Indebtedness; provided, any such Lien shall encumber only the asset acquired with the proceeds of such Indebtedness;
(l) Liens arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provision relating to bankers liens, rights of set-off or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts or other funds maintained with a creditor depository institution; provided that (a) such deposit account is not a dedicated cash collateral account and is not subject to restrictions against access by the Borrower or any Subsidiary in excess of those set forth by regulations promulgated by the Federal Reserve Bank, and (b) such deposit account is not intended by the Borrower or any Subsidiary to provide collateral to the depository institution;
(m) Liens on assets of any Person that becomes a Subsidiary after the date of this Agreement, provided that such Liens existed at the time of such acquisition of such Person and were not created in anticipation thereof or for purposes of circumventing this Agreement;
(n) Liens on assets acquired by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries after the date of this Agreement, provided that such Liens existed at the time of such acquisition and were not created in anticipation thereof or for purposes of circumventing this Agreement;
(o) Extensions, renewals or replacements of any Liens referred to in the foregoing clauses (k), (m) and (n), provided that (i) the principal amount of Indebtedness secured thereby shall not exceed the principal amount of Indebtedness so secured at the time of such extension, renewal or replacement and (ii) such extension, renewal or replacement Liens shall be limited to all or part of the same property and improvement thereon which secured the Indebtedness so secured at the time of such extension, renewal or replacement; and
(p) other Liens securing Indebtedness in an aggregate amount not to exceed 10% of the total assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries at any time outstanding.
6.2. Financial Covenants.
(a) Interest Coverage Ratio. The Borrower shall not permit the Interest Coverage Ratio as of the last day of any Fiscal Quarter, beginning with the Fiscal Quarter ending August 26, 2007, to be less than 5.00 to 1.00.
(b) Leverage Ratio. The Borrower shall not permit the Leverage Ratio as of the last day of any Fiscal Quarter, beginning with the Fiscal Quarter ending August 26, 2007, to exceed 2.75 to 1.00. For purposes of calculating the Leverage Ratio on any date, if the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall have made an acquisition during the preceding four Fiscal Quarters, Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for such period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such acquisition occurred on the first day of such period.
6.3. Fundamental Changes; Disposition of Assets. The Borrower shall not merge or consolidate with or into, or convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned
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or hereafter acquired) to, any Person, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to do so, except that (a) any Subsidiary of the Borrower may merge or consolidate with or into, or dispose of assets to, any other Subsidiary of the Borrower or the Borrower and in connection therewith such Subsidiary may be liquidated or dissolved, (b) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may liquidate or dissolve any business, including any Subsidiary, that has been determined by the Borrowers chief executive officer or chief financial officer in good faith to be of immaterial importance to the total business conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (c) the Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower may merge or consolidate with or into, or dispose of assets to, any other Person so long as the Borrower or such Subsidiary is the surviving corporation and (d) the Borrower and its Subsidiaries may make dispositions not otherwise permitted hereunder that are made for fair market value, provided that the aggregate book value of all such assets or property so sold by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall at no time exceed an amount equal to 10% of the total assets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (determined as of the date hereof); provided, in each case, that no Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such proposed transaction or would result therefrom.
6.4. Transactions with Shareholders and Affiliates. The Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into or permit to exist any transaction (including the purchase, sale, lease or exchange of any property or the rendering of any service) with any Affiliate of the Borrower on terms that are less favorable to the Borrower or that Subsidiary, as the case may be, than those that might be obtained at the time from a Person who is not such a holder or Affiliate; provided, the foregoing restriction shall not apply to (a) reasonable and customary fees paid to members of the board of directors (or similar governing body) of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, (b) compensation arrangements for officers and other employees of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries entered into in the ordinary course of business and (c) any transaction between or among the Borrower and its wholly-owned Subsidiaries.
6.5. Conduct of Business. From and after the Closing Date, the Borrower shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, engage in any business other than (i) the businesses engaged in by the Borrower on the Closing Date and similar or related businesses and any business that is complementary to or a reasonable extension of such business and (ii) such other lines of business as may be consented to by the Requisite Lenders.
SECTION 7. EVENTS OF DEFAULT
7.1. Events of Default. If any one or more of the following conditions or events shall occur:
(a) Failure to Make Payments When Due. Failure by the Borrower to pay (i) when due any installment of principal of any Loan, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration, by notice of voluntary prepayment, by mandatory prepayment or otherwise; or (ii) any interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount due hereunder within five days after the date due; or
(b) Default in Other Agreements. (i) Failure of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to pay when due any principal of or interest on or any other amount payable in
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respect of one or more items of Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness referred to in Section 7.1(a)) in an aggregate principal amount of $50,000,000 or more, in each case beyond the grace period, if any, provided therefor; or (ii) breach or default by the Borrower with respect to any other material term of (1) one or more items of Indebtedness in the individual or aggregate principal amounts referred to in clause (i) above or (2) any loan agreement, mortgage, indenture or other agreement relating to such item(s) of Indebtedness, in each case beyond the grace period, if any, provided therefor, if the effect of such breach or default is to cause, or to permit the holder or holders of that Indebtedness (or a trustee on behalf of such holder or holders), to cause, that Indebtedness to become or be declared due and payable (or redeemable) prior to its stated maturity or the stated maturity of any underlying obligation, as the case may be; or
(c) Breach of Certain Covenants. Failure of the Borrower to perform or comply with any term or condition contained in Section 2.3, Sections 5.1(a), 5.1(b), 5.1(c) and 5.1(e), Section 5.2 or Section 6; or
(d) Breach of Representations, etc. Any representation, warranty, certification or other statement made or deemed made by the Borrower in any Credit Document or in any statement or certificate at any time given by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in writing pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall be false in any material respect as of the date made or deemed made; or
(e) Other Defaults Under Credit Documents. The Borrower shall default in the performance of or compliance with any term contained herein or any of the other Credit Documents, other than any such term referred to in any other Section of this Section 7.1, and such default shall not have been remedied or waived within thirty days after the earlier of (i) an Authorized Officer of the Borrower becoming aware of such default or (ii) receipt by the Borrower of written notice from the Agent or any Lender of such default; or
(f) Involuntary Bankruptcy; Appointment of Receiver, etc. (i) A court of competent jurisdiction shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of the Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries in an involuntary case under the Bankruptcy Code or under any other applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law now or hereafter in effect, which decree or order is not stayed; or any other similar relief shall be granted under any applicable federal or state law; or (ii) an involuntary case shall be commenced against the Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries under the Bankruptcy Code or under any other applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law now or hereafter in effect; or a decree or order of a court having jurisdiction in the premises for the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, sequestrator, trustee, custodian or other officer having similar powers over the Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries, or over all or a substantial part of its property, shall have been entered; or there shall have occurred the involuntary appointment of an interim receiver, trustee or other custodian of the Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries for all or a substantial part of its property; or a warrant of attachment, execution or similar process shall have been issued against any substantial part of the property of the Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries, and any such event described in this clause (ii) shall continue for sixty days without having been dismissed, bonded or discharged; or
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(g) Voluntary Bankruptcy; Appointment of Receiver, etc. (i) The Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries shall have an order for relief entered with respect to it or shall commence a voluntary case under the Bankruptcy Code or under any other applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law now or hereafter in effect, or shall consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case, or to the conversion of an involuntary case to a voluntary case, under any such law, or shall consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, trustee or other custodian for all or a substantial part of its property; or the Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries shall make any assignment for the benefit of creditors; or (ii) the Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries shall be unable, or shall fail generally, or shall admit in writing its inability, to pay its debts as such debts become due; or the board of directors (or similar governing body) of the Borrower or any of its Material Subsidiaries (or any committee thereof) shall adopt any resolution or otherwise authorize any action to approve any of the actions referred to herein or in Section 7.1(f); or
(h) Judgments and Attachments. Any money judgment, writ or warrant of attachment or similar process involving in the aggregate at any time an amount in excess of $50,000,000 (to the extent not adequately covered by insurance as to which a solvent and unaffiliated insurance company has acknowledged coverage) shall be entered or filed against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective assets and shall remain undischarged, unvacated, unbonded or unstayed for a period of sixty days (or in any event later than five days prior to the date of any proposed sale thereunder); or
(i) Dissolution. Any order, judgment or decree shall be entered against the Borrower decreeing the dissolution or split up of the Borrower and such order shall remain undischarged or unstayed for a period in excess of thirty days; or
(j) Employee Benefit Plans. (i) There shall occur one or more ERISA Events which individually or in the aggregate results in or might reasonably be expected to result in liability of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective ERISA Affiliates in excess of $50,000,000; or (ii) there exists any fact or circumstance that reasonably could be expected to result in the imposition of a Lien or security interest under Section 412(n) of the Internal Revenue Code or under ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan.
(k) Change of Control. A Change of Control shall occur;
THEN, (1) upon the occurrence of any Event of Default described in Section 7.1(f) or 7.1(g), automatically, and (2) upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any other Event of Default, at the request of (or with the consent of) the Requisite Lenders, upon notice to the Borrower by the Agent, each of the following shall immediately become due and payable, in each case without presentment, demand, protest or other requirements of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower: (I) the unpaid principal amount of and accrued interest on the Loans and (II) all other Obligations.
7.2. Application of Funds. After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 7.1 (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable as set forth in the proviso to Section 7.1), any amounts received on account of the Obligations shall be applied by the Agent in the following order:
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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 Agent and amounts payable under Section 2.15 or 2.16) payable to the Agent in its capacity as such;
Second, to payment of that portion of the Obligations constituting fees, indemnities and other amounts payable to the Lenders (including fees, charges and disbursements of counsel to the respective Lenders and amounts payable under Section 2.15 or 2.16, 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 unpaid principal of the Loans, ratably among the Lenders in proportion to the respective amounts described in this clause Third held by them; and
Last, the balance, if any, after all of the Obligations have been paid in full, to the Borrower or as otherwise required by law.
SECTION 8. THE AGENT
8.1. Appointment of the Agent. Bank of America is hereby appointed the Agent hereunder and under the other Credit Documents and each Lender hereby authorizes Bank of America to act as the Agent in accordance with the terms hereof and the other Credit Documents. The Agent hereby agrees to act in its capacity as such upon the express conditions contained herein and the other Credit Documents, as applicable. The provisions of this Section 8(other than Section 8.7) are solely for the benefit of the Agent and the Lenders and the Borrower shall not have any rights as a third party beneficiary of any of the provisions thereof. In performing its functions and duties hereunder, the Agent shall act solely as an agent of the Lenders and does not assume and shall not be deemed to have assumed any obligation towards or relationship of agency or trust with or for the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.
8.2. Powers and Duties. Each Lender irrevocably authorizes the Agent to take such action on such Lenders behalf and to exercise such powers, rights and remedies hereunder and under the other Credit Documents as are specifically delegated or granted to the Agent by the terms hereof and thereof, together with such powers, rights and remedies as are reasonably incidental thereto. The Agent shall have only those duties and responsibilities that are expressly specified herein and the other Credit Documents. The Agent may exercise such powers, rights and remedies and perform such duties by or through its agents or employees. Neither the Agent nor any Arranger shall have, by reason hereof or any of the other Credit Documents, a fiduciary relationship in respect of any Lender; and nothing herein or any of the other Credit Documents, expressed or implied, is intended to or shall be so construed as to impose upon the Agent or any Arranger any obligations in respect hereof or any of the other Credit Documents except as expressly set forth herein or therein.
8.3. General Immunity.
(a) No Responsibility for Certain Matters. Neither the Agent nor any Arranger shall be responsible to any Lender for the execution, effectiveness, genuineness, validity, enforceability, collectability or sufficiency hereof or any other Credit Document or for any representations, warranties, recitals or statements made herein or therein or made in any written
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or oral statements or in any financial or other statements, instruments, reports or certificates or any other documents furnished or made by the Agent or any Arranger to the Lenders or by or on behalf of the Borrower or any Lender or in connection with the Credit Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby or for the financial condition or business affairs of the Borrower or any other Person liable for the payment of any Obligations, nor shall the Agent be required to ascertain or inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms, conditions, provisions, covenants or agreements contained in any of the Credit Documents or as to the use of the proceeds of the Loans or as to the existence or possible existence of any Event of Default or Default or to make any disclosures with respect to the foregoing. Anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Agent shall not have any liability arising from confirmations of the amount of outstanding Loans.
(b) Exculpatory Provisions. Neither the Agent nor any of its officers, partners, directors, employees or agents shall be liable to the Lenders for any action taken or omitted by the Agent under or in connection with any of the Credit Documents except to the extent caused by the Agents gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Agent shall be entitled to refrain from any act or the taking of any action (including the failure to take an action) in connection herewith or any of the other Credit Documents or from the exercise of any power, discretion or authority vested in it hereunder or thereunder unless and until the Agent shall have received instructions in respect thereof from the Requisite Lenders (or such other Lenders as may be required to give such instructions under Section 9.5) and, upon receipt of such instructions from the Requisite Lenders (or such other Lenders, as the case may be), the Agent shall be entitled to act or (where so instructed) refrain from acting, or to exercise such power, discretion or authority, in accordance with such instructions. Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, (i) the Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any communication, instrument or document believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed or sent by the proper Person or Persons, and shall be entitled to rely and shall be protected in relying on opinions and judgments of attorneys (who may be attorneys for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries), accountants, experts and other professional advisors selected by it; and (ii) no Lender shall have any right of action whatsoever against the Agent as a result of the Agent acting or (where so instructed) refraining from acting hereunder or any of the other Credit Documents in accordance with the instructions of the Requisite Lenders (or such other Lenders as may be required to give such instructions under Section 9.5).
(c) Delegation of Duties. The Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers under this Agreement or under any other Credit Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Agent. The 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 Affiliates. The exculpatory, indemnification and other provisions of this Section 8.3 and of Section 8.6 shall apply to any the Affiliates of the 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 the Agent. All of the rights, benefits, and privileges (including the exculpatory and indemnification provisions) of this Section 8.3 and of Section 8.6 shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Affiliates of any such sub-agent, and shall apply to their respective activities as sub-agent as if such sub-agent and Affiliates were named herein. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, with respect to each sub-agent appointed by the Agent, (i) such sub-agent shall be a third party beneficiary under this Agreement with respect to all such rights,
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benefits and privileges (including exculpatory rights and rights to indemnification) and shall have all of the rights and benefits of a third party beneficiary, including an independent right of action to enforce such rights, benefits and privileges (including exculpatory rights and rights to indemnification) directly, without the consent or joinder of any other Person, against any or all of the Borrower and the Lenders, (ii) such rights, benefits and privileges (including exculpatory rights and rights to indemnification) shall not be modified or amended without the consent of such sub-agent, and (iii) such sub-agent shall only have obligations to the Agent and not to the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person and none of the Borrower, any Lender or any other Person shall have any rights, directly or indirectly, as a third party beneficiary or otherwise, against such sub-agent.
8.4. Agent Entitled to Act as Lender. The agency hereby created shall in no way impair or affect any of the rights and powers of, or impose any duties or obligations upon, the Agent in its individual capacity as a Lender hereunder. With respect to its participation in the Loans, the Agent shall have the same rights and powers hereunder as any other Lender and may exercise the same as if it were not performing the duties and functions delegated to it hereunder, and the term Lender shall, unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include the Agent in its individual capacity. The Agent and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust, financial advisory or other business with the Borrower or any of its Affiliates as if it were not performing the duties specified herein, and may accept fees and other consideration from the Borrower for services in connection herewith and otherwise without having to account for the same to the Lenders.
8.5. Lenders Representations, Warranties and Acknowledgment.
(a) Each Lender represents and warrants that it has made its own independent investigation of the financial condition and affairs of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in connection with Credit Extensions hereunder and that it has made and shall continue to make its own appraisal of the creditworthiness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries. Neither the Agent nor any Arranger shall have any duty or responsibility, either initially or on a continuing basis, to make any such investigation or any such appraisal on behalf of the Lenders or to provide any Lender with any credit or other information with respect thereto, whether coming into its possession before the making of the Loans or at any time or times thereafter, and neither the Agent nor any Arranger shall have any responsibility with respect to the accuracy of or the completeness of any information provided to the Lenders.
(b) Each Lender, by delivering its signature page to this Agreement or an Assignment Agreement and funding its Loan on the Closing Date, shall be deemed to have acknowledged receipt of, and consented to and approved, each Credit Document and each other document required to be approved by the Agent, the Requisite Lenders or the Lenders, as applicable on the Closing Date.
8.6. Right to Indemnity. Each Lender, in proportion to its Pro Rata Share, severally agrees to indemnify the Agent, to the extent that the Agent shall not have been reimbursed by the Borrower, for and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses (including counsel fees and disbursements) or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the
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Agent in exercising its powers, rights and remedies or performing its duties hereunder or under the other Credit Documents or otherwise in its capacity as the Agent in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or the other Credit Documents; provided that (i) no Lender shall be liable for any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements if such Lender has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that such liability resulted from the Agents gross negligence or willful misconduct. If any indemnity furnished to the Agent for any purpose shall, in the opinion of the Agent, be insufficient or become impaired, the Agent may call for additional indemnity and cease, or not commence, to do the acts indemnified against until such additional indemnity is furnished, (ii) in no event shall this sentence require any Lender to indemnify the Agent against any liability, obligation, loss, damage, penalty, action, judgment, suit, cost, expense or disbursement in excess of such Lenders Pro Rata Share thereof, (iii) this sentence shall not be deemed to require any Lender to indemnify the Agent against any liability, obligation, loss, damage, penalty, action, judgment, suit, cost, expense or disbursement described in the proviso in the immediately preceding sentence, and (iv) nothing in this sentence shall be deemed to affect the Borrowers reimbursement obligations.
8.7. Successor Agent. The Agent may resign at any time by giving thirty days prior written notice thereof to the Lenders and the Borrower, and the Agent may be removed at any time with or without cause by an instrument or concurrent instruments in writing delivered to the Borrower and the Agent and signed by the Requisite Lenders. Upon any such notice of resignation or any such removal, the Requisite Lenders shall have the right, with the consent of the Borrower (except during the continuance of an Event of Default), such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, to appoint a successor Agent. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Agent hereunder by a successor Agent, after consent of the Borrower, that successor Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring or removed Agent and the retiring or removed Agent shall promptly transfer to such successor Agent all records and other documents necessary or appropriate in connection with the performance of the duties of the successor Agent under the Credit Documents, whereupon such retiring or removed Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder. If the Requisite Lenders have not appointed a successor agent, the Agent shall have the right, with the consent of the Borrower (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), to appoint a financial institution to act as Agent hereunder and in any case, the Agents resignation shall become effective on the thirtieth day after such notice of resignation. If neither the Requisite Lenders nor the Agent shall have appointed a successor to the Agent, the Requisite Lenders shall be deemed to have succeeded to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring the Agent. After any retiring or removed Agents resignation or removal hereunder as Agent, the provisions of this Section 8 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was the Agent hereunder.
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SECTION 9. MISCELLANEOUS
9.1. Notices.
(a) Notices Generally. Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in subsection (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by telecopier as follows, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, as follows:
(i) if to the Borrower or the Agent, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Appendix B; and
(ii) if to any other Lender, to the address, telecopier number, electronic mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire.
Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received; notices 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 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 approved by the Agent, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender pursuant to Section 2 if such Lender has notified the Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Section by electronic communication. The 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 Agent otherwise prescribes, (i) notices and other communications sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the senders receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the return receipt requested function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if such notice or other communication is not sent during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the opening of business on the next business day for the recipient, and (ii) notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.
(c) The Platform. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED AS IS AND AS AVAILABLE. THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE BORROWER MATERIALS OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS IN OR OMISSIONS FROM THE BORROWER MATERIALS. NO WARRANTY
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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 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 Borrowers or the Agents transmission of Borrower Materials through the Internet, except to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Agent Party; provided, however, that in no event shall any Agent Party have any liability to 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 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 Agent. In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Agent from time to time to ensure that the Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, telecopier number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender. Furthermore, each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the Private Side Information or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lenders compliance procedures and applicable law, including United States Federal and state securities laws, to make reference to Borrower Materials that are not made available through the Public Side Information portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal or state securities laws.
(e) Reliance by Agent and Lenders. The Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled to rely and act upon any 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 confirmation thereof. The Borrower shall indemnify the 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, provided, the Borrower shall not have any obligation to any Indemnitee (as defined below) hereunder with respect to any Indemnified Liabilities to the extent the Borrower has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that such Indemnified Liabilities arise from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of that Indemnitee. All telephonic notices to and other telephonic communications with the Agent may be recorded by the Agent, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to such recording.
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9.2. Expenses. Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby shall be consummated, the Borrower agrees to pay promptly (a) all the actual and reasonable costs and expenses of preparation of the Credit Documents and any consents, amendments, waivers or other modifications thereto; (b) all the costs of furnishing all opinions by counsel for the Borrower; (c) the reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of counsel to the Agent and the Arrangers in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution and administration of the Credit Documents and any consents, amendments, waivers or other modifications thereto and any other documents or matters requested by the Borrower; (d) all the actual costs and reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of any auditors, accountants, consultants or appraisers; (e) all other actual and reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Agent and the Arrangers in connection with the syndication of the Loans and Commitments and the negotiation, preparation and execution of the Credit Documents and any consents, amendments, waivers or other modifications thereto and the transactions contemplated thereby; and (f) after the occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default, all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys fees and costs of settlement, incurred by the Agent and the Lenders in enforcing any Obligations of or in collecting any payments due from the Borrower hereunder or under the other Credit Documents by reason of such Default or Event of Default or in connection with any refinancing or restructuring of the credit arrangements provided hereunder in the nature of a work-out or pursuant to any insolvency or bankruptcy cases or proceedings.
9.3. Indemnity.
(a) In addition to the payment of expenses pursuant to Section 9.2, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby shall be consummated, the Borrower agrees to defend (subject to Indemnitees selection of counsel), indemnify, pay and hold harmless, the Agent, the Arrangers and each Lender and the officers, partners, members, directors, trustees, advisors, employees, agents, sub-agents and Affiliates of the Agent, each Arranger and each Lender (each, an Indemnitee), from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities; provided, the Borrower shall not have any obligation to any Indemnitee hereunder with respect to any Indemnified Liabilities to the extent the Borrower has obtained a final and nonappealable judgment in its favor on such claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that such Indemnified Liabilities arise from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of that Indemnitee. To the extent that the undertakings to defend, indemnify, pay and hold harmless set forth in this Section 9.3 may be unenforceable in whole or in part because they are violative of any law or public policy, the Borrower shall contribute the maximum portion that it is permitted to pay and satisfy under applicable law to the payment and satisfaction of all Indemnified Liabilities incurred by Indemnitees or any of them.
(b) To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Borrower shall not assert, and the Borrower hereby waives, any claim against each Lender, each Arranger, the Agent and their respective Affiliates, directors, employees, attorneys, agents or sub-agents, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) (whether or not the claim therefor is based on contract, tort or duty imposed by any applicable legal requirement) arising out of, in connection with, arising out of, as a result of, or in any way related to, this Agreement or any Credit Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or thereby or referred to herein or therein, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof or any act or omission or event
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occurring in connection therewith, and the Borrower hereby waives, releases and agrees not to sue upon any such claim or any such damages, whether or not accrued and whether or not known or suspected to exist in its favor.
9.4. Set-Off. In addition to any rights now or hereafter granted under applicable law and not by way of limitation of any such rights, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default each Lender is hereby authorized by the Borrower at any time or from time to time subject to the consent of the Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), without notice to the Borrower or to any other Person (other than the Agent), any such notice being hereby expressly waived, to set off and to appropriate and to apply any and all deposits (general or special, including Indebtedness evidenced by certificates of deposit, whether matured or unmatured, but not including trust accounts) and any other Indebtedness at any time held or owing by such Lender to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against and on account of the obligations and liabilities of the Borrower to such Lender hereunder and under the other Credit Documents, including all claims of any nature or description arising out of or connected hereto or with any other Credit Document, irrespective of whether or not (a) such Lender shall have made any demand hereunder or (b) the principal of or the interest on the Loans or any other amounts due hereunder shall have become due and payable pursuant to Section 2 and although such obligations and liabilities, or any of them, may be contingent or unmatured.
9.5. Amendments and Waivers.
(a) Requisite Lenders Consent. Subject to the additional requirements of Sections 9.5(b) and 9.5(c), no amendment, modification, termination or waiver of any provision of the Credit Documents, or consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom, shall in any event be effective without the written concurrence of the Requisite Lenders; provided that the Agent may, with the consent of the Borrower only, amend, modify or supplement this Agreement to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency, so long as such amendment, modification or supplement does not adversely affect the rights of any Lender.
(b) Affected Lenders Consent. Without the written consent of each Lender that would be affected thereby, no amendment, modification, termination, or consent shall be effective if the effect thereof would:
(i) extend the scheduled final maturity of any Loan or Note;
(ii) waive, reduce or postpone any scheduled repayment (but not prepayment);
(iii) reduce the rate of interest on any Loan (other than any waiver of any increase in the interest rate applicable to any Loan pursuant to Section 2.7) or any fee or any premium payable hereunder;
(iv) extend the time for payment of any such interest or fees;
(v) reduce the principal amount of any Loan;
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(vi) amend, modify, terminate or waive any provision of this Section 9.5(b), Section 9.5(c) or any other provision of this Agreement that expressly provides that the consent of all Lenders is required;
(vii) amend the definition of Requisite Lenders or Pro Rata Share; or
(viii) consent to the assignment or transfer by the Borrower of any of its rights and obligations under any Credit Document.
(c) Other Consents. No amendment, modification, termination or waiver of any provision of the Credit Documents, or consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom, shall:
(i) amend, modify, terminate or waive any provision of Section 8 as the same applies to the Agent, or any other provision hereof as the same applies to the rights or obligations of the Agent, in each case without the consent of the Agent; or
(ii) amend, modify, terminate or waive any provision of Section 8 as the same applies to any Arranger, or any other provision hereof as the same applies to the rights or obligations of an Arranger, in each case without the consent of such Arranger.
(d) Execution of Amendments, etc. The Agent may, but shall have no obligation to, with the concurrence of any Lender, execute amendments, modifications, waivers or consents on behalf of such Lender. Any waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which it was given. No notice to or demand on the Borrower in any case shall entitle the Borrower to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances. Any amendment, modification, termination, waiver or consent effected in accordance with this Section 9.5 shall be binding upon each Lender at the time outstanding, each future Lender and, if signed by the Borrower, on the Borrower.
9.6. Successors and Assigns; Participations.
(a) Generally. This Agreement shall be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and the successors and assigns of the Lenders. Neither the Borrowers rights or obligations hereunder nor any interest therein may be assigned or delegated by the Borrower without the prior written consent of all Lenders. 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 and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, Affiliates of each of the Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.
(b) Register. The Borrower, the Agent and the Lenders shall deem and treat the Persons listed as Lenders in the Register as the holders and owners of the corresponding Commitments and Loans listed therein for all purposes hereof, and no assignment or transfer of any such Commitment or Loan shall be effective, in each case, unless and until recorded in the Register following receipt of an Assignment Agreement effecting the assignment or transfer thereof, together with the required forms and certificates regarding tax matters and any fees payable in connection with such assignment, in each case, as provided in Section 9.6(d). Each
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assignment shall be recorded in the Register on the Business Day the Assignment Agreement is received by the Agent, if received by 12:00 noon New York City time, and on the following Business Day if received after such time, prompt notice thereof shall be provided to the Borrower and a copy of such Assignment Agreement shall be maintained. The date of such recordation of a transfer shall be referred to herein as the Assignment Effective Date. Any request, authority or consent of any Person who, at the time of making such request or giving such authority or consent, is listed in the Register as a Lender shall be conclusive and binding on any subsequent holder, assignee or transferee of the corresponding Commitments or Loans.
(c) Right to Assign. Each Lender shall have the right at any time to sell, assign or transfer all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement, including all or a portion of its Commitment or Loans owing to it or other Obligations (provided, however, that each assignment shall be of a uniform, and not varying, percentage of all rights and obligations under and in respect of any applicable Loan) to any Person meeting the criteria of the definition of the term of Eligible Assignee upon the giving of notice to the Borrower and the Agent; provided, further each such assignment pursuant to this Section 9.6(c) shall be in an aggregate amount of not less than $2,500,000 (or such lesser amount as may be agreed to by the Borrower and the Agent or as shall constitute the amount of the Loan of the assigning Lender).
(d) Mechanics. Assignments of Loans by Lenders may be made with a manually executed Assignment Agreement and delivery to the Agent of an Assignment Agreement. Assignments made pursuant to the foregoing provision shall be effective as of the Assignment Effective Date. In connection with all assignments there shall be delivered to the Agent such forms, certificates or other evidence, if any, with respect to United States federal income tax withholding matters as the assignee under such Assignment Agreement may be required to deliver pursuant to Section 2.16(c), together with payment to the Agent of a registration and processing fee of $3,500 (except that no such registration and processing fee shall be payable (y) in connection with an assignment by or to GSCP or any Affiliate thereof or (z) in the case of an Assignee which is already a Lender or is an Affiliate or Related Fund of a Lender).
(e) Representations and Warranties of Assignee. Each Lender, upon execution and delivery hereof or upon succeeding to an interest in the Commitments and Loans, as the case may be, represents and warrants as of the Closing Date or as of the Assignment Effective Date that (i) it is an Eligible Assignee; (ii) it has experience and expertise in the making of or investing in commitments or loans such as the applicable Commitments or Loans, as the case may be; and (iii) it will make or invest in, as the case may be, its Commitments or Loans for its own account in the ordinary course and without a view to distribution of such Commitments or Loans within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or other federal securities laws (it being understood that, subject to the provisions of this Section 9.6, the disposition of such Commitments or Loans or any interests therein shall at all times remain within its exclusive control).
(f) Effect of Assignment. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Section 9.6, as of the Assignment Effective Date (i) the assignee thereunder shall have the rights and obligations of a Lender hereunder to the extent of its interest in the Loans as reflected in the Register and shall thereafter be a party hereto and a Lender for all purposes hereof; (ii) the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been
51
assigned to the assignee, relinquish its rights (other than any rights which survive the termination hereof under Section 9.8) and be released from its obligations hereunder (and, in the case of an assignment covering all or the remaining portion of an assigning Lenders rights and obligations hereunder, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto on the Assignment Effective Date; provided, anything contained in any of the Credit Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, and (y) such assigning Lender shall continue to be entitled to the benefit of all indemnities hereunder as specified herein with respect to matters arising out of the prior involvement of such assigning Lender as a Lender hereunder); and (iii) if any such assignment occurs after the issuance of any Note hereunder, the assigning Lender shall, upon the effectiveness of such assignment or as promptly thereafter as practicable, surrender its applicable Notes to the Agent for cancellation, and thereupon the Borrower shall issue and deliver new Notes, if so requested by the assignee and/or assigning Lender, to such assignee and/or to such assigning Lender, with appropriate insertions, to reflect the outstanding Loans of the assignee and/or the assigning Lender.
(g) Participations.
(i) Each Lender shall have the right at any time to sell one or more participations to any Person (other than the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its Affiliates) in all or any part of its Commitments, Loans or in any other Obligation.
(ii) The holder of any such participation, other than an Affiliate of the Lender granting such participation, shall not have the right to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any Note except to the extent any such amendment, modification or waiver that would (A) extend the final scheduled maturity of any Loan or Note in which such participant is participating, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest or fees thereon (except in connection with a waiver of applicability of any post-default increase in interest rates) or reduce the principal amount thereof, or increase the amount of the participants participation over the amount thereof then in effect (it being understood that a waiver of any Default or Event of Default or of a mandatory reduction in the Commitment shall not constitute a change in the terms of such participation, and that an increase in any Commitment or Loan shall be permitted without the consent of any participant if the participants participation is not increased as a result thereof) or (B) consent to the assignment or transfer by the Borrower of any of its rights and obligations under this Agreement.
(iii) The Borrower agrees that each participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.14(c), 2.15 and 2.16 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section; provided, (x) a participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.15 or 2.16 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 Borrowers prior written consent, (y) a participant that would be a Non-US Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.16 unless the Borrower is notified of the participation sold to such participant and such participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 2.16 as though it were a Lender and (z) such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 2.17 as though it were a Lender; provided further that, except as specifically set forth in clauses (x) and (y) of this sentence, nothing herein shall require any notice to the Borrower or
52
any other Person in connection with the sale of any participation. To the extent permitted by law, each participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 9.4 as though it were a Lender.
(h) Certain Other Assignments and Participations. In addition to any other assignment or participation permitted pursuant to this Section 9.6 any Lender may assign and/or pledge all or any portion of its Loans, the other Obligations owed by or to such Lender, and its Notes, if any, to secure obligations of such Lender including any Federal Reserve Bank as collateral security pursuant to Regulation A of the Board of Governors and any operating circular issued by such Federal Reserve Bank; provided, that no Lender, as between the Borrower and such Lender, shall be relieved of any of its obligations hereunder as a result of any such assignment and pledge, and provided further, that in no event shall the applicable Federal Reserve Bank, pledgee or trustee, be considered to be a Lender or be entitled to require the assigning Lender to take or omit to take any action hereunder.
9.7. Independence of Covenants. All covenants hereunder shall be given independent effect so that if a particular action or condition is not permitted by any of such covenants, the fact that it would be permitted by an exception to, or would otherwise be within the limitations of, another covenant shall not avoid the occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default if such action is taken or condition exists.
9.8. Survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements. All representations, warranties and agreements made herein shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and the making of any Credit Extension. Notwithstanding anything herein or implied by law to the contrary, the agreements of the Borrower set forth in Sections 2.14(c), 2.15, 2.16, 9.2, 9.3 and 9.4 and the agreements of the Lenders set forth in Sections 2.13, 8.3(b) and 8.6 shall survive the payment of the Loans and the termination hereof.
9.9. No Waiver; Remedies Cumulative. No failure or delay on the part of the Agent or any Lender in the exercise of any power, right or privilege hereunder or under any other Credit Document shall impair such power, right or privilege or be construed to be a waiver of any default or acquiescence therein, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such power, right or privilege preclude other or further exercise thereof or of any other power, right or privilege. The rights, powers and remedies given to the Agent and each Lender hereby are cumulative and shall be in addition to and independent of all rights, powers and remedies existing by virtue of any statute or rule of law or in any of the other Credit Documents. Any forbearance or failure to exercise, and any delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy hereunder shall not impair any such right, power or remedy or be construed to be a waiver thereof, nor shall it preclude the further exercise of any such right, power or remedy.
9.10. Marshalling; Payments Set Aside. Neither the Agent nor any Lender shall be under any obligation to marshal any assets in favor of the Borrower or any other Person or against or in payment of any or all of the Obligations. To the extent that the Borrower makes a payment or payments to the Agent or the Lenders (or to the Agent, on behalf of the Lenders), or the Agent or the Lenders exercise their rights of setoff, and such payment or payments or the proceeds of such enforcement or setoff or any part thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside and/or required to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any
53
other party under any bankruptcy law, any other state or federal law, common law or any equitable cause, then, to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied, and all rights and remedies therefor or related thereto, shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment or payments had not been made or such setoff had not occurred.
9.11. Severability. In case any provision in or obligation hereunder or under any other Credit Document shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions or obligations, or of such provision or obligation in any other jurisdiction, shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
9.12. Obligations Several; Independent Nature of Lenders Rights. The obligations of the Lenders hereunder are several and no Lender shall be responsible for the obligations or Commitment of any other Lender hereunder. Nothing contained herein or in any other Credit Document, and no action taken by the Lenders pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Lenders as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity. The amounts payable at any time hereunder to each Lender shall be a separate and independent debt, and each Lender shall be entitled to protect and enforce its rights arising out hereof and it shall not be necessary for any other Lender to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose.
9.13. Headings. Section headings herein are included herein for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part hereof for any other purpose or be given any substantive effect.
9.14. APPLICABLE LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
9.15. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. ALL JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS BROUGHT AGAINST THE BORROWER ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING HERETO OR ANY OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENT, OR ANY OF THE OBLIGATIONS, MAY BE BROUGHT IN ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION IN THE STATE, COUNTY AND CITY OF NEW YORK. BY EXECUTING AND DELIVERING THIS AGREEMENT, THE BORROWER, FOR ITSELF AND IN CONNECTION WITH ITS PROPERTIES, IRREVOCABLY (A) ACCEPTS GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION AND VENUE OF SUCH COURTS; (B) WAIVES ANY DEFENSE OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS; (C) AGREES THAT SERVICE OF ALL PROCESS IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT MAY BE MADE BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, TO THE BORROWER AT ITS ADDRESS PROVIDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 9.1; (D) AGREES THAT SERVICE AS PROVIDED IN CLAUSE (C) ABOVE IS SUFFICIENT TO CONFER PERSONAL JURISDICTION OVER THE BORROWER IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT, AND OTHERWISE CONSTITUTES EFFECTIVE AND BINDING SERVICE IN EVERY RESPECT; AND (E) AGREES
54
THAT THE AGENT, THE ARRANGERS AND THE LENDERS RETAIN THE RIGHT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE BORROWER IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.
9.16. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY AGREES TO WAIVE ITS RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING HEREUNDER OR UNDER ANY OF THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS OR ANY DEALINGS BETWEEN THEM RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS LOAN TRANSACTION OR THE LENDER/THE BORROWER RELATIONSHIP THAT IS BEING ESTABLISHED. THE SCOPE OF THIS WAIVER IS INTENDED TO BE ALL-ENCOMPASSING OF ANY AND ALL DISPUTES THAT MAY BE FILED IN ANY COURT AND THAT RELATE TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS TRANSACTION, INCLUDING CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS, BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW AND STATUTORY CLAIMS. EACH PARTY HERETO ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS WAIVER IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT TO ENTER INTO A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP, THAT EACH HAS ALREADY RELIED ON THIS WAIVER IN ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT, AND THAT EACH WILL CONTINUE TO RELY ON THIS WAIVER IN ITS RELATED FUTURE DEALINGS. EACH PARTY HERETO FURTHER WARRANTS AND REPRESENTS THAT IT HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER WITH ITS LEGAL COUNSEL AND THAT IT KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL. THIS WAIVER IS IRREVOCABLE, MEANING THAT IT MAY NOT BE MODIFIED EITHER ORALLY OR IN WRITING (OTHER THAN BY A MUTUAL WRITTEN WAIVER SPECIFICALLY REFERRING TO THIS SECTION 9.16 AND EXECUTED BY EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO), AND THIS WAIVER SHALL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS OR MODIFICATIONS HERETO OR ANY OF THE OTHER CREDIT DOCUMENTS OR TO ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS OR AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE LOANS MADE HEREUNDER. IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE FILED AS A WRITTEN CONSENT TO A TRIAL BY THE COURT.
9.17 Confidentiality. The Agent, each Arranger and each Lender shall hold all non-public information regarding the Borrower and its Subsidiaries and their businesses identified as such by the Borrower and obtained by such Lender pursuant to the requirements hereof in accordance with such Lenders customary procedures for handling confidential information of such nature, it being understood and agreed by the Borrower that, in any event, the Agent, each Arranger and each Lender may make (i) disclosures of such information to Affiliates of such Lender, such Arranger or the Agent and to their respective agents and advisors (and to other Persons authorized by a Lender, an Arranger or the Agent to organize, present or disseminate such information in connection with disclosures otherwise made in accordance with this Section 9.17), (ii) disclosures of such information reasonably required by any bona fide or potential assignee, transferee or participant in connection with the contemplated assignment, transfer or participation of any Loans or any participations therein or by any direct or indirect contractual counterparties (or the professional advisors thereto) to any swap or derivative
55
transaction relating to the Borrower and its obligations (provided, such assignees, transferees, participants, counterparties and advisors are advised of and agree to be bound by either the provisions of this Section 9.17 or other provisions at least as restrictive as this Section 9.17), (iii) disclosure to any rating agency when required by it, provided that, prior to any disclosure, such rating agency shall undertake in writing to preserve the confidentiality of any confidential information relating to the Borrower received by it from the Agent, any Arrangers or any Lender, and (iv) disclosures required or requested by any governmental agency or representative thereof or by the NAIC or pursuant to legal or judicial process; provided, unless specifically prohibited by applicable law or court order, each Lender, each Arranger and the Agent shall make reasonable efforts to notify the Borrower of any request by any governmental agency or representative thereof (other than any such request in connection with any examination of the financial condition or other routine examination of such Lender by such governmental agency) for disclosure of any such non-public information prior to disclosure of such information. In addition, the Agent, each Arranger and each Lender may disclose the existence of this Agreement and the information about this Agreement to market data collectors, similar services providers to the lending industry, and service providers to the Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders in connection with the administration and management of this Agreement and the other Credit Documents.
9.18. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts together shall constitute but one and the same instrument.
9.19. Effectiveness. This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution of a counterpart hereof by each of the parties hereto and receipt by the Borrower and the Agent of written or telephonic notification of such execution and authorization of delivery thereof.
9.20. Patriot Act. Each Lender and the Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower, which information includes the name and address of the Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender or the Agent, as applicable, to identify the Borrower in accordance with the Act.
9.21. Electronic Execution of Assignments. The words execution, signed, signature, and words of like import in any Assignment Agreement shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.
9.22. 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 Note), the Borrower acknowledges and agrees that: (i) (A) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Agent and the Arrangers
56
are arms-length commercial transactions between the Borrower and its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Agent and the Arrangers, on the other hand, (B) the Borrower has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate, and (C) the Borrower is capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby; (ii) (A) the Agent and the Arrangers 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 the Borrower or any of its Affiliates, or any other Person and (B) neither the Agent nor any Arranger has any obligation to the Borrower or any of its Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (iii) the Agent and the Arrangers and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrower and its Affiliates, and neither the Agent nor any Arranger has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrower or its Affiliates. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Borrower hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against the Agent and the Arrangers with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated hereby.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]
57
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date first written above.
NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION | ||
|
|
|
| By: | /s/ Lewis Chew |
| Name: | Lewis Chew |
| Title: | Senior Vice President, Finance and |
|
| Chief Financial Officer |
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. | ||
| as Agent | |
|
|
|
| By: | /s/ Dora A. Brown |
|
| Name: Dora A. Brown |
|
| Title: Vice President |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. | |
| as a Lender | |
|
|
|
| By: | /s/ Christina Felsing |
|
| Name: Christina Felsing |
|
| Title: Vice President |
GOLDMAN SACHS CREDIT PARTNERS L.P., | ||
| as a Lender | |
|
|
|
| By: | /s/ Bruce Mendelsohn |
|
| Name: Bruce Mendelsohn |
|
| Title: Authorized Signatory |
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., | ||
| as a Lender | |
|
|
|
| By: | /s/ Anthony Galea |
|
| Name: Anthony Galea |
|
| Title: Vice President |
MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK (USA), | ||
| as a Lender | |
|
|
|
| By: | /s/ Bertram H. Tang |
|
| Name: Bertram H. Tang |
|
| Title: Senior Vice President |
SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION, | ||
| as a Lender | |
|
|
|
| By: | /s/ Yoshihiro Hyakutome |
|
| Name: Yoshihiro Hyakutome |
|
| Title: General Manager |
BNP PARIBAS, | ||
| as a Lender | |
|
|
|
| By: | /s/ Stuart Darby |
|
| Name: Stuart Darby |
|
| Title: Director |
|
|
|
| By: | /s/ Jamie Dillon |
|
| Name: Jamie Dillon |
|
| Title: Managing Director |
KBC BANK, | ||
| as a Lender | |
|
|
|
| By: | /s/ William Cavanaugh |
|
| Name: William Cavanaugh |
|
| Title: Vice President |
By: | /s/ Sandra T. Johnson | |
|
| Name: Sandra T. Johnson |
|
| Title: First Vice President |
UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A., | ||
| as a Lender | |
|
|
|
| By: | /s/ Allan B. Miner |
|
| Name: Allan B. Miner |
|
| Title: Vice President |
FIFTH THIRD BANK, | ||
| as a Lender | |
|
|
|
| By: | /s/ Chris Motley |
|
| Name: Chris Motley |
|
| Title: Vice President |
THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF THE BANK OF IRELAND, | ||
| as a Lender | |
|
| |
| By: | /s/ Daniel McAneney |
|
| Name: Daniel McAneney |
|
| Title: Authorized signatory |
By: | /s/ Barry Heraty | |
|
| Name: Barry Heraty |
|
| Title: Authorized signatory |
BAYERISCHE LANDESBANK, | ||
| as a Lender | |
|
|
|
| By: | /s/ Matthew DeCarlo |
|
| Matthew DeCarlo |
|
| Vice President |
By: | /s/ Donna M. Quilty | |
|
| Donna M. Quilty |
|
| Vice President |
COMERICA WEST INCORPORATED, | ||
| as a Lender | |
|
|
|
| By: | /s/ Elise M. Walker |
|
| Name: Elise M. Walker |
|
| Title: Vice President |
NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY, | ||
| as a Lender | |
|
|
|
| By: | /s/ Karen Dahl |
|
| Name: Karen Dahl |
|
| Title: Senior Vice President |
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, | ||
| as a Lender | |
|
|
|
| By: | /s/ Holland H. Williams |
|
| Name: Holland H. Williams |
|
| Title: AVP |
WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, | ||
| as a Lender | |
|
|
|
| By: | /s/ Garry Handelman |
|
| Name: Garry Handelman |
|
| Title: Senior Vice President |
APPENDIX A
TO CREDIT AGREEMENT
Commitments
Lender |
| Commitment |
| Pro | |
Goldman Sachs Credit Partners L.P. |
| $ | 46,000,000 |
| 9.2% |
Bank of America, N.A. |
| $ | 46,000,000 |
| 9.2% |
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. |
| $ | 40,000,000 |
| 8.0% |
Mizuho Corporate Bank (USA) |
| $ | 40,000,000 |
| 8.0% |
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation |
| $ | 40,000,000 |
| 8.0% |
BNP Paribas |
| $ | 40,000,000 |
| 8.0% |
KBC Bank |
| $ | 40,000,000 |
| 8.0% |
Union Bank of California, N.A. |
| $ | 40,000,000 |
| 8.0% |
Fifth Third Bank |
| $ | 24,000,000 |
| 4.8% |
The Governor and Company of the Bank of Ireland |
| $ | 24,000,000 |
| 4.8% |
Bayerische Landesbank |
| $ | 24,000,000 |
| 4.8% |
Comerica Bank |
| $ | 24,000,000 |
| 4.8% |
Northern Trust Company |
| $ | 24,000,000 |
| 4.8% |
US Bank National Association |
| $ | 24,000,000 |
| 4.8% |
Wachovia Bank, National Association |
| $ | 24,000,000 |
| 4.8% |
Total |
| $ | 500,000,000 |
| 100% |
APPENDIX A-1
APPENDIX B
TO CREDIT AGREEMENT
Notice Addresses
NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
2900 Semiconductor Road
Mail Stop G3-135
Santa Clara, CA 95052-8090
Attention: General Counsel
Facsimile: (408) 733-0293
with a copy to:
LATHAM & WATKINS LLP
505 Montgomery Street, Suite 2000
San Francisco, CA 94111-2562
Attention: Ken Blohm
Facsimile: 415 ###-###-####
APPENDIX B-2
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,
the Agents Principal Office and as a Lender:
Bank of America
Agency Management
WA1-501-32-37
800 Fifth Avenue, Floor 32
Seattle WA 98104
Attn: Dora Brown, Vice President
Telephone: 206 ###-###-####
FAX: 206 ###-###-####
email: ***@***
with a copy to:
SHEARMAN & STERLING LLP
599 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Attn: Susan L. Hobart
FAX: 646 ###-###-####
enail: ***@***
APPENDIX B-3